Apr 08

Cooking with ginseng

Culture, Ginseng No Comments »


A restaurant in Kuala Lumpur, following a long tradition of cooking with ginseng, is serving some special ginseng dishes:

“Ginseng is the ultimate herb to the Chinese. For centuries, the root has been treasured for its nutritional benefits that few ever wondered why some ginseng are priced in the thousands.

Despite the eye-popping price tags of some varieties, one can still enjoy the goodness of ginseng without burning a hole in the pocket.

On top of that, ginseng can be pleasant to the taste bud despite its slightly bitter nature. Crown Princess Kuala Lumpur’s Spring Garden Chinese Restaurant showcases their versatility with eight new ginseng-infused dishes available throughout March and April.

“Not all diners can accept ginseng’s slight bitterness and strong after,taste so we do not put too much of it into the dishes,” said Chinese chef Simon Chin who created the dishes.”

Apr 06

Chinese medicine succeeds in one case where Western medicine failed

Disease, East and West No Comments »

One man’s story of how traditional Chinese medicine was able to help cure his intestinal ailments where Wester medicine couldn’t:

“Growing up, Henry Lu was skeptical about the ancient art of Chinese medicine, even though his uncle ran a Chinese herb shop. But then, as an adult, suffering from chronic digestive problems, he experienced a profound awakening to the possibilities of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

For years, he followed his own doctor’s advice by taking a daily laxative and trying different diets and exercises — all to no avail. Having seemingly exhausted all of the treatment options available to him through Western medicine, in desperation he travelled to Hong Kong and Taiwan, where he was prescribed an herbal formula and underwent acupuncture treatments. Together, they cured him of his ailments.

This inspired Lu to begin studying TCM. He subsequently left his position as a professor at the University of Alberta to open his own college, the International College of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Vancouver, in 1986.

“I became convinced that drugs used in Western medicine do not outweigh the side effects in many cases,” Dr. Lu says. “Unlike Western medicine, which commonly strives to control symptoms, Chinese medicine focuses on the cause of the illness, and treats the cause.”

For many Westerners, TCM might seem confusing and off-putting, with its exotic terminology, peculiar diagnoses, and unconventional treatments. And yet it’s become increasingly popular, due to its emphasis on preventative health and controlling chronic conditions.

“I strongly believe that if we want to import Chinese medicine to [the West], we have to teach Western people. Chinese medicine shouldn’t just be confined to the Chinese Chinatown,” Dr. Lu says.

TCM was developed more than 3,000 years ago, making it the oldest continually-practiced system of medicine in the world. Since it was developed at a time before the scientific traditions of the West, it developed its own terminology and systems, mainly based on physical observations.

TCM is based on the concept of Qi (pronounced chee) — the “vital energy” that invisibly circulates throughout the body, along specific interconnected channels called meridians. In Chinese medicine, the smooth flow of Qi is responsible for good health, and ain or illness occurs when Qi is blocked. “Disease is thought to be caused by disharmonies within the body, or between the body and the environment,” says Dr. Lu. Chinese medicine seeks to restore a harmonious balance within the body — which is believed to be a reflection of the universe — so it can heal itself. It does this by balancing the passive yin with the dynamic yang, the opposing yet complimentary sides of nature: cold and hot, day and night, dry and wet. “

Apr 06

Yao Ming looking to Chinese medicine to heal injured foot

East and West No Comments »

NBA star Yao Ming is treating his injured foot with traditional Chinese medicine:

“The decision of NBA superstar Yao Ming to head to China to seek traditional Chinese medical treatment for his stress fracture has orthopedic physicians and traditional medicine experts at odds over whether the healing techniques will do any good.
acupuncture
Basketball star Yao Ming has returned to his home country of China, reportedly to seek traditional treatments for a stress fracture in his…
Basketball star Yao Ming has returned to his home country of China, reportedly to seek traditional treatments for a stress fracture in his foot.

The 27-year-old, 7-foot-6 all-star center for the Houston Rockets was forced out of the season by a stress fracture in his left foot — specifically, a crack in the tarsal navicular bone, between the ankle joint and the middle of his foot.

Yao underwent surgery early last month when surgeons inserted a screw to stabilize the bone. Doctors involved with the surgery reported that the procedure was successful and that Yao would begin an aggressive rehabilitation program once he was up to it.

The surgery carries with it a normal downtime of four months. But it appears Yao is also looking to traditional Chinese medicine — a system that includes acupuncture and herbal remedies — to help speed his healing. On Friday, the Associated Press reported that Yao had arrived back in his home country to consult with the nation’s top experts. “

Apr 06

Western drugs derived from Chinese herbs

East and West, Herbs No Comments »

A research institute in Shanghai is developing drugs based on traditional Chinese medicine:

“Next month, the Shanghai Innovative Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a research and development institution for the modernization of traditional medicine, will apply to conduct clinical trials in Finland for its new antidepressant medicine extracted from herbs.

If the drug is approved, the center will be among a handful of companies that are launching therapeutic drugs derived from TCM onto the global market. “After seven years of study, we have extracted a single active ingredient from ginseng herbs. The pre-clinical trial has showed that this drug is safe and effective,” says Jiang Hongquan, an official with the center.

