Articles

Although cooked water-based extractions (decoctions: 湯 tāng) are widely taught in TCM schools and commonly used in the administration of traditional Chinese herbal medicine, many TCM herbalists in the US report that patients are often reticent to take herbs in this way. Decoctions require attentive cooking unless one has an automatic decocting machine, and the odor of the herbs can permeate one’s home and disturb others in the dwelling. Dr. Skye Sturgeon discusses the use of prepared formulas such as teapills, honey pills, extract powders and more as alternatives to whole herb decoctions to improve patient compliance.

Join Hugh Lau, Owner and Designer for Mayway Herbs, as he takes us behind the scenes to show us how Teapills are made!

Yvonne Lau of Mayway Herbs provides an update on the Chinese herb industry including economic pressures, harvest, and supply challenges.

Dr. Skye Sturgeon presents Field to Market: How Quality and Safety of Chinese Herbs are Ensured (originally recorded on November 13, 2019)

Mayway President Yvonne Lau discusses Patent Medicines in China with Mr. Han Jian Li regarding the TCM industry, manufacturing challenges, and the impact of COVID-19.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine principles, Dōng chóng xià cǎo gently tonifies the Kidney Yang and augments Jing/Essence, nourishes the Lung Yin, supports the protective Qi, transforms Phlegm, and assists in stanching blood in the Lung from Yin deficiency. Cordyceps is a rare herb in that it is harmonizing of both Yin and Yang. Some attribute this to its origin in the earth-bound underground caterpillar larva and its fruiting body ascending towards heaven.

We've created a delicious Chicken & Chestnut soup! Easily purchased in their dried form, chestnuts are considered in TCM to be “fruit for the kidneys" because they are particularly warming to the lower back, kidneys, and knees. Huang Qi, being sweet and entering the Lung and Spleen channels, complements the recipe’s Qi tonification properties. Da Zao tonifies the Spleen and Stomach and, along with Sheng Jiang, rounds out the flavor in this delicious soup. This soup is very easy to make, and especially delicious and nutritious for kids!

As the summer gives way to fall and the lingering challenges posed by the current pandemic remain, we as parents and practitioners are naturally focused on protecting our children's health and well-being. Whether our concerns focus on the usual seasonal illnesses, or more specifically on COVID-19, the foundations of strengthening our children are the same. Naturally, prevention is our first line of defense, and the public safety guidelines already in place bode well for significantly lessening children's sick days from the usual seasonal colds and flu.

In this video, Raven demonstrates Shonishin for strengthening the lungs. Shonishin is a pediatric method of acupressure, massage, and needling that was developed in Japan and is based upon TCM theories that are 2000 years old. It first came into practice in the 17th century, but in the last 75 years has become the main treatment for children throughout Japan.

From the view of traditional Chinese medicine, several emotions make up what we presently describe as anxiety. On close examination four emotions stand out as comprising what we call anxiety. According to TCM theory, the emotions of fear, pensiveness, grief and anger cause the Qi to sink, stagnate, dissipate, and rise respectively.

Mayway Herbs is pleased to announce two extract granule products that are based upon recent clinical assessment and research from China. Although templates of these formulas are currently available in our dispensary service, we have manufactured these new products for your prescriptive convenience. Because these formulas are extracted in an enclosed, low temperature vacuum system that preserves essential oils, they are much more powerful than a decoction made at home.

For countless generations, Jade Windscreen (Yu Ping Feng San) has been utilized to address surface deficiency patterns that lead to aversion to wind and frequent invasions of common pathogenic influences. These complaints are the result of surface deficiency due to deficient or unregulated Wei Qi. The etiology of Wei Qi deficiency are manifold and determined by a comprehensive differential diagnosis. The most common causes of deficient Wei Qi include Lung, Spleen and Kidney deficiency patterns.

Cool off from the inside out with this delicious and healthy twist on an old summer favorite! Making ice cream in a high-power blender is an easy way to incorporate more luscious seasonal fruits to enhance dessert, while using the whole fruit for the added nutrients and fiber.

Food stagnation corresponds to indigestion or an upset stomach. Food stagnation is not a disease but rather a variety of symptoms that are experienced; including mild abdominal pain or cramping and a feeling of fullness soon after eating. This article covers three popular formulas for Food Stagnation; find out which formula is best for you and your patients.

Fu zhang refers to a sense of fullness, discomfort, blockage or obstruction across the either the upper or lower abdomen, or across the abdomen as a whole. Pi man is distension specifically in the epigastric area. As a general rule, abdominal distension is due to an obstruction to the correct movement of Spleen and Stomach qi. The obstruction itself may be due to the presence of some pathogen, internal or external or due to weakness or stagnation of qi.