Blog | TCMzone

Support Upper, Middle and Lower Jiao with TCMCeuticals Essential Digestive Formulas

Posted on Mar 13, 2019 by jknapp

By: Sherri Taylor, L.Ac.

This month we are focusing our attention on TCM for digestive conditions. Digestive conditions are vast and common and TCM offers powerful therapies to support a healthy digestive system*. Our TCMCeuticals® Digestive line consisting of three (3) formulas for the upper, middle and lower jiao are the fundamental digestive formulas for your practice. Our formulator, Dr. Haihe Tian’s comprehensive TCMCeuticals® digestive line consists of Esophageal Balance for the upper jiao, Digestive support for the middle jiao and Colon Harmony for the lower jiao*. These three (3) formulas address the most common patterns of digestive imbalance and are based on Dr. Tian’s years of clinical experience in G.I.*. Read the description below for Chinese Medicine pattern indicated for each of these formulas.

Esophageal Balance– is appropriate for the upper GI tract and upper jiao. It is indicated for an excess heat pattern with liver overacting on the stomach. The chief ingredients in this formula make up Zuo Jin Wan. The function of this formula is to clear heat and direct rebellious qi downward. The remaining ingredients assist with directing the rebellious qi downward and preventing chronic conditions*.

Chinese Medicine Pattern– Liver overacting on the stomach with heat*.

Esophageal Balance contains the following ingredients:

**Huang Lian (Chief Herb)

**Wu Zhu Yu (Chief Herb)

These 2 ingredients are the chief herbs that make up Zuo Jin Wan. Other ingredients include: Chai Hu, Huang Qin, Xiang Fu, Duan Wa Leng Zi, and San Qi.

Digestive Support– promotes the function of the stomach, and middle jiao. The Chinese Medicine pattern is mainly for Qi stagnation in the stomach. This may be due to over eating or poor dietary habits. Digestive Support is also useful for digestive problems due to emotional upset*.

Chinese Medicine Pattern: Spleen and Stomach Qi deficiency with Liver Qi stagnation*.

Digestive Support contains the following ingredients:

**Chai Hu (Chief Herb)

**Xiang Fu (Chief Herb)

**Both of these herbs work together to spread the Liver Qi, regulate the emotions, decrease pain, and balance Liver and Spleen disharmony*. Other ingredients are Zhi Ke, Da Fu Pi, Xiang Yuan, Fo Shou, Zi Su Geng, Chao Bai Shao, Zhi Gan Cao, and Yan Hu Suo.

Colon Harmony– assists with harmonizing the lower GI tract to help correct the imbalance of function and bacteria in the lower jiao. This formula raises the Spleen Qi, improves Spleen function, and soothes the liver*.

Chinese Medicine Pattern- Spleen Yang deficiency with Liver Qi stagnation*.

Colon Harmony contains the following ingredients:

**He Ye (Chief Herb)

**Ge Gen (Chief Herb)

**Xiang Fu (Chief Herb)

These three herbs are the main herbs in this formula. Primarily, these three (3) herbs raise the Spleen Qi and assist with the liver Qi stagnation*. Other ingredients to assist with this action include Chai Hu, Chao Bai Zhu, Chao Bai Shao, Shan Yao, Rou Gui, and Zhi Gan Cao.

Questions about any of these formulas? Contact TCMzone and speak to our herbal consultant, Sherri Taylor, L.Ac. Call 888-788-8086 on Mondays, 12-2pm PT or email any time sherri@tcmzone.com.

Practitioners Corner: February Spotlight, Amy Sear, A.P., Dipl.OM

Posted on Feb 8, 2019 by jknapp

Oriental medicine practice and utilization in America is in such an exciting period of growth and expansion, and I feel so blessed to be in practice at this time. I did my training in the mid 1990’s in Miami, FL and got my license in early 1997. The times have changed so much, on every front, that many of my students seem so shocked when I tell them stories ‘of the old days’, even though in the grand scheme of things, it was not that long ago.

The most vital aspect of this is the massive increase in awareness of and interest in all aspects of oriental medicine that regular and average citizens have. This has occurred rapidly and exponentially. One benefit of this is that doctors and large medical institutions have followed along. Sometimes driven from the patient level up, and other times because high level accreditations have begun requiring integrative methodologies and integrative medicine departments. And acupuncture is at the top of the list of the most required and desired integrative practices.

I ran a private practice, renting clinical space, in a community hospital based breast cancer center because of a fabulous and progressive Medical Director there. We began this in 2005 and this continued and thrived until 2015, when the hospital created a fully comprehensive Integrative Medicine Department. It was quite a journey and project, with many trials and tribulations to get to that point, but I am since then happily part of a full department and a well supported program. I am a full time employee along with a full support staff, a second, part time acupuncturist, a nurse practitioner, and a full time Integrative Medicine Doctor, trained by Andrew Weil. We partner with other departments and programs throughout the hospital that provide massage, yoga, diet and nutrition, mindful meditation, and exercise.

