Farmers Market Surprise, Herbal Medicine For Grey Hair

Posted by Cathy on June 7, 2010

During my weekend farmers market stop I found a surprise hiding between the asparagus and the zucchini. A farmers table was filled with berries. Strawberries, blackberries, raspberries but then in a small inconspicuous container were . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

mulberries. Not quite as appealing and certainly not as popular. Most folks kept asking "what are those"? They looked like a little basket of worms. Ah, but to a self proclaimed herbal medicine witch, a mulberry is much more than just a berry. It's a kidney tonic, prized for it's health benefits. To find these berries in Southern California is highly unusual. Mulberries need a bit colder climate and even then, mulberries are not easy to pick or transport as they don't have a very long shelf life.

I knew I had to have them that instant. At $6.00 a basket, they weren't exactly cheap, but then again the health benefits alone should make them much more expensive. But please don't tell the farmer that. In Chinese medicine, Sang Shen, or mulberries are blood tonifying herbs. They nourish our blood and our kidneys, especially our kidney yin which we deplete with age. This is what gives they a reputation as an effective premature grey hair herbal medicine. Mulberries also have a gently, yet effective laxative quality, as do many berries in any significant quantity. I'm not sure how many other berries grow on a tree like the mulberry, rather than a bush, but I believe it's fairly unusual.

The look on my families faces when I presented my prized possession was a little more like shock, rather than excitement. Their first response, was "What are those?" with an undertone of disgust. When I said "a Chinese herb, I mean berries", they all questioned my sanity and/or my truthfulness. They know whenever I say it's a Chinese herb and it taste good something must be amiss. But they all tasted and were all pleasantly surprised. Fresh mulberries are delicious, I had to stop the gorging just to get a quick picture, the small basket was gone in a flash. They were sweet, juicy and flavorful. I can truly say they might just be my new favorite berry masking as herbal medicine. This coming from someone who believes raspberries are heaven sent. I picked and ate literally thousands of raspberries growing up. Although, I once found wild blackberries on a golf course in Oregon and they were honestly amazing. I had to go back the next day to pick more. Fresh off the vine or tree in this case, definitely makes the difference with berries.

Summertime Thirst Quencher Herb Teas

Posted by Cathy on May 28, 2010 with 2 Comments

Summertime is upon us and it’s heating up out there. Forget the lemonade and the passion fruit ice tea, here’s two recipes with natural herbs for real thirst quenching. These are great for anyone who wants a cool, refreshing drink that’s packed with vitamins and heat relieving properties. These thirst quencher ice teas are healthier than sports drinks and vitamin waters and yet still taste good.

This tea is also greener!! Instead of buying and tossing those plastic (BPA ridden) bottles into landfills, you’re making a healthy fitness beverage. You may not know these Chinese herbs but you can easily find them in Asian markets or on the Internet. These teas have cooling properties to help keep you comfortable on those hot and humid summer days. If you’re exercising in the heat these teas are perfect to rehydrate the minerals you’re losing. It’s what you need in your water bottle for a bike ride, after a workout and in the refrigerator all summer long.

Regarding sweeteners, we know high fructose corn syrup and cane sugar is not so good for us. High fructose corn syrup is prevalent in juice drinks, sports drinks and processed foods so here’s some natural herbal options to sweeten these teas. These sweeteners will help diabetics control their blood sugar and won’t contribute to your kid’s cavities.

Naturals Sweeteners:

I love how easy it is to use Lo Han Sweet. Add a few teaspoons to a pitcher of tea for a healthy, low calorie sweetener. It’s made from ½ Xylitol and ½ Chinese herb extract called Longevity fruit. It looks a little like Splenda’s consistency but much safer. My other sweetener choices would be Stevia or pure Xylitol. Be sure to buy Xylitol, a sugar extract, that is made from non-gmo corn. It resembles sugar but has a third less calories and is great for diabetics. Another option is boiling 1 Longevity fruit, (lou han guo) in a quart of water. The water will be super sweet and you can add this to your tea to taste.

Mint & Chrysanthemum Tea – Makes 10-15 cups

1 cup – Mint leaves – Dried or fresh. In Traditional Chinese Medicine mint is used to clear heat from the head and eyes. It’s cool nature helps relieve heat rashes and headaches. This Chinese herb you are sure to know and recognize but you probably didn’t know it also relieves irritability and but not recommended for nursing mothers.

