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Pregnancy, depression and acupuncture

DAAN — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:27:10 +0000

Acupuncture can greatly reduce depression during and after pregnancy, recent studies have shown.

Two studies released in the past few days address the the prevalence and treatment of depression during and after pregnancy.

The first, published online by the journal Pediatrics, finds that a startling percentage of low-income, urban mothers show symptoms of postpartum depression. Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center screened 198 mothers of children between the ages of 2 weeks and 14 months who brought their children for checkups at the center’s outpatient pediatric clinic. More than half of those mothers — 56 percent — met the clinical criteria for a diagnosis of some degree of depression.

Postpartum depression is thought to affect 14 percent of new mothers in the United States, and while it is known to be higher in low-income populations, these numbers surprised researchers.

“This is an unexpected, very high proportion,” said Dr. Linda H. Chaudron, one of the authors of the journal article and an associate professor of psychology, pediatrics and obstetrics and gynecology.

A second study, published yesterday in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, looks at depression during pregnancy. It is thought to occur at similar rates as postpartum depression and has also been linked to low-birth weight and delayed cognitive and emotional development in children.

Researchers at Stanford University tested alternative treatments and antidepressants for pregnant women and found that acupuncture specifically designed to treat depression is a potential substitute. Sixty-three percent of women who received that treatment responded well, compared with only 44 percent who received massage therapy or acupuncture that was not specifically designed for depression. The study did not compare any of these treatments with antidepressants or psychotherapy.

Ginseng, the amazing herb

DAAN — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 23:26:38 +0000

Ginseng is often considered the most precious of all chinese herbs, it brings one vitality, energy and longevity. DAAN is a ginseng specialist, we offer a wide selection of ginseng for your needs.

Ginseng has always been shrouded in folklore and magic. Like the rich mountain forests where it grows naturally, it’s use dates way back into the mists of antiquity.

Ginseng is a perennial herb belonging to the genus Panax, which is derived from the Greek word Panakos, or panacea in English, meaning an all-healing remedy.

Both the Asian and American varieties are employed medicinally, sharing the same growth habits and virtually the same appearance, with the only difference being that the Asian variety is larger.

American Ginseng
American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is found throughout the deciduous mountain forests of Central and Eastern North America. The first specimens of American ginseng were transported to Europe in 1704.

It should come as no surprise that the North American Indians also knew of and utilized ginseng root for its medicinal qualities. They called it Garantoquen, which translates as “like a man,” in reference to its forked root structure, which closely resembles the shape of a man (albeit with the help of a little imagination). Interestingly, the Mandarin name for ginseng, ren shen, shares a similar meaning. In fact, the Chinese character for the “shen” also resembles the shape of the root.

American Indians have a particular method of harvesting the root whereby it is only harvested after the red fruit of the plant has reached maturity. They then bend the stem down to the ground before proceeding to dig the root. This method reportedly increases the germination rate and provides for a greater future yield.

The Sioux Indian women had especially well-developed ways of cleaning and processing ginseng, and were said to collect the finest root of all the tribes.

Asian Ginseng

Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) is found primarily in the Northern Hemisphere and mainly in China, Tibet, Mongolia, and Korea. The Korean and Manchurian species are traditionally considered the most highly prized. Wealthy Chinese will pay up to $200,000 for the vitality-enhancing properties of a premium grade ginseng root.

These highly prized roots are found growing wild in the mountainous regions of Korea and the Changbai and Xiaoxinganling Mountains in China’s northeast. They grow on steep slopes at heights between 500 meters to 1,100 meters above sea level.

Wild ginseng growing in ancient forests with deep loamy soil and moisture-laden air is found to have a much greater potency than ginseng grown commercially out of its natural environment. This bears witness to the fact that the nature a plant possesses is intimately connected to its native environment.

According to Taoist philosophy, ginseng is described as having a slightly cold nature because it grows in the cold and shadowy mountains. It is said to possess more Yin. Ginseng is also slightly Yang since it grows on the mountain slopes, which are considered to be Yang.

