Dec 07


Discover how adaptogenic herbs can help slow the process of anti-aging.

(NaturalNews) For the past 2500 plus years, both Chinese and Indian Ayruvedic health systems have used adaptogenic herbs as tonics for overall health and longevity. Adaptogens act as regulators or modulators in either direction. Balancing the body’s energy and immunity means if there is not enough, more will be created. If there is too much, it will be diminished.

When we take stimulants such as ephedra or caffeine, there is a peak of energy for high performance followed by a drop in both. Adaptogens avoid that and the resulting wear and tear by balancing the body’s endocrine and immune system. This allows us to draw on our native energy as needed and relax when not needed.

Adaptogens Defined

When modern western medical scientists started investigating these herbs in the late 1940’s, the term adaptogen was adopted, and eventually with its defining features, which are: 1) Nontoxic with normal dosage. 2) Produces a balanced defense against stress in whatever direction is needed. 3) Normalizes the whole body toward homeostasis.

Homeostasis is the internal system’s ability to remain constant and balanced despite the external stressors. Hormones are kicked into high gear to create fight or flight responses when dangers appear. Thousands or even hundreds of years ago, stressors were mostly life and death matters.

For most of us, today’s dangers are usually less dramatic. But the body’s internal reactions remain the same. And usually we don’t fight or flight! The resultant stress and anxiety created causes poor health and aging issues.

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Dec 04

IMG_3420Acupuncture is known to be effective in treating many ailments; now there are more reasons to seek acupuncture treatment.

DAAN offers acupuncture treatment, our experienced acupuncturists can help you lessen pain and achieve health.

What is acupuncture, how does it work and does it hurt? My daughter is an acupuncture practitioner and I am often asked those questions. Acupuncture is an important element of Chinese medicine and has been utilized for over 3000 years. In acupuncture, tiny needles, about the thickness of human hair, are inserted into specific points of the body called meridians. The needles stimulate the flow of energy through these meridians. Energy flow aids in keeping the body functioning normally. Pain results when energy gets blocked in a particular area of the body. Have you ever experienced this? When you first get out of bed in the morning, you feel stiff and sore. Once you move around and “get the blood flowing” early morning aches and pains tend to disappear. “Getting the blood flowing” or unblocking energy is the principle behind acupuncture.

I have had acupuncture and found that there is very little to no pain. It is generally very relaxing. Occasionally there can be an aching sensation around a needled area. This is considered a good sign and the aching diminishes quickly. I was treated for pain in my back muscles which was affecting my golf game. After one treatment combined with stretching exercises, I was back on the golf course. Besides pain relief there are other medical benefits of acupuncture. Two of these are facial rejuvenation and treatment for infertility.

Dec 01

Here are some ways to stay healthysky at work during the winter.

The following is from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services:

H1N1 flu continues to circulate in Nebraska. Dr. Joann Schaefer, Chief Medical Officer for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services encourages people to protect themselves and others in the workplace by following these 10 tips:

1. Wash your hands – wash often with soap and water for 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water aren’t available. Be sure to wash your hands after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose.

2. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

3. Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your upper sleeve, but not your hands.

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Nov 25

flowerChina and Singapore are using traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to ward off H1N1. DAAN’s Immune Booster can help you bolster your immunity and protect you against cold and flu.

PUTRAJAYA: The government may use traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to fight the infectious influenza A (H1N1).

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said a working group with the health authorities in China had been formed after it was found that China’s usage of TCM was successful in preventing the spread of flu.

“Apparently, Chinese medicine can prevent H1N1. They say a lot of work has been put into the research and application of Chinese medicine in H1N1.

“I will be looking into it and obtain details from China on how to do it.”

He added that they would be using the research that the Chinese had undertaken to apply it to Malaysia.

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Nov 23

WaterfallTraditional Chinese herbs can enhance your immunity especially during the cold and flu season.

DAAN’s Immune Booster is a great product that can raise your immunity against diseases.

HERBAL tonics fight flu As the world battles H1N1 and seasonal flu, it’s important to stay healthy and boost your immunity. Herbal potions, hot ginger foot baths and rubbing your belly and knees can help. Zhang Qian prescribes.

By boiling 10 herbs into a potion to boost qi — and thus immunity — Trisha Lin hopes traditional Chinese medicine therapy can prevent her family from catching H1N1 flu.

She just started brewing this herbal soup from scratch because she read the recipe on the Internet and through SMS. She concocts the mixture every two days.

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Nov 21

Making a connection between self control and one’s health and well-being.

Just how much control do we have over our body’s health and well-being? I have been grappling with this question for quite some time. The answer is still not completely clear.

We’ve all heard about the mind-body connection. Sages, healers, psychologists, and medical professionals, in both the east and west have been contemplating this link for thousands of years. Even positivistic, rationally oriented, left-brained, logic-loving scientists acknowledge a powerful connection.