1 cup – Dried Chrysanthemum flowers (Chinese grocery stores sell this or buy on line.) Chrysanthemum, another popular Chinese herb, has been used throughout Asia for centuries to reduce fevers, headaches and red swollen dry eyes.

Directions:

Boil 4 cups of water. Remove from heat and place herbs in water to steep for at least 10 minutes. Strain out herbs and add a few extra mint leaves for taste. Add additional 6 cups of water or ice. Use above sweetener to your desired taste. You may want to use 1 cup of the Longevity fruit sweetener water to taste.

Pink Berry Cooler Tea – Makes 10-15 cups

1 cup – Gou Ji Berries and/or Red dates – Both of these can be found at most Chinese markets and now some health food stores. Use about 1 cup of either or ½ cup of both. Both are great blood tonics , packed with vitamins and minerals and add a nice natural sweet flavor to any tea.

1-2 cups Watermelon – You can use both the melon and the white rind. But what you really need here is only the white rind. But, don’t cut too close to the green skin because the taste will get more bitter the closer you get. You’ll want to puree the watermelon with a little of the warm water from cooked berries above, before adding it to the other ingredients. Watermelon rind has the best cooling properties of just about any melon and has been used in Chinese medicine for generations.

2 cups – Aloe Vera Juice – Buy it by the gallon. It’s cheaper and goes a long way. This is an herb used for centuries and is well known for it’s cooling properties. It’s great for constipation, irritability and red eyes. Add the aloe to the mixture at the end. I find aloe to be fairly bland tasting so it can be hidden with other flavors easily.

Directions:

Boil 3 cups of water. Turn to a simmer and add gou ji berries and red dates. Simmer for 15 -20 minutes. Allow to cool. Strain out herbs. Add the aloe juice and watermelon juice. Add additional 5 cups of water or ice. Use above sweetener to your desired taste.

For a little zing add some sparking water before drinking to either tea or a splash of rose water. (You can usually find rose water in glass bottles in most ethnic markets as well as the Chinese herbs listed above.)

You can see Chinese herbs are not really all that exotic and foreign. 5 out of 6 Chinese herbs mentioned here you have probably heard of before. A little understanding about what to eat and drink when the weather is too cold or too hot can make a big difference in your health.

China quake ripple effect on Chinese herbs

Posted by Cathy on April 25, 2010 with 2 Comments

The 7.1 earthquake that hit China April 14 now has a rippling effect on the most famous of Chinese herbs, cordyceps. Families are depending on this acclaimed herb not just for their health but now, more than ever before, for income. Cordyceps is one of most sought after Chinese herbs which grows in the mountains near the region heavily hit by the quake.

The twig like fungus that grows from a caterpillar shell is found in the mountainous region near where the quake crumbled the regions small villages. Because of over harvesting today it’s found only at high altitudes. Families traditionally start to hunt in late May for this fungus which is known for its miraculous healing properties. More locals are hoping to recover some of their loses by digging and selling more cordyceps.

But the fungus has become more difficult to find and often the mountain slopes are steep. The plateau’s of Tibet can be a harsh environment for these families. Many pitch tents at high altitudes and live on the bluffs for a whole month. The fungus is more plentiful after a season of wet weather and this year has been noticeably drier which worries many who have come to depend on the harvesting of dong chong xia cao, as it’s known in Chinese. The literal translation is “winter worm, summer herb.”

Cordyceps is known for it’s cancer fighting abilities and it’s ability to boost the immune system. The plant already faces extinction even as China produces 200 tons of fungi every year. 70% of dong chong xia cao is from the region of Qinghai, the hardest hit by the quake.

Wealthy Chinese consume cordyceps for their health while the impoverished farmers risk their health to harvest it. Sadly, many in the region now have no other choice but to dig for the fungus to rebuild their lives from the earthquake and hope for a good harvest.

To learn more about the miracle herb/fungus check out this article.

One herb, two herbs, red herbs, blue herbs…. What’s the difference?

Posted by Cathy on January 28, 2010

red herbs blue herbs all chinese herbs for PMS Relief & sleep

When we speak about using plants as medicine there are two very different and distinct methods, Western herbalism and Chinese herbal medicine. I find a lot of confusion between these two methods, so I've written a little background on each.

