Chinese Herb for Treating Malaria

Posted by Cathy on June 29, 2023 with 1 Comment

This has been re-posted for your enjoyment.

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In case you haven’t already heard, today is ‘World Malaria Day’,
April 25th, 2009.

I can’t think of a better way to celebrate World Malaria Day than to write on a Traditional Chinese Medicinal herb and it’s benefits for malaria. Ok, I know most of us in the west don’t know much or maybe anything about this disease. Some may even be thinking… isn’t malaria one of those plagues from the middle age

Malaria is the number one killer in underdeveloped countries, especially prevalent in Africa where it’s an epidemic. As many as 5 million people each year contract malaria, many recover, many do not. Malaria kills nearly one million people worldwide each year. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has given millions of dollars for malaria research with the goal of eliminating malaria in our lifetime and by the looks of recent developments, well… read on.

So what does this have to do with Chinese herbal medicine and why did I choose this topic? Malaria has been successfully treated with Chinese herbal medicine for centuries. This is not news, well not to Acupuncturists or Chinese Medical Doctors nor to the scientists and drug companies searching out a cure or a vaccine for malaria. What is news is what Reuters published in an article (yesterday) which I’ve cited below and am quoting here, “elimination (of malaria) in a number of countries is certainly in sight.” Fantastic, right?!

Here’s what really exciting! “New medical treatments such as a drug developed by a Swiss pharmaceuticals company Novartis using artemisinin, a compound derived from a herb used in Chinese traditional medicine, are driving down deaths and infections, said “Chris Hentschel” of the Medicines for Malaria Venture.” The FDA has also recently approved the drug Coartem, an artemisinin-based combination treatment (ACT) for malaria, which is said to have a 96% cure rate Can you imagine: A pharmaceutical company using an herb-derived compound? Should we be shocked?

We in the Chinese Medical community are not shocked. We know the use of Chinese Medicinal herbs have been used for centuries with great success and we’ve all known that Artemisinin, Qing Hao, has been successfully used in the treatment of malaria. But doesn’t it feels great to be vindicated through “Big Pharma” ? When any big pharmaceutical company decides to study the compounds in “our” (Chinese) medicine cabinet we can all stand proud and say, look big pharma, our herbs have proven compounds that even your labs haven’t been able to invent and there’s more in the medicine cabinet than just Artemisinin.

The credibility of Chinese herbal medicine is coming full circle in the scientific age. We can only hope this is just the tip of the iceberg. The efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine has a 2000 plus year history. Reuter’s goes on to report, “The treatment, administered to 57 million people last year, saved half a million lives last year.” That’s big news! If there was a drug that saved 500,00 people in the US, last year alone, we would be hearing about it. Because it’s in underdeveloped nations, this news doesn’t make the nightly 5 o’clock. But I can think of no better way than to start my blog page with what should be the Biggest News in the world today, especially on World Malaria Day.

Post Script:

A prominent physician and alchemist named Ge Hong (284-364CE) wrote a Chinese herb formulary called Zhou Hou Bei Zhi Fang (Prescriptions within Arm’s Reach for Use in Emergencies) Many of the formulas in this book are still in use today. He was the first to mention qing hao, (Artemisia Annua) as a treatment for malaria.

Chinese Herbal Medicine for Flu and Covid

Flu and Covid and Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine (TCM) – WHO Report

Posted by Cathy on December 22, 2022

Because we don’t hear much about TCM in the West, this blog post is about TCM herbal medicine and randomized clinical studies treating Covid-19. These are often difficult to find so I have attached the WHO documentation and studies below.

Enjoy and Be Well. Stay healthy with Immune Boost Herb Pack here.

“The World Health Organization (WHO) decided to convene a meeting of experts to evaluate the role of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in the treatment of COVID-19. The subsequent Expert Meeting on Evaluation of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of COVID-19 was held virtually from 28 February to 02 March 2022.

The objectives of the meeting were:

to understand the methodology applied in producing the reports;
to review and analyze the reports and randomized controlled trials of TCM in various phases of the progression of COVID-19 disease;
to evaluate the contribution of a TCM integrated approach in the treatment of COVID-19; and
to discuss how effectively to enhance the contribution of traditional medicine in global pandemics.

