Herb can be found either as a whole herb or a standardized extract. The whole herb product will have all the active and other supporting components of the plant or bark as it exists in the wild or in cultivation. Standardized extracts have one or more active ingredients that have been isolated and found to be the particular agent that seems to affect symptoms for which the herb is known. For instance, St. John’s wort, known for its action in enhancing mood in depression, has been standardized for the chemical hypericin.

There are two schools of thought regarding the issue of whole herb vs. standardized extract. The standardized extracts are argued to be more predictable, the dosage more uniform and the consumer will know exactly what is being used and what chemical is causing the response (for good or ill). The whole herb advocates argue that there are other components in the herb that work synergistically with the active ingredient(s) in a way that enhances its effect.

TIPS
• Choose from a reputable company (see “more info” below).

• Cheap sources may be more filler than herb and actually cost more in the long run. A tip off would be when the recommended dosage is very large, such as “take three pills 4-6 times per day”. Unless you are working with a Chinese or other herbalist and have pills custom-made for you, this is likely a product filled with fluff.
• Look for herbs from companies who participate in good manufacturing practice (“GMP”).
• Capsules or enteric coated tablets are better absorbed if you choose to take the pill form of the herb.
• Often, house brands are made by reputable manufacturers and sell for less and are high quality.
• Supplements are not 100% absorbed by the body. Look for ones that absorb easily (bioavailability). Herbal pharmacists can guide you.
• Take each dose with at least 6 oz. of water.
There are many herbal products available. It is safest to work with a trusted herbal practitioner, naturopath or herbal pharmacist and be sure to let your doctor know what herbs you’re taking.

Ginseng shows promise as an herbal treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), suggests a small study. Researchers investigated the use of Panax ginseng among three 14- to 17-year-old males diagnosed with ADHD, concluding that the herb “may be a slightly effective treatment for ADHD.”

Past studies have shown that Panax ginseng may strengthen immunity, aid in the management of diabetes, and enhance mood. Meanwhile, another form of the herb (American ginseng) has been found to benefit children with ADHD when combined with ginkgo biloba.

BLISSFIELD, Mich. —

James Leonard carefully looks over the patient on his examining-room table before applying a laser light to a front leg.

The Blissfield veterinarian holds the laser in place for about 10 seconds each time in several different areas. Josie, a 3-year-old Australian blue heeler — that’s another name for an Australian cattle dog — stands quietly on the table as her owners, Gary and Stacey Derby of Morenci, look on.

Josie, who is deaf, had a right shoulder injury last October when she got bumped by a vehicle she couldn’t hear coming. A would on her leg would not heal.

DETOXING has become the buzzword of the 21st century, with stars such as Gwyneth Paltrow leading the rush to try new ways of removing chemical nasties from the body.

When the Academy Award winner stepped on to the red carpet for a New York film premiere in 2004 sporting strange circular bruises on her back, it emerged the marks resulted from cupping, an ancient form of traditional Chinese medicine thought to play a role in helping the body rid itself of toxins.

I guess it was only a matter of time before I gave in to some form of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Several years ago during SARS, I showed up at my doctor’s office for an appointment one day, and the kindly receptionist thrust a cup of black, swamp-like, liquid in my hand. The smell was like nothing I had ever encountered – not bad – just exotic. I looked at the concoction suspiciously. “Drink this! To avoid SARS!” she exclaimed. Why not? I obediently downed the entire up.

While considered alternative treatment in the west, Traditional Chinese Medicine is popular in Hong Kong and much of Asia. It mostly consists of using remedies such as herbal medicines, acupuncture, and massage to cure one’s maladies. TCM, as it is called here, is thousands of years old and based on ancient Chinese principles such as yin-yang and Daoism. While my Chinese friends all embrace western medicine, they also routinely consult their TCM practitioner – as the need arises – thus combining what they see as the best of two worlds.

ScienceDaily (June 8, 2009) — A drug derived from the hydrangea root, used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine, shows promise in treating autoimmune disorders, report researchers from the Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine and the Immune Disease Institute at Children’s Hospital Boston (PCMM/IDI), along with the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. In the June 5 edition of Science, they show that a small-molecule compound known as halofuginone inhibits the development of Th17 cells, immune cells recently recognized as important players in autoimmune disease, without altering other kinds of T cells involved in normal immune function. They further demonstrate that halofuginone reduces disease pathology in a mouse model of autoimmunity.

What we see now in our patients are modern diseases, stemming from modern ways of eating and a lack of nutrition that is impacting your effectiveness as a practitioner. You can treat these modern diseases – hypoglycemia, insulin-resistance, diabetes, food intolerances, adrenal fatigue, hormonal imbalances – but when the patient is malnourished (which is much more often than you can imagine), the treatment time is much slower.

For example, kidney deficiency is very closely related to adrenal fatigue in Western medicine. We prescribe herbs and acupuncture, and perhaps some lifestyle changes such as meditation. However, did you know that one of the major causes of adrenal fatigue is blood sugar imbalance, which is impacted not just by what the person is eating, but how frequently/infrequently they are eating? When the practitioners in my practice started prescribing specific nutritional supplements and Chinese herbs to support the adrenals, and prescribed a specific style of eating, we saw a dramatic improvement in our patients’ kidney deficiency. Furthermore, their improvement continued even when they stopped taking herbs. Why? Because we had given them nutrition that actually restored their kidneys/adrenals, as well as the tools to help manage it at home.

