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Podcasts
Welcome to Mayway's Podcast "Chinese Medicine Matter...
Let’s Make Chinese Herbal Tonic Wines
The first known mention of herbal tonic wine is from the Wu Shi Er Bing Fang (Prescriptions for 52 Ailments), which was unearthed at Ma Wang Dui tomb, an archaeological site located in Changsha, Chin...
Lung and Throat Protecting Soup
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 rec...
Dosage Considerations of Extract Powders and Granules
Our Herbal Consultants are often asked about recommendations for dosing extract powders. Skye Sturgeon, DAOM, L.Ac. discusses the history of herbal extract powders, dosage calculation examples...
Are You Under-Prescribing Extract Powders?
One of the common questions to our consultants from clinicians is regarding the recommended dosages for our extract powder formulas and single herbs. What is the extract powder dosage equivalent of si...
Calm Spirit Soup Recipe
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 ...
Autumn Equinox Soup
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 o...
Recipes for Lung Wellness
Two recipes that both support the lungs, but with different herbal functions. The first is Pear Bai Mu Er Soup - a delicately sweet herb soup known to lubricate dryness and eliminate mucus. The second...
Ling Zhi Tonic Soup
Reishi Mushroom, known as Ling Zhi in Chinese herbal medicine, is often categorized under herbs that "Calm the Spirit and Nourish the Heart." Our LIng Zhi soup recipe will nourish and calm w...
Longevity Soup to Nourish and Calm the Mind
This recipe is suitable for those who often stay up late, work too much, and “burn the candle at both ends” which can result in a restless mind with sleep disturbance and possibly a difficult time f...
Chinese Medicinal Herb Beer
Recently, one of our staff who is a homebrewer, and another who is our chief herbalist collaborated on a brewing experiment using Chinese herbs. After much discussion and some decoction sampling, we...
Black Chicken Soup for Pregnancy
We're sharing a delicious and time-honored family recipe. It contains nutrients derived from pork and black chicken, as well as tonifying herbs to promote a woman’s optimal health during pregna...
Congee Recipe for Beautiful Skin
Congee is a nourishing and comforting porridge, regarded to be particularly beneficial for its recuperative properties, often enhanced with herbs for specific functions that are added to the porridg...
Huang Jing and Quail Soup Recipe
We combine Huang Jing with its moderate tonifying properties with Quail, Dang Shen, and Huang Qi to form a delicious soup. This is an excellent recipe for those recovering from a long illness or a p...
Huang Bai Summer Soup
Huang Bai Summer Soup is a simple and nourishing soup that is perfect to clear Summer Heat and strengthen the middle Jiao. Making use of the corn cob after cutting off the kernels, in combinatio...
Long Yan Rou, Peanut & Fish Congee
Rice congee, or porridge, is a traditional staple of Cantonese cuisine eaten in the morning hours, between 7-11 AM, when the Stomach and Spleen Qi are ready for nourishment, gently warming the diges...
Mid-Autumn Festival
For the last 3,000 years, Chinese people have celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival on the 15th day of the 8th month on the Lunar calendar (September 10 this year). This important holiday gathers f...
Golden Cabinet Lamb Recipe
This goji, red dates, angelica and lamb soup recipe is from Zhang Zhongjing’s "Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet". It has the therapeutic effects of nourishing Qi and Blood, ...
Harmony Rice: Sticky rice wrapped in Lotus leaf with Lily bulbs
A phonetic play on He 荷 “lotus” and He 和 “harmony”, this is a delicious, calming, and nourishing dish; a perfect treat for these tumultuous times! Steaming rice in dried lotus leaves infuses the ...
Eight Treasure Duck Recipe
A special dish for festive occasions, 8 Treasure Duck is a delicacy you can make at home. The “8” refers to there being 8 precious ingredients stuffed into a duck and braised. Fillings, marinades,...
Venison Yang Tonic Soup
There are three Yang tonics in this recipe. Ba jI tian enters the Kidney meridian, and is spicy, sweet and slightly warm. A special attribute of Ba ji tian is that it has a moistening quality that...
Stewed Duck with Sha Shen & Yu Zhu
In recent years, many of us have likely experienced weariness and fatigue from so many rapid changes in our post-pandemic world. Here is a favorite family recipe to renew your energy reserves an...
