The Herb Depot

01/21/2026

A recipe for sleep:
Suan Zao Ren Drink
Ingredients: (1 serving)

6g - Suan Zao Ren
6g - roasted Suan Zao Ren (stir-fry in pan until dark brown, 5+mins, or roast)
9g - Bai He/lily bulb
9g - Long Yan Rou/longan
6g - Dang Gui/angelica root
6g - Fu Shen/spirit poria
3g - Chen Pi/tangerine peel

Read our full blog on TCM Herbs and Soups for Insomnia:

insomnia - sleep deprivation - sleep - sleep enhancement - shallow sleep - low quality sleep - better sleep - sleep support - sleep help

11/07/2025

Many people confuse 茯苓 (Fuling) and 茯神 (Fushen), but they are actually different parts of the same fungus, Poria cocos.

茯苓 (Fuling): The main body of the fungus that grows around pine roots. It strengthens the spleen, drains dampness, and calms the spirit mildly. Commonly used to support digestion and reduce water retention.

茯神 (Fushen): A special part of the fungus that still contains a piece of pine root. It focuses more on calming the mind and nourishing the heart while also sharing Fuling’s draining functions.

In short, Fuling nourishes the body, while Fushen soothes the mind.

10/07/2025

Celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival today! A time to reflect, reunite, and enjoy the full moon. It started as a harvest celebration and grew into a cultural moment shared across generations.

Mooncakes are the star of the table, with families gathering to eat, light lanterns, and share stories. It's all about connection, tradition, and a little nostalgia.

Did you know mooncakes are traditionally made with lotus seed (lian zi 蓮子)? 😍

09/16/2025

New to acupuncture or just starting your training? Our Student Acupuncture Kit is designed to make it easy to get started with the essentials.

Here’s what’s included:

-Steel forceps & steel tong
-Gua sha tool
-Small bag of cotton balls
-2 smokeless moxa sticks + 1 regular moxa stick

Needles and accessories:
-100 x 0.16 x 13 mm (½ cun) needles
-100 x 0.25 x 25 mm (1 cun) needles
-100 x 0.18 x 40 mm (1.5 cun) needles
-200 press needles
-200 ear seeds
-10 lancets
-10 prismatic needles
-3 foil packs of intradermal needles
-1 plum blossom needle

Whether you’re prepping for your first clinic shift or building your at-home study setup, this kit has you covered!
Check it out: https://theherbdepot.ca/products/acupuncture-student-kit

09/10/2025

Season Change: How to add TCM into your everyday cooking?🌿🫕

Mothers across different generations are often the group to have perfected the art of adding bonus ingredients into meals for the added health benefits. For breakfast, lunch, and dinner, all can require different components based on the person's constitution, their diet, the season, what is already....

09/09/2025

Ever heard of Qing Dai? In Chinese, the name gives off those dreamy “sky blue waiting in the rain” vibes. It’s a natural blue powder made from plants, once used for makeup, dyeing fabric, and even as medicine.

In Chinese medicine, it’s used to reduce heat, stop bleeding, and treat skin issues. It’s often helpful for bad sore throats and serious skin conditions.

Qing Dai can be taken internally or used externally. Since it doesn’t dissolve well in water, it’s best to mix the powder with a decoction (the liquid from boiled herbs), or take it in pill or powder form. For external use, you can either sprinkle it directly on the skin or mix it into a paste and apply it to the affected area.

Because of its cold properties, people with weak or cold digestive systems (like spleen or stomach issues) should use it with caution or avoid it altogether.

Check it out: https://theherbdepot.ca/products/qing-dai

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.