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The One Earth Herbal Sourcebook: Everything You Need to Know About Chinese, Western, and Ayurvedic Herbal Treatments Alan Keith Tillotson, Ph.D., A.H.G., D.Ay. See book keywords and concepts

Most reports of seriously high levels of heavy metals in Chinese herbs, when investigated, are based upon the fact that certain patented chinese medicine formulas have purified heavy metals added intentionally for medicinal purposes, just as we do here with, for example, calcium and zinc. Chinese and Ayurvedic doctors purify these heavy metals with methods developed in ancient times. The supposedly "toxic" herbs are prescribed and consumed in China without apparent side effects. These methods have not, to my knowledge, been verified by Western science.

Herbs for Health and Healing Kathi Keville See book keywords and concepts

Another is the Chinese herb club moss, which is used in traditional chinese medicine to promote circulation. In Alzheimer's disease, neurons are destroyed because of a defect in a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. Chemist Alan Kozikowski, Ph.D., from the University of Pittsburgh, found that a derivative of club moss reduces the breakdown of acetylcholine. He found that the effect of this herb is three times stronger than that of drugs typically prescribed for Alzheimer's. It is hoped that herbs may offer part of the solution to this terrible disease.

Natural Prescriptions: Dr. Giller's Natural Treatments & Vitamin Therapies For Over 100 Common Ailments Robert M. Giller, M.D. See book keywords and concepts

In 1971 I went to Hong Kong for a year to study acupuncture, and I became familiar with the philosophy of chinese medicine. Upon my return to the United States, I began to teach nutrition and alternative medicine at the New School in New York. In my own practice I developed a method of treating patients that I hoped combined the best of both worlds: the solid tradition and technique of modern medicine combined with the philosophy of natural healing.

Herbal Defense Robyn Landis See book keywords and concepts

Ellen located a doctor of chinese medicine in Boulder, Colorado, where she lives, and saw him on and off for three years. During that time, while the lump did not grow, neither did it disappear. She used acupuncture and Chinese herbal teas, but still felt that something else was going on. For example, she had terrible facial acne, "almost like boils," she remembers. Finally, she stopped seeing the Chinese doctor and conceded to having the lump surgically removed. It was found to be a fibroid, and nothing else was recommended. A year later, the lump came back. "I really wasn't surprised.

As we have discussed, ginseng is the premier tonic for men in chinese medicine, considered the "king of herbs." It increases energy, stamina, and sexual functioning. It's not very "feelable" at the time you take it; it's more of a long-term builder (although in the United States it is misunderstood and often used to try for a more immediate "buzz").

The "Queen of Herbs" in chinese medicine, dong quai is is beneficial tonic for both men and women, though it is particularly valued as a female tonic. It is warming and balances the entire female reproductive system. It is also useful for menopausal discomforts. (See Chapter 8, "Especially for Women: Natural Healing for a Woman's Lifetime," for more). The Ayurvedic herb shatavari is a worthy—and probably less expensive—stand-in for these effects. Either can be taken as capsules, 1 to 4 daily. Astragalus.

Yet another Chinese longevity herb, these dates are generally strengthening as well as life extending and are used widely in chinese medicine to purify all twelve organ meridians and clear blocked qi. They are considered especially to increase sexual vitality and vigor, tonify the sex organs and glands, improve digestion, and moderate mood swings. Five to 10 dates can be eaten daily. CoQIO. Coenzyme Q, also called CoQIO, is a heart-protective antioxidant nutrient found in especially high concentrations in the heart and liver.

Baical scullcap root, classically a liver herb in chinese medicine, is also detoxifying and is anti-inflammatory as well, making it a good anti-allergy herb (5 capsules per day). Pau d'arco bark is a general immune-system builder that is particularly good for allergies long term. Some herbalists don't feel the tea is as effective as other forms, but Karta Purkh has had good experience with the tea. It's a "fluffy" herb so it's hard to capsule, and since it's trendy it tends to be expensive; tea is cheaper (1 ounce dried herb per day).