Western herbal medicine or folk herbalism primarily treats symptoms such as asthma symptoms or coughs, colds, headaches, constipation symptoms, PMS symptoms etc. All cultures across the globe have used indigenous plants for their own brand of folk medicine. However, Western herbs in our modern day fell from the lime light when prescription medicine started being heavily marketed in the 1950’s. They seem to be making a comeback today, but large clinical studies are scarce and very expensive and this makes it difficult to know what really works. Good manufacturing standards, which are overseen by the FDA in the U.S. are getting stricter, but enforcement is lacking and herb quality control has no standardization.

In comparison, Chinese herbal medicine is the worlds oldest documented medicine. Chinese medicine has been continually practiced for over 2000 years. The same herbs have been prescribed for centuries. However, the method of prescription is done on what’s called “pattern identification” rather than on just “ bodily symptoms”. Pattern identification can get complicated but in a nut shell, a patients pattern diagnosis is made up of a person’s overall body constitution, medical history, emotional temperament, signs and symptoms. Chinese herb formulas are prescribed according to each individuals set patterns and often customized to treat both the underlying root cause of disease and symptoms.

Chinese medicine including Acupuncture is gaining popularity in the West as an effective alternative therapy. Unlike Western herbalism, China, Taiwan, Japan and other Asian countries have extensively researched and studied herbs in clinical trials. Today most of Asia depends on herbs for their primary medicine. Good manufacturing standards in Taiwan, a large producer of Chinese herbs, are extremely controlled compared to the U.S. and both enforcement and quality control standards are similar to pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities in the U.S. The reason for these strict standards in Taiwan is because the herbs are covered as part of the Taiwanese National Health Insurance program and heavily depended upon for all types of illness. In fact, even a swine flu cure has been highly publicized in Asia using only cooked and processed Chinese herbs.

Hope this helps explain the differences, if you have any questions feel free to post below.

New Cancer Treatments Possible Via A Very Special Mushroom

Posted by Cathy on January 5, 2010 with 1 Comment

A while back I wrote about a type of mushroom called Cordyceps used in Chinese medicine which sells for $100.00 an ounce or even more. (Click here for that article) Here’s one reason this herb/fungus is such a prized possession. The very prestigious, University of Nottingham just published the findings from researchers there who have discovered how this mushrooms works within our bodies.

This incredible discovery on the active ingredient called cordycepin and it’s pathways, is the first step in learning how cordycepin can treat many diseases including cancer. Although this mushroom has been actively studied since the 1950’s, researches never figured out exactly how cordycepin worked on cells. Dr Cornelia de Moor of The University of Nottingham said “With this knowledge, it will be possible to predict what types of cancers might be sensitive and what other cancer drugs it may effectively combine with.”

Professor Janet Allen, BBSRC Director of Research said, “The knowledge generated by this research demonstrates the mechanisms of drug action and could have an impact on one of the most important challenges to health.”

Chinese medicine has held cordyceps in high regard for hundreds, even thousands of years. For more information on cordyceps click here. It’s always wonderful to learn how modern medicine is finding new information on ancient Chinese herbs.

This research was funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and was carried out at The University of Nottingham.

Indigestion, Need Some Relief?

Posted by Cathy on December 30, 2009

Over indulgence and holidays seems to go hand in hand. Rich, tempting food seems to be everywhere, leaving us with heartburn and indigestion. For thousands of years people have turned to natural plants to relieve their suffering from acid reflux, heartburn and indigestion. Many found Chinese herbs, fruits and roots were the answer to what ailed them. Here are a four herbal remedies from the history books that helped back then and still help today with the age old problem of indigestion.

1. Hawthorne Berry (Shan Zha) not a strawberry or raspberry but a sour fruit (I call it an herb) that works great after the overindulgence of meats and greasy foods. If you’re prone to familiar heartburn, abdominal distension and acid regurgitation this herb is for you. Shan Zha has also an abundance of data as a cardio-tonic. Similar to many Chinese herbs it has the ability to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, and even widens the coronary arteries. If you’re a buffet gourmet this is your herb. Shan Zha can be found dried at most Asian markets or online. Boil it and drink as a tea.

