Herbs & Formulas

Five Flowers Tea, or Wu hua cha 五花茶 is a traditional Chinese folk tea, enjoyed especially during the summer months by Cantonese people in the hot and humid south. Sweet and slightly cold, its’ main TCM functions are to clear heat and toxins, drain dampness, promote urination, cool blood, and alleviate summertime wind-heat.

Introducing Majestic Yang Teapills which replaces Gecko Tonic Teapills while retaining the primary structure and function of Gecko Tonic Teapills. It endeavors to treat various deficiencies by tonifying Yang, strengthening Qi and Blood, and nourishing Jing-essence. It is a complex formula that in addition to Yang tonic herbs, contains herbs that tonify and nourish Yin, Blood, Essence, and Qi. Signs to look for include a pale and swollen tongue and a slow, deep, and weak pulse.

Mark Frost from the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Francisco highlights 3 important Yang Tonic herbs often used in formulas that benefit men's health. Yin Yang Huo, Xu Duan, and Tu Si Zi are discussed including their TCM functions and how the herbs can be used for different needs.

As some women experience minimal or no perimenopausal discomfort, what causes the symptoms that can be so debilitating to others? According to TCM, the main causes for discomfort all the way from perimenopause through menopause and postmenopause include overwork, excessive sexual activity or too many childbirths, chronic illness, irregular diet, and excessive worrying or other emotional stress. According to traditional Chinese medicine there are three large categories of issues that can result in difficulty with the perimenopausal hormonal shift.

We all know herbs are amazingly effective, but have you ever wondered how their secrets were discovered? Did Shen Nong really taste them all and watch their effects in his see-through belly? How did they get their names? What are their backstories? Dr. Skye Sturgeon reads an excerpt from the book Chinese Herbal Legends where we learn the legend of Dang Gui.

Mark Frost, Herbal Chair at American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACTCM) joins highlights 2 important herbs for dispelling Wind Cold and Wind Heat and commonly used in Spring formulas. Cang Er Zi and Xin Yi Hua are compared including their TCM functions and how to select the best herbs for your patients.

With spring just around the corner, it's time to get ready for more time outdoors! Along with warmer days, fresh green grass and blooming flowers, as clinicians it's time for us to prepare for our patients presenting with common seasonal sinus and nasal complaints. Mark Frost, L.Ac. compares 3 common spring formulas: Cang Er Zi San, Bi Yan Pian and Pe Min Kan Wan.

Explore formulas that Open the Nose to help practitioners quickly and easily compare formulas, their functions, indications, and ingredients.

Latent heat (潜热 qiánrè) as a Chinese medicine concept has ancient origins dating to the Huangdi Nei Jing and the Shang Han Lun, first appearing in Chapters 3 and 5 of the Su Wen. It was used to explain how the exposure of a Cold pathogen, believed to occur in winter, changed to Heat in the spring. Latent Heat has developed into a useful concept to explain how Internal, Organ, or Blood Heat can arise without obvious disease proceeding through the Four Levels or Six Stages.

Skye Sturgeon, L.Ac. explores strategies that are designed for the restoration of healthy functioning from Fú xié after a patient has tested seronegative for SARS Cov-2. These patients no longer suffer from COVID-19, but require various remedies to tonify the Qi, Yin, and Blood, and dispel the Lingering Evil Qi to provide for the free flow of Qi that promotes health and normal homeostasis.

The primary pathological triad is three patterns of pathology that frequently occur simultaneously, are tightly interlinked and mutually engendering. The triad comprises Spleen yang qi deficiency, Liver qi stagnation, and Heat of some type, usually Damp Heat or Heat derived from constrained qi. In addition to the basic triad of pathology, there may be further complication by Blood and/or yin deficiency, Blood stagnation, shen disturbances, and Phlegm.

The days are getting shorter, colder and wet. Today is a perfect day for having a warm bowl of chicken soup. Mothers and grandmothers all over the world recommend, “Give ‘em some chicken soup!” Chicken soup with Chinese herbs is particularly warming and nourishing. Here’s a traditional recipe and demo of how to create this wonderful dish for your entire family.

We are celebrating women's health and the fabulous contributions that women are making in traditional Chinese medicine! Check out our interviews with Yvonne Charles of Charlotte Maxwell Clinic, Valerie Hobbs, L.Ac., specializing in women's health and former midwife, Susan Johnson, L.Ac., respected author and instructor of Master Tung's points, Sally Rappeport, L.Ac., acupuncturist and co-founder of the Shen Nong Society, and Ravyn Stanfield, Executive Director of Acupuncturists Without Borders.

Since 2020, we have faced many challenges, and also many opportunities for change. Possibly at no other time in modern history has there been a greater moment for Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) to be a partner in resolving some of our most prevalent health concerns. Southern (Nan) Ban Lan Gen is one such herbal ally.

We receive many inquiries about the latest information coming from China, and for the past two years, a sizable portion of questions have been pandemic-related. This article will answer some of those frequently asked questions. Dr. Sturgeon shares his research on the first line of defense formulas, vaccines in China, current variants, prescriptions widely used in China, and what this means to practitioners of Chinese herbal medicine in the US. The research Dr. Sturgeon shares in this article can be a helpful tool to navigate these ever-changing times.