The 21 international experts from the six WHO regions included members of the WHO Expert Advisory Panel, representatives of WHO collaborating centers, members of the WHO International Regulatory Cooperation for Herbal Medicines (IRCH), and members of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. Technical staff from WHO headquarters, regional and country offices also attended the meeting.

This meeting report describes the discussion among the experts and the consensus reached reviewing three reports on traditional Chinese medicine and COVID-19 provided by national expert groups in China and 12 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which had been registered and published as well.” https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/who-expert-meeting-on-evaluation-of-traditional-chinese-medicine-in-the-treatment-of-covid-19

WHO-TCM expert-meeting-on-evaluation-of-tcm-in-the-treatment-of-covid-

Hu K, Guan W-J, Bi Y, Zhang W, Li L, Zhang B et al. Efficacy and safety of Lianhuaqingwen capsules, a
repurposed Chinese herb, in patients with coronavirus disease 2019: a multicenter, prospective, randomized
controlled trial. Phytomedicine. 2021;85:153242. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2020.153242.

Zhang L Zheng X, Bai X, Wang Q, Chen B, Wang H et al. Association between use of Qingfei Paidu Tang and
mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: a national retrospective registry study. Phytomedicine.
2021;85:153531. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153531.

Chen Y, Liu C, Wang T, Qi J, Jia X, Zeng X et al. Efficacy and safety of Bufei Huoxue capsules in the
management of convalescent patients with COVID-19 infection: a multicentre, double-blind, and randomised
controlled trial. J Ethnopharmacol, 2022;284:114830. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.114830.

Shi N, Liu B, Liang N, Ma Y, Ge Y, Yi H et al. Association between early treatment with Qingfei Paidu decoction
and favorable clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19: a retrospective multicenter cohort study.
Pharmacol Res. 2020;161:105290. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.105290.

Zhao C, Li L, Yang W, Lv W, Wang J, Guo J et al. Chinese medicine formula Huashibaidu granule early
treatment for mild COVID-19 patients: an unblinded, cluster-randomized clinical trial. Front Med. 2021;16
Sept. doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2021.696976.

Hu K, Guan WJ, Bi Y, Zhang W, Li L, Zhang B et al. Efficacy and safety of Lianhuaqingwen capsules, a
repurposed Chinese herb, in patients with coronavirus disease 2019: a multicenter, prospective, randomized
controlled trial. Phytomedicine. 2021;85:153242. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2020.153242.

Luo Z, Chen W, Xiang M, Wang H, Xiao W, Xu C et al. The preventive effect of Xuebijing injection against
cytokine storm for severe patients with COVID-19: a prospective randomized controlled trial. Eur J Integr Med.
2021;42:101305. doi: 10.1016/j.eujim.2021.101305.

Turmeric – Not Just A Spice

Posted by Cathy on February 12, 2022

Turmeric, a common spice in India and an herb used extensively in Chinese Medicine is gaining popularity as the “Alzheimer’s preventing herb”. Dr. Oz originally promoted this ancient herb, but he never talked about the thousands years of historical medicinal use of this “spice of life”. Chinese herb pharmacopoeia categorizes turmeric as a blood regulator. What this means is turmeric’s most bio-active constituents called “curcuminoids” have been documented as blood movers. As such, it has a wide range of benefits one being an excellent natural anti-inflammatory. Studies show it benefits wound healing and helps speed the remodeling of skin, so it’s great for minor cuts and burns.

In regards to Alzheimer’s disease, turmeric (Curcuma Longa) along with it’s commonly substituted Curcuma Aromatica from the same specie, may slow the progression of this disease byTCM removing amyloyd plaque buildup in the brain. Turmeric, which, as with many Chinese herbs is seen in at least three different species in the same genus, is a natural antiseptic, antibacterial and antispasmodic. Chinese Medicine has used turmeric for the treatment of depression and for both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. It reduces cholesterol, helps liver function and stimulates bile production which aids digestion. Turmeric has also been used successfully for inflammatory bowel conditions such as Crohn’s disease. Turmeric should not be used by pregnant women, it’s blood moving qualities make it contraindicated during pregnancy.

