Traditional Chinese medicine has been accepted by more than 120 countries and regions in the world, according to a conference held here recently.

A discussion of the herbs used to treat colds:

"Folk and herbal remedies are often used in the hope that they will prevent the common cold or reduce the severity and duration of symptoms. Many swear by echinacea, but there is in fact a wide choice of ways to combat colds. Some of the plants and flowers that are found in our hedgerows and fields, along with a few more exotic herbs, could be just the thing to help you get back to good health.

---

Ginseng

Research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal has revealed that people who take ginseng suffer substantially fewer colds. Only one in ten of those given daily doses of ginseng root extract (panax quinquefolius) suffered two or more colds in a four month period during winter, compared with almost a quarter of those taking placebo. The severity and duration of symptoms were also lessened."

Some good products DAAN carries to treat colds are Chuan Qiong Cha Tiao Wan, Ge Geng Tong, Yinchiao tablets. For the flu, try Ban Lan Gen herbal tea or Gan Mao Ling.

Acupuncture can relieve the pain of arthritis:

" Acupuncture can reduce pain and improve mobility in arthritis patients by 40 per cent, scientists say.

They announced the finding after conducting one of the world's longest and largest clinical trials to investigate the ancient Chinese needle treatment.

A total of 570 patients aged 50 and older with osteoarthritis of the knee took part in the American study.

All had suffered significant pain in their knee the month before joining the trial, but had never experienced acupuncture.

Significant increase in function

They were randomly assigned to one of three treatments - genuine acupuncture, "sham" acupuncture, or a self-help course that teaches patients to manage their own condition.

Throughout the 26 week trial, participants continued to receive their normal standard medical care, including anti-inflammatory drugs and pain relievers.

By the eighth week, genuine acupuncture patients showed a significant increase in function compared with both the sham treatment and self-help groups. By week 14, they were also experiencing a significant decrease in pain.

Overall, pain was reduced by about 40% and function improved by almost 40% in the volunteers receiving acupuncture. "

Interesting article (requires free registration) about the various remedies from different cultures for colicky babies:

"For Maggie Wong, director of marketing at the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center in Chinatown and a first-time mother at 40, comfort came from doing acupressure massage of her baby's palm, as taught by an acupuncturist friend, or chanting the names of Buddha.

"It helps to calm me down also," Ms. Wong said.

At a time when mainstream medicine is marketing non-Western techniques from yoga to acupuncture, native parents seem more open to trying "natural" methods - or to buying trademarked approximations: a "Miracle Blanket" for swaddling, a "Lull-a-Band" inspired by a Guatemalan grandmother, a teddy bear that makes womb noises."

Acupuncture may help with weight loss:

"Weight loss can become a reality with Acupuncture. In today’s time it is considered as a new alternative medicine in most western cultures. In reality Acupuncture are practiced medical treatments that are over 5,000 years old. It has been an integral part of Chinese therapy for time immemorial. Normally this treatment is conducted by the insertion of very fine needles, (sometimes in conjunction with electrical stimulus), on the body's surface, in order to influence physiological functioning of the body.

Acupuncture can also be used in conjunction with heat produced by burning specific herbs, this is called Moxibustion. Acupuncturists can use as many as nine types of Acupuncture needles, though only six are commonly used today. These needles vary in length, width of shaft, and shape of head. There are a few different precise methods by which Acupuncturists insert needles. Points can be needled anywhere in the range of 15 degrees to 90 degrees relative to the skin surface, depending on the treatment called for.

This age old therapy is immensely useful in combating weight. Its proper usage helps in lowering body weight, body fat, insulin levels, and lipid levels in the blood. It decreases excessive appetite and makes it easier to satisfy your hunger with less food. Another significant benefit of this age old therapy is a decrease in menopausal weight gain.

