Steven Horne's Newsletter Articles

October 12, 2026

The Chinese Five Elements

Before I introduce the Chinese five elements, I want to speak briefly about the idea of elements in traditional healing systems around the world and my introduction to the concept. My understanding didn’t initially come from studying any of the traditions. It came from intellectually playing around with the traditional Western idea of the four elements—air, water, fire, and earth. L. Carl Robinson and I did this while working with Dr. C. Samuel West at the International Academy of Lymphology.…

September 16, 2026

Yin and Yang in Diagnosis

As I pointed out in a previous article, health is a balancing act. So, determining which direction the body is out of balance in any given situation is an important key to determining which remedies will help restore health.Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) uses eight basic diagnostic principles based on the concept of yin and yang as shown in the table. The first two pairs of opposites—hot and cold, and damp and dry—are also used in Western herbalism. Heat and dryness are associated with yang,…

September 4, 2026

Cause and Effect in Health

The philosophyof yin and yang includes the concept of cause and effect. This principle is important for understanding how the health we reap is based in the habits we sow. It also helps to understand where to best focus our healing efforts.

August 18, 2026

Health as Balance

The Chinese philosophy of yin and yang helps us understand that moderation and balance are keys to good health. They express the idea of opposing forces such activity and rest; assimilation and elimination; dry and moist and more.

August 10, 2026

Qi as the Foundation of Life and Health

Qi or chi is an important principle in TCM. Improving your qi or life energy is vital to improving the health of your body.

July 14, 2026

Cilantro and Coriander

Cilantro and coriander are two herbs that come from the same plant in the carrot or parsley family, Coriandrum sativum. Cilantro is the herb from the young green leaves and stems, while the seeds are known as coriander. Coriander is a major spice used in Indian curries, which I love to make when I have the time. I also regularly use cilantro when making fresh Mexican salsa, and my wife sometimes adds it to soups. However, both of these plant parts also have medicinal value, which is what we’ll…

July 13, 2026

Pomegranate

One of the things that never ceases to amaze me as an herbalist is how much I don’t know. I remember a fellow herbalist, Ed Smith, founder of HerbPharm, saying that with all the valuable plants in the world, you’ll never run out of things to learn as an herbalist, and I’m constantly validating that in my own experience. I mention this because I thought writing about pomegranate as a remedy would be fairly straightforward, but I was shocked at how much more there was to learn about this plant…

June 16, 2026

Prunes and Plums

Prunes are a great food for people who are constipated, as they help to encourage healthy elimination without the problems of stimulant laxatives. They are bowel tonics for restoring healthy elimination and their slightly sour flavor is associated with a cooling effect, making them a good food to use in the summer to combat the heat.

The Chinese Five Elements

Yin and Yang in Diagnosis

Cause and Effect in Health

Health as Balance

Qi as the Foundation of Life and Health

Cilantro and Coriander

Pomegranate

Prunes and Plums

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