Integrative practice, whether hospital based or not, is not suited for everyone, nor is everyone suited for it. I love it and find it compelling and stimulating, but it also has challenges and requires compromises. TCMzone has asked me to do a webinar with them this month. I will be sharing and providing a wide spectrum of information about hospital based integrative acupuncture practice, including aspects of my own experience. I will cover the major topics for those curious about hospital based practice. In a second webinar, also this month, I will cover necessary components and attributes of good quality professional medical records. This is a vital aspect that we must all strive to do well, especially as we seek greater utilization and more respect by patients and the overall health care system.

Since 2000, I have been a teacher at several schools in our profession, all in Florida. I absolutely love being a teacher. I teach in the classroom and continuing education. I have learned so much from teaching and preparing lectures. I have learned so much from my students. The interaction in the classroom and in seminars is invigorating, and every year the enthusiasm, passion and drive of those in our profession increases. As someone in the later portion of their career, this is beautiful and I can only imagine how much further they will all take us.

From 2004 to 2010 I had the pleasure to serve as President of the Florida State Oriental Medicine Association (FSOMA). This was an amazing experience and I learned so much and met so many people, all working hard to spread the word and power of oriental medicine, helping us all move forward and come out of the shadows. FSOMA recently decided to undertake an expensive and difficult task, to challenge the Florida Board of Physical Therapy that had decided to add ‘dry needling’ to their scope. This took great courage and hard work, and required that lots of money be raised. Just days ago the judge for the case ruled that the Board of Physical Therapy overstepped their authority and ruled against their ability to add ‘dry needling’. The judge ALSO ruled that ‘dry needling’ IS acupuncture. This is huge. And this is all extra special because too often acupuncturists do not adequately or consistently enough step forward and donate the kind of money these issues and battles require. This topic is likely not done here in Florida, but the good news is that it has stirred us up and unified us.

Going in to my 22^nd year of being licensed and practicing, I have seen and learned and experienced many things. All the way from the days when acupuncturists were arrested for practicing, to having patients of mine tell me that their doctors told them not to do acupuncture. I have seen the amount of licensees in Florida triple and the myths and misconceptions of acupuncture fade away. It is an exciting time for us all and the future will only bring more.

It is a delight to be a webinar presenter for TCMzone. TCMzone has recorded versions of webinars we have done in the past, available for earning CEUs and NCCAOM PDA’s, including the required topics of Ethics and Safety, including Herbal Safety.

Practitioners Corner: January Spotlight, Dr. Hua Bing Wen, B. Med., MS, L.Ac.

Posted on Jan 9, 2019 by jknapp

Medicine is the only profession I ever considered. I earned my medical degree from Beijing University of Chinese Medicine in 1987 and then my Masters of Science in Integrated Clinical Medicine. I have always believed that every patient deserves personalized treatment and so this is how I conduct my practice. Based on the individual conditions, I design a treatment plan specific to each person using acupuncture, herbal treatments, dietary recommendations, and lifestyle counseling. In order to customize my herbal treatments I find using TCMzone granule packets to be the absolute best methodology for a safe, effective, and simple plan.

First, the granule packets are safe for my patients. Not only are the TCMzone granules manufactured at GMP facilities and tested for quality assurance before packaged. The packets themselves offer a sense of confidence to my patients when they open them for the first time at home. Each dose comes sealed and labeled with lot number, name and amount, adding to higher patient compliance.

Second, the TCMzone granule packets are effective. This comes down to manufacturing and quality standards. However, the TCMzone packets in both single herbs and formulas also allow me, as the practitioner, to customize my herbal protocols for each patient condition. I can modify a granule packet formula by adding sealed single herbs to the protocol or I can build my own herbal formula using the single herb packets to address specific conditions.

Finally, the granule packets are convenient. They are simple in packaging for my patients to use. They are easy to open and pour into water to make their daily tea, drinking half in the a.m and remainder in the evening. They are also easy for my patients to travel with and to carry. They can keep the granule packets in their purse, luggage, pockets and take during their travels or work day. This dosage form offers my patients convenience, which is essential when taking Chinese herbs.

Practitioners Corner: December Spotlight, Haihe Tian, Ph.D., A.P

Posted on Dec 5, 2018 by jknapp

I started my training back in 1982 at one of the top medical schools in China, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine where I studied both Chinese medicine and Western medicine for 6 years. I continued my Master and Doctoral programs by following Dr Dong,

Jian-hua, the most famous TCM gastroenterology expert in China. I moved to the U.S. in early 1997 and have been practicing and teaching acupuncture and Chinese medicine for over 21 years at my clinic, Chinese Acupuncture & Herbs Center.

