Jul
9
Edometriosis: Chinese medicine superior to conventional medication
Posted by Dr Vitalis Acupuncture in Chinese medicine, endometriosis
Chinese herbal medicine following laparoscopic surgery in Endometriosis patients achieved better symptom controll compared to conventinal medication danazol and was comparable to gestrinone. Furthermore, it the patients taking Chinese medicine reported fewer side-effects. The pregnancy rate was similar with either treatment.
Andrew Flower, PhD, of Southampton University in Ringmer, England, reported the findings in the Cochrane Reviews.
Oct
18
Chinese medicine superior to drugs easing menstrual cramps
Posted by Dr Vitalis Acupuncture in Chinese medicine, dysmenorrhea, menstrual cramps
Chinese herbal medicine provides significant pain relief for women with menstrual cramps, researchers from University of Western Sydney show.
Women with period pains are often offered either non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or oral contraceptives. Both of the options have drawbacks including the short and long term side-effects. Many women find these treatments don’t work or that they would prefer a natural alternative.
A review of 39 controlled trials in 3,475 women found that Chinese herbal medicine was superior to pharmaceutical drugs providing significant pain relief. It relieved overall symptoms even better than acupuncture.
There was no indication that Chinese herbal medicine caused any adverse events, making it the first choice for relieving menstrual cramps. (image by)
Aug
4
Chinese medicine relieves eczema in children
Posted by Dr Vitalis Acupuncture in Chinese medicine, eczema
Researchers from Hong Kong confirmed that Chinese medicine effectively relieve eczema in children. 42 kids who took the Chinese medicine had their eczema improved and their use of corticosteroids was reduced. Other 43 kids suffering from eczema took a placebo did not observe the same effect.
The paper was published in the August issue of the British Journal of Dermatology.
The Chinese medicine (five herbs) used to relieve eczema were Flos lonicerae (Jinyinhua), Herba menthae (Bohe), Cortex moutan (Danpi), Rhizoma atractylodis (Cangzhu) and Cortex phellodendri (Huangbai).
Jun
28
Diabetes – bitter mellon increases insulin secretion by 160%
Posted by Dr Vitalis Acupuncture in cancer, Chinese medicine, diabetes
Bitter melon, a delicacy, which I enjoyed so much, when I lived in China has many healing properties. It is known to lower blood sugar it is also known for its’ anti-cancer properties.
Now a team of Chinese scientists discovered that prepared in traditional way extract can increase the insulin production by 160% and has repairing effects on pancreatic ?-cells, responsible for insuline production. Good news for diabetes sufferers. But don’t necessarily expect these effects from fresh bitter melon. To have these properties the melon has to be dried and decocted (cooked) traditional way.
May
22
Schizophrenia? Use Chinese herbs!
Posted by Dr Vitalis Acupuncture in Chinese medicine, cochrane, schizophrenia
Researchers from Cochrane Collaboration reviewed 7 studies on use of Chinese herbs for schizophrenia:
- The overall response favoured combining herbal medicine plus antipsychotic drugs vs using antipsychotic drugs alone.
- Significantly fewer people getting combined treatment left the study early compared with those given antipsychotics alone.
- Combined treatment group had reduced side effects (like constipation) of the anipsychotic drugs.
Conclusions?
Results suggest that combining Chinese herbal medicine with antipsychotics is beneficial.
May
3
Chinese medicine holds hope preventing polycystic kidney disease
Posted by Dr Vitalis Acupuncture in Chinese medicine
There was increasing evidence that Lei Gong Teng (Radix Tripterygii Wilfordii) treats arthritis effectively. It has been used to treat cancer, inflammation, and auto-immune diseases and, more recently, also has been tested in Phase I clinical trials as an anti-tumour agent. This new study found that this Chinese medicine also may stop cyst formation in polycystic kidney disease.
The research holds out hope for what would be the first treatment for the disease other than kidney transplant or frequent dialysis.
The study was conducted by a team of researchers led by researcher Dr. Craig Crews at Yale University.
“If we were able to slow the rate of cyst formation by even 10 percent a year, compounded annually, patients would not die from this disease. A relatively small effect would have an enormous clinical benefit,” Crews said.
Apr
20
Chinese herbs may ease chemotherapy
Posted by Dr Vitalis Acupuncture in cancer, Chinese medicine, cochrane
Chinese herbal medicine can protect the immune systems of breast cancer patients and reduce the side effects of chemotherapy, a group of Cochrane Collaboration scientists said yesterday.
