Sperb's Herbs Podcast

Today, we are going to be looking at another Chinese herb: cang er cao, xanthium or cockleburr. If this sounds familiar, we have discussed cang er zi or xanthium fruit when we discussed the formula cang er zi san or xanthium powder. That formula used the fruit of this plant, in this episode we will discuss the whole plant. Is there a difference in functions? Toxicity? Why would we use one instead...

This episode is quite a special one: it is our 50th episode! We will be covering a very interesting, and one of my favorite, formulas: xue fu zhu yu tang or drive out stasis from the mansion of blood decoction. This is a great formula for pain in the chest and I frequently use a modification for treating low back pain in many of my patients.  We will, as usual, cover the basics of Chinese herbolog...

This episode covers the Chinese herb Dan Dou Chi (Prepared Soybean). This is not only a relatively common herb, it is also a very common food. Besides covering the basics of Chinese herbology including category, and functions, we will explore the history, quality, science, pharmacology, evidence, and any potential interactions of each herb. And then there is always something a little quirky about...

This episode covers the common herb Valerian. This is common and ancient herb with a good amount of scientific evidence. As usual, we will cover the basics of Valerian including its category, functions, history, quality, science, pharmacology, evidence, and any potential interactions. And then there is always something a little quirky about an episode. This episode is really cutting edge as we exa...

This episode covers the Chinese herb Yin Yang Huo (Epimedi). This one of my favorite Chinese herbs: yín yáng huò or epimedium. The origin story for this herb gives the fifth grader in me giggles. Despite that, this is a very interesting, powerful, and useful herb. And as always, we will look at something a little different…today, we will look at the four great masters of the Jin-Yuan dynasties. Ea...

This episode covers the Chinese formula Fang Feng Tong Sheng San (Saposhnikovia Powder that Sagely Unblocks). This is an interesting formula that both releases the exterior and purges the interior. Each episode of the podcast will go into great depth about a single herb or formula. Besides covering the basics of Chinese herbology including category, and functions, we will explore the history, qual...

This episode covers a historically, if not currently, important herb with ramifications in alchemy and the basis of chemistry: Zhu Sha (Cinnabar). Each episode covers another traditional herb from somewhere in the world and goes into great depth about it. Besides covering the basics of the herb including its traditional use and functions, we will explore the history, quality, science, pharmacology...

This episode covers the very popular and very different Ayurvedic "herb" Shilajit. Each episode covers another traditional herb from somewhere in the world and goes into great depth about it. Besides covering the basics of the herb including its traditional use and functions, we will explore the history, quality, science, pharmacology, evidence, and any potential interactions of each herb. And the...

This episode covers the pretty obscure Chinese herb Zao Xin Tu (Furnace Soil). Besides covering the basics of herbology including category, and functions, we will explore the history, quality, science, pharmacology, evidence, and any potential interactions of each herb. And then there is always something a little quirky about an episode. This episode discusses a recently discovered prescriptions f...

This episode covers the very useful Chinese formula Cang Er Zi San (Xanthium Powder). Besides covering the basics of herbology including category, and functions, we will explore the history, quality, science, pharmacology, evidence, and any potential interactions of each herb. And then there is always something a little quirky about an episode. This episodes continues our exploration of the greate...

This episode covers the very useful Chinese herb and food Yi Yi Ren or Chinese Pearl Barley or Job's Tears. Besides covering the basics of herbology including category, and functions, we will explore the history, quality, science, pharmacology, evidence, and any potential interactions of each herb. And then there is always something a little quirky about an episode. This episodes continues our exp...

This episode covers the herb Aloe Vera which is a Western, Ayurvedic, and Chinese herb. Besides covering the basics of herbology including category, and functions, we will explore the history, quality, science, pharmacology, evidence, and any potential interactions of each herb. And then there is always something a little quirky about an episode. There will always be something different to learn a...