Now that Western researchers have conducted a number of well publicized studies on turmeric which prove scientifically it’s many benefits to health. Chinese Medicine is vindicated for what it’s known for generations. Hopefully one day Eastern and Western medicine will cease to be adversaries and form a partnership based on the integration of their knowledge and their mutual goal of improving the health and well being of people everywhere. Until then, enjoy some turmeric in your food often to keep your cholesterol in check and to improve your overall health. Food should be your first medicine.

Our Corydalis Pain Relief Herb Pack contains a large amount Turmeric, in a highly concentrated form not found in most pills and capsules. Try our blend for everyday aches and pains and for relief even after minor workouts. Only a small amount of our concentrated granules, usually 1/2 tsp is needed daily.

Get Your ZZZ’s with Ziziphus – An Herb for Sleeping

Posted by Cathy on July 1, 2020

No matter how much you crave quality shut-eye, there are many reasons sleep may elude you.

As you get older, it may take longer to nod off and you may have trouble staying asleep. But because the amount of sleep you need—seven to nine hours per night—stays the same throughout your life, fitful nights can leave you cranky, depressed and flat out exhausted. No wonder so many of us rely on sleeping pills—both over-the-counter and prescription.

People, even teenagers are relying on prescription sleep aids more than ever before. Yet, information of the risks of these drugs is often understated. A study by Scripps Clinic researchers links the medications to 4.6 times higher risk of death and a significant increase in cancer cases among regular pill users.

“What our study shows is that sleeping pills are hazardous to your health and might cause death by contributing to the occurrence of cancer, heart disease, and other ailments,” said author Daniel F. Kripke, M.D., of the Viterbi Family Sleep Center in San Diego.There is another option, a plant-based sleep aid that has been used for thousands of years and has no harmful side-effects.

Plants to help us sleep have been clinically tested in Asia for the past 50 years. Asian cultures have a much longer recorded history than our Western cultures and the use of plants has historical lineage to biblical times. Many herbal books were written on bamboo paper in ancient times. One such ancient book was titled “Prescriptions from the Golden Cabinet”. It may surprise you, but even our ancestors had trouble sleeping and this was a thousand years before electricity, the internet, and modern-day stress. The most common prescription for sleeplessness which our Asian ancestors used was an herbal recipe called Suan zao ren tang. This combination of herbs can be found in iSleep Herb Pack.

The herbs in iSleep Herb Pack work together, this is known as the entourage effect, its where the magic happens. Throughout generations of use, our ancestors discovered which plants have similar effects and which have enhancing effects when used together. It’s a little bit like discovering sugar, flour, eggs and butter and baking powder can make a nice cake. Alone, they don’t taste like cake. But together, there is a little magic.

One of the main herbs in iSleep Herb Pack is zizyphus an herb with sedative properties. This herb is potentiated by other herbs in iSleep, notably Anemarrhena, poria and ligusticum which are believed to increase the nor-epinephrine and dopamine levels in the brain and increase secretion of two cytokines which have been shown to improve non-rapid eye movement sleep. The studies are vast, the results impressive. Throughout Asia, hundreds of thousands of herbal prescriptions are sold annually and the most common insomnia prescription is Suan zao ren tang / iSleep Herb Pack.

There are NO unnecessary filler or magnesium stearate in iSleep Herb Pack. Only 100% herbs from nature.

Here’s what’s you will find in Ziziphus.

Clinical studies and research have shown Ziziphus, (when processed correctly) can help quiet brain transmissions. What this means for the non-sleeper who plays videos in their head all night or just can’t stop the overthinking, NOW YOU CAN. When your mind is quiet your body naturally falls asleep the way nature intended. Ziziphus has slight sedative effects, yet a very safe herb with no lingering side effects. It is commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for irritability, sleeplessness, and anxiety.

Ophiopogon
A nourishing but very mild herb. It is often combined with others for it’s most potent effects. Used in this formula to nourish the yin, clear the heart and eliminate irritability. Insomnia often occurs when the spirit of the heart is restless and rising upward to the brain. This restlessness cause over-thinking when we should be sleeping. Ophiopogon settles the spirit and quiets the irritability. It’s commonly combined with Anemerrhena for insomnia and night sweats.

Poria
Poria is most commonly to strengthen the spleen and calm the mind in TCM. Beyond poria’s principal action, this herb is also used to calm the heart spirit.