Healing Qualities
Of the five elements known in Chinese medicine, ginseng is considered part of the Earth element since its growth habitat is in the mountains. It is slightly sweet in nature.

Each of the five elements has organs that correlate to them. The spleen and stomach belong to the Earth element; therefore, the sweetness in ginseng can fortify the Yang of the spleen and stomach, sending energy throughout the entire body. According to Chinese herbal medicine, a sweet taste can moisten, tone and improve vital energy.

Ginseng is indeed the most highly valued of all herbs by Chinese physicians and its use dates back at least 5,000 years. There are many health benefits attributed to it, leading many Western scientists to ponder how one herb can have such wide-ranging therapeutic uses. The answer to this is relatively simple when we understand what the traditional Chinese physicians knew very well: ginseng’s primary effect in the body is to normalized pituitary gland function.

The pituitary and the thyroid gland regulate the production of other hormones in the body

Vinegar – a natural disinfectant

DAAN — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:59:56 +0000

Susan Yen
L.Ac

When most of us think of vinegar, we think of salad dressing and marinade. But vinegar is a natural and effective all-purpose disinfectant.

Distilled white vinegar is a good substitute for harsh household cleansers, particularly for those who are sensitive to or are allergic to common household cleaning agents. To clean the bathroom floor, simply use a 4:1 or 6:1 water and vinegar ratio (depending on your tolerance to the vinegar smell).

During the winter, cold and flu germs are often prevalent indoors from coughing, sneezing, and just generally staying indoors more often when the weather is bad.

To disinfect a room, boil water with vinegar (4:1 ratio) or some eucalyptus oil and let the vapor permeate the room.

To keep the house smelling like a pickle jar, open south facing windows during the day and let the sun’s warmth aerate the rooms.

Learning more about acupuncture

DAAN — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 13:31:27 +0000

Acupuncture is gaining popularity and here’s an article that explain what it is and what is used for.

DAAN offers acupuncture treatments, to make an appointment, contact us.

Ever visited an acupuncturist to treat asthma or chronic fatigue? Ever wonder what acupuncture is for? What is acupuncture?

Acunpuncture is a traditional therapy used to create a state of balance and harmony through the re-direction of energy. Most well known as an integral part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, being used by the Chinese to treat illnesses for thousands of years, the same fundamental practice was used by other ancient cultures, including the Egyptians and the Maya.

How does acupuncture work?

Still being introduced to the western world, where acupuncture is considered an effective alternative medicine treatment for pain, many people are left wondering, what exactly is acupunture?

In this healing art, a practitioner uses ultra fine needles or electrodes to unlock blockages of subtle energy. Subtle energy, or chi, is then free to flow throughout the meridian system. The meridian system is am invisible network of pathways, connected energetically to the physical organs and transport systems of hte body. Once energy flow is returned to a state of harmoney, healing can occur. An acupuncturist known what points along the body to stimulate to treat the specific imbalance of the patient.

Sounds intriguing? It really is a fascinating form of healing, which has developed over thousands of years. Interested in learning more? The Art of Acupuncture Techniques by Robert Johns is a great comprehensive study, especially for people interested in studying acupuncture. Peter Mole’s Acupuncture: Energy Balancing for Body, Mind, and Spirit gives a clear understanding of acupuncture and healing through subtle energies.

Acupuncture for the holidays

DAAN — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 04:37:42 +0000

Acupuncture is the practice of inserting thin needles into specific body points to improve health and well-being. This holiday season, why not give yourself a gift of health and try acupuncture?

Please contact our acupuncturists to set up an appointment.

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese art which has evolved over thousands of years. The Chinese used bones, sharpened stones and bamboo sticks to locate ashi (points of pain) to administer relief.
To date there is still a lot of research being done on acupuncture. Many of the ideas used in acupunctural treatment have never been reconciled with main stream sciences like physics, chemistry and biology and it is viewed in many circles as mysticism.

