Eastern Medicine

Study: Acupuncture is helpful for Back Pain

2009-09-22T11:33:00.002+07:00

Fake acupuncture works nearly as well as the real thing for low back pain, and either kind performs much better than usual care, German researchers have found. Almost half the patients treated with acupuncture needles felt relief that lasted months. In contrast, only about a quarter of the patients receiving medications and other Western medical treatments felt better.

Even fake acupuncture worked better than conventional care, leading researchers to wonder whether pain relief came from the body's reactions to any thin needle pricks or, possibly, the placebo effect.

"Acupuncture represents a highly promising and effective treatment option for chronic back pain," study co-author Dr. Heinz Endres of Ruhr University Bochum in Bochum, Germany, said in an e-mail. "Patients experienced not only reduced pain intensity, but also reported improvements in the disability that often results from back pain and therefore in their quality of life."

Although the study was not designed to determine how acupuncture works, Endres said, its findings are in line with a theory that pain messages to the brain can be blocked by competing stimuli.

Positive expectations the patients held about acupuncture — or negative expectations about conventional medicine — also could have led to a placebo effect and explain the findings, he said.

In the largest experiment on acupuncture for back pain to date, more than 1,100 patients were randomly assigned to receive either acupuncture, sham acupuncture or conventional therapy. For the sham acupuncture, needles were inserted, but not as deeply as for the real thing. The sham acupuncture also did not insert needles in traditional acupuncture points on the body and the needles were not manually moved and rotated.

After six months, patients answered questions about pain and functional ability and their scores determined how well each of the therapies worked.

In the real acupuncture group, 47 percent of patients improved. In the sham acupuncture group, 44 percent did. In the usual care group, 27 percent got relief.

"We don't understand the mechanisms of these so-called alternative treatments, but that doesn't mean they don't work," said Dr. James Young of Chicago's Rush University Medical Center, who wasn't involved in the research. Young often treats low back pain with acupuncture, combined with exercises and stretches.

Chinese medicine holds that there are hundreds of points on the body that link to invisible pathways for the body's vital energy, or qi. The theory goes that stimulating the correct points with acupuncture needles can release blocked qi.

Dr. Brian Berman, the University of Maryland's director of complementary medicine, said the real and the sham acupuncture may have worked for reasons that can be explained in Western terms: by changing the way the brain processes pain signals or by releasing natural painkillers in the body.

In the study, the conventional treatment included many methods: painkillers, injections, physical therapy, massage, heat therapy or other treatments. Like the acupuncture patients, the patients getting usual care received about 10 sessions of 30 minutes each.

The study, appearing in Monday's Archives of Internal Medicine, used a broad definition for low back pain, but ruled out people with back pain caused by spinal fractures, tumors, scoliosis and pregnancy.

Funding came from German health insurance companies, and the findings already have led to more coverage in Germany of acupuncture.

Wu Sing = 5 Senses = 5 Tastes = 5 Elements

2009-09-22T11:29:00.002+07:00

Cravings are natural? Why do they occur? How can I reduce them? What benefits do I get from the foods I crave? Is sugar an addictive substance? How do cravings relate to addiction?

There are five tastes as recorded in The Yellow Emperor, a famous Taoist and medical text written over 5,000 years ago. The five tastes are sweet, pungent, salty, sour, and bitter. Each taste corresponds to a different organ system, pathology and element.

Sweet = stomach and digestive system = Earth
Bitter = heart and cardiovascular system = Fire
Sour = liver and nervous system = Wood
Salty = kidney and endocrine = Water
Pungent = lungs, lymph and immune system = Metal

For those of you who have a sweet tooth you may be wondering why it corresponds to the digestive system and the earth element. The digestive system is responsible for absorption and distribution of nutrients from food and is the source of much of our body's energy. When we lack energy, it is natural to crave sweet foods, but the foods our body is really craving are foods like sweet potato, pumpkin, apples and corn, not chocolate. We have created super sweet foods that appeal to one's desire for energy and instant satisfaction, but these food types do not meet the body's needs. Consuming very sweet foods delivers only temporary satisfaction because when sugar enters the blood stream rapidly, it is removed just as rapidly by a hormone called insulin. This sugar is then put into storage in two ways, one as glycogen in the liver and the other as fat (and we all know where that likes to sit!). This is the nature of sugar and the addictive behavior it encourages. The storage that takes place not only leads to weight gain, but to many other problems relating to sluggish digestion and what we call in Chinese medicine damp accumulation.

In Chinese Medical and Nutritional therapy, sweet foods in the form of complex carbohydrates are central food for most traditional diets. Complex carbohydrates energize the body while nourishing and relaxing the brain and nervous function. Sweet is a harmonizing flavor as it reduces the harshness of stronger flavors such as bitter. Sweet also generates fluids or Yin and strengthen weakness or deficiency. However, sweet foods consumed in excess without the balancing characteristics of bitter foods such as dark leafy green vegetables can cause a build up of fluids and what we refer to in Chinese Medicine as Dampness.

