TCM Kindergarden: Ban Xia and Chen Pi
We had an Instagram- Facebook Contest a few weeks ago. I posted a query about Ban Xia and Chen Pi. How many formulas can you name with these two herbs, who are great friends. My first herb teacher taught that ban xia and chen pi were the best pair for anything with…
Read MoreTCM Kindergarten: Jie Geng and Zhi Ke. An amazing pair to open the chest
How do we know for sure what patterns a formula treats? By understanding its construction. All formulas contain a specific architecture for herbal relationships based on actions and flavors. Learning to see these pairs ( and sometimes triplets) helps us to easily gain insight into what’s happening inside an herbal formula. Yesterday I did a…
Read MoreUsing Herbs That Clear Heat To Calm The Spirit
For many years I’ve used cool and cold herbs and formulas to treat patients with anxiety, agitation and insomnia. A recent discussion online about the terms we use to describe anxiety and vexation led me to revisit this piece I wrote in 2013. It’s long been an academic and clinical preoccupation of mine. I was…
Read MoreHow to Apply San Huang San
We thought you might enjoy this short video of me applying San Huang San to my sprained ankle. San Huang San is a traditional formula that has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for hundreds of years. Most of us like to call it herbal ice because it’s so effective at reducing swelling inflammation, swelling, bruising…
Read MoreA Rose is a Rose: How we use roses in Chinese Medicine
A Rose Is A Rose Cara O. Frank, L.OM. Valentine’s day has come and gone. But it got me thinking about the roses we use in Chinese herbal medicine. There are 3 roses that are generally taught in Chinese herbal programs: Two are flowers and one is a rose hip. Méi Gui Huā 玫瑰花 Flos Rosae…
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