DAAN Chinese Herbs and Acupuncture

Promising new treatment for Alzheimer’s:

“A number of innovative treatment possibilities — including a new version of an established pain drug, a combination of traditional Chinese herbs, and what may be the next chapter in the Alzheimer vaccine story — all show some promise for Alzheimer’s disease as demonstrated by five new research studies reported today at the first Alzheimer’s Association International Conference on Prevention of Dementia.”

Fascinating information on ginseng’s effect on the brain:

“Components of the herbal ginseng protect the brain against the kind of deterioration caused by degenerative diseases like Huntingdon’s, suggests a new study on rats.

Ginseng is most commonly used in the West to boost energy (increasingly in energy drinks) and to support the immune system. But there is already some evidence of its benefits to the brain. A small Chinese trial reported two years ago found that a ginseng compound improved memory scores of people suffering from stroke-induced dementia.

In the new study, a team from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, US, investigated whether a purified form of ginseng, in which some of the herb’s active chemicals had been concentrated, could protect rats from the effects of a toxin that caused severely impaired movement and loss of neurons.”

See DAAN’s list of ginseng here.

This is the time of year when many people suffer from hay fever and allergies. An interesting article examines how herbal treatments may be able to help:

“Let’s look at how Chinese medicine approaches the cause and treatment of hay fever as one alternative to antihistamines and steroids. It is said that the Wei Qi or Defensive Energy is weak, not unlike a weakened immune system. According to a Chinese medicine practitioner, Dermot O’Connor, “Many patients with hay fever will have a history of being treated with repeated antibiotics as children as well as eating a diet high in sugars, dairy products, fruit juices and yeasted grain products. It is suggested that the immune response of hay fever sufferers has been hampered in some way as a result of these elements.”

Acupuncture is used to balance, unblock or strengthen the Lung Qi (lung energy), depending on the person’s constitution and symptoms. From the standpoint of Chinese medicine, stagnation in the lungs can lead to sneezing, nasal discharge and congestion. Also Chinese herbs would be given to strengthen the underlying energy of the Wei Qi. In a study in the West, as reported in Allergy magazine, 52 patients between the ages of 20 and 58, all diagnosed with seasonal allergic rhinitis were randomly assigned to a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) group or a control group. In the TCM group each person received a weekly 20-minute acupuncture session, based on his or her personal factors and symptoms. By the end of the study period the severity of hay fever was “significantly less pronounced in the TCM group.””

See DAAN’s Sinustis Pills or Pe Min Kan Wan for relief of hay fever.

Good article about treating menopausal symptons, such as hot flashes, with herbs:

“Women have successfully used herbs and vitamins for hundreds of years to ease hot flashes during this natural transition. Research shows that 70 per cent of Chinese doctors still turn to herbal treatments, and up until the 1920s, herbs were regularly used in Western medicine.

One of the more popular herbs is dong quai, which is a primary ingredient in a number of Chinese herbal formulas. It works like oestrogen, by promoting hormonal balance. There are also phytoestrogens, which are weak oestrogen-like compounds found in tofu and other soy products, as well as Vitamin E. Herbs like black cohosh and to a lesser extent red clover, are also very well-documented for relieving hot flashes.

You should constantly evaluate how you are caring for yourself. If you smoke or drink, quit. Eat moderately and exercise or walk regularly. To ease the discomfort, dress in fabrics that “breathe”, such as cotton. Linen is also a good option. Being aware of factors that can trigger such an episode, such as hot coffee or spicy food, also helps. Sometimes, the simplest remedies can ease the discomfort, such as drinking cool water or juice, swimming, or taking a cold shower. ”

DAAN carries high quality Dong Guai and other supplements to help with menopause.

Preliminary studies are underway to determine whether ginseng may help treat some degenerative brain diseases:

“Components of the herbal ginseng protect the brain against the kind of deterioration caused by degenerative diseases like Huntingdon’s, suggests a new study on rats.

Ginseng is most commonly used in the West to boost energy (increasingly in energy drinks) and to support the immune system. But there is already some evidence of its benefits to the brain. A small Chinese trial reported two years ago found that a ginseng compound improved memory scores of people suffering from stroke-induced dementia.

In the new study, a team from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, US, investigated whether a purified form of ginseng, in which some of the herb’s active chemicals had been concentrated, could protect rats from the effects of a toxin that caused severely impaired movement and loss of neurons.”

Fascinating article about the role of stress in illness and the role of adaptogens in helping you handle stress:

“For a plant to be called a true adaptogen, it must conform to the following properties:

• The herb should cause no harm and place no additional stress on the body.
• The herb should help the body adapt to many and varied environmental and psychological stresses.
• The herb must have a nonspecific action on the body, supporting all the major systems, such as the nervous system, hormonal system and immune system.
• It should regulate the functions of the body (such as the blood sugar); if they are too high, an adaptogen will lower it and vice-verse.
• An adaptogen is protective. It raises an individual’s resistance to physical, chemical or biological stress.”

This article concludes that:

“

• Adaptogens make the stress response less damaging
• They help maintain homeostasis in the face of stress by regulating the body’s adaptive reactions
• Adaptogens reduce most signs of the alarm stage of the stress response, and delay or promote avoidance of the exhaustion stage
• The use of adaptogens eliminates or significantly decreases the classical signs of the prolonged stress reaction described by Hans Selye as the stress triad
• Adaptogens help the body utilise fuel more efficiently, with fewer toxic or waste byproducts (like lactic acid), which can contribute to fatigue and reduced function
• Efficient use of energy means greater reserves are more readily available when needed for performing difficult tasks.

Ginseng is a well-known adaptogen, and DAAN carries a wide variety of it. We also have some special formaulations designed to help your body with overcome the potentially debilitating consequences of stress.

A good reminder that if you take herbal supplements, make sure to tell your doctor!:

“Although we think that herbs are plants and they are “just like food”, some herbs are toxic and just as strong as drugs. Did you know Aspirin was originally derived from white willow bark (Salix alba)? Did you know the most common drug used to treat congestive heart failure, digoxin, was originally derived from the foxglove plant (Digitalis purpurea, Digitalis lanata)? Did you know vitamin K can decrease the effect of warfarin, a blood thinner? Some interactions may weaken the effect of a drug, while other interactions may potentiate that drug. Also, some herbs and vitamins, when taken simultaneously with a drug, may decrease its absorption.

Not every herb or vitamin you take will interact with a drug. Many herbs and vitamins can be taken with drugs quite safely. Also, many herbs and vitamins help minimize drug side effects and drug-related nutritional depletions. The best way to know if your supplements interact with the prescription drug you are taking is to ask your physician or licensed health care provider, and be sure to tell them all the supplements you are currently taking. To best manage your health, your health care provider must know all drugs and supplements taken by his or her patient. This way, you can be confident that you are on your way to the road of health and wellness. “