The accumulation of dampness in your body is detrimental to your health as it promotes the build up of fluids and mucus and promotes the growth of pathogenic bacteria and candida (yeasts) in your digestive tract. Excess sweets act as inhibitors of calcium, an important mineral for muscle strength and bone density. Calcium absorption is particularly important for women in the pre and postmenopausal ages so here is another reason to reduce dependence on sweet foods. It is important to note that refined carbohydrates including predominantly wheat in the form of white breads, pastries and pasta act like sweets in the accumulation of dampness. Excess consumption of sweets and refined carbohydrates has been directly linked to many disorders including hypoglycemia, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and obesity.

So remember, when you get the craving for something sweet, what your body is really asking for is not sugar or refined wheat products but sweet vegetables and whole grains. So prepare ahead and give yourself a sweet potato.

Chinese Therapy : 7 Ways to Slash Stress

2009-08-03T00:53:00.000+07:00

1. Start your day with meditation
Spend time every day in meditative relaxation, with calming music if you desire. Start with five minutes and work your way to 15 or 20 minutes each day. Meditation is your number one way to reduce the output of stress hormones and avoid adrenal exhaustion, serious threats to your health.

Try this Stress Release Meditation: Breathe consciously, relax, and with each exhale focus on relaxing each area of your body in sequence, starting from the top of your head and moving all the way down to your toes.

2. Manage your mood with diet and herbs
Chinese Medicine considers the liver to be the center of your emotions. To allay stress and balance your emotions, keep your liver healthy and happy:

• Every day, eat lots of green leafy vegetables, barley grass, seaweed - anything high in chlorophyll - to keep the liver in good health.

• Take 500 mg dandelion daily for a month or longer to cleanse the liver and help release built-up anger.

• Take 400 mg white peony root daily for 1 to 3 months to soothe the liver and balance your mood.

• Schisandra berry protects the liver from chemicals and calms the spirit. For emotional anxiety, take 200 mg daily for a month.

Take these herbs anytime during the day and before bed in tea or capsule form. All the herbs are available from health food stores and Eastern medicine practitioners. Many of my patients have had remarkable results with Calm-Fort Elixir, an all-natural formulation of herbs to calm your spirit. For more information, click here.

3. Suppress stress with positive thinking
Instead of letting your thoughts run wild with anxiety, say affirmations to yourself, such as "I can handle the tasks I have ahead of me. I enjoy my responsibilities and fulfill them well." In fact, repeating positive affirmations can actually suppress the cortisol that the adrenal gland releases in times of stress - leaving you peaceful and calm.

4. Get stress out of your head and on paper
Writing in a journal every day can help you release thoughts and emotions that are causing you stress. Write from the position of an observer, recording your thoughts without any judgments. Just write it down so that you can see clearly what is going on inside. The next step is to identify the source of any anger or stress so you can begin to make changes. Looking into your thoughts give you the opportunity to gain insight into your feelings and reflect the underlying issues.

5. Unblock tension with exercise
The constant pressures of your job and family can lead to chronically elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which is a direct cause of muscle and joint pain. Clenched jaw? Lump in your throat? Chronic back and neck pain? These can all be manifestations of stress in your body. Release physical tension and clear these emotional blockages by using massage therapy, exercise, yoga, tai chi, or qi gong to get the circuits moving.

6. A Retreat to Avoid Burnout
Overloading your brain is a recipe for stress and health problems. Information overload is particularly harmful at midlife because we have less tolerance for stress, which can contribute to high blood pressure and heart disease. Press the "reset" button on yourself. Give yourself a retreat from the stresses of modern life. Take one day out of the seven-day week to minimize "screen" time. Don't watch TV, don't check email, and don't look at the news - it will be there tomorrow, and after a day of rest, you will be refreshed and ready to look at them.

7. Perspective from the Natural World
Use nature to reduce stress. Go outside, hike in the woods, walk on the beach, anything that puts you in contact with the natural world. It is difficult to feel stressed when you are surrounded by nature's abundance of vitality and wonder.

Accupuncture Points: BaiHui & Fengchi- Top Points at the Top of the Body

2009-08-02T00:49:00.000+07:00

Frequently during your acupuncture treatments, your acupuncturist will place these ever so tiny needles on top of your head. They are virtually pain-free and at times they give a very nice calming feeling throughout the whole body. What are these points and what are they for?

One of the most common points at the very top of our head is called Baihui or DU 20. It is literally translated as "the meeting of the hundreds." It means a place where all the energies of our body converge and meet. It is a very powerful point and is used for many purposes.

To begin with, it has a wonderful calming effect. If your pulse feels wiry or tense, acupuncturists usually will select it this point. If you:

* are under stress or much tension in your life
* suffer from depression and anxiety
* suffer from irregular sleep patterns

This point is also the meeting point of all the Yang energy of your body. Translated it means by gently stimulating this point you will have an increased energy level and better mental focus and relaxation at the same time. It is therefore selected for chronic fatigue, lethargy, and poor mental focus and memory. This is also a point that is used to strengthen endocrine functions. Therefore, is frequently used in hypothyroidism, hormone weakness, and adrenal insufficiencies. As one of the highest points of the body, it is considered as the master point of all endocrine glands and nervous system.

