Health | Chinese Alternative Medicine

Chinese Medicine and Herbal Blends

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Ancient Japanese remedies harboring the wisdom of ages have merged with modern technology to develop unique supplements that feature herbs used for centuries to promote health and well being. Rooted in sacred philosophy, and revered for their healing powers, the three herbs listed below provide nutrition, increase immunity, give total body cleansing and inspire invigoration and the cultivation of happiness and tranquility.

Eleuthero Root

Known as an "adaptogen," an extraordinary element offering a broad range of health benefits, the Eleuthero Root reduces the effects of stress on the body in a multitude of ways. Providing improvement in memory, increased endurance, and defense against radiological activity, the Eleuthero Root stimulates immune function and aids the body in total health.

Believed by scientists to help prevent "adrenal burnout" caused by ongoing physical or mental challenges, it also acts as an anti-inflammatory that decreases cortisol levels. In addition, it contains amazing chemoprotective qualities that protect healthy tissues from the toxic effects of anticancer drugs.

Albizzia Bark

Used worldwide by scientists and researchers alike, bark from the Albizzia plant is a soothing agent and herbal remedy used to alleviate emotional aliments and decrease stress. Known as "the herb of happiness," Albizzia Bark possesses natural ingredients that refresh the mind, calm the spirit, and restore a sense of tranquility and peace.

Dating back hundreds of years, and part of ancient traditions that celebrated the bark’s de-stressing abilities, Albizzia Bark is completely non-chemical and has been shown by researchers to contain antioxidants that encourage emotional well being.

Dimocarpus Longan

Used for centuries to nurture the health of the heart, this super-fruit revitalizes the blood, invigorates the spleen, and adds vibrant luster to the skin. A staple of the earliest holistic remedies known to man, Longan also treats stomach aches, insomnia, and has even been shown to help cure amnesia.

An essential energy-providing element, Longan enhances mood to invite a contented, happy mind, and supplies the body with stamina against physical strain and mental stress. Supporting the immune system and calming the nervous system, Longan truly does it all.

Filed Under: Chinese Herbal Medicine, Herbal Treatment | Tagged: Tagged With: Alternative, Chemotherapy, Health, Herbalism, Herbs, Immune system, Japanese language, Shopping

Alternative Medicinal Treatments: Reishi Mushrooms and Lycium Berry

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If you are seeking alternative health treatments and have an interest in Chinese medicine, consider the Reishi Mushroom and Lycium Berry, both of which contain incredible health benefits and invite tranquility, boost your body’s natural immunities, and harvest health and harmony.

Reishi Mushroom

Few things on this earth are as powerful and advantageous to your health as Reishi Mushrooms. Providing four-fold benefits that contribute to physical health, hearten happiness, promote longevity, and increase wisdom, this rare mushroom has achieved legendary status with its medicinal properties.

Believed by Taoists to be the elixir of youth, emperors and kings alike drank Reishi Mushroom teas to encourage a long life and achieve vitality. Containing strong antioxidant properties, these mushrooms boost immunity and act as a natural anti-inflammatory to treat many ailments associated with inflammation and neuralgia.
Because of the therapeutic effects of triterpenes and polysaccharides in Reishi Mushrooms, they increase blood flow and are beneficial for people with heart disease, Alzheimer’s and chronic, degenerative diseases that stem from inflammation.
Remarkably, Reishi Mushrooms are even believed to suppress the growth of tumors and are commonly used in cancer prevention. Incredibly enough, this exceptional mushroom is found in only two or three 10,000 year old trees; however it is available at certain health food stores and online.

Lycium Berry

Hailed as one of the most nutritionally complex foods there is, the Lycium Berry (also known as Goji) contains polysaccharides that provide abundant benefits to the body, including helping to regulate the immune system, protect the liver and kidneys from age-related stress, and improve insulin resistance caused by diabetes.

Used in Asia as an anti-aging tonic, the Lycium Berry is filled with vitamins and minerals, packing more vitamin C than an orange and more beta-carotene than a carrot.