My teacher was the top TCM expert in China, specializing in G.I. diseases, and I learned a lot from him. I also practiced western medicine and performed endoscopes to see underline physical and pathological changes inside the GI tract, further developing the G.I. specialty for myself. There are about 30,000 licensed acupuncturists in America now treating common health problems, such as pain, so I think it’s important to build practitioners’ own specialty to distinguish themselves from other practitioners. I found that G.I. conditions are very well indicated with acupuncture and herbal medicine, because patients with G.I. issues can get excellent results from using acupuncture and Chinese herbs.

I recently started working with TCMzone as the formulator for their new TCMCeuticals digestive health product line. I combined both my teacher’s more than 60 years’ and my own 20 plus years US practice experience to create these 3 formulas suitable for American’s gastrointestinal health. I know that I can only help a limited number of clients in my clinic, but now practitioners can access my formulas and use them to help more clients. I recommend all 3 formulas and have many exciting stories that I will gladly share in future blog posts and webinars.

Practitioners Corner: November Spotlight, Sherri Taylor, L.Ac., Dipl.OM

Posted on Nov 14, 2018 by jknapp

My practice is called The Herbal Kind and I chose that name because my passion is herbal medicine and it is a significant part of my practice. I chose to go to school for herbal medicine first, then acupuncture. One of my goals was to bring an awareness to the natural options people have to choose from when improving their health including herbal medicine and acupuncture. I practice Traditional Chinese Medicine and specialize in Women’s Health, Fertility, and Internal Medicine. I enjoy treating complex cases with herbal medicine and acupuncture. I’ve been practicing for approximately 13 years and can’t imagine doing anything else for a living. Another interest of mine is teaching. I enjoy educating patients on their health conditions as well as teaching Chinese Medicine students and practitioners herbal medicine.

I think you need to start simple when beginning your herbal practice and building your herbal pharmacy. First, it is important to do the research and ensure that the herbs that you have in your pharmacy are high quality and free of any toxicity. You want to know what you are giving your patients and feel good about the product you are supplying to them. Second, start with a few herbs that make up some common formulas based on the population you see. You may also make this decision by the seasons. For example, you may have Yu Ping Feng San and Yin Qiao San on hand in the fall and spring because you may encounter more people suffering from cold, virus or allergies during these 2 seasons. I think for patient compliance, you first have to come across confident about your decision of prescribing a formula and let them know up front what they will experience. I always prepare patients that the herbal medicine doesn’t taste sweet and it’s not supposed to. Explain to them that it is medicine and plant medicine from the earth!! Also, assure them they have options if for some reason a granule formula or raw formula doesn’t work for them. I have granules and pill form in my clinic. Be sure to give clear instructions and write them down for the patient to take home and follow. Follow up with patients regarding how they are taking the medicine, to make sure they are taking it correct.

One of my favorite success stories was a fertility case that I had 2 years ago. A 35 year old woman presented with pre mature ovarian failure. Her cycles were 19-30 days long. It varied month to month. She was diagnosed with hypothyroidism that was being controlled with medication. She had 2 pregnancies, one child and one miscarriage at 9 weeks. At the time she consulted with me, she was not ovulating and her FSH was 20. Her doctor suggested that she consult with a specialist for IVF. I told her to give me approximately 3-4 months to work with her and then we will retest her hormones. I prescribed herbs for her during the phases of her cycle and they were customized formulas that I made for her. She did Acupuncture once per week and herbal medicine daily. After 3 months she had her labs drawn and all her hormones were all within normal range including her FSH which was a 7!! However her AMH was .09 At the beginning of the 4^th month, she fell pregnant!! Not only did she have one but 2 babies!! I asked if twins were in her family and she said No!! So this 35 year old woman went from being peri menopausal to ovulating and conceiving twins naturally!! I also kept her on herbs for her first trimester and she had a very healthy pregnancy, working up to the very end of her pregnancy. She never required bed rest!

Practitioners Corner is a spotlight of In the Zone monthly e-newsletter, a resource for licensed healthcare practitioners.

My Post-Grad School Training in China, By Cynthia M. Cano

Posted on Oct 19, 2018 by Dan

Hello everyone, my name is Cynthia, thank you for taking a moment to read about my adventures in China and student training organized by TCMzone, LLC.

Let’s begin with a brief introduction about myself, I am a recent graduate from Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture (PIHMA) in Phoenix, Arizona. Before seeking a Master of Science in Oriental Medicine (MSOM), I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with a concentration in Health Science from California State University San Marcos (CSUSM). During my academic career at PIHMA, I gained a deeper appreciation and enthusiasm for Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture. My clinical supervisors encouraged me to be bold, and my wise instructors shared their knowledge on how to become a better practitioner and healer.