Another point is behind your neck, called Fengchi or GB 20. It is literally translated as "the Pond of Wind." It is another powerful point with many purposes. Foremost, it is used for headaches and neck pains. It is a point that frequently carries the physical tension of the body. When our immunity is under siege, fighting sickness such as a common cold, this point can become tender and achy upon touch. It is also a very good point for regulating blood pressure and blood circulation.

These two points are just some of the many points in your head used for many different conditions. So next time, when you get "needled" in these points, you will know why!

Chinese Herbs: Remedies for Depression, Anxiety, Insomnia, and Psychosis

2009-08-01T00:47:00.000+07:00

In China before the mid- twentieth century, all mental illnesses were treated pretty much exclusively with herbal medicine. Since doctors and hospitals keep records, there is plenty of historical evidence suggesting that such treatments were often successful. Perhaps the best evidence is the famous Fog Tea of Tianmu Mountain, which, after the opium war, helped free millions of Chinese people from opium addiction. Some of us believe that the Chinese herbal psychiatric drugs of the 19th century were at least as effective as whatever European or American doctors were prescribing at that time.

This may still be true today. Despite obvious advancements in the Western pharmacy, I believe that Chinese herbs can still help sufferers of mental disorders by complementing any modern day prescription or therapy. The herbs are safe, and like a food, won't react negatively with any psychiatric drug.

Hard to Find a Shrink in China

Psychiatry never really took root in China where the culture never emphasized individuality. Spending large sums of money on personal improvement is a foreign idea and would be considered a kind of vanity. Even today, despite the deluge of Western ideas and money, you'll find only a handful of psychiatrists in the Beijing phone book.

Psychiatry might also not have evolved because the Chinese had less need for it. Having discovered a pharmacy of herbal psychiatric drugs, such interventions may have been unnecessary in many cases. These herbal methods may be among the great treasures of Oriental medicine.

Not a substitute for modern drugs or counseling, these medicines can still be a valuable tool in the hands of any knowledgeable practitioner or counselor. You don't have to be a Chinese herbologist to use them, however some basic knowledge of Oriental medicine can help. This article will help you get started.

Qi

'Qi' means the flow of our bodily energies. Practitioners of Chinese medicine believe that health is linked with these invisible flows, and that when our qi flows improperly we get sick.

Health is also about harmony or balance, or the lack of it. The terms yin and yang help to describe this. When life is out of balance, we say that yin and yang become unbalanced in our body, causing physical or mental distress and disease.

To practitioners of TCM, most any mental disease is, first of all, a sign of poor flow or bad balance. Phobia, paranoia, schizophrenia, depression, insomnia, etc. are symptoms of disharmony or congestion, not separate diseases in themselves. Healing these symptoms requires normalizing flow or restoring balance in the life of those afflicted. Herbal medicine can help immensely.

Chinese herbal medicine is easily the most highly evolved medical system in the world. Its immense scale of experience spans countless trillions of administrations over thousands of years. Its pharmacopoeia includes over 10,000 natural substances; vegetable, animal, and mineral.

Some of these may be strange to Western sensibilities; however this article will recommend only safe ordinary substances which can be easily obtained. Sour dates, hare's ear root, and mimosa bark may not be as available as coffee, tea, or marijuana, but you can easily find these mind bending substances on the web or in Chinese communities throughout North America, Europe, and Asia.

Mind Bending Herbal Drugs

Mind bending doesn't imply that these Chinese herbs are stimulants or psychedelics. Stimulant and psychedelic herbs have a more limited medical use. These herbs, when used in the right combinations affect the mind in far more useful ways. By mind I mean consciousness, emotion, imagination, remembrance, thought, memory, and intelligence.

The Troubled Spirit

We don't include spirit as an aspect of mind, because TCM reserves a special place for spirit, known as Shen. Shen resides in the heart, not in the brain. Mental disharmonies often indicate that the Shen, residing in the heart, is unsettled or troubled. We call this condition Disturbed Shen.

Anxiety, insomnia, and psychosis all originate with a disturbed shen. Though sufferers may exhibit deviant brain chemistry, these are not brain diseases. They are diseases of the chest rather than the brain, because the Shen resides in the heart, not in the head.

For most people, disturbed shen will not lead to 'heart disease' or any physical heart problem. Nevertheless, disturbed shen is a physical condition and will respond to therapies such as exercise, massage, acupuncture, and herbal medicines.

Disturbed shen can have many causes. Shen can be disturbed by events in our life or in our memory, by stagnation, heat, drugs, diet, loss of sleep, loss of blood, by constraint of emotion, or by excess emotions. Besides disturbing the shen, strong emotions can also affect our organs. Excessive joy or being startled can stress the heart, worry eats at the gut, grief endangers the lungs, fear taxes the kidneys, and anger assaults the liver.

Shen is disturbed by tension in the chest. Thoughts about loss, inhibited expression, and guilt among other things, cause the chest to tighten. In this protective state we feel fewer feelings and show less emotion. Modern clinicians call this condition 'depression'. We call it stagnation of the chest qi, or Liver Qi Stagnation (LQS), and we consider it to be the origin of many mental health problems. To us, clinical depression is not a definable disease, but a sign that the qi of the chest is stuck, constrained, or oppressed. In time, chest constraint can affect the underlying organs, generating anger by inflaming the liver, or anxiety by heating up the heart

Eastern Medicine :Tea as The Elixir of Life

2009-07-31T00:42:00.000+07:00

Delicious, low-calorie, and brimming with antioxidants, tea is quickly becoming the most commonly consumed beverage worldwide, after water. Even in the U.S., its popularity is rapidly growing. And why not? With the health benefits you stand to gain, you, too, will want to drink up.

