This Chinese Herb and Common Spice Lowers Blood Sugar for Type 2 Diabetes

Posted by Cathy on February 6, 2012

The rise in diabetes in the Western world is out of control. Too many folks seem to ignore the role of diet in prevention and treatment of diabetes and yet something as simply as cinnamon consumption may be an way to improve blood glucose levels.

Cinnamon is a common spice and Chinese herb used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for centuries. Cinnamon bark and twigs are often used in Chinese herbal medicine to enhance digestive function, promote the movement of qi, disperse the cold and fortify the kidney energy and pancreas.

A recent study from Germany published in the European Journal of Clincal Investigation shows a water soluble cinnamon extract can reduce fasting blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.

The cinnamon (known as the Chinese herbs Gui Zhi and Rou Gui) results further add to a growing body of clinical evidence demonstrating supplementation with cinnamon bark and twig extract may play an important role in managing blood sugar levels and improving insulin function.

The study done at the University of Hannover was both placebo controlled and double-blind, designed to determine the effect of a water-soluble cinnamon extract on glycemic control and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 2 diabetes. A total of 79 patients with type 2 diabetes not on insulin therapy but treated with oral medication or diet therapy were randomly assigned to take either a cinnamon extract or placebo capsule three times daily for four months. The cinnamon capsule contained 112 mg of water-soluble extract, an equivalent of one gram of cinnamon powder. The cinnamon extract group experienced a significant reduction in fasting plasma glucose levels (10.3%) versus the placebo group (3.4%). Changes in HbA1c and lipid profiles were not statistically significant.

“This study, together with a recent clinical trial utilizing Cinnulin PF, provides compelling evidence for the beneficial effects of a water-soluble cinnamon extract on blood sugar levels,” stated Tim Romero, executive vice president, Integrity Nutraceuticals International, marketer of Cinnulin PF. “We are excited to see in the coming months results of studies underway that further substantiate the efficacy and safety of Cinnulin PF.”

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Reference: American Botanical Council http://cms.herbalgram.org/herbclip/257/review43853.html

More studies on Curcumin:

Phase II trial of curcumin in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer

GoJi Berries For More Energy And Less Weight

Posted by Cathy on January 17, 2012

Have you tried goji berries yet? Before you could only find them at Asian grocery stores and China town. Now Whole Foods and health food stores everywhere are carrying them.

Goji berries have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for more than 2500 years. Sometimes they are also labeled as Lycium or Wolfberry. Goji berries make a great snack that provide quick energy. They have been used as a blood tonic herb in Chinese herbal medicine for this reason. This is exactly why we included them in our Energy Booster Herb Pack.

They look a little like a dried raisin, but smaller and red in color. Often selling for about $15.00 for half pound, they are NOT cheap! But the health benefits of this Chinese herb are more than worth their weight.

The value in these little berries has been demonstrated in hundreds of studies. One of the most recent studies done in the U.S. on goji berries found they can increase your metabolic rate and reduce body weight. So, if you're looking for a healthy snack food or a boost of energy, goji's are a great choice.

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References:

http://cms.herbalgram.org/herbclip/440/121151-440.html

J Am Coll Nutr. 2011;30(5):304-309.

The Chinese Herb Licorice Root For Cavities & Gum Disease

Posted by Cathy on January 11, 2012

One of the most commonly used Chinese herbs is licorice root and Web MD recently mentioned how licorice root can help prevent and treat tooth decay and gum disease.

According to a new study in the Journal of Natural Products, licorice root may help keep teeth healthy. But you won’t find the beneficial ingredients in licorice candy. Licorice candy is mostly sugar and in the U.S. often flavored with anise oil.

The herb licorice root is in nearly every herbal formulations in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The main reason for its popularity is its sweet flavor and its remarkable ability to guide other herbs to all 12 channels in the body. This might sound a little odd, but if you’ve ever dug up a small licorice plant you can see the roots tend to go in all directions. It is an interesting quality about this herb, because many herb roots don’t travel outwardly, they simple grow down. But the licorice plant has roots that are born to run.

I was once digging up a small 5 foot tall licorice that has meandered into the wrong garden space. As we followed the roots to clean up the space, they went 10-15 feet in several different directions. This Chinese herb seems to act the same way in the body and this is often why a very small amount, usually 3%- 6% of Traditional Chinese herb formulas often contain licorice. (Also known as Gan Cao.) Gan Cao helps other herbs in a formula travel to all 12 channels in the body. This is a very rare quality, there are only a few herbs with the ability to travel to all areas of the body.