“The efficacy of this drug is very close to Eli Lilly’s Prozac, or fluoxetine, but the cost is much lower,” notes Jiang, adding that the active ingredient, extracted from ginseng herbs, is a brand-new ingredient that had not been previously identified. The development is a breakthrough for herbal medicine innovation and modernization, according to Jiang, who says that the center is also considering applying to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for clinical trial approval. Meanwhile, given the renewed global interest in TCM-derived drugs, the new medicine remains a closely guarded business secret.

The Shanghai Innovative Research Center is not alone in its effort to introduce Chinese herbal medicines into the mainstream market. Other companies have been doing the same thing for years, including Hutchison MediPharma (the R&D subsidiary of London AIM-listed Hutchison China MediTech), and Tasly Pharmaceutical Co., one of China’s largest TCM manufacturers.”

Apr 04

British Columbia to offer public funds for acupuncture treatments

Acupuncture, East and West No Comments »

British Columbia start to offer public funds for acupuncture treatments.

“B.C.’s new health program began on April Fool’s Day but it was no joke.

The province will be the first in Canada to offer public funds for acupuncture treatments for its Medical Services Plan (MSP) recipients, announced the health minister on Sunday

Acupuncture, the practice of inserting needles into the skin to treat pain, will be available to anyone earning less than $28,000 per year, said George Abbott.”

Apr 01

Ginseng, what it is, what it does

Ginseng No Comments »

A good primer on ginseng:

“Ginseng is a species within the genus panax, which means “all-heal” in Greek. For centuries, traditional Chinese medicine has used ginseng in the treatment of countless diseases and to promote whole-body wellness.

There are two major types of ginseng: American ginseng (also known as Canadian ginseng or North American ginseng), and Asian ginseng (also known as Korean ginseng or Chinese ginseng).

The root of ginseng is most often used in its dried form and is added to capsules, tablets, extracts, beverages and creams. Of note, the quantity of ginseng found in most energy drinks and other beverages is too low to produce any medicinal effect.

Herbalists classify ginseng as an “adaptogen” or an herb that improves the body’s ability to fight off stress such as trauma, anxiety or fatigue. It has also been used to increase stamina and well-being; to treat erectile dysfunction, hepatitis C and menopause; to lower blood glucose levels and blood pressure; and to improve mental and physical performance.

The active compounds in ginseng are thought to be steroid-like substances termed ginsenosides that contain antioxidant and anticarcinogen properties. Over the past decade, a number of researchers have explored the reliability of ginseng’s many health claims. “

Apr 01

Herbs for early menopause

Herbs, Women's Health No Comments »

Some good information about herbal remedies for early menopause:

“Herbal Remedies for Early Menopause

Magnesium: Often found in calcium supplements, magnesium is a very important calcium helper — and also appears to help fight the crashing fatigue that often comes at the beginning of premature or early menopause by boosting energy levels.

A hot flash can make you perspire – in some cases profusely – and may bring on headaches, dizziness and an increased heart rate (though it´s nothing to be overly concerned with – it´s usually just your heart trying to cope with the increase in blood flow). An effective method for dealing with hot flashes (or hot flushes depending on what part of the world you live in) is to help control your temperature by wearing several layers of clothing. When you get hot, you can always take some layers off.

Vitamin A or Beta Carotene: If you´re suffering from vaginal dryness — or if you´ve noticed a change in your skin texture, a drying or loss of elasticity, Vitamin A or beta carotene can help. Vitamin A (which is what beta carotene converts to in your body) helps maintain tissues, skin, and mucous membranes — which can help fight back against vaginal dryness and skin changes that often come with low estrogen levels.

The most powerful feature of Traditional Chinese Medicine is that it allows you to easily combine multiple ingredients to form a recipe to suit the specific need of individual. The list below are to give you an idea of why you can get the herbal remedy best for you from here with us.

Safe and Side Effect Free: All these herbs have been being used in China for thousands of years, and have been proven to be safe. In fact most Chinese herbs are tonics without side effects. “

Apr 01

Chinese athletes avoiding traditional Chinese remedies for the Olympics

Herbs No Comments »

Chinese athletes, who usually use Chinese herbal treatments, are avoiding it before the Olympics, worried about possible positive drug tests:

“Deer penis, turtle blood and angelica root potions have joined steroids and amphetamines on the list of banned drugs for Chinese Olympians.

While China’s top athletes have long sought a competitive edge by ingesting traditional concoctions, those customs are fading amid stricter doping rules and concern that drug scandals will embarrass the host nation during the Summer Olympics in Beijing. The nation’s sports stars are replacing millennia-old elixirs with vitamins, protein shakes and Western remedies.

Traditional Chinese medicines may contain banned substances such as the stimulant ephedrine or interact with each other to trigger positive doping tests, said Ai Hua, a doctor for China’s gymnastics and weightlifting teams during the 2004 games.

“Some teams were still taking Chinese traditional medicines at the Athens Olympics,” Ai said. “But now, with the fear of doping at the Beijing games, everyone’s avoiding herbal concoctions.””

Next Entries
 
preload preload preload