Soak Up the Health Benefits

It is no wonder that tea is the beverage most commonly enjoyed by centenarians around the world. Tea is full of powerful antioxidants that improve concentration, gently boost energy, and make people happier. The free radical-inhibiting property of tea is more potent than that of vitamin E, and tea is a proven preventive and treatment for atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). The polyphenols in tea, especially the catechins, are powerful antioxidants that help ward off diabetes and cancer.

To get the most health from your tea, brew it fresh from tea bags or loose leaves and herbs, as instant and bottled teas contain less active compounds. Let the tea steep for three to five minutes to extract the most beneficial compounds. Drink to your health!

Cut the Morning Coffee

For many people, the first thing they reach for in the morning is coffee. Although it may initially give you a jolt, coffee actually depletes your vital essence, "borrowing" energy that you didn't have in the first place.

Caffeine acts as a central nervous system stimulant. It causes you to experience stress, anxiety, a racing mind, and even insomnia, working against your attempts to relax the body and calm the mind. A healthier alternative to coffee is herbal tea. On average, a cup of black tea contains about one third of the caffeine you would get from the same cup of coffee. Green tea contains about one sixth of that amount.

Of course, caffeine content will vary depending on the particular tea and the brewing time. One way to naturally decaffeinate your tea is to steep for 45 seconds, pour out the liquid but keep the tea leaves, then add fresh boiling water and let it steep for 3-5 minutes or longer to allow the beneficial polyphenols to be extracted from the tea.

Slim Down with Tea

As a weight loss tool, tea is a wonderfully cleansing way to flush the system, replace fluids - and pump the body full of powerful antioxidants at the same time. Aside from the health benefits, tea is a zero-calorie beverage, making it your best choice for weight loss. Pass on the diet soda, loaded with sugar and bone-weakening bubbles, and go for tea.

It is best to drink tea unsweetened and without milk, which can minimize some of the health benefits. To sweeten the tea without the extra calories, forgo the sugar and try instead honey, stevia products, or a stick of cinnamon.

The Healthy Varieties of Herbal Teas

Aromatic and chock full of amazing health benefits, herbal teas are made from various leaves, roots, bark, or flowers. Here are just a few:

* Ginger: Soothes the digestive system and keeps your energy fired up
* Chamomile: Settles the stomach and is calming and soothing for the nervous system
* Peppermint: Increases healthy gastric secretions, relaxes the intestines, and settles the stomach
* Dandelion: Detoxifies and supports healthy liver functions
* Valerian: A natural herbal substitute for sleeping pills

You can combine these herbs in any combination according to your taste and health preferences.

Introduction to TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine)

2009-07-30T00:31:00.000+07:00

With a history of 2000 to 3000 years, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has formed a unique system to diagnose and cure illness. The TCM approach is fundamentally different from that of Western medicine. In TCM, the understanding of the human body is based on the holistic understanding of the universe as described in Daoism, and the treatment of illness is based primarily on the diagnosis and differentiation of syndromes.

The TCM approach treats zang--fu organs as the core of the human body. Tissue and organs are connected through a network of channels and blood vessels inside human body. Qi (or Chi) acts as some kind of carrier of information that is expressed externally through jingluo system. Pathologically, a dysfunction of the zang-fu organs may be reflected on the body surface through the network, and meanwhile, diseases of body surface tissues may also affect their related zang or fu organs. Affected zang or fu organs may also influence each other through internal connections. Traditional Chinese medicine treatment starts with the analysis of the entire system, then focuses on the correction of pathological changes through readjusting the functions of the zang-fu organs.

Evaluation of a syndrome not only includes the cause, mechanism, location, and nature of the disease, but also the confrontation between the pathogenic factor and body resistance. Treatment is not based only on the symptoms, but differentiation of syndromes. Therefore, those with an identical disease may be treated in different ways, and on the other hand, different diseases may result in the same syndrome and are treated in similar ways.

The clinical diagnosis and treatment in Traditional Chinese Medicine are mainly based on the yin-yang and five elements theories. These theories apply the phenomena and laws of nature to the study of the physiological activities and pathological changes of the human body and its interrelationships. The typical TCM therapies include acupuncture, herbal medicine, and qigong exercises. With acupuncture, treatment is accomplished by stimulating certain areas of the external body. Herbal medicine acts on zang-fu organs internally, while qigong tries to restore the orderly information flow inside the network through the regulation of Qi. These therapies appear very different in approach yet they all share the same underlying sets of assumptions and insights in the nature of the human body and its place in the universe. Some scientists describe the treatment of diseases through herbal medication, acupuncture, and qigong as an "information therapy".

Anti-Aging Naturally: No Drugs, Hormones, or Surgery

2009-07-29T00:34:00.000+07:00

Your body was designed to heal itself, and it can rejuvenate naturally—without drugs, hormone replacement, or invasive surgery. You can live a long, healthy life by using the natural secrets of the Chinese medical tradition, which can revitalize your body, slow the aging process, and activate your body's built-in regenerative powers.

