San Diego Herbal Medicine

05/19/2026

UH OH… I forgot to mention something...

May 12-18 Fullscript itself is having it’s big sales. And discounts add onto my already 10% discount I give (Link in comments). A few times a year Fullscript runs bigger sales on top of that, and this is one of them. So, if you already use supplements regularly, this is honestly a good time to stock up on the things you already know you use.

And if you haven’t joined my store yet, this is a good moment to take a look. All you need is an email and you can enter and look around, no pressure. Feel free to price compare.

One of the reasons I recommend Fullscript is because supplement quality really does matter, and the Fullscript store prices are cheaper than Amazon or big box stores anyway. I use it for patients. I like not having to guess where supplements were stored, how long they sat in random warehouses, whether they’re counterfeit, or whether the reviews are even real anymore. Fullscript works directly with professional-grade supplement companies with high quality standards, proper storage, and vetted sourcing, which honestly gives me a lot more confidence recommending products through them.

So if there’s something you’ve been meaning to refill, try, or finally stop procrastinating about ordering… now’s one of the best times to check my Fullscript store.

Click link to find a few helpful articles I have written about supplements, how to think about quality, what might be best, and of course, my favorite recommendation: Dehydrated organ meat and marrow supplements, and why!

And, of course, if you have any questions, or want recommendations, let me know!

Love to you all!
Dr. Kim Drolet

PS. I include funny memes at the end for your enjoyment. Scroll on!

PPS. Even though I moved to NY, I’m also always available for telehealth natural health and herbal consultations through San Diego Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture.

May 12-18 Fullscript itself is having it’s big sales. And discounts add onto my already 10% discount I give. A few times a year Fullscript runs bigger sales on top of that, and this is one of them. So, if you already use supplements regularly, this is honestly a good time to stock up on the things...

05/09/2026

Let That Sh*t Go: Simple Ways to Help Constipation Naturally:
A Chinese medicine doctor’s practical guide to foods, hydration, movement, and helping the gut move again.

(Click the link to Download my free PDF: Practical Guidance for the Constipated, for simple food, hydration, and lifestyle strategies that may help sluggish bowels move more naturally.)

Constipation is one of those problems people often suffer with quietly for years. Sometimes decades. They try more water. More fiber. Less dairy. Magnesium. Coffee. Teas. Smoothies. Supplements from the health food store that promise “regularity” in large green letters. And yet many people still feel bloated, heavy, uncomfortable, backed up, and frustrated.

What I’ve seen clinically is that constipation is rarely just about “not enough fiber.”

Sometimes it is dryness. Sometimes stress. Sometimes irregular eating. Sometimes disrupted gut bacteria. Sometimes people are trying to run a cold, exhausted digestive system on protein bars, iced coffee, raw salads, and willpower. Sometimes the bowel has simply lost rhythm and coordination after years of strain, stimulant use, chronic illness, medications, travel, or emotional stress. The body stops wanting to move normally.

That matters.

From a Chinese medicine perspective, constipation is not one thing. The terms can sound simplistic at first, like “dryness,” “heat,” or “stagnation,” but these are actually sophisticated functional observations about hydration, inflammation, nervous system regulation, circulation, stress physiology, and digestive movement. Chinese herbal medicine has a long history of treating chronic bowel dysfunction by looking for the underlying pattern rather than simply forcing evacuation. The goal is not merely to make someone go to the bathroom. The goal is to help the system remember how.

And yes, Chinese herbal medicine can be remarkably effective here.

In clinical practice, dietary and lifestyle changes are often used alongside individualized herbal formulas designed specifically for the person sitting in front of me. There is no single constipation formula that works for everyone because people become constipated for very different reasons. Some people are dry. Some are cold. Some are tense and “holding.” Some are depleted. Some are overheated and inflamed. Some have digestion that has simply become exhausted. Good herbal medicine takes those differences seriously.

Still, many people are looking for practical things they can begin doing right now. Food ideas. Hydration strategies. Simple shifts that may help the body “let that s**t go.”

So I created this free downloadable mini-guide: Practical Guidance for the Constipated.

