ALLERGY SEASON 👃🏻 Traditional Chinese medicine has some of the best remedies for nasal congestion, developing all-herbal formulas as well as acupressure solutions to relieve a stuffy nose without the side effects of pharmaceuticals. As far back as the Warring State’s period (400-250 BC), Chinese medicine physicians had already developed a solid understanding of nasal congestion, or rhinitis. The medical text Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon attributes rhinitis to “exterior cold and wind” disrupting the immune system, combined with “interior heat,” also known as inflammation. Here are some TCM remedies to try: ACUPRESSURE 🫰🏻 A particularly effective acupressure point for relieving nasal congestion is DU23 (middle of the head about an inch above the hairline), as recommended by revered physician Ni Hai-Sha: vigorously massage this point, or scrape the area with a gua sha tool. Many will experience relief almost immediately HERBAL FORMULAS 🍃 Herbal remedies for nasal congestion focus on mitigating inflammation in the nose and globally, as well as restoring normal circulation and regulating the immune system. TCM herbal formulas for nasal congestion are designed to address specific constitutional types, and are rarely one-size-fits-all Two of the most well-known formulas for nasal congestion are Bi Yan Pian and Pe Min Gan, targeting different constitutions: those with watery, clear or white nasal mucus will benefit more from Pe Min Gan, while those with thicker, yellow mucus (signaling a stronger inflammatory immune reaction) should select Bi Yan Pian. We also have capsules and an allergy tea 🍵 These herbal formulas are based on a classic formula first seen in a 13th century medical text, “The Life-Saving Formulas of Master Yan.” Both formulas feature the classic Chinese medical herbal pairing of Magnolia Flower (Xīn yí) and Cocklebur (Cāng ěr zi), which are anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy, curbing histamine release and helping restore normal fluid circulation through the nose. They also have antimicrobial properties, exhibiting a strong inhibitory effect against bacteria and viruses. . . . #nasalcongestion #chinesemedicine #holistichealth #acupressure #learnontiktok #allergies #allergyseason

Tea—the drink made from the Camellia sinensis plant—originated in China, which remains the world’s largest tea producer. Unlike the large tea estates of the Indian subcontinent, Chinese tea is typically grown on small, family-owned plots or tea cooperatives from multiple smaller growers. Teas like Pu’er are also typically grown and sold by ethnic minority tribes throughout Yunnan. Tea growers in China continue to use traditional artisan techniques to grow, harvest, and make tea, and many of China’s finest teas continue to be made by hand. (Some Chinese tea-making processes are even on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List, including our Zhang Ping Shui Xian tea!) This makes the Chinese tea trade extremely unusual in that it has been a major global industry without the use of industrialization or major technology. Many of these images are of my favorite tea, Pu’er—a fermented tea from Yunnan, China. Unlike most other teas, Pu’er is better aged, and like wine, high-quality, well-aged Pu’er teas are even sold at auction at Sotheby’s, sometimes fetching prices in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Pu’er tea was so prized that it was traded for Tibetan warhorses—it famously traveled the Ancient Tea Horse Trail, a trade route connecting Yunnan and Lhasa that originated in the 6th century, preceding the Silk Road. Photos from @yamashitaphoto’s book “Shangri-La” and @natgeo, as well as books on Pu’er tea. . . #tcm #chinesemedicine #wellness #tea #healthycooking #healthfoods #holistic #puer #matcha #chinatravel #yunnan #iroh #avatarthelastairbender #learnwithtiktok #learnontiktok

Did you know that in the Middle Ages, surgery and other medical procedures had to be timed for when the stars were well-aligned to the body part undergoing treatment? This is a concept I was introduced to in a graduate course in History of Medicine. Below you’ll find a table of correspondences between body parts and astrological positions: ARIES: head, eyes, adrenals, blood pressure TAURUS: neck, throat, shoulders, ears GEMINI: lungs, nerves, arms, heads, fingers CANCER: chest wall, breasts, some body fluids LEO: heart, spine, upper back, spleen VIRGO: abdomen, intestines, gallbladder, pancreas, liver LIBRA: lower back, hips, kidneys, endocrines SCORPIO: reproductive organs, pelvis, urinary bladder, rectum SAGITTARIUS: thighs, legs CAPRICORN: knees, bones, skin AQUARIUS: ankles, blood vessels PISCES: feet, some bodily fluid . . . #astrology #zodiac #starsigns #horoscope #medievalhistory #history #europeanhistory #herbalmedicine #learnwithtiktok