2. Massa Fermentata (shen qu) Also known as medicated leaven, massa is not just one herb, but actually a mixture of fermented wheat flour, bran and a few other herbs. In traditional Chinese medicine, massa’s main function is to eliminate indigestion, and harmonize the stomach and stop diarrhea. Dried massa is available in Asian markets, often referred to as “medicinal fermented mass,” which usually contains orange peels and different herbs. As of this writing, there are no known drug interactions or side-effects associated with massa.

(In 1997, a professor of School of Agriculture of Tokyo University of Japan, Akira Endo discovered that monacolin K, a by product during the fermentation process of shen qu, can inhibit the synthesis of cholesterol in human body and can promote circulation.)

3. Licorice Root (Gan Cao) has a long and lustrous history in Chinese medicine. As one of the most widely used herbs, licorice has a host of benefits. It’s ability to increase production of mucin provides proven benefits to the mucous membrane lining of the digestive tract and its flavonoids also protect against stomach acid. Licorice flavonoids have anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic and anti-acid effects along with many other actions. Use raw, boil and drink as a tea, or purchase in capsules. Be aware that capsule products won’t be the same strength as raw herbs unless you take large handfuls at a time.

4. Mint – Peppermint is well known as a breath freshener but its actions go much deeper. The active component, menthol oil, activates our saliva glands as well as glands that secrete digestive enzymes. Mint helps to balance intestinal flora by eliminating the harmful bacteria, parasites and viruses present in the gut, the main causes of bad breath and acid reflux. Buy it fresh and let it seep in hot water a few minutes and drink, you can strain out leaves. Don’t boil it for any length of time, you will likely cook out the beneficial menthol oils.

When you’re looking for natural remedies for indigestion you can always try the “old stand bys”: eat small meals, chew your food thoroughly to activate those digestive enzymes, eat fresh not processed foods and don’t grab food in a rush. That’s all good advice but when it doesn’t work, get yourself some of the Chinese herbs listed above, all guaranteed to work.

References

Lu HY, et al. New usages of jian pi wan. Journal of New TCM 1992;24(11):44-45.
Wang GJ. Treating 33 cases of duodenal stasis with jian pi wan. National Journal of Medicine Forum 1995;10(5):41.
Xiong ZF. Treating 300 cases of child diarrhea with modified jian pi wan. Journal of Chengdu College TMC 1986;(3):29-30.
Yu WP. Comparative experimental research in jian pi fang and vitamin E’s effect on fruit fly life span. Jiangsu Journal of TCM 1991;12(8):33-34.
http://www.www.alternativehealing.org/shen_qu.htm

What is it about Fresh Home Cooking?

Posted by Cathy on December 18, 2009

Many of us are going “home” for the holidays and looking forward to a fresh home cooked meal by our mothers, grandmothers or anyone who loves to cook. Fresh is always better, food and herbs alike. There is most definitely a better taste to freshly cooked food vs the pre-packaged variety. It’s not just the taste that’s pleasing it’s how well we feel afterwards. We feel stronger, happier, more energized and ready to take on the world after a hearty, healthy meal.

Eating fresh herbs should give you the same feeling. In this case I’m referring to Chinese herbs taken as herbal medicines should have the same strength or greater than food. Chinese herbs have specific qualities to benefit your health. Take the right ones for your body and you should feel stronger, happier and more energized.

Yet, many Chinese herb products on the market don’t make you feel this way at all. Did you every think that maybe something got lost in the processing when those wonderful natural plants got put into some little tiny pills or capsules. Maybe those natural product, roots, berries, flowers were exposed to air (like that banana on the counter for too long) and air just spoiled them rotten?

It happens all the time. In fact, bottled herbal supplements are spoiling as you read this. They are not protected from air and moisture. They try by adding those moisture absorbent little packs into the bottles, but natural products do what they’ve always done, they spoil naturally.

BUT NOT OURS!

Our herbs are cooked and dried into a concentrated extract (which equals about 4-5 times the potency of the fundamental herbs) and immediately packaged in air tight, moisture tight individual packets. This packaging protects the natural flavors and benefits chemicals within the herbs. Because foods and natural herbs degrade quickly when exposed to air and moisture, our method of packaging insures the freshest possible Chinese herbs. Guaranteed fresh as the day they were cooked. Our herbs are just like that fresh home-cooked meal your so looking forward to this time of year to make you feel stronger, happier, more energized and ready to take on the world.