Inside, I walk through some of the most consistently helpful strategies I’ve seen clinically. Not extreme cleanses. Not internet gimmicks. Real-world approaches that tend to help real people. Things like why warm cooked foods are often easier on digestion than cold raw meals, why hydration is more complicated than simply drinking more ice water, why oils and moisture matter to the bowel, why walking after meals is profoundly underrated medicine, and which foods tend to help versus worsen constipation patterns.

The guide also discusses practical constipation-supportive foods including prunes, kiwi, pears, cooked vegetables, soups, healthy fats, fermented foods, magnesium-rich foods, chia and ground flax, along with simple mechanical factors people rarely think about, including toilet posture and squatting position.

One of my favorite lines in the guide may also be the simplest:

“Give your stomach a hot tub, not an ice bath.”

That single idea explains more about digestive physiology than people realize.

If you struggle with chronic constipation, bloating, incomplete bowel movements, sluggish digestion, or the feeling that your digestive system has simply become stubborn and resistant, I think this guide will help you think about the problem differently. Not as a personal failure. Not as a random inconvenience. But as a pattern the body may be communicating.

And patterns can change.

Download the free guide here and explore the suggestions that resonate with you. You do not need to do everything perfectly. Often the best approach is simply choosing a few supportive changes and letting the body gradually regain rhythm and trust again.

Let That Sh*t Go: Simple Ways to Help Constipation Naturally A Chinese medicine doctor’s practical guide to foods, hydration, movement, and helping the gut move again.

05/06/2026

How to Rebuild After Long Illness: A gentle, practical approach to restoring digestion, appetite, and strength

There is a phase of healing that doesn’t get talked about enough. It’s not the acute illness. It’s not the crisis. Or the treatment phase. It's the "after". I'm talking after long, serious illness. Chemotherapy. Surgeries. Long hospital stays.

After, the body is depleted. Appetite can be low or nonexistent. Digestion is fragile. Food doesn’t land well. Energy is low to state the obvious. The body is still in a weakened state, even if progress has been made on the underlying disease or serious illness.

At this stage, the goal is not to “optimize.”

It’s not to push perfect nutrition. It’s not to force strength back.

The goal is to gently coax the system back into regularity. Into remembering how to receive. Into accepting and processing what comes in.

In Chinese medicine, this is a very specific phase of healing. We are rebuilding Qi and Blood and the systems that help generate it. We are restoring the digestive system so it can actually receive nourishment again. We are supporting, warming, and reminding the body how to do what it once knew how to do.

Think of these suggestions as coaxing a reset toward normal, not a push toward performance.

Below are the principles I suggest to patients, friends, and family members who have found themselves in this phase.

Important note: This does NOT replace medical guidance. Please follow the guidance of your western medical team, providers and experts. The suggestions here are supplemental suggestions that can be applied in addition (or “surrounding”) any specific regime and adice of your medical team.

The Overall Strategy

Everything here is about:

Soothing the system
Warming and supporting digestion
Giving the body less work, not more
Rebuilding capacity slowly over time

You do not need to do everything. Even small, consistent steps help.

1. Do Not “Ice-Bathe” the Stomach
This is the most important concept. The digestive system in this state is weak. Cold shuts it down further.

Avoid putting cold into the stomach whenever possible.

That includes:

Ice water
Cold smoothies
Refrigerated foods straight from the fridge/freezer
If something cold does go in, follow it with something warm. Even a small cup of warm water helps rebalance. Better yet, stay mostly warm overall.

This also includes:

Keeping the belly warm
Keeping the feet warm
Choosing warm drinks throughout the day
Important Exceptions: Because there are almost always exceptions. Joy matters too. If someone wants ice cream, consider it. Just follow it with something warm afterward.

2. Food Should Be Warm, Soft, and Easy to Digest
At this stage, digestion is not ready for heavy lifting. We are not trying to challenge it. We are trying to support it.

The best foods are:

Warm
Soft
Simple
Nourishing

This is not about big meals or dense protein intake. It is about building the body’s ability to receive nourishment again. Simple foods, done consistently, are deeply therapeutic here.

