An Introduction by Brian Kie Weissbuch L.Ac., CEO

Our ingredients are a combination of both Chinese and western herbs.

China was the first country to combine “Western” herbs with native Chinese herbs. Beginning in the first century B.C., fennel (Hui Xiang, Foeniculum) was brought into China from Florence, Italy. Chinese herbalists determined the energetics and indications, and incorporated it into their pharmacopeia.

During the last two thousand years, hundreds of herbs from other parts of the world have been “adopted” by Chinese herbalists. Examples from the U.S. are corn silk (Yu Mi Xu), watermelon seed (Xi Gua), and American Ginseng (Xi Yang Shen), brought into China from North America by French missionaries in the 1500’s.

The eminent Persian physician Avicenna brought many herbs from the mideast, and taught widely on their uses.Utilization of non-indigenous medicinal herbs continues in China.

In 1985 I observed Milk Thistle (Silybum), a European native that has naturalized in California, under recent cultivation in Guangxi Medicinal Botanical Gardens. Staff pharmacologists and herbalists had read studies of Silybum’s benefits in liver degeneration, but had no clinical experience in the use of this herb. I was asked to lecture on its energetics and therapeutic applications, and subsequently Silybum was integrated into the TCM protocol for Chronic Hepatitis without acute Liver Heat.

By combining Chinese and Western herbs in our formulas, KW Botanicals follows the simple empirical dictum established by Chinese herbalists—”if it works, use it.” The value of integrating Chinese and Western herbs is twofold. Utilizing unique western herbs with no Chinese counterpart allows a broader range of disharmonies to be addressed. Secondly, herbs grown or wildcrafted closer to home are fresher and pose less quality control issues. Western herbs in KW formulas are utilized in accord with TCM energetics and principles, representing a true merging of East and West.

Modification of Formulas

Patients may realize significant benefit with standard formulas, yet require a modified formula to complete treatment. We can adjust any TCM or KW formula to address your patients’ specific needs.

Kw Fluid Extracts

Organic, wildcrafted, and fresh herbs yield fluid extracts of maximum therapeutic value.  For the past 34 years, KW Botanicals has built a network of over 60 organic growers and ethical wildcrafters throughout the country, growing our fresh herbs in their ideal climate and soil, and harvesting at the optimal stage for peak vitality, active ingredients, and clinical effectiveness.  We are actively developing new sources of organically grown and wildcrafted Chinese and Western herbs for our inventory.

You’ll taste and feel the difference with our fresh, organic Chinese herbs, including:

Ai Ye, Bai Tou Weng, Chen Pi, Dang Shen, He Huan Hua/Pi, He Shou Wu, Huang Qi, Huang Qin, Jiang Huang, Jing Jie, Lu Rong, Pu Gong Ying, Qing Hao, Shan Zha, Xi Xin, Xuan Shen, Zi Hua Di Ding, Zi Su Ye- over 250 more.

50% of our 650 single herb fluid extracts are made with fresh, organic or wildcrafted herbs.  For plants unavailable fresh, we seek out dried herbs from the current year’s harvest.  60% of our dry herbs are from organic or wildcrafted (wild harvested) sources.

KW produces fluid extracts using traditional methods perfected in China through centuries of empirical wisdom. The union of tradition with our modern equipment and ongoing research enables us to achieve GMP standards (Good Manufacturing Practices). Our unhurried process creates concentrated 1:2 botanical extracts (herb to liquid), yielding a full complement of alcohol and water soluble active ingredients.

With the exception of prepared herbs such as Duan Long Chi (calcined Dragon’s Teeth), no heat is applied at any stage of the process, avoiding loss of volatile and heat labile ingredients including essential oils. You will find that our inventory allows you the greatest latitude as a practitioner—choose from over 650 KW Single Herb Fluid Extracts from the Western, Chinese, South American, African, and Ayurvedic herbal pharmacopoeias.