Dr. Julie Colliton studied traditional Western medicine and was a huge skeptic of acupuncture - until she saw proof.

Therapeutic marijuana has been in the news a lot lately. This article gives some good background on the history of the medical use of marijuana:

"The medicinal and therapeutic properties of marijuana, which have been employed for thousands of years, are now being rediscovered. In 10 US states the law now permits its medicinal use for those in a "debilitated clinical situation," which includes cases of cancer, glaucoma and AIDS. But at the same time there has been an increase in the orchestration of campaigns against the use of cannabis by the ill. In April 2005, Canada became the first country to approve the use of Sativex, a cannabis extract, which has been available there since June 20, under medical prescription, for the treatment of neurological pain in adults with multiple sclerosis. In Spain, the Health Department of the regional government of Catalonia, with the approval of the Spanish Health Ministry, will be the first official agency to try a pilot plan of treatment with cannabis, using a spray containing extracts of the plant, made by GW Pharmaceuticals and distributed by the firm Bayer.

Apart from the therapeutic uses of cannabis, a revolutionary plastic is now being made of hemp and of recycled materials, as an alternative to petroleum-based plastics - hemp based products tend to be stronger and lighter, with a renewable annual harvest and a more sustainable future. This plastic is already used, for example, to make biodegradable cases for CDs and DVDs. Hemp oil, too, is used in diet and cosmetic products, in energy drinks, wines and beers, and in food products such as pasta, candies, cookies and chocolate. Hemp can be used to make paper, furniture, cloth, shoes, bags, wallets, bracelets and other complements. That is, hemp is an interesting and necessary alternative solution to a number of ecological problems."

Starbucks has its sights set on China:

"China's the land where tea began, but what's the attitude when it comes to coffee? For many years, Western practitioners of Chinese medicine and those who banged the drum for natural health care tried to convince people that they should stop drinking coffee, as it was blamed for contributing toxicity to the body and to "burning out" the adrenal glands. But had they looked closer--instead of focusing on medical reports of the adverse effects of caffeine--they'd have realized the Chinese medical-dietary system actually classifies the green bean of coffee as a herb that regulates liver qi, which is its therapeutic route to strong energy stimulation. "

Colorpuncture, a treatment, similar to acupuncture, but using light instead of needles, is gaining popularity in Taiwan:

" Like acupuncture, colorpuncture is based on the principle that a balanced flow of chi through the meridian (which resembles an electrical wiring circuit for the body) can ensure good health and general well-being. Unlike needles, however, the lights used in colorpuncture do not penetrate the skin but instead send information into the body's meridian system in the form of light frequencies.
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In order to radiate the various frequencies needed to delve into patients' problems, colorpuncturists employ a small handheld torch-like instrument into which a colored glass tip is inserted. The tips are either placed directly onto acupoints or held a short distance above depending on the type of treatment the patient is receiving. Each colored glass tip has its own frequency and the various colors are used to treat different types of ailments.

The basic colors used in colorpuncture are red to physically stimulate, orange for emotional stimulation, yellow for nerve systems, green to ease pain, turquoise to elevate the subconscious, blue to sooth and violet to arouse spiritual emotions."

As in many other parts of the world, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is gaining popularity in Germany:

"More and more Germans are turning to traditional Chinese medicine for relief of their ailments. While doubts remain and insurers don't usually pay, patients who've experienced its healing power are hooked.

After his Wednesday morning appointment at Dr. Hung Lü's acupuncture clinic in Bonn, Thomas Weimann grabs his suit jacket and passes an oriental wall tapestry on his way out of the treatment room, while Lü prepares for the next patient in her office. "See you on Friday," he says as he heads to work.

Weimann has been receiving treatments for his back and shoulder pain from Lü for about two months. "Call it a Chinese miracle, I don't know -- my pain disappeared," he said.

A middle-aged account manager for an auto supplier, Weimann had tried various treatments, including massage and pills, to ease his pain, with only partial results. Although his pain decreased with hospital treatments, it never really went away. Frustrated, he searched the Internet for alternative medical treatments and discovered traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

Weimann made his first appointment without hesitation. "It was a totally unemotional decision and I wasn't afraid," he said, having been convinced that it would do the trick.

Like many in Germany, Weimann has turned to TCM for the age-old healing powers of acupuncture, herbal remedies, relaxation and detoxification treatments.