Flower Medicine on the Forefront of Liver Cancer Treatment

Posted by Cathy on November 30, 2009

Ye Ju Hua Wild Chrysanthemum Flower Chinese Herb

Natural products like Chinese herbs have become increasingly important for new pharmaceutical discoveries. Chinese Herbs and other phyto-medicinals are being widely studied particularly for cancer treatments. Currently more than 60% of cancer drugs are of plant origin. New research on the Chinese herb called Ye Ju Hua or Wild Chrysanthemum flower shows anticancer activities and could be a valuable resource in the fight against cancer.

The flowers of Chrysanthemum indicum (Chrysanthemi Indici Flos), is a traditional Chinese herb widely used throughout China and Asia which this study suggests could be a promising novel treatment for liver and other cancers. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is known as a common and aggressive malignant cancer worldwide. In China, HCC accounts for 90% of primary liver cancer, which is the second most common cause of death. Chemotherapy plays an important role in the treatment of cancer, but it is limited to a significant extent by its toxicities and side effects. One possible way to increase the potency of anticancer drugs and to decrease side effects is to develop traditional medicines, especially from medicinal plants.

Chrysanthemum has a long history of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat vertigo, hypertensive symptoms and several infectious diseases such as pneumonia, colitis, stomatitis and carbuncles. A series of recent studies have demonstrated that Chrysanthemum possesses antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulator, and neuroprotective effects. Recently, much attention has been devoted to the anticancer activity of Chrysanthemum on human cancer cells, however, its anticancer mechanism of action is still not clear and needs further investigation. The inhibition of tumor cell growth without toxicity in normal cells has attracted considerable attention in cancer therapy.

Clinical studies have shown Chrysanthemum can be used in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents and other Chinese herbs. One study found that patients with metastatic breast cancer postoperatively receiving Chrysanthemum as one of the main components, in combination with other traditional Chinese medicines, had a 5-year overall survival rate of 70% and a complete response rate of 60%, and in combination with chemotherapeutic agents, had a 5-year overall survival rate of 77% and a complete remission rate of 80%, without adverse effects. Another study demonstrated that Chrysanthemum in combination with traditional Chinese herbs, achieved a response rate of 67% in advanced stage esophageal carcinoma patients.

Plant-pharmacology used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) continues to be an important source of discovery and development of novel therapeutic agents for cancer treatments.

Link to Study:

Zong-Fang Li, Zhi-Dong Wang, Shu Zhang, Xian-Ming Xia, Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710004, Shaanxi Province, China. Chen Huang, Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases of the Education Ministry, School of Medicine, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an710061, Shaanxi Province, China

Supported by Grants From the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30672766 and Science and Technology Developing Foundation of Shaanxi Province, China, No. 2006 K16-G4 (1)

Published online: September 28, 2009

Peer reviewer: Dr. Yukihiro Shimizu, Kyoto Katsura Hospital, 17 Yamada-Hirao, Nishikyo, Kyoto 615-8256, Japan

Once used only in Chinese Medicine, Now This Southern Weed May Help Alcoholics

Posted by Cathy on October 28, 2009 with 2 Comments

Kudzu, a vine also known as Ge Gen in Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine has been considered a weed and an invasive species in the "Deep South" for the past 50 years.

It has also been celebrated as one of the 50 most fundamental herbs in Chinese Medicine.

While first prized for its sweet smelling flowers, it’s encroaching and invasive nature soon made it unpopular to some and a flight of fancy for others. Here in the US, poetry, books and films have been written about this vine, and it has the making of a legend in its ability to grow one foot a day and up to sixty feet a year, covering any structure, small or large. Our picture shows it eating a car.

Festivals have been planned in its honor, clubs have been formed and individuals have been known to create hundreds of baskets from its vines. In Japan and China, it is used daily in teas and consumed just as turnips would be. Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine practitioners have used kudzu for over 2000 years to treat many diseases, including diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Scientists in Alabama and Iowa have reported the first evidence that root extracts from kudzu show promise as a dietary supplement for a high-risk condition that affects almost 50 million people in the United States alone, metabolic syndrome. Scientists have been seeking natural substances that can treat metabolic syndrome, which creates an excessive amount of glucose in the blood and is linked to both diabetes and obesity.