Two other general cardio-builders from chinese medicine are akebia leaf (5 to 10 capsules a day) and Chinese foxglove root (not to be confused with digitalis, the common and toxic foxglove plant that grows all over North America), 1 to 5 capsules per day. Black pepper is a classic Ayurvedic blood cleanser and also increases circulation (1 to 5 capsules per day). Long pepper ("pipali" in India) is yet another revered Ayurvedic blood cleanser (also 1 to 5 capsules).

Herbal Medicine, Healing and Cancer: A Comprehensive Program for Prevention and Treatment Donald R. Yance, j r.,C.N., M.H., A.H.G., with Arlene Valentine See book keywords and concepts

The herbs in SPES M are specially processed and concentrated. In chinese medicine, SPES M is listed as a tonic to be used to support the body for chronic deficiency. Ingredients: • Pseudoginseng • Astragalus • Agrimony • White peony root • Licorice • Reishi • Royal jelly • Isatidis These are the pharmacological actions of SPES M: 1. Inhibits tumor growth at a rate of about 133 percent. 2. Enters into a cancer cell's nucleus, where it inhibits DNA replication, reduces the growth of cancer, and increases phagocytosis. 3.

Reishi [Ganoderma lucidum) The reishi mushroom is traditionally used in chinese medicine for asthenia-type syndromes, characterized by a deficiency of vital energy and functions of the lower body. Reishi is the perfect remedy for the typical American suffering from constant stress. This type of individual has depressed vital force and is likely to be both deficient and toxic. When a person in such a state develops cancer and is then faced with the toxicities of chemotherapy, the situation calls for reishi.

It contains vitamins Bb B12, and C, as well as betaine, beta-sitosterol, carotene, and physalien. chinese medicine classifies it as a blood tonic and sometimes calls it the fruit of the matrimony vine. Yellow Dock [Rumex crispus) Yellow dock contains anthraquinone glycosides, including nepodon and emodin, which are also found in buckthorn and rhubarb. It is an alterative, cholagogue, and laxative, and is employed chiefly in chronic cutaneous disorders with glandular swelling.

Red root also improves digestion and assimilation, especially when loose stools occur. In chinese medicine, red root would be classified as a true spleen remedy. My own personal constitutional tonic always contains red root. It is particularly helpful for those who have had their tonsils taken out at a young age. Wild Geranium {Geranium maculatum) Wild geranium is a powerful astringent, and is used specifically with the cancers that cause excessive bleeding.

The herbal medical system one is working within, such as TCM (Traditional chinese medicine) or American Eclectic medicine. 4. An innate intuitive ability (openness to listening inwardly for a sudden idea, a definite judgment, or a grasped meaning). 5. The virtue of patience—through patience so much is revealed. 6. A refined ability to improvise and be a "good cook." Knowing how to mix and match herbs for various effects, how to create formulas, how to prescribe supplements, and how to offer specific dietary guidelines are all necessary when formulating individual protocols. 7.

The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Resource for Healthy Eating Rebecca Wood See book keywords and concepts

Health Benefits In chinese medicine, litchis are recommended for the spleen-pancreas, stomach, and liver meridians. They help promote body fluids and ease thirst, reinforce spleen chi, and replenish blood. They are quite cooling. The fruit contains vitamins B and C as well as folic acid, citric acid, malic acid, and arginine. Use Litchis are easy to eat out of hand. The flesh easily separates from the peel and from its large, mahogany-colored seed. Both peel and pit are inedible.

Herbs Against Cancer: History and Controversy Ralph W. Moss PhD See book keywords and concepts

The parts that are used medicinally include the latex sap, the leaves, and (in chinese medicine) the root. This is a very complex plant, rich in biochemicals. Some readers might remember that during the energy crisis of the 1970s, Nobel laureate Melvin Calvin vocally advocated the use of this plant as an inexpensive source of petroleum (6). (Hence another popular name, "petroleum bush"). While this idea is not entirely dead, it turned out that the cost of producing such petroleum was higher than Prof. Calvin had initially estimated.