I’ve heard more than one master say that the condition of our bodies is a direct result of beliefs we hold. Traditional Chinese Medicine agrees, stating that the body follows the mind. This makes a lot of sense to me both intellectually and experientially, but I do have one question: If it’s possible for us to have complete mental control over our bodies, why have some enlightened masters, who have complete control over their minds, chosen to experience painful diseases? Is there some reason for this? They claim to have control over their response to what the body experiences. I’ve read that, while these enlightened beings experience pain, they do not experience any of the suffering normally associated with such pain. Pain without suffering is experienced merely as sensation that is neither good nor bad. Is there perhaps something beneficial in the actual experience, such as burning off karma?

Nov 20

Martial arts expert Sifu Khabir is promoting holistic, healthy lifestyle.

Martial Arts expert Sifu Khabir is currently promoting tai-chi and chi kung therapy to combat sickness. Sifu Khabir has made available step by step instructional DVDs, CDs and booklets so one can practise in the comfort of their homes and remain healthy.

Many illnesses such as diabetes, asthma, heart disease, high and low blood pressure, cysts, tumours and cancers are increasing and person are suffering due to a poor health lifestyle. Persons are increasingly turning to herbal healing and alternative medicine for relief and recovery.

Tai Chi and Chi kung Masters for thousands of years have studied the science of health preservation through Chi Kung internal and external massage, breathing exercises, meditation, Chinese yoga, internal aerobics, herbs, good sexual habits and proper diet. Tai Chi and Chi Kung combines the benefits of physical exercise with what is known in modern medicine as psychoneuro-immunology — the art of using the mind to treat disease and promote good health.

Nov 17

Taiwan is about to open its first plant medicine center, focusing on traditional chinese medicine.

Taipei, Nov. 16 (CNA) A tropical plant medicine center, the first of its kind in Taiwan, is scheduled to become operational on Wednesday aiming to serve as a plant medicine research stronghold and to provide plant medicine services for individuals and organizations at home and abroad.
The center, authorized and organized by National Pingtung University of Science and Technology’s Department of Plant Medicine, will have plant doctors serving as trained consultants to agricultural firms, liaisons between researchers and producers, and educators to the general public, said Chen Cang-hai, director of the Pingtung university’s Department of Plant Medicine.

The type of plants the center will give the public expertise on will include traditional herbs used for Chinese medicine as well as plants that are used to make modern medicine.

Nov 16

Ginseng is known for its effectiveness in boosting one’s energy and maintaining one’s overall health. DAAN carries a variety of ginseng products, one of our best seller is the DAAN Pure American Ginseng Tea.

You all know the feeling. It starts with a whisper of discomfort, then the tell-tale scratchy throat, then suddenly, before you can even reach for a lozenge, you’re a goner: sneezing, runny nose, and then full-blown congestion and general misery. Despite best efforts to pretend you’re not sick, you inevitably utter those famous, cold-remedy commercial words: “Hudey, I’ve got a code id my dose.”

Yes, you’ve got a cold. Now what? Echinacea. Ginseng. Chicken soup: check, check, check. Some old, and some (relatively) new, all are purported cold remedies, recommended with varying degrees of vigour by friends, loved ones, and occasionally health practitioners. But what about the evidence? Last week, we looked at the research surrounding the use of vitamin C, zinc, vitamin D and garlic for preventing and reducing the severity of the common cold. This week, we follow up with some of the other most well-known cold remedies – including your mom’s favourite, chicken soup.

Nov 15

Interesting interview with a traditional Chinese medicine doctor in Taipei. This article provides some good background in the theory and practice of Chinese medicine:

Chinese medicine dates back millennia, with its origins found in great doctors such as Huang Di, the Yellow Emperor, and Hua Tuo in the Han Dynasty. Many of the legends of the ancient physicians attributed supernormal powers to them as many followed Taoist practices. Huang Di, the Yellow Emperor, is generally revered as the originator of Chinese medicine.

Herbal remedies, acupuncture, moxibustion, qigong, and Tai Chi are included within the spectrum of Chinese medicine.

We recently spoke with Dr. Hu Naiwen, who has practiced traditional Chinese medicine, principally in Taipei, for more than 30 years. He has treated thousands of patients worldwide using traditional methods.

He started his education in modern medicine and later studied and practiced traditional Chinese medicine. He has a talk show on the Chinese TV station NTDTV and on the Chinese radio station Sound of Hope.

Dr. Hu says that Chinese traditional medicine is divided into internal and external medicine. From antiquity until today, Chinese herbal pouches have been commonplace. Dr. Hu said that this was a widely used treatment method by physicians in the past.

Dr. Hu feels that traditional Chinese medicine is more precise than modern medicine. Modern allopathic medicine, he feels, “has one prescription that is to be used for many people,” while traditional Chinese medicine is tailored to the individual patient. To illustrate his point, he says that sometimes blood pressure medications do not work, or the medication might lower the blood pressure too much. They also have side effects.

He used high blood pressure as an example. “Chinese medicine does not have any drugs to lower blood pressure,” he says. However Chinese herbs improve the entire body, which leads to improvement in many different areas, including blood pressure.

With modern allopathic medicine, doctors gather data and statistics. Then, they analyze this data and determine what the problem is. In Chinese medicine, there is neither data collection nor statistical analysis, but the doctor will say that you have a “general sickness.” He says that sickness is caused by your body being out of balance.

 
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