A new study evaluated kudzu root extracts, which contain healthful substances called isoflavones. Connect here for Metabolic Syndrome Study Recently, there have also been several laboratory studies conducted on mice that show Kudzu to be effective in reducing alcohol intake. A study has shown this commonly used Chinese herb seems to prevent the usual increase in binge drinking that occurs after five days of abstinence and also prevents relapse.

Extracts of various parts of the kudzu vine are said to be "helpful in treating a variety of maladies, including alcoholism and intoxication," said Ting-Kai Li, a professor in the department of psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center, and former director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Considering that nearly eighty percent of abstinent alcoholics or addicts relapse within a year, the value of Kudzu in helping to treat alcoholism could make it a legend in the world of medicine.

It has been suggested that once Kudzu has been further studied, this Chinese herb has a high likelihood of replacing Antabuse, a well-known but slightly toxic medication that is currently used to treat chronic alcoholism. One researcher involved in the study Dr. Diamond said we “hope this novel compound will become an effective therapeutic agent for alcoholism.” So what was once deemed a weed by the USDA, has the potential to become a goldmine for the South. It has even been suggested that Kudzu could be used to produce the same amount of ethanol as an acre of corn, thus supplementing our current energy resources as well. Click here for a link to the studies referenced.

This article is designed to provide the reader with clinical research results and the potential benefits and or risks associated with CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicines). The author advocates neither for or against any particular therapy and recommends individuals speak with licensed medicial practitioners before using any Chinese herbal supplements or other health supplements.

Slowing Prostate Cancer with Chinese Herb Ling Zhi

Posted by Cathy on October 18, 2009 with 6 Comments

I try to bring important medical research articles to this forum to keep readers educated, through scientific studies, on Chinese Herbs that exhibit extraordinary medical results. This research was conducted in 2007 and although not as recent as some other studies I’ve mentioned, it’s relevancy is certain worthy of reporting here.

Researchers at the University of Haifa in Northern Israel, found molecules in the Ganoderma lucidum mushroom, (a popular Chinese herb) commonly known as the reishi or lingzhi in Chinese Medicine which help suppress some mechanisms involved in the progression of prostate cancer. Ling Zhi seems to be able to slow the progress of disease. The compounds identified in ling zhi were found help suppress some of the mechanisms involved in the progression of prostate cancer. They disrupt the activity of androgen receptors and impede the proliferation of cancerous cells.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among men over fifty. The normal development and maintenance of the prostate is dependent on androgen acting through the androgen receptor (AR). Mutation of AR may contribute to prosate cancer and remains important in the development and progression of prostate cancer. Current medications used to treat prostate cancer works to reduce the production of androgens or to interfere with their function via the androgen receptor.

Prostate cancer progression is also associated with increased growth factors and an altered response to growth factors by prostate cancer cells. It is thought this Chinese herb Ling Zhi helps modulate the signal pathways and may delay prostate cancer progression. This research started with 201 organic extracts from 68 types of fungi prepared with solvents such as ether, ethyl acetate and ethanol. They used these solvents to select molecules small enough to act from within the cells. From the 201 extracts, 11 successfully deter androgen receptor activity by more than 40%. Further testing showed that 169 extracts can inhibit growth of cancer cell. In this study, 14 extracts were found to be active in inhibiting prostate cancer cells.

From these active fungi extracts, the Chinese herb, Ganoderma Lucidum were tested as the most effective in inhibiting androgen receptor and controlling vital development of cancerous cells. "The results of this research are particularly interesting from a commercial aspect. Potential possibilities exist to establish research and development of bioactive components from Ganoderma Lucidum that could yield an anti-prostate cancer drug," remarked Dr. Zaidman.

This article is designed to provided the reader with clinical research results and the potential benefits and or risks associated with CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicines). The author advocates neither for or against any particular therapy and recommends individuals speak with licensed medicial practitioners before using any Chinese herbal supplements or other health supplements.

Good news for Pre-Diabetes, Chinese herbs help insulin levels

Posted by Cathy on October 14, 2009 with 4 Comments

Asian countries have been using Chinese Herbs for centuries to treat pre-diabetes (impaired glucose tolerance or IGT), the precursor of diabetes but now there is some scientific evidence to support the Traditional Chinese Medicine claims.