Containing nine essential amino acids, calcium, magnesium, numerous B vitamins and Vitamin E, this little berry is full of healthy punch and gives you all the nutrients you will need.

Filed Under: Chinese Herbal Medicine, Herbal Treatment | Tagged: Tagged With: Alternative medicine, Cancer, Essential amino acid, Health, Heart disease, Immune system, Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine

Zen Philosophy and Alternative Medicine

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Zen philosophy is cultivated with a spirit of compassion and a deep sense of responsibility towards one’s self and all people, teaching that our capacity for growth is limitless, and that we can achieve body and mind wellness as one. An alternative health method for millions of people, Zen can help us along our given paths in life, allowing us to discover our full potential in time, recognizing that we can feel more alive, tranquil, and achieve self mastery both internally and externally.

There are many forms of Zen practices that have health benefits, including acupuncture, meditation, holistic diets, spa treatments, and alternative health products and supplements.

Zen acupuncture involves inserting and manipulating needles into precise points on the body in order to relieve pain or provide therapy. According to traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture points are located on meridians where vital energy flows.

Zen meditation can be a way to manage pain and relieve stress and depression by inviting calmness, stillness, and the control of one’s breathing—which benefits the body physically and emotionally.

A holistic diet is primarily low-carb, high-protein orientated with a focus on eating organic, fresh food, and of course, eating in moderation.

Zen spa treatments can include aromatherapy, hot stone therapy, facials, and traditional body scrubs and massages. All treatments aim to obtain full body relaxation, rejuvenation, and cleanse the body of toxins.

Alternative health products and supplements generally are comprised of herbs, roots, and plants that contain vitamins and minerals that work to harmonize the body’s natural defenses by way of nourishment and strengthening the immune system. Some of these supplements come in the form of teas and spices, and have been shown to be quite effective when treating certain ailments.

In adherence a central theme of Zen philosophy–to have a deep sense of responsibility toward yourself, conduct research to see which alternative medicine treatment is right for you. A wise place to start would be at a Zen center, where you can experience first hand a Zen lifestyle and acquire advice, compassion, and take a step towards your path in life.

Filed Under: Chinese Herbal Medicine | Tagged: Tagged With: Acupuncture, Alternative, Alternative medicine, Health, Practitioners, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Vitalism, Zen

A Powerful Alternative Medicine

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Centuries ago, before modern medicine, the use of plants, roots, herbs, and flowers was critical in maintaining health and treating illnesses. Over the course of hundreds of years, knowledge began to amass revealing the effectiveness of certain combinations of specific herbs. Today, many doctors in traditional, Western medicine believe that while modern medicine may produce a quick fix, it does not provide long term solutions and work in accordance with the body’s natural functions and energies. A movement toward alternative medicine and treatments is gaining momentum in modern medical field, reverting back to use of natural herbs and plants.

One natural treatment that is being employed is the use of Beta-glucan. Beta-glucan is considered the most powerful supplement available for overall immune function and plays a crucial role in the body in its ability to modulate the immune system. Equipped with healing properties, it is a powerful antagonist to both benign and malignant tumors, and activates the body’s natural immunological defenses.

Clinical studies conducted in Japan suggest Beta-glucan promotes innate immunity without over-stimulating the immune system (as many clinical drugs do) and reduces influenza-infected cells. It also has been proposed in recent studies that it increases NK cell activity, and has been demonstrated in laboratory studies to kill H1N1 and Bird Flu viruses. It has even been used to treat cancer, and has been proven in several clinical studies to shrink tumors, inhibit tumor growth, and stimulate the body’s natural ability to destroy a tumor. In fact, in Japan for the past twenty years extracts containing an assortment of different types of Beta-glucan have been used to effectively help cancer patients.

With such compelling advantages to the body’s first line of defense–the immune system, and pioneer in the cancer-fighting war, the potent Beta-glucan is a central and highly valued ingredient in any health supplement.

