Medicinal sage
Medicinal sage, used in traditional Chinese medicine, has shown some promise in treating alcoholism and other addictions:
" Scientists at the National Research Council's institute in Cagliari (IN-CNR) recently showed that the active ingredient in a type of Chinese medicinal sage can turn alcoholic mice into tee-totallers .
The next stage of the study is to test the effects of the herb, whose scientific name is Salvia Miltiorrhiza, on humans. If successful, the institute believes the extract may also be used to develop therapies to defeat additions like smoking and eating disorders that cause obesity .
"We assume that this substance can act against the addiction to smoking and can also limit appetite," said Paolo Morazzoni, the scientific director of Indena, the company that has bought the patent to produce the herb extract. On Tuesday Giancarlo Colombo of IN-CNR presented his team's findings on the sage to the Society for Medicinal Plant Research's World Congress in Florence .
The herb has been used for centuries in China to treat blood diseases, heart disorders, haemorrhages, menstrual problems, edema (swelling, usually of the joints), and insomnia .
Colombo said some practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine recently extended its range of applications .
"We heard there were some reports of it being applied in extreme cases of alcoholism. We pricked up our ears, because that's what all our research is about," Colombo told ANSA ."
" Scientists at the National Research Council's institute in Cagliari (IN-CNR) recently showed that the active ingredient in a type of Chinese medicinal sage can turn alcoholic mice into tee-totallers .
The next stage of the study is to test the effects of the herb, whose scientific name is Salvia Miltiorrhiza, on humans. If successful, the institute believes the extract may also be used to develop therapies to defeat additions like smoking and eating disorders that cause obesity .
"We assume that this substance can act against the addiction to smoking and can also limit appetite," said Paolo Morazzoni, the scientific director of Indena, the company that has bought the patent to produce the herb extract. On Tuesday Giancarlo Colombo of IN-CNR presented his team's findings on the sage to the Society for Medicinal Plant Research's World Congress in Florence .
The herb has been used for centuries in China to treat blood diseases, heart disorders, haemorrhages, menstrual problems, edema (swelling, usually of the joints), and insomnia .
Colombo said some practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine recently extended its range of applications .
"We heard there were some reports of it being applied in extreme cases of alcoholism. We pricked up our ears, because that's what all our research is about," Colombo told ANSA ."
Pegaga--Star from Asia
An ancient herb from Asia, widely used for a variety of conditions, including memory and brain function, healing wounds, a topical anti-aging cream, and as an anti-inflammatory:
" Locally, the Malays call the herb pegaga, the Chinese call it ching chow sui, and the Indians call it gotu kola or valarai.
For us, the pegaga is a home remedy that is either eaten or juiced and drunk, or applied externally as a paste to the skin or scalp.
"My mother, like most of her generation, knew about the benefits of pegaga and it was a featured item on our dining table," says Professor Dr Suhaila Mohamed from the Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia.
Suhaila, who been researching herbs for the last 10 years, notes that in the local community, pegaga is used for post-natal care as well as to heal wounds since it has antiseptic properties.
"In the West, the pegaga herbal extract is also used in formulations for memory tablets," notes Suhaila.
Classified under the umbelliferae plant family, this tiny creeping herb is found in the tropics, the swampy areas of India, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, south China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malay- sia, South Africa and even in parts of the southern United States."
" Locally, the Malays call the herb pegaga, the Chinese call it ching chow sui, and the Indians call it gotu kola or valarai.
For us, the pegaga is a home remedy that is either eaten or juiced and drunk, or applied externally as a paste to the skin or scalp.
"My mother, like most of her generation, knew about the benefits of pegaga and it was a featured item on our dining table," says Professor Dr Suhaila Mohamed from the Faculty of Food Science and Technology, Universiti Putra Malaysia.
Suhaila, who been researching herbs for the last 10 years, notes that in the local community, pegaga is used for post-natal care as well as to heal wounds since it has antiseptic properties.
"In the West, the pegaga herbal extract is also used in formulations for memory tablets," notes Suhaila.
Classified under the umbelliferae plant family, this tiny creeping herb is found in the tropics, the swampy areas of India, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, south China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malay- sia, South Africa and even in parts of the southern United States."