1. Green tea combats Alzheimer's
If you replace your morning cup of coffee with green tea, you'll get more than a fleeting pick-me-up. Studies suggest that green tea may actually protect against Alzheimer's disease and other forms of mental degeneration. Green tea is packed with polyphenols, antioxidants that have been found to increase cognitive acuity and learning ability.

One particular polyphenol is responsible for these beneficial brain effects: catechin. The concentration of catechins in green tea is four times that of black tea. Researchers aren't exactly sure why, but the minimal processing used for green tea may help to preserve a higher concentration of the antioxidants. Another bonus to green tea? Studies suggest that you can lose more belly fat when you add green tea on top of your weight-loss exercise regime. So drink up to reap long-term benefits for your brain.

2. Magnesium for more energy
Magnesium is an essential mineral that mitochondria—the tiny power generators in your cells— require to help your body produce energy. Most of us don't get enough magnesium because two common dietary habits leach magnesium from our bodies: too much dairy and too much salt. And most of us just don't get enough magnesium to begin with due to the popularity of overprocessed foods. For example, rice bran contains an ample supply of the mineral, but bran is only found in brown rice. White rice has none. In the same way, wheat germ has plenty of magnesium, yet there's none in white bread and white pasta.

So keep eating whole grains for maximum magnesium intake. You can also get plenty of magnesium from nuts and seeds. Have a daily handful of pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds, Brazil nuts, and cashews. Magnesium also helps your heart health, relieves muscle cramps, and protects your skin from UV damage. If you prefer capsule form, try taking 500 mg magnesium daily.

3. Try chai for revitalization
The herb that gives chai tea its main flavor is cardamom, a spice that has long been valued in Asia for its ability to increase circulation and improve energy. Cardamom is a stimulant that positively affects your overall well-being, as both a revitalizing tonic for the body and as an antidepressant for emotional disorders. Orchid bees are drawn to cardamom, and use it to synthesize pheromones.

Because of this combination of properties, cardamom is routinely prescribed by Chinese doctors—generally in doses up to 5 grams per day—to rekindle sexual desire. But that's not all! Cardamom also reduces fever, eases indigestion, and combats intolerance to grains. So add some to your cereal or bake it into breads and cakes for a tasty treat free from digestive issues. And of course you can always drink the tea for this myriad of benefits.

4. Ease nervous eating with magnolia
Millions of Americans experience the symptoms of chronic stress: nervous tension, restless sleep, irritability, difficulty focusing—and eating disorders in particular. Who hasn't responded to stress by reaching for convenient comfort foods? Many people respond to situational stress by eating ice cream, cookies, and chocolates. When the stress becomes chronic, overeating becomes a habit—with predictable results.

To break the pattern, natural Chinese medicine uses magnolia, boasting a bounty of versatile benefits. Magnolia bark regulates appetite, improves digestion, and reduces swelling and bloating. The flower is a powerful remedy for allergies and sinus conditions. Studies have found that magnolia contains a phytochemical, honokiol, which is equipped with anti-stress properties that are helpful with appetite control and weight management. You can take a magnolia supplement by itself or in formulations with other herbs, in capsule form or as a tea, available in health food stores, online, and from acupuncturists and Chinese herbalists.

Chinese Medicine : 6 Tips for Deep Sleep

2009-07-28T00:32:00.001+07:00

Would you like to sleep like a baby without taking drugs? Americans spend upwards of 3 billion dollars a year on sleep medications, but to avoid the side effects, there are a number of natural remedies you can try first. Read on to learn some of the ways to get a good quality night's sleep:

1. Relaxing Rituals to Rest Easy

In Chinese Medicine, nighttime is yin time—or, simply, when the body takes care of itself instead of your desires. Proper sleep is required for your body to repair itself and regenerate. To reach deep restful sleep, your spirit and heart must be calm. Excessive worry, anxiety, and depression can all disturb the spirit and activate the mind—making it near impossible to fall asleep and stay asleep. Rituals to soothe your spirit and induce a sleep response before bed include soaking your feet in Epsom salts for 15 minutes, writing all of your thoughts in a journal to get them out of your head, and practicing relaxation before bed, like the Stress Release meditation below.

2. When Food Disturbs Sleep

When you eat late, you wake up tired. Your body will be busy digesting your dinner while you are trying to sleep, so you won't feel rested in the morning. Do not eat anything for at least three hours before bedtime. Also, cut back on eating bacon, cheese, chocolate, ham, potatoes, tomatoes, and sausage, especially before bed. These foods contain tyramine, which inhibits neurochemicals like norepinephrine and can cause insomnia. And, of course if you have sleep problems, caffeine should be cut out.

Eat for sleep! Try eating more grains at dinner; carbohydrates tend to make people sleepy. Another snooze snack is a warm cup of milk; because milk is rich in the amino acid tryptophan, it can sometimes aid in deep sleep. Mix in natural vanilla flavoring for a soothing snack. Or if you prefer, eat 1 cup of natural yogurt an hour before bedtime.