Filed Under: Chinese Herbal Medicine | Tagged: Tagged With: Alternative, Alternative medicine, Health, Herbalism, Immune system, Medicine

Chi Gung and Alternative Cigarettes

If you have ever studied Asian martial arts, you are no doubt highly familiar with breathing. And while every living person is very familiar with breathing, the breath one does intentionally in the study of an art such as karate or tai chi is different than the non consciously controlled kind of breathing that everyone takes for granted until it stops being easy. There really is no worse feeling in the world than attempting to draw a breath, and having nothing come of it. One of the most in depth studies of breath is the Chinese practice of chi gung (also known as chi kung), which loosely translates into “life force work.”

When you practice chi gung, you breathe deeply and imagine gathering energy from your environment. Some people believe that everything is made out of energy, and that as part of this world, we can draw from an unlimited supply of the stuff. When you inhale deeply, you absorb the energy out of the air you just breathed in. And when you exhale, you can release the types of harmful energies that collect in our systems when we feel stress of any kind. This may sound a little flaky, but long term practitioners swear by the healing effects of deep breath and intention.

One easy way to make your breath work better is by changing up a few little health habits. Smoking is a highly addictive habit, but it can be eased out of. For instance, have you ever considered trying alternative cigarettes? Some kinds of electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigs, give you the nicotine you’re actually addicted to (along with the smoking motion that some people believe is just as addictive), without any of the tar that clogs up your lungs and causes so many health problems. The first step in having better health is to improve your breathing, after all.

Filed Under: General, Health Tips | Tagged: Tagged With: Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, Health, Tai chi chuan

Alternative Remedies for ADHD

The numbers associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children are staggering: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 5 percent of U.S. children have been diagnosed with the psychiatric disorder that causes attentional problems. The production of drugs commonly prescribed to treat the disorder, methylphenidate and amphetamine, has increased by an alarming 500 percent and 2000 percent, respectively, since 1991.

These drugs have helped the lives of many with ADHD, but the cons of using them are numerous: side effects include weight fluctuations, nervous tics, and appetite changes, and there is high potential for abuse and unforeseen long-term side effects. This has led parents to search for safer, natural alternatives to improve their children’s lives. Thankfully, many herbal treatments are offering parents hope and showing promising results.

Both methylphenidate and amphetamine are stimulants, so one natural alternative is the caffeine found in coffee and other herbal stimulants. While caffeine alone is rarely used to treat the disorder, many of the most promising herbal formulas have stimulant components and have shown to reduce aggressive or hyperactive behavior in children.

Researchers have also found that Ginkgo Balboa can help treat the disorder without the side effects of prescription drugs. Ginkgo leaves are exceptional for their ability to increase blood flow to the brain, thus acting as an antioxidant for the nervous tissue within the brain. This so-called “brain booster” was shown to reduce the irritability and oppositional behaviors commonly seen in children with ADHD while improving attention and working memory.

There are other herbs showing encouraging results for ADHD treatment: Brahmi (Bacopa monniera) is well-regarded as a cognitive enhancer, and Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosis) helps ease stress, thus helping the child to better focus.

Of course, every child is different, and different treatments will produce different results in children, so a physician should be consulted before taking a course of action. However, many doctors are gaining know-how in alternative medicine and can help parents devise a natural treatment plan that will work best for their child.

Filed Under: Healthy Medicine | Tagged: Tagged With: ADD and ADHD, Child and Adolescent, Health

Wheelchairs for Your Healthcare Location

Your healthcare location can be greatly improved by your choice of wheelchairs. It may sound odd at first, but wheelchairs are a common point of a variety of safety issues, which can undermine the integrity of a healthcare facility.

A number of safety issues can place the staff in danger. Some wheelchairs do not have automatic brake locks and armrests that may be lifted. The latter allows the patient to enter and exit the wheelchair safely, while the former gives rise to more obvious problems. When the staff is required the bend and lift the patient, safety issues may be presented in such ineffective wheelchair designs.

