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How the tàijí diagram 太极图 can help us understand the five organs

Traditional Chinese medicine does not view the body as a collection of separate parts, but as a living whole that continually adapts to its surroundings. This perspective is connected with the concept of Dào – the natural order or “Way” according to which everything arises, transforms, and returns to stillness. Dào need not be understood here as a religious rule or a precise guide to life. Rather, it refers to the natural course of things. Yīn and yáng represent two interconnected aspects of this movement.

Tea Through the Seasons: How Yin and Yang Transform in Nature

Throughout the year, nature constantly moves between two complementary forces – yin and yang. They are not opposites in the usual sense, nor do they represent good and bad. Yin is associated more with cold, stillness, moisture, darkness and inward movement. Yang is connected with warmth, light, activity, dryness and outward movement.

Chen Pi 陈皮 – Time Hidden in Mandarin Peel

Chen Pi 陈皮 may at first glance seem like nothing more than ordinary mandarin peel, but in Chinese tradition it is far more than simply dried citrus rind. Once properly processed, it becomes an ingredient that continues to transform with time – its aroma softens, its flavour becomes rounder, and deeper notes of herbs, spices, wood and dried fruit gradually emerge. This is precisely why Chen Pi is so fascinating not only in Chinese cuisine and Traditional Chinese Medicine, but also in the world of tea, where it naturally complements Pu-erh, Liu Bao and other teas suited to long-term ageing.

Chunfen 春分 | Between Yin and Yang – the Quiet Beginning of Spring

Every year, around March 20, there comes a moment that is almost invisible at first glance — and yet essential. In Europe, we perceive it as the first true day of spring, the time when light begins to clearly return and the days grow longer. In traditional Chinese culture, this moment has its own name and deeper meaning: 春分 (Chūnfēn), the Spring Equinox. Day and night are equal, yin and yang briefly come into balance. It is not the victory of one force over another, but a quiet point of equilibrium from which movement begins.

When the Mind Cannot Fall Asleep – The Silence That Does Not Come

Sometimes the problem is not that we are not tired. On the contrary — the body longs to rest, but the mind keeps going. It returns to conversations that have already taken place, replays situations that can no longer be changed, and creates new scenarios that may never happen. While the world around us grows quiet, something inside lights up. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, this state is described as 心神不宁 (xīn shén bù níng) — the spirit is not at rest.

Tea and Health: Traditional Chinese Perspectives and Cultural Wisdom

Tea has been part of East Asian culture for thousands of years. Beyond its aroma and taste, it has traditionally been associated with balance, longevity, and harmony with nature. In Chinese culture and in the framework of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), tea is often viewed as a drink that supports everyday wellbeing when enjoyed regularly and in moderation.

When Fire Seeks Water

Desire is like steam rising from a cup.

At first you barely notice it – a light mist above the surface.
Then it lifts, thickens, veils your face, enters your lungs.
And suddenly it cannot be ignored.

Flame on the Back of the Wind: The Story of the Year of the Fire Horse (bing-wu 丙午)

When the Laba Festival (腊八) fades in the Chinese calendar, it is said that the New Year is already standing at the door. In the sixty-year cycle of Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, the combination 丙午 (bing-wu) arrives – a year traditionally known as the Fire Horse. The Heavenly Stem “丙” belongs to yang Fire, while the Earthly Branch “午” corresponds to the Horse and is itself associated with the element of Fire within the system of 五行 (wu xing). Fire is therefore multiplied here – forming the image of a “double flame,” an energy that shines, warms, and burns.

Great Cold 大寒 – Winter Holding the Breath of Spring

Around January 20, when the Sun reaches 300° ecliptic longitude, the Chinese calendar enters a period known as Great Cold (大寒, Dàhán). It is the last of the 24 solar terms — the coldest point of the year and at the same time a quiet threshold of a new beginning. Winter is taking its leave; spring is only just beginning to breathe. The twenty-four solar terms arose from observing the sky, the landscape, and the rhythms of life. Much like tea. The planting, harvesting, processing, and drinking of tea naturally intertwine with these periods. Each of them gives tea a distinct character, flavor, and effect. Tea thus becomes not only a beverage, but a guide through the year.

Tea and Body Constitution in Traditional Chinese Thought

Ancient texts often connect tea with health. For example, the Bencao Yanyi records a story: “Shennong tasted hundreds of herbs daily and encountered 72 poisons, which he neutralized with tea.” In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), tea is considered both a drink and a medicinal herb. Because each person’s body is different, and each tea has its own nature and flavor, choosing the right tea for your constitution is seen as a way to support balance more effectively.