DAAN Chinese Herbs and Acupuncture

Chinese medicine provides insights into insomnia:

“Insomnia, or the inability to get restful sleep, affects approximately 70 million Americans. The consequences of not getting enough sleep are significant and can impact every aspect of a person’s well-being. While many find relief with pharmaceutical sleep aids, these drugs often have undesirable side effects, and in many cases are not recommended for regular, long-term use.

Traditional Chinese medicine has long recognized the importance of sound sleep and has developed several effective strategies to help improve the quality and duration of sleep. In fact, a 2003 analysis of acupuncture research published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing concluded that “acupuncture may be an effective intervention for the relief of insomnia.”

Healthy sleep occurs when one’s body and life are in balance. Throughout the day there is a waxing and waning of highly active “yang” energy and slower, quiet, calm “yin” energy. Normally, a person’s yang is higher during the day while yin is more prevalent at night. When there is an imbalance between yin and yang, insomnia can result. A Chinese medicine practitioner might use acupuncture, herbs, massage, or a combination of these to restore balance and thus improve sleep.

Recent research suggests that simply going to bed and waking up at the same time each day can significantly improve sleep. You also can help move toward optimum sleep balance by taking time each evening to nourish quiet, relaxing yin activities such as dimming your lights, listening to relaxing music, or meditating. Additionally, yang activities such as watching TV, consuming spicy foods and stimulating beverages, and exercising should be avoided for up to three hours before bed. “

Tags: Acupuncture, General by DAAN
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An interesting story about a visit to a Chinese herb store in Toronto, Canada:

“The first, Yat Cheun Chinese Herbs Company, is located at 294 Spadina Ave. On the second floor of a non-descript building, Yat Cheun is both very clean and orderly. The second, Hu Chun Tang Chinese Herbs, at 558 Dundas St. W., is much smaller and the interior more closely resembles the archaic little store in the movie Gremlins where the trouble-making mogwai Gizmo was purchased.

Both stores are stocked with boxes of teas, glass jars filled with herbs, open barrels filled with dried goods and pills and tonics for seemingly every malady. Most products were unfamiliar, but I did identify ginseng, royal jelly and many varieties of mushrooms. The most exotic products in Hu Chun Tang were deer related, including deer tails for kidney support and deer blood for anemia. In Yat Cheun, I was fascinated by the dried sea horses and sea dragons, which are boiled to remedy tonsillitis.

I wanted to find out about immune-boosting materials, as I’m in the process of nurturing a concern for my health into a full-blown obsession. In Yat Cheun, I asked the clerk what he recommended and he answered with an enthusiastic “Yes!” before turning on his heels and heading into the back office, where he joined a conversation with two female colleagues and tucked into a bowl of noodles.

In Hu Chun Tang, I again inquired about my immune system, this time summoning all of my sixth-grade summer drama camp skills to produce a laboured cough. The clerk looked unimpressed. I, too, was unimpressed, and was reminded of why I was cast in the role of “background singer/dancer” in my camp’s production of Pippin.

The clerk in Hu Chun Tang did, after some insistence that verged on begging, recommend “Spore Powder Capsules” in a box with a picture of some mushrooms on the front. “This one prevents cancer,” she said. Not bad for $7.99.”

Tags: General by DAAN
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Traditional Chinese medicine is gaining recognition in the mainstream:

“Once the domain of sinsehs, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is now going mainstream and can even be paid for through medical insurance in the US, writes EU HOOI KHAW.
MORE scientific formulations in powder extracts, following the golden rules of safety, efficacy and stability, have uplifted the status of traditional Chinese medicine or TCM.

It’s a medical discipline that’s more than 5,000 years old, now going mainstream.

It has already gained acceptance in the West: in the United States such treatment can be paid for through medical insurance.

The Singapore General Hospital has a TCM division set up at considerable cost, some S$28 million (RM63.5 million). Now the Penang General Hospital has opened a TCM clinic and a TCM centre has recently opened in Johor Baru.
Called We Care TCM, it has on board a western-trained doctor who is its CEO and medical director, and doctors from China trained in and practising both western and Chinese medicine.”

