Five Element Method · Dr. Jennifer Taylor Menda
Every product I recommend here is one I've personally vetted through the lens of Chinese medicine, modern research, and my own clinical experience.
Open My Fullscript Dispensary →I don't recommend supplements lightly. In Chinese medicine, we understand the body as a whole ecosystem — and what we put into it either supports that ecosystem, or disrupts it. These are the herbs and products I reach for in my practice, organized by element and system, so you can find what aligns with where you are right now.
Living in Rhythm · Five Element Seasons
Spring · Wood · Liver
Taraxacum officinale
Spring's most iconic herb for good reason. Every part of dandelion — root, leaf, flower — offers medicine. The root moves bile and supports liver detoxification; the leaf is a mineral-rich diuretic that clears winter's accumulation without depleting potassium. In Five Element terms, this is Wood energy made visible: persistent, upward-pushing, impossible to suppress. Start here every spring.
Spring · Wood · Blood
Urtica dioica
Stinging nettle is one of the most nutrient-dense plants on earth — rich in iron, magnesium, silica, and chlorophyll. It's a traditional spring blood tonic that supports the Liver's job of filtering and nourishing the Blood as yang energy rises. It also has strong anti-inflammatory and antihistamine action, making it ideal for spring allergies rooted in Liver Qi overactivity.
Summer · Fire · Heart
Rosa damascena / Rosa canina
Rose is pure Heart medicine — cooling, opening, and deeply Shen-nourishing. In the heat of summer, rose petals and hips help clear excess Heat from the Heart and calm emotional inflammation. Rose hip is also extraordinarily high in Vitamin C, supporting collagen, adrenal function, and the immune system's resilience through the yang season.
Summer · Fire · Shen
Melissa officinalis
Bright, lemony, and unmistakably summery — lemon balm calms an overheated nervous system without sedating. It's cooling and gently antiviral, perfect for the person who gets overwhelmed in high-stimulation environments. In TCM terms, it clears Heart Heat and settles the Shen, supporting the joy and connection that summer is meant to bring — not the frazzle.
Late Summer · Earth · Spleen
Curcuma longa
Late summer — Earth season — is the time of digestion, assimilation, and transformation. Turmeric is warming, anti-inflammatory, and deeply supportive of the Spleen-Stomach axis. It moves Blood, clears damp-heat, and keeps the digestive fire strong as the seasons begin to turn. Pair with black pepper for absorption. Foundation medicine for the whole body.
Late Summer · Earth · Gut
Glycyrrhiza glabra · Gan Cao
Gan Cao is the most used herb in the classical Chinese pharmacopoeia — and for good reason. It harmonizes formulas, tonifies the Spleen, soothes the digestive lining, and moderates the action of other herbs. In late summer it supports the Earth element's capacity to receive and transform nourishment. DGL form is safe for long-term gut support.
Autumn · Metal · Lung Wei Qi
Astragalus membranaceus · Huang Qi
Huang Qi is the premier Lung Qi tonic in Chinese herbal medicine — and autumn, the Metal season, is exactly when the Lungs need the most support. Astragalus strengthens Wei Qi (the body's protective surface energy, analogous to innate immunity), builds resistance to seasonal illness, and deeply tonifies the body's defensive boundary. Begin taking it in early autumn before the cold sets in.
Autumn · Metal · Respiratory
Sambucus nigra
Rich in anthocyanins and immune-modulating flavonoids, elderberry is autumn's most beloved protective herb. It supports the Lung's defensive function against seasonal viruses, reduces the duration and severity of respiratory illness, and nourishes the body's boundary — the skin and mucous membranes that Metal governs. Use it as prevention through autumn and winter.
Winter · Water · Kidney Jing
Polygonum multiflorum · Fo-Ti
One of the most revered Kidney Jing tonics in all of Chinese medicine. He Shou Wu replenishes the deep essence stored in the Kidney — the resource that governs aging, vitality, hair, and reproductive longevity. Winter is the season to conserve and rebuild what was spent during the year. Use the prepared (processed) form and work with a practitioner for extended use.
Winter · Water · Five Flavors
Schisandra chinensis · Wu Wei Zi
Wu Wei Zi — "five flavor fruit" — tastes sour, sweet, salty, bitter, and pungent, making it one of the few herbs that touches all five elements simultaneously. In winter it is especially prized as a Kidney astringent that holds Jing, supports liver detoxification, calms the Shen, and builds resilience from the inside out. A true whole-body tonic for the season of stillness.
Wood Element · Spring
Wood · Liver
Silybum marianum
A foundational liver herb in both Western herbalism and integrative medicine. Silymarin — its active compound — supports liver cell regeneration and protects against oxidative stress. In Five Element terms, this is deep Wood nourishment: supporting the organ responsible for the smooth flow of Qi through your entire body.