Heinerman's Encyclopedia of Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs John Heinerman See book keywords and concepts

The following four selected references are but a mere handful of the many published reports implicating garlic extract in the reduction of tumors and other types of malignancies: • American Journal of chinese medicine 11:69-73. • Science 126:1112-14. • Journal of Urology 136:701-705; 137:359-62. Now one of the foremost leaders in current cancer research employing garlic therapy is Benjamin Lau, M.D., Ph.D., a professor with the Dept. of Microbiology at the Loma Linda University School of Medicine in Loma Linda, California.

Sugar Blues William Duffy See book keywords and concepts

When the latter died, Sakurazawa went beyond him; he studied ancient Indian and chinese medicine, acupuncture, and the sacred books of these civilizations. After World War I, Sakurazawa journeyed to Paris to study at the Sorbonne and the Pasteur Institute. He opened a private acupuncture practice (then virtually unknown) in Paris in the 1920s to support himself. Later, he collaborated with the French physician de Morant—who had become interested in acupuncture during a stint with the French army in Indochina—on the first book on acupuncture in a Western European language (French).

The Great Book of Hemp: The Complete Guide to the Environmental, Commercial, and Medicinal Uses of the World's Most Extraordinary Plant Rowan Robinson See book keywords and concepts

In chinese medicine hemp seed falls under the categories "sweet," "neutral," and "clears heat," operating through the channels of the stomach, large intestine, and spleen. It promotes the healing of sores and ulcerations when applied topically or ingested. Excessive or prolonged use may result in "vaginal discharge" or spermatorrhea. In China, the oil of hemp in a mixture of herbal extracts is widely sold for use as a laxative.1 Both the ancient Ayurvedic system of Indian medicine and the Arabic Unani Tibbi system make extensive use of hemp for healing.

Hemp also figures in the history of chinese medicine. The great physician Hua Tuo (141-208 c.e.) formulated ma-yo (hemp wine) and ma-fei-san (hemp boiling powder), made with cannabis and aconite, for use as an anesthetic during the surgeries he performed.8 The materia medica Pen Ts'ao classifies ma as both yin (female, chu-ma) and yang (male, i-ma). Emperor Shen Nung classified chu-ma as one of the Superior Elixirs of Immortality, and he advised the Chinese to cultivate only the female plant because of its greater medicinal virtue. Court etiquette during the Zhou Dynasty (770-221 b.c.e.

The Woman's Encyclopedia of Natural Healing Dr. Gary Null See book keywords and concepts

Chinese medicine has a five-element system that includes fire, water, metal, earth, and wood. When the nutritive level is affected, the fire element is disturbed. This element is responsible for relationships, intimacy, and boundaries. The organs associated with it are the heart, the heart protector or pericardium, and the small intestine. "The heart is the center of who we are. Sexual abuse is a shock to the system, and shock is absorbed by the heart. When the heart is affected, we may see memory blocks, insomnia, palpitations and arrhythmia. Acupuncture can help.

Yang, "Hypoglycemic Effect of Guava Juice in Mice and Human Subjects," American Journal of chinese medicine 11 (1983): 74-76. Significant correlations were found between intake of broiled stems of Opuntia streptacantha and a decrease in serum glucose levels in type II diabetics. A. C. Frati-Munari et al., [Hypoglycemic Action of Different Doses of Nopal (Opuntia Streptacantha Lemaire) in Patients with Type II Diabetes Mellitus], Arch. Invest. Med. (Mexico) 20, no. 2 (April-June 1989): 197-201.

A study on urinary tract fibrosis showed that the chinese medicine Sairei-to was more effective than other drugs. K. Shida et al., [Clinical Efficacy of Sairei-to in Various Urinary Tract Diseases Centering on Fibrosis], Hinyokika Kiyo-Acta Urologica Japonica 40, no. 11 (1994): 1049-57. ACUPUNCTURE A study found acupuncture to be highly effective in treating hysteromyoma. H. Yan and J. Wang, [The Clinical Study on Hysteromyoma Treated with Acupuncture], Chen Tzu Yen Chiu 19, no. 2 (1994): 14-16.

The following herbs help to alleviate menstrual problems: Gardenia and philodendron are popular in chinese medicine, and can be obtained by prescription from an herbalist. Corn silk tea helps to get rid of the bloating that comes from too many hormones stored in the blood. Women's Rhythm also eliminates bloating. This Ted Kapchuk formula can be found in certain health food stores or ordered from Kahn Herbs. Xiao Yao Wan. This wonderful remedy, which can be purchased at pharmacies in Chinatowns in major cities, such as Pearl River Pharmacy in New York City, helps digestive processes.

