The Herbalist

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), excessive summer heat can combine with Heat Toxin, creating an internal imbalance that may leave you feeling unwell.

Common signs may include a sore throat, mouth ulcers, skin eruptions or acne, red and irritated eyes, excessive thirst, headaches, irritability, and fatigue.

TCM focuses on identifying and treating the underlying pattern of imbalance rather than simply managing symptoms. Acupuncture, together with personalised dietary and lifestyle advice, may help support your body’s natural ability to clear excess heat and restore balance.

During periods of hot weather, try to stay well hydrated, eat cooling foods such as cucumber, watermelon, celery, and leafy greens, avoid excessive exertion during the hottest part of the day, and prioritise rest and quality sleep.

If you’re experiencing the effects of summer heat, book a consultation to find out how Traditional Chinese Medicine can support your health and wellbeing.

What Does a Red Tongue Mean in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)?

In TCM, a red tongue may suggest excess heat, inflammation, stress, or a Yin deficiency—depending on where the redness appears and your other symptoms. It’s one factor practitioners use to understand your body’s overall balance.

TCM doesn’t just treat the tongue—it looks at the root cause. Treatment may include acupuncture, herbal medicine, dietary advice, and lifestyle recommendations to help restore balance and support your body’s natural healing.

Remember: Tongue diagnosis is only one part of a full TCM assessment and isn’t a diagnosis on its own.

HEALTHY TIPS

Haste Makes Waste
欲 速 则 不 达

This Chinese proverb emphasises that;

The more you rush, the further you get from where you want to be.

Essentially, it means that if you are too impatient and try to rush a process, you will end up making mistakes or taking shortcuts that ultimately prevent you from reaching your goal.

It is a timeless reminder that patience, proper planning, and steady progress are often faster in the long run than frantic rushing.

At The Herbalist, we love hearing how our treatments make a difference!

T. Mills shared their journey overcoming hair thinning with our PRP and Chinese medicine combination — noticing stronger hair, reduced shedding, and visible new growth.

Their words remind us why we’re passionate about holistic care: blending modern science with traditional healing for truly transformative results.

Find out how we can help you today!

Therapies generally recommended include:

Acupuncture

Targets specific points to strengthen kidney function, regulate hormones, and improve blood flow to the scalp.

Moxibustion

Adds warmth/yang to the kidney system, supporting circulation and follicle nourishment.

Herbal Formulas

TCM herbs are selected to replenish Jing, nourish liver blood, and calm internal stress patterns that contribute to hair loss.

He Shou Wu 何首乌

He Shou Wu is associated with the Liver and Kidney meridians. It has a bitter, sweet flavour and is slightly warm in nature.

He Shou Wu is often used for:

Nourishing Liver & Kidney Jing – supports hair growth, slows premature greying, and strengthens follicles.
Replenishing Blood – improves scalp nourishment and supports thicker, healthier hair.
Strengthening tendons & bones – Jing deficiency often affects both hair and musculoskeletal vitality.
Supporting longevity & vitality – traditionally used to restore overall energy and resilience.
He Shou Wu is one of the most classical TCM herbs for hair thinning, shedding and premature greying because it directly replenishes the body’s deepest reserves.

Han Lian Cao – 旱莲草

Han Lian Cao enters the Liver and Kidney meridians. It has a sweet, sour flavour and is cool in nature.

Han Lian Cao is often used for:

Nourishing Liver & Kidney Yin – ideal for hair loss linked to dryness, heat, or Yin depletion.
Cooling and enriching the blood – supports healthy, well‑nourished follicles and reduces inflammatory scalp patterns.
Stopping bleeding – its blood‑cooling properties help stabilise the body’s Yin and Blood.
Supporting hair pigmentation – traditionally used to help maintain natural hair colour.
Han Lian Cao is frequently paired with He Shou Wu or Nu Zhen Zi to create a Yin‑nourishing, hair‑strengthening combination.

PRP works by activating follicles, extending the anagen phase, and improving scalp blood flow. Acupuncture can complement this by enhancing circulation, reducing inflammation, and regulating the neurovascular pathways that influence hair growth.

Two key points often used in hair‑loss protocols are Bai Hui (GV20) and Feng Chi (GB20):

GV20 — Bai Hui (“Hundred Convergences”)

Located at the crown of the head, GV20 sits over rich vascular and connective‑tissue networks. Stimulating this point can:

Increase microcirculation to the scalp
Reduce tension in the galea, improving superficial blood flow
Support stress regulation, which is important as chronic stress can disrupt the hair cycle
Enhance the scalp environment, aligning with PRP’s goal of improving follicle health
GB20 — Feng Chi (“Wind Pool”)

Found at the base of the skull, GB20 influences the cervical nerves and blood vessels supplying the scalp. Activation may:

Improve blood flow to the occipital and parietal regions
Reduce inflammation and muscular tension
Regulate the autonomic nervous system, helping prevent stress‑related hair shedding
Support a healthier scalp environment for PRP‑treated follicles
Together, these points help optimise circulation, reduce inflammatory signalling, and ease scalp tension — all of which complement PRP’s action on the follicles.