3. A Peaceful Place for Sleep

Your sleeping environment makes a huge difference to the quality of your sleep. Do everything you can to create a quiet and cozy atmosphere. Ideally, your bedroom should be located in the quietest area of your home. Keep the décor minimal. Lighting should be dim and any music that is played should be soothing. Research has found that lavender, vanilla, and green apple are among the best scents to help lower anxiety and induce sleep, making these smells a good choice for a scented candle or heated essential oil. Try to limit your pets to outside of the bedroom because their movements can keep your body from fully relaxing into deep R.E.M. sleep. As much as possible, your bedroom should be only for sleep.

4. Exercise Enables Sleep

People with regular exercise routines often sleep better and have fewer incidents of insomnia than those don't get regular physical activity. Exercise promotes sleep and improves sleep quality by altering brain chemistry. Exercising moderately for 20 to 30 minutes three times a day, combined with meditation or tai chi in the evening, will not only help you fall and stay asleep, but will also increase the amount of time you spend in R.E.M. sleep. In fact, for some people, exercise alone is enough to overcome sleep problems. Exercise in the morning or afternoon, but do not exercise for at least two hours before bed.

5. Herbs to Sleep Tight

A calming tea before bedtime can ensure a good night's sleep. Drink valerian or passionflower (or passiflora) tea before bedtime every night for one month. Simply steep 1 to 2 tablespoons of the dried herbs in one cup of hot water and drink just before bed. Or look for one with the traditional Chinese herbs zizyphus or jujube seed, bamboo shavings, and oyster shell, which soothe the mind and spirit.

You might also try Calm-Fort/Sleep formula with useful herbs like lily bulbs, polygala and turmeric that help manage stress and calm the spirit while relieving restlessness and insomnia.

6. A Sleep-Friendly Meditation

I had one patient with insomnia who also felt anxious and even a little depressed. In addition to acupuncture and herbal therapies, I decided to teach her a stress release meditation that she could do before bedtime to help with her anxiety. I am happy to report that she is now sleeping like a baby.

Traditional Medicine: FIRST AID KIT for CHILDREN

2009-07-27T00:29:00.000+07:00

FEVER is the body's first line of defense against the attack of a pathogen. When the body's temperature rises, viruses and bacteria can be literally 'cooked' and killed. Your first concern is to keep your child as comfortable as possible without jeopardizing the therapeutic effect of a fever. Use a mentholated oil, such as the Tao of Wellness Tonic Oil or Olbas Oil. Apply to the skin on the top part of the child's back, and gently scrape with a spoon until the skin becomes red. This technique is called guasha and is part of the TCM pediatric treatment protocol. Guasha helps release heat and fever and will help your child feel more comfortable. If the fever persists for more than 48 hours or rises above 103-104 degrees Fahrenheit, please consult with your child�s pediatrician immediately.

EAR INFECTION - If you suspect your child has the beginning of an ear infection, try using garlic and mullein oil. Gently warm the oil in a spoon and place a few drops of it in your child's infected ear. Then seal the ear with a little cotton wool. Also, use some Olbas Oil or Tonic Oil to massage the area behind the earlobe to open the Eustachian tubes that help the ears drain. Massage down the neck with even strokes. If this treatment does not relieve discomfort within 24 hours, you may need to resort to antibiotics.

COLDS AND FLU - Watch for the first signs of an impending cold, such as a scratchy throat or a headache. If you cannot bring your child in to see a practitioner, assist your child with some Cold & Flu capsules. This formula is easy to administer and should be given at the first signs of a cold to support a healthy functioning immune system. An increased dose of antioxidants such as Vitamin C, beta-carotene and zinc will further boost the immune system.

SPRAINS AND BRUISES - The Tonic Oil, with eucalyptus, wintergreen and fennel essential oils, has traditionally been used to stimulate and activate the flow of energy and blood. It provides relief from minor aches and pains. Rub it on for headaches, sore or stiff neck and shoulders, muscle pain, back pain or joint aches. Another excellent option is Arnica, a homeopathic remedy that can be administered either as a cream/gel or orally as sugar pills.

RASH / BURN / SKIN IRRITATION - For this I recommend having calendula cream and aloe vera gel in your medicine cabinet. I hope this helps your little ones.

Chinese Medicine Technique: Cupping Therapy

2009-07-26T00:26:00.000+07:00

What is cupping therapy?

Cupping is a method of relieving local congestion by applying a partial
vacuum that is created in a cup(s), either by heat or by suction. Cupping has been used for thousands of years. Although it is often
associated with Traditional Chinese Medicine, the entire world once knew
this of therapy and used it. The Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Chinese used cupping therapy. The oldest recorded medical textbook, Ebers Papyrus, written in approximately 1550 BCE in Egypt, mentions cupping (Curtis, 2005). In the UK, the practice of cupping therapy also dates back a long time in one of their leading medical journals, The Lancet. It was named after this practice as it refers to the surgical instrument that can scrape the skin to perform a style of cupping.
Types of Cupping

There are various types of cupping such as:

Light Cupping - Uses a weak suction in the cup to do light cupping. It is
suitable for children and elderly people.

Medium Cupping - A medium strength for general purpose cupping.

