Gabriel Cousens, M.D.
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 Preview of Chapter 16
In this chapter we directly show, with the use of population studies and other forms of discussion, that ideas held in the West and in traditional chinese medicine (TCM) about the "dangers" of a vegetarian diet are primarily myths. Although there may appear to be a shade of truth to some of these ideas in the short run, when the whole process of the skillful transition to vegetarianism is considered over time, these shades of truth become significantly less relevant. Are you ready to learn more information about the safety of a vegetarian diet?
I. |
Linda B. White, M.D.
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 Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa)
Various yams are used in Ayurvedic and traditional chinese medicine. The root of this particular species of wild yam has anti-inflammatory properties that may be helpful in relaxing uterine spasms. Typical dosage-. up to two 400-milligram capsules per day,- or 20 to 40 drops of tincture up to five times per day.
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)
Chinese researchers have found that motherwort increases the volume of blood circulation and stimulates uterine activity. |
Gabriel Cousens, M.D.
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| I have already answered some of the usual questions that arise in our Western culture; now I will include some of the questions raised by the system of medicine known as traditional chinese medicine (TCM). More and more people in the West are using this system. TCM is a time-honored medical system that has a unique way of conceptualizing health and disease. The main approaches used in TCM are acupuncture, herbs, and dietary advice. |
Linda B. White, M.D.
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| Practitioners of traditional chinese medicine feel it helps maintain energy and strengthen tissue. It has a subtle calming effect, improves sleep, balances blood sugar, is good for the liver, and may increase memory. Typical dosage: 3 cups of tea per day (simmer 1 teaspoon of dried fruit in 1 cup of hot water for 10 to 15 minutes),- or l/s to V2 teaspoon of tincture three times per day.
Natural stimulants to Avoid
Your local health food store is likely to carry a variety of products advertised as energy boosters. They may be natural, but that doesn't mean they're good for you. |
Michael T. Murray, N.D.
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 The medicinal use of Ginkgo biloba can be traced back to the oldest Chinese materia medica (2800 B.C.). traditional chinese medicine prescribes ginkgo leaves for their ability to "benefit the brain," relieve the symptoms of asthma and coughs, and help the body eliminate filaria.
Ginkgo leaf extracts are now among the leading prescription medicines in both Germany and France, where they account for 1.0 and 1.5 percent, respectively, of total prescription sales. In 1989 alone, more than 100,000 physicians worldwide wrote more than 10 million prescriptions for GBE. |
Christopher Hobbs
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 It is noteworthy that in the system of herbalism that is an integral part of traditional chinese medicine, many of the important tonics (such as ginseng) taste bitter and sweet and are considered warm in nature. Thus Fomitopsis officinalis may be an important first-class tonic (especially for enhancing immune strength and support-
ž asthma
ž colic ing adrenal function). This action has been disputed by one well-respected Chinese herbalist (Dharmananda, 1994), and it has not been proven by any scientific studies. See the monograph on this species for more details. |
the Editors of PREVENTION
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 LAc), or a practitioner of traditional chinese medicine. That's a lot of options, but even with the booming interest in herbal medicine, finding someone who's qualified to practice it is still no cinch. Here are some tips for a successful search.
Ask your doctor. Sometimes, you find what you're looking for where you least expect it. "The first thing to try is to ask your doctor if he'll work with herbal medicine," says Robert Rountree, M.D., a holistic physician at the Helios Health Center in Boulder, Colorado. "You may be surprised. |
Ralph Golan, M.D.
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 Further analysis showed that the condition was related to the liver organ system, which in traditional chinese medicine is responsible for the storage of blood and has a regulating or calming influence on the emotions.
From the integrated mind-body perspective of Oriental medicine, low spirits in the patient, coupled with pain in the upper abdomen, clots in the dark-colored menstrual flow, the dark appearance and purple spots on the tongue, plus a "wiry" pulse could all be associated with "stagnant" energy in the liver. |
the Editors of PREVENTION
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| Motherwort
Take two to three droppers of tincture a day. traditional chinese medicine uses the flowering herb motherwort extensively for controlling blood pressure. "It has a calming effect and also directly lowers blood pressure," Dr. Rountree says.
Motherwort is easily found in health food stores. The dose above is typical, according to Dr. Rountree, and it is safe for you to take on an ongoing basis. You can mix it with a glass of water or drink it straight.
Ginkgo and Hawthorn
Take a teaspoon of this tincture combination three times a day. |
| As one of the important tonic herbs in traditional chinese medicine, astragalus has been extensively researched by Asian scientists. Numerous studies confirm its ability to stimulate the immune system and fight viruses. In the Chinese tradition, the dried sliced root, which looks like a tongue depressor, is simmered for several hours to make a thick, strong tea.
Cause: Warts can be caused by any one of the more than 60 types of human papillomavirus (HPV). |
Gary Null, Ph.D.
