Posted by DAAN on November 23, 2008 under General, Immune system, Uncategorized | 
Herbal tea is shown to boost immune system
This week a leading study from Queensland University, in Brisbane, Australia, revealed that drinking three cups of green tea a day for eight weeks may lower blood pressure and shrink fat cells, confirming the long-held belief of herbalists in the therapeutic effects of a warm brew.
Posted by DAAN on under Disease, Immune system, Uncategorized |
Chinese Herb shows promise against HIV
An herb used in Chinese medicine — the Astragalus root — contains a chemical that could be used to complement antiretroviral therapy or possibly even replace it, suggested Rita Effros, a member of the UCLA AIDS Institute, which made the finding. Effros, co-author of the study, is a professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
The study will be published in the Nov. 15 print edition of the Journal of Immunology and is now available online.
Astragalus, also known as milk vetch, has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine, usually in combination with other herbs, to strengthen the immune system. It is still widely used in China to treat chronic hepatitis and as an adjunct therapy for cancer patients.
Astragalus has also been used to combat heart disease, as well as to prevent and treat common colds and upper respiratory infections.
The AIDS Institute study examined the relationship between TAT2, a chemical in Astragalus, and telomeres. Every chromosome has a telomere at its end that has a protective function — similar to the plastic tip that keeps a shoelace from unraveling.
Posted by DAAN on November 15, 2008 under Men's health, Products |
Kai Kit Wan is a well-known herbal treatment designed to help promote the heath of the male prostate gland. It works by reducing the swelling of the prostate, which can interfere with urination. Kai Kit Wan helps replenish the kidney qi (which governs the prostate and the entire urinary system) and by reducing damp heat (which refers to the body’s inability to move fluids through the body for an extended period of time).
By promoting the flow of qi, it loosens congestion and increases the blood flow, promoting a feeling of ease and openness in the genitals, thighs, and lover abdomen.
Kai Kit Wan may help relieve such prostate-related symptoms as:
- Frequent urination
- Burning urination
- Lower abdominal pain or congestion
- Testicular pain
Certain drinks and foods can exacerbate kidney qi stagnation, These include coffee, alcohol, fried or fatty foods, spicy foods, and sugar. In addition to taking Kai Kit Wan, one should also eat more fresh fruits, fish, foods high in lycopene (such as processed-tomato products like ketchup and tomato sauce) and cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and so on).
If you should have any questions about Kai Kit Wan, please contact us. We’re here to help.
Posted by DAAN on November 9, 2008 under Uncategorized |
In addition to a great selection of herbs, ginseng, and traditional Chinese medicine supplements, DAAN carries a variety of special lotions and creams for your skin. We carry products from all over the world, some that are very hard to get anywhere.
Drula Bleaching Wax: This cream uses Ephelidin to remove skin discolorations. It makes your skin smooth and younger looking.
Drula Complexion Soap: This gentle, deep cleansing soap is made from vegetable oils and can be used on your face and body. It’s great for removing impurities from the skin, alleviating eczema, and cleansing pimples. With regular use it can help reduce skin discoloration.
Drula Soft Moisture Cream: Cleanses and revitalizes your skin. This a good, everyday moisturizer you should have in your medicine cabinet.
Drula Special Intensive Cream: This mild, anti-aging cream is used to alleviate some of the symptoms of skin damage from aging such as seborrheic keratoses, wrinkles, and free radical damage. It contains panthenol, vitamin A (retinol) and vitamin E (tocopherol). Use daily in the morning and evening.
Egyptian Magic All Purpose Skin and Hair Cream: This is a must for every home. It’s great for burns, rashes, scars, abrasions, or other types of skin conditions. Made from all natural ingredients.
Oronine Ointment: This Japanese skin care product is great as a general purpose skin care product that alleviates skin conditions such as burns, rashes, and minor skin irritations.
Perfect Balance Skin Wash: This gentle skin cleanser helps maintain the oil/hydration balance in your skin, resulting in healthier, younger looking skin.
Posted by DAAN on November 8, 2008 under General, Herbs |
A nice article describing some traditional cures for various conditions:
Herbs were the first ‘drugs’ and primary medicine used by man.
Medicine men and folk healers learnt the medicinal use of herbs and animal matter by observing their effects on humans. Medicine has since come a long way from such simple trial and error.
Here are some common health supplements used in Western alternative medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and some significant related research findings.
Gingko
Gingko biloba is a popular herbal supplement widely promoted as a memory enhancer.
Last month, The New York Times reported that new research suggests a daily dose of gingko biloba may help prevent brain damage after a stroke.
The findings, published online in the medical journal Stroke, have been shown only in mice but researchers said the studies supported theories that the herb may help stroke patients.