I consider it an added bonus that licorice prevents tooth decay. A very small amount of licorice (3%) is found in our iSleep Herb Pack. It has traditionally been part of the 800 year old formula that iSleep is based upon. No reason to change something that 800 years of use has already proved successful.

The Active Ingredients

The two predominant compounds in licorice, licoricidin and licorisoflavan A, were found to be the most effective in inhibiting the growth of cavity-causing bacteria. These and other compounds found in licorice root were also shown to prevent the growth of bacteria associated with periodontitis, an inflammatory disease that can destroy the bones, gums, and tissue that maintain teeth.

Warnings about the effects of licorice for those with high blood pressure need some explanation. Studies on licorice root extract have shown a dose of 60 grams or more per 100g formula had side effects. However, this dose is at least 10X higher than the safe and recommended dosage used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Licorice has been used safely and effectively for thousand of years. There is no documented historical use of licorice ever being used in Traditional Chinese Medicine at a dose of 60 grams in a 100g formula. Like anything, if you abuse an herb, just like caffeine, or any drug, there can be serious side effects. It is always important to know the safe and correct dose of any medication.

P.S. Licorice root raw slices have a lovely little flavor if you need something healthy to chew on during the day. All Chinese markets sell them because they are often thrown into soups or used for a cup of tea. A lovely Asian tradition that we now know also protects our teeth.

Our Need For Speed Is Going Herbal

Posted by Cathy on December 26, 2011

Do you have enough energy to stay ahead of the game?

You can if you know the rules of the game.

Building, storing and keeping energy are the keys. But today’s fast paced, multitasking world creates many different stressors on our bodies. Often physical and emotional stress can drain us. With so much on our plates, how do we take enough time to give our body the fuel it needs to cope in our ultra-fast, get it done yesterday environment?

Eat well, build muscle and fat to store energy and then our bodies have enough to survive and thrive. These rules have always applied, but getting the right, high octane fuel is not so easy in our modern world. This is where coffee comes in handy. It is the perfect natural stimulant, right? It’s cheap, works fast and gives us that energy boost we desire. Yet, coffee does not contain anything that PRODUCES energy, it simply causes your body to release adrenaline into the blood. Adrenaline is a hormone that produces the “fight or flight” response. It is also known as the hormone epinephrine. Constant stress or surges of adrenaline caused by an overuse of caffeine can “burn out” or deplete your adrenal glands.

In other words, coffee forces the body to create and release energy

it doesn’t really have at the time.

The real problem is that you don’t know you are depleting your adrenals until you have exhausted this reserve. When you are running on empty, you can feel run down and feel compelled to add stimulating substances like sugar and more caffeine to get through the day.

Incredibly, our “need for speed” can be energized and replenished with natural herbal stimulants. Nature has provided us with herbs called adaptogenes. There are only a handful of herbal adaptogens which include American Ginseng, Siberian Ginseng, Rhodiola, and Cordyceps. These tonic herbs energize the body within minutes when high quality herbs are used. These herbs let you stay ahead of the game.

Tonic herbs build energy reserves by giving your body an

incredible array of

nutrients to create real and lasting energy.

The extraordinary naturally occurring chemical compounds in ginseng include ginsenocides, polysaccharides, saponins and several steroid compounds have been studied at major institutions around the world. These herbal compounds help the body recover from stress and fatigue while their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties regulate blood sugar. Some nutrients in ginseng act similar to anabolic steroids which are found in the body and are a safe alternative for athletes instead of synthetic steroids. Another component in ginseng is germanium which has a powerful hydrogenating effect on the body, especially on the liver.

In addition, there are more than eight different ginsenocides in various types of high quality ginseng which act as adrenal tonics. Korea has a University dedicated to studying different types of ginseng and Japan, Germany, Taiwan and China all have approved ginseng in their national health insurance coverage. Think about it, coffee is not paid for in the government insurance programs but ginseng is!

Ginseng is a safe herb that can be consumed every day without

any of the damaging effects of excessive caffeine.

A combination of blood tonic herbs and adaptogenic herbs is best and this perfect combination is found in Energy Booster Herb Pack. This combination of herbs in Energy Booster Herb Pack has been used for over 500 years to promote energy and vitality. Energy Booster Herb Pack has two types of ginseng, Asian ginseng and American ginseng. In addition, it contains goji berries and 10 other herbs all which work together to boost your energy naturally.