Portrait of an herbalist
Interesting article about a father and his son, who has followed him into herbal medicine:
" His assistant boils prescribed herbs for two days into concentrated medicine for patients. His herbs are all from China because, he said, it is difficult to source them in Malaysia. He added that some essential herbs such as ginseng did make his treatments expensive.
At one of his clinics, he introduced me to his patients in the waiting room. I noticed that Gary’s assistant had prepared some local pastries for them.
At one of his clinics was a patient, Chew Thoo Geok, 37, who has been suffering from neck and leg pains which resulted in her getting poor sleep or even unable to move at times.
“I saw many specialists but the pain and inflammation in my legs persisted. So I thought I’d try Chinese herbal medicine. After three months of treatment from Gary, my inflammations have reduced and the pain has subsided,” she said."
" His assistant boils prescribed herbs for two days into concentrated medicine for patients. His herbs are all from China because, he said, it is difficult to source them in Malaysia. He added that some essential herbs such as ginseng did make his treatments expensive.
At one of his clinics, he introduced me to his patients in the waiting room. I noticed that Gary’s assistant had prepared some local pastries for them.
At one of his clinics was a patient, Chew Thoo Geok, 37, who has been suffering from neck and leg pains which resulted in her getting poor sleep or even unable to move at times.
“I saw many specialists but the pain and inflammation in my legs persisted. So I thought I’d try Chinese herbal medicine. After three months of treatment from Gary, my inflammations have reduced and the pain has subsided,” she said."
Ginger root for nausea
Besides tasting great, ginger may be helpful in reducing nausea assiociated with chemotherapy:
"Chinese herbalists also offer ginger to calm an upset stomach and relieve nausea in certain kinds of patients.
"Chinese herbalists also offer ginger to calm an upset stomach and relieve nausea in certain kinds of patients.
"Those are the two main usages,'' Guo said. "Stomach problems and colds and flu.''
Western medicine is taking a page from the book of ancient Chinese medical practice, first written down more than 2,000 years ago and still practiced throughout Asia and around the world.
The National Cancer Institute is conducting a clinical trial to see if capsules filled with the age-old herb help cancer patients suffering one of the banes of modern medicine: nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy."
Ginseng!
Good background information on ginseng:
"Ginseng is one of the most well known and highly prized herbs in the world. Its use in the Far East dates back over thousands of years. Although it is unclear exactly when man first discovered and began to use ginseng, some believe that its use dates back more than 4,000 years.
Italian explorer Marco Polo made reference to ginseng in his journals, noting that it was in general use in China during his travels there in 1274 A.D. Even the great Chinese philosopher and teacher, Confucius, is reported to have praised the medicinal attributes of this amazing herb more than 2,000 years ago.
Ginseng, as the herb is commonly called, is a corruption of the Chinese name, jen-shen, which means man-essence. This name is derived from the often resemblance of the root to a human figure, as well as from the belief that the root represents the vital spirit of the earth crystallized in a human form."
"Ginseng is one of the most well known and highly prized herbs in the world. Its use in the Far East dates back over thousands of years. Although it is unclear exactly when man first discovered and began to use ginseng, some believe that its use dates back more than 4,000 years.
Italian explorer Marco Polo made reference to ginseng in his journals, noting that it was in general use in China during his travels there in 1274 A.D. Even the great Chinese philosopher and teacher, Confucius, is reported to have praised the medicinal attributes of this amazing herb more than 2,000 years ago.
Ginseng, as the herb is commonly called, is a corruption of the Chinese name, jen-shen, which means man-essence. This name is derived from the often resemblance of the root to a human figure, as well as from the belief that the root represents the vital spirit of the earth crystallized in a human form."
Medicinal mushrooms
Mushrooms have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. This article discusses some of their benefits, especially for cancer treatment:
" The popular and wide spread use of medicinal mushrooms in Asia left the researchers wondering why we are not making better use of them in the West. They note, "The huge world wide sales of such products, can testify to the beliefs of many, of their efficacy."
The Cancer Research UK team were impressed by "the remarkable ability of many of these non toxic compatible compounds to reduce the debilitating effects of traditional chemo-therapeutic drugs.'
Mushrooms have been treasured as remedies for disease and as natural health supports for thousands of years and are an incredibly popular food in most countries. Actually, world trade in mushrooms is as big as the trade in coffee.
