Clinical Herbalism

10/20/2026

A closer look at Spleen Qi Deficiency, the first in my series exploring Zang-Fu patterns in Traditional Chinese Medicine. 🌿

One of my favorite things about Chinese medicine is how differently it approaches each person. Two people with the same symptoms may need entirely different treatments.

Today we’re exploring Spleen Qi Deficiency, a common pattern involving digestion, energy, and nourishment.

I hope this series offers a little window into the thoughtful, individualized approach of Chinese medicine.

10/15/2026

The formula follows the pattern. 🌿

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, we look beyond individual symptoms to understand the bigger picture. The same symptom can arise from different patterns, each calling for a unique approach.

This custom formula was created for a pattern of Liver Qi Invading the Spleen, with inconsistent bowel movements, anxiety and fatigue. This tea is a combination of multiple classical TCM formulas, including Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang and Liu Jun Zi Tang to Tonify Spleen Qi and many additions to Regulate Liver Qi. Each herb was thoughtfully selected to work together, supporting the individual's constitution and needs.

That's the beauty of personalized herbal medicine, no two formulas need to be exactly alike.

Curious about your own pattern? Explore my TCM pattern series, or schedule a free 10-minute consultation to get started.

10/13/2026

It's macerating day in the apothecary! 🌿

My lovely assistant Ali and I have been busy making tinctures to replenish our shelves. With over 300 individual herbal tinctures in the apothecary, there's always something brewing.

Each tincture begins with plant material, often leaves, flowers, roots, berries, bark, seeds, and more. These are carefully prepared and extracted to become part of the custom herbal formulas we make for clients.

04/14/2026

The formula follows the pattern.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, we don’t treat symptoms in isolation. We look for patterns.

The same symptom can arise from very different underlying presentations, and each one requires a different approach.

This formula is built for a pattern of Spleen Qi and Kidney Deficiency, presenting with fatigue, stress, and overthinking. It is not based on a classical formula, but includes herbs traditionally used to support endurance and buffer the effects of emotional stress.

In practice, formulas are rarely used exactly as written. They are adjusted to reflect the individual, their constitution, their symptoms, and how their body is responding over time.

Each herb plays a specific role within the formula, working together rather than acting alone. This is the difference between generic supplementation and individualized herbal medicine.

Curious what pattern you might fall into? See my pattern series.

Schedule a free 10-minute consult to get started.

03/01/2026

Welcome.

If you are navigating a health concern and seeking steady, individualized support through clinical herbalism, nutrition, and traditional methods, you are in the right place.

I work with people who value thoughtful, individualized care grounded in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western herbal practice.

→ Book a free 10-minute consultation to determine whether we are a good fit.

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Clinical Mentorship

For trained herbalists seeking clinical mentorship or case review support on the path toward professional practice, I offer one-on-one mentorship for developing practitioners.

→ Book a free 10-minute consultation to discuss mentorship.

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New to Herbalism?

If you are beginning your herbal studies or exploring educational programs, I encourage you to review the American Herbalists Guild directory of recognized schools.

While I do not offer beginner-level herbal education, I am glad you are here.

→ American Herbalists Guild School Directory

09/30/2024

In-person consultations are available in Sacramento at The Village Integrative Health Center.

While virtual care remains available for people near and far, some clients prefer the steadiness of sitting together in the same room.

If you are looking for thoughtful, individualized support grounded in traditional practice, I invite you to schedule a free 10-minute consultation to see if we’re a good fit.

09/25/2024

Cold and flu season tends to arrive quickly once school resumes.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, a cough is not treated as a single condition. We differentiate carefully. Is it dry or productive? Worse when lying down? Accompanied by fatigue, breathlessness, throat dryness, or congestion? The pattern matters.

Once the underlying pattern of imbalance is identified, herbs are selected accordingly. What soothes one presentation may aggravate another.

For milder lingering coughs, simple food-based support can be helpful. Warmed pears with fresh ginger and cinnamon are a traditional approach used to gently support the lungs during recovery.

More complex or persistent symptoms benefit from individualized assessment and tailored herbal formulation.

Consultations available in Sacramento and virtually.

05/26/2020

I recently wrote about 5 common myths I hear as an herbalist:

🌿 "I use pharmaceuticals so I can't use herbs"

🌿 "Herbal medicine is feeling & intuition-based"

🌿 "Allopathic (modern, western) medicine is harmful & unsafe"

🌿 “Traditional medicines are outdated and ineffective”

🌿 "I can just do this myself without an herbalist"

Check out the full article on my website at clinical-herbalism.com

"I use pharmaceuticals so I can't use herbs" I often see people who are hesitant to try herbs because they also take pharmaceutical medications. While it is very important to not mix incompatible herbs and medications, it is absolutely possible to take herbs with medications. A qualified herbalist c...

05/06/2020

Albizia julibrissin (He Huan Pi) is traditionally used in Chinese herbal medicine to address emotional constraint and irritability. It is most appropriately prescribed as part of a larger formula based on individual presentation rather than used alone.
In practice, it may be considered when emotional tension presents alongside sleep disturbance or irritability. Because herbal prescribing depends on constitution, medications, and overall pattern differentiation, individualized consultation is recommended.
Consultations available in Sacramento and virtually.