Strong Cupping - Suction will be great and, therefore, it is not suitable
for children and elderly people.

Moving Cupping or Massage Cupping - This is a great method of massage and is done by applying oil to the skin and moving the cup, by a weak suction, on the area to be treated.

Needle Cupping - Acupuncture and cupping are done in the same place by applying the needle first and then the cup is applied over the needle.

Hot Cupping - Dried mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) leaves, sometimes called by its Oriental name, Moxa, is a great warming herb. A needle is used, warmed by dried mugwort and then the cup is applied over the needle.

Flash Cupping - This is a term used to describe the practice when several medium cuppings are preformed several times in quick succession along the area being treated to stimulate it.

Bleeding Cupping - Also called Full Cupping or Wet Cupping. It is the most frequently used, oldest, and often the most effective method. A surgical instrument is used to scrape the skin and the cup is then applied to collect blood.

Herbal Cupping - A suitable herbal tincture is put into the cup and then
suction is applied.

Water Cupping - This is the least practiced method. It involves filling a
third of the cup with warm water. Whilst holding the cup close to the client with one hand, it is brought to the point to be cupped and then burning cotton wool is inserted into the cup, then swiftly and simultaneously the cup is turned onto the skin. When performed properly, no water spillage occurs.

Conditions Which Can Benefit From Cupping

Conditions that can benefit from cupping include headache, back pain, joint and muscular pain, infertility, sexual disorders, rheumatic diseases,
hypertension, breast enhancement, bed wetting, common colds and flu,
insomnia, stroke, fever, constipation and diarrhea, chest pain, asthma and blood disorders.

Precautions and Contraindications

Always take sensible precautions when using cupping or be sure that the
therapist you seek cupping treatment from follows these precautions.

* Sterilization: this is the main key to success.

* Use suitable cups for the area being treated.

* Take extra care with children and the elderly.

* Do not apply strong cupping to the face.

* Do not treat pregnant women.

* Do not use cupping on inflamed or cut skin.

* Take extra care when scraping the skin and do not cut a vein or artery.

* Do not treat people with a serious heart disease.

Applying Cupping on Acupuncture Points

In the Journal of Biomechanics (2005), researchers L. M. Thama, H. P. Leea, and C. Lua state that "Cupping is known to be an effective alternative to needles in stimulating acupoints in acupuncture treatment. One of the major advantages must be that transmission of blood-borne diseases can be avoided since the skin is not penetrated."

Therefore, we can use cupping as an alternative to acupuncture, or in
conjunction with it. Many researchers have investigated and demonstrated the benefits of cupping.

Chinese Herbal Medicine: Evodia Fruit - Wu Zhu Yu

2009-07-25T00:17:00.000+07:00

The pungent, bitter, and hot Wu Zhu Yu is a powerful herb in the Chinese herbal pharmacopoeia. It is the small, reddish-brown fruit from the Evodia tree, which is native to parts of China and Korea. Traditionally, Wu Zhu Yu is used for its warming effects, its pain-relieving effects, and its qi-lowering capability. It warms the middle, disperses cold, and descends rebellious Stomach Qi. Many formulas containing Wu Zhu Yu relieve headache, menstrual pain, and a wide variety of digestive problems (e.g. research has found that evodia inhibits the growth of the heliobacter pylori bacteria). Some common formulas containing Wu Zhu Yu are: Wu Zhu Yu Tang, Si Shen Wan, and Zuo Jin Wan. The pharmacologic properties of this fruit are: analgesic, anthelmintic, astringent, carminative, decongestant, diuretic, stimulant, stomachic, and uterotonic.

There is new research on the effects of Wu Zhu Yu’s major component: evodiamine, an alkaloidal compound. Through in vitro and in vivo experimentation, they have found that evodiamine has anti-cancer activities. Evodiamine has been able to inhibit proliferation, invasion, and metastasis in a variety of tumor cell lines (including breast cancer cells, prostate cancer cells, leukemic T-lymphocyte cells, melanoma cells, cervical cancer cells, colon cancer cells, and lung cancer cells. It was also able to induce apoptosis in tumor cells. Studies have shown that evodiamine “exhibits the strongest cytotoxicity activity against human colon and hepatoblastoma cell lines and inhibitory activity on human colon carcinoma cell.” Interestingly, on chemoresistant breast cancer cells, evodiamine not only sensitizes them to adriamycin (a chemotherapy drug), but it also shows little toxicity against normal human peripheral blood cells. This is promising news in the field of herbology and its positive effects on the fight on cancer.

Properties : Pungent, bitter, hot, slightly toxic
Meridians : Spleen, stomach, liver, and kidney
Functions : Warms the stomach and spleen, dispels cold, descends rebellious chi, alleviates pain
Indications : Abdominal pain, vomiting, acid regurgitation, diarrhea in the morning
Contraindications : Yin deficiency and excess fire
Dosage : 2-6grams

Traditional Chinese Herbs, Herbal Remedies, and Medicine

2009-07-24T01:06:00.001+07:00

For thousands of years, natural Chinese herbal remedies and herbs have been used to improve health, vitality, and overall life expectancy. The effectiveness of these herbs is continually proven as they are used to restore body functions to normal and to treat numerous illnesses.

