Michael’s Blog

Triphala consists of three phytonutrient-rich fruits Emblica officinalis (Amla, or Amalaki) also known as Phyllanthus emblica; Terminalia bellerica (Vibhitaki); and Terminalia chebula ...
Read More

It seems that each year it is getting increasingly more difficult to depend on my garden to produce enough to ...
Read More

“It is quite important to know what kind of a patient the disease has got as to know what kind ...
Read More

After traveling to places in Arabia where saffron and other herbs and spices were sold and used, I attended a ...
Read More

A selection of Chinese tonic herbs The Importance of Qi in the Body Qi means “life energy.” The source of ...
Read More

Unfortunately, too many people think about their teeth only in crisis stage. A common pre-crisis symptom is receding gums. This ...
Read More

When was the last time you visited a doctor and the first thing asked of you was to show your ...
Read More

Every December we try to offer some possibilities for gifts you can make or buy to enhance your holidays. It's ...
Read More

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is described as a rasayana in Ayurvedic medicine. In Ayurveda, rasayanas are used as Traditional Chinese medicine ...
Read More

Asava and arishta, meaning “distillate” in Sanskrit, are two naturally fermented alcoholic extracts used for making Ayurvedic wine medicines. Draksha ...
Read More

Many years ago, while visiting Baton Rouge, Louisiana, I happened upon a local herb shop.  While perusing jars of dry ...
Read More

“Let your medicine be your food and your food, your medicine.” The sovereign dictum of Hippocrates is aptly epitomized by ...
Read More

My acupuncture teacher, Dr. Miriam Lee, said she never studied herbs but she had a very busy practice in San ...
Read More

Many mothers are afraid to give their babies and young children vaccinations. Pro and con arguments on both sides make ...
Read More

In the midst of the current pandemic, I'm surprised how little mention there is of boneset, once considered the number ...
Read More

So far, 14,000 people have died and 250,000 people have been hospitalized during the 2019-2020 flu season, according to preliminary estimates from the ...
Read More

Recently Lesley and I toured Jerusalem and various parts of Arabia featured in the Bible. One of our stops was ...
Read More

Have you ever wondered what the Holy Family did with the three gifts brought to them from the far-off lands ...
Read More

“Let food be your medicine.” -- Hippocrates I founded the East West Free Natural Health Clinic in Santa Cruz, California, ...
Read More

It is virtually inevitable when lecturing on herbs that a man might surreptitiously take me aside and ask for an ...
Read More

Sleep is a period of reduced activity where we leave waking consciousness to drift into a land of dreams and ...
Read More

On our recent second visit to Costa Rica, we re-experienced the wondrous biodiversity of its plants, exotic wildlife, volcanoes, and ...
Read More

“The perfected breathe all the way to their heels, unlike ordinary folk who breathe only as far as their throats.” ...
Read More

The renowned 16th century English herbalist, Nicholas Culpeper, described the use of lemon balm for depression by quoting Serapio who ...
Read More

Oxidation in the body is a natural process caused when wandering electrons called free radicals react with other molecules. Oxidation ...
Read More

Korean Hand Therapy (KHT) was discovered by Tai Woo Yoo, OMD, PhD, a South Korean acupuncturist, in 1971, when he ...
Read More

Oxymel is one of the oldest herbal preparations. The word is derived from the Latin oxmeli meaning “acid and honey” ...
Read More

Mung Bean for Hypertension Hypertension is a major risk indicator for heart attack and stroke. In the United States, approximately ...
Read More

Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans), a common kitchen spice with a warming, spicy energy, is used to add flavor to desserts and ...
Read More

Once when comparing relative merits of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurvedic medicine with an Ayurvedic doctor in India, the ...
Read More

Recently, someone wrote me in response to an article I wrote on the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) principle of dui ...
Read More

A recent article published in the New York Times has questioned the value of one of the sacred cows of ...
Read More

For the last 3 1/2 weeks, I’ve been suffering from shingles and postherpetic neuralgia. It is a terrible condition. There ...
Read More

Recently the CDC announced that some 40 cases of salmonella associated with individuals who took certain batches of kratom. I’ve ...
Read More