Ancient China has a long medical incense tradition for treating various ailments—see below for 10 varieties of medical incense available on our site 🌿 Starting from the Wei to Tang dynasties (~300-900 AD), we start to see advanced application of incense in the treatment of a wide variety of diseases. The fourth century “Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergency” details inhaling the vapors of pokeweed root to alleviate mental illness, fermented black bean powder incense to alleviate cataracts, and inhaling burning pepper to treat headaches. During this period, ancient Chinese physicians also began developing a theory of the healing mechanism of incense. They had already recognized that pathogens entered through the nose and mouth, then spreading to the head cavities, lungs and abdomen. They believed that aromatics, which had a “penetrating and mobile” nature (走竄) could penetrate into these areas and neutralize the pathogen. Additionally, incense, due to its ethereal nature, was seen as a “purely yang substance” (純陽之物), which meant that it could serve as an antidote to “yin substances” like cold, dampness and evil spirits which settled and lodged in the interstices of the body. From the Tang and Song dynasties onward, the use of aromatics in the treatment of diseases also became widely popular. Tang dynasty physician Cui Zhiti detailed using honey-treated coltsfoot incense to cure a “30 year chronic cough”. 7th century physician Sun Simiao, known as the King of Medicine, described using smoked ephedra inhaled through a bamboo pole to treat pain and swelling in the throat—our newest incense features a Sun Simiao incense recipe for insomnia, worry, and restlessness. Our popular medical incense collection on our site includes 10 all-herbal formulas based on traditional Chinese medicine as well as Buddhist recipes. These include incense for: • Insomnia, worry & restlessness (new) • General health and immunity • Refreshing & resuscitation • Headache and bloating • Mind opening and digestion • Remove damp-cold and negative energy • Sinus congestion • Stress and anxiety relief • Dispel cold • Lift mood and calm mind . . . #incense #chinesemedicine #holistichealth #herbalmedicine #ancienthistory #herbology #fragrance

Why Chinese medicine avoids cold drinks! 🧊 Ice is a ubiquitous part of the modern Western lifestyle, and cold food and drink are extremely popular. For example, someone in the US might think a salad and a cold smoothie is a healthy meal. Traditional Chinese Medicine, however, believes ice is immensely harmful to our health, and that the intake of cold food or drink can decrease circulation, hinder nutrient absorption, prevent adequate hydration, and potentially lead to reduced immunity and even female reproductive system disorders. This is why you’ll find the Chinese drinking hot drinks such as tea year-round—and why we often ask for water at room temperature! Chinese wisdom suggests that all food and drink be consumed around 100 degrees F, at body temperature or greater. Your stomach, like your other organs, is optimized at 98.6 degrees. After the intake of cold drink or food, the stomach will attempt to draw heat from the lower body in an effort to return to its optimal temperature, decreasing circulation to these areas. In Western terms, the intake of cold food and drink causes blood vessel constriction, which prevent our bodies from fully absorbing nutrients and also hinders hydration. In TCM terms, ingesting cold food and drinks weaken the Stomach and the Spleen organ systems and promotes dampness in the body, which is linked to immunity and results in phlegm production. Ultimately, excess internal phlegm creates lethargy and excess weight, and can also be linked to qi stagnation, resulting in irritability and low motivation. Thus, one of the easiest and most beneficial TCM health tips to drink more warm beverages! 🍵🫖 Shown in the video: our Pipa semi-automatic tea kettle and raw Pu’er dragon pearl tea from Yiwu village #chinesemedicine #tcm #wellness #tea #holistichealth #herbalmedicine #chinesecooking #naturalfood #chineseculture #learnontiktok #oddlysatisfying