chinese herbal medicine

Herbal medicine has been the primary form of healing across many cultures for thousands of years. In China, herbal medicine is alive and well and thrives alongside modern medicine with doctors continuing to advance in their fields and successfully treating complex modern-day diseases.

Chinese medicinals are uniquely understood through the lens of taste, thermal nature, and their correspondence with specific organs and meridians in the body. The Chinese Materia Medica contains over 300 commonly used substances — including roots, leaves, flowers, fruits, shells, minerals, and animal parts. These medicinals have been used for over 2,500 years and have been documented in classical texts, clinical case studies, and generations of lineage-based practice.

Many of the classic formulas were developed to address commonly seen patterns and have stood the test of time. These ‘patterns’ often describe how yin-yang or the 5 organ relationships have come out of balance.

I am currently sourcing my Chinese herbs from a distributing company out of Victoria B.C, who in turn sources from Spring Winds in the USA. These herbs come from small organic farms where possible, and like all small organic farms, they can not always afford the certification process. Some herbs are ‘conventionally grown’, and some are wild sourced. The herbs have been tested for pesticide and heavy metal residue, and the distributors are transparent about the lab results.

Read more about the distributing company Organic Chinese Herbs in Victoria, BC.
Also read about the distributor in the US, Spring Winds, who works with various farmers across the US to distribute high-quality Chinese herbs grown in North America.