Anemerrhena
It is the root of this herb that has properties of clearing excess fire and at the same time nourishing the yin. These are two very important treatment principals and therefore makes this herb a prized possession. Its major chemical constituents include saponines, flavonoids, polysaccharides and alkaloids.

Arbortitae Seed
This seed is rich in oil and is excellent for insomnia due to blood deficiency along with excessive worry and forgetfulness. When used with zyziphus it’s actions for calming the spirit are increased. Since it is the oil in this seed which contains the active chemicals responsible for these actions it is essential the oils are not lost during the cooking process. It also nourishes the heart channel and is extremely beneficial for those suffering from sleeplessness and irritability because of its calming effect.

Polygoni Multiflori
Asian medicine says lack of nourishment to the heart causes sleep disorders such as difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep excessive dreams and disrupted sleep. This sweet herb addresses all of these symptoms. This herb calming effect is said to open the orifices of the heart channel and allow your spirit to be calm and relaxed.

Chuan Xiong
This very popular and common herb in many Chinese herbal medicine formulas is used to regulate blood circulation. In iSleep Herb Pack a small amount is used help circulate and improve the actions of all the herbs in the formula. The entourage effect is important. Like making a cake, it’s not just the sugar, flour, and butter. It’s the spices, the egg, the milk and all the other yummy things that make a cake so wonderful. Same is true of herbal formulas used for centuries. Certain herbs work better when paired together.

The bottom line, iSleep has some of the most important plants used for insomnia over hundreds of years. The major constituents and pharmacological activities of these plants have sedative effects which have been proven safe and effective for millions who commonly experience sleepless nights.

Our goal is to help you get a great night of sleep every night.
Sleep is one of the most important pieces of the puzzle for a healthy body. Adequate sleep is essential for quality of life, work productivity, safe drivers, and workplaces etc.
We need to make sleep a priority every night.

TCM Herbs for Fertility

Posted by Cathy on February 11, 2020 with 1 Comment

What’s better than horny goat weed?

The herb is Cistanche, a native desert plant that’s always been prized in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine). This Chinese herb Cistanche (aka – Rou Cong Rong) is used in Chinese medicine to replenish the blood and kidney jing also translated as essence or heredity. Cistanche was first mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing a Chinese book on agriculture and medicinal plants written circa 100 AD. It is commonly used today for impotence and erectile dysfunction and you can find it in Pacific Herbs, Libido Booster for Him.

It’s not Viagra, but the actions from the volatile oils and non-volatile phenylethanoid glycosides (PhGs), oligosaccharides and polysaccharides have proven fertility treatment benefits for premature ejaculation, frequent urination, weakness of tendons, constipation in old age, impotence and even high blood pressure. Libido Booster for Him has a combination of Chinese herbs used as a fertility treatment to increase sex drive and desire which includes cistanche.

What I find fascinating about this plant is that cistanche cannot grow alone. It is a parasitic type of shrub which only grows on the roots of others. Saxaul is one such partner and is special in its own right for impeding erosion. You may have heard about the dust storms near Beijing before and during the Olympic games. This is a continual problem for the residents and certainly for any athletes competing outdoors. China has spent millions on planting trees on the outskirts of Beijing to prevent the desert form encroaching into the metropolitan areas and to reduce the effects of the dust storms. (Approximately 18% of China’s land is desert). A plant like saxaul has huge value in simply holding the sand in place.

Now that thousands of acres of saxaul and cistanche are growing, it’s not only holding back the encroaching desert it also had the ability to earn families a substantial living. The international market for kidney tonics has been growing and cistanche is known as the “ginseng of the desert”. Along with the above mentioned actions this Chinese herb is a popular immunity booster, memory enhancer and known for delaying aging and treating infertility. Overall it’s a kidney tonic, similar to ginseng in that regard.

You probably never thought to look for the fountain of youth in a desert, but this plant is truly just that. Growing in one of the harshest environments on earth, cistanche overcomes the odds with enduring persistence and provides us with compounds which Chinese medicine has used for centuries to restore and replenish kidney essence. This incredible plant provides us energy, it helps the ecology and the local economy.

Who would of thought you would find something so “green“ in the middle of a desert.

Check out Fertility Tea Herb Pack
Analysis of chemical constituents in Cistanche species
School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing China.

