Herbalshop.com was born from my love of herbs and acupressure, and from my family.

“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” — attributed to the Buddha

Hi, I’m Grace Chen. I created HerbalShop.com in 2000 to share what I was learning about Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupressure, and to keep my grandfather’s everyday formulas from being forgotten. I believe that with a little knowledge, most of us can take better care of ourselves at little or no cost.

Where it comes from

My grandfather, Dr. Chen Sher (陳奢), was a licensed physician of Chinese medicine in Tainan, Taiwan, from the 1950s until his death in 1989. When I was small he would press acupressure points for me with his big, careful hands. My father, Chen Chao-hsiung (陳昭雄), grew up helping at his counter. Years later he gave me an old wooden acupuncture figure, the kind with the meridians painted on, and taught me how to read it. After my grandfather died, my father gathered the family’s tonic recipes into a book. I grew up with those teas on the stove.

What led me here

In my late thirties my husband and I spent two years trying to have a child, and my doctor told me my chances were low. It was a hard, lonely time. I turned back to the family tradition I had grown up with: the teas, the food, the rest, the points my grandfather used to press. A year later our son was born. I can’t tell you what made the difference, and I would never promise anyone else the same outcome. What I can tell you is that going back to those habits gave me my health and my calm back, and it gave me this site.

What you’ll find here

Acupressure points you can press at home, herb and tea guides, and my grandfather’s family formulas, written as plainly as I can, with honest cautions. Nothing here replaces your doctor. If you are trying to conceive, pregnant, or managing a health condition, please talk with them first.

Wishing you a happy day,
Grace Chen