3. Congee Is the #1 Tool
Congee may be new to most, and I recommend you google it to learn more and learn to make it.

You’ll see: It sounds almost too simple, but it is one of the most effective foods for recovery.

Congee is a rice porridge that is:

Very easy to digest
Deeply nourishing
Traditionally used for recovery
Often eaten as a breakfast in many parts of Asia

It works because the long cooking process breaks the rice down into something the body barely has to work to absorb. You can add very little, or you can add a few things to it. It carries people through.

How to Make Congee

1 part rice to 10 parts water (Example: 1 cup rice to 10 cups water, or smaller proportions)
This makes a “soupy” Congee, which I find people tolerate the best. But if you like it less “soupy”, just use less water, or let the water boil off.
Cook slowly: Slow cooker: 8–10 hours on low
Or simmer gently on the stove (it takes a long time, add water as needed)
This 1/10 proportion, cooked over a long time, creates a thin, soupy texture that is easiest to tolerate.
Start Simple: Just rice and water is enough.

Optional Add-Ins (only if tolerated)

Pinch of salt (you’ll be surprised how soothing, rice, water, and pinch of salt is)
Chicken/Vegetable broth (replace part/all of the water)
A few spinach leaves (they almost dissolve) (other greens ok too!)
One chopped Chinese date (remove pit)
Small amount of hard-boiled egg, or even just stir a hard boiled yolk in
Start minimal. Add slowly as digestion improves. This is not about making it something fancy... It’s about making it tolerable and supportive.

If you or a loved one are having lack of appetite, nausea, or difficulting tolerating any food, Congee can be a miracle.

4. Oatmeal as an Alternative
If congee isn’t appealing, oatmeal is an excellent option. It’s not as soupy, but you can make it more or less thin/thick. Thin is usually easier to tolerate.

It has a similar effect:

Warm
Soothing to the digestive tract
Easy to customize
You can add:

Maple syrup
Soft fruits
A few dried fruits like dates (remove seeds) or goji berries

The key is that oatmeal is also tonifying for the digestive system, and naturally warms whatever is added to it, making it easier to digest. It's not just for breakfast!

5. Core Daily Habits That Matter More Than You Think
These are simple, but powerful:

Sip warm water throughout the day
Keep the body physically warm
Take short warm baths if tolerated
Avoid overexertion: Activity is good, but overdoing it will slow recovery. This phase requires respecting limits.

Also, don’t underestimate:

Laughter
Watching/doing/listening to something genuinely enjoyable
Hugs and touch
Being in the presence of loved ones
Your pets and plants
These regulate the nervous system, which directly impacts digestion and healing. Even a hint of a smile is healing.

6. Gentle Teas to Support Digestion

Ginger Tea (not everyone likes ginger, but MANY do!)

Fresh ginger, sliced (skin on)
Simmer 10–30 minutes
This acts like a gentle full-body digestive stimulant. It warms and supports without overwhelming.
For some, it helps relieve nausea

Spearmint Tea

Calms the stomach, for some it helps nausea
Relaxes the nervous system
Helpful when digestion and stress are intertwined
Keep tea portions small. We're not talking Starbucks size! A small tea cup size is enough.

7. Simple Nourishing Additions

These are foods known to be incredibly nourishing. They are available online, or in Asian markets, or sometimes in health food or quality markets.

Goji Berries (Gou Ji Zi)
Add a few to tea or congee
Eat after steeping
They soften easily and become very mild.

These are a common food that is a powerhouse for building Qi and Blood and supporting recovery.

Dried Chinese Dates (General name: Da Zao) (Red: Hong Zao, or Black: Hei Zao) (Either kind is great!)

1–3 per day
Add to congee or tea (soften in water to make easier to eat)
Remove the pit before eating
They are gentle, sweet, and supportive for rebuilding
A common food that is a powerhouse for building Qi and Blood and the digestive system in general.

Dried Dragon Eye Fruit (Longan Rou)

1–3 per day
Eat directly or steep in hot waterT
hink of them like a richer, more nourishing raisin.
Don’t overdo it on these. Stick to 1-3 a day. They are a very “warming” fruit (a Chinese medical principle) and this is why you shouldn’t overdo it on them. However, 1-3 a day is magic for your system.