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 Therapeutic Effect of Crataegus Pinnatifida on 46 Cases of Angina Pectoris—A Double Blind Study," Journal of traditional chinese medicine, 4(4), 1984, p. 293-294.
This study examined the hypotensive effects in rats of an aqueos extract of Crataegus oxyacantha leaves. Results showed the herb given at a median effective dose of of 31 mg/kg significantly decreased the rates of systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressure while having no effect on heart rate.
—A.S. Abdulghani, et al., "Hypotensive Effect of Crataegus Oxyacantha," International
Journal of Crude Drug Research, 25(4), 1987, p. |
Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D.
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 The root of the ciwuja plant has been used in traditional chinese medicine for more than 1,700 years to treat fatigue and boost immune function.
Ciwuja attracted the attention of medical researchers who had heard anecdotal reports of its use by mountain climbers to improve performance at high altitudes, where there are low levels of oxygen. Recent studies performed in the United States and China show that ciwuja can indeed improve workout performance, which is why sports supplements containing ciwuja are fast becoming a favorite among fitness mavens. |
Gary Null, Ph.D.
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| Observation of Therapeutic Effect in 50 Cases of Chronic Renal Failure Treated with Rhubarb and Adjuvant Drugs," Journal of traditional chinese medicine, 13(4), December 1993, p. 249-252.
This case-controlled study examined the effects of the Chinese herbal drug, Rheum E. compared to Captopril on patients suffering from chronic renal failure. Results found that long-term oral ingestion of Rheum E at low doses was beneficial compared to controls and that Rheum E in combination with Captopril is the best choice for treating chronic renal failure.
—J.H. Zang, et al. |
Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D.
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| According to traditional chinese medicine, there are two opposing forces in the universe: yin, which is negative, and yang, which is positive. Everything (including all herbs) and everybody is characterized as either yin or yang. Yin types tend to be cool, calm, and quiet. Yang types are hot, stimulating, and energetic. A healthy body is one that strikes a balance between the opposing forces of yin and yang. Disease occurs when there is imbalance in the body, and it can be cured only when the balance is restored. |
Jean Carper
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 Practitioners of traditional chinese medicine have long revered the shiitake's healing powers. And in 1960, Dr. Kenneth Cochran, at the University of Michigan, discovered one reason why. He isolated from the shiitake an antiviral substance called lentinan that exhibited strong immunostimulating activity.
A long string of studies finds the shiitake's lentinan a marvel at boosting immunity. Specifically, shiitake's lentinan is known as a biological response modifier, and boosts the functioning of macrophages and T-lymphocytes. |
Henry Pasternak, D.V.M., C.V.A.
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 Ginkgo has been used in traditional chinese medicine for thousands of years.
The main reason why ginkgo biloba has such a broad variety of effects on the body is that it makes the whole circulatory system more efficient. By improving both the elasticity and tone of the blood vessels, it enhances blood flow. Ginkgo is unique because it affects all parts of the circulatory system, arteries, veins, and capillaries, and is therefore called a trivasoregulator (able to harmonize the total function of the circulation). |
| Astragalus is a Chinese herb often used as a "Qi tonic" in traditional chinese medicine. The root of the plant is used for medicinal purposes and contains some unique flavonoids. Antioxidant activity is common to flavonoids, and it is hypothesized that these at least in part afford astragalus its cardioprotective activity.19 In one study in humans with ischemic heart disease, ninety-two patients who were treated with astragalus experienced marked improvement in angina, as well as significant objective improvement in ECG compared to controls. |
| There are many different varieties of the ginseng plant grown throughout the world that are used for traditional chinese medicine. All of the most common species of plants known as ginseng have similar reactions in humans or animals. Ginseng is often used to maintain and support health as a tonic rather than treating a particular disease in the body. However, I have used it successfully in the treatment of a variety of diseases such as immune suppression, cancer, allergies, Addison's disease, respiratory diseases, diabetes, and general weakness. |
| The Sichuan Institute of traditional chinese medicine reported that its researchers had isolated a polysaccharide from cordyceps, which had the effect of activating macrophages. The polysaccharide they isolated also stimulated lymphocytes, a vital group of infection fighting white blood cells produced in lymphoid tissue.31
An experiment conducted by Shanghai Medical University showed cordyceps can stimulate T- and B-lymphocyte proliferation and has certain effects on mononuclear phagocytes, T-lym-phocytes, B-lymphocytes, and NK cells. It is obviously a wide acting immunomodulator. |
| Researchers at Hunan Medical University refer to cordyceps as one of the most potent herbal tonics in traditional chinese medicine. Their findings show that cordyceps activates NK cells in vitro and in animals and has significant antitumor activity. They concluded that cordyceps could be used as an immunopotentiating agent both in the treatment of cancer and in patients with deficient immune systems.34
It is well known that patients with autoimmune diseases possess low NK cell activity. I have used this herb as adjunctive therapy in all autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. |
| The view of traditional chinese medicine is that cordyceps supports the normal function and strengthens the energy of the kidneys and nourishes the body's chi or vital force. In fact, research with cordyceps has shown that it produces definite beneficial effects on the kidneys.19 Cordyceps has been found to cause a profound promotion of DNA synthesis in kidney cells, which indicates enhanced regeneration of damaged cells.20
The effect of cordyceps on the kidney was tested in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in fifty-two patients at a hospital in Nanjing, China. |
The Editors of PREVENTION
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 In keeping with the tenets of traditional chinese medicine, health depends on a sufficient and balanced flow of qi throughout the body. If you have too little qi in general, or too much qi here and not enough there, your health suffers.
