The TCM Skin Clinic

01/15/2022

Four preparations of Hawthorn Fruit - Crataegi Fructus - Shān Zhā 山楂 - a medicinal commonly used for digestive issues - especially breaking down greasy and fatty foods. One of our favourite herbs - tastes sweet and sour…sort of like dried strawberries. With special processing, this herb will support digestion in various capacities. When in its regular dried format, it’s lovely to eat a couple of pieces on their own after a heavy meal.

Today in pharmacy we cooked dry-fried (Chǎo) and scorched (Jiāo) preparations for today’s patient prescriptions.

1. Shān Zhā 山楂 - Freshly Dried
2. Chǎo Shān Zhā 炒山楂 - Dry-Fried
3. Jiāo Shān Zhā - Scorched
4. Shān Zhā Tàn - Charred

Check out this video by Uncle Baicao百草大叔 to see how Shān Zhā 山楂 is traditionally processed and let us know in the comments what preparations you see in the video. Hawthorn processing starts at about the 5:15 mark and the final preparation begins at 8:45 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TErQlnmuI2A

The last two images on this post are smaller European and North American varieties of Hawthorn for reference, in case you see them growing this summer.

12/12/2021

Glad to see greater representation in medical illustrations thanks to the work of Chidiebwre Ibe - Medical Illustrator, Medical Student and Aspiring Neurosurgeon. Although the attached image has gone viral, he’s drawn representations of many skin conditions that we see regularly here in clinic.

Chidiebere Ibe said he hopes his creations will help change the field of medical illustration, which is predominately white and male.

11/06/2021

Today we’re attending day two of the 7th Annual Skin Spectrum Summit - The Canadian Conference on Ethnodermatology. Thursday’s presentations were very informative and relevant to our practice. Many skin conditions go undiagnosed or are misdiagnosed in people of colour, so we’re here to brush up on diagnosis, the latest dermatology research, and to better serve our patients.

03/19/2021

March 18th is Close the Gap Day - a day of action in support of achieving Indigenous health equality.

In honour of this day, we attended the first annual Indigenous Skin Spectrum Summit. There were many critical and insightful presentations on culturally safe care for Indigenous peoples led by Dr. Rachel Asiniwasis, Dr. Blair Stonechild, Dr. Carrie Bourassa and more.

12/22/2020

❄️

Technology changed how we deal with the dark days and long nights. With new restrictions on gathering, it’s changing it again.

10/09/2020

We are humbled to have been nominated for a Toronto Star Reader’s Choice Award in not just one but TWO categories! We are proud to serve our patients and community ☺️ Voting is open until this Sunday October 11th! Cast your vote! ✨

https://www.thestar.com/readerschoice-toronto/categories/health-wellness-fitness-beauty/subcategories/alternative-medicine-healing

https://www.thestar.com/readerschoice-toronto/categories/health-wellness-fitness-beauty/subcategories/holistic-health-healing