Victoria Fortner, herbalist and artist, was a beloved elder and member of the American Herbalists Guild. She passed away nearly ...
Read More

I have been treating a young man with Down Syndrome mostly with acupuncture over the course of years. His mother ...
Read More

An old Chinese folk adage “Trying to cure disease after it has begun is like trying to forge weapons while ...
Read More

"Tonic" in TCM specifically refers to herbs that: increase Qi, usually through enhanced absorption and mitochondrial replication nourish Blood, usually ...
Read More

While acknowledging all the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) principles of healing, a branch of TCM called Taoist Traditional Chinese Medicine ...
Read More

  I really like when I can use a standard protocol for a disease and receive consistently good results. This ...
Read More

See Part 1 of my series on kratom here. I work at a local free clinic alongside other students and ...
Read More

As of the beginning of August 2017, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) published notice of the state of the ...
Read More

Could you ever imagine yourself as being ‘sugar deprived?’  Do you find yourself unable to sleep soundly throughout the night, ...
Read More

What's that sound? Why won't it go away? Tinnitus, commonly known as "ringing in the ears" and the perception of ...
Read More

Arthritis, joint and back pain is so prevalent throughout the world that there really is no point to describe how many ...
Read More

In my previous blog on treating H. pylori-induced stomach inflammation with herbs, I touch briefly on a fundamental difference between conventional ...
Read More

Recently, a colleague sent me the following question: A friend in Canada tested positive for H. pylori bacteria. Of course, ...
Read More

Acupressure applied to Gall Bladder 20. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) there are 361 charted acupuncture points on ...
Read More

Michael Tierra with a view of the Huangshan mountain range. The East West Herb Course and TCMZone organized a special ...
Read More

by Beverly Jennings, RH (AHG), MT, East West School of Planetary Herbology Graduate East West students were fortunate to have the opportunity ...
Read More

“Northwest Passage” The amazing music of composer, Alex Shapiro Featuring the world premiere of ARCANA: SUITE FOR PIANO  commissioned by ...
Read More

The most widely used Chinese herbal formula comes with the boastful name, “Curing Pills.” In North America and Europe any ...
Read More

My clinical experience using the Ayurvedic formula Triphala is extensive, based on literally thousands of cases over the course or ...
Read More

Wouldn’t it be nice if we all had a little spot on our head that we could tap to clear ...
Read More

One of my favorite movies, Where the Wild Lilies Bloom (1974), tells the story of a family of five Appalachian ...
Read More

Michael Tierra applies cups to a patient with severe back pain at the East West Free Clinic in Santa Cruz ...
Read More

As we continue this blog series on Yin Deficiency (with Heat), I want to make clear that the description of ...
Read More

Heat is an extremely common condition in Traditional Chinese Medical Diagnosis. In Ayurveda Heat can be described as pitta and ...
Read More

How beautiful in autumn shadows, the blood red berries of hawthorn are!  Drooping in small clusters along thorny branches they ...
Read More

In desperation, a family with strong ‘old world’ roots brought to my office their beloved father, a humble Italian man ...
Read More

Can the claims of traditional herbal medicine be substantiated scientifically? Because trials are expensive and because there is no profit ...
Read More

Mention “noni” (Morinda citrifolia) to anyone who has tasted the fermented fruit, and the conversation is over. Some people would ...
Read More

East West Free Clinic herbalists Maureen Flash, Erin Massengale, Michael McEvoy, Beverly Jennings. I have always had the desire to ...
Read More

A much-touted recent investigation by the New York State Attorney general’s office claimed national store brand herbal supplements sold at ...
Read More

My last two blog posts attempted to answer two questions: 1. Is it really necessary for all or even the majority ...
Read More

Gluten sensitivity and the TCM Spleen The unique concept of the ‘Spleen’ in TCM encompasses far more than the standard ...
Read More

12/1/2014 In my 40 years of involvement as an herbalist in the natural health movement, I’ve seen a panoply of ...
Read More

Like garlic, cayenne pepper (Capsicum annum) is one of those rude, crude herbs that has staunch friends and enemies. Regarded ...
Read More