The prestigious Cochran Review has just published a study they conducted on 1391 participants which says “evidence suggests Chinese herbal medicines are able to lower and normalize high blood glucose.”

Pre-diabetes is recognized by higher than normal blood sugar levels. People with pre-diabetes are advised to change their diets to control their blood glucose levels and prevent progression to diabetes. Chinese herbs are believed to work in a number of different ways to help normalize blood sugar levels, including improving pancreatic function and increasing the availability of insulin.

Those given the Chinese herb formulations were less likely to develop full blown diabetes during the study period. Trials included in the review lasted from one month to two years. No adverse effects were reported in any of the trials. “Our results suggest that some Chinese herbal medicines can help to prevent diabetes, but we really need more research before we can confidently say that these treatments work,” says Suzanne Grant, lead researcher at the Cochrane Center for Complementary Medicine Research “The real value of the study is as guidance for further trials. We need to see more trials that make comparisons with placebos and other types of drugs, and better reporting on the outcomes of these trials.”

http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab006690.html

Alternative Medicine at Farmer’s Markets, fungus for $100.00 an ounce?

Posted by Cathy on October 4, 2009

Shopping at a farmers market is always a favorite activity of mine, checking out the best produce and looking for the best prices. I’d love to shop at a farmers market in Tibet where fresh cordyceps adorns the tables. Cordyceps has a history of being the world best fungus. But the cost may shock you. A $100.00 or more for a fee ounces? Prices vary depending on quality and can be even higher.

Cordyceps ability to treat chronic diseases including diabetes, COPD, liver and kidney diseases, tinnitus and amnesia, decreased libido and fatigue have all been heavily researched. Highly prized by ancient Chinese Emperors, many athletes today use this fungus to increase energy, improve endurance, increasing oxygen capacity and boost lung function.

In China cordyceps is used as both a dietary supplement and medicine for the above mentioned conditions as well as hyperglycemia, high cholesterol, respiratory disease and heart arrhythmias. The Western world is catching on to the incredible benefits of this strange worm that metamorphoses into a fungus. Clinical studies support these long held traditions, so many in fact I can’t possibly mention them all here. Even world renowned Sloane-Kettering’s posted the following on their website: ”Several studies showed significant improvements in all respiratory symptoms at a dose range of 3-4.5 grams of Cordyceps. Improvements were in shortness of breath, cough and expectoration, and sleep.”

The original cordyceps sinensis grows only in the mountains of Tibet & Nepal (and some other parts of China.) Cited in Tibetan medical texts even before Chinese texts which date to the 4^st century, cordyceps popularity has grown and is now Tibet’s number one export. Getting to the remote growing regions is not so easy. Did I mention you’ll need to climb to a least 10,000 feet above sea level and the harvesting season is very short, April until the end of June. Harvesting requires the gatherers to be on hands and knees with their faces close to the ground. The tiny cordyceps often resemble surrounding vegetation. A small knife is utilized for extraction, with extreme caution so as not to damage the larva, resulting in a loss of value. Each gatherer is lucky to collects an average of just 20 cordyceps in a day.

Cordyceps is a parasitic fungus that feeds mainly on butterflies, moths, and caterpillars. The wind spreads the spores over the soil and onto the plants, which are then either consumed by the future hosts or simply penetrate through the mouth or respiratory pores, eventually killing the insect. However, it is traditionally believed by the people of Tibet that cordyceps lives as a worm during the winter, and then in the spring undergoes a metamorphosis that changes it into a type of grass. In some areas, it is closely connected to local religion and its harvesting has been banned.

The mountain-grown cordyceps has become rare as more locals depends upon the income from its harvesting. The popularity and wealth of benefits from this fungus prompted Chinese scientists to find another way to grow mycelia strains using fermentation technology. Many experts say the laboratory grown cordyceps is chemically identical to wild grown, the benefit of course is its less expensive and widely available in Asia and I have seen it in China towns in the U.S. If you’re ever at a farmer’s market or anywhere cordyceps is for sale, don’t balk at the price of this fungus. Considering its health benefits, it’s by far the best buy in the market.

Top picture is the real deal… bottom right is laboratory grown.

Category: Chinese Herbs

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