In November 2017, I became part of the TCMzone team, a company that plays a crucial role in the herbal industry serving integrative healthcare practitioners and TCM students, like myself. I feel extremely honored to have worked alongside Dr. Dan “Jipu” Wen (TCMzone founder and president), Jennifer Knapp (Vice-President) and the entire team at TCMzone, LLC.

TCMzone is recognized for organizing overseas practitioner-level trainings, however this year they decided to embark on a new venture, a student-level training. From September 14 to 28, I took advantage of the incredible opportunity to travel to the source of the medicine. I traveled to China with my father, my dearest friend and classmate Ofelia, and a group of amazing students from Wongu University of Oriental Medicine. Truthfully, this adventure would not have been the same without this group of like-minded individuals—sharing the same passion for the medicine, culture, and history.

The first 2-days of our trip, which is truly a cultural learning journey, we visited some of the most iconic and breathtaking landmarks in Beijing, including the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, and the Summer Palace. The fact that we were able to see so much in a short amount of time was impressive. I applaud Michael, our tour guide, for going above-and-beyond providing historical and culture information, fun-facts, answering all of our questions, and of course demonstrating how to “properly” eat Peking duck. Most of us bought jade bracelets, others bought souvenirs for loved ones, and many including myself tried snack after snack, such as cucumber or tomato flavored lays, pocky sticks, a diversity of Chinese bread, bubble tea, lamb kidney, and more!

After saying “Zàijiàn Beijing”, goodbye in Chinese, we then took a 5-hour high-speed train known as Gaotie from Beijing to Shanghai, ready and eager to begin to learn. The next portion of the trip consisted of the clinical observation training at LongHua Hospital, and afternoon lectures at Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (SUTCM) International Education College.

The clinical rounds in the morning consisted of outpatient and inpatient departments including: Oncology, Dermatology, Gastroenterology, TCM Internal Medicine, and Acupuncture. I truly enjoyed watching highly respected TCM doctors utilize acupuncture or prescribe Chinese herbal medicine for their patients. Some of the highlights from the clinical rounds was seeing our medicine in action. Flash cupping therapy was used on the face for those who had facial paralysis or Bell’s Palsy, moxibustion was burned over ST-36 and other acupuncture points to help invigorate the flow of Qi and blood in the body, ear seeds, electrical stimulation, and cupping was used on every patient, and Vitamin B-12 injections were injected in acupuncture points for various conditions.

The afternoon lectures included an array of topics such as Ear Acupuncture, Needling in the Neijing, Acupuncture Research by Dr. Wang Fan, Acupuncture and Moxibustion for Asthma by Dr. Zhang Bi-Meng, and we even had the opportunity to practice Ba Duan Jin qigong. On the last day of our clinical training, we had the pleasure to visit SHUTCM main campus for a graduation ceremony wherein we received a formal certification from SHUTCM for completing our student training and for a tour of the Medical History Museum of SHUTCM. I was inspired by all the rich history of TCM dating back to the stone age to modern days. The museum housed thousands of items exhibiting the TCM artifacts, such as ancient surgical instruments and TCM equipment like cupping, guasha, and needles, bronze acupuncture models, and hundreds of Chinese herbs were displayed for all to see. It really was quite stunning and spectacular to say the least, in fact it was one of my favorite things to see.

During our off time, we had the chance to explore the surrounding areas of our hotel and gained a first-hand experience of all that Shanghai has to offer. We visited the iconic Oriental Pearl Tower, we used our bargaining skills and shopped throughout Nanjing road, we even watched a Shanghai SIPG F.C. football match at the Shanghai Stadium, and sang at a local KTV karaoke bar. Like any foreign tourist, we wanted to impress our taste buds and try something new. In fact, we tried dish after dish not knowing what it was due to the language barrier, luckily pictures on menus helped us decide which dish was worth trying. We ate dumplings, organ meats, noodles, soups, and foods that till this day I’m not sure what it was, but it was sure delicious. What makes the cuisine in China so special for us TCM enthusiasts, is that many of the foods incorporate Chinese herbs, such as Sheng Jiang (fresh ginger), Gou Qi Zi (Chinese Wolfberry), and many more. At some restaurants, rice was cooked with Hong Zao (Red Chinese date) and soups were made with various Chinese herbs to serve a medicinal and satisfying purpose for the body.

We also had the opportunity to visit one of China’s largest granule herb manufacturers, Tianjiang Pharmaceutical Company. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, where I gained first-hand knowledge on the manufacturing and efficacy of herbal granules. We walked through the state-of-the-art modern facilities where processes such as multi-function extraction, purifying, vacuum concentration, spray drying, and dry granulation techniques take place. All to produce the quality granules that are the TCMzone finished herbal products. We were also treated to a detailed presentation by the manufacturer wherein we were given the opportunity to ask questions. The tour ended with a magnificent dinner celebration put on by the manufacturer.

