DAAN Chinese Herbs and Acupuncture

A Taiwanese company is synthesizing cordyceps sinensis, a fungus used in traditinal Chinese medicine, in order to develop complementary pharmacueticals:

“Cordyceps sinensis is a species of parasitic fungus that grows on, and eventually takes over, the common caterpillar. As the fungus grows outward it leaves the body of the caterpillar intact, giving this traditional Chinese medicinal ingredient its unique and distinctive ‘half animal, half plant’ appearance. TCM uses only genuine Cordyceps sinensis identified by DNA sequence and registered in GenBank.

The company possesses exclusive gene patents and identification technology for various mycelium cultures (Hirsutella sinensis, Paecilomyces hepialid, etc.). Amongst such cultures, the cultivation of Hirsutella sinensis is considered the most difficult to process. TCM’s key breakthroughs have shortened the fermentation process of the Hirsutella sinensis culture from 35-40 days to only 7 days; no competitor has been able to match this achievement.

TCM specializes in the use of new drug R&D protocols and methodologies in research on traditional Chinese herbal medicines. Besides pursuing better safety, efficacy and process quality control, the company’s use of proprietary fermentation processes to cultivate selected mycelia enables it to maintain consistent raw materials.

In terms of new drug R&D, TCM seeks to develop adjuvant therapy that can compensate for the shortcomings of conventional Western medicines. In this regard, the company seeks to complement–not compete–with Western pharmaceutical therapies. For example, one of TCM’s recent projects has been to develop agents to remedy some of the problems encountered when chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients are treated with Western antiviral drugs. With approximately 200 million HCV patients worldwide, it is estimated that the cost of treatment will exceed US$3.9 billion in 2007. Furthermore, since existing HCV drugs have a sub-optimal cure rate and induce severe side effects in some patients, few HCV patients actually receive adequate treatment. “

Tags: East and West by DAAN
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CHINESE herbal medicine may protect the immune systems of breast cancer patients from the effects of chemotherapy, researchers said yesterday.

Scientists analysed data from seven studies involving a total of 542 women with breast cancer.

Tags: Disease by DAAN
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A widely used herbal supplement taken to aid digestion has been found to have powerful anti-cancer properties. Triphala, made from the dried and powdered fruit of three plants, is the most popular Ayurvedic remedy in India. It is used to stimulate the appetite, treat intestinal disorders and act as a laxative.

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Sleep apnea is a disorder that can seriously impact your health and quality of life given the fact you need peaceful sleep. Acupuncture for sleep apnea is one treatment.

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There is no way to appreciate the agony of back pain until you suffer through it. Acupuncture for back pain is an amazingly effective and safe solution.

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Some good explanation about the different types of alternative medicine:

“YOU’VE heard of iridology but what is it? And what’s the difference between an osteopath and a chiropractor?

Here’s a guide to help you sort out your acupuncture from your shiatsu.

Acupuncture is commonly associated with traditional Chinese medicine and involves inserting and manipulating fine needles into “acupuncture points” in the body to restore health and wellbeing. The definition of these points is standardised by the World Health Organization. www.acupuncture.com.au

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils extracted from plants and herbs to treat a person’s mood or health. Individual blends are prepared in a base of cold-pressed oil and applied to the body through massage. Many believe that scent has the power to transform our emotions and heal our bodies. Note: Do not use essential oils directly on skin as they may burn. www.naturaltherapypages.com.au/therapy/Aromatherapy

Ayurveda roughly translates as the “knowledge of life” and is a system of medicine that originated in India. By aiming to balance the body, mind and spirit, practitioners believe Ayurveda leads to contentment and helps prevent illness. Ayurveda also treats specific health problems and a chief aim is to cleanse the body of substances that can cause disease. www.ayurvedaelements.com/resortsmain.html

Chiropractic diagnoses and treats mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the spine. It is based on the idea that a spinal misalignment can interfere with the nervous system and result in ill health. Some practitioners use other holistic treatments along with spinal readjustment. www.chiropractors.asn.au

Feldenkrais teaches easier options for movement through gentle exercises. It can improve coordination and fflexibility. Dancers are often attracted to it, as are those who want to reduce their pain. Advocates claim that improving a person’s ability to move can improve your overall wellbeing. See www.feldenkrais.org.au

Homeopathy treats patients with specially prepared diluted substances that, in undiluted doses, produce similar symptoms in healthy people. Homeopaths believe this strengthens the ability of the body to heal itself. It takes into account an individual’s personality, lifestyle and hereditary factors, as well as the history of the disease. See www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Homeopathy?OpenDocument

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The Swiss, following a common trend in Western societies, are looking to Chinese herbs and traditional medicine for treatment options for a variety of conditions:

“People in Switzerland are increasingly turning to Chinese medicine to cure ailments such as back pain, asthma, allergies and stress problems.

