Our heritage
A family tradition, illuminated
Ming Apothecary doesn’t need to invent an ancient lineage. It has a real one: a father’s herbal knowledge, Hakka roots, the nourishing kitchen, and years of formal training.
The name
明 Ming, bright
Ming (明) means bright, luminous, illumination. It is part of Linda’s own name and her father’s, and it carries the house’s guiding philosophy: that true wellness means nourishing not only the physical body but also the essence and spirit of life.
Hakka roots
Medicine that began in the kitchen
Growing up in a Chinese family with Hakka roots, Linda met traditional herbal medicine long before her formal education, in the nourishing soups her parents prepared almost daily.
The Hakka people, known for their history of migration, resilience and resourcefulness, cultivated a practical relationship with food, herbs and the natural world. Medicine was not always found in an elaborate apothecary. Often it began in the family kitchen, with a pot of soup, carefully chosen roots, seasonal ingredients, and knowledge passed from one generation to the next.
“The humble wisdom of kitchen medicine, elevated to the refined art of nourishing life.”
- Her father
Hoi Ming Lee
An herbalist in China, he carried a deep understanding of the healing properties of plants and of nourishing the body through everyday living.
- Her training
Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences
Linda completed a four-year master’s program in Chinese medicine in Oakland, California, then deepened her understanding of acupuncture, herbal medicine and the philosophy of cultivating health, vitality and longevity through years of study and clinical practice.
- Her practice
Lee Acupuncture, Kauaʻi
A nationally licensed acupuncturist and Chinese herbal medicine practitioner, Linda has practised in Princeville for some fifteen years. Ming Apothecary is a project of Lee Acupuncture.
Two worlds
From Hakka households to the imperial courts
From the resourceful traditions of Hakka households to the sophisticated herbal preparations of China’s imperial courts, Chinese medicine carries a rich history of cultivating vitality, preserving essence and honouring longevity.
Ming Apothecary draws on both: the simplicity and practicality of ancestral home remedies, and the elegance, precision and refinement of classical Chinese herbal traditions.
Linda’s vision is to bring the ancient art of nourishing life into the modern world through thoughtfully developed herbal preparations, education, and a deep respect for the intelligence of nature.
In the apothecary
Knowledge passed hand to hand
More than an herbal company: a continuation of a family tradition.
An expression of a healer’s lifelong dedication, and an invitation to cultivate a vibrant and meaningful life.