Heart Healthy Fish with Hong Hua and Hei Mu Er
This delicious fish recipe with safflower (Hong hua) and black fungus (Hei mu er) supports healthy blood circulation, warms the body, and tonifies the Qi. It features grouper, which is rich in a wea...
Du Zhong, Tian qi & Oxtail Stew
Bone loss, according to traditional Chinese medicine, is mainly caused by insufficient Kidney Qi, with symptoms such as weak back, difficulty in standing for a long time, weakness of lower extremities...
Herb Identification and Authentication
Have you ever wondered how we determine if the herbs that we are supplying you for your patients are the correct species? That they are not inferior or toxic herbs that are being substituted for the t...
Huang Jing and Pigeon Soup Recipe
The meat in this recipe specifically calls for mature Pigeon (1+years old as opposed to squab). According to the Ben Cao Gang Mu《本草纲目》 (Compendium of Materia Medica), “meat can replenish the five ...
Eczema, Atopic Dermatitis & Topical Steroid Withdrawal Case Studies & Treatment (Part 2)
This article is Part 2 in the discussion of topical steroid withdrawal, eczema, and atopic dermatitis. David Heron shows the progression of an 18-year-old man who presented with skin rashes, crack...
Healthcare with Compassion
The Charlotte Maxwell Complementary Clinic is “a place of loving kindness that opens your heart, feeds your body, heals your soul. It’s a place where everyone sustains and uplifts each other, creating...
Chicken & Chestnut Soup
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...
Adaptogens and Chinese Herbology
The concept of an herbal adaptogen is a relatively recent one and its origin dates back to 1947 to a Soviet scientist, Nikolai Lazarev. Lazarev was searching for substances that would improve human ...
Nourishing Eel and Astragalus Soup
With nutrient-dense eel and Astragalus at its core, this delicious recipe tonifies Qi, Blood and Yin, disperses wind and cold, drains damp, and strengthens bones. A perfect combination for preve...
Qi Ye Lian and Oxalic Acid
In November, 2011, we received communication from a veterinarian about a dog that was receiving one of Mayway’s herbal formulas. The circumstances resulted in an adverse event report. At Mayway, we lo...
TCM Heat and Inflammation
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 expl...
Four Treatment Principles, Three Formulas, Two Years Later
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 thos...
Restful Sleep Formulas
When the Shen, frequently translated as “Mind”, is disturbed this can cause someone to experience sleep complications. We will take a deeper look at three formulas for Calming the Shen that lead to a ...
Eczema, Atopic Dermatitis & Topical Steroid Withdrawal (Part 1)
Eczema is a broad term used to describe numerous related but different conditions involving redness, inflammation, itching of the skin, possibly scaling and occasionally the presence of vesicles...
An Argument for Delaying the Availability of Over-the-Counter Chinese Herbal Formulas in the United States
In contemporary American culture, Chinese herbal formulas have their highest potential for patients in the U.S. when prescribed by a licensed herbalist. The traditional use of Chinese herbal formulas ...
Sustainability Issues of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine: Restricted Herb and Resource List
This is a list of restricted and/or prohibited Chinese herbs that cannot be exported from China or imported into the US. Some of these restrictions are only now being implemented and have not yet ...
Ling Zhi: Mushroom of Immortality
Ling Zhi (Reishi) is one of the most recognized Chinese herbs, both in appearance and in its many significant medicinal properties. It has been used for thousands of years to enhance health, clear min...
Two Essential Formulas for Challenging Times
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...
Exploring Blood and Immunity in TCM
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 medicin...
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 ra...
Novel Formulas for Releasing the Exterior: 2024
Recent 2024 reports show virus numbers surging. These 11 prescription templates have been created to help frame custom formulas for your patients. These formulas were extracted from the National Hea...
Cordyceps Cs-4: A Sustainable Alternative
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 P...
Making Organic Chen Pi for Your Clinic
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 Ph...
Recovery Formulas for “Lingering Evil Qi”
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 s...
Safety Concerns of Talc
We have an ongoing commitment to FDA (Food and Drug Administration) compliance and transparency, especially regarding disclosures and the labeling of our products. This is why talc appears on the ...
How can Chinese medicine practitioners effectively advocate the safety and efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine?