Is The Almighty Coffee Bean Part of Chinese Medicine?

Posted by Cathy on August 21, 2019 with 1 Comment

I’m a coffee drinker alas only in moderation. Now, I’m re-thinking that moderation as I learn more about the benefits of the coffee bean.

A cup of coffee is 2% caffeine and 98% other bioactive ingredients. To say the least, it is a complex beverage. People seem to forget that the coffee bean is an herb. Indeed, the coffee plant belongs to the Rubiaceae family, which is a source of several different Chinese herbs, including the gardenia fruit. Coffee beans medicinal effects have been well known for millenia but some of the first popular evidence was in 1908, when the Indian Materia Medica was first published.

At the proper dosages, the coffee bean has the ability to improve health in several ways. Drinking coffee can increase cardiovascular health and lower the risk of colon cancer, gallstones, cirrhosis, and Parkinson’s disease. A typical dosage for this type of herbal medicine is in the range of 6-18 grams per day, which translates to about 1-3 cups of coffee, depending on how many grams of ground beans are used. Roasting the coffee beans do not detract from the beneficial effects of this herb.

The primary active substances in the coffee bean are chlorogenic and caffeic acids. These substances have been shown to have anti-depressant and anti-anxiety effects. No wonder the local coffee shop has become our favorite pit stops. Coffee also contains antioxidant phenols that can reduce the risk of cancer. (Like so many Chinese herbs, many many benefits. Probably a lot we don’t even understand fully, yet.

This blog idea was inspired by a study on long-term coffee drinker with type 2 diabetes mellitus. To quote the study, “long-term coffee consumption is associated with a statistically significantly lower risk for type 2 diabetes,” (link below) Coffee, just like any other potent herbal medicine, is not necessarily for everyone, as some people may be more sensitive to the effects of caffeine. But the coffee bean definitely contains many beneficial vitamins including potassium, niacin and magnesium.

Drinking a freshly brewed cup of this herbal bean can have some wonderful health benefits. Enjoy, but drink responsibly. Dont use coffee and the caffiene to keep your energy high all day long. This is actually a great way to burn our your adrenal glands. Coffee like almost all things is best used in moderation.

Study Link

2001 Mar;73(3):532-8.Consumption of high doses of chlorogenic acid, present in coffee, or of black tea increases plasma total homocysteine concentrations in humans. Olthof MR, Hollman PC, Zock PL, Katan MB. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11237928

Diet Theories for Health: Chinese vs Western

Posted by Cathy on July 21, 2019 with 2 Comments

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away (thinking of Star Wars) a physician traveled with a bags of herbs, a few gold needles and a thousand ounces of gold. Ok, this physician didn’t have a thousand ounces of gold, but he did have gold acupuncture needles and lived on earth. What he also had was a belief that every single human life was more precious than a thousand ounces of gold. His name, Sun Shu Mao (581-682 AD) and because of his beliefs he wrote a book called One Thousand Ounces of Gold Classic. In this book he described diet using specific foods and Chinese herbs to cure illnesses such as goiter, night blindness and beriberi. Today we understand the science behind curing these diseases, iodine for goiter, Vitamin A for night blindness and B-1 for beriberi. But do we understand the system of foods and Chinese herbs to treat illnesses some1400 years later?

The Chinese have used food and Chinese herbs, basically the human diet, to treat seemingly incurable diseases as far back as written records on bones and turtle shells. We now have studies that prove that foods and Chinese herbs are effective in treating nearly every affliction known to man. It is a Western concept that the word “diet” refers almost exclusively to a weight loss system. A Chinese diet may or may not focus on weight loss, but it’s primary intention is to treat an ailment. A Westerners “diet” focuses on protein, calories, carbohydrates, vitamins and other nutrients, whereas a Chinese diet focuses on the: Five Flavors, Five Energies, Movements and Organic Actions of Foods. The basic concept is, if I feel cold, I should eat something warm. If I feel hot, I should eat something cold. (don’t we all do this?) This might sound basic, but it can get a little technical, so stay with me.

