Herbs & Formulas

Compare 27 formulas selected to address a Triple Threat winter season. This chart shows functions, indications, and tongue/pulse for formulas addressing Wind-Cold, Wind-Heat, Interior Heat, Interior Deficiency, and Lung Support.

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.

Moxa is an excellent way to deeply warm the body, more important now, as we head into fall and winter. In fact, between the change of seasons, there is a two to four week period referred to as “Moxa Season.” During this interval, it is said that the “Life Gate is open.” 

Autumn is the season of metal, and pertains to the Lung and Large Intestine organs. It is the season of dryness in Chinese medicine, and as we have experienced here in California, it is also the season of wildfires. With colder weather coming, burning leaves and smoking chimneys can cause patients across the country to react to the change in air quality.

Figs are one of the oldest cultivated crops throughout the world, and often said to be a symbol of peace, abundance and prosperity. Dried figs hold a special place in this delicious fall recipe, with heat clearing and moistening properties. Entering the Lung, Large Intestine and Stomach meridians, figs can promote the secretion of saliva to soothe a sore throat and dry cough, as well as being supportive to the functions of digestion and elimination.

In TCM terms, we say the Lung is the “tender organ” because it is directly exposed to the environment via the respiratory process and in its role in regulating the exterior. A wide variety of external factors can affect the Lung, including the five environmental factors of Wind, Cold, Heat, Dampness and Summerheat, as well as miscellaneous factors like pollen, animal dander, smoke, and environmental pollution. In this article, Mark Frost provides a deep dive on three important formulas that address specific Lung pathologies seen in clinical practice.

Dr. Wu Ju-Tong created Sha Shen Mai Men Dong Wan as a variation of Mai Men Dong Tang with the intention of treating dry cough in the Autumn. It was first published in his Systematic Differentiation of Warm Disease⁄Wen Bing Tiao Bian in 1798. This classic formula treats injury due to dryness to the Lung and Stomach, which are very sensitive to both invasion by pathogenic dryness and excessive dryness of the air or diet. It gently replenishes lost moisture to the mucus membranes lining the Lung and Stomach to resolve occasional dry hacking cough and wheezing, as well as thirst, dry throat, mouth, lips and nasal passages...

There is often a tendency in TCM education to equate the TCM concept of Wèi Qì (衞氣) with the immune system and this leads to oversimplification and misunderstanding. In traditional Chinese medicine, while there are obvious areas of conceptual overlap, the biomedical “immune system” must also include other facets of Qi plus aspects of the TCM concepts of Blood, Yang, Yin, Jing, and Marrow to be properly understood. In this article, Dr. Skye Sturgeon explores a more complete understanding of how to assess the condition of a patient’s blood by providing insight into the use of a common laboratory test, i.e., the Complete Blood Count (CBC) with Differential.

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.

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.

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.

As we begin to prepare for Autumn and Winter, it is important to nourish the Metal element by adding more Yin foods to protect us from the dryness of the season. Plus, we LOVE figs! Figs are one of the oldest cultivated crops throughout the world, and are often said to be a symbol of peace and abundance. Entering the Lung, Large Intestine and Stomach meridians, figs can promote the secretion of saliva to soothe a sore throat and dry cough, as well as being supportive to the functions of digestion and elimination. Pork, which is neutral, sweet and salty, also moistens dryness and benefits the Spleen, Stomach and Kidneys.

Mark Frost, L.Ac., from the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Francisco, highlights 3 medicinal mushrooms: Reishi (Ling zhi / Ganoderma), Shiitake (Xiang gu), and Maitake (Hui shu hua). While all three are known for their traditional Chinese medicine use benefiting qi, blood, and overall health, Shiitake and Maitake are also common culinary herbs.

Chen pi (陈皮 chén pí) is an extremely important herb in the Materia Medica, as it is widely used to regulate and move the Middle Burner Qi, and for assistance in treating cough due to Dampness and Phlegm. It is obtained from the pericarp/peel of Citrus reticulata. In addition to its use in herbal medicine, Chen pi can be a culinary ingredient in some soups, Chinese dishes (like Chen Pi Duck), and candied/salted for clearing phlegm from the throat, alleviating nausea, and aiding digestion. Unfortunately, it can be hard to find because it is from a citrus fruit which is often treated with pesticides. Read on for a DIY method for creating your own Organic Chen Pi for your clinic.