Acupuncture points within the ear are used for general detoxification and
weight loss. The treatment stimulates the production of endorphins which are considered the feel good chemicals. They help to fight cravings for carbohydrates, decrease appetite and in the process help in weight loss. If combined with diet control and aerobic counseling it not only takes off the pounds and body fat, but keeps them off, especially if you're diligent with the exercise part. This wonderful procedure makes you lose weight without harming your health.

Korea is increasing its exports of red ginseng into China:

"Ghill says the company will introduce a series of Korean red ginseng healthcare products on the Chinese market for the first time. Items such as Korean red ginseng extract, powder, capsules, tea and candy, are easy and convenient to buy. KGC also plans to hold various activities in China, including ginseng seminars, to help consumers better understand the nature, function and uses of Korean red ginseng, Jun says.

"That is definitely something they have to do," Wang agrees. Wang says many Chinese people think that Korean ginseng, like the Chinese root, is "warmer," or more "yang" than American ginseng. It can sometimes cause dryness of the mouth, sore throats, or even nosebleeds if used incorrectly. It is usually taken in autumn and winter. American ginseng, on the other hand, is seen as relatively "cool," and can be taken more frequently.

Koreans believe that Korean ginseng can help the human body maintain or regain its harmonious internal balance. They eat ginseng chicken soup in the summer, which sounds strange to many Chinese people. "That is a major reason why American ginseng slices and tablets control about 20 per cent of China's health care product market," Wang says. Wang adds that this different understanding of ginseng may be an obstacle to KGC's expansion in China.

There are three main types of ginseng. "Asian ginseng" is a collective term used to refer to the Chinese and Korean varieties. American and Siberian ginseng are the other two kinds. The best Asian ginseng grows in eastern regions between 30 and 48 degrees north latitude. This area includes Northeast China's Jilin Province and the Korean Peninsula.

Today, authentic wild mountain ginseng is very difficult to find. People now cultivate it in fields."

Regular users of ginseng appear to suffer from fewer colds than non-users:

"People who take ginseng suffer substantially fewer colds, research published yesterday showed.

Only one in 10 of those given daily doses of North American ginseng root extract suffered two or more colds during four months including winter, compared with almost a quarter of those taking placebos.
...

Among those who took ginseng, the proportion who caught two or more colds in the four months was 10 per cent and the average number of colds was 0.68.

In the control group, 23 per cent had two or more colds and the average number of colds was 0.93.

Active constituents of ginseng have been shown to improve the immune system by stimulating the production of immunoglobulin - proteins that bind to foreign substances such as bacteria when they invade the body."

Gingko Biloba is being studied for its possible use in treating, or preventing, ovarian cancer:

" Researchers in Boston, led by Drs. Bin Ye and Daniel Cramer of Brigham and Women's Hospital, have developed new laboratory and epidemiological evidence that demonstrates, for the first time, that ginkgo biloba appears to lower the risk of developing ovarian cancer.

In a population-based study which involved more than 600 ovarian cancer cases and 640 healthy, matched controls, women who took ginkgo supplements for six months or longer were shown to have a 60 percent lower risk for ovarian cancer.

Ye and his colleagues found that ginkgo, echinacea, St. John's Wort, ginseng, and chondroitin were the most commonly used herbals among study participants. A further analysis of the data showed that ginkgo was the only herb linked to ovarian cancer prevention. The preventive effect was more pronounced in women with non-muncious ovarian cancers, with data showing that ginkgo may reduce the risk of this type of ovarian cancer by 65-70 percent. "Among the mixture of ginkgo chemicals," said Ye, "we found laboratory evidence that ginkgolide A and B--terpene compounds--are the most active components contributing to this protective effect."

Ye's team, which included scientists from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at Harvard Medical School, Boston University and Linden Bioscience, next took the evidence demonstrated by their population studies to the laboratory. In vitro experiments showed that a low dosage of ginkgolide caused ovarian cancer cells to stop growing. They observed significant cell cycle blockage in non-mucinous ovarian cancer cells. Ginkgolides appeared to be less effective against the mucinous type of ovarian cancer cells."