But practitioners say there is still a long way to go before the profession is fully recognised and are calling for it to be covered by the basic health insurance.

Alternative therapies are on the rise. It has been estimated that around a third of the population has tried complementary medicine at least once in their lives.

Acupuncture by a registered doctor is covered by the health insurance and around 70 per cent of people have extra health coverage for other alternative therapies, according to the Federal Health Office.

Making inroads is the ancient art of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which is carried out by both qualified doctors and non:medical practitioners.

“Chinese medicine is a medical system that’s not based on the western idea of the body but the Chinese philosophy of the body. It explains diseases and health in a different way,” said Simon Becker, president of the Swiss Professional Organization for Traditional Chinese Medicine (sbo:tcm) : the largest association of non:medical TCM therapists.

“Chinese medicine tries to influence with different modalities, such as acupuncture and herbs, the harmonies that take place in the body when you get sick.”

In 1999 it was provisionally included, along with four other alternative therapies, into basic health insurance.

But in 2005, after carrying out an assessment, the government decided to strike these out, saying they were too costly.

Becker’s 1,200 member association has joined with other groups, including medical ones, to lobby for the therapies to be reinstated by putting the matter to a nationwide vote. But the move has been rejected by the government.

Polls have, however, indicated widespread public support for the initiative.”

Tags: East and West by DAAN
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Green tea, besides being good for your general health, is also good for your skin:

“A study showed a little dose of green tea could make your skin look younger, NBC4 reported.

NBC4’s Dr. Bruce Hensel said the new secret weapon to fight aging may be found in a tea bag.

“Theoretically, green tea is a panacea. It’s a wonderful thing for the skin,” said dermatologist Dr. Miriam Cummings.

New studies show that green tea, in its purest form may fight the signs of aging.

“It stops inflammation; it stops DNA from being damaged. It stops the sun from burning the skin so in a perfect world it’s the perfect thing to use on your skin,” said Cummings.

Cummings cautioned that before you spend a fortune on these products, make sure you’re getting what you pay for.

“You look at the very back of the product, and see where is that green tea. Is it at the very top, or is it in the middle or is it at the bottom of the list. If it’s at the very top and it’s the first ingredient, then you’ve got mostly green tea in that product,” said Cummings.”

DAAN carries Foojoy China Green tea, delicious China green tea, and China Gun Powder green tea. See our list of teas and enjoy a cup today!

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Tai Chi is shown to improve your immune system and overall health and well-being:

“In 12th century China, a Taoist monk known as Chang San-Feng is said to have studied the physical movements of five animals and concluded that two — the snake and the crane — were best suited to overpower opponents who were fierce and tenacious. From that ancient observation, the slow, graceful movements of tai chi were born.

Today, with the art and exercise of tai chi growing in popularity across the United States, scientists have found that older adults who practice this martial art strengthen themselves against an opponent as stubborn as any — the tiny chickenpox virus, which can cause a painful and often persistent nerve inflammation called shingles.

The new study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society, is the first — and most rigorous — of a welter of rigorous new studies designed to probe the health effects of tai chi. Also in the works are five federally funded studies examining whether regular practice can help patients contending with heart disease, osteoarthritis and cancer fight off threats such as depression, infection and the pain of joint inflammation. Other studies are probing whether tai chi can improve balance and reduce falls among the elderly, and improve the well-being of patients with HIV.

“Tai chi is clearly an exercise program, but it has something more,” says Andrew Monjan, chief of the National Institute on Aging’s neurobiology of aging branch. “It seems to be somewhat more effective than simple exercise, and more effective than simple stress reduction.” And older adults enjoy it, he says, making it a therapy patients will stick to.

For healthy older adults, the study demonstrated a striking immunity-boosting effect. After 16 weeks of tai chi classes — even before they received chickenpox vaccine — subjects practicing tai chi showed immunity levels to chickenpox (and hence to shingles) that were comparable to those of 30- and 40-year-olds who got the vaccine. After the tai chi practitioners got the dose, their immune response surged by 40%.

Compared with a similar group of non-tai chi practicing older adults who received a shot of vaccine and a 16-week health-education program, those who practiced tai chi during the same period built stronger immunity to chickenpox and to shingles. They also showed significant improvements in measures of physical functioning, vitality and mental health.”

Tags: Immune system by DAAN
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Why do so many suffer from pain, specifically low back pain? This is a question that patients and doctors ask with varying degrees of frustration. I’d like to provide an alternative angle of understanding low back pain through the model of Chinese medicine.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a system of medicine that has been practiced for several thousand years in the Orient and has gathered more acclaim in the last decade here in the West. TCM encompasses the modalities of acupuncture, herbal medicine, moxabustion, Tui Na or medical massage and often includes nutritional therapy and breathing therapy or Qi Gong.

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