TCM is rooted in age-old Chinese healing remedies. Lü, whose mother is a doctor in China and who herself has practiced TCM since shortly after coming to Germany 18 years ago, said, "It's an important part of Chinese culture."

Importing age-old traditions

As the number of patients seeking alternative treatments increases, more and more German doctors are beginning to offer TCM techniques. Dr. Angela Redlich, who runs a TCM practice in Berlin and studied TCM in China, said people seek out TCM if other more mainstream methods haven't worked, or if they want something that doesn't have side effects.

The most common ailments treated are migraines, bronchitis, aches and pains of the back and joints as well as gastro-intestinal problems. Practitioners sometimes combine acupuncture, herbs and nourishment treatments as well as suggest Quigong, a popular type of relaxation exercise. The duration also varies from one to 20 or more treatments."

Chinese dates are often used for medicinal purposes:

"Evergreen zizyphus trees can be found in Southern California and Texas, but the species renowned for its health benefits, Zizyphus jujuba, is native to the subtropical regions of China. The tree's sweettasting, orange-brown fruits are sometimes called Chinese dates, though they're not botanically related to true dates. The fruits are packed with vitamin C and amino acids, as well as some fatty acids. Zizyphus is a popular ingredient in herbal tonics in several Asian medicine traditions.

Uses: Zizyphus is widely used in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine for chronic liver disease, loss of appetite, dry skin, diarrhea, ulcers and asthma. One variety of the plant, Z. jujuba var. spinosa, is recommended for insomnia and anxiety. Zizyphus is sometimes combined with ginseng or other herbs as a tonic for the heart. In traditional Indian medicine, the fruits are prescribed during pregnancy and for wounds."

Although dates aren't on on DAAN's website, we do carry them. Contact us for more information.

Couples trying to conceive are finding success using traditional Chinese medicine treatments:

"Natalie Gueris and her husband tried to get pregnant for 18 months before starting fertility treatments late last year.

But the fertility drug Clomid wreaked havoc on Gueris emotionally and specialists found nothing physically amiss with the couple. The bus and train rides to the clinic during the stormy winter were stressful and after about two months of treatments, the Charlestown couple decided to stop. During these sessions, Gueris began getting acupuncture after finding a pamphlet on it at the suburban fertility clinic. She later began going to a chiropractor to align her spine. Earlier this year, she started taking Chinese herbs.

Today, Gueris, at age 35, is seven and a halfmonths pregnant.
``The combination of going to a chiropractor, the acupuncture and Chinese herbs helped me get pregnant,'' said Gueris. ``It got my body in order.''

With 3 million couples unable to conceive after a year of trying, an increasing number of couples are turning to holistic therapies- many in combination with more traditional infertility treatments."

The hot and dry weather this year will reduce the ginseng harvest in Arkansas:

"Hot, dry weather and new federal regulations are expected to significantly reduce the amount of wild ginseng harvested this year in Arkansas.

American ginseng, or Panax quinquefolius, is a slow-growing, long-lived plant native to North America. It’s claimed to cure ailments as varied as impotence and fatigue.

Most ginseng root is dried and exported to Asia.

Landon Anglin, who has gathered the perennial herb for more than 40 years near Mena, said the plants — which tend to thrive on the moist, shady, northern slopes of hardwood forests — are "burned up" this summer.

Wild ginseng has been protected since 1975 by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which monitors U.S. ginseng harvests and exports, annually reviews the biological and trade status of ginseng to determine if its export would be detrimental to the species’ survival."

Spices and herbs provide benefits beyond enhancing taste:

" "If you go back and look at some of the ancient text, not only in traditional Chinese medicine but also in Ayurveda, you see two things -- the use of spices and herbs as seasonings, and their use for tonic properties," Simonds says. "Classic spice combinations and spice-herb combinations were put together for their health-giving properties."

She explains that in imperial households in ancient China, the herbalist was in charge of maintaining the health of the family and would work in conjunction with the chef. It was thought that disease results when an imbalance in the body occurs and that food, herbs and spices play an important role in helping to maintain proper balance.

"So, for instance, Asians have believed for thousands of years that ginger is yang, which means it has a warming effect, and is most often used with yin [cooling] foods such as seafood to create a balance," she says.

"Chinese cooks would often serve chicken soup [augmented] with ginger as a panacea for colds and flus. We now know from research that ginger is antibacterial.""