This episode covers the Chinese herb Ren Shen (Ginseng). Besides covering the basics of Chinese herbology including category, and functions, we will explore the history, quality, science, pharmacology, evidence, and any potential interactions of each herb. And then there is always something a little quirky about an episode. There will always be something different to learn as we discuss the variou...

This episode covers the Chinese formula Xiao Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction).  Besides covering the basics of Chinese herbology including category, and functions, we will explore the history, quality, science, pharmacology, evidence, and any potential interactions of each herb. And then there is always something a little quirky about an episode. Whether that is a unique story or an intere...

This episode covers one of the traditional categories of formulas, Nourish the Blood and Qi formulas. Besides covering the basics of Chinese herbology including the formulas in the category, and common functions, we will explore the science, pharmacology, evidence, and any potential interactions of the category of formulas. And then there is always something a little quirky about an episode. Wheth...

This episode covers the herb calamus, Acori calami Rhizoma, or shui chang pu. This herb is used in the Western, Chinese, and Ayurvedic traditions of medicine. We will look at its various functions and how they may compare between traditions. And, as usual, we will be covering the basics of herbology including category, and functions, as well as the history, quality, science, pharmacology, evidence...

This episode covers the Chinese herb Shu Di Huang (Prepared Rehmannia), one of the most important herbs in the Chinese pharmacopeia. It is an incredibly important and commonly used herb in many tonic and gynecological formulas. As usual we will be covering the basics of Chinese herbology including category, and functions, as well as the history, quality, science, pharmacology, evidence, and any po...

This episode covers the Chinese formula Bai He Gu Jin Tang (Lily Bulb Decoction to Preserve the Metal). This formula is actually part of an important class of herbal formulas dating back to the second century ce. We will also be discussing these Bǎi Hé Bìng or Lily Bulb (or hundred-union) Diseases. As usual we will be covering the basics of Chinese herbology including category, and functions, as w...

This episode covers the Chinese herb Hong Qu (Red Yeast Rice). This is an absolutely amazing herb which revolutionized drug care for cardiac patients. We will be taking a deep dive into cholesterol, what it is and how it is treated, as well as the discoverer of statin drugs. Which just happened to be discovered by researching this episode's herb. As usual we will be covering the basics of Chinese...

Er Chen Tang is a foundational formula and is the mother of many famous and important formulas in Chinese herbology. It in the dry dampness and transform phlegm category of herbs, but its influence extends to much more. Historically, this formula has a long history and influence on the application of medicinals in China. And, of course, we will explore "something a little different": phlegm as an...

We continue our unintended exploration of delicious herbs to look at Tian Men Dong or Asparagus Tuber. This episode of Sperb’s Herbs will explore all of the uses, category, and functions, as well as the history, quality, science, pharmacology, evidence, and any potential interactions of this wonderful Chinese herb. And of course, we will look at something a little different: the philosophical conc...

Another delicious herb, this episode is doing a deep dive into blackberry. We will discuss its traditional uses as well as the science behind it. And of course, we will be looking at something a little different: a landmark case for the sale and use of herbs in the United States: Fmali v. Heckler. 

Mint is such a versatile herb: lots of various medical and culinary uses and it is super tasty. This episode of Sperb’s Herbs will explore all of these uses, category, and functions, we will explore the history, quality, science, pharmacology, evidence, and any potential interactions of mint. And of course, we will look at something a little different: menthol and its uses. Join us for an explorat...

This episode covers another amazing Chinese herbal formula and will go into great depth about it. This time it is Gui Zhi Tang’s (Cinnamon Twig Decoction) turn. Besides covering the basics of the formula including category, and functions of both the formula and the individual herbs in the formula, we will explore the history, science, pharmacology, evidence, and any potential interactions of each...

This episode, we are exploring another important category of herbs: the Nourish the Yin Herbs. These are incredibly useful especially in women’s medicine. However, they are widely used in many, many common formulas for everyone. Join us as we look at this category and learn about their functions, their usefulness, and their dangers…