TCMzone also organized a 1-day excursion to Hangzhou, the capital of China’s Zhejiang province, known for their iconic Grand Canal where we were able to take a short boat ride tour during the Autumn festival. We also visited the Hangzhou Longjingshan Tea Plantation and tried delicious roasted ‘Dragon Well” green tea. In the evening, we explored and wandered through the Wushan night market. Silk, tea, souvenir trinkets, and an abundance of street food was sold. If you are not familiar with stinky tofu, it can certainly take you by surprise and no, unfortunately I wasn’t that adventurous!

“All good things must come to an end.” As we said our farewells and exchanged contact information, we were packed and ready to fly back to the states. Looking back at this trip, I know I will be going back, as there is so much to see in China, the medicine, the culture, and the history. Perhaps, once I pass my national boards and become a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist I will take advantage of TCMzone’s Practitioner-Level China Training. Thank you for taking the time to read my post-grad school training in China.

If you are an Acupuncture & TCM student interested in joining a TCMzone Student Training, contact TCMzone. If you are a practitioner looking to join TCMzone’s annual practitioner-level China training you can find out more here, https://tcmzone.com/shanghaitour2018 or contact TCMzone, education@tcmzone.com or 888-788-8086.

Changing Seasons and Transitioning into the Metal Element

Posted on Aug 22, 2018 by jknapp

by Sherri Taylor, L.Ac., MSOM, FABORM

As summer comes to an end, we prepare for another season change, transitioning into fall. How do we prepare our patients to stay healthy during the time of transitioning from summer (yang) to fall (yin)?

Chinese Medicine describes our innate ability to harmonize our biological clock with nature. Naturally, we are able to adapt to the changes in the weather, sleep/wake cycles, and dietary habits. We educate patients on the importance of eating and dressing appropriately for the seasons and getting enough rest. However, we do have patients that resist these changes and become more vulnerable to illness. They are unable to adjust their lifestyle and resist the changes that are necessary to keep in harmony with nature. Due to one’s internal disharmony, it simply takes the change in environment for someone to fall ill. A sudden drop in body temperature will lead to a wind cold especially if the wei qi is unstable to begin with. Western Medicine describes this phenomenon as viruses being able to survive longer in the dry, cold temperatures rather than solely the cold environment. Hence, the Cold and Flu season.

As practitioners, we see Eastern Medicine diagnoses of Wind Cold, Wind Heat, Lung Qi Deficiency, Phlegm Heat in the Lung, Phlegm Cold in the Lung, and Wei Qi deficiency during the fall season. Upon entering the Metal element, it is important to have the following herbal formulas in stock to help balance your patients internally during this vulnerable time.

Yu Ping Feng San– can use preventatively during this time to boost Wei Qi and Lung Qi. It is also the “go to” formula when your patients suffer from allergies during the seasonal transition*.
Yin Qiao San- is for the beginnings of a sore throat and Wind Heat invasion*.
Gui Zhi Tang- for Wind Cold Invasion with sweating that is due to an imbalance of the Wei Qi (defense) and Ying Qi (nutrient qi)*.
Sang Ju Yin- Clears Wind Heat, descends the Lung Qi and stops cough*.
Xiao Chai Hu Tang- Harmonizes and releases Shao Yang for alternate fever and chills, dry throat, coughing, nausea, vomiting, acid reflux, rib side pain and stiffness of the neck*.

Currently, we are making the transition from the Earth Element to the Metal Element. The Spleen and Stomach meridians should be well prepared if we were in harmony with the season. This will also be dependent on how well we endure the changes. The function of our stomach has always been a key factor in maintaining our health. What we eat plays a significant role in how healthy the gut flora is. Our microbiome is always changing with diet. A diverse, healthy microbiome is necessary to maintain healthy flora and a strong immune system. If we are not eating correctly with the seasons, too much of the wrong food can lead to inflammation of the gut and less diversity in the microbiome. Low diversity of bacteria in the body contributes to inflammation and overgrowth of bad bacteria. One must eat large amount of fruits and vegetables to remedy this. The microbiome starts to change in just 3 days from dietary modifications. In order for the modifications to have a lasting effect, one has to sustain the diet of primarily fruits and vegetables. The Chinese medicine principle of warming, cooked, easy to digest foods always applies anytime you want to improve the microbiome.

It is important during this time to continue to strengthen the Spleen and Stomach meridians since they play a vital role in the immune system as well as boosting the Lung and Large Intestine meridians to prevent Wind Cold, Wind Heat, and Phlegm Cold & Heat in the lungs.

