Empirical Health Herbs

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Port Macquarie, NSW
Empirical Health Herbs

Wholesale company of the highest quality Chinese Herbs, extensively tested for safety and efficacy.

Driven by a passion for seeing better results for his patients, Founder and Director, Dr Simon J Feeney, spent the last ten years scaling the planet in search of top quality herbs. He found that in too many cases the incorrect herb or very low quality herbs were made available to most practitioners in Australia. He didn't stop this search until he found Andrew Ellis from Spring Wind in the United States.

30/10/2025

Herb Spotlight: Gou Qi Zi (枸杞子)
Latin: Lycii Fructus – Goji Berry

Quick Facts
• Name: Gou Qi Zi
• Latin: Lycii Fructus
• Origin: Cultivated in Ningxia and Gansu provinces
• Grade markers: Plump, bright red-orange berries • Smooth, slightly glossy skin • Sweet, mild aroma • No shriveled or discolored fruit

Herb Profile
• Nature & Flavor: Neutral, Sweet
• Channels Entered: Liver, Kidney, Lung
• Actions:
– Nourishes Liver and Kidney yin
– Tonifies Liver and Kidneys to brighten vision
– Moistens Lung and stops cough

Dosage & Prep
• Raw decoction: 6–12 g (add in last 5 minutes of boil)
• Granules: 3–9 g

Clinical Tip
In Liver–Kidney yin deficiency with blurred vision, add 4 g Gou Qi Zi granules to Qi Ju Di Huang Wan to enhance eye-nourishing effects without overwhelming the formula’s balance.

How do you use Gou Qi Zi in your practice? Share your favourite formula below

Sources:
– Leon, C. & Lin, Y. (2017). Chinese Medicinal Plants, Herbal Drugs & Substitutes
– Brand, E. A Clinicia

26/10/2025

She may be the youngest on the team, but she takes her sampling duties seriously. At the Naturally Good Expo, representing our sister brand Ode, Amaya reminded us that connection and curiosity matter just as much as product and presentation. Ode was built to honour both.

23/10/2025

Herb Spotlight: Chai Hu (柴胡)
Latin: Bupleuri Radix – Bupleurum Root

Quick Facts:
• Name: Chai Hu
• Latin: Bupleuri Radix
• Origin: Wild-harvested roots from Shanxi and Hebei provinces
• Grade markers: Long, slender pale-yellow roots • Smooth, unbroken surface • Slightly acrid, cooling aroma • No soft or fibrous cores

Herb Profile:
• Nature & Flavor: Cool, Bitter
• Channels Entered: Liver, Gallbladder, San Jiao
• Actions:
– Harmonizes and releases the lesser Yang (Shaoyang)
– Spreads Liver Qi and relieves constraint
– Raises clear Yang to lift middle-burner collapse

Dosage & Prep
• Raw decoction: 6–12 g (add in first 10 minutes of boil)
• Granules: 3–6 g

Clinical Tip:
In Liver Qi stagnation with alternating fever and chills, use 4 g Chai Hu granules in Xiao Yao San to harmonize Shaoyang and soothe constrained Qi.

How do you use Chai Hu in your practice? Share your favourite formula below

Sources:
– Leon, C. & Lin, Y. (2017). Chinese Medicinal Plants, Herbal Drugs & Substitutes

20/10/2025

By popular demand - now coming to Melbourne this November!!

Join Zoey for an intimate exploration of food therapy and nourishment through her signature Four Phase Cooking Workshops and Curated Dinner Event.

Each experiences is hands-on, heartfelt and rooted in the principles of Classical Chinese medicine.

Melbourne - Nov 11-12 - venue: TBC

Limited to 10 guests per session. (Will sell out fast)

Tickets on sale now at empiricalhealthshop.com.au (Link also in bio.)

19/10/2025

“上工治未病”

“The superior physician treats disease before it manifests.”
- Huangdi Neijing

Just as these herbs are carefully selected and prepared, so too must we tend to our health proactively, nurturing balance before imbalance takes root.

What daily ritual do you use to maintain harmony and prevent illness? Share your best preventative tip below.

17/10/2025

Slow moments like this remind us why we do the work we do. A quiet pause with daughter on the coast during a recent trip to New Zealand with the family. The simplicity of being present...no rush, no noise, just breath.

Happy Place!

15/10/2025

Something special is coming.

We’re excited to announce an immersive weekend of workshops and curated dining experiences with Shanghai-based food therapy practitioner Zoey Gong (), founder of Silver Root Apothecary.

Guided by the wisdom of Chinese medicine, Zoey will lead a series of small, hands-on events exploring the art and philosophy of food as medicine.

14–16 November | Sydney

Workshops & tickets now available via [] or the link in bio to our website.

Limited to 10 guests per session.

Hashtags:

07/10/2025

Herb Spotlight: Ku Gua (苦瓜)
Latin: Momordica charantia – Bitter Melon Fruit

Quick Facts:
• Name: Ku Gua
• Latin: Momordica charantia
• Origin: Cultivated fruit from Guangdong and Guangxi provinces
• Grade markers: Thin, uniform pale-green slices • Bitter, fresh aroma • No seeds or fibrous core fragments

Herb Profile:
• Nature & Flavor: Cold, Bitter
• Channels Entered: Lung, Stomach
• Actions:
– Clears heat and transforms phlegm-heat in the Lung
– Stops cough and relieves wheezing
– Resolves toxicity and expels parasites

Dosage & Prep:
• Raw decoction: 6–12 g (add at the start of the boil)
• Granules: 3–6 g

Clinical Tip:
Use 4 g Ku Gua granules in acute cough formulas (e.g. modified San Zi Yang Qin Tang) to clear Lung heat and ease phlegm without drying the Yin.

How do you use Ku Gua in your practice? Share your favourite pairing below 👇

Sources:
– Leon, C. & Lin, Y. (2017). Chinese Medicinal Plants, Herbal Drugs & Substitutes
– Brand, E. A Clinician’s Guide to Using Granule Extracts

26/09/2025

Behind every product is a story. In the early days, it was just Simon, Jodie, and a deep belief in doing things properly. The scale may have grown, but nothing else has changed. We’re still here to support the clinical craft with herbs you can trust.

Address

113 Bridge Street
Port Macquarie, NSW
2444

Telephone

+611300884809

Website

https://empiricalhealthshop.com.au/

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