Herbs go hip: Creative TCM products a big hit with young people

At her 27th birthday party, Shi Qian planned all kinds of fun activities. But the biggest hit was a DIY booth for traditional Chinese medicine sachets.

She bought dried herbs — such as mugwort, mint and Atractylodes as mosquito repellents and mint, lemon peel and cardamom for mental clarity and focus — along with small embroidered silk bags. Guests could mix and match to make their own TCM sachets. "My birthday party quickly turned into a wellness gathering," she said.

Shi first discovered TCM-related accessories at a creative market. They included delicate sachets, herbal bracelets and earrings, incense plaques made from powdered herbs, and mugwort mallets for back tapping. "Herbal mosquito repellents are healthier than chemical sprays, and the related accessories look gorgeous," she said.

Such TCM-themed products have started popping up at creative markets across China, winning over young consumers. Traditional herbs such as mugwort, mint, honeysuckle, calamus and angelica, which were once found in TCM pharmacies, are now being turned into trendy lifestyle items.

In Jilin, a city in Jilin province, the Official Ginseng Bureau Museum has been hosting a weekly creative market since May. The star attractions are herbal sachets and bead bracelets made from Chinese medicinal herbs.

Staff member Su Kebing, 26, said the bracelets, priced between 100 and 400 yuan ($15 to $59), are designed to calm the mind. "They're made with herbs that help ease anxiety. When you lift your wrist and take a sniff, it soothes your mood," she said. "Young people really care about their health nowadays and love trying new things."

The museum itself has an imperial backstory. It was rebuilt in 2025 from the original Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) Jilin Official Ginseng Bureau, which once supervised wild ginseng harvesting for the royal court. Today, it showcases ginseng culture and herbal traditions, attracting young visitors in droves.

"TCM accessories offer a kind of emotional healing," said Su, who wears a musk-scented herbal bracelet herself. "Every time I smell it, I feel happier and more relaxed," she added.

Pakistani student Kanzila Akbarali, who studies at Northeast Electric Power University in Jilin, said she has visited the museum multiple times to buy ginseng soap and ginseng coffee. She sends them home as gifts and also recommends them to her friends.

"I learned about TCM from television shows and videos. Now I buy these amazing products. I love the scents," she said.

Liu Dongmei, director of the pharmacy department at Jilin Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital, offered a grounded perspective. "The effects come from inhaling the scents, similar to aromatherapy or using perfume. It is more psychological than medicinal. We can't yet claim therapeutic results," she said.

Nevertheless, Liu said that the tradition of wearing herbal sachets dates back to ancient China, when people believed they could repel insects and ward off evil spirits using herbs. Her hospital gives away free sachets during every Dragon Boat Festival, which typically falls in June, and they are always popular.

"Ever since Shennong (a revered figure in Chinese mythology) tasted hundreds of herbs thousands of years ago, TCM has been a part of our lives," Liu said. "The idea of food and medicine sharing the same origin is deeply rooted. Today, however, herbs are not just medicine or food, they have evolved into wearable accessories, which people are embracing."

Liu's hospital has hosted a TCM creative competition for years, with entries ranging from ginseng chicken soup to dumplings seasoned with herbs. Jilin province has also held two provincial-level TCM creative design contests, receiving over 300 entries this year alone.

In Beijing, some hospitals have rolled out even more innovative products, including herb-infused bread made with pumpkin and Poria (a medicinal fungus), mugwort health pillows and calming lamps with TCM ingredients.

For Liu, these developments mean one thing: the TCM culture is stepping out of textbooks and hospital wards, blending into everyday life in a fun and fashionable way. "It makes people, especially the young, more aware and appreciative of traditional Chinese medicine. And that's a good kind of healing," she said.

Contact the writers at dengzhangyu@chinadaily.com.cn