*The information provided here is for healthcare professional practitioners only. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

TCMCeuticals® Digestive Health, A New Approach to Gastrointestinal Health

Posted on Jun 12, 2018 by jknapp

An Interview with the formulator, Dr. Haihe Tian, Ph.D.(China), A.P.(FL)

Sherri: Hi Dr. Tian, thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to speak with me regarding your new digestive herbal line with TCMCeuticals® by TCMzone. Can you tell me a little more about your background and how you decided on these 3 formulas for your digestive line?

Dr. Tian: Sure. In 1993, I graduated from Beijing University of Chinese Medicine with a Ph.D. degree in Chinese Medicine. I have clinical training in both Eastern and Western Medicine. I mentored under a renowned teacher in China that specialized in Internal Medicine and more specifically Digestive health conditions. I received specialized training in Digestive conditions and when I moved to America, I was surprised to see so many people struggling with their digestive health. Most people would come in to my office and complain of physical pain, but most often they had chronic internal medicine conditions that were also contributing to their physical pain including digestive health conditions. I designed these 3 specific formulas based on what I see most often in my clinic. There is a formula for the upper GI tract, Stomach and Lower GI tract. Since there are many Chinese Medicine patterns for these conditions, I based the formulas on the most common in each of the three areas.

Sherri: I would like to first ask you about the Esophageal Balance Formula. I noticed the base formula is Zuo Jin Wan (Left Metal Pill) which is known as the main formula in Chinese Medicine for esophageal balancing. Can you tell me about the ingredients you added to this formula and how it changes the base formula?

Dr. Tian: Yes, as you know Zuo Jin Wan is for heat in the liver overacting on the stomach. I added herbs such as, Chai Hu, Xiang Fu to help with Liver Qi stagnation and address the emotional component of the Liver Qi stagnation. All of the herbs I added to Zuo Jin Wan help reinforce the rebellious Qi to go downwards.

Sherri: Why did you use Wa Leng Zi in this formula?

Dr. Tian: Wa Leng Zi is used to offset the acid and protect the membranes of the esophagus.

Sherri: What is the Chinese Medicine pattern for the use of this formula?

Dr. Tian: The pattern is excess in the liver, liver heat and rebellious Qi over acting on the stomach.

Sherri: What pattern in Chinese Medicine is Digestive Support Formula indicated for?

Dr. Tian: This formula is mainly for Qi stagnation in the stomach. This may be due to over eating, eating at the wrong time of day or poor dietary habits. Also, this formula is very good for digestive problems due to emotional upset. The function of this formula is to regulate the stomach and liver qi and direct the Qi downwards.

Sherri: Can you tell me what the function of Xiang Yuan is in this formula?

Dr. Tian: Yes, this is an excellent herb to use for digestive problems. In this formula, it is used along with Fo Shou and Chai Hu for Qi stagnation and hypochondriac pain. Xiang Yuan with Fo Shou provides comfort for the middle jiao and eases pain.

Sherri: Can you use this formula for severe food stagnation with heat and phlegm?

Dr. Tian: You can add Bao He Wan to this formula to treat a more severe case.

Sherri: Do you recommend digestive enzymes to a patient when taking this formula?

Dr. Tian: Yes, I do recommend digestive enzymes when needed in addition to taking this formula.

Sherri: What would you say the pattern is for Colon Harmony Formula? Spleen Yang deficiency?

Dr. Tian: Yes, this is Spleen Yang deficiency with Liver Qi stagnation. The TCM treatment with this formula is to raise the Spleen Qi and restore the Spleen function while soothing the liver to treat the Liver Qi stagnation. This formula is recommended for supporting colon function particularly with loose bowel movements and diarrhea.

Sherri: Do you recommend probiotics in addition to this formula as well?

Dr. Tian: Yes, because there is an imbalance with the bacteria with these conditions, I will often recommend probiotics in addition when needed.

Sherri: How long do you prescribe these formulas for?

Dr. Tian: These formulas are made to take long term. I will prescribe them to a patient for 2 months, 3 months or 6 months depending on the case. Once they are improving and feeling better, you can reduce the dosage for maintenance if needed. The formulas are designed to improve GI function. Once function is restored they will be able to feel good without having to take the herbs or maybe just need a couple pills per day for prevention and maintenance.

In Chinese Medicine it is important to treat with herbs and acupuncture. They work together in improving one’s health. Acupuncture will help open the meridians and activate the nerves for improved function as well as improving the digestion and absorption of the herbs. Acupuncture and Herbal treatment is a formula in and of itself in improving overall health.

Sherri: Dr. Tian thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and expertise with us. Congratulations on your formula line! We know many practitioners that are excited to use these formulas to patients with these very complex digestive health conditions.

Dr. Tian: It was my pleasure, thank you.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The information contained in this piece is for licensed healthcare professionals only.

