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Monday 11am - 6pm Tuesday 11am - 6pm Wednesday 11am - 6pm Thursday 11am - 6pm Friday 11am - 6pm Saturday 11am - 6pm

Five Flavors Herbs

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United States
Oakland, CA
Five Flavors Herbs

Integrating Traditions for Wellness. We create effective and sustainable remedies using Traditional We are Green Business Certified. and Ingrid Bauer, MS.

Five Flavors Herbs creates over 200 physician-formulated single herb tinctures, oils, and glycerites, as well as an extensive line of internal and topical formulas. Our formulas are based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, scientific research, and traditional uses of native plants of North America. Five Flavors Herbs uses botanicals grown in our home garden as well as native herbs that we wildcraft ourselves. Other herbs are certified organically grown, including a number of domestically grown Chinese herbs. The imported Chinese herbs we use are purchased from suppliers who demonstrate organic certification or provide assurance that herbs are never sprayed, fumigated, or irradiated. We use certified organic grain alcohol, organic olive oil, and purified water in our preparations. We feel that ecological and physical health are intimately connected, and we strive to manufacture herbal products that respect the earth while supporting individuals. Our international customer base includes a loyal following of practitioners, medical doctors, naturopathic doctors, clinical herbalists, and retail stores. Our company has grown by serving the needs of their patients and customers. Located in Oakland, California, Five Flavors Herbs is a family-run business owned and operated by Benjamin Zappin, L.Ac.

11/10/2025

Yu ping feng san, or “Jade Windscreen,” has been used in East Asia for over 800 years, with records dating back to the writings of the scholar Zhu Dan Xi in 1347. As its name illustrates, the Jade Windscreen formula supports and enriches the wei qi, or protective qi, in guarding against harmful influences entering the body.

This simple formula incorporates three herbs to support healthy immune function. Astragalus root is neutral and sweet, and it supplements Spleen qi to help promote lung and digestive health. Notable for its water-soluble polysaccharides, flavonoids, and saponins, astragalus has been shown to modulate immune function acutely and is used as adjunctive therapy in many chronic conditions. Atractylodes, which is warm, sweet, and bitter, tonifies Spleen qi and drains dampness. Ledebouriella (siler root) is pungent and sweet, and it releases the exterior to dispel wind, damp, and cold.

Whether you're a consumer looking for ways to stay healthy this season with our delicious Back to School formula (Jade Windscreen plus elderberry, lemon balm & catnip) or you're a practitioner who prefers the traditional Chinese formula, we've got you covered.

Plus, for the rest of November, save 15% off your retail or wholesale orders on our immune support formulas with code LUNG15 at checkout. Be well folks!

11/07/2025

When it comes to respiratory and immune wellness, we like to think of four phases of support:

📆 Prevention: Starting in late summer, or if you're traveling or anticipating exposure consuming medicinal mushrooms and qi-tonifying roots like astragalus are traditionally used to support strong defenses.

😱 Uh oh: Exposed and starting to feel vulnerable. This is when we like to use immune-supporting herbs like echinacea and "release the exterior" herbs like ginger and peppermint to rev up the system.

🤒 Day off: That bug finally got you. Time to take a day (or more) off, drink lots of herbal tea and broth, and rest deeply to promote healing. Soothing herbs like marshmallow can balm the rough edges these days.

🫁 Recuperation: You are starting to feel better, but there's lots of gunk coming out. Resinous herbs like yerba santa and elecampane support healthy mucosa, while heat-clearing herbs like thyme and baikal skullcap support a sound immune response.

🌿 You can find these herbs and more in our popular Respiratory Recoup formula, blended with organic and sustainably wildcrafted Western and TCM herbs so you can breathe easily. Save 15% off your next order with code LUNG25. For details, see the link in our bio or shop our site: https://fiveflavorsherbs.com/shop/five-flavors-herbs/

11/05/2025

In East Asian healing traditions, autumn is associated with the Metal phase and with two organs: the Lungs and Large Intestine. Metal is associated with grief, sorrow, and sadness, often precipitated by the death of a loved one or the observation of collective grief. These emotions are often experienced in the chest, specifically in the Lungs, with sighing, crying, or yelling, or with a feeling of stuck energy in the chest.

November is also a month dedicated to lung cancer and COPD awareness. It's the time of year when seasonal viruses start to rise, and respiratory and immune health become paramount.