8. Natural Sweetness Is Therapeutic

In this context we are speaking of, sweetness is not a problem. (I'm NOT talking white sugar or candy. I'm talking nature based sweeteners.) Sweetness can be helpful, and these natural sugars are packed full of other beneficial qualities, vitamins, minerals. Add a splash of these to food or beverages. The less processed forms, the better.

Maple syrup (Quality, the real thing, the less processed the better.)
Honey (Quality, the real thing, the less processed the better.)
Blackstrap molasses (Small amounts, flavor is strong!) (Blackstrap is the key word to find.)

Even warm water with a little honey, maple syrup, or splash of blackstrap molasses becomes a therapeutic drink.

9. Don’t Have an Attitude of Forcing Anything

This is critical. The body has been through a lot.

If something doesn’t taste good, skip it and try something else
If appetite is low, keep portions small
If something causes resistance, remove it
Follow what is tolerated best.
Variety is not that important at this phase.

Final Thoughts

Recovery is not about doing more. It is about doing the right amount, consistently, with patience.

Warmth.
Simplicity.
Regularity.
You are not rebuilding strength all at once.
You are rebuilding the ability to rebuild.

This phase is about cooperation with the body, not control. Small, consistent nourishment matters more than perfect nutrition.

It’s why I give a bunch of options here. You do NOT have to do all of them. Find a few that work. Slow and steady wins the race.

As always, please feel free to email me anytime with questions you may have at drkimdrolet (at) gmail.com.

04/07/2026

To celebrate Spring and new beginnings (yours and mine both!) I'm trying something new for April + May 🌿
I’m offering huge discounted $25 Online Personalized Herbal/Natural Health Consultations

If you’re dealing with things like:
• fatigue, stress showing up in your body
• bloating, acid reflux, digestion issues
• hair thinning
• getting sick easily or seasonal allergies

Or honestly just feel like “I should feel better than this”...

This is exactly where Chinese herbal medicine tends to shine. It’s really good at figuring out why things are off and giving a plan that actually fits you, getting to the root of things.

I keep it practical too. I use tablet or capsule formulas (not teas that taste not so great) so it’s easy to follow.

April + May only → $25 (75% off)
Link in comments to make an appointment.

I’m curious:
👉 What’s one thing going on with your body that no one has been able to explain to you clearly?
👉 Have you ever felt like you’re doing everything “right” and still not getting results? What’s that thing for you?

You can comment here or message me if you’d rather keep it private. Happy to point you in the right direction either way.

02/17/2026

Reflexology vs. Acupressure: What’s the Difference?
(And What If You Don’t Want Needles?)

SDHMA's Dr. Jacintha "Jaz" Roemer DACM, LAc recently made a video explaining the difference between reflexology and acupressure because we realized something: people use these words interchangeably… and they’re not the same thing.

They both involve touch. They both involve pressure. They both can feel amazing.

But they come from very different systems of thought.

And if you’re trying to decide what kind of bodywork or treatment you want, that distinction actually matters.

Reflexology vs. Acupressure: What’s the Difference? | Holistic Healing with Dr. JazAre reflexology and acupressure the same thing? 🤔 Not quite.In this video...

02/09/2026

Self-care alert! Amanda's Lymphatic & Organ reset massage is on Wednesday mornings - Give yourself the gift of a calming and revitalizing massage

12/10/2025

12/10/2025

As Christmas approaches, browse our stocking stuffer assortment and give the gift of well-being. Our products include Plants, Chocolates, Cupping sets, Eye Masks, Herbal Hammers, Herbal Bath Tea, Yu Ping Fire Cider, Gui Zhi Tang Syrup, Gua Sha, Ear seeds, Organ Food, and more.

11/18/2025

Indulge in a rejuvenating massage experience with Amanda, perfect for treating yourself or a loved one (Gift Certificates are available). Amanda provides a diverse range of massage modalities to promote relaxation and healing. Holiday Special