Discover All Things Chinese in San Francisco

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The Buddha represents Chinese Art & Chinese Medicine What is a mega Buddha monument doing in the middle of San Francisco?  Apparently San Francisco city officials wanted to underscore the bond between Shanghai, China and San Francisco, two cities of art and culture. I love discovering all things Chinese in America.  The Buddha is pretty much impossible to miss if you are near the Civic Center. (My husband and I are the tourists in front.) I would say if you have ever been to San Francisco you know that Chinese culture has been part of  the "City by the Bay" since it's inception.  What I enjoy most about San Francisco  is walking through China town and feeling like I'm in China without the 17 hour plane ride.  From the great deals on pearls to the cooked ducks hanging in restaurant windows you can see a little of everything Chinese just a few blocks away from the mega Buddha.

If you are ever curious what an herb shop or traditional Chinese herb pharmacy looks like in China, check out Stockton street in San Fran. The picture below is pretty good representation from store to store.   You'll find every strange root, dried fish and plenty of red shiny bottles labeled only in Chinese. This is the traditional medicine of China and that which millions of people rely on daily for their coughs, colds and aches and pains.  The same herbs that have been used continuously for generations.  If you have never purchased Chinese herbs before this may not be the place to start unless you speak the language.  It can be a bit intimidating since pretty much everything is labeled in Chinese. 

Chinese herbs have been used for centuries.

One last note on the mega Buddha,“Three Heads Six Arms reflects the changing realities of Chinese people today and also reflects the attitude that humankind has conquered nature and even reflects deeds of volition and hope,” said Zhang, the artist who created the colossal bronze sculpture.  It's definitely worth a drop by if your in the area, as are the Chinese herbal pharmacies.

Herbal Supplements Can Be Potentially Dangerous, U.S. Study

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Chamomile a safe Chinese herb unless grown with pesticidesMercury, lead, and arsenic, oh my!  Seriously folks, what’s in your herbal supplements? Whether they are Chinese herbs or Western herbs or a blend of both you should know.  A perfectly safe herb like chamomile in this picture can be terribly harmful if grown with pesticides.  A government study on contaminants in herbal dietary supplements found lots more than the three dangerous toxins mentioned above.  Gregory Kutz, Managing Director Forensic Audits and Special Investigations in his report given to the U.S. Senate,  “Special Committee on Aging”  in May 2010  (can you believe there is really such a committee), found high amounts of  cadmium, and residues from organichlorine and organophosphorous pesticides. “These contaminants were selected based on prevalence and the likelihood of negative health consequences as a result of consumption.”  Guess what, heavy metals and toxins do cause negative health consequences.              

It all started when the GAO office of the U.S. government  purchased 40 unique single-ingredient herbal supplement products from 40 different manufacturers and submitted them to an accredited laboratory for analysis. The  government survey identified the most commonly used herbs among the elderly as chamomile, echinacea, garlic, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, peppermint, saw palmetto, and St. John’s wort and then purchased these Chinese herb and Western herb products.  As part of their investigation they had the herbs analyzed at independent laboratories.  What’s crazy, is not what the test showed about the supplements but that pesticide residue is not considered by the Food and Drug Administration, to be of regulatory significance.  In other words, your herbal supplements can be contaminated with all kinds of pesticides and still be legally sold in the U.S. for health benefits.

Who’s products do you buy? Do your homework and know whether your supplement manufacturer is testing products for dangerous pesticides and heavy metals like arsenic, lead and mercury.  I, like you, want to know my herbs come from the cleanest possible sources and are not contaminated with chemicals before I ingest them.

A little secret.  Pacific Herbs products are some of the most tested herbs in the industry.  Check out our manufacturer for more information on all the testing they perform before raw herbs can be considered for processing

Insomnia Thoughts, Chinese Herbs Will Change Your Mind

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Natural sleep aids like Chinese herbs work bestTip of the day:  The best treatment for insomnia according to researchers is to change your thought patterns.   Once you change your thoughts your behavior will follow. You see, what you think is what you get.  So it makes sense that insomnia really is, all in the mind. 

 Hint:  If you need a kick start to change your mind set without hitting the heavy prescription sleep aids, try our iSleep Herb Pac.  It contains nine herbs and is based on an ancient Chinese herbal formula called Suan Zao Ren Tang.  Famous minds have used Chinese herbs to help them calm their busy brains and induce a restful night of sleep for centuries. Nothing new under the sun here. Just natural substances found in plants, working together to help reduce stress and calm your head.  It will work for you too, without addiction or side-effects.    