TCMCeuticals, A New Approach to TCM

Posted on Apr 13, 2018 by jknapp

An Interview with Dr. Jipu “Dan” Wen by Jennifer Knapp

Hi Dr. Wen, thank you for taking the time to talk with me about our newest brand of professional herbal formulas, TCMCeuticals. I’m so excited about this new offering from TCMzone and would like to share some of your insights on this novel approach to Traditional Chinese Medicine. Let’s get started. – Jenifer Knapp

JK: Can you give our readers a little background on yourself before getting started?

DW: I have a bit of an interesting background, over the last several decades studying integrative medicine in the areas of liver disease and G.I. in China. Then coming to the U.S. and moving from medical research and integrative medicine to now heading TCMzone, LLC. to become a leading supplier of herbal products for licensed healthcare practitioners. After almost 20 years as an herbal products supplier in the U.S., our products are in top US healthcare hospitals and educational institutions serving different types of practitioners.

JK: How did this concept of TCMCeuticals come about and why did you think a new line of condition-specific clinical formulas was necessary for TCMzone?

DW: TCM plays a very important role in China, Japan and other Asian countries as a mainstream integrative medicine in the healthcare systems. In the U.S. we see acupuncture as widely practiced and becoming more and more accepted by the public. But, traditional Chinese herbs are still considered to be a more minor portion of integrative medicine in the U.S. Many insurance plans cover acupuncture treatment but none for Chinese herbal medicine. When we talk with our practitioner customers who do practice and administer herbs in their clinics we hear such positive feedback regarding efficacy, simplicity of delivery systems and overall integration of the herbs with their routine clinical protocols. However, I still see a wide gap in mainstream usage of TCM in the U.S. vs. Asia and I want to see this narrow. One concept I’ve always had is working with successful practitioners of Chinese herbal medicine, well-trained in China with extensive clinical experience practicing in the U.S. Several years ago, I was in New York meeting with one of my medical school mates from China, Dr. Guoping Zheng. She was studying Gynecology and Women’s Health and is now running a successful practice focusing on women’s health and fertility. We began talking about this idea of using her vast clinical experience treating fertility patients in the U.S., plus her extensive knowledge of Chinese herbs to bring herbal usage to a broader audience. Allowing other practitioners to gain from her ideas, using her custom formulations built on years of experience to help more patients in the U.S. She was interested and over the years we kept this dialogue open, until recently she was ready to prepare 3 formulas for TCMzone, which we brought to our quality manufacturer for production, quality control tests and to market as our first TCMCeuticals formulas, Fertile Wisdom*.

To summarize the concept behind TCMCeuticals, it is representing an unique product line that is composed of different herbal products, formulated by master-level practitioners with over 20-30 years experience in clinical specialty areas. They understand the common conditions of U.S patients in their specialty and come from high level training in China. We’re all familiar with the words of nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals and even foodceuticals, now we are introducing the first ever TCMCeuticals. TCM+Ceuticals equals custom, condition-specific, traditional Chinese herbal products representing safety, efficacy and highest possible quality. These 3 important concepts are represented in our TCMCeuticals logo, the three yellow, natural earth pieces that support this product line.

JK: You mentioned Dr. Zheng’s Fertile Wisdom line, can you tell us about each of these new lines and what makes them different from classical TCM formulas?

DW: TCMCeuticals is a brand of herbal formulas that represent condition-specific formulas, this is important. Chinese herbal medicine is extremely broad requiring intensive understanding of many areas. We designed this product line based on experience of formulators and their in-depth understanding of Chinese herbal medicine. This opens the door for many practitioners in the U.S. to use these Chinese herbal formulas based on common conditions seen in their clinic.

The first two lines we launched are for G.I. and Fertility, two focuses widely seen in the U.S. by not only acupuncturists, but many other integrative practitioners (N.D.’s, D.C.’s, M.D.’s) interested in progressing their integrative medical approach. TCMCeuticals provides a unique tool for the healthcare profession.

The last 18 years, our approach has been providing high quality classical formulas and compounding single herbs in a variety of dosage forms, fundamental products for day to day use by Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists. These practitioners can easily use our products with the support of our team and their knowledge of TCM. Our new line of TCMCeuticals represents a new concept of traditional herbal medicine, in that it’s a line completely formulated by practitioners based on classical formulas but also including their clinical experiences. These are not your classical TCM formulas, these are expert formulas, using TCM as a guide, but uniquely formulated for specific conditions seen in modern clinical settings. TCMCeuticals granules and capsules can be used alone or easily integrated with our existing TCMzone brands of classical formulas and compounding single herbs.

JK: What is your vision for TCMCeuticals down the line? What do you hope to see with this new brand?

