Tag: TCM Herbs

Now that we’re in the height of summer, many of us are looking for ways to stay cool and beat the heat. One classic summer food that can help us do just that is watermelon. Everyone knows how sweet and refreshing a juicy slice of watermelon on a hot day can be, it’s a summertime ritual for many of us.

In Chinese Medicine, watermelon is used medicinally to help cool and clear summer heat. It nourishes fluids and helps promote urination, making it an excellent medicine for clearing heat from the body. It also has a sweet calming nature for the spirit.

Here’s a cooling summer recipe for a Watermelon Salad:

1 small watermelon, sliced into cubes and seeds removed
½-1 cup jicama, sliced
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro

We all think hydration is simple, right? Just drink plenty of water. But staying well hydrated also means our bodies need to actually ABSORB all the water we’re drinking. Imagine a dry, cracked piece of earth in the desert. When it rains, that earth is so parched and hard that it cannot absorb any water. It all runs off the surface.

Our bodies are the same. If we don’t “prepare our soil” properly, all the water we drink just runs right through, and our tissues are still parched and dry. In TCM, we use yin tonics- herbs that are moistening and demulcent, in order to help moisten the body on a deep level and help it to “hold” the water. On a cellular level, yin tonics …

With Summer, the season of Fire upon us, we only need to step out our doors to see the reminder everywhere: Summer is the season of Flowering. We see this in the beauty of our gardens and the bright wildflowers that are still so alive in our local hills. The Nei Jing tells us that the movement of Summer is growth and flowering. Of all the parts of a plant, flowers pertain most to the Fire element. They are light and yang in nature, they lift and brighten our spirits and bring us joy. Flowers in TCM are mostly used to affect the upper parts of the body, where the shen (spirit) resides. Their fragrance is opening and moving.

Many of our local flowers can …

Jordan Wheeler has been studying natural medicine for the last 10 years, first obtaining his Bachelor of Science in Herbal Sciences from Bastyr University in Seattle. He then earned his Master of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine from the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACTCM) in San Francisco in 2013. During his time there, he spent several years working in the Auricular Clinic, which offers acupuncture to low-income community members.

Having completed the didactic portion of the Doctorate of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from The American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ACTCM), Jordan has since switched to the transitional Doctorate of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine to focus on integrative medicine care. His practice, Focal Point Acupuncture, is located in San Francisco’s vibrant Mission District where …