Angela is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist with over 12 years of experience in TCM. She is the co-founder of YINA — a clean beauty and wellness brand rooted in ancient wisdom for modern self-care. Outside of YINA, Angela loves crafting up culinary delights like rich collagen bone broth to delectable vegan eclairs.
I loved reading your bio about your first introduction to TCM in a Medical Ethnobotany class at Berkeley. What was the first plant you fell in love with in the realm of health and wellness from a TCM perspective?
My exposure to TCM actually started at an early age in the realm of food and nutrition. Medical Ethnobotany class helped validate my family’s lifestyle practices which spearheaded me towards pursuing TCM graduate studies. Growing up, my parents cooked with a lot of different TCM herbs on a regular basis; combining them in various traditional Cantonese recipes. If I had to pick an herb I first fell in love with, it would be dang gui (angelica root) — a blood tonic that’s great for women's health.
When you cook with dang gui, it perfumes the entire room with a sweet, earthy, fruity, aromatic smell. This scent is very distinct and brings back many good memories everytime I cook with it. I can still vividly remember my earliest memories of smelling dang gui at home. My mother would make her monthly post menstrual tonic soup (a blend of TCM herbs: dang gui (angelica root), da zao (jujube dates), dang shen (codonopsis root), long yan rou (dried longan fruit), and fresh ginger double boiled with chicken). I would always ask my mother for a few sips of this nourishing soup. She would smile and give me a small bowl.
With your background in TCM, what are some foundational practices for women's wellness, especially as it pertains to pregnancy and postpartum?
In TCM we see women’s health in many stages and they are all interconnected, bearing influence on your overall wellness. All women need to be mindful of their menstruation. The color, smell, and texture of the flow can reveal so many things about what is happening internally with our bodies. By observing your monthly cycle, you can help regulate your overall hormone function. Understanding how our monthly flow operates at a deeper level will aid us in better preparing for pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, and menopause.
TCM has been pivotal in aiding my personal wellbeing and fertility journey. The number one thing I recommend to patients is to avoid ice cold drinks and smoothies. Drink room temperature or warm/hot drinks — your body will thank you in the long run.
In TCM, we recommend the practice of the Golden Month during postpartum. This is the minimum time (30-45 days) that mother’s need to rest, nourish, and care to adjust to motherhood. There are various postpartum recipes and foods mothers eat during this time period to help produce breast milk, promote circulation of qi, and deeply nourish the body.
What are your current rhythms when it comes to daily self care?
With vitality and longevity in mind, I maintain a steady daily rhythm of eating with the seasons, meditative sitting with no goals, moving/stretching my body throughout the day, and evening self-care ritual to unwind. Practicing these mindful habits support mental clarity, center the self, and foster mind-body connection.
What are some of your favorite rituals in the transition from summer to autumn?
In TCM, autumn is linked to the metal element, representing transformation, refinement, and clarity. Summer is full of uplifting energy while autumn is all about harvesting, repairing and distilling. As we transition into the autumn months, there is always a gentle reminder to let go of the things that no longer support our well-being. It's not just a metaphor – it's a vital step for keeping balance in our lives. Just like nature, I take this time to reflect, declutter, and keep what truly nourishes to store up for the winter. One of my favorite fall/winter rituals to wind down after a long week is putting on our Divine Biocellulose Mask while soaking in our Mugwort Bath Ritual — a very restorative combination for the skin and body.
What is something that is inspiring you lately?
Exploring and being in the state of awe with mindfulness.
What is a piece of advice that you received that sticks with you?
Kindness moves mountains. It supports optimism and positivity in our environment and at home.
How can we weave TCM into our daily lives to experience greater resilience, ease, and energy?
TCM is all about maintaining a state of harmony with nature and the environment around you. Most illness and disease arise from our diet and lifestyle habits. Here are three easy ways to implement TCM teachings into your everyday life:
- Eat with the seasons and take time to chew your food.
- Gentle movements throughout the day are highly recommended. If you find yourself sitting for more than an hour, stand up, stretch, wiggle before continuing your work.
- Sleep before 11pm, this will give you the best optimal time for your body to detox, repair, and regenerate.