Wood · Liver
Taraxacum officinale
One of the great spring allies. Dandelion root gently moves bile, supports liver and gallbladder function, and helps the body's natural cleansing pathways. It's the embodiment of Wood energy — pushing upward, clearing the way, ready to break through.
Wood · Qi Movement
Chai Hu
A cornerstone herb in classical Chinese medicine for resolving Liver Qi stagnation. Chai Hu moves constrained energy, lifts the spirit, and helps regulate the Liver's relationship with the Spleen. If you're feeling stuck, irritable, or emotionally tight in spring — this herb speaks directly to that pattern.
Wood · Gallbladder
Cynara scolymus
Often overlooked, artichoke leaf is a remarkable bitter herb that supports both the liver and gallbladder — the Wood element's paired organs. It encourages bile production and flow, supports fat digestion, and helps the body process and move what it no longer needs.
Inner Seasons · Cycle Support
Yin Nourishment
Vitex agnus-castus
One of the most researched herbs for female hormonal balance. Vitex works on the pituitary level to support progesterone production and help regulate the LH/FSH ratio — critical for healthy cycle length, PMS support, and perimenopausal transitions. This is slow, deep medicine. Give it time.
Kidney · Essence
Asparagus racemosus
In Ayurvedic tradition, Shatavari means "she who has a thousand husbands" — a nod to its power as a female reproductive tonic. Rich in phytoestrogens, it supports uterine tissue, promotes Yin nourishment, and is deeply hydrating to the body's core. Beautiful for inner Winter and the follicular phase.
Water · Kidney Essence
Actaea racemosa
A powerful ally for women navigating the menopausal transition. Black Cohosh has a long history of use for hot flashes, night sweats, and mood changes. In TCM terms, it supports the Kidney Yin that tends to decline as Tian Gui — the heavenly water — shifts in the later chapter of a woman's cycle life.
Blood · Liver
Angelica sinensis · Dang Gui
The "female ginseng" of Chinese herbal medicine. Dang Gui is a premier Blood tonic that nourishes and moves Blood, supports uterine circulation, and eases menstrual irregularity. It's warming, aromatic, and deeply restorative — especially relevant in inner Autumn and the luteal phase when Blood needs to be full before it releases.
Water & Fire Elements
Water · Kidney Jing
Withania somnifera · KSM-66
One of the most clinically studied adaptogens for stress, cortisol regulation, and HPA axis support. In Five Element terms, Ashwagandha feeds the Water element — replenishing Kidney Jing that gets burned through chronic stress. I look for KSM-66 standardization for clinical potency. This is deep rest medicine.
Fire · Heart Shen
Ganoderma lucidum · Ling Zhi
Called the "mushroom of immortality" in classical Chinese texts, Reishi calms the Shen (spirit), supports immune intelligence, and brings the nervous system into coherence. This is Heart medicine — for the woman who feels scattered, depleted, or unmoored. It works slowly and profoundly.
Wood · Liver Qi
Eleutherococcus senticosus
Siberian ginseng — a premier adaptogen for sustained energy without the spike-and-crash of stimulants. Eleuthero supports stamina, immune function, and the body's overall stress response. Useful when Liver Qi stagnation is mixed with underlying depletion — when you're tired but wired.
Fire · Calming
Passiflora incarnata
A gentle, effective nervine for anxiety, racing thoughts, and restless sleep — particularly where the mind won't quiet at night. In the Fire element framework, this soothes an overactivated Heart, helps the Shen settle into its evening rest, and eases the transition from doing to being.
Earth Element · Late Summer
Earth · Spleen Qi
Zingiber officinale
In Chinese medicine, Ginger is the quintessential Spleen-warming herb — it tonifies digestive fire, dispels cold, and moves Qi in the middle burner. It's especially useful for bloating, nausea, cold hands and feet, and the kind of fatigue that comes from cold, damp patterns. Simple, powerful medicine.
Earth · Microbiome
Multi-strain, spore-based
The gut is the foundation of immunity, mood, and hormonal metabolism — the Spleen-Stomach axis in physical form. I recommend high-quality, multi-strain or spore-based formulas that can survive transit and actually colonize. A healthy microbiome directly supports estrogen metabolism and Liver function.
Earth · Mucosal Lining
Ulmus rubra / Althaea officinalis
Demulcent herbs that coat and soothe the digestive lining — essential when there's heat, irritation, or dryness in the gut. These are Yin-nourishing in the most literal sense: they restore the smooth, moist lining that allows everything to flow with ease. Beautiful for those dealing with leaky gut or IBS.
All products in my dispensary are practitioner-grade, third-party tested, and chosen because I trust them. Ordering through Fullscript gives you access to brands that aren't available in retail stores — at a discount.
Visit the Fullscript DispensaryThese statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. The products and information shared here are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This page is for educational purposes and reflects my clinical perspective as a Licensed Acupuncturist and Doctor of Acupuncture. Always consult your healthcare provider before beginning a new supplement protocol, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or managing a health condition.