herbal remedies or western medicine?

You specifically mention chinese herbs, which I have only taken once administered by an acuunctirst (forsythia), but I hated its effect. It is like it is with astrology, we have western and eastern systems, and I believe the system should be practiced within the culture it arose from. I have plenty of good experience with normal western herbs as well as native american herbs. I may take a normal aspirine from time to time but if I can help it I will not take the poisonous stuff from the farmaceutical industries.

It's more a matter of the person's own system's inner workings, rather than the effectiveness of the medicines. In my case, for example, herbs that are meant to relax me and make me sleepy actually make me feel more awake. Most sleeping pills keep me awake, too. I only recently found a pill that actually works for me. I know a few people who have the same problem. Caffiene keeps me from sleeping but doesn't stop me from being tired, but one of my friends can't have caffiene because it'll make him sleep. Another of my friends can't have caffiene because it'll keep her up for two or three days. I grew up with western medicine, but I've found many herbs that do work for me. It's mostly a matter of researching and trying them. Find out if it works for you. No one else can tell you. Even doctors, when precribing new medicines, have to let you try it out and check in to see if it will do for you what it does for others.