This month, we'll be delving into herbs and formulas that support our immunity and our airways... and the emotional correlations of these systems.

In recognition of the Western herbs we love for respiratory wellness, we're happy to re-share this popular fire season infographic, which can be applied to supporting easy breathing during seasonal bugs or dry indoor air (especially if you have a wood stove)!

We strive to be flexible herbalists, so we present a number of categories to draw from in your own formulating, to adapt to the particular individual's health and the herbs you have in your bioregion or local herb shop.

Stay tuned for lots more info on lung health this November 🫁

And... save 15% off your next order of our immune & respiratory support formulas with code LUNG25. For details, see the link in our bio or shop our site: https://fiveflavorsherbs.com/shop/five-flavors-herbs/

11/03/2025

🗳️ Many mid-term elections are taking place around the country this week. Tuesday, November 4th, is the last day to vote, so please make your voice heard at the ballot box (or with your mail-in or drop-off ballot).

Now more than ever, your participation counts! Vote like your life, the lives of your children, your parents, your neighbors, your plant and animal friends, and the beautiful planet we live depends on it 🌍

11/01/2025

🔊 NEWS FLASH: BIG SALE on ProLine STARTS TODAY!!!

Earlier this year, we re-branded the Conceivable ProLine to our own brand (Five Flavors Herbs, of course!). The ProLine is our modular herbal concentrate system for fertility support and reproductive wellness, based on traditional Chinese formulas and designed for modern life 🫄

We still have stock on hand with the old Conceivable labels, and we need your help clearing out this inventory to make room for the newly labeled products.

Starting November 1, save 30% on all Conceivable-labeled bottles and packs, including:

💧Calm, Cool, Lift, Male Factor, Regulate, Relieve, Sleep, Transform, and Warm

📦 Starter Pack, Clinical Pack, and Deluxe pack

The ProLine is only available to licensed healthcare practitioners. If you're a fertility or women's health specialist and you want to learn more about the ProLine, heck out our website or schedule an orientation with our practitioner liaison 🩺
https://fiveflavorsherbs.com/about-proline/ or find the link to schedule in our bio!

Act now! Deals good while supplies last. Requires an approved wholesale account to order. Purchase $750 for free shipping, and buy $1000 or more to get an extra 15% off your entire order!!!

10/31/2025

🎃 Halloween... Samhain... Day of the Dead... Dia de los Mu***os 💀

October 31 and November 1st hold special meaning for many people around the world. We honor and celebrate these brief days that mark the transition from the brighter to the darker days of the year, from expansion outward to reflection inward, from expending to saving.

These are days of bright leaves, orange pumpkins, the flavors and textures of storage crops being harvested. These are days of altars built, flowers picked, candles lit.

We welcome the thinning of the veil, the spirit visits, the spooky costumes, and (yes!) the candy and decorations 👻

10/30/2025

Join us this week at the nation’s largest acupuncture and Chinese medicine conference - hosted in sunny San Diego, California! ☀️

Earn CEUs while learning from top experts in the field, connecting with peers, exploring two vibrant exhibit halls, and enjoying San Diego

Find us at booth 21 in the Kon Tiki room to meet our founder Benjamin Zappin, LAc and our newest team member, Julia Urcis, LAc. Julia is our new practitioner liaison, and she's excited to meet both longtime and new Five Flavors Herbs customers.

Don't forget to enter your business card or sign up at our booth to receive special show discounts! If you're attending via live-stream, please email us at wholesale@fiveflavorsherbs.com to get your discount code (please include a copy of your registration in your email).

10/29/2025

We LOOOVE Halloween for all of the spook and ritual, but it also marks the start of holiday eating season. Bowls of candy adorn countertops at work, the bank, and neighbors' doorsteps... and for weeks ahead many of us are trying to keep our kids and ourselves from sneaking leftover treats!

Now is a great time of year to remember the good habits that contribute to feeling our best, even if we do indulge in a few sweet treats!