Used to restore normal body functions and to treat sickness, Chinese medicines and herbs have been used for thousands of years and are recognized for their abilities to improve health, vitality, and life expectancy. These herbs often have few or no side effects in contrast to commercial drugs.

Differing dramatically from scientific medicine, Chinese medicine focuses on treating the entire body to promote health. The emotional and spiritual health of a patient, in addition to total wellness, are considered when treating and diagnosing conditions and problems. When illness or disease is present, the condition is considered a symptom of the person being out of balance.

Holistic and homeopathic treatments are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine including massage, stress-reduction, acupuncture, exercise, cupping, lifestyle change, moxibustion, and herbal medicine.

Chenese Traditional Medicine: Herbs "more helpful" than drugs for period pain

2009-07-23T14:39:00.000+07:00

A study involving nearly 3,500 women in several countries suggests that Chinese herbs might be more effective in relieving menstrual cramps than drugs, acupuncture or heat compression.

Australia-based researchers said herbs not only relieved pain, but reduced the recurrence of the condition over three months, according to the Cochrane Library journal.

"All available measures of effectiveness confirmed the overall superiority of Chinese herbal medicine to placebo, no treatment, NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), OCPs (oral contraceptive pill), acupuncture and heat compression," said lead author Xiaoshu Zhu from the Centre for Complementary Medicine Research at the University of Western Sydney.

Period pain affects as many as 50 percent of women of reproductive age and between 60 percent to 85 percent of teenaged girls, leading to absences from school and work.

While the cause is still under debate, it is believed to be linked to an imbalance in ovarian hormones.

Chinese herbal medicine has been used to treat the condition for hundreds of years and women are increasingly looking for non-drug treatments.

The survey involved 39 trials -- 36 in China, and one each in Taiwan, Japan and the Netherlands.

Participants given herbal concoctions were prescribed herbs that regulated their 'qi' (energy) and blood, warmed their bodies and boosted their kidney and liver functions.

Some of these include Chinese angelica root (danggui), Szechuan lovage root (chuanxiong), red peony root (chishao), white peony root (baishao), Chinese motherwort (yimucao), fennel fruit (huixiang), nut-grass rhizome (xiangfu), liquorice root (gancao) and cinnamon bark (rougui).

In one trial involving 36 women, 53 percent of those who took herbs reported less pain than usual compared with 26 percent in the group.

Chinese Medicine: Herbal Medicine for Healing and Health

2009-07-23T13:03:00.001+07:00

Valued for their aromatic, savory, or medicinal characteristics, herbs come from plants or various parts of plants and possess certain chemical substances that have affects on the body. Herbal medicine, also called Botanical Medicine or Herbalism, is the use of these herbs for medicinal or therapeutic value.

Herbal medicine is older than any other type of healthcare. Every culture has taken advantage of herbs and their benefits. Herbal medicine began with primitive cultures using different plants for shelter, clothing, and medicine. Man learned medicinal benefits of plants through trial and error methods in addition to observing animals. Man’s knowledge of herbs and their medicinal uses advanced over time. Herbal pharmacopoeias were developed by different tribes. Even the pharmacopoeia of scientific medicine in the 20th century was developed primarily from native herbal lore. Herbal medicine continues to influence the medicines of today. Up to 25 percent of all prescription drugs in the United States have at least one active ingredient that comes from plant extracts or synthesized plant compounds.

As many as 4 billion people, or 80 percent of the earth’s population, are estimated to use a form of herbal medicine in their health care, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Herbal medicine is a large part of naturopathic, homeopathic, Native American Indian, Ayurvedic, and traditional oriental medicine. Of the 119 plant-derived pharmaceutical drugs, as many as 74 percent are used in the same ways the plants were used by natives. Plants gathered from locations such as the rain forests are being studied for their possible medicinal values by various pharmaceutical companies.

Conditions such as high blood pressure, asthma, pain, and heart disease are often treated today with commercial medicines containing plant-based substances. Ephedrine is derived from an herb called ephedra and is used in commercial medicines to relieve respiratory and asthma symptoms. The actual herb ephedra has been used for over two thousand years in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat the same symptoms.

The foxglove plant is an herb that has been used since 1775. Today this herb, also referred to as the cardiac stimulant digitalis, keeps millions of heart patients living all over the world.

Branches of Herbal Medicine include Ayurvedic Herbalism and Traditional Chinese Herbalism. Ayurvedic Herbalism stems from Ayurveda and Western Herbalism and originated in Greece and Rome. Its practice spread throughout Europe and eventually to North and South America. Traditional Chinese Herbalism comes from Traditional Oriental Medicine.

Western Herbalism is now considered folk medicine. Ayurvedic and Chinese Herbalism differ because they have developed over centuries into very advanced forms of treatment and systems of diagnosis.

People in the United States are continually gaining interest in herbs because of an increasing number of success stories. One example is the use of St. John’s Wort to treat forms of depression. People have used this drug to avoid using Prozac, which produces unwanted side effects. Certain Ayurvedic herbs are commonly used to help those with conditions including diabetes and high cholesterol. Herbs such as Ginkgo biloba (ginkgo) and Ginseng continue to increase in popularity because of their helpful effects.