Build your body’s energy reserves, naturally. Artificially draining your adrenals day and day out is no way to stay ahead of the game. Find out why other countries include ginseng in their national health insurance to insure the health and well being of their population. There is no reason to go about your day being physically and mentally drained. The perfect answer to supplement your daily energy needs is now easy and convenient. Energy Booster Herb Pack tastes great in water or just dissolve the concentrated herbal extract in your mouth. You’ll feel the boost almost immediately and discover the energy you have been missing to stay ahead of the game.

Largest Herbal Medicine Garden In The World

Posted by Cathy on December 11, 2011 with 1 Comment

The Guiness Book of World Records has a new entry. The largest medicinal garden in the world has now been entered into the Guiness Book. Where else would the largest garden of herbal medicine be located? China, of course. China uses more herbal medicine to keep its 1.3 billion people healthy, than anywhere else in the world.

China is also home to the oldest recorded medical system in the world, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). TCM has been practiced and perfected for over 3000 years. The new botanical herb medicinal garden is a perfect way to celebrate the medicine the Chinese have given the world. TCM is practiced in just about every country in the world and the herbs used in TCM have a long and rich history of providing the world with some of the most effective natural medicine known to man.

Ginseng is one of the 6000 herbs growing in the garden. One hundred of the medicinal plants are endangered varieties and over 30 of the herbs are new varieties.

The garden also has 100,000 medicinal plant images. Its objective is to cultivate, collect and save medicinal plants along with conducting research. The garden is also expected to be an advanced international medicinal plants conservation base and a center for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) culture and science.

The garden is in a rural area of China that grows many of the herbs in the garden. The new garden is certain to bring more interest to Guangxi Zhuang, an area known for growing a large variety of Chinese herbal medicine.

Is The Chinese Herb Kudzu the Next Cash Crop?

Posted by Cathy on December 5, 2011 with 1 Comment

Some folks complain that Kudzu is an invasive weed, others call it a highly profitable cash crop. In Asia it is a medicinal herb.

I was reading a story recently about kudzu taking over the backyard and destroying a fence on a homeowners property. Funny and sad at the same time because kudzu is well known in Asia for its healing properties.

Michael Wyss, Ph.D., a Neuroscientist with the University of Alabama says kudzu contains healthy substances, called isoflavones. One particularly important isoflavone is puerarin, found only in kudzu. In fact, its the most abundant isoflavone in the plant. Puerarin is important because it can help control insulin for diabetics and reduce cholesterol.

The Chinese have used kudzu, a prominent Chinese herb in Traditional Chinese medicine, for centuries. It has been a proven mainstay for relieving muscular tension, reducing hypertension, dysentery and is commonly used for fevers due to the flu. Kudzu’s is full of health benefits and from my point of view could be the next cash crop.

Researchers in the U.S. investigated the effects of kudzu in rats. Female rats were given an extract made from kudzu root for two months. Another group of rats were fed a standard diet. At the end of the study, the rats given the kudzu extract had lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and lower blood sugar and insulin levels than the rats that ate the control diet. According to Wyss, only a very small amount of kudzu root extract was needed to achieve these results.

The study suggests that kudzu may be an effective alternative treatment that could be used in conjunction with traditional drugs to control insulin and cholesterol levels, and ultimately lower a patient’s risk for metabolic syndrome. In some cases, doctors may be able to give patients lower doses of other drugs, reducing the chance for side effects from the medication and making medications more affordable.

The root is the part of the kudzu plant or Pueraria lobata which holds the herbal medicine. It can grow to the size of a human body and is the source used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and modern herbal products. Kudzu grows in mostly in shaded areas of mountains, fields, along roadsides and thin forests, throughout most of China and many parts of the Southern U.S.

If your looking for kudzu as an individual herb supplement you will most likely have trouble finding it. In TCM kudzu is always used in formulas or combinations with other herbs. If your looking to lower your cholesterol or balance your insulin levels using natural herbs, I suggest finding a licensed Acupuncturist who is knowledgeable in Chinese herbal medicine. If you need help finding someone in your neighborhood we are happy to make recommendations. Just call or email us.

Kudzu Related Articles:

The Southern Weed Kudzu May Benefit Alcoholics

Chinese Herb Helps Prevent Osteoporosis

Posted by Cathy on December 4, 2011

The Herb Salvia Miltiorrhiza Used in an Extract Helps Osteoporosis.

