DAAN Chinese Herbs and Acupuncture

I read with dismay your article on herbal medicine, which could unnecessarily discourage women from seeking such treatment for fertility problems (Herbal remedies ‘may hinder IVF treatment’, July 5).

“Infertile women who supplement their fertility treatment with alternative medicines may be harming their chances of becoming pregnant,” you reported. A year-long study “found that those who turned to complementary therapies … while having IVF treatment were at least 30% less likely to become pregnant than women who did not.” You didn’t mention, though, that there is a body of research evidence to contradict this study. One, Measuring the Effectiveness of Chinese Herbal Medicine in Improving Infertility (Wing & Sedlmeier), showed that Chinese herbal medicine, when prescribed correctly, actually increases fertility - 56% of the sample group were pregnant within six months of starting their final treatment. Another, The German Study on Acupuncture and ART (Paulus, Zhang, Strehler, El-Danasouri and Sterzik), demonstrated that acupuncture improved pregnancy rates during IVF - with 42% of the acupuncture group pregnant within six weeks, compared to 21% of the control group.”

Tags: General, Women's Health by DAAN
No Comments »

It’s summer! The season of baseball, barbecue and fireworks. Mirroring ways of nature, the five elements depict the season of summer with fire and heat, and late summer with humidity. You might ask, why is this important? Since our body has to adjust itself to the rising temperature and humidity, it is usually done through intake of what TCM calls “cold property” foods like watermelon, iced drinks, cucumbers, and so on. Intake of such “cold property” foods do cool us off, but in excess they might cause one to feel sluggish, lose appetite, or have slight water retention. Here are some healthy and delicious ways to fight off heat and sluggishness that summer brings.
American ginseng

Although American Ginseng is not as potent as Red Panax Ginseng, it has a more cooling properties than Red Panax (American ginseng replenishes more Yin than Yang. Red Panax tonifies more yang than yin). Hence, American ginseng tea or American ginseng roots are a great way to boost your energy and to cool your body down at the same time!
Taiwan’s Shi Shen Tang

This is a popular summer’s soup dish in Taiwan. It is a common dish used when the kids have guzzled down one too many soda pop or popsicles and are not eating their meals! The four herbs used are to reduce “dampness” cause by eating too “cold property” foods. Hence, this is also great for those suffering from water retention!

Shi Shen Tang contains Dioscorea Batata, Euryale Ferox, Poria and Nelumbinis Semen $3.00/pack, 4 servings. Please contact Susan Yen at 1-877-322-6168 to order.
Cantonese summer soup

Cantonese people are well known for their frequent use of herbs in their cooking. This particular soup is consumed when one feels hot, sluggish and thirsty from the heat and muggy summer days.

This soup contains Glehnia Littoralis, Polygonatum Odoratum, Stemona Sessilifolia, and Doscorea Batata. $3.00/pack, 4 serving. Please contact Susan Yen at 1-877-322-6168 to order.

Tags: General by DAAN
No Comments »

Researchers are studying whether herbs can be used to treat diabetes:

“Researchers from the University of Western Sydney are using a combination of Chinese herbs to help patients at high risk of diabetes.

Suzanne Grant from the Centre for Complementary Research says they are trialing a combination of six herbs including tumeric, seaweed and lychee seeds.

She says evidence from Chinese studies shows the mixture can help patients with diabetes.

“They conducted a clinical trial in people with diabetes and found it had a good effectiveness in lowering blood glucose and sensitising insulin,” she said.”

Tags: Disease by DAAN
No Comments »

Some good information on herbs for asthma treatment:

“There are many natural herbs and herbal supplements that can be used for asthma treatment. Natural Asthma treatment incorporates vitamins, minerals and herbs to relieve symptoms and prevent further attacks.

Asthma is a respiratory disease that affects both adults and children and asthma is today one of the most common chronic childhood ailments. There is no scientifically proven cure for asthma but it can be controlled and regulated.

Natural treatments for asthma are meant to complement, or as an addition, to your existing medication but never as a replacement. Before using an herbal asthma remedy keep in mind that medicinal herbs can be as powerful as pharmaceutical drugs and should be treated as such so it is important to seek the support of your health care provider as some natural herbs for asthma treatment may conflict with pharmaceuticals commonly prescribed for asthma.

Natural Herbs Used For Asthma Treatment

* Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)

The Licorice root has been used traditionally to restore breathing and calm the breathing passageways.

* Adhatoda (Adhatoda vasica)

This herb is a small evergreen shrub that is found at lower altitudes in India and South East Asia. The leaf has been used for centuries to treat asthma where it works as a bronchodilator and mild expectorant. Adhatoda also works by increasing the viscosity of mucous to assist with expectoration. Key constituents of Adhatoda leaf are the quinazoline alkaloids (0.5–2%). The major alkaloid is vasicine present at levels of 45–95% and is the original source of the drug bromhexine, which is often still used to assist expectoration.

* Ginkgo Biloba (Ginkgo biloba)

One of the oldest herbs in use today, ginkgo has a broad range of indications. For asthma sufferers, ginkgo works to inhibit PAF (platelet activating factor), a powerful inducer of platelet aggregator and anaphylactic reactions. Natural Herbs that stimulate anti-PAF activity are known to assist in the treatment of asthma, allergic reactions, thrombosis and shock. One study showed that a 600mg standardised dose of ginkgo reduced airway hypersensitivity in patients with asthma.

* Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)

It has been used medicinally as a cough suppressant. The plant has been used in historical times to treat lung ailments such as asthma as well as various coughs by way of smoking.

* Tumeric (Curcuma longa)

Tumeric is a member of the ginger family and has been used as a colouring agent, spice and medicine for thousands of years. The active constituents are the diarylhepanoids, including curcumin, which are found in the vividly yellow rhizome. In an uncontrolled trial in India, 60% of asthma patients given 6-12grams of tumeric powder that had been fried in ghee showed a relief in their symptoms. Curcumin is a powerful anti-inflammatory in both acute and chronic conditions, and it is believed to work in a variety of biological pathways to reduce inflammation. In some models studied, curcumin showed a similar efficacy to cortisone and phenylbutazone.

* Chinese Skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis )

The root of this plant has been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for a variety of conditions including asthma. Chinese skullcap contains flavone derivatives including baicalin, wogonin and baicalein which inhibit histamine release from mast cells in vitro. Baicalin showed antiasthmatic activity (antihistaminic and anticholinergic activity) in isolated tracheal muscle from asthmatic guinea pigs. Reducing hypesensitivity and inflammation in airways is vital to managing asthma.

* Grindelia (Grindelia spp.)

This is an expectorant herb with bronchospasmolytic activity. It is traditionally recommended for the treatment of spasmodic respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis. The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia 1983 lists the specific indication as bronchial asthma with tachycardia. Californian Native Americans used grindelia not only for skin infections but also for bronchial conditions where grindelia eventually gained the attention of the Catholic missionaries. The dried leaf and flowering tops of grindelia were official in the United States Pharmacopoeia 1882– 1926, and have been in the National Formulary, 1926–1960.

Some other natural herbs that have traditionally been used for asthma treatment.

Garlic, Red Clover, Coleus, Echinacea, Mullein, Skullcap, Pinellia, St. John’s Wort, Comfrey and Saw Palmetto.”

Tags: Immune system by DAAN
No Comments »

“Botanical Name: Angelica sinensis.

Other Common Names for Dong Quai: Chinese angelica, female ginseng, dang gui (Chinese), toki (Japanese) and tanggwi (Korean).

Habitat: Dong quai is found in mainland China, Japan and Korea.

Description: Dong quai is a member of the Umbelliferae family and is a fragrant perennial herb which can grow up to 2 metres tall, and produces white flowers in early summer. Dong quai is typically found growing in damp mountain ravines, meadows, river banks, and near the sea. It is considered in traditional Chinese medicine to have a warm nature and a sweet, acrid, and bitter taste. The main traditional use of dong quai is to regulate the female reproductive organs. The root is one ingredient of “four things soup”, a traditionally used woman’s tonic in China.”

DAAN carries high quality dong guai.

Tags: DAAN, Herbs by DAAN
No Comments »

Couples are turning to Acupuncture in treating infertility.

“Couples experiencing the heartbreak of infertility will try almost anything to get pregnant. Now, some San Antonio women are turning to acupuncture to help them conceive.

Armed with a batch of needles, Kirsten Karchmer, an acupuncture therapist at the Texas Center for Reproductive Acupuncture, 7870 Broadway, is performing an age-old therapy to help fertility patient Shannon Freiley.”

Tags: Acupuncture, General, Women's Health by DAAN
No Comments »

Eastern medicine is becoming more integrated in the treatment of diseases in the West.

“Pam Bailey probably isn’t the type of person you would expect to find using techniques such as massage therapy and acupuncture to fight her physical ailments.

“People are always surprised to find out that a pharmacist uses Chinese medicine,” said Bailey, who works at a pharmacy in White Bear Lake. “It’s not that I’m anti-Western medicine, but I think they both have their benefits.”

Tags: East and West, Disease by DAAN
No Comments »

Use of Supplements in urology
“In 1984, the government deregulated the dietary supplement industry. Since that time, there has been widespread expansion of marketing efforts to promote products that include vitamins, minerals and herbal supplements as treatment for a variety of medical conditions.

In urology, these conditions include benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction (ED). Through time, it has become apparent that many of these products carry risks for significant toxicities and in many cases little proven benefit.”

Tags: General by DAAN
No Comments »

Acupuncturists without borders

“Over the years I have experienced great joy and a sense of honor to be practicing traditional Chinese medicine. Though this medicine has not changed very much in a couple of thousand years (attesting to its efficacy!), and though traditionally it was the local and folk medicine, practiced in every village…and somewhat differently here and there, in our culture it tends to be a medicine of the elite, the privileged. Typically, only the well-insured and those who can pay cash out of pocket usually have access to regular acupuncture.”

Tags: Acupuncture by DAAN
No Comments »

Subsidizing traditional Chinese medicine for the seniors could alleviate public clinics for endless waiting lines
“Underfunded seniors and social workers expect aids for traditional Chines medicine from the government. This would allow the poor to consult directly a general practitioner instead of swelling the waiting lines in public clinics.”

Tags: General by DAAN
No Comments »