The Cancer Research UK report continues, "These compounds have been shown to be safe when taken over long periods of treatment and significantly, these compounds appear to reduce the adverse effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. These results are in marked contrast to the well documented adverse side effects associated with most chemo therapeutic compounds and also to a lesser extent, certain immuno therapeutics."
More remarkable still they found, "There are also many examples where the use of these compounds allows the reduction in dose level of the toxic chemo therapeutic compound without reduced efficacy.""
" The popular and wide spread use of medicinal mushrooms in Asia left the researchers wondering why we are not making better use of them in the West. They note, "The huge world wide sales of such products, can testify to the beliefs of many, of their efficacy."
The Cancer Research UK team were impressed by "the remarkable ability of many of these non toxic compatible compounds to reduce the debilitating effects of traditional chemo-therapeutic drugs.'
Mushrooms have been treasured as remedies for disease and as natural health supports for thousands of years and are an incredibly popular food in most countries. Actually, world trade in mushrooms is as big as the trade in coffee.
The Cancer Research UK report continues, "These compounds have been shown to be safe when taken over long periods of treatment and significantly, these compounds appear to reduce the adverse effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. These results are in marked contrast to the well documented adverse side effects associated with most chemo therapeutic compounds and also to a lesser extent, certain immuno therapeutics."
More remarkable still they found, "There are also many examples where the use of these compounds allows the reduction in dose level of the toxic chemo therapeutic compound without reduced efficacy.""
Importance of family in Chinese culture
A touching article about the importance of family in Chinese culture:
"Kok is part of a small, largely invisible contingent of devoted Chinese grandparents who leave their homes, families, and friends for many months to care for young grandchildren in the United States. Their presence serves as a measure of the importance Chinese families place on the extended family.
"Kok is part of a small, largely invisible contingent of devoted Chinese grandparents who leave their homes, families, and friends for many months to care for young grandchildren in the United States. Their presence serves as a measure of the importance Chinese families place on the extended family.
"People still want to stay with their children and grandchildren," explains Amy Lin Tan, author of "Chinese American Children & Families." "The middle generation still understands deeply that it is an obligation to have the paternal grandparents living in the home."
No statistics track the number of Chinese grandparents who come as temporary visitors for this purpose. But as C.C. Tien, president of the Chinese American Forum in Seattle, observes, "It's not rare."
According to Ms. Tan, the grandparents come from three major areas: mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong."
Diet and herbs for the common cold
Some good, basic advice from Andrew Weil about treating nagging colds:
"Try astragalus (Astragalus membranaceous): This is one of my favorite immune-boosting tonics. It is the root of a plant in the pea family long used in China to prevent illness and strengthen sick people. You can get slices of dried astragalus root at Chinese groceries and some health-food stores. Simmer the slices in tea or soups. (They'll add a pleasant sweet taste.) Or buy extracts of astragalus in liquid, capsule or tablet form. Follow the dosing directions on the package. This herb is non-toxic and can be used long-term to increase resistance."
DAAN carries a number of Astragalus products:
DAAN Immune Booster
DAAN's Pure Astragali
Extractum Astragali
"Try astragalus (Astragalus membranaceous): This is one of my favorite immune-boosting tonics. It is the root of a plant in the pea family long used in China to prevent illness and strengthen sick people. You can get slices of dried astragalus root at Chinese groceries and some health-food stores. Simmer the slices in tea or soups. (They'll add a pleasant sweet taste.) Or buy extracts of astragalus in liquid, capsule or tablet form. Follow the dosing directions on the package. This herb is non-toxic and can be used long-term to increase resistance."
DAAN carries a number of Astragalus products:
DAAN Immune Booster
DAAN's Pure Astragali
Extractum Astragali
Acupuncture shown to relieve tension headaches
Acupuncture is an effective treatment for patients suffering from tension headaches, German researchers say.
The ancient Chinese therapy that involves inserting very fine needles into the skin at specific sites on the body cut the rates of headaches by nearly half in a study of 270 people.
The ancient Chinese therapy that involves inserting very fine needles into the skin at specific sites on the body cut the rates of headaches by nearly half in a study of 270 people.