The Chinese categorize foods into five flavors. Flavors are important for both food and Chinese herbs because each flavor effects a certain internal organs. The five flavors are, sweet, sour, bitter, salty and acrid or pungent. If you tend to indulge on the sweet and salty foods and miss out on the health benefits of the bitter, sour and pungent foods, you should expand your spectrum of tastes. Sweet foods act on the stomach and spleen, obvious examples are honey, sugar and watermelon. Americans are more likely to consider candy and ice cream sweet. This article will not cover processed foods, so think about barley, mung beans and sunflower seeds, these sweet foods help neutralize the toxic effects of other foods. If you haven’t yet tasted mung beans give them a try, if your diabetic it’s excellent food for your constitution. Since space prohibits my listing all foods in each category you can check out: Healing with Whole Foods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition by Paul Pitchfordif you’d like more information on this topic.

Sour foods such as vinegar, olives, lemons and adzuki beans can obstruct movement and are helpful in treating diarrhea. Bitter foods can help reduce body heat. Examples of bitter foods are radish, sea grass and coffee. Most Westerners probably don’t consider coffee a bitter tasting food, try munching on an UN-roasted bean, you may be pleasantly surprised. Salty foods help soften hardness which explains why kelp and seaweed are commonly used for goiters. Acrid or pungent foods such as the Chinese herb peppermint or ginger promote energy circulation. A strong, fresh peppermint tea often produces a slight sweat on the forehead.

When referring to the five energies of foods, Chinese theory simply means foods ability to make you feel hot or cold. But energies are categorized even further into cold, cool, neutral, warm and hot. This is a very important aspect of food because a “balanced diet” will be different depending on a persons constitution. For example a person with a cold constitution will need more hot foods. If a person suffers from cold rheumatism and the pain is worse on cold days, it makes sense to give this person hot foods such as a soup made with Chinese herbs such as ginger, red pepper, green pepper or cinnamon. Understanding the energies of foods to create a balance diet is of the utmost importance. Often herbs are more effective and faster acting than foods and for this reason herbs are commonly used in Chinese cooking.

This subject is vast and I’ve only covered two topics relating to Chinese herbs, food and diet theory thus far. The other main differences between the Western diet and the Chinese concept of diet are: Movements of Foods in the body and Actions of Foods. To learn more on these concepts see part two of this article.

Although, I may have simplified how a Chinese diet focuses on the five flavors and five energies of foods you can see that from the Chinese viewpoint the word “diet” has almost nothing to do with weight loss and everything to do with how foods effect our bodies. This may be a completely new view of diet and nutrition to you, but Sun Shu Mao wrote about Chinese herbs and healing foods approximately 1400 years ago. Asian cultures have proven these food and herb theories and seeing that history always repeats itself, it’s time to reiterate it today.

For more information see Part II of this article.

Turmeric for Osteoarthritis, an Indian and Chinese Herbal Tradition

Posted by Cathy on March 20, 2018

If you or someone you know suffers with arthritis, Turmeric is a Chinese herb you have probably heard about but not sure if it will work for you. Turmeric is what gives that yellow color to Indian food, this root has been used for centuries in Indian food and traditional remedies. The yellow color, often in curry sauces comes from the active compounds known as curcuminoids, or mainly curcumin.

A recent clinical trial in Italy studied the effects of curcumin on 50 patients with osteoarthritis in the knees. The effects of supplementing ones diet with this Chinese herb was impressive. The patients that took the turmeric supplement had a 16 fold decrease of inflammation markers in their blood. If that wasn’t enough, these same patients were able to reduce their NSAID’s (Non-Sterodial Anti-Inflammatory) usage by 63%. Remarkable, and these benefits occurred without unintended side effects. Yes, that is the magic of mother nature and this data is consistent with other human studies done of various types of turmeric extracts.

“This is great news for people who suffer from osteoarthritis and the physicians who treat them,” said Mark Blumenthal, Founder and Executive Director of the nonprofit, American Botanical Council an independent herbal medicine research and education organization in Austin, Texas.

So, what is this Chinese herb and how does it work? First and foremost, the active ingredient curcumin has been extensively studied around the world. It has been used for thousands of years in both Ayurveda Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is the root of the turmeric plant that is used for herbal remedies. Chinese herbal medicine has always classified turmeric as a blood moving herb, interestingly it also has properties to clear heat from the blood, break up blood stasis and benefit the gall bladder and help jaundice, most likely because it stimulates bile production.