However, the World Health Organisation has approved acupuncture as being effective treatment for at least 28 illnesses. Acupuncture is also recognised as a form of alternative medicine by the American Medical Association. In Uganda, the first acupunctural clinic was registered and licensed by the Ministry of Health in 2005.

How does acupuncture work?

Wikipedia, the on line encyclopaedia gives a description of the basic elements of acupuncture. Acupuncture practitioners believe that in order for one to be healthy there must be a state of balance between yang and yin. Yang is vital energy while yin is linked to, though not necessarily identified, with blood. When yin and yang are not balanced, then one’s health deteriorates.

Another major tenet of acupuncture is the belief in qi. Dr. Liu De Zheng of Natural Chinese Herbal and Acupuncture Clinic says qi is something we cannot see but can only feel as it flows through our body causing relief and healing. Qi is believed to be a form of life energy that flows through our body meridians.

These meridians are presented as lines connecting different parts of our body to vital organs. For example a headache can be treated by locating an acupuncture point around the back of the leg. Acupuncture points are said to exist on twelve main and two extra meridians. What acupuncture does is improve blood circulation and open up blood vessels so qi can flow freely through the body and cause better health and well being.

It is in these acupunctural points that several needles are inserted to treat particular ailments. These needles are usually retained in the body for about ten minutes to an hour. The practitioner may choose to manipulate particular needles at particular acupunctural points to give the desired effect. Sometimes small amounts of electrical stimulation may be employed.
Zheng advises that acupuncture is even more effective when used with lightable Chinese herbs to further stimulate the nerves.

What ailments can acupuncture treat?

Zheng says that unlike conventional medicine, acupuncture actually cures and does not just relieve the symptoms of a disease. For example, for diseases like high blood pressure and arthritis whose drugs are known to cause adverse side effects and even damage some body organs, acupuncture can be good alternative and more effective treatment.

It is also said to cure joint pain, strokes, paralysis, stress, epilepsy and diabetes. The Natural Chinese and Herbal Acupuncture Clinic leaflet lists haemorrhoid, herpes, obesity and weight loss, malaria, fibroids, infertility, sinuses, skin infections, fungal infections, acne and ulcers as yet more diseases that can be treated by acupuncture.

Happy Winter Solstice

DAAN — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:35:37 +0000

Susan Yen L.Ac

A traditional Chinese dish in celebrating the first day of winter is “Tang Yuen”, a dessert with sweet rice (powder) and brown sugar as its main ingredients. Typically, this family oriented dessert is where the kids help with kneading sweet rice dough (mix sweet rice powder and water) and shaping them into bit size snow balls. Throw in the sweet rice snowballs into a pot of boiling water, and when they are done, the little snow balls will bobble about in the pot. The brown sugar is added to the boiled water to taste. For texture and taste variety, grounded black sesame paste or red bean paste are common fillings.

Other than having a legitimate excuse to have a sweet treat, the main ingredients, sweet rice and brown sugar are also a good source of nutrition. The properties of both are warm and neutral and are governed by the spleen/stomach meridians, and thus, after a bowl, one feels warmth from the inside out.

Dr. Oz recommends American ginseng to fight off H1N1

DAAN — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 01:11:40 +0000

Your best defense against H1N1, according to Dr. Oz, may be American ginseng.

DAAN offers quality ginseng products for your needs.

Worried about the swine flu? Worried about the H1N1 vaccination?

Staying healthy during the holidays is tough enough which is why Oprah’s favorite doctor, Dr. Oz, is giving tips on how to stay healthy this holiday season – Specifically recommending North American Ginseng.

“No matter where you’re going or how you are getting there, I recommend you always carry a travel kit,” says Dr. Oz. “Which includes hand sanitizer, antibacterial wipes and North American Ginseng.”