DW: I am excited to see the launch of the brand new TCMCeuticals, this is a milestone for our business, I’m also very excited to see the initial results of this launch. We have received such positive feedback in only our first month and I feel strongly that the concept of TCMCeuticals, Safety, Efficacy and Quality is a strong foundation to support and grow this line. I’m hoping this condition-specific line will create broader usage among integrative medicine practitioners, representing an important movement for our company in supporting a vast number of practitioners, creating consistent clinical results, in the end helping the general public achieve better health. In addition to these first 6 formulas, we have plans for another 5 formulas launching later this year under TCMCeuticals brand. We’re looking forward to this line covering many conditions. My goal is for TCMzone to carry a broad selection of herbal products from classical Chinese formulas, Japanese Kampo formulas, compounding single herbs and clinically-driven formulas so practitioners and consumers have access to many different kinds of quality herbal products to reach optimal health.

JK: Thank you Dr. Wen, this was very educational and we’re looking forward to another great new line at TCMzone!

Common Herbs to Start Your Herbal Pharmacy

Posted on Mar 6, 2018 by jknapp

With all the herbs and formulas we study, how do we choose specifically which herbs and formulas to begin with, so they are not sitting on the shelf for long periods of time before being sold?

As I mentioned in my previous blog, there are specific things you want to consider when building your herbal pharmacy. However, you don’t have to feel overwhelmed with ordering mass amounts of product to immediately fill your pharmacy. Start slow and work up to building it at your pace that will most benefit you financially.

I started with a couple formulas in mind that I know I would use quite frequently with the patient population I treat. I’ve treated infertility and internal medicine conditions within the scope of Chinese Medicine for approximately 13 years now. My first order of individual herbs were based on a couple of main formulas that I know I would use frequently. I ordered 8-15 herbs to begin concocting formulas for patients. The following is a list of the top 15 herbs I currently use in my practice.

Dang Gui Huang Qi Sheng Di Huang
Bai Shao Chuan Xiong Sheng Jiang
Fu Ling Zhi Gan Cao Chai Hu
Dang Shen Bai Zhu Ban Xia
Xiang Fu Chen Pi Shan Yao

If you treat women’s health and infertility, this list may be similar or helpful to start with. If you specialize in pain, your list is going to look a little different. Formulas that can be created with this list of 15 herbs include the 2 building block formulas in Chinese Medicine, Si Jun Zi Tang and Si Wu Tang.

Si Jun Zi Tang

Dang Shen/Ren Shen
Bai Zhu
Fu Ling
Zhi Gan Cao

Si Wu Tang

Dang Gui
Bai Shao
Chuan Xiong
Shu Di Huang/Sheng Di Huang

Si Jun Zi Tang will boost the Qi, especially Spleen Qi. Si Wu Tang will supplement the Blood and regulate the Liver. Si Jun Zi Tang is a great formula to have on hand because it supports the Spleen Qi. Most of our health issues stem from our gut. You definitely want to have herbs that treat the Spleen and Stomach on hand because this is the root of imbalance in both Chinese and Western medicine. Si Wu Tang is great for menstrual irregularities. Irregular cycles are largely due to the disharmony between the Liver and Spleen.

Si Jun Zi Tang and Si Wu Tang combine to form Ba Zhen Tang that is used to treat both Qi and Blood insufficiency. I often use this formula for postpartum women. After a woman gives birth, she is depleted in qi, blood, and fluids. This formula assists with restoring a woman’s energy postpartum by nourishing the Qi and Blood. This formula is also appropriate for regulating the menstrual cycle of a patient that primarily presents with Spleen Qi and blood deficiency. A main symptom may be excessive spotting or irregular bleeding within the cycle. This symptom relates to Spleen not managing the blood.

With these 15 herbs, you can make 8 formulas with modifications according to the patient’s eastern medicine diagnosis. (Remaining 5 Listed below)

Er Chen Tang Dry Dampness and Expel Phlegm
Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang Tonify the Blood
Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang Tonify the Qi and Blood
Liu Jun Zi Tang Tonify the Qi
Xiao Yao San Formulas that Regulate and Harmonize the Liver

You can also buy some of these formulas in granules, packets, or veggie capsules and start with 4-5 formulas. It would be cost effective to have these in granules and make them yourself. The one thing that you will have to invest in when mixing your own customized formulas is a scale, which is roughly $100-200 depending on the size you get. And by making the formula yourself, you can charge more for your expertise. Depending on the herbal company, you can get pharmacy supplies such as gram spoons and prescription bags to dispense the formulas free of charge.

Once you start making some money with the few formulas that you begin with, add other common herbs to your dispensary to expand.

**For more information, order Sherri Taylor’s first complimentary webinar on “Building Your Herbal Pharmacy”, https://tcmzone.com/archive/ and watch for her next live complimentary webinar with TCMzone coming soon!