On the blog, you can read about our co-founder Dr Ingrid Bauer's experience and perspective supporting her patients with blood sugar and metabolic health, and also learn about the seven best herbs for supporting healthy glycemic control. Her key takeaways include:

🏃‍♀️ Lifestyle Counts: Your diet, exercise, and stress management play an important role in regulating blood sugar

🌿 Herbal Support: Certain herbs such as dandelion leaf, aloe vera, cinnamon, holy basil and ginseng can support a healthy blood sugar balance

🩺 Consult with your doctor: This is recommended always, in cases of an underlying health condition or ongoing medication before starting an herbal supplement regimen

🩸 Monitor Blood Sugar: It is very important to have regular monitoring of blood sugar to assess your progress

You can find the blog here or in the link in our bio: https://fiveflavorsherbs.com/blog/seven-best-herbs-for-supporting-healthy-blood-sugar-levels-/

10/27/2025

Supply Side Global is where we go each October to meet up with colleagues and customers across the dietary supplements industry. This week, our intrepid leaders Ben Zappin, CEO and Brian Longmire, Quality Director, will fly to Las Vegas for this unique international trade show! When else can you find thousands of herb nerds wandering the Strip searching for botanical gardens and pointing out the native and exotic plants in the landscaping?

In addition to manufacturing our own line of herbal formulas and over 200 single herbal extracts for our custom heal pharmacy, we offer contract manufacturing services for established and emerging brands.

Find us at Supply Side, or contact us through our website, if you're interested in finding out more about how we can support your herbal brand manufacture bulk ingredients or finished products.

10/24/2025

Panax ginseng (ren shen) is among the traditional Asian herbs that has broken into the mainstream Western supplement lineup, and it’s easily found health food stores, from practitioners, online, or even in sweetened vials of liquid at a truck stop—not surprising, since Americans often use it with the intention of revving up their engine or pushing down the road a few more miles 🏎️

🌿 Many Western herbal products incorporate ginseng for improving sexual and athletic performance. While ginseng can certainly help maintain our energy levels, its traditional actions include supplementing the qi (vital energy) and nourishing the Blood while simultaneously calming the mind and spirit. All of these herbal actions give it the remarkable ability to support the body an adaptogen, nervine, and nootropic simultaneously.

Are you curious about ginseng? Check out the blog to learn more about this precious herb from the perspective of our founder, acupuncturist & herbalist Benjamin Zappin. https://fiveflavorsherbs.com/blog/panax-ginseng-for-balance-vitality-focus/

10/22/2025

Acrid herbs, with their warm and invigorating qualities, play a key role in dispersing stagnation, promoting circulation, and helping the body release tension. These flavors work to stimulate movement and clear blockages, making them an essential component of both traditional herbal remedies and modern holistic care.

Take, for example, Osha in our First Response formula, which supports respiratory wellness and helps clear out what doesn't serve you. Or consider the uplifting Rosemary and Calamus in our Clarity formula, designed to enhance mental focus and boost the flow of energy to the brain. There’s also the refreshing Mint in our Xiao Yao San formula, which works to soothe tension and keep energy moving freely through the body.

These traditional applications of acrid flavors have been cherished for centuries in systems like Traditional Chinese Medicine, where they are carefully balanced with other flavors to restore harmony and vitality. Whether you’re seeking to ease congestion, refresh your focus, or release energy blockages, acrid herbs bring a dynamic element to your wellness routine.

Curious to learn how acrid herbs can support your health? Explore their incredible benefits through our carefully crafted formulas. For more info: https://fiveflavorsherbs.com/blog/the-five-flavors-in-traditional-chinese-medicine/

What’s your favorite way to use acrid herbs? Share your experiences—we’d love to know!

10/20/2025

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Breast cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths among women world wide, and in the US it is second only to lung cancer. Learning about breast health can enhance our awareness around everything from eating healthy, taking herbs & supplements for optimal wellness, and also learning about routine screening and getting abnormal pains & lumps addressed as quickly as possible

On the blog, you can read about our co-founder Dr Ingrid Bauer's experience and perspective with integrative breast health, including...

Breast cancer epidemiology
Risk reduction strategies
Screening recommendations
Integrative breast cancer treatment options
Understanding benign (non-cancerous) breast conditions
Herbal singles and combinations for improving breast comfort (including New Moon, Chaste Tree Berry, and D**g Quai).

We'd love to hear from customers, patients and practitioners about your journeys with herbs and breast health! Feel free to contact us with your stories and preferred remedies.

Address

Oakland, CA

Opening Hours

Monday	11am - 6pm
Tuesday	11am - 6pm
Wednesday	11am - 6pm
Thursday	11am - 6pm
Friday	11am - 6pm
Saturday	11am - 6pm

Website

https://fiveflavorsherbs.com/

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