He adds, “North American Ginseng is the one thing that we have shown to be correlated with reduction in flu. In populations where people take it, there seems to be a lower incidence of viral spread.”

Dr. Oz offers other tips for how to fly safely and how to protect yourself and your loved ones when staying a hotel room. Read the full article from Us magazine

Amazing herbal dishes for the holidays

DAAN — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:33:23 +0000

Susan Yen
L.Ac

Those who are not used to Chinese herbs often complain of its distinctive flavors. Hence, many wonder how it is possible to make savory everyday dishes using Chinese herbs. Generally speaking, herbs used in cooking tend to be fruit or root based, like chicken soup with ginseng and lycium berry. The reason is because they have a natural sweetness and when used fresh, they are actually quite bland.

During the winter months, Chinese like to fend off the cold by cooking with warming or tonifying herbs. A particular favorite is Shi Quan Da Bu, this name loosely translates to “ten complete” formulation. As the name suggests it consists of ten herbs, five boost the qi (energy) and five tonify the blood. This is an easy and delicious soup to make. Simply throw in the ten dried herbs and some chicken legs or whole chicken into a pot, add 8-10 cups of water and cook for 2 hours under mild heat. An even simpler way is to throw herbs, chicken and water into a slow cooker/crock pot and let it cook for couple of hours, and you’ll end up with body warming herbal chicken soup.

Chinese herbs can help relieve PMS symptoms

DAAN — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:47:37 +0000

Chinese herbs have shown to be effective in relieving symptoms of PMS.

DAAN specializes in treating women’s health issues.

As many as 90 percent of all women deal with various degrees of premenstrual syndrome, ranging from moderate to severe aches, pains, bloating and emotional stress during their reproductive years. Reports show that as many as 40 percent have symptoms that are distressing enough to interfere with their daily lives.

Many women turn to over-the-counter drugs that only mask PMS symptoms for a few hours, but there are things you can do to repair the body from within. Here are five easy and natural cures that I’ve found get to the root of PMS symptoms and help repair your body naturally:

Bloating — Try some peach kernel (a fruit pit, not a nut). In the Chinese Herbal Materia Medica, peach kernel belongs to a category of herbs that invigorate the blood, expel stasis and moisten the intestines. All three of these actions help reduce bloating due to the menstrual cycle. The Chinese believe 10,000 diseases start in the intestines. The natural fats and oils contained in peach seeds help lubricate the intestines and unlock the bowels, thereby producing a gentle laxative effect. Not all peach kernels are created equal, so make sure you purchase the correct medicinal species. These can be found easily on the Internet, most Chinese markets or your local Chinatown. It’s extremely inexpensive and traditionally 5-10 kernels are crushed, boiled and made as a tea. You may also eat them raw, but use no more than 5-10 kernels. Some evidence says peach kernels may trigger an allergic reaction for those who have nut allergies. However slight, it may be better to avoid peach kernel if you have such allergies or if you’re pregnant.

Chinese medicine gaining popularity in Dubai

DAAN — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:44:10 +0000

Chinese medicine is gaining popularity in Dubai. DAAN offers an extensive products that can help you obtain a healthy lifestyle.

There’s nothing straightforward or simple about Chinese medicine. I discover this on my visit to the Chaslu Wellbeing Centre, where I assumed I could just pick up a list of the medicinal properties of easy-to-find herbs and spices. Dr Li Xiao Ling, the clinic’s herbal specialist, smiles at me and shakes her head.
‘In Western medicine, doctors will use the same medicine for different treatments. We use a different prescription for every person. People react differently to medicines depending on their yin and yang.’

Yin and yang, she tells me, are the energies that balance the body. When they are mismatched, the body gets sick. However, the energy can be unbalanced in different channels of the body, of which there are 14, containing a total of 369 energy points (these are often treated with acupuncture). Dr Li also explains that there are roughly 130,000 different herbs used in Chinese medicine, and while she does offer a few at-home remedies, she stresses that, like any medicine, the herbs should be prescribed.