Scientists analysed data from seven studies involving 542 women with breast cancer.
They concluded that Chinese medicines may safely reduce the immuno-suppressive side effects of powerful anti-cancer drugs.
A number of Chinese medicinal herbal mixtures and compounds are prescribed to counteract the unwanted effects of chemotherapy.
Three of the studies showed improvements to white blood cells, key elements of the immune system. Two appeared to have had a general positive effect on quality of life.
In their paper published by the Cochrane Library, the researchers said: “The results suggest that using Chinese herbs in conjunction with chemotherapy or CHM alone may be beneficial in terms of improvements in bone marrow suppression and immune system, and may improve overall state of quality of life.”
The researchers also said further trials were needed before the effects of traditional Chinese medicines on women with breast cancer could be evaluated with any confidence.
In a separate study, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh found that an extract of triphala, the dried and powdered fruits of three plants, caused pancreatic tumours to die in mice.
Aug
1
Diabetes :: type 2 :: Traditional Chinese Medicine Has Scientific Backing
Posted by Dr Vitalis Acupuncture in Chinese medicine, diabetes, herbal medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine for diabetes has scientific backing Reports of a traditional Chinese medicine having beneficial effects for people suffering from type 2 diabetes now has some scientific evidence to back up the claims.
A collaboration between Chinese, Korean, and Australian scientists at Sydney’s Garvan Institute, has revealed that the natural plant product berberine could be a valuable new treatment. Berberine is found in the roots and bark of a number of plants used for medicinal purposes including wound healing and treatment of diarrhoea.
It has also been documented in Chinese literature as having a glucose lowering effect when administered to people with diabetes; yet, until now, its mode of action was unknown.
Garvan scientist Dr Jiming Ye says: “Our studies in animal models of diabetes show that berberine acts in part by activating an enzyme in the muscle and liver that is involved in improving sensitivity of the tissue to insulin – this in turn helps lower blood sugar levels. In addition, it seems berberine can help reduce body weight”. Current medicines for treating type 2 diabetes include metformin and the TZD group of drugs.
However, a large number of patients cannot tolerate metformin and the TZDs can cause undesirable weight gain. Therefore, it is critical to develop new therapies to treat type 2 diabetes, which is a growing health problem.
“Berberine has been used for decades, if not centuries, with few reported side effects. Given the limitations of existing medicines we are excited to have evidence that berberine may be a helpful new treatment for type 2 diabetes; however, despite its widespread use in traditional medicine practices, it will still have to be evaluated properly following the defined clinical trials process”, said Professor James, head of the Garvan’s Diabetes & Obesity Research Program and co-author of the Diabetes paper.
The next step is to investigate how berberine activates the enzyme that mediates these ‘insulin-sensitising’ effects.
NOTES: This study will be published in the August issue of ‘Diabetes’. The title is: Berberine, a natural plant product, activates AMP-activated protein kinase with beneficial metabolic effects in diabetic and insulin resistant states. Yun S. Lee, Woo S. Kim,Kang H. Kim, Myung J. Yoon, Hye J. Cho, Yun Shen, Ji-Ming Ye, Chul H. Lee, Won K. Oh, Chul T. Kim, Cordula Hohnen-Behrens, Alison Gosby, Edward W. Kraegen, David E. James, and Jae B. Kim
More on Chinese Medicine (Gardenia fruit) and diabetes.
Jun
8
Another proof that Chinese medicine is effective. This time for type 2 diabetes.
Posted by Dr Vitalis Acupuncture in Chinese medicine, diabetes, herbal medicine
A gardenia fruit extract used in Chinese medicine for
centuries to treat diabetes is effective, scientists confirmed.
Researchers from the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School found a chemical from the fruit blocks the action of an enzyme which stops the production of insulin.
Insulin is made in the pancreas, and stimulates cells to
take up as much glucose as they need for energy, thereby regulating
blood sugar levels.
But in people with diabetes, there is too little insulin, which causes blood sugar concentrations to rise.
The research was published in Cell Metabolism.
My comment:
We’ve been using gardenia for ages and never needed any confirmation it to be effective. The pharmaceuticals will obviously try to find a way to excrete and isolate the compound which inhibits UCP2 and make a huge profit selling the medicine. Nothing wrong with that.
However, any Chinese medicine herbalist will tell you that gardenia alone does not treat diabetes. We need a formula of a few herbs to achieve the best effect. When the chemicals form Chinese medicines are excreted and purified, the amount of that particular chemical has to be increased for it to be effective. This can lead to undesirable side-effects and adverse events.