While I don’t think it is appropriate for any herbalist or alternative practitioner to claim to be an expert in ...
Read More

While many people may think that taste and flavor are the same, they are actually different. Here’s why: Taste refers ...
Read More

Ever wonder why you never hear mention of certain well-known herbs in the higher echelons of herbal medicine? Garlic is ...
Read More

Be it ordained established and enacted by authority of this present parliament, that at all time from henceforth, it shall ...
Read More

Wild cherry bark (Prunus serotina, P. virginiana) also known as choke cherry, is one of several herbal remedies that contain ...
Read More

The FDA’s recent report on "Pathogens and Filth in Spices" finding salmonella in imported spices, especially from India and Mexico, ...
Read More

Besides the ancient traditions of Traditional Chinese Medicine based on the Huangdi Neijing and the Nan Jing, there have been ...
Read More

Chinese medicine divides diseases into two broad categories: 1. Diseases of "external contraction" (Wei Guan), which are relatively simple conditions ...
Read More

To feel healthy, strong, vibrant, and vital each day sets the stage for all the other virtues, hope and interest ...
Read More

We are pleased to welcome to the East West family Áine Amanita Rose McCormack, born to East West graduate Anne ...
Read More

I'm not sure when the use of poppy for the relief of pain was made illegal for herbalists, but it ...
Read More

It’s hard to believe that only about 25 years ago computers became the thing and I and a few of ...
Read More

Numen: The Nature of Plants A film about the healing power of plants http://www.numenfilm.com This is the most beautiful film ...
Read More

I recently gave a free in-depth introductory webinar on pulse diagnosis. We have since published it on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6WTq0GhnyQ Pulse ...
Read More

A close member of my family recently went on a weight loss diet and happily dropped 25 pounds within two ...
Read More

The word is finally getting out. Approximately one third of Americans are overweight. As a result, they suffer from a ...
Read More

"Adaptogen" is a term coined by Russian professor of medicine and physiological medicine Dr. Israel I. Brekhman and colleagues to ...
Read More

I think climate change is affecting my garden in Ben Lomond, California (a section of which shown at right). It ...
Read More

Menstrual Irregularities and Infertility Conception Vessel 4, called guan yuan or "origin pass"is located approximately two inches above the top ...
Read More

Last time, I talked about moxibustion and its uses on the acupuncture point Stomach 36. There are several other uses and ...
Read More

Moxibustion, commonly called "moxa," is one of the methods used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) where the downy fluff of ...
Read More

In my previous blog, I discussed the little-known use of ragweed for allergies. Another herb that can give over-the-counter antihistamines ...
Read More

Spring conjures images of life renewed, flowery blooms, love and mating. But for one in five people, it means shutting ...
Read More

Before there was any understanding of biochemical constituents, traditional herbal healing systems relied on flavors as indicators of medicinal properties ...
Read More

Here it is again – another influenza epidemic claimed to be the biggest in 10 years. We’re bombarded by the ...
Read More

Ulcerative Colitis Ulcerative colitis affects approximately 100 out of 100,000 people in the United States. Genetic disposition and food sensitivities ...
Read More

A few months ago, I found myself asking the question that so many of my students and colleagues were polite ...
Read More

Hawaii is the endangered species capital of the United States, according to paleoecologist David Burney, author of Back to the ...
Read More

Most herbalists have learned that preparing several herbs in a formula which are extracted together or brewed into a tea ...
Read More

Once upon a time, when people got sick they knew that that they must "drink their bitter brew" to get ...
Read More

Michael Tierra in the Sierra, August 2012 "I'm gathering pulsatilla which is all around me. There are also stands of ...
Read More

The nondescript appearance of herbs in their dried or powdered form, coupled with their high commercial value, has historically made ...
Read More

Many of my readers will have heard that holy basil (also known as tulsi, Ocimum sanctum/tenuiflorum) is the most sacred herb in ...
Read More

Dandelion root and burdock root are my two most commonly prescribed herbs when chronic conditions require anti-inflammatory, blood purifying alternatives ...
Read More

