Getting TCM Herbs in the EU

[Nuralshamal]

Dear Dao Bums,

Where do you get your herbs in the European Union?

In my country I get K'an Herbs and their other department Mycoherb from a local TCM company. Sometimes I also get already formulated herbs from Pine Mountain, Seven Forests & White Tiger from a Dutch TCM company that I know through local TCM connections.

However, when I want to buy raw, single herbs, I need to get them from German or British Amazon, or sometimes I'm lucky and find them in specialised teastores or bazaar-like shops in the big cities where I live.

However, lately I'm looking for american ginseng & dendrobium, and no matter where I search, I can only find them being shipped from outside of EU (e.g. USA or China). 

The problem with getting them from the US or China is that the delivery will be more than 1 month, and when you finally receive it, you have to pay extra tolls because it's from outside the EU.

So I'm desperately searching for a place in the EU, because then delivery is usually within 7 days, and trade within EU is toll-free.

Do you have any good places within the EU to get raw single herbs?

Edited September 30, 2023 by Nuralshamal

[Nuralshamal]

I still haven't managed to find neither Dried Dendrobium nor Dried American Ginseng yet.

However I've discovered some treasures hiding in plain sight, that you can get in every supermarket here, which are really good for the current cold seasons.

Star Anise, boil them for 20-30 minutes and make a pleasant smelling & tasting tea - warms yang, expels cold, regulates qi

Cardamom - boil them for 15-25 minutes and get a nice tea - transforms pleghm, dries dampness, strengthens spleen, tonifies qi

Chamomile tea - we probably all know this tea, it calms shens, expels wind, clears heat, strengthens liver & moves qi

Cinnamon sticks - boil and you have a fragrant tea, expels cold, warms yang, strengthens spleen & kidney, circulates qi & blood

Cloves - boil and you have a nice cup of tea - expels cold & warms yang

Dried tangerine Peel - dries dampness and pleghm in the middle burner, counteracts stagnation caused by too many tonifying herbs

Do any of you have any suggestions for herbs that are easily available which builds kidney jing, qi & yin?

Edited October 24, 2023 by Nuralshamal

[johndoe2012]

I suggest making Vietnamese pho (noodle soup) as it contains star anise, cardamon, cinnamon stick and cloves and broth from either chicken or beef. Tasty and healthy.