Mayway Scholarship Essay: The globalization of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has focused attention on both the health promoting benefits of these medicinals as well as the potential ch...
Deep Dive into Extract Powders & Granules
Go deep into the nature of Plum Flower's Extract Powders, how they differ from granules, factors that affect yield of products, and read what 5:1 really means.
TCM in Palliative and End of Life Care
Dr. Kim Peirano discusses the use of East Asian medicine for improving quality of life of terminal patients. The role of Chinese medicine and acupuncture in palliative and end of life care is by no ...
Longevity, TCM and The Hallmarks of Aging
This article discusses longevity, quality of life, and what factors affect aging populations.
History of the Mayway Building
Our building was designed by architects Jesse M. Shelton and E. T. Foulkes, constructed between 1939 and 1940 for the Coca-Cola Company, and was considered a modern architectural model for the time. I...
Stock outs: The long and the short of why it happens
Sometimes we’re out of stock due to things we can’t control like the weather, pollution, or politics, but mostly we’re out of something because we refuse to compromise on quality, safety or ethics. Wh...
Needling Master Tung’s Double Child, Double Fairy
Susan presents her needling notes for these important paired points, along with tips on when to use them and combinations to use with different presentations, in this excerpt from her upcoming Master...
Assessing and Treating Pediatric Fevers with Chinese Medicine
Fevers are nature’s way of fighting off organisms that cause sickness by creating an environment that is inhospitable to pathogenic life forms. Fevers are also instrumental in developing and fine-tun...
The Primary Pathological Triad
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, Liv...
Moxa Strengthens the Kidneys and Mingmen Fire
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 S...
77.18 Shen Guan and Three Emperors – Master Kidney Point
“Shen Guan” means Kidney Gate. This is Dr. Tung’s master Kidney point (77.18), and there is no more powerful point for the Kidney. It tonifies not only the Kidney, but also the Spleen and the Yin, and...
Lunaception: How the Moon, Light & Dark Affect Fertility
Find out why a dark room and a light bulb could be keys to conceiving, and how to balance Yin and Yang by cycling in harmony with the moon. The term “lunaception” was originally coined by Louise Lacey...
Changes in Herbal Medicines from Ancient Times to the Present
The classical literature of Chinese medicine remains highly relevant in the modern era, as many of the basic theories and herbal combinations emphasized in clinical practice were first established in ...
Introduction to Shonishin, Pediatric Acupuncture
Shonishin is a pediatric method developed in Japan, which was based upon TCM theories from 2,000 years ago. It first came into practice in the 17th century, but in the last 80 years it has become the ...
Pediatric Shonishin Case Study: A Full Childhood
I shall call the child Levi. He first came to me at 21 months of age and stopped coming when he was getting ready to finish high school and already on his way to college. Levi’s mother called me on th...
Releasing Trauma: Considering Late- versus Early-Onset in the Treatment of PTSD
A common archetype of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (or PTSD) is the aging, war-torn veteran, but in an era of constant and intimate exposure to tragic imagery and social injustice from across ...
Hypothesis on the Purpose of Domestication of Prunus persica Dated to 8,000 BP (Before Present) at Kuahuqiao, Zhejiang Province
Recent research has arisen that, seen through the eyes of this author, suggests we can now confidently move the date of the history of herbal medicine back beyond 5,000 years to at least 8,000 yea...
Making a Ripple
“How can I help you?” This simple question should summarize our relationship with our patients by placing us in a role of service to our patients. Unfortunately, all too often, the question is present...
The Dance of Water & Fire: Study of the Triple Heater
The role of the triple heater is a complicated one. Elisabeth’s study of the Neijing texts allows us to start by defining the fu , their shared functions, extent of those roles, and the connections be...
The Change of Seasons - Preparing for Autumn
Autumn is the season of metal, which governs organization, storage, setting limits and protecting boundaries, and pertains to the Lung and Large Intestine organs. The Lung governs the Qi of the body, ...
China Diary April 2011: Visiting Mayway in Anguo
An excerpt from a travel diary written by Rebecca Clarke, published in the magazine of the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM) the governing organization for Chinese herbal medicine in the UK. ...