Tags: General, East and West by DAAN
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Alternative Herbal Medicine is becoming mainstream:

“When you are sick, you feel helpless. It is not a nice feeling. It can be worse going through the modern health system when you are sick, for you are often treated as a problem that needs to be solved and not as a person. The doctor often pulls diagnosis from seemingly out of the air and relies on a mind-boggling array of technology and synthetic drugs. Although we are at a point in time where medical science is more advanced than ever, we are still getting sick. This is where patients who cannot get help from conventional medicine turn to alternative herbal medicines.”

Tags: General by DAAN
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Research suggests that ginger has strong anti-oxidant properties and could offer some protection from cancer:

“Chinese scientists say having ginger in the regular diet not only helps treat ovarian cancer but also prevents from its development.

According to the study published in the BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine journal, ginger has antioxidant and cancer-fighting properties.

Scientists believe gingerol extracted from the spicy root has also anti-inflammatory effects which helps regulate the immune system particularly in the time of infection.

Findings show ginger can inhibit the growth and modulate the secretion of angiogenic factors which are known to be responsible for shifting a dormant tumor to a malignant state.

The ginger also inhibits several compounds such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) which are linked with cancer growth.

Scientists claim eating a healthy diet rich in fruit and vegetables, regular exercise and avoiding stress are other effective factors in preventing ovarian cancer. ”

It’s also generally good for warming your body, reliving pain, and calm your stomach:

“As you stroll down the vegetable and fruit aisle of the grocery store, don’t overlook the brown, knobby root that is fresh ginger. If you have never used it before, it is very user-friendly and lends a distinctive taste to dishes.

It may also have health benefits. Suzanna Zick, research investigator in family medicine at the Michigan Health System, reports that “Ginger does appear to have several medicinal qualities.” Examples she cites: Ginger has been shown to warm the body, settle the digestive tract and relieve some types of arthritis.

Researchers are studying whether ginger can be used to prevent nausea caused by chemotherapy, she writes.

Fresh ginger contains a pungent substance called gingerol, a strong free-radical that acts as an antioxidant. It calms nausea by decreasing oxidative products made in the digestive tract that cause nausea to occur.

When ginger is dried and stored, it forms another substance, zingerone. Both gingerol and zingerone have antioxidants and anti-inflammatory effects and may prove to be cancer-protective.

Ginger causes the blood vessels to dilate, which explains its warming effect.”

Tags: General, Food by DAAN
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Chinese new year starts this year on February 7th. It’s year 4706, the year of the rat. Here’s some predictions for the new year for each of the signs of Chinese zodiac:

“OX: It’s a good year for the Ox, though the Tai Yang star favours the male more than the female. But both the Ox will shine and advance in money and position. In terms of career it is a good year, with leadership qualities.

The lady Ox may have some toh fah or attracting unwanted attention from flirty males. In this year’s horoscope, the Ox serves as a guardian angel to others. But when in need, a guardian angel will appear for the Ox. There will be a bit of leakage or sudden loss: it can be about money or a project may turn sour.

Be careful about speeding; you may collect a summons. You may have communication problems with your boss, subordinates and your children.

TIGER: There may be a lot of changes at work and with the family. It may bring a lot of stress but these changes are an opportunity to turn things around. The Tiger should carry a jade horse so that it will bring money instead of stress. This is because the tiger has a horse coming in this year. There will be travelling and lots of moving around.

You may find that your boss, subordinates and children do not understand you. There is a lot of yin qi, so try not to visit hospitals or attend funerals. You can also wear a prosperity bracelet.

RABBIT: It is a good year for the Rabbit, with a guardian angel helping you. The Tai Yin star favours the female Rabbit more than the male who may have toh fah or flirtations disturbing them. Everything she does will be smooth sailing. There will be prosperity and career advancement, even wedding bells ringing for the Rabbit, if single.

There may be tense relationships with family members. You should try to communicate more with them. There may be some arguments and disagreements. Try not to get involved in people’s quarrels or take sides.”

Read the whole article to find out what’s in store for you!

Tags: General, Culture by DAAN
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Psychiatrists in Taiwan are working to bridge the gap between western and traditional Chinese medicine

“The Taipei City Chinese Medicine Association, in association with the department of psychiatry at National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH), held a conference in Taipei yesterday on psychiatric medicine designed to give Chinese medicine practitioners a Western perspective on mental illnesses.

