He Shou Wu

SuperFeast herbs are expertly extracted by trained herbalists using unique and patented techniques, specific to the herb. These techniques are also ancient, as old as herbalism itself - water, organic rice alcohol, time and pressure create your extracts. Modern techniques like spray-drying help preserve the quality and integrity of the extracts. It's the best of ancient meets modern.

We don't follow a pharmaceutical model, we don't isolate, we don't standardise, herbs are treated uniquely.

We extract following the Hou Huo (火候) technique, the art of decocting / extracting a herb specifically through adjusted heat, menstruum & length of time. This term roughly translates to heat control; crucial moment; maturity. The practicing tonic herbalists, who use this technique while extracting your herbs, combine their expertise with the relationship they have with the ancient herbs & Taoist philosophy.

All leading to the superior herbal experience that those in our community know & love.Unless otherwise noted, all our products are 10:1 extracts.

See our FAQs and Blogs for more on our extraction processes.

This standard ratio of ours means we use 10 kilos of dry herb to create 1kg of extract powder. This is a traditionally-used extract ratio used in Classical Chinese Medicine. We like this ratio as it allows us to create a product which contains the maximum possible array of naturally occurring medicinal components in their innate and natural ratios. At this ratio there is little waste from what we extract, so we have a true full-spectrum powder without having to eliminate any of the unknown or lesser known compounds that are symbiotic to the herb’s effects.

There is a tendency in Westernised herbal medicine to focus on isolating or increasing active ingredients in herbal products and drugs. Taoist (and traditional) herbalists focus instead on using only whole plants and natural extraction mediums and menstruums (solvents) like water (or tea, or broth) and alcohol/fat (tinctures, wines, oils, etc.) to extract every element possible from the herb. This intention comes from a desire to keep the herb completely unified where possible, and this is the same philosophy and method we apply to our SuperFeast products.
Each herb has hundreds, if not thousands, of bioactive compounds that contribute to the full scope of the herb’s medicinal benefits, and it takes a lot of care to ensure as many of these are present in the extraction as possible. It is through these full-spectrum extractions in ancient times that Taoists were able to identify that these herbs were in fact tonic, and could aid us in cultivating vibrancy within our body and mind.

Remember you’ve bought the highest quality 100% pure herbal extract, there’s no additives or starches added to absorb moisture. To keep your herbs super fresh and ready to rock, we advise keeping them stored in a cool dry space. Ideally your kitchen pantry. Always leave your desiccant (the little white pillow in your jar or bag) in there to absorb moisture.

If you, like us, live in a humid climate, we advise taking extra special care when storing your herbs. Bulk bags can be kept in the freezer in a sealed container. If keeping bags outside the freezer, just ensure you push the air out before sealing and they will stay fresh.

It is best to maintain a consistent herbal practice once the seal is removed, this will minimise the chance of your herbs hardening.

If you are in a humid area, and you only have a small amount of herb left on your jar, it is recommended to occasionally shake the jar to prevent clumping and setting.

NOTE: Capsule products are less fussy, though should still be kept dry and stored in a cool place to ensure longevity.