So, you want to be a Chinese herbalist?  Or you’re already an herbalist and want to dig into the classics?  Deepest Health has, over time, become increasingly devoted to discussion of Chinese herbs, particularly classical herbal theory and practical issues in contemporary Chinese herbalism in the west.  Eric, site founder & main writer, teaches Chinese herbs lab at National College of Natural Medicine as well as teaching courses in herbalism in small groups in Portland and here on Deepest Health.

For many of you, rigorous training in Chinese herbs may not be part of your educational path.  That’s one of the main reasons we hope to offer ever more resources, on this page and elsewhere, to help you engage with this vital modality as deeply as possible.

On this page, find compiled the best content on Deepest Health that has to do with Chinese herbs.  It is by no means a complete listing of Chinese herb related content on the site, however.  It can serve as a great point of departure for deeper research into the topic on the site – just use the related posts feature at the bottom of each article to continue your exploration.

Articles

Here is a sampling of articles about Chinese herbalism here on Deepest Health.  Most of these articles are accessible to even first year students, but many of them will also give something of value to even experienced practitioners.

1. Guizhi tang and Miles Davis
2. Guizhi tang, Shanghan lun line 12 and Chinese herb study
3. Chinese herb profiles – looking briefly at Guizhi / cinnamon twig
4. The relational method of learning Chinese herbs – formula families
5. Reawakening the faculty of touch in learning Chinese herbs
6. The acupuncture channels and Chinese herb flavors
7. Chinese herb substitution and using local species
8. Experiments in Chinese herbalism / the dangers of Yin Qiao-itis
9. Multi-disciplinary herbal study / Huangqi
10. Why Chinese herbal formula science is the most advanced medicine out there

Audio & Video

Many of the earliest Deepest Health podcasts focused chiefly on learning Chinese medicine and study.  However, the last several have had a more herbal bent – here are the best of those.

• Deepest Health Podcast 19 – An interview with Eric Brand of Legendary Herbs – the Chinese herb trade
• Deepest Health Podcast 16 – An interview with Tim Rudowsky of Cookmyherbs.com – why bulk herbs?
• Deepest Health Podcast 15 – Does where Chinese herbs are grown really matter?

Courses & other products

We have two courses related to Chinese herbs.

The Shennong Relational Herb Method course is an 11 module digital course that focuses on teaching you a method for engagement with Chinese herbs that you can use to build a lifelong learning practice.  This is not a data oriented course, and while we talk about herbs, this is not a “single herbs” course like you might find in a Chinese medicine program at a school.  It’s deeply personal, multi-faceted and a lot of fun.  Click here to learn more about the Shennong method course.

Recommended external resources

Best places to buy bulk Chinese herbs as a student or practitioner

• Legendary Herbs - granules & good ginseng
• Spring Wind Herbs – bulk herbs & topicals
• Green Tea Apothecary – pre boiled herbal decoctions, tinctures and powders
• Tronexrx – lab tested, safe Xixin and Mutong granules
• Classical Pearls – highest quality granule Fuzi and many other classically processed herbal granules

Best books related to Chinese herbs available in English

Shanghan lun – Treatise on Cold Damage – translated by Wiseman, Mitchell and Ye

Jingui yao lue – Prescriptions from the Golden Cabinet – translated by Sabine Wilms (not the whole Jingui – but great)