Located in downtown Santa Cruz, Five Flavors Herbal Pharmacy is a full service dispensary specializing in filling individualized herbal preparations. Owned and operated by Benjamin Zappin, Licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist, we provide acupuncture and herbal treatments by appointment, as well as dispensing formulas locally and via mail.

The Five Flavors selection includes more than 300 Chinese herbs in either bulk or granulated extract form. We also stock numerous granulated formulas that are easy for modification. Our selection of more than 200 tinctures, made almost entirely locally, represents the best of Western and other cultures’ herbal traditions and includes many hard to find herbs available for formulation. We specialize in topical preparations and carry our own line of products for trauma and skin care that draws from both Chinese and western herbal traditions. For a complete list our herbs and services please view the Herbal Pharmacy page.

As advocates of herbal education we offer classes for medical professionals, including many continuing education classes, and also to the general public. Our classes and events page will always have these posted as well as other local herbal happenings. Many of our classes are cosponsored by our local affiliate American School of Herbalism. We also include links to herbal education resources run by colleagues of ours in other parts of the country.

The beautiful botanical photos on the site were graciously donated by Thomas Avery Garran.