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The Herb Depot

Your Canadian destination for Traditional Chinese Medicine, herbs, and acupuncture needles.

07/04/2025

Traditional Chinese Medicine and Chinese Nuo Opera

Did you know they come from the same ancient roots?

Nuo culture dates back to the late matrilineal clan era, when people used rituals to connect with nature and spirits. It began as a sacred practice to drive out illness and negative energy. Just as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) uses herbs and acupuncture to restore balance in the body, Nuo rituals used masks, music, and movement to clear emotional and spiritual blockages.

Both traditions share the belief that health isn’t just physical, it’s also shaped by energy, emotion, and the environment.

During certain ancestral festivals, Nuo opera and traditional medicine were practiced side by side. TCM practitioners would perform moxibustion and other herbal treatments alongside the ritual.

Even today, in some parts of China, healers continue to blend ritual with herbal medicine. That’s the heart of TCM: treating the whole person, not just the symptoms.

photo credit: rednote user 642198726

#傩戏

06/23/2025

Ancient Cool Down
In the peak of summer, ancient Chinese people didn’t just stay cool, they healed while doing it.

One of the most cherished traditional herbal drinks was Zisu Yin (紫苏饮), made from perilla leaves, and hailed during the Song Dynasty as “the best brewed water under heaven.”

Perilla
Perilla leaf can help your body fight off summer chills (yes, even those from too much AC). It also:

✔️ Soothes bloating & supports digestion
✔️ Boosts your appetite when the heat kills it
✔️ Helps your body adapt to heat & humidity

How to Make It:
– 10 perilla leaves
– 1 slice dried tangerine peel
– 2 slices roasted licorice root
– Rock sugar (to taste)
– ½ lemon
– 500ml water

Boil water, add herbs, simmer for 10 mins, strain, then squeeze in lemon, and it magically turns pink

A Yuan Dynasty poet once wrote:
“Who needs cooling medicine, when perilla-scented brew brings summer ease?”

Photo credit: Red Note user8015954485; 943908288

06/10/2025

Ever heard of Da Xue Teng (大血藤)? This plant looks almost like a flower, but don’t let the beauty fool you.
This woody vine’s got some serious healing power.

Sourced from the vine of Sargentodoxa cuneata, it's traditionally used to clear heat, detox the body, promote blood flow, relieve pain, and dispel dampness.

It’s bitter but balanced, and mainly supports the liver and large intestine.

Fun fact: some artists even turn Da Xue Teng into earrings.
(Image credit: Terrewear日召 via Rednote)

05/07/2025

Plant-based blends for everyday wellness, rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine. All vegan, all simple.

1. For Skin Care

- Soybean 20g

- Lily Bulb 10g

- Snow Fungus (rehydrated): a small handful
→ Soak snow fungus for 2–3 hours until soft. Add 500ml water and blend.

2. For Menstrual Health

- Soybean 20g

- Red Bean 20g

- Red Dates (pitted) 7 pieces
→ Add 500ml water and blend until smooth.

3. For Blood Circulation

- Soybean 50g

- Bei Qi 5g

- Goji Berries 5g
→ Add 500ml water and blend well.

4. For Anti-Glycation (Blood Sugar Support)

- Soybean 20g

- Coix Seed (Yi Mi) 20g

- Poria (Fu Ling) 20g
→ Add 600ml water and blend.

You can reduce the water if you prefer a thicker, creamier texture.

04/25/2025

Bao Gu: The China Moxibustion Expert

One of the most famous traditional Chinese doctors, Bao Gu (c. 309-363 AD) was known for her expertise in moxibustion.

She spent her life traveling through China—treating patients, collecting herbs, and healing hard-to-treat illnesses like skin growths and tumors.

People called her Bao Xiangu (“Immortal Lady Bao”) out of deep respect. Even today, stories of her skills are recorded in local histories.

While she did not leave any books behind, her husband Ge Hong's famous medical text included over 90 moxibustion treatments, likely in her honor. After she passed, a temple was built in her honor called the Bao Gu Temple.

Women have long played a powerful role in shaping Traditional Chinese Medicine. 🔥Her legacy still inspires.

04/11/2025

Did you know there are 6 types of tea based on fermentation?

Let’s break it down real quick:

🌿Green Tea – not fermented at all. Super fresh, light, and a little grassy.

🌿White Tea – lightly fermented (5–10%). Smooth, delicate, slightly sweet

🌿Yellow Tea – gently fermented (10–20%). Rare, mellow, and clean.

🌿Oolong Tea – semi-fermented (15–70%). Floral meets roasty.

🌿Black Tea (red tea) – fully fermented (70–90%). Rich, bold, with a deep red brew.

🌿Dark Tea – post-fermented (up to 100%). Aged over time, earthy and warm.

Each has its own flavor, color, and benefits—all depending on how much it's fermented.

Fermentation changes the tea’s flavor, aroma, and color.

More fermentation = deeper flavor and usually a warmer nature.

