Skincare Tips

Herbal skincare cosmetics—products that use raw plants and their extracts—are like food for the skin. Different plants have unique benefits (some can help control acne,...

Ever wondered why your cream or lotion stings or burns your skin?  If so, you are not alone. In 2011, a research study published in...

Developed over 3,000 years ago, Traditional Chinese Medicine, or TCM, incorporates a holistic approach to healing and health. The practice goes beyond a mindset of just simply treating a list of symptoms. It goes deeper than even the underlying disease processes and looks to the heart of the matter: the balance, ebb, and flow of energy through the body’s natural pathways. 

Through the course of treatment, practitioners incorporate diet, cupping, qigong, herbs, and acupuncture to bring things into alignment, naturally treating and preventing health problems.

Gotu Kola (also known as Centella Asiatica) is a type of leafy plant that is indigenous to the tropical wetlands of Southeast Asia and has a long history of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine. This plant is believed by practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine to have antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, and memory-enhancing properties. It is widely sold as a dietary supplement in capsule, powder, tincture, and topical formulations.

Rice (and rice water in particular) has long been believed to have tons of benefits for our hair and skin. In fact, the earliest known use of it was in Japan over 1,000 years ago! 

And lately many online forums and beauty editors have been raving about using rice water as a skin treatment. Those who use it swear by its skin-soothing and toning abilities and believe that it can improve your overall skin health. And what’s even better? Not only is rice water something you can easily make at home, but it is also easily accessible and affordable. 

Herbs are used to treat just about everything in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Very rarely is one herb used to treat an illness, but rather a combination is used, and more often than not, consumed as a tea. Unless you are a practitioner of TCM you most likely will not know what the right combination of herbs is to treat your ailment. This can be frustrating and overwhelming for those who are at the end of their ropes and just want to feel better!

So we put together a list of 5 helpful, accessible, and popular Chinese herbs to add to your routine!

Dealing with troubled skin can be a frustrating experience. Aside from your disdain and discomfort, sufferers also often question whether they’re on the right path of treatment or not. Or, looking for a better way, many people turn to holistic practices such as Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Jojoba (pronounced hoh-hoh-bah) comes from the seed of the jojoba plant.  The wax that this plant produces is a liquid wax that closely resembles the natural oils (sebum) found in our skin. The jojoba plant grows in hot arid areas of the U.S. like southern California and Arizona, and some parts of Northern Mexico.

“Qi” (pronounced “chi”) is one of the most important concepts in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Qi is the source of Universal life, without it, there is no animating life force. Qi is at the heart of TCM and understanding its function in the human body makes it profoundly effective for healing.