An Integrated Approach to Caring for Patients with Hyperemesis
Raven Lang shares a story about a patient of mine with hyperemesis. I share this story to point out that there are times when a practitioner must realize the limits to what can be done with TCM trea...
Treatment of Obesity with Chinese Medicine
Obesity (fei pang 肥胖) is on the rise worldwide and is the most common nutrition related disorder in the developed world. Most commonly it is associated with an increase in the energy value and...
Chinese Herbs & Pesticides
The pesticide issue is real and Mayway is appreciative of Greenpeace’s recent article raising the alarm, but it is more complicated than either Greenpeace’s or Harvard’s recent studies ...
Chinese Medicine Treatment of Rhinitis
Rhinitis, whether seasonal or perennial, is usually an allergic condition. In TCM terms we relate this concept to deficiency of wei qi. The wei (or protective) qi has its basis in Kidney yang and is d...
Fainting and Funny Turns: Part 2
This article is an excerpt from the Clinical Handbook of Internal Medicine: The Treatment of Disease with Traditional Chinese Medicine, Volume 3 by Will Maclean and Jane Lyttleton. It is being pre...
Letter From a Customer Regarding Gluten
The appearance of our Shu di huang has nothing to do with the gluten aspect of the herb, the round appearance has everything to do with the way the Sheng di huang (Rehmania glutinosa root – raw) is sl...
Learning to Use Patent Medicines in a Public Health Care Setting with Limited Resources
This article explores learning about how to use prepared Chinese medicines in a public health care setting in the treatment of patients with limited resources.
Yu Dai Wan Teapills for Damp-Heat in the Uterus Causing Fluid Leakage
Yu Dai Wan supports the female reproductive system, at once clearing and tonifying to protect and balance vaginal flora and fauna. In traditional Chinese medicine normal vaginal discharge is produ...
Ba Ji Yin Yang Teapills to restore equilibrium of Yin and Yang
As the name Ba Ji Yin Yang Wan implies, this “Yin Yang” formula featuring Ba Ji Tian restores the equilibrium of Yin and Yang to the body by warming Kidney Yang and the Ming Men fire while simulta...
Bai Zi Yang Xin to treat Heart, Liver, Kidney Blood and Yin deficiency causing Shen disturbance
In comparison with the more well-known An Shen Bu Xin Wan to calm the Shen, this formula was designed to primarily treat the underlying cause of the Shen disturbance, in this case Heart, Liver and Ki...
Tian Ma Teapills - A Good Perimenopausal Formula?
In the modern clinic, Tian Ma Wan is often used for perimenopausal women with a mixed pattern of Liver and Kidney deficiency (Yin, Blood, possibly slight Yang Xu) and some combination of wind-damp Bi ...
History & Evolution of Liu Wei Di Huang Tang
March is National Kidney Awareness Month, and while "kidney" means more than the physiological kidneys in TCM, we want to spotlight one of the most essential and popular kidney formulas in t...
Herb Supply April 2020 Update
Our manufacturers and suppliers in China are in operation and are working over-time to fulfill our orders. For products that are out of stock or that have low inventory, we are working with suppliers ...
Deep Dive on 3 Lung Formulas
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...
Lung Health Support Formulas
With dozens of formulas to choose from, selecting the best Lung Formula for your patient may feel overwhelming. We've outlined 17 of our most popular formulas in an easy to read chart so you can ...
Master Tung's Magic Points & Cupping in the Aftermath of the Coronavirus
Many acupuncturists are gradually reopening their practices. At the same time, a second wave of COVID-19 is sweeping through the country as people are becoming impatient with sanitation protocols and ...
On the Road to Recovery
As we slowly re-open our clinics, there are a few reasons to feel optimistic while still being cautious and very careful. Whether patients have had the virus or not, bodies, hearts and minds have c...
Insomnia & Anxiety Formulas
Explore 10 formulas that calm the Shen and support healthy sleep and mental function. This list was compiled to help you as a practitioner quickly and easily compare formulas, their functions, i...
Margarite Acne Pills
Is Margarite Acne Pills right for my patient? In this article, you will learn about the formula's treatment principles, in-depth information on the herbs used, and formula pairings to help yo...
Wind-Damp Bi Pain Formulas Comparison
Explore 10 formulas for Wind-Damp Bi Pain to help practitioners quickly and easily compare formulas, their functions, indications, and ingredients.