New evidence now exists about the Chinese herb, Salvia Miltiorrhiza. This herb has been used for thousands of years and has been praised for its benefits for cardiovascular disease. The latest study on Salvia Miltiorrhiza indicates that this Chinese herb can also be beneficial to those suffering with osteoporosis, a thinning of the bones or loss of bone density over time.

The recent osteoporosis study results showed Salvia Miltiorrhiza (also known as Dan Shen) “significantly reduced the decrease in bone density.” The researchers believe the preventative effect of this Chinese herb was “due to its anti-oxidative stress via modulation of osteoclast maturation and number.” The researchers went on to say it “appears Salvia Miltiorrhiza could be a promising new osteoporosis therapeutic natural product.”
As women age and go through menopause they often begin to worry about their bone density. Chinese herbs are a safe and natural answer for this concern.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, TCM, Dan Shen is well known for promoting blood circulation and soothing nerves. It improves micro-circulation, is an excellent anti-oxidant, reduces blood fat and helps the liver and kidneys to regulate.

Ambien Side Effects Same With Intermezzo Sleep Aid

Posted by Cathy on November 25, 2011

FDA just approved a sublingual Ambien for “insomnia in the middle of the night followed by difficulty returning to sleep”

It has taken a few years, but the FDA has now approved Intermezzo, a low dose drug with the same active ingredient as Ambien. Zolpidem tartrate will now be in a sub-lingual tablet form rather than the sleeping pill, Ambien.

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet, said Shakespeare and in this case Intermezzo is still Ambien and the side-effects are the same.

For people who have difficulty staying asleep and can’t fall back to sleep we recommend an herbal sleep aid that has been used for centuries, safely.

If you are looking for completely safe and natural herbal sleep aids that can be taken in the middle of the night and works without side-effects you owe it to yourself to try Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine. The herbs in our iSleep Herb Pack have been used safely and effectively for hundreds of years and clinically tested on thousands of patients worldwide.

Sleeping pills have serious side effects and this issue has been raised by the FDA regarding Intermezzo. In fact, the FDA told manufacturer of the drug, Trancept previously that it was concerned about patients being too impaired to drive the day after use. Their answer was a revision of the warning label, “patients should have at least 4 hours of bedtime remaining”. The common side effects listed for this sleeping pill including headache, nausea and fatigue. As with Ambien and other prescription sleeping aids, Intermezzo can cause a person to get out of bed while not fully awake and do an activity that you do not know you are doing. Reported activities while under the influence of sleep medicines have included driving a car, making and eating food, having sex, talking on the phone, and sleep walking, without knowing at the time or remembering later. Chances of such adverse activity is increased if a person has consumed alcohol or taken other medicines that make them feel sleepy.

Herbal sleep aids have no side-effects. If you’ve tried Chamomile and Valerian and they haven’t worked for you, try out iSleep Herb Pack. It does not contain valerian or chamomile rather a combination of herbs that has worked for billions Chinese for over 800 years.

Teens Use The Pill For Cramps and Acne?

Posted by Cathy on November 21, 2011

The results of a study by the Guttmacher Institute were just released. It tells an interesting story about why American teenage girls are choosing birth control pills for noncontraceptive reasons.

The study points out that little data has been gathered previously on the use of oral contraception for purposes beyond that of preventing pregnancy. The federally funded survey done from 2006-2008 titled the "National Survey of Family Growth" examined the reasons why women and teens are using the pill for noncontraceptive reasons.

The Guttmacher Institute estimated from this survey that 1.5 million women in the U.S. are using oral contraception for noncontraceptive purposes. This includes reasons such as acne, primary dysmenorrhea, prevention of migraines, fibroids, excessive pelvic pain, bleeding and other "side effects" of menstruation. The Guttmacher institute says "The reliance on birth control pills for noncontraceptive reasons is highest among pill users who are teenagers. In fact, teens are more likely to report using the pill for noncontraceptive purposes than for birth control: Some 82% of 15-19 year-olds who use OCPs say they do so for non-contraceptive reasons".⁶The three most common reasons are: menstrual pain, menstrual regulation and acne. The survey did not ask about other hormonal methods of contraception ie. the ring, patch, implant or IUD. The data was gathered using in-person interviews with 7356 women aged 15-44.

