The Foundations of Our Practice
At RAW Forest Foods, we root our work in the time-honored traditions of healing, longevity, and balance. Our philosophy draws deeply from Classical Chinese Medicine (CCM), Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Ayurveda, and other traditional systems of medicine—systems shaped over centuries by close observation of nature, spirit, and the human experience.
We honor these traditions by integrating them with modern scientific insight and ecological awareness. This union of old and new informs every aspect of our work—from sourcing to formulation—and ensures that the products we craft are as effective and authentic as they are sustainable and responsible.
Each article below reflects one facet of our foundational philosophy, offering insight into the guiding principles that shape our formulas and practices.
Dàodì Ingredient Sourcing
Dàodì sourcing ensures herbs are harvested from their native ecological and cultural environments—where they grow in alignment with tradition and terroir. This method maximizes potency, authenticity, and therapeutic resonance.
At RAW Forest Foods, Dàodì-informed sourcing is central to our commitment to integrity, effectiveness, and respect for the lineages of herbalism.
Jūn-Chén-Zuǒ-Shǐ Formulation
The classical Jūn-Chén-Zuǒ-Shǐ formulation model organizes herbs into four synergistic roles: Sovereign, Minister, Assistant, and Envoy.
This framework allows for balanced, layered formulas that reflect the complexity of the human body and spirit—delivering targeted effects while supporting systemic harmony.
The Three Levels of Qi
In Classical Chinese Medicine, Qì expresses itself in layers—Wèi Qì (Defensive Qì), Yíng Qì (Nutritive Qì), and Yuán Qì (Original/Source Qì). Each level plays a distinct role in health, healing, and longevity.
Understanding these levels allows us to address disease etiology, progression, and treatment at its source.
The Eight Types of Qì
Qì is not a singular force—it is multifaceted. In the practice of Classical Chinese Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine, there are eight primary forms of Qì: Yuán Qì, Gǔ Qì, Zōng Qì, Zhēn Qì, Yíng Qì, Wèi Qì, Zhōng Qì, and Zhèng Qì.
Each plays a unique role in sustaining life and guiding both diagnosis and intervention in traditional medicine.
Yīn, Yáng, and the Five Elements
Yīn and Yáng, along with the Five Elements, are foundational frameworks in Chinese medicine that describe the dynamic relationships between the body, mind, emotions, and the natural world.
These principles help us understand how organs, seasons, and inner states interact in cycles of transformation and renewal. Together, they offer a holistic map for cultivating balance—physiologically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Jīng and Yuán Qì – Essence and Original Energy
Jīng (Essence) and Yuán Qì (Original Qì) are the core reserves of vitality we are both born with and build over time. They are the deep wellspring of life—our energetic inheritance and our inner savings account—essential for growth, resilience, fertility, and longevity.
Understanding how to protect, nourish, and restore these foundational energies is central to maintaining vitality across the lifespan.
Strengthening and Tonifying Herbs
Strengthening (Jiǎn Yào) and tonifying (Bǔ Yào) herbs work to build, stabilize, and refine Qì—fortifying the body’s foundational energy systems. Within the practice of Chinese medicine, these categories are essential for restoring vitality, supporting recovery, and promoting long-term resilience.
Understanding the distinct roles of strengthening and tonifying herbs allow for more precise and effective therapeutic application.
Phytoandrogenic and Proandrogenic Herbs
Phytoandrogenic and proandrogenic herbs work to support the body’s natural production, regulation, and utilization of androgenic hormones—particularly testosterone. These herbs promote vitality, resilience, and hormonal balance across the lifespan.
By understanding their unique properties and how they function within the broader hormonal landscape, we can use them intentionally to support wellness through grounded, natural, and holistic means.
Androgenic Hormone Production
Androgenic hormones—such as testosterone—are regulated by the endocrine system and play a vital role in physical, emotional, and reproductive health. Understanding how these hormones are produced, signaled, and balanced within the body reveals how herbs, nutrition, and lifestyle interventions can naturally support hormonal vitality.
This insight forms the foundation for working with proandrogenic herbs as part of a comprehensive approach to well-being.
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* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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