According to a medical researcher on the Dr. Oz show, because of the early Spring and prolonged proliferation of windborne ...
Read More

In its February-April 2012 issue, HerbalGram, one of the most reputable and distinguished journals in the world on all things ...
Read More

Despite the overwhelming evidence of the added health benefits of fiber, vitamins and minerals of whole grains, most traditional Chinese ...
Read More

Healing should always leave room for the miraculous to occur, and our belief system is usually the foundation that allows ...
Read More

A wise sage once told me "where there is great light, there is great darkness." For many, this is especially ...
Read More

Despite their shared love of nature, plants, caring for the earth, animal and human life -- herbalists as a bunch ...
Read More

The entire class of tonics in Chinese medicine is defined as herbs that "make things normal." They are regarded as ...
Read More

Your child is sick and you'd like to try administering herbs rather than drugs. The reason is obvious: you correctly ...
Read More

I always think it's a good idea to learn to derive your special nutrients from foods rather than pills and ...
Read More

A recent article published in the Economist (May 19, 2011) entitled 'Think Yourself Better' claims that all alternative medical treatments ...
Read More

In the springtime, when birds do sing, tree pollen flings, eyes itch, noses clog,  throats do hack '" hey ding ...
Read More

The threat of exposure from the nuclear reactors in Japan made unstable by the recent earthquake has captured the world's ...
Read More

If you suffer from hypertension, several avenues of treatment are available to you. How do you choose what is best ...
Read More

Nancy Angelini, the author of the article, "What Exactly Are Ferment Metabolites?" which I'm featuring in this blog post, is ...
Read More

An article published in the UK Independent on Dec. 30, 2010, reports: 'From 1 May 2011, traditional herbal medicinal products must ...
Read More

My friend Don Monkerud recently sent me his periodic political critique which included the following: 'Corporate controlled politicians claim America ...
Read More

Thus far in this series we have described two other powerful herbs for coronary heart disease: hawthorn from the Western ...
Read More

Sage Advice For the treatment of Coronary Heart Disease It's not too often that a representative of a pharmaceutical company ...
Read More

It's no secret that cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the #1 killer in the United States. Estimates are that 81,100,000 people ...
Read More

For years I have known and used DMSO for the topical relief of inflammation and pain. It's unfortunate that even ...
Read More

I've lived through 40 years of fad diets ranging from Adele Davis, living foods, Paul Bragg, juice diets, macrobiotic, low ...
Read More

Above: Richo Cech in Zanzibar Just as a horse whisperer understands the particular needs and psychology of horses, a plant ...
Read More

Each spring, the honeysuckle flowers gather at the end of their stems to trumpet their sweet, gentle scent of purification ...
Read More

During the 1970s on one of my trips to Bangalore in southern India, I made it a point to seek ...
Read More

Almost exactly one year ago today, I published a blog post, 'Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Flu,' about the ...
Read More

My first Chinese herb teacher Foon Lee Wong once cryptically remarked: "It's not good to be too healthy." Since then ...
Read More

The pomegranate (Punica granitum), highly touted these days as an antioxidant-rich superfruit, has an ancient metaphysical and culinary history. In ...
Read More

In the marketplace, it is often more difficult to sell the general public on an herbal formula as opposed to ...
Read More

It's no secret that acid reflux is a widespread condition. Just think of all the antacid, Nexium or Prilosec advertisements you've seen ...
Read More

For a good 'romp in the hay' this Valentine's Day, be sure the hay is oat straw! Wild oat straw ...
Read More

After the period of feasting from Thanksgiving through Christmas, the New Year leads many of us to think about getting ...
Read More

As I mentioned in last week's blog, exercise and wise dieting principles aren't enough to help you reach your optimal ...
Read More

I'm rounding out this trio of blogs on diet and weight management with the following 20 tips. Under each tip ...
Read More

This Dec. 1, 2009, article at the BBC website entitled "Prince Charles: 'Herbal medicine must be regulated'" points to a ...
Read More

Driving on Highway 50, the only highway on the island of Kauai, during morning traffic, a sign advertising fresh Longan ...
Read More