Oral contraception is artificial hormone regulation of the endocrine system and the risks of these drugs can be serious. A friend of mine, healthy at age 30 suffered a stroke from birth control pills and four years later still has no use of her left arm and walks with an extreme limp. She started the "Pill" at age 15 to alleviate her painful periods. I do not want to scare you, so I will refrain from further stories from patients or friends, about the use of birth control pills. But, do the 82% of teenagers using the pill for noncontraception reasons understand the risks of these drugs? Do they know all the possible ramifications of their choices? My friend has said many times,

"I wish I had known, I never would have taken the pill if I knew this could happen."

Dr. Larry Norton is a well known breast cancer doctor at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York City and when interviewed on Oprah.com had this to say about birth control pills. "Birth control pills are an estrogen-progesterone combination, so they bring up the same fears as HRT. Some disagree with me, but I just don't see a reason to take the Pill–even for younger women. The fact is, breast cancer cells, at least in the formative stages, like estrogen. So the more continuously you feed them the estrogen, the greater the likelihood you'll have a malignancy. With the sexually transmitted diseases that we have to worry about nowadays, I think barrier methods make a lot more sense." ¹

Do our teenagers have this information? Do they know that in 2005 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that "combined estrogen-progestogen oral contraception is carcinogenic to humans."²

Do these teenagers know about BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes? Are teens getting checked to see whether they carry this gene mutation? This mutation gives a woman "a 36-52 percent risk of developing breast cancer by age 70"³. Personally, I would want this information to make my choice about oral contraception an informed one. I want to know about any drug that can possibly cause cancer cell growth, especially if I have a gene that puts me at a higher risk for cancer.

The Breast Cancer Fund has a book called "State of The Evidence"⁴ (this book is free and online) in which they sum up a number of studies on birth control pills with the following statements: "Numerous studies have shown an increase risk of breast cancer in women using oral contraceptives …. especially those who start taking birth control pills earlier in life and take them for a longer period of time."⁵

What do you think? Do the teenagers possess this information and are they making informed choices about their health? Is all the information available to them and are the facts presented properly? Drugs have serious ramifications and not all are immediately evident. Teens choosing oral contraception for menstrual cramps and acne is a personal choice that requires some serious study.

Women have more choices today than ever before. Choices have ramifications and choices about our health and drug use are no exception. Freedom of choice is a wonderful thing and I support it 100%. I believe choices should be made after carefully weighing benefits and risks. Due diligence is especially important when the choice could involve serious health consequences.

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References:

1. http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/Breaking-News-on-Breast-Cancer/2#ixzz1dzBMRJKk

2. http://www.iarc.fr/en/media-centre/pr/2005/pr167.html

3. Dr. Susan Love http://blog.dslrf.org/?p=24

4. & 5. Breast Cancer Fund http://www.breastcancerfund.org/assets/pdfs/publications/state-of-the-evidence-2008.pdf

6. Guttmacher Institute study http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/Beyond-Birth-Control.pdf

Do Chinese Herbs Grown in a Hostile Environment Make Better Medicine?

Posted by Cathy on November 16, 2011

Today’s blog I’m looking for some feedback, because, people on all continents, for thousands of years have used the power of herbal remedies. After all these years of use, and thanks to modern chemistry, we know which plants produce what compounds that makes it effective as an herbal sleep aid, an herb for energy, an antimicrobial or for whatever therapeutic results is intended. Today we farm these herbs all around the world, including in California as my last post described the growing of Da Zao, the Chinese herb well known for digestion.

But, is there a difference between an herb (Chinese herb or Western herb) which is farm raised compared to one which grows naturally in the wild? Wild crafted herbs were historically the only ones used for healing benefits. Agriculture is a fairly recent event in the 60,000 years since Neanderthal man. Plants growing today in nature obviously live in a more hostile environment than those living on a farm. Farm raised herbs are protected by the farmer because the farmers depend on the crop for their livelihood. Greenhouses are constructed, watering systems, fertilizers etc. etc.

On the contrary, herbs growing in the wild are exposed to their world 24/7. It is exactly this exposure of temperature extremes, water deprivation or flooding, wind, rain and even predators trampling them or eating them that give an herb its strength. A weak plant will not survive harsh elements of nature and dies without reproducing. A strong plant will produce the chemical compounds it needs to survive and often, these are exactly the compounds we know have the healing benefits. Does farm grown valerian produce the same active chemical constituents as valerian that was once harvested only in wild fields? Ginseng, for example is one of the highest priced herbs when found in the wild and is officially recognized as wild grown with a government certificate declaring the exact location of origin. Farm raised ginseng, on the other hand, fetches nominal prices in comparison.