But why should you be talking about nutrition? Because your patients are already talking about nutrition, even if you aren’t. They’re reading about it, seeing segments on TV, talking to their friends and looking desperately for some magic pill to help them feel better. They’re taking some drugstore multi-vitamin, which is not only synthetic, but has approximately the correct amount of bioavailable nutrition for a gerbil. They’ve probably already been asking you questions about supplements – what to take, is this effective, what will help this condition. You might be having a hard time answering some of these questions because we didn’t learn any of this in TCM school. Your information about modern nutrition is often coming from the same sources as theirs, and while you might know whether or not some of the supplements they’re taking are helpful, you don’t really know how or why.

The ability to build qi and blood is directly related to the nutritional health of a patient. Herbs can improve the body’s function with what nutrition it has. While that can be effective, the molecular building blocks for blood and tissue (amino acids, vitamin complexes, essential fats) comes from what we eat. You may have some people who eat their vegetables or know enough to eat organic vegetables. However, did you know that vegetables harvested these days are as much as 40 percent less nutritious than they were 50 years ago, even organic ones? Did you know that omega-3s used to be widely found in meats, but because most animals are no longer grass-fed, they are sadly deficient, and then so are we? Or that besides vegetables, the most nutrient-dense food that exists is organ meats?

Even if patients ate perfectly, they would oftentimes still be deficient, and that’s where having some understanding of nutrition and supplementation will help. Patients love nutrition; they know they’re deficient and don’t eat well, and they are already interested in taking supplements. Having an understanding of nutrition, combined with your background in herbs, will allow you to help correct them if they are self-prescribing. Since you may be the only doctor they’re seeing, you will be able to see interactions between drugs, herbs and supplements. If you start prescribing nutritional supplements that make a difference the patient can clearly see, you will not only have very high patient compliance, but those patients will return again and again for more supplements. They don’t do that nearly as often for herbal prescriptions. In our practice, we have a full Chinese herbal pharmacy, yet at least half of what we prescribe is nutritional supplements. Why?

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is being widely used to treat A(H1N1) flu patients in China, a senior health official confirmed Monday.

“China has been, so far, the only country worldwide to introduce traditional medicine, particularly the TCM, which had been practiced for thousands of years in the nation in the treatment of diseases,” said Ren Minghui, director of the international cooperation department of the Ministry of Health (MOH).

As of late yesterday, health authorities had announced 39 confirmed A(H1N1) flu cases and one additional suspected case on the Chinese mainland.

The latest six confirmed cases were reported yesterday – three in Beijing, two in Fujian province and one in Guangdong province.

“Currently, TCM has shown certain efficacy in all confirmed patients under treatment and a total of nine have already fully recovered and been discharged from the hospital,” said Jiang Liangduo, a TCM expert at the Beijing-based Dongzhimen Hospital Affiliated to Beijing University of Chinese Medicine.

Special Coverage
Traditional medicine used to battle new flu A（H1N1） Influenza Outbreak

Jiang is part of a MOH-initiated special taskforce comprising dozens of TCM experts charged with looking for ways to contain the flu through a TCM approach.

“A great variety of both the ready-to-use and unprocessed TCM, mainly herbals, has been used in the treatment,” he noted.

Personal conditions of the patients, including gender, age, and symptoms, would be considered in deciding specific treatment method in terms of dosage and choices of different herbs, he said.

Tai chi is a mind-body exercise that was first used by Chinese monks to improve concentration and physical well-being. This low-impact aerobic exercise combines breathing exercises with slow and gentle movements. The graceful and precise body movements can enhance strength and coordination while helping you achieve better body awareness – and maybe even inner peace.

Tai chi won’t make you huff and puff. It is ideal for many people who are elderly or have disabilities. You can often do tai chi even when you use a wheelchair or walker. Many of the movements can be adapted and be done from a sitting position.

Benefits of tai chi

Tai chi may help to:

* Enhance your stamina
* Make you stronger
* Help you breathe easier
* Achieve better balance
* Improve your posture
* Lessen joint stiffness
* Increase flexibility
* Raise your energy level
* Relieve stress

Research shows that the most effective plan to prevent falls among older adults is activity that improves strength, movement and flexibility. Tai chi may help to achieve these goals. In one study, older people taking part in a 15-week tai chi program reduced their risk of falling by almost half. After the course, many were no longer afraid of falling.

Most elementary school-aged kids are familiar with the healthy after-school snack known as “ants on a log.” Comprised of a celery stick filled with peanut butter and topped with raisins, this nutritious delight does indeed look like ants walking upon a log. I like celery but only when accompanied by creamy peanut butter and I am also picky about eating celery salt only sprinkled on cottage cheese. However if learning more about the health behind the different parts of the celery plant will cause me to indulge a little more and branch out of my food barriers, I might as well give it another taste. .