Chinese Medicine Matters

In this episode, Eva Lau, Vice President of Mayway Herbs, shares highlights from her recent family trip to Japan and the Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas that helped keep everyone healthy while traveling. From crowded trains and changing weather to unforgettable meals and neighborhood Kampo pharmacies, Eva offers practical travel tips, firsthand experiences, and herbal recommendations for sta...

In this episode, Dr. Skye Sturgeon explores why so many men delay seeking healthcare and how cultural expectations, practical barriers, and long-standing ideas about masculinity can influence health outcomes. Drawing from research, personal experience, and decades of clinical practice, Skye discusses common reasons men avoid medical care and shares practical strategies for practitioners to build t...

What are the “Three Mountains” of men’s health? In this episode, Yvonne Lau explores benign prostatic hyperplasia, erectile dysfunction, and male infertility through the lens of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Drawing from a translated interview with Dr. Guo Jun, Director of the Department of Andrology at Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, this episode examines the treatment...

In this episode, Denise Cicuto shares conversations with members of the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies, exploring the challenges many are facing in today’s political climate and the ways practitioners can offer meaningful support. Through these reflections and experiences, Denise examines the role of inclusive language, compassionate listening, community care, and affirming healthcare. She al...

In this special Pride Month episode, Yvonne Lau and Skye Sturgeon continue their exploration of Yin and Yang by examining one of TCM’s most foundational principles through the lens of diversity, biology, and clinical practice. Together, they discuss why Yin and Yang are not rigid opposites, how spectrum and variation exist throughout nature and human experience, and why thoughtful, individualized...

In this episode, Janet Borges presents Laura Stropes’ clinical guide to supporting female fertility with prepared Chinese medicines. Exploring the four phases of the menstrual cycle through a TCM lens, Janet discusses treatment principles, hormonal and energetic shifts, and commonly used formulas to support menstruation, ovulation, implantation, and reproductive health. She also examines how prepa...

In this episode, Skye Sturgeon explores the TCM pattern known as Cold in the Uterus and its role in gynecological and reproductive health. He discusses how Cold, Yang deficiency, Blood stagnation, and lifestyle factors may contribute to menstrual irregularities, pelvic pain, and fertility challenges. Skye also examines classical treatment strategies, including acupuncture approaches and herbal for...

In this episode, Janet Borges explores the clinical applications of Tian Ma Wan and Zhi Bai Di Huang Tang in supporting perimenopause and menopause-related patterns. She discusses common presentations including hot flashes, headaches, dizziness, irritability, sleep disturbances, and Liver Yang rising with underlying Yin and Blood deficiency. Through both formulas, Janet offers practical insight in...

In this episode, Denise Cicuto, L.Ac., explores the cognitive and emotional shifts that can arise during perimenopause and menopause through both Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine perspectives. She discusses the Heart–Kidney connection, hormonal changes affecting the brain, and common TCM patterns associated with memory, sleep, mood, and concentration. Denise also shares treatment strategie...

In this episode, Raven Lang, L.Ac. O.M.D., walks through a striking case of hyperemesis, offering a closer look at how severe pregnancy-related nausea unfolds in real clinical settings. She shares her approach to treatment, including hands-on techniques and acupuncture strategies, while emphasizing the role of integrative care in supporting patient outcomes. You can access the article here: https:...

In this episode, Dr. Skye Sturgeon explores the physiology and pathology of Blood in TCM, with a focus on how stagnation develops, how it presents clinically, and why it can lead to serious systemic effects. From characteristic pain patterns and clotting to its role in cardiovascular, immune, and chronic conditions, this conversation offers a deeper look at one of the most important and widely enc...

In the second part of this conversation, Yvonne Lau and Dr. Skye Sturgeon turn to the pathology of Blood in Traditional Chinese Medicine, exploring patterns like Blood deficiency and Blood stasis and how they appear in the body. Along the way, they discuss the broader role of Blood in immunity, neurological function, and clinical practice, offering a thoughtful look at how Eastern and Western pers...

In this first part of a two-part conversation, Yvonne Lau and Dr. Skye Sturgeon explore Blood (Xue) in Traditional Chinese Medicine, one of the concepts that most closely parallels modern physiology. From its relationship with Qi to its vital role in nourishing the body, they unpack how Blood moves, where it comes from, and why it’s central to health. You can access the written article here: https...

