Ancient Ways Apothecary

Herbal Medicine Rooted in Tradition. Informed by Lineage. Guided by Shen.

From Clinical Practice to Teaching

Ancient Ways has always been a core part of our clinical practice—where herbal medicine isn't just prescribed, it's lived. Now, we're stepping into a new role: teachers. We're opening the doors a little wider—offering thoughtful courses and meaningful conversations that share what we've learned through years of real-world, clinical experience. Our goal is to help you feel more confident, curious, and capable in your own relationship with herbal medicine.

A Place to Begin or Go Deeper

Whether you're looking to build your home apothecary, support your kids through seasonal changes, explore formulas for stress and sleep, or simply understand the "why" behind the blends on your shelf—this space is for you.

Practical Tools for Everyday Use

Our courses will equip you with practical tools to navigate real-life situations—like choosing herbs for stress, digestion, or seasonal shifts.

You'll feel prepared and capable in your herbal journey.
You'll learn how to recognize when herbs are appropriate—and when they're not.
You'll learn to trust your instincts while knowing when to seek guidance from a trained practitioner.

Support Along the Way

You won't be left to figure it all out alone. You'll have access to us through the courses but also through the Art of Nourishing Life forum, where active message boards are dedicated to herbal conversation. That's where we'll answer questions, offer guidance, and walk this path alongside you.

Safety, Intention, and Empowered Action

We'll talk about safety, intention, and how to bring herbs into your family's life in ways that feel both grounded and empowering. From adult wellness to pediatric care, we believe herbal medicine should be accessible—but never oversimplified. Natural doesn't always mean safe. And complexity doesn't have to mean confusion. Our goal is to give you tools to understand, engage, and act with clarity and care.

A Lifelong Process, Shared

We're here to walk the path with you—offering what we know and encouraging what you're ready to discover for yourself. We're here to be a resource and mentor for what can be a lifelong process of learning and discovery.

Why We Teach Herbs (and Why It Matters)

This isn't kitchen counter curiosity. This is medicine—one with deep roots and a profound ability to heal when held with respect.

Herbs can heal. Herbs can also harm. And that's why we teach.

We've seen what happens when herbs are misunderstood or misused. And we care too much to let that go unspoken. Our approach is grounded in reverence—an understanding that this medicine carries power, lineage, and responsibility.

Our herbal education is built on:

Reverence for the Medicine

This medicine is ancient, complex, and deeply relational. It deserves to be held with respect. We teach from that place.

Responsibility Through Education

We're not selling potions. We're offering perspective, structure, and guidance—because:

Knowledge is safety
Understanding herbs helps people avoid misuse or overreach
Offering a deeper perspective creates a more confident, thoughtful use

We don't offer information for the sake of curiosity. We teach so people can use herbs safely, thoughtfully, and effectively— because knowledge protects, and understanding empowers.

We don't teach because it's trendy. We teach because this medicine works—and because people deserve to understand it.

Authority That's Earned

Our herbal training isn't something we picked up along the way. It's part of a medical lineage, rooted in Classical Chinese Medicine and sharpened over decades in classrooms, clinics, and real-life healing, where we've seen the power and potential risks of herbs firsthand.

Why This Page Exists

This corner of the site isn't about selling formulas—it's about helping people relate to herbs with depth and clarity. To:

Help parents feel more confident in supporting their children
Offer meaningful context for formulas already in use
Share the frameworks that make herbal medicine safer, more effective, and more alive

From the Clinic, With Care

Ancient Ways Apothecary grew from our clinical roots at Jing Shen Healing Arts. From the beginning, herbs were part of the room—lined in jars along the walls, quietly grounding the space with their presence, their stories, and their potential to heal.

The Power of Herbal Relationship

Herbal medicine is never just about the herbs themselves—it’s about relationship. The intimacy of selecting a formula. The quiet ritual of measuring by hand. The knowing that each root, flower, and leaf holds meaning, history, and care.

The Heart of Our Practice

The Apothecary has always been the herbal heart of our practice. An extension of the treatment room. A way the medicine speaks—not just through needles, but through taste, texture, and tradition.

Crafted for Real Life

Over time, those individual jars became something more. We began crafting our own herbal powders and tinctures—not only for our patients, but for the wider community seeking steady, thoughtful support for stress, immunity, digestion, and everyday resilience. Simple, trusted formulas rooted in classical Chinese medicine. Made with intention. Offered with care.

Where Tea Took Root

And then, something unexpected bloomed: tea. Long before there was a Nerdy Girl Tea Collection, there were seven humble blends tucked among the shelves—comforting, cozy, and brewed between treatments. As those blends found their own identity and became the Nerdy Girl brand, the Apothecary returned to its roots: the clinical, classical work of Chinese herbal medicine.

A Living Legacy

Today, Ancient Ways Apothecary remains an integral part of our healing practice. It’s where formulas are crafted with purpose. Where herbs meet the needs of modern life without losing their lineage. And where the spirit of Chinese medicine continues—through plants, preparation, and presence.

Still our herbal hat.
Still our medicine cabinet.
Still a trusted extension of the care we offer in the clinic and beyond.
We’re honored to share it with you.