Darwin’s theory, “survival of the fittest” makes sense in the plant kingdom just as it does in the animal kingdom.

Where do YOUR herbs come from? Are they wild grown or wild crafted herbs or are they grown in a comfortable farm where they are fed, watered and looked after. Are wild crafted herbs better? What do you think? Is your herbal sleep aid more efficacious when it is produced from herbs grown in their native environments or is farm raised just as good or better?

Goji Berries – Health Benefits of Chinese Herbs

Posted by Cathy on November 13, 2011

The health benefits of Lycium fruit, otherwise known as Goji berries are nearly unmatched by any other berry. While Western countries are just recently discovering these incredible antioxidants, Chinese medicine has been using them for centuries. Many foods and herbs overlap in Traditional Chinese Medicine, (TCM) and goji berries is one of these, a food used in herbal remedies. Today we are finding goji in energy drinks, energy bars and as a stand alone dried fruit in many health food stores.

A recent study at the University of Basel in Switzerland showed lycium to have " antioxidative properties and some interesting pharmacological activities in the context of age related diseases such as atherosclerosis and diabetes."¹

Lycium berries have a long history of use in Chinese medicine. They are commonly seen in cooking recipes from soups to congee (hot cereal) to stews. Goji berries are known as a tonic herb for the blood, considered a liver protector and especially beneficial for the eyes.

In Sydney Australia a study of mice drinking goji berry juice was conducted. What the researchers found was the goji juice protected the mice against UV radiation induced skin damage because of its antioxidant activity. ²

Goji berries probably have more therapeutic value than we yet grasp. If you would like to read more studies you can always check out pubmed.com. Yet, before the age of the computer Chinese medicine understood the value in these little red berries and herbal formulas go back over a thousand years that have included lycium in herbal prescriptions for health. We've included it in our Energy Booster Herb Pack which is bases on an ancient Chinese herbal formula that has been used for "Wellness for Centuries".

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References:

1. Nutr Res. 2009 Jan;29(1):19-25. Lycium barbarum (goji) juice improves in vivo antioxidant biomarkers in serum of healthy adults. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.

Photochem Photobiol Sci. 2010 Apr;9(4):601-7.

2, Mice drinking goji berry juice (Lycium barbarum) are protected from UV radiation-induced skin damage via antioxidant pathways. Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. PMID: 2035465

Peanut Allergies Suppresed With Chinese Herbs

Posted by Cathy on October 30, 2011

Would it not be incredible if there was a way to prevent peanut allergies in children or to reduce asthma in children? I think everyone would agree this would be a worthwhile medical development, certainly news worthy. Researchers have been studying Chinese herbs for years and are now able to prove that two specific herbs used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can reduce the inflammation response that occurs with allergies. This is especially important since food allergies and peanut allergies have been on the rise in children.

If I child goes into a anaphylaxtic shock as a result of a peanut allergy it is always a serious event. A study recently done on two Chinese herbs; Rubia cordifolia (Qiancao) and Dianthus superbus (Qumai) has the potential to save lives. Researchers at Mount Sinai Medical Center have studied how these herbal extracts can suppress IgE production and prevent peanut-induced anaphylaxis.

Study Results

"Rubia cordifolia and Dianthus superbus inhibited the in vitro IgE production by a human B-cell line in a dose-dependent manner and the in vivo IgE production in a murine model of peanut allergy without affecting peanut-specific-IgG1 levels. After challenge, all mice in the sham groups developed anaphylactic reactions and increased plasma histamine levels. The extract-treated mice demonstrated significantly reduced peanut-triggered anaphylactic reactions and plasma histamine levels."

"The extracts of Rubia cordifolia and Dianthus superbus inhibited the IgE production in vivo and in vitro as well as reduced anaphylactic reactions in peanut-allergic mice, suggesting potentials for allergy treatments."

Iván López-Expósito^1,², Alexandra Castillo¹, Nan Yang¹, Banghao Liang¹ and Xiu-Min Li¹^* Chinese Medicine 2011, 6:35 doi:10.1186/1749-8546-6-35 Published: 30 September 2011

Tag: Chinese Herbs

The Active Ingredients

Some folks complain that Kudzu is an invasive weed, others call it a highly profitable cash crop. In Asia it is a medicinal herb.

Kudzu Related Articles:

The Herb Salvia Miltiorrhiza Used in an Extract Helps Osteoporosis.

FDA just approved a sublingual Ambien for “insomnia in the middle of the night followed by difficulty returning to sleep”

Study Results

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