By Jan Yager, Ph.D.
ConsumerAffairs.com

You’ve heard that expression, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” Well, it turns out that getting enough sleep, and other kinds of rest, just might postpone when your death occurs as well as increase the effectiveness and joyfulness of your life.

Consider this: the Nurses’ Health Study conducted by Harvard University found that getting too little sleep is linked to a greater risk of getting breast cancer, colon cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

Furthermore, sleep deprivation causes drowsy driving which can lead to accident fatalities. As reported by The National Sleep Foundation at their website devoted to drowsy driving, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 1,500 deaths and 71,000 injuries are caused annually because of falling asleep at the wheel.

In another study, a review of information about 28,000 children and 15,000 adults found that too little sleep doubled the chances of being obese. Obesity has, in turn, been linked to a variety of life-threatening illnesses including sleep apnea, a condition in which we stop breathing during sleep. As pointed out in “Sleep Apnea Tied to Increased Risk of Stroke,” especially for men over the age of 40, having sleep apnea more than doubles their potential for a stoke.

Preventing an early death or decreasing the likelihood you will become obese aren’t the only reasons we need to get enough sleep and rest. We also need it so we can be alert at work, making it less likely that we’ll make mistakes, have accidents, or fall asleep during meetings, which could embarrass you or, worse, get you fired. Also, too little sleep can increase someone’s tendency to fly off the handle or to be overly emotional, reduce memory retention and increase depression. Simply put, too little sleep reduces the overall quality of our lives.

It’s not, A Chinese Herb for Weight Loss

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Chinese herb bitter orange for weight loss and digestionI am often asked, "What's a good herb for weight loss?"  Ever since ephedra was banned it seems people have wanted a substitute.  Lately, one Chinese herb in particular is showing up in a lot of weight loss supplements.  That herb is unripe bitter orange.  Although it is not ephedra (ma huang), is does contain a similar chemical to the ephedrin called synephrine. 

Bitter orange  refers to the peel of a particular specie of unripe orange and has been used in Chinese herbal medicine for centuries.  Also known around the world as citrus aurantium  it's a native of the Far East and grows well in most warm climates.  Unripe bitter orange is part of the Chinese herb pharmacopeia and has been used in Chinese cuisine, fragrance and medicine for over 2000 years.  

The medicinal part of the bitter orange seems to get all the attention these days.  It has digestive effects and carminative effects, meaning it can help prevent gas formation in the intestines.

The active property of unripe bitter orange that are so desirable for those seeking a weight loss supplement is the synephrine.   This alkaloids appears in slightly higher quantities in the unripe fruit than in the ripe bitter orange.  Today many weight loss supplements are including varying amounts of bitter orange peel extract for it's synephrine value to hopefully increase metabolism which may help a person lose weight.

However, if you are looking for herbs for weight loss this is not the magic bullet.  There have been some reports that taking unripe bitter orange is conjunction with caffeine, mate and other stimulants can cause cardiotoxicity, increased blood pressure and increased anxiousness. Sounds like a bad combination to me and I would stay clear of supplements combining these stimulants.

Unripe bitter orange was never used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for weight loss but it was used and still is used to help improve digestion and to move the Qi or energy, help unblock the bowels, and it has been used to raise blood pressure. But like most Chinese herbs, its use is magnified when paired with other herbs in a set formula with proven time tested benefits.    Funny how an old Chinese herb is new again.

Natural Sleep Aid Tip for Children, Try Lavender

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From time to time I get calls asking if children can take iSleep Herb Pac.  While the herbs in the Pac Herbs product iSleep, are completely safe for children (adjusted to child's weight) on principal alone  I  do not recommend sleep aids for children.  The reason for this, and I am referring to approximate age of 13 and under, is generally speaking children our very healthy and should not have problems sleeping. 

Although it is not uncommon for teens to have sleep disorders usually due to stress, children younger than 10 normally will only have an occasional bad dream that wakes them and falling asleep is completely related to the amount of exercise they have done on any given day.   If your adolescent is having sleep problems, you must figure out the source of the stress that is keeping him or her from a good nights sleep.  Providing a sleep aid pill will only exasperate the problem as they mature.

So what do you do when you are frazzled and tired of your rambunctious eight year old's bedtime getting later and later as a result of long summer days and the lack of a school routine?  Here's a suggestion for young children that is a completely natural sleep aid.