Both gotu kola (Centella asiatica and/or Hydrocotyle asiatica) and Bacopa monnieri (pictured at left) are known as "brahmi."This has created ...
Read More

Have you ever had one of those lingering, deep-seated coughs (often the last hanger-on symptom after a cold or flu) ...
Read More

Albizia is one of my favorite herbs because of its real and unique ability to nourish the spirit in a ...
Read More

There is mounting fear -- and perhaps even hysteria -- around the H1N1 virus as we usher in the fall ...
Read More

Recently a friend of mine called to say that she had a terrible bladder infection. Her doctor prescribed an antibiotic, ...
Read More

Have you noticed the lack of health care in your area? I have, in Santa Cruz. So many GPs have ...
Read More

"This is the way the world ends This is the way the world ends This is the way the world ...
Read More

Corfu Bay: Practically every square yard of arable land is covered with olive trees or grapevines As someone who's worked ...
Read More

Ashwagandha root (Withania somnifera) is considered a most important herb in Ayurvedic medicine. Its ability to serve as a tonic ...
Read More

Pianos... I'm in Fort Worth right now, at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. As a classical pianist, the opportunity ...
Read More

Recently on our East West Herb Course private student forum, a student asked about my distinction between the terms 'herbology' ...
Read More

Who's afraid of the Big Bad Flu? I know many of us are concerned about Swine Flu, and as I ...
Read More

Have you seen those PSAs for MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus) that have made their way onto primetime television lately? ...
Read More

If you or someone you know is one of the unfortunate 0.1% of the population who suffers from cluster headaches, ...
Read More

Michael Moore, the great Southwestern herbalist of North America, left his earthly dwelling for other realms on Friday, Feb. 20, ...
Read More

Been to a piano recital lately? Thanks to the dedication of the impresarios at the UCSC Arts and Lecture Series ...
Read More

When the little bluebird Who has never said a word Starts to sing Spring When the little bluebell At the ...
Read More

We're already halfway through January! How are you doing with your health-centered New Year's resolutions? In my last post on diet ...
Read More

Please copy and sign the following petition and submit it to change.gov/agenda/health_care_agenda Then please send or forward it to as ...
Read More

It's the new year and guess what's on (almost) everyone's minds: Losing weight and dropping some of the pounds they ...
Read More

The theme for today, day seven of Kwanzaa, is Imani -- Faith: To believe with all our heart in our ...
Read More

The meditation for today, the fourth day of Kwanzaa, is Ujamaa -- Cooperative Economics: To build and maintain our own ...
Read More

The meditation for today, the fifth day of Kwanzaa, is Nia -- Purpose: To make our collective vocation the building ...
Read More

The meditation theme for today, the third day of Kwanzaa, is Ujima -- Collective Work and Responsibility. I can hardly ...
Read More

Many of us have heard of the African-American celebration called Kwanzaa, but I must confess that I along with the ...
Read More

The meditation for yesterday, the first day of Kwanzaa, was: Umoja (Unity): To strive for and maintain unity in the ...
Read More

Lesley and I recently returned from a relaxing vacation on Kauai. Granted, it's not a large island, but by pure ...
Read More

It is well known that oils of aromatic herbs which include all the mints, lemon balm and sage serve the ...
Read More

With the holidays and the season for gift-giving upon us, I thought I'd put together an Oprah-style list of "My ...
Read More

Like many of our friends, Lesley and I are ecstatic about Barack Obama's winning the American presidency. It lifts a ...
Read More

When someone is diagnosed with cancer, they of course seek the help of an oncologist. The oncologist, in turn, is ...
Read More

In 2008, Planetary Formulas (now renamed "Planetary Herbals" to account for many of the single herbs that have been incorporated ...
Read More

An old method my mother used to prevent my catching airborne colds and flus was to go to the pharmacy ...
Read More

Autumn Parched over Sun's heated passion Causing plants to ripen Squirrels to scamper and work, And many colored leaves to ...
Read More

Behold, our new website! Many of you -- especially my own students -- will notice that it looks considerably different. Our goal ...
Read More