Yang Tonics Comparison
Explore 8 Yang Tonics to help practitioners quickly and easily compare formulas, their functions, indications, and ingredients.
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 ...
Acupuncture Treatment Strategies to Support the Shen
As practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine, we understand the importance of balancing emotional and psychological health. Shen disharmony not only affects our emotional experience, but can a...
Legend of the White Phoenix
For practitioners of Chinese medicine, the black interior and paradoxical white feathered exterior represent and mirror the consolidation of Yin and Yang. Thus, the black-skinned silkie chicken is c...
A Comfortable Menopause
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 pe...
Zhi Bai Di Huang Tang for Hot Flashes
Menopause is the phase in a woman’s life during which she transitions from a reproductive to a non-reproductive stage. Literally, the word is used to indicate the permanent cessation of menstruati...
Herbalist Corner: Medicinal Mushrooms
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 (Hu...
Herb Supply Update July 2021
A quick update on import challenges, future herb stock concerns, and a list of popular items that are back in stock!
Prepared Formulas as Practical Alternatives
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 t...
Stir Fried Pork with Shu Di Huang Recipe
A perfect recipe for any time of year using pork and shu di huang!
Overactive Bladder: a TCM Perspective
Overactive bladder (OAB) is a condition that affects adults and children worldwide and can be caused by various underlying factors or traumas like childbirth, prostate enlargement, poor pelvic f...
Majestic Yang Teapills
Majestic Yang Teapills endeavors to treat various deficiencies by tonifying Yang, strengthening Qi and Blood, and nourishing Jing-essence. It is an intricate formula that, in addition to Yang tonic he...
Five Spirits, Five Paths
cPTSD is different from PTSD in that it is not so much associated with the trauma or reaction to outward events, but instead manifests inwardly - how we see and think about ourselves - and as a ...
Triple Threat Formulas
Compare 26 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, In...
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.
A Brief History of Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine in America
Chinese medicine has a long history in the US, even before the Chinese ever set foot in America. During America’s colonial period, Chinese tea, and herbs such as rhubarb, cinnamon, cardamon, an...
Purple Patch Wind, Zi Dian Feng: Lichen Planus Case Study
One percent of the world suffers from a skin disease that has been recognized and treated by Chinese medicine (CM) for roughly 1000 Years. These patients lose their sleep and ability to concentr...
Headache Formulas Comparison
Explore 23 headache formulas and learn the pin yin name, alternate name, functions, indications, typical tongue and pulse, and the ingredients in an easy to follow comparison chart.
Skin Formulas Comparison
This easy chart shows 10 skin formulas and how to use them including pin yin name, alternate name, functions, indications, typical tongue and pulse, and the ingredients so you can select the best ...
Digestive Support Formulas Comparison
This easy chart shows 13 popular digestive formulas and how to use them including pin yin name, alternate name, functions, indications, typical tongue and pulse, and the ingredients so you can sel...
Men's Essentials Formulas Comparison
These 16 formulas are commonly prescribed to Men and are considered Men's Essentials for your herbal formula. Learn how to use each formula sorted with pin yin name, alternate name, functio...
TCM Approaches for Elderly Men's Health
This article touches on two major health issues that arise with men as they age: cardiovascular disease and erectile dysfunction. Etiology and how traditional Chinese medicine can support these cond...
2024 Year of the Wood Dragon
Every year is either Yin or Yang, and they alternate. Since 2023 was a Yin year, 2024 is a Yang year. If we know the natures of Yin and Yang, we know that generally, Yang is faster, brighter, more...
Heart Health Formulas Comparison
These 16 formulas offer a variety of TCM approaches to supporting healthy heart function. Learn how to use each formula sorted with pin yin name, alternate name, functions, indications, typical to...
Herb Story: Zi Su Ye (Perilla Leaf)
Zi Su Ye is an herb commonly served with fish in sushi restaurants. Read this entertaining and educational herb story that's all about Perilla Leaf and its usefullness for tummy troubles!
Chinese Herb-Drug Interactions
Many are using traditional Chinese herbal medicine alongside prescription COVID-19 drugs. But can these therapies mix safely? In this article, Dr. Skye Sturgeon explores potential interactions betwe...