Chinese Medicine Basics Articles

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
Read More »
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
Read More »
Chinese Herbal Teas – The Complete Guide

How is Chinese Tea Used in Chinese Herbal Medicine? On any given day, over 50% of Americans are expected to drink at least one cup of tea. From a warm cup in the morning to an afternoon pick-me-up, tea offers us a delicious treat and quiet ritual. Both modern research and the ancient wisdom of
Read More »
Chinese Herbal Soups – Eat Your Medicine

Although it was Hippocrates who was quoted for the famous line, “Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food,” this concept has been an integral part of Chinese medicine for millennia. Food therapy is often the first line of defense in Chinese medicine for conditions that are mild in nature or based in
Read More »
Tablets, Teapills, Tinctures, Oh My! Decoding the Types of Chinese Herbal Medicine

Are you wondering which form of a Chinese herbal formula is right for you? Let’s explore the various types of Chinese herbal medicine to help you decide. Those new to Chinese herbal medicine often ask why there are so many different types of preparations, like pills, tablets, tinctures, and decoctions. What’s the difference? And which
Read More »
Unlocking the Power of Teapills: A Comprehensive Guide to TCM’s Best-Kept Secret

How to Effectively Use Teapills for Your Health Teapills, a staple in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), offer a simple way to incorporate powerful herbal remedies into your wellness routine. These tiny, round, herbal capsules are pre-prepared, easy to take, and packed with centuries-old wisdom. If you’re looking to benefit from the healing power of TCM,
Read More »
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
Read More »
Spleen and Spleen (Chi)Qi in Chinese Medicine

What do we mean by the Spleen: According to Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, the energetic organ system responsible for what we in modern times call “digestion” is the Spleen. This is not to be confused with the Western medical definition of the spleen as the organ that, among other things, makes antibodies, removes old red
Read More »
Dampness in Chinese Medicine – What is it & How To Fix It

If you have read our blogs or visited an acupuncturist, you may have heard the term “dampness.” But what is dampness in Chinese Medicine, and what does it mean for your health? Dampness may sound like a strange concept, but it’s pretty simple. Read on to learn what dampness really is and how you can
Read More »

About the Author

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.

Blog Categories

Articles Related To Category: Chinese Medicine Basics Articles

Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (and Related Formulas) in Chinese Herbal Medicine
November 28, 2025

Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Six Flavor Teapills or Six Flavor Rehmannia) is a traditional Chinese formula originally created as a gentle and gradual way of building up the strength and vitality of infants and children with what we might now call (generally speaking) developmental delay issues (e.g. failure to thrive, fontanels not closing, and…
Un-Stuffed: How Chinese Medicine Can Help You Beat the Holiday Bloat
November 21, 2025

The holidays are nearly here, and that means one thing: indulgence! And after the challenging and stressful year we’ve had, don’t we deserve to have a little more fun, celebrate a little harder, and enjoy a few extra treats? But indulgence often comes at a cost – in this case stubborn bloating and weight gain,…
Three Formulas to Help You Through the Holiday Season and Beyond
November 14, 2025

Welcome back to the members of our growing community of people interested in improving their overall health and sense of balance in their lives through the use of Chinese herbal formulas. Today’s article will take an in-depth look at three formulas that could prove to be quite handy to have around during the Holiday season:…
Lung & Chest Support: Which Chinese Herbal Formula is Right for You?
November 7, 2025

Are you someone who always has a pack of tissues handy? Do you struggle with constant allergies, lingering coughs, or catch colds easily? Maybe your skin is dry and irritated, or you’ve been feeling more sad or disconnected than usual? According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), these symptoms could all point back to an imbalance…
The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Chinese Herbal Formulas by Organ System
October 31, 2025

Chinese herbal medicine can be powerful. But if you’ve ever wanted to try a TCM formula, but gotten stuck wondering “which formula is right for me?,” you’re not alone. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers hundreds of time-tested herbal formulas, each designed to bring the body back into balance in its own unique way. But with…