The conference is the first in a series to “build bridges” between traditional and Western medicine, the conference’s organizers said.

Western medical diagnoses of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, oppressive-compulsive disorder and anorexia nervosa do not have equivalents in Chinese medicine. However, it is important for practitioners of Chinese medicine to know and recognize the disorders, psychiatrists who spoke at the conference told an audience of Chinese medicine practitioners, who also gained some education credits necessary for them to be able renew their licenses with the Department of Health.”

Tags: Uncategorized, General, East and West by DAAN
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A fun article about losing the extra weight you might have put on during the holidays. I especially like ‘C’:

“. . . and CINNAMON: In Chinese medicine cinnamon is one of the herbs most widely used to aid circulation and digestion.

There is evidence that it can lower levels of cholesterol and blood sugar, and relieves gas. Celebrities often sprinkle some in their tea. ”

and ‘M’:

“M IS FOR MATCHA GREEN TEA: This is a concentrated form of tea in which one cup is the equivalent of eight to ten cups of green tea. It boosts your metabolism and also cuts sweet cravings.”

DAAN has some good tips for weight loss from a traditional Chinese medicine perspective.

Tags: General by DAAN
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As more species of plants become endangered, many traditional Chinese remedies that rely on those plants may be lost:

“xperts have warned hundreds of plants used in the preparation of medicine could be facing extinction.

Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) said as many as 400 plants were at risk from over-collection and deforestation.

More than 50% of drugs prescribed by doctors are derived from chemicals first identified in plants.

BGCI researchers now fear cures of killer diseases including HIV and cancer may never be found.

The BGCI - which represents botanic gardens in 120 countries and is based in Richmond, Surrey - surveyed its members and leading university experts who named 400 plants at risk of extinction.

At risk plants include: yew trees, the bark of which is used in cancer drug paclitaxel; hoodia, which drug firms are looking into to develop weight loss drugs; half of the world’s species of magnolias, which contain the chemical honokiol, used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat cancers and heart disease; autumn crocus, a natural treatment for gout and linked to helping fight leukaemia.

The report also outlines concerns for the five billion people worldwide who still rely on traditional plant-based medicine as their primary form of healthcare rather than the chemical substitutes which much of the developed world uses.”

Tags: General, Herbs by DAAN
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Burr…it’s winter again. Winter is many things to many people. To some it signifies the ski season, to some it is the ultimate season of sharing and consuming, and to TCM people, and winter is the season to tonify and to restore one’s essence for the coming year. For those outdoor snow mountain warriors, it is the season of sore muscles, aches and sprains.

As it’s often preached, warming up the muscles and joints is the best prevention against injuries. In addition to warm ups, putting external analgesic ointments like Wood Lock Oil or Electric Medicated Balm on joints and muscles before and after conquering the snow mountain will help in maintaining good circulation. A great and commonly used herbal combination for athletes and weekend warriors is taking Tien Chi (powder, regular strength pills, or extra strength pills) with Panax Red Ginseng. This combination works well because Tien Chi is an herb that promotes circulation and Panax Red Ginseng offers a good source of qi (energy).

This time of year people tend to overeat and eat less healthy food. Frequently used Chinese herbs for situation like this are Cleansing Tea and Hawthorn fat reducing tablet. The basic principle of these herbal formulas is to aid digestion and help with the “output” process.

According to TCM philosophy, winter is the season to tonify one’s qi and blood and thereby restore one’s essence. The reason behind this thinking is not just because the physical climate change affects the qi and blood flow but mirroring the ways of the earth, we humans too need to rest and replenish ourselves for spring. The most common qi and blood tonifying formula is Shi Quan Da Bu (in pills or powder) since it contains ten herbs specifically for this purpose.

For those who always complaints of cold hands and feet, try cooking 4 slices of Panax Red Ginseng with 2 cups of chicken/vegetable broth and reduce the ginseng soup to one cup, (roughly 20-30 minutes cooking time). Then, simply pour in a vial of Deer Tail Extract to the soup and drink it while it is warm. (This is soup is not recommended for people with hypertension).

If this is too laborious for some people, Jen Shen Lu Jung Wan is a good substitution for the soup.

Despite what the winter season means to each person, it is really a time to count one’s blessings and take care of one’s health for a new beginning in the spring.

Tags: General by DAAN
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