Feb
2
Chinese medicine as a treatment for sperm genetic abnormalities
Posted by Dr Vitalis Acupuncture in Chinese medicine, herbal medicine, infertility, male infertility
Many infertile man have an increased proportion of genetically abnormal sperm. Normally this is not an issue, because the sperm number is so small, that it fails to fertilise an egg. But in case of ICSI, the potentially genetically abnormal sperm is injected directly in to an egg. This increases the risk risk for ICSI failure as well as the risk of transmitting diseases such as Klinefelter’s syndrome, Down’s syndrome, congenital heart defects, etc.
Scientists from university of Kent conducted research on six men who had very high levels of chromosome abnormalities in their sperm. After a course of traditional Chinese medicine each of the six men participating in the study showed a significant reduction in the proportion of sperm genetic abnormalities.
This research offers promise to male infertility patients. However more research is needed to convince the skeptics.
Ref:
“Significant reduction of sperm disomy in six men: effect of traditional Chinese medicine?” Darren Griffin, Helen Tempest, Sheryl Homa and Xiao-Ping Zhai
“Asian Journal of Andrology”
IVF and acupuncture :: vitalis.co.nz
Oct
20
Chinese medicine and bird flu
Posted by Dr Vitalis Acupuncture in Chinese medicine, herbal medicine
Orthodox medicine currently does not offer any solutions for the bird flu. Chinese Medicine may be of help if or when it spreads worldwide.
Numerous Chinese herbs have antiviral effects. These herbs were successfully used by staff at the hospital of a university in Hong Kong to prevent SARS.
Current laws do not allow to patent herbs. Roche, a Swedish pharmaceutical company found a way around this. It developed Tamiflu, a medication extracted from one of Chinese medicines, star anise. The company uses 90% of the world supply of star anise to transform it into Tamiflu pills. The idea would have been great, but… when you extract something and start to use a high dose of it, you can expect side-effects. Furthermore, in Chinese medicine we use a mix of a few herbs and keep on changing them in the prescription to keep it effective. If the same active ingredient will be used to fight a virus, it is very likely, that that ingredient will become ineffective as the virus mutates.
Lucky we still have many other varieties of Chinese antiviral herbs that can be used should the need arise.
Jun
21
Chinese Medicine – a future treatment for Alzeimer’s
Posted by Dr Vitalis Acupuncture in Alzeimers', Chinese medicine, herbal medicine
MONDAY, June 20 (HealthDay News) — Future treatments for Alzheimer’s disease may run the gamut from calisthenics combined with singing, Chinese herbs, immune-boosting therapies and insulin delivered to the brain via the nose.
Research in these areas and more was presented Monday at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference on Prevention of Dementia, held in Washington, D.C.
A study conducted in China, found that an herbal extract improved cognitive function in people with mild cognitive impairment, often a precursor to Alzheimer’s. The extract, known as GETO (for ginseng, epimedium herb, thinleaf milkwort root and two other herbs), has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine.
Read more here
May
23
It works for me: Chinese herbal medicine
Posted by Dr Vitalis Acupuncture in Chinese medicine, herbal medicine
Cecilia Conrad gave up all hopes of a cure for her chronic urinary infections until she discovered a Chinese remedy
Read the story on Times online
May
6
Chinese Medicine needs more research
Posted by Dr Vitalis Acupuncture in Chinese medicine, herbal medicine
“If Chinese herbal medicine underwent scientific tests, it could spread to international use…”
Freid Murad, the 1998 Nobel prize winner of physiology and medicine
Apr
23
The best medicine – Financial times
Posted by Dr Vitalis Acupuncture in Chinese medicine
Lu Xinhua looks like somebody’s aunt. Her short, wavy black hair, freckles and sweater set give her a kindly demeanour. So I did not mind when she took my wrist with three fingers the other day at lunch.
“You have had a cold recently, haven’t you?” she says after a moment. “You tire easily,” she concludes, after asking me to stick out my tongue and pressing her fingers into my other wrist.
It was an unsettling way to start a meal but that is how many at Clifford Herbal Cuisine begin. The restaurant, which opened two years ago in a hospital in Guangzhou, the southern Chinese city formerly known as Canton, serves a menu designed to adhere to the principles of traditional Chinese medicine.
Diners can opt to consult an on-site doctor of Chinese medicine, as I did, who will suggest certain dishes to help fix whatever ailments they might have. Or they can navigate the menu of more than 100 surprisingly tasty dishes, each labelled with its health benefits, on their own.