🧧 Chinese New Year 2026 has arrived! 🧧
Mark your calendars—This year Chinese New Year falls on Tuesday 17th February 2026, welcoming the Year of the Fire Horse🐎🔥
✨ Celebrations begin the evening before (16th February) and last about 15 days, filled with family feasts, red envelopes (Ang Pows), fireworks, and vibrant cultural traditions.
📅 Important Dates
* Chinese New Year’s Eve: 16th Feb, 2026 – Family reunion dinner
* Chinese New Year’s Day: 17th Feb, 2026 – Fire Horse begins
* Lantern Festival: 03rd March, 2026 – Grand finale of celebrations 🏮

✅ DOs for Good Fortune
❤️ Wear Red – Symbol of happiness, luck, and prosperity
🧹 Clean Before the New Year – Spring clean to sweep away old luck (not on New Year’s Day!)
🍽️ Have a Reunion Dinner – The most important meal of the year
🧧 Give Red Envelopes (Ang Pows) – Share blessings and good luck
🍊 Give Lucky Gifts – Oranges symbolize wealth and abundance
🎉 Set Off Fireworks – To scare away bad spirits
🙏 Honor Ancestors – A meaningful tradition
💬 Exchange Greetings – Say “Gōngxǐ fācái” (恭喜发财) for wealth and happiness

❌ DON’Ts to Avoid Bad Luck
🚫 Don’t Sweep or Take Out Rubbish – You might sweep away good fortune
✂️ Don’t Use Sharp Objects – Avoid cutting off good luck
🚿 Don’t Wash Hair or Shower – Especially on the first day
⚫⚪ Don’t Wear Dark Colors – Black, white, and gray are linked to mourning
🗣️ Don’t Say Negative Words – Keep the energy positive
📚 Don’t Buy Books – The word sounds like “lose” in Chinese

1. Balance (Yin–Yang)

TCM believes health exists when Yin and Yang are balanced.

Too much heat → inflammation, restlessness
Too much cold → fatigue, poor circulation
Prevention means adjusting lifestyle, food, and habits early so imbalance never turns into disease.

2. Strengthening Qi

Qi is the body’s functional energy.

TCM prevents illness by:

Supporting strong Qi flow
Preventing blockages
Methods include:

Herbal tonics
Acupuncture
Breathing exercises
When Qi flows smoothly, illness has little chance to develop.

3. Supporting Wei Qi

Wei Qi is similar to the immune system.

TCM strengthens it through:

Proper sleep
Nutritious, warming foods
Herbs like astragalus
Avoiding overwork
Strong Wei Qi helps the body resist external pathogens (wind, cold, damp, phlegm & heat).

4. Preventive diet therapy

Food is considered daily medicine.

TCM prevents illness by:

Eating according to body constitution
Adjusting diet with seasons
Avoiding excess (sweet, cold, spicy, greasy)
Example:

Winter → warming foods
Summer → cooling foods
This keeps internal balance stable.

5. Emotional regulation

TCM links emotions to organs:

Anger → Liver
Worry → Spleen
Fear → Kidney
Long-term emotional stress weakens organs and causes illness.
Prevention means managing emotions early through awareness and calm living.

Bountiful Bulge
丰隆 - Feng Long - ST.40

This point is located on both sides of the leg, one finger width lateral to “Tiao Kou” and two finger widths lateral to the anterior crest of the tibia.

This point can help with:

Clears “phlegm” and dampness – In Traditional Chinese Medicine, “phlegm” can refer to excess fluid, mucus, or metabolic congestion. Clearing it may help reduce bloating and the feeling of heaviness.
Supports digestion & metabolism – Aids your digestive system in moving waste efficiently.
Reduces bloating & water retention – Can make your stomach feel flatter and lighter.
Improves mental clarity & cravings – A clearer mind can support more mindful eating choices.



Celestial Pivot
天枢穴 Tian Shu - ST.25

This point is located on the stomach bilateral of the navel half way from the border of the re**us abdominis muscle.

This point can help with:

Regulating intestinal function
Reducing bloating and abdominal fullness
Helping with constipation or diarrhoea
Supporting overall gut motility

ST-25 can be useful if:

You overeat due to feeling sluggish or bloated
Digestive discomfort impacts your diet consistency
Stress affects your gut

This pressure point doesn’t burn fat—but it does support digestion.