Use lavender essential oil, as little as two drops in a warm bath will relax those little wide eyed monsters and settle their spirits.  If they are not taking a bath the same two drops on their pillow will have a similar effect.    Another possibility,  take one drop of lavender essential oil and rub it in at a spot near the back of each ear lobe, (start at the back of the ear lobe and add two finger widths toward the back of head.) Rub a drop of lavender essential oil in the area to relax.  This spot is used in Chinese medicine and acupuncture to calm the CNS. It's name Anmian,  translated means peaceful sleep.

Lavender is a gentle, safe and effective sleep aid for children (and adults) with no habit forming tendencies.  Except of course, they may become so accustomed to the scent they will not want to fall asleep without it.   Don't worry, it is not terribly expensive.  I am always grateful for a good nights sleep and I been known to carry a small bottle of lavender oil with me when traveling. I love everything about lavender, the name, the color growing in my yard, and especially the smell.  It has a wonderfully calming scent with a gentle action of  soothing nerves, perfect for both children and pregnant women as a natural sleep remedy.

 

Pac Herbs reserves all rights. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.This information is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure, or prevent any disease. All material in this article is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise, or other health program.

Some Farmers Markets Have the Chinese Herb Da Zao

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I love the Farmers Markets near me.  The Los Angeles area has a different Farmers Market everyday of the week.  Lately I've found red dates at the market, they're called da zao or fructus jujubae in Chinese Medicine.   They taste a little sweet fresh but when dried the sugar content seems much more concentrated.  A little like the difference between fresh grapes and dried raisins. 

In Traditional Chinese Medicine the red date is used to tonify  or strengthen the Qi (energy).  Tonic herbs such as ginseng and red date can be eaten daily to boost immunity strengthen the a persons constitution and improve overall health.  Red date can tonify the blood, which means it can help organs such as the liver and spleen do their jobs better.   To receive the maximum health benefits from red dates you would need to eat  3-12 pieces of fruit a day or use it in pill or powder from that has the active constituents extracted and then packed into powders that offer a high dosage.  Although, in Chinese Medicine it is not recommended as a single herb remedy.

Da Zao has some sedative effects on the central nervous system.  We included it in our iSleep Herb Pac for this very reason.  It also helps give iSleep a pleasantly sweet taste.  It has been an herb used in cooking because of it's sweet flavor.  It is used in many receipies because it's  known to promote digestive functions.  Chinese herb formulas often add da zao and ginger  together  to increase the absorption of herbs when taken in an herb formula. Don't over look this little fruit if you see it in the farmers markets.   I usually buy it dried at the Asian markets near me, but its nice to eat it fresh every now and then.

No Chinese Herbs, Just Gratitude

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I wanted to post something different, something completely off  the topic of Chinese herbal medicine.  Sometimes life is just short and passing us by and without a little gratitude we forget how good life can really be. And not every blog needs to always talk about Chinese herbs, everyday.

So here’s a thought… If you have food in your fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of the world.  To feel even more grateful read the rest below.


Thanks and credit to Jason Mraz.

Supplementing Cancer Treatments with Traditional Chinese Medicine

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It seems inevitable that each week I hear of a new cancer diagnosis, from a friend, patient or acquaintance.  What is going on?  Does everyone get some type of cancer just because they are aging?  Cancer seems to have morphed into more a chronic disease today rather than an automatic death sentence, but too many people are catching this bug. Thankfully, we have a plethora of alternative choices to accompany Western medical treatments.   Acupuncture is quickly becoming one of the most readily accepted complementary therapies to relieve the side-effects of very toxic treatments and build back our natural immune systems.

An interesting  survey done on Hong Kong cancer patients studied how they combined Traditional Chinese Medicine  (TCM) with the Western treatment they were undergoing. A colleague of mine Jennifer Dubowsky, L.Ac. had this to say about the study.

Data was collected from almost 800 cancer patients in Hong Kong. Of those, 42.9% used Western medicine practices for cancer treatment exclusively. The remaining 57.1% used at least one form of Chinese Medicine and 5 patients used TCM  exclusively. Interestingly, many of the cancer patients did not tell their doctors that they were using TCM along with the Western treatments. The Chinese patients were not comfortable talking about their preferences, at least with their doctors who are practicing Western medicine. 

 Some of my patients have experienced the same discomfort talking to their Western medical doctors about alternative treatments, but they are becoming fewer and fewer. Today, more physicians are knowledgeable about TCM, many are comfortable and some are actively curious. I believe that patients have led this change and am happy to see us move toward a more integrative approach to health care.

For more information on how Acupuncture can be helpful while undergoing radiation, chemotherapy and other Western treatments check out this post at the NIH  (National Institute of Health – Cancer Institute.

