Herbs & Formulas

Formulas to Open the Nose

March 5, 2023

Yvonne Lau, Mayway President

Open the Nose Formulas

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

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Calm Spirit Soup Recipe

February 25, 2023

Yvonne Lau, Mayway President

Calm Spirit Soup

The TCM concept of “form complementing form, organ complementing organ” (yi xing bu xing, yi zang bu zang 以形補形、以臟補臟 ) is well known throughout Asian culture and cooking. For example, eating walnuts for brain tonification and cashews for the health of the kidneys, or drinking red wine to tonify the blood is common folk wisdom. In this recipe, we are honoring this concept by using pig's heart (Zhu xin 豬心) to nourish the heart.

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A Compassionate & Holistic Approach to Pregnancy Loss

February 13, 2023

Dr. Kim Peirano, DACM, L.Ac.

Photo of two hands intertwined in a compassionate style

Fertility and women’s health is a very popular specialty for many acupuncturists and herbalists. Success stories permeate medical journals, mom groups and amongst the general public, giving hope to those who wish to become pregnant and have had difficulty in the past. The truth of the matter, however, is that not every patient has this success story, not every patient gets pregnant, not every IVF round is a success and not every pregnancy will carry to term. Support in the process of shock, loss and grief can be profound within the spectrum of Chinese medicine.

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Optimizing Female Fertility with Prepared Chinese Medicines

February 1, 2023

Laura Stropes, L.Ac.

Traditional Chinese medicine gynecologists have known for thousands of years that regulating the menstrual cycle promotes fertility. Modern practitioners have begun to incorporate the knowledge we have of the biological stages of the menstrual cycle to focus on specific fertility issues and increase effectiveness.

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Herbal Medicine during the Pandemic

January 30, 2023

Bill Schoenbart

Graphic of chinese herbs in piles

With great appreciation, Bill Schoenbart, associate chair of the Department of Herbology at Five Branches University, shares his clinical expertise of treating hundreds of Covid-19 patients over the last 3 years. Bill shares common patterns he has seen along with five case studies including how the TCM treatment plans evolved as the diagnosis changed partnered with recommended formulas to support those cases.

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Recovery Formulas for “Lingering Evil Qi”

January 26, 2023

Skye Sturgeon, DAOM, Quality Assurance Manager, Mayway

Exhausted Woman

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.

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Wind and Cold Damp Bi

January 26, 2023

Skye Sturgeon, DAOM, Quality Assurance Manager, Mayway

Wind and Cold Damp Bi

One of the most common reasons that patients seek treatment from licensed acupuncturists is for musculoskeletal aches and mild pain (Tòng 痛), both acute and chronic. There may also be decreased range of motion, inflammation, swelling, and numbness. Primarily, these issues are due to minor injury or dysfunction of joints and related soft tissues, including tendons and ligaments. In traditional Chinese medicine, this often is interpreted as Obstruction Syndrome (Bì zhèng 痺症).

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Qi Tonics Comparison

January 4, 2023

Yvonne Lau, Mayway President

Qi Tonics Comparison

Explore 15 Qi tonic formulas sorted by pin yin name and learn the alternate name, functions, indications, typical tongue and pulse, and the ingredients in an easy to follow comparison chart.

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Cold Weather Kidney Tonics

January 4, 2023

Mark Frost, MSTCM, L.Ac.

Cold Weather Kidney Tonics Winter is upon us and the cold winds have begun to blow once again. This is an ideal time to strengthen and tonify the Kidneys in order to ensure the Yang Qi is warming the interior, channels and collaterals. The TCM functions of the Kidneys include storing the Essence, governing fluid metabolism in the lower burner and lower extremities, receiving the Qi from the Lungs, ruling the two lower orifices, regulating reproductive and sexual function, and housing the Life Gate (Ming Men – 命門) Fire. We review our top 3 cold weather kidney tonics and their use in Chinese medicine. Read More

Moxa Strengthens the Kidneys and Mingmen Fire

December 25, 2022

Susan Johnson, L.Ac.

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.” 

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Triple Threat Formulas

December 5, 2022

Yvonne Lau, Mayway President

Triple Threat 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.

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Southern (Nan) Ban Lan Gen - An Important Herb for the Times

December 4, 2022

Janet L. Borges, MSTCM, Dipl. AC & CH (NCCAOM), L.Ac.

Southern Ban Lan GenSince 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.

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Gan Mao Ling & Yin Chiao/Qiao – What’s the Difference?

December 2, 2022

Laura Stropes, L.Ac.

Gan Mao Ling & Yin ChiaoMany practitioners wonder what the differences are between these two very popular formulas to prevent and treat common wind-heat invasion. One main difference is that Yin Qiao is exclusively for wind-heat invasion, whereas Gan Mao Ling, likely due to its ability to strengthen the immune system, can also be used for the initial stages of wind-cold. Therefore, Gan Mao Ling may be safely taken by a patient before a determination is made as to the etiology of an early stage wind invasion, as well as for short term prevention of a wind invasion. However, if Gan Mao Ling does not work in the first couple of days...

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'Tis the Season for Curing Pills

November 8, 2022

Mark Frost, MSTCM, L.Ac.

Curing Pills It's the season where we traditionally want to reach for Curing Pills, and this year they are especially useful. The COVID-19 pandemic has turned every familiar aspect of our lives upside down, and our digestion may very well be suffering too. With more folks working from home, designing new routines for social interaction, more stress eating, more takeout foods, and possibly less exercise, our digestion has no doubt been challenged. Factor in the upcoming winter months with more time spent indoors and the consumption of seasonally rich foods, and we have the perfect recipe for digestive distress. Curing Pills to the rescue! Read More

Three Herb Formulas for Food Stagnation

October 24, 2022

Skye Sturgeon, DAOM, Quality Assurance Manager, Mayway

Food Stagnation Formulas

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.

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