Posted by DAAN on December 24, 2007 under East and West, Herbs | 
Coca Cola has opened a research center in Beijing to develop products based on Chinese medicine:
“The Coca-Cola Co. opened The Coca-Cola Research Center for Chinese Medicine at the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences in Beijing. The research center is part of the company’s long-term collaboration agreement with the academy, and will focus on development of beverages using Chinese herbal ingredients and formulas.
“We see this center as an important step in strengthening our innovation pipeline for beverages that contribute to well-being,” said Rhona Applebaum, Ph.D., vice president, chief scientific and regulatory officer, Coca-Cola Co. (Coca-Cola.com). “This collaboration will ultimately help us bring the insights and benefits of Traditional Chinese Medicine to consumers all over the world. As the world’s largest beverage company, we can add global reach and world-class marketing skills to help promote Chinese wisdom in preventive holistic health through new and innovative beverages.”
Dr. Huaying Zhang, director of Asia of Coca-Cola’s Beverage Institute for Health & Wellness (BIHW), will establish an office at the academy in Beijing to work collaboratively with researchers. Maurice Arnaud, executive director, BIHW, will joint the academy’s advisory board.”
Posted by DAAN on December 23, 2007 under Culture, Disease |
We might think that traditional Chinese medicine is a single, monolithic system from a single culture. In fact, there are many different cultures within China, many with their own traditions of medicine:
” China has published over 100 works on ethnic medicines such as the Compendium of Herbs of Ethnic Minorities, a tome which documents 396 herbs of Tibetan nationality, 422 herbs of Mongolian nationality, 423 herbs of Uygur nationality and 400 herbs of Dai nationality.
Currently, 14 research institutes or universities offered courses on ethnic minority medicine to 17,000 students. Currently,156 pharmaceutical companies specialize in ethnic medicine. In addition, by the end of 2006, 15 ethnic minorities had their own hospitals.
“The special curative effects and low price of ethnic minority medicine are welcomed by ethnic minority people,” Wang said.
Tibetan medicine has marked curative effects in treating altitude sickness, digestive problems and rheumatic disease. Mongolian medicine was good at curing diabetes and blood disease.
“However, the introduction of Western medicine to China and therapies that combined Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine challenged the future development of ethnic minority medicines,” he said.
Wang called for greater efforts to speed up theoretical studies and research of ethnic minority medicines. He also urged medical institutes and universities to foster more talents for ethnic minority medicines.
Currently, China only has qualification exams for practitioners of four ethnic minorities medicines — Tibetan, Mongolian, Uygur and Dai — and 5,418 practitioners have passed the exam and received their credentials. “
Posted by DAAN on under Disease, Herbs, Tea |
An interesting account about a woman’s experience using Chinese herbal teas to help treat her daughter’s epilepsy:
“We get the herbs from our Chinese doctor, Joy Jin, a tiny, middle-aged woman who speaks passable English and, like all Chinese doctors, is prone to blunt pronouncements that somehow don’t offend. When I first began brewing the teas in the hope of stopping some of my daughter’s seizures, I was worried that I might do her some sort of harm. Dr. Jin assured me that the teas were “dangerous for you, not for Sophie.”
This was in keeping with a friend’s experience with a different Chinese doctor. That wise woman had continuously admonished my friend against an earlier brain surgery done on her own epileptic infant daughter. “Why you cut open her brain? That’s terrible,” she said, every time my friend brought her daughter for a visit.
The surgery had been unsuccessful, and my friend regretted it to a sickening degree. However, the criticism was so blunt and honest that it was hysterical to us.
Neurologists, on the other hand, have great difficulty voicing their opinions, especially when they don’t know what in the world is going on with their patients’ brains. That had been our experience, anyway.
I dutifully reported to Sophie’s neurologist that I was taking her to a Chinese doctor and giving her herbal teas. Dr. T., a comfortingly disheveled doctor whom I had chosen to follow my daughter’s progress after a long string of arrogant, best-in-the-field physicians, commented in her gentle British accent, “Well, they couldn’t possibly be any more dangerous than the stuff we’ve been forcing down her throat for six years.”
Chinese herbs are brewed twice. The first time, I open the bag into a nonmetallic pot and cover the mixture with water. Dust and pollen-like fragments float to the surface; I push them down with a wooden spoon and turn on the gas.
When the water begins to boil, I turn down the heat, and they simmer for 45 minutes. During this time, the odor is so intense that I usually open the windows and, weather permitting, the doors. It always crosses my mind that a neighbor or passerby, assailed by an almost visible smell, will think I’m making some sort of drug.
After trying more than 15 anti-epileptic drugs with no success, Sophie continues to endure multiple seizures a day. Yet I have still felt compelled to defend to my friends and family the unorthodox treatment I’m now pursuing. It’s simpler to justify the hideous side effects of the accepted protocol than the benefits of the unproved.
The reverence with which I prepare this tea is such that I use the same pot, the same strainer, the same bowl and the same pitcher. I believe, as I brew the herbs. I believe. I believe that they will help her, that they are invested with the power of ancient wisdom and that if I do it correctly, with faith, they will work.”
Posted by DAAN on December 16, 2007 under General |
NIGERIANS have again been urged to make conscious efforts about their health status and seek medical assistance by using Chinese traditional medicine.
Miss Maggie Zhao, of Tasly World Nigeria Company Limited said this in her address at the 2007 Tasly Africa modern health awareness programme held at the Tasly Africa Specialist Store, Liberty Stadium, Ibadan.
Posted by DAAN on December 13, 2007 under Culture, East and West, General |
Many Chinese believe blood is the source of Qi, and are reluctant to donate:
“TCM believes that blood is composed of nutrition and fluids from the foods we ingest. The stomach and spleen turn the foods into essence first, and then into red blood with the help of energy. Therefore, as long as both stomach and spleen function well, and the original energy is healthy, donating blood only involves a metabolic process at a quicker pace.
And according to Dr Zhou, donating blood can enhance the emergency reaction of the stomach and spleen (a source of vital energy, blood and blood circulation) in blood regeneration – if you do it regularly, say once every two years.
“Most people don’t have to take extra reinforcing therapy after donation,” says Dr Zhou. “Enough rest and regular meals are enough. But those with a weak stomach and spleen, which are difficult to identify with a regular pre-donation blood test, may need some adjustment with herbal therapy if they feel weak.”
Dr Zhou urges donors to avoid vigorous sports and get plenty of rest for two weeks before donating blood. They should avoid cold temperatures and cold yin energy foods. This will help ensure the quality of donated blood and a quick recovery as well.
After donating, he recommends protein in foods like fish and lean meat and spleen-strengthening foods like shan yao (yam), lotus seeds, and bean products. Actually, most people can eat whatever they like except irritating foods like hot pot, fried or spicy foods.
Herbs like dang gui (Chinese angelica), huang qi (astragalus root) and jujube fruit can help in the case of weakness.”