If you’re new to tea, try green for a refreshing start or oolong for something smooth and balanced.

04/04/2025

Qingming Festival

🌳Qingming Festival is when we honor our ancestors, visit graves, and reconnect—with both the past and the season.

It’s a time to visit graves, enjoy nature, and soak in the spring energy

🌱Eating qingtuan—soft green rice balls made with mugwort and filled with sweet bean.

In Traditional Chinese medicine. Mugwort + glutinous rice = warming, healing, and perfect for clearing out that lingering spring dampness.

Another big tradition: spring outings aka “踏青 (tà qīng)”—walking in nature to catch those good spring vibes.

Fresh air, blooming trees, rising yang energy—it’s all about syncing with nature, lifting your mood, and refreshing your body .🌸

#清明节

04/02/2025

Spring is prime time for allergies, especially stuff like allergic rhinitis (aka hay fever)

🌱Meet: Xin yi Hua

A traditional Chinese herb made from magnolia flower buds. They’re fuzzy little things that look like p***y willows (but don’t mix them up!). Steeping them in hot water gives off a delicate floral scent and they are helpful for nasal problems like congestion and runny noses.

🌿How to Use It?

It’s super simple:

- Toss 3–6 buds in a cup

- Add hot water

- Steep 3–5 mins

- Drink hot and inhale the steam

The steam carries essential oils that help calm your nasal passages. Just make sure it’s hot—cold tea won’t do much. If the fuzz irritates your throat, pop the buds in a tea bag first.

Stick with it daily for around 3 months to feel the effects.

👏A Bit of TCM Wisdom

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, allergic rhinitis is tied to lung or kidney issues, or too much dampness in the body. Xinyi Hua is a gentle support, especially for mild to moderate symptoms. If your allergies are super persistent, best to check in with a registered TCM practitioner.

03/20/2025

"Spring moxibustion on Qihai, Autumn moxibustion on Guanyuan."

An old saying suggests that moxibustion should be applied to Qihai acupoint in spring and Guanyuan acupoint in autumn.

In spring, everything flourishes, and the human body needs to restore its yang energy in preparation for summer. Because mugwort is pure yang, it can warm the kidneys and promote yang energy. So during this time, moxibustion is the best way to help restore yang energy.

🔅Qihai

The acupoint is located 1.5 cun (about 2 inches) below the navel on the midline of the abdomen and is strong for nurturing yang. You warm the whole body through the single point of Qihai.

🔥Moxa

Try lighting one end of a moxa stick and holding the lit end over Qihai for at least two to three centimeters. Perform moxibustion every day or every other day for 4–5 days, then take a break for 1–2 days.

🥰Let's strengthen Yang energy and let our bodies soak up the sun.

03/11/2025

Have You Felt the Season Changing?

The shift in temperature, the changing sunlight—nature is awakening. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this period is known as Jīngzhé (驚蛰), the 3rd of the 24 solar terms. From March 5 to March 20, 2025, Yang energy is building like a thunderclap, yet the air still carries the last chills of early spring. Insects begin to stir, snow starts to melt—signs of renewal and transformation.

During this time, the balance of Yin and Yang is delicate, which can trigger chronic health issues. In TCM, Liver and Wood elements are dominant now, making it essential to keep Liver Qi flowing smoothly to prevent stagnation and emotional imbalances. Many may experience mood swings or seasonal depression, so it’s important to stay optimistic, keep an open mind, and uplift your spirits.

What can you do?
✨ Nourish your body with seasonal foods—pear is a Jing Zhe tradition, helping to support Yin and regulate emotions.
✨ Balance your diet by reducing sour flavors and increasing sweetness to strengthen the Spleen and Stomach.
✨ Protect your energy by managing stress and avoiding excessive anger or sadness.

Spring is approaching—now is the time to align with nature’s rhythm and prepare for growth.

03/05/2025

Did you know that Hawthorn (Shan Zha) is both a food and a traditional Chinese herb?

It‘s well-known for supporting digestion, promoting blood circulation, and strengthening the heart!

Fresh hawthorn is commonly consumed or used as a snack. Among the TCM herbs, raw hawthorn works well for breaking down stagnant food, while stir-fried hawthorn is gentler on digestion. In cases of excessive food accumulation, charred and carbonized hawthorn are used for stronger digestive effects.

Hawthorn is also used in a variety of foods besides its medicinal properties. You can enjoy hawthorn candied snacks, hawthorn jam and yogurt, hawthorn and red date soup, and hawthorn jelly cakes. As well as providing health benefits, these preparations enhance flavor.

Would you like to try Shan Zha? Let me know in the comments!

02/21/2025

Bone China set at $38 CAD incl. tax 💝 lots of colour options in store, drop by and take a look!

Address

407-409 Dundas Street W
Toronto, ON
M5T1G6

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 6pm
Tuesday	10am - 6pm
Wednesday	10am - 6pm
Thursday	10am - 6pm
Friday	10am - 6pm

Telephone

+14165938878

Website

http://www.theherbdepot.ca/

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