St John’s wort
This plant has been traditionally used to treat anxiety, depression and mental disorders.
Last month, it was reported that an analysis of previous studies found that St John’s wort can effectively treat symptoms of major depression.
Extracts of the herb tested in different trials were better than placebos and as effective as standard anti-depressants with fewer side effects, the researchers reported in the Cochrane Reviews, a medical and scientific studies journal.
Fish oils
Fish oils are a source of omega-3 fatty acids and are thought to be beneficial for the heart.
Studies on fish oil therapy have had mixed results. In September, The New York Times reported that a clinical trial in Australia, published last year in The Journal Of Developmental And Behavioral Pediatrics, found improvements in parents’ ratings of their children’s hyperactivity and inattention but no difference in teachers’ assessments.
Meanwhile, an Oxford-Durham study in Britain, published in the journal Pediatrics in 2005, reported remarkable improvements in reading and spelling among children treated with omega-3 fatty acids.
It is important to buy only purified pharmaceutical-grade fish oil to minimise the risk of mercury contamination.
Posted by DAAN on November 7, 2008 under Food, General, Herbs |
Traditional Chinese medicine believes food is an important component of health:
Healthy food choices and good digestion are the building blocks to good health and well-being. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that food is a form of medicine. Daily meals are an opportunity to nourish, build and heal our bodies. To benefit from wholesome food choices, however, the body has to digest those foods properly. Fatigue, gas, bloating, constipation and loose stools are signs that your body is out of balance and unable to acquire the full benefits of your diet.
The proper amount and flow of qi, or life energy, constitute the foundation of health, according to TCM. Digestive complaints are signs of imbalance, commonly due to either insufficient qi or a compromised flow of qi. Poor diet or working too much can lead to too little qi, while stress is a common cause of improperly flowing qi.
Acupuncture is a technique used in TCM that utilizes hair-thin needles inserted at precise locations to manipulate the body’s qi and remove blockages, allowing it to flow more freely. Clinically, acupuncture successfully alleviates many digestive complaints by increasing your body’s digestive energy.
Posted by DAAN on under Food, Herbs |
Healthy eating is very popular in Taiwan. Now restaurants are basing entire menus on Chinese herbs:
Situated amid the hustle and bustle of downtown Taipei on ZhongXiao Road, the restaurant’s bright green shop sign bearing the Chinese inscription “Shih-Tsao”, inviting passer-bys to retreat into a dining environment that provides a feast on pollution-free Chinese medical herbs. The restaurant offers meat and seafood, but everything except for the meat is totally made of herbs, including tea, salad dressing, pot soup, dipping sauces, noodles, desserts, and even the wines.
The leading role in the restaurant is played by herbs, and many of them are said to be beneficial to one’s health if a certain amount is taken regularly.
The main dish that comes with each hot pot is a huge bowl of herbs that consists of big chunks of more than ten different herbs, including Chinese toon, a herb said to lower hypertension and blood sugar; heartleaf houttuynia herb, which enhances the upper respiratory tract; centella asiatica, a great help in fighting diarrhea, hypertension, and hepatitis, etc. Each of the herbs gives off a distinctive aroma. Heartleaf houttuynia herb, in particular, has a smell that might temporarily remind you of salted fish.
The hotpot soup is entirely made of matrimony-vine, a Chinese medicine that is generally believed to improve eyesight. The soup has a refreshing, slightly sweet flavor that distinguishes itself from other shabu shabu hot soups. After sipping the soup, it is time to try the herbs.
Swish the herbs in the boiling soup for 10 to 20 seconds as instructed by waitresses in order to keep the sweetness of the herbs, then dip them in the Chinese toon sauce and chow down.
Posted by DAAN on November 4, 2008 under General, Immune system, Uncategorized |
Acupuncture can help you quit smoking
EAGLE COUNTY, Colorado — The American Lung Association states that 400,000 people die every year from health complications or diseases caused by smoking. We all know that smoking and chewing tobacco are harmful. We all know they cause cancer and eventually lead to death. All who use tobacco products also know they should quit, but it is one of the most addictive substances and it is difficult to quit using. What to do? Well, put simply, quit!
Posted by DAAN on under Culture, General, Uncategorized |
Improving digestion with Traditional Chinese Medicine
Healthy food choices and good digestion are the building blocks to good health and well-being. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that food is a form of medicine. Daily meals are an opportunity to nourish, build and heal our bodies. To benefit from wholesome food choices, however, the body has to digest those foods properly. Fatigue, gas, bloating, constipation and loose stools are signs that your body is out of balance and unable to acquire the full benefits of your diet.