Breathing exercises are a key part of qigong because it's primarily through breathing that you gather qi from the environment, explains Dr. Desmarais.
"You breathe out old qi and breathe in fresh, vital qi," he says. Once you've done that, you use visualization exercises and movements to get the qi where it's needed. |
| According to the tenets of traditional chinese medicine, needling and pressing acupoints (there are hundreds all over the body) helps relieve various health problems. Different points help with different health problems, and the point on your wrist, known as P6, is the one to press for nausea relief. In a study at Humboldt State University in Areata, California, selfless volunteers who had their P6 points pressed while they were being spun around in a large revolving drum were less likely to suffer motion sickness than those who didn't. |
| According to traditional chinese medicine, these self-applied finger or knuckle pressings alleviate the emotional toll of anxiety and relieve muscle tension by improving circulation through your body and to your brain. Dr. Nickel offers these acupressure points for anxiety.
Give in to ear pressure. Locate the neuro-gate acupressure point at the base of the upper ear triangle (left). Using the tip of your forefinger, apply steady pressure on the neurogate point for five seconds and then gradually release the pressure for five cato breaths. |
Dharma Singh Khalsa, M.D.
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 Because the kidneys and adrenals are adjacent to one another, traditional chinese medicine practitioners consider both to be part of the same energy system. In Western medicine, however, this proximity is believed to be nothing more than an anatomical coincidence. Most Western doctors don't believe there's any relationship between kidney function and adrenal function (even though it's generally believed that stress is bad for the kidneys).
As I explained his brain longevity program to A.I., he looked at me with an expression of basic indifference. |
the Editors of PREVENTION
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| Burn leverage
In traditional chinese medicine, overweight is an indication that your digestion is weak. This means that your digestivefires aren't burning hot, so it's easier for your body to transform food into extra water andfat than to convert it into muscle, blood, and energy, says fourth-generation herbalist Christopher Hobbs, a professional member of the American Herbalists Guild, a botanist and licensed acupuncturist in Santa Cruz, California, and author of many books on herbs, including Handmade Medicines: Simple Recipes for Herbal Health. |
Dr. Gary Null
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 Bloom has studied acupuncture and traditional chinese medicine in China and the United States, and has a background in massage and social work. The focus of her practice is acupuncture, massage, and healing arts by women for anyone.
GINA MICHAELS Mille Fleurs Day Spa 130 Franklin Street New York, NY 10013 (212) 966-3656
Ms. Michaels, director of the Mille Fleurs Day Spa in Soho, New York City, has been practicing as a licensed acupuncturist for twelve years and as a massage therapist for twenty years. Mille Fleurs offers treatments including herbal body wraps, facials, and body work. |
Robert S. McCaleb, Evelyn Leigh, and Krista Morien
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 Centuries ago it was used in traditional chinese medicine (TCM) against bronchitis and other respiratory infections and as a general tonic to enhance energy, vitality, and resistance. Russians began studying the plant in the 1950s, and, based on a review completed in 1958, Siberian ginseng was added to the pharmacopoeia of the Soviet Union in 1962.
These early Russian studies focused on performance and resistance, beginning with trials in runners and swimmers. |
Robyn Landis
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 There are professionals—herbalists, naturopaths, homeopaths, acupuncturists, traditional chinese medicine doctors, and some MDs, to name just a few—trained to help you determine which ones would be most supportive for your body, your conditions, and your lifestyle, as well as in what form, where to get them, and so on.
Secondly, do not assume that all herbal medicine is "pills." All medicinal substances do not have to be in pill form. This assumption comes from a drug paradigm. In actual fact, herbal medicine encompasses a wide range of forms and preparations of botanical substances. |
| This is probably another reason this tonic is prized so highly by the Chinese, since traditional chinese medicine emphasizes the importance of the liver in healing and recovery, especially during and after infection.
Astragalus is used as an antiviral to decrease the incidence of colds and shorten their course (which research shows it does, typically by half). It also has been tested not only for its general immune enhancement but also for its ability to mitigate the effects of more toxic therapies. |
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