Turmeric’s popularity has been rising quickly as its reputation for treating chronic inflammatory diseases, some cancers and also Alzheimer’s disease get more media attention. In 2009 sales of turmeric dietary supplements were up about 23% from the previous year. This is understandable, who wouldn’t want a safe, effective herbal supplement to reduce the suffering of osteoarthritis? Pacific Herbs uses turmeric to a combination of herbs to move blood and reduce pain. Many of these herbs have been historically used together to reduce pain and improve blood flow. The Pacific Herbs product is called Corydalis Pain Relief Herb Pack and can be found here.

Pharmaceutical labs have been trying to chemically copy the chemical bonds of curcumin for years but it never seems to have exactly the same effect. When turmeric is used as a whole herb, all the important and beneficial compounds of the plant are present. Science has not yet been able to copy this mix exactly to mimic the same effects.

More studies on curcumin can be found on Pubmed.com and from Dr. Weill here.

Build A Healthy Immune System By Eating These Foods Daily

Posted by Cathy on October 23, 2017

You can build a healthy immune system, if you know the right foods to eat. Of course vegetables are good for you but have you tried fermented veggies, you know, pickles? Yes raw pickles are a great option (with no sugar added) for building a health immune system. You only need a tablespoon of fermented foods everyday to boost your natural immunity and give you a natural energy boost. Your immune system is located mostly in your gut. If you feed your digestive system, your gut, healthy foods, your gut bacteria in turn grow and thrive. When healthy gut bacteria also known as your microbiome thrive, you thrive. Learn which foods will help you stay healthy and avoid colds and flu’s all year long.

Fermented foods like saurekraut, kimchi, yogurt (without sugar), raw pickles, kefir, are a couple easy options. As little as a tablespoon per day with help feed your gut bacteria exactly what they love to eat. One word of caution, fermented foods are best in the raw form, not pasteurized. Sometimes you have to shop with a discerning eye to find these raw foods. Check the labels carefully. Medicinal mushrooms are also excellent at building a healthy immune system. These mushrooms are high in polysaccharides, the perfect food for your gut microbiome.

For more healthy tips and Chinese herbs to help keep you healthy check out are reishi mushroom, astragalus and another video on how to boost your immune system naturally.

Are You Drinking Purified Water or Plastic Water?

Posted by Cathy on October 19, 2017

Let’s talk about the #1 most important substance you need every day, to stay alive and healthy. Clean, filtered drinking water is essential for optimum health and wellness.

What kind of water are your drinking every day? Water with plastic chemicals like BPA & BPS known endocrine disruptors or pure filtered water with natural minerals? Use BPA & BPS free plastic water bottles.

Your body knows the difference between clean water and water with plastic chemicals. Chemicals in our water often cause estrogen dominance which is implicated in the growth of many types of cancer.

Healthy habits make a healthy body. Be a water snob and only drink water that has been filtered today. Be kind to the environment too as individual plastic water bottles are terrible for our oceans and landfills and of course, our bodies.

For more healthy tips and Chinese herbs to help keep you healthy check out How To Balance your Hormones Naturally link and video at https://www.pacherbs.com/balance-hormones-naturally/or visit https://PacHerbs.com

Plants Medicinals vs Prescriptions to Promote Peaceful Sleep.. What’s the difference?

Posted by Cathy on August 13, 2017 with 3 Comments

“My 88 year old husband was prescribed Ambien for insomnia. After the first dose, he fell while getting up to go the bathroom, gashed his head and had to go to the emergency room for stitches. A year later, I gave him a half-dose (again prescribed) and within minutes, his legs collapsed on him. I had the hardest time getting him into bed.

Ambien? Never again!