Herb Treasures to Fight Colds and Flu

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Eleuthero is one of the best Chinese herbs to improve your immune systemEleurthero, a plant has been around for thousands of years.  It’s been used to boost the immune system and to fight off everyday colds and flu’s.  It’s a powerful adaptogenic herb which, like ginseng, gives the body what it needs. 

Wikipedia’s definition of an herbal adaptogen is  “a natural herb product that is proposed to increase the body’s resistance to stress, trauma, anxiety and fatigue. In the past, they have been called rejuvenating herbs, qi tonics, rasayanas, or restoratives. All adaptogens contain antioxidants, but antioxidants are not necessarily adaptogens.”

Ginseng is probably my favorite adaptogen but Eleuthero runs a close second. In fact, Eleuthero is a relative of red ginseng.   Both of these Chinese herbal medicine plants have  documented use since about 190 AD.  The root holds the medicinal value and is usually boiled into a tea.  Eleuthero is native to Siberia and Korea but also grows in other parts of the world.   It  likes to enjoy a dark, damp forest like those in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and Northern California.  It was re-discovered by a Soviets after the Chernobyl Nuclear Accident and dispensed to treat radiation exposure.

Search for videos by Chris Kilham on Eleuthero.  Thanks for reading.

Natural Alternatives to Birth Control Pills for PMS

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Natural remedies to PMS and period crampsMany young women are looking for a natural alternative to birth control pills for the PMS and cramps they get each month.  Chinese herbs are very effective at controlling and eliminating PMS (premenstrual syndrome).  The birth control pill is an option many women choose because they are not familiar with Chinese herbal medicine.

The approach I take is very different than the way progesterone and estrogen therapy found in the “Pill”.  Chinese Medicine can treat PMS and cramps successfully without artificial hormones.

Chinese Medicine recognizes that the liver is an organ that not just cleans blood but also moves blood.  When the liver is overly taxed by stress, lack of sleep, drugs or accumulation of chemicals (including hormones found in our food supply) the liver energy can become stagnate.   This stagnation effects the breasts, the uterus and eventually all the channels of the body because the liver cannot effectively perform it’s functions.

PMS results because the liver energy and the liver blood are not moving.  Breast tenderness occurs because the liver channel energy runs through the breast area and up to the head which may also result in headaches.  If the liver is given an opportunity to “detoxify” this can help move the liver Qi or energy.

Chinese herbs treat this stagnation with herbs that help move the blood, help normalize hormones and herbs that help reduce the liver Qi stagnation.   By moving the liver energy, the emotional component of PMS such as moodiness and irritability are resolved. This may seem foreign to Americans, but is a common practice of the Chinese.

Chinese herbal formulas for PMS symptoms date back to over 1000 years ago.  This is a remarkable testament to their popularity and to their success. We have many modern day clinical studies that  have been done on Chinese herbs for PMS, click here to read about the largest one conducted on over 3000 women.

Herbal remedies are safe and can provide complete cures for menstrual symptoms.  Symptoms will reduce immediatly and often resolve completely within a few months. A formula used by many women in China is call Jia Wei Xiao Yao San. Today it is found in every drug store in pill form or individual herbal packets throughout Asia.   Many people in China prefer the packets because it’s potency is much stronger than pills.  We don’t yet have these herbs in every drug store in America, but we are sure the American drug stores will catch on soon.  For our favorite PMS Relief product go here.

Dietary Supplements and Chinese Herbs are Still Safe, Access Untouched

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Did you hear the Dis-Honorable Henry Waxman (D, CA) Congressman,   tried in earnest to attach wording to the current finance bill in congress that would have given the  Federal Trade Commission (FTC) expanded powers to restrict access to dietary supplements including herbal supplements and Chinese herbs.   

As Fox News reported it was "The Congressional Equivalent of Isner v. Mahut".

The deliberations were nearly as long as the just completed  Isner v. Mahut Wimbledon tennis match. The match now holds the world record for the longest tennis match in the history.

Waxman also had the powerful support of Congressman Barney Frank (D,MA.) Barney Frank closed the conference committee at 5:39 am Friday morning, June 25th after all day and all night deliberations.  Millions of Americans depend on supplements and this was a great win for Alternative Medicine and Chinese herbs. The bill will now be submitted to the House and Senate without language that would have limited access to supplements.  For now anyway, dietary supplements are still available and herbs will still be on the store shelves. 

Europe however, is battling for it's herbs and supplements to remain free, we shall see what the outcome will be across the pond in the very near future.

Summertime Thirst Quencher Herb Teas

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Chinese herbs for summertime teaSummertime 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.