Kaitlin Downes - Author & Contributor | Best Chinese Medicines

What is a Healthy Gut? Natural Solutions to Heal our Most Stressed System

What’s with the gut? These days, it seems like everyone is talking about gut health and how important it is for total wellbeing. Ongoing research has shown that the gut is not just about digestion – it’s the essential factor to create overall health and wellness for the whole body. Without a healthy gut system,
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The Power of Chinese Green Tea

Green tea is one of the most popular superfoods in the world – and for good reason! From boosting your energy to fighting chronic disease, the benefits of Chinese green tea are endless. Read on to learn more about how the power of Chinese green tea can help you live your healthiest life. All About
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Eating With the Seasons: TCM Tips for Fall

Ever notice how your body seems to crave heartier meals, warm drinks, and a slower pace when autumn rolls around? That’s not just the weather talking — it’s your body’s way of syncing up with the season and bolstering itself for the cooler months ahead. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), fall marks an important shift.
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Spleen Strength & Stability: Which Chinese Herbal Formula is Right for You?

Do you feel tired after meals? Bloated no matter what you eat? Struggle with brain fog, loose stools, or stubborn weight gain? According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), these symptoms aren’t just random – they often point to an imbalance in one of the body’s most essential (yet often overlooked) organs: the Spleen. The TCM
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Chinese Herbal Liquid Extracts (Tinctures) – A Complete Guide

Pills, powders, and poultices, oh my! Chinese medicinal formulas come in many shapes and sizes – and even varied administration methods. Let’s learn a little more about one of our favorite ways to take our Chinese herbs: liquid extracts. Liquid extracts are a unique way to take herbal medicine. Tinctures are commonly used in Western
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Chinese Adaptogenic Mushrooms

Wouldn’t it be great if you had a magic shield that could ward off stress? While there may not be such a thing, you can reduce the negative effects that stress has on your mind and body. How? With the power of adaptogenic mushrooms. Adaptogenic mushrooms are a group of special medicinal mushrooms that help
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Supercharge Your Metabolism & Thyroid Health with Chinese Herbal Medicine

Your metabolism is more than just the speed at which you burn calories, it’s the complex, life-sustaining process that powers every cell in your body. And at the heart of this system is your thyroid gland, a small butterfly-shaped organ with an outsized influence on your energy, mood, weight, and overall vitality. When the thyroid
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The Best Chinese Herbs for Anti-Aging

Tired of spending money on expensive anti-aging serums? Are you hoping to avoid invasive cosmetic procedures? Simply want to feel as young as possible for as long as possible? Chinese herbs for anti-aging may be the answer you’re looking for. Chinese herbal medicine has long been used to help people age gracefully. From wrinkle prevention
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The Best Chinese Herbs for Memory and Concentration

It’s normal to experience some forgetfulness or have trouble focusing or learning new information as you age. But when you are consistently unable to remember new information or are forgetting your past memories, you may be experiencing memory loss. Thankfully there are ways to restore your memory and boost your focus when you use Chinese
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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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Each season brings its own energy, rhythms, and needs. Living in tune with these needs by adjusting your diet is one of the best ways to help our bodies stay balanced and resilient. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), spring marks the shift from winter’s deep rest to new growth and movement. Just as sprouts push…
Best Adaptogens for Energy
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Do you struggle with fatigue? Or want to wake up each day with more “pep in your step?” If so, adaptogens for energy could help you gain the energy you crave. Adaptogen herbs are a natural way to relieve stress, boost your energy, and live with more vitality. They can help nearly anyone have a…
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