Your experience reminds us that sleeping pills may pose a serious risk for older people who have to get up at night to go to the bathroom. This is a dilemma, because many seniors suffer from insomnia. Even over-the-counter sleep aids sleep aids that contain the sedating antihistamine diphenhydramine ( advil PM, Nytol, Sominex, Tylenol PM etc.) may also contribute to unsteadiness, urinary retention and similar host of side effects such as rebound next day sleepiness and cognitive impairment. Older people should be careful with sleeping pills like Ambien. Other side effects may include reflux, next-day memory impairment, dry mouth and dizziness.”¹

For those among us who experience occasional insomnia, you may have already tried a plethora of sleeping aids. The story above illustrates some of the dangers of the prescriptions on the market. Drugs such as the benzodiazepines approved as sleep aids, estazolam (ProSom), flurazepam (Dalmane), and temazepam (Restoril) have serious side effects. As with all these medications daytime sleepiness, cognitive impairment, dizziness, unsteadiness, sleep-walking, sleep-driving, memory lapses, and hallucinations have all been reported as a result of sleeping pills. If you have only mild insomnia, relying to heavily on sleeping pills can cause dependency and if abused may worsen your sleeping problems.

There are several non-prescription drugs sold over the counter for sleeplessness which contain the antihistamine diphenhydramine. Brands such as Benadryl, Nytol, Tylenol PM, and Sominex, which block the action of acetylcholine (anticholinergic effect) and are used as a sedative because they causes drowsiness. However, these may also contribute to unsteadiness and urinary retention. There’s also a fairly new drug out called zolpide, a sedative, it’s a inexpensive generic version of the drug Ambien. Generally it’s not prescribed for more than 10 days and is usually taken intermittently as needed to avoid problems with addiction or habituation, loss of effectiveness, and rebound phenomena. “The most common side effects of zolpidem are drowsiness, dizziness, and a “drugged” feeling, which probably reflect the action of the drug. Other side effects include confusion, insomnia, euphoria, ataxia (balance problems), and visual changes.” ¹

The difference between drugs and taking an herbal medicinal are both the actions and side effects. Addiction is not a concern with natural medicinals.

Plants used in Chinese herbal medicine have been clinically tested and studies throughout Asia for the past 50 plus years. Their usage goes back to 2^nd century. One such medicinal known to have a soothing and calming effect on the body and promote sleep is Spiny jujube or (zizyrus spinosae semen). Spiny jujube has been well documented for use when occasional insomnia is an issue. One study on rats showed spinosae significantly increased the rate of sleep onset and exhibited a synergistic effect with 5-HTP.²“These results suggest that spiny jujube potentiated pentobarbital-induced sleep via a serotonergic mechanism.” Translation, you sleep without being put into a drug induced state. This herb and others are the answer to a peaceful nights sleep, without all the side effects of prescription or OTC drugs.

References:

1. http://www.mdidea.com/products/new/new029research.html

2. Zolpidem http://www.medicinenet.com/zolpidem/article.htm

3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez

4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16755056?ordinalpos=9&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

5. WANG LE, BAI YJ, SHI XR, CUI XY, CUI SY, ZHANG F, ZHANG QY, ZHAO YY, ZHANG YH. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2008;90(3):399-403. Department of Pharmacology, Peking University, School of Basic Medical Science, 38 Xueyuan Lu, Beijing 100083, China

6. http://www.mdidea.com/products/new/new029research.html

New Study Says Chinese Herbs May Aid Bone Marrow

Posted by Cathy on December 19, 2016

UCLA researchers have just published a new study on Chinese herbs. They have been researching a Chinese herbal formula they called TSY-1 to increased telomerase activity in normal blood cells but decreased it in cancer cells.

This combination of Chinese herbs has been used in China for many years to treat aplastic anemia, a condition where the body stops producing enough new blood cells and myelodysplastic syndrome or preleukemia; both are associated with telomerase abnormality.

Telomerase is an enzyme responsible for the production of telomeres. The results indicate that telomerase-based treatments may play an important role in treating both blood cell deficiency and cancer.

The five-year study, led by UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center member Dr. Jianyu Rao, measured the ability of TSY-1 to affect telomerase activity in cancer cells lines. Rao’s team used various approaches, including assays of telomerase activity, measurement of cell growth, and gene expression profiling of TSY-1 treated cells, to determine how it acts. The results showed that the target of TSY-1 activity is the TERT gene. TERT is the major regulatory component of telomerase activity.

The findings provide the foundation and support for further clinical studies to demonstrate the clinical benefit of the Chinese herbs in treatment for cancer and blood cell deficiencies.

The study is published online in the journal OncoTarget Link to PDF of study here

For Chinese herbs like the ones used in this study contact us at 877-818-9990 or info@PacHerbs.com

Tag: Health supplements