Kaitlin Downes - Author & Contributor | Best Chinese Medicines

Xiao Yao Wan – A Chinese Herbal Medicine Formula Everyone will Love

Chinese medicine is known for its very specific herbal formulas and ability to individualize these medicines to perfectly fit the patient. With the ease of over-the-counter Chinese medicine products, we are able to share this amazing medicine with far more people than ever. One of the brilliant things about Chinese herbal medicine is how it…
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The Ultimate Guide to Dit Da Jow: Topical Chinese Herbal Medicine for Pain Relief and Healing

Whether it’s a nagging muscle ache, a fresh bruise, or persistent joint pain, these everyday aches can make even the simplest tasks feel like a mountain of a challenge. But before you reach for the OTC pain killers, your best solution may lie in an ancient natural concoction: Dit Da Jow. For centuries, people have…
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Chinese Medicine vs. Western Medicine

How Chinese Medicine treats dysfunction, disease, health and wellbeing is complementary to Western Medicine Even at a glance, Chinese Medicine is quite different from Western Medicine. Earthy herbs are favored over laboratory compounds, mind and body are considered one, and diet and lifestyle take center stage. Chinese Medicine is an ancient system developed thousands of…
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10 Things Everyone Should Know About Yunnan Baiyao

If there’s one Chinese herbal formula that has caught attention worldwide, it’s Yunnan Baiyao. Yunnan Baiyao is a famous trauma formula that is now used for a wide range of health conditions like pain, tumors, abdominal pain, menstrual pain, muscle aches, dental issues, and more. In fact, Yunnan Baiyao is so popular that it is…
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Chinese Herbs for Erectile Dysfunction

Is your sex life feeling a little…deflated? Chinese herbs for erectile dysfunction can help. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the most commonly reported sexual health problem among men, affecting as many as 30 million men in the US. Unlike Western medicine treatment for ED, Traditional Chinese Medicine treatment is based on the whole-body approach. By using…
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Best Chinese Pain Patches

When stubborn pain keeps you from doing what you love, a Chinese pain patch may be just what you need to get moving again. While herbal teas and pills are the most recognizable form of Chinese herbal medicine, there are many topical applications of herbal medicine as well. Topical herbal medicine (in the form of…
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Sore Throat in Summer? Yin Chiao (Yin Qiao) to the rescue!

We tend to think of colds as a winter woe, but can you get a cold in summer? Unfortunately, yes. “Summer colds” are similar to winter colds, but tend to have hotter, drier, and longer-lasting symptoms. Thankfully, Chinese medicine has a simple solution in time-tested Yin Qiao San. Read on to learn more about summer…
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Chinese Herbs for Atrial Fibrillation

Ever feel like your heart is dancing to its own beat? You may be experiencing Atrial Fibrillation (commonly known as AFib), which is a condition that causes irregular heartbeats. Having frequent palpitations or an irregular heartbeat can be quite unsettling, plus it may bring potential health risks along with it. While modern medicine offers various…
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Chinese Herbs for Asthma

Struggling to breathe? That’s a feeling no one wants to experience. Unfortunately, for over 262 million people across the world, conditions like asthma can quite literally “take your breath away.” But beyond inhalers and mediations, is there anything you can do to reduce asthma attacks – or even stop them from occurring altogether? Asthma is…
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About the Author

Kaitlan Downes, MSAOM, L.AC

Kate Downes is a Chinese medicine practitioner with a passion for herbal medicine. In fact, it was her love for plant and earth medicine that first drew her to study Chinese medicine.

Kate has a MSAOM (Master of Science, Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine) certification and practiced acupuncture in Indianapolis, IN for five years before packing her bags to roam the world. In order to stay in touch with the wellness community and continue to help others thrive with herbal medicine, she transformed her work from face-to-face patient care to spreading wellness through words. Her life as a remote herbalist and writer has allowed her to work with a variety of wellness brands, health pioneers, and her wonderful clients. She has a special interest in working with women’s health.

Kate thoroughly enjoys writing educational and useful pieces for Best Chinese Medicine. Her goal is to help the public gain a better understanding of the wonders of Chinese herbal medicine so they can be empowered in their own quest for natural, vibrant health.

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Is the holiday season leaving you feeling carefree and festive…or frazzled and frosty? For many of us, the holidays marks a time to celebrate, reconnect, and soak in the warmth of loved ones. But let’s be real – behind the sparkle and cheer, there’s often a hefty dose of stress tagging along. Between gift shopping,…
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