道地药材 Raw Herbs

Raw herbs are dried herbs. They are closest to the form in which they are grown and most similar to something you might find at a grocery store or farmers market. The herb is harvested in its natural form (roots, stems, bark, flowers, fruit and/or leaves), then ground into a powder or cut into pieces to be used for tea. TCM originated with the use of raw herbs and information about their properties has been passed down through generations of healers.

Raw herbs are not simply eaten. The herbs are soaked, boiled and strained in a process called “decoction.” Following your practitioner’s recommendation, you will decoct and take raw herbs either individually or in combination, as a formula, depending on your particular needs and concerns.