Tag: wellness

My Most Trusted Chinese Herbal Brands

What brands do you associate with?

As an acupuncturist, one of my main forms of treatment is Chinese herbs. These herbs have been used for hundreds, some thousands, of years. Today, we still use these incredible formula in our practice, as powders, pills, tinctures, and even raw herbal decoctions.

However, research shows that some herbs contain harmful chemicals. An example of this is aristolochic acid. This carcinogenic chemical can damage the kidneys, and is found in certain herbs. These herbs are typically removed from the traditional formula, and replaced with safer choices.

Most modern Chinese medicine manufacturers are aware of these dangers and take care to sort and test the herbs before they are sold to consumers. Some of the best herbal brands are only sold to licensed practitioners, so you might want to check with local herbalists for higher quality products.

Here are a few brands that I use in my practice:

KPC Herbs – https://kpc.com/

Kan Herbs – https://kanherb.com/

Golden Flower Chinese Herbs – https://www.gfcherbs.com

There are many more Chinese herb brands, and most are diligent about their product. However, it can still be necessary to get a professional opinion before taking herbs, because they can interact with pharmaceutical medication or be contraindicated for certain diseases.

What herbal brands do you trust most?

Everyday Medicine: Chocolate

Everyday medicines are things we use on a daily basis to help our bodies manage stress and recover from day to day wear and tear. Diseases have been treated for eons through nutrition, so they are also often born from nutritional deficiencies. One sort of deficiency could be anemia. Anemia has many different forms, from macrocytic to microcytic, and it is typically defined by iron deficiency or absorption issues. Iron is a very important mineral that helps maintain oxygen levels in the blood, which nourishes the distal tissues. When there isn’t enough oxygen to support cellular function, hypoxia tends to manifest. The lack of oxygen can be the underlying reason for pain, fatigue, even disease.

An “everyday medicine” that could help with these issues is dark chocolate! Dark chocolate is very high in iron, as well as xanthines. These nutrients can help the body build better, denser blood, and increase energy by stimulating neurotransmitter behaviors (xanthines include chemicals like caffeine). Additionally, those dark chocolates which are processed minimally are high in fiber. This can help the body to purge accumulations in the GI tract, thus improving the body’s ability to absorb nutrients.

Feeling fatigued? Bite into a bar of chocolate! I recommend taking chocolate around 12PM, the time when the heart’s energy is . The bitter flavor of dark chocolate can help to clear out heat, while tonifying the “yin” of the heart blood. The heaviness of the iron can be very sedative to the mind, and even help with anxiety. This is a reason why chocolate is so coveted by emotional persons.