Gorman agrees that clinical studies help confirm a diagnosis, she adds that Asian physicians are trained to accurately detect anemia and other blood disorders through observation: "In chinese medicine, you examine the body. Look at your tongue. Is it pale? Look at your lips. Are they pale? See if the mucous membranes under the eyes are pale. These signs indicate whether or not you are anemic." YOUR DIET Green, leafy vegetables are high in iron and folic acid. It is best to purchase organic vegetables, as pesticides interfere with absorption.

Yeuhchukene-An Indole Derivative Interacting with Guinea Pig Reproduction," American Journal of chinese medicine 18, no. 1-2 (1990): 1-4. Acacetin and luteolin, flavones isolated from the plant Striga lutea, were administered orally to rats from days 1 to 4 of pregnancy. Results showed dose-dependent anti-implantation activity: one dose at 10 mg/kg body weight on day 1, 2, or 3 of pregnancy was 100 percent effective in preventing implantation. S. P. Hiremath and S. H. Rao, "AntifertiIity Efficacy of the Plant Striga Lutea (Scrophulariacae) on Rats," Contraception 42, no.

The Encyclopedia of Popular Herbs Robert S. McCaleb, Evelyn Leigh, and Krista Morien See book keywords and concepts

American Journal of chinese medicine 1994; 22(2): 137-145. 5. Noe JE. Angelica sinensis: a monograph. Journal of Naturopathic Medicine 1997; 7(1): 66-72. 6. Qi-bing M, Jing-yiT, Bo C. Review article: advances in the pharmacological studies of radix Angelica sinensis (oliv) diels (Chinese danggui). Chinese Medical Journal 1991; 104(9): 776-781. 7. Tanaka S, KanoY,Tabata M, et al. Effects of "Toki" (Angelica acutiloba Kitagawa) extracts on writhing and capillary permeability in mice (analgesic and antiinflammatory effects) [in Chinese]. Yakugaku Zasshi 1971; 91(10): 1098-1104. 8.

American Journal of chinese medicine 1987; 15(3-4): 117-125. 12. Hsu HY, ChenYP, Shen SJ, et al. Oriental Materia Medica: A Concise Guide. Long Beach, CA: Oriental Healing Arts Institute, 1986. 13. Huang KC. The Pharmacology of Chinese Herbs. Boca Raton and London: CRC Press, 1999. 14. Yoshihiro K. The physiological actions of tang-kuei and cnidium. Bulletin of the Oriental Healing Arts Institute 1985; 10(7): 269-278. 15. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, et al., eds. American Herbal Products Association Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 1997. 16. Tierra M.

The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding chinese medicine. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1984. Leung AY. Chinese Herbal Remedies. New York: Universe Books, 1984. Tierra L. The Herbs of Life. Freedom, CA: Crossing Press, 1992. Ayurvedic Medicine Chopra D. Creating Health: How to Wake Up the Body's Intelligence. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1991. Chopra D. Perfect Digestion: The Key to Balanced Living. New York: Three Rivers Press, 1995. Chopra D. Restful Sleep: The Complete Mind I Body Program for Overcoming Insomnia. New York: Three Rivers Press, 1994. Frawley D. Ayurvedic Healing.

Herbal Medicine, Healing and Cancer: A Comprehensive Program for Prevention and Treatment Donald R. Yance, j r.,C.N., M.H., A.H.G., with Arlene Valentine See book keywords and concepts

A smooth-muscle relaxer, it is also very helpful in relieving cramps and promoting menstruation. In chinese medicine, it is used to regulate the menstrual cycle of those with deficient blood. The symptoms include pale face, tinnitus, blurred vision, heart palpitations, and pain from stagnant blood. Angelica also contains vitamin B12 and is therefore useful in the treatment of anemia caused by chemotherapy.70 Echinacea {Angustifolia and Purpurea) Echinacea is perhaps the best-known herb for the enhancement of immune function.

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