In this episode of Chinese Medicine Matters, Janet Borges explores nutritional therapy in Traditional Chinese Medicine, based on an article by Yvonne Lau. From the energetic properties of foods to how diet can support constitution, seasonal balance, and herbal treatment, this episode offers a practical look at how food can be used as part of TCM care. You can access the written article here: https...

Many skin flare-ups that appear with the changing seasons are assumed to be allergies, but that is not always the case. In this episode, David Heron explores how shifts in temperature, humidity, sunlight, and daily habits can aggravate underlying imbalances and contribute to common conditions such as eczema, urticaria, perioral dermatitis, and seborrheic dermatitis. Drawing from both modern dermat...

In this episode of Chinese Medicine Matters, Yvonne Lau, President of Mayway Herbs, discusses Cang Er Zi (Xanthium sibiricum). Well known in Chinese medicine for opening the nasal passages and dispelling Wind, this humble spiny fruit also carries a rich cultural history. From ancient materia medica to classical poetry, discover how this herb captured the imagination of scholars, physicians, and po...

In Part 2 of this ongoing Chat series, Dr. Skye Sturgeon and Yvonne Lau move from philosophy into clinical application, exploring how Yin and Yang guide diagnosis and treatment in Chinese medicine. They discuss the Eight Principles, organ relationships, and how practitioners assess balance and imbalance in the body. The conversation also touches on aging, Jing, and the role of attention and lifest...

In Part 1 of this ongoing Chat series, Dr. Skye Sturgeon and Yvonne Lau explore Yin and Yang beyond the familiar symbol. Beginning with the Taiji diagram, they discuss how duality, perception, and transformation shape our understanding of reality, and why nothing is ever purely Yin or Yang. This conversation offers a philosophical foundation for understanding Yin and Yang as an active, dynamic rel...

In this episode, Dr. Skye Sturgeon explores the enduring relevance of Gui Pi Tang (Return the Spleen Decoction), a classical formula with over 2,000 years of history that remains a staple in clinical practice. Often categorized as a Qi and Blood tonic, Gui Pi Tang is uniquely focused on addressing Spleen Qi and Heart Blood deficiency while calming the Shen. Dr. Sturgeon discusses its historical ro...

In this episode of Chinese Medicine Matters, Yvonne Lau joins us to explore the traditions of Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival (Chūn Jié 春節), beginning February 17, 2026 -- the Year of the Fire Horse. Celebrated over 15 days, the holiday is filled with meaningful customs, auspicious foods, temple visits, red envelopes, and time-honored dos and don’ts. Yvonne shares insights in...

Fire, fire, and more fire. In this episode, Wendy Goldman breaks down what the Year of the Yang Fire Horse means on a personal and collective level, from rapid change and innovation to health, emotions, and opportunity within chaos. Learn how to stay grounded, prepared, and in harmony as this powerful year unfolds. About the Author Wendy S. Goldman, L.Ac. has been in private practice in San Diego...

Chinese New Year, also known as Chūn Jié or Spring Festival, is a time of renewal, ritual, and preparation for the year ahead. In this episode of Chinese Medicine Matters, Yvonne Lau shares traditional and modern ways to prepare for the holiday, with a focus on clearing stagnation, supporting healthy Qi flow, and setting the stage for health, harmony, and good fortune. From decluttering and cleani...

Lichun marks the release of winter’s stagnation and the first stirring of spring Yang. Drawing from classical texts and clinical experience, Yvonne Lau explores how seasonal transition influences Liver Qi and emotional regulation.  You can access the written article here: https://www.mayway.com/blogs/articles/lichun-beginning-of-spring-clinical-reflections-on-seasonal-transition See our Monthly Pr...

In this episode of Chinese Medicine Matters, Dr. Skye Sturgeon discusses two closely related classical formulas used for external Wind–Cold–Damp invasion: Jing Fang Bai Du Wan (Release the Exterior Teapills) and Ren Shen Bai Du San ( Resilient Warrior Teapills). The episode focuses on the key point of differentiation between these formulas, constitutional strength and the presence of Qi deficiency...

Brain fog, mental fatigue, forgetfulness, this week we’re talking about Cerebral Tonic Tablets (Bu Nao Pian). Tune in as we explore how this classic formula supports memory, focus, and cognitive clarity by nourishing the Sea of Marrow and calming the Shen. You can access the written article here: https://www.mayway.com/blogs/articles/cerebral-tonic-tablets See our Monthly Practitioner Discounts ht...