Another major problem surrounding wheelchairs in a healthcare-related setting is theft. This is especially true in larger facilities, or those in which the wheelchairs are out of sight from the staff, generally speaking.

A number of wheelchairs have many features that make is susceptible to theft. Removable parts and foldable wheelchairs are the most common and obvious. These features make it easy to place into a vehicle.

Wheelchairs that do not have removable parts and are not foldable are preferable. These are crucial for facilities in which the wheelchairs are always present. Other security features, such as coin locks and serial numbers, can be effective in discouraging and preventing theft.

If you are in the market for wheelchairs for your healthcare site, take note of these features and areas of consideration. The safety of your staff, the patients, and the point of theft are relevant issues when purchasing wheelchairs. There are of course many other considerations which should be taken into account, such as the materials that are used to promote longevity of the units.

It is important to be aware of these crucial features in your wheelchair purchase. They are all too often overlooked, in which safety, theft, and durability issues are seen prominently in healthcare settings.

Filed Under: Health Tips, Practitioners' Notes, Rehab | Tagged: Tagged With: Disabilities, Health, Wheelchair

Tai Chi for Better Health

If you visit a Chinese Health Center, you will frequently find it accompanied by a Tai Chi studio. So what does Tai Chi have to do with Chinese Medicine?

What is Tai Chi?

Tai chi chuan, frequently referred to simply as Tai Chi, is a Chinese martial art that goes back centuries, possibly to the 12th Century A.D. It embodies many philosophical principles from Taoism and Confucianism, and is practiced for its defense benefits as well as its health benefits. Tai Chi is famous for its very slow solo forms. If you visit China, Hong Kong, or even Chinatown in many U.S. cities, you may see large groups of Chinese practicing Tai Chi in the park. They move through the forms very slowly, focusing on breathing and the flow of energy through the body.

How Tai Chi Provides Health Benefits

Chinese medicine is based primarily on Chi (pronounced chee), the flow of energy. If you have blockages that prevent the smooth flow of energy through your body, they build up and create various health problems, depending on where the blockages are. Think of the flow of energy through your body as a river. Debris and garbage gradually build up and keep the river from flowing smoothly; then it overflows its banks and causes problems. There are different ways that you can clean up the river. One way would be to remove the debris from the river directly. An alternative would be to increase the flow of water, so the water pressure dislodges the debris and garbage and washes it downstream. This is how Tai Chi works. The slow methodical movements work through the muscle groups in your body and slowly increase your energy flow. This increased energy flow clears the blockages.

Benefits of Tai Chi

Tai Chi is excellent for alleviating stress, so you receive all the health benefits from decreased stress. It also has been shown to be good for many chronic illnesses. Further research is being performed to verify and document the health benefits from practicing Tai Chi.

Filed Under: Healthy Medicine | Tagged: Tagged With: Health, Tai Chi, Tai chi chuan

The First Week of Drug Rehab

The instant an addict tells themselves there is a problem is when the loved ones feel an enormous weight lifted off their shoulders. Then the reality sinks in sometime after that the journey to recovery is just beginning and there is far more of a burden to bear than could have ever been imagined. Once your loved one decides to check themselves into a drug rehab center, there is a feeling that things will be getting better, but the unknown of rehab still makes you feel uneasy. So what can you expect from rehab?

As a family member from the outside looking in, the rehab process is much a mystery but you should know a few things. The first day for an addict is OK. The drugs are still very prevalent in their system. They may be given some Valium or Xanax to help take the edge off, but ultimately they are in good shape. It is the second and third days that are really difficult. An addict’s body begins to crave for another drug. They feel lost and hopeless without it. Rehab centers make the addict go without drugs and this process is called detox. It can involve the patients getting very sick and it’s not a pretty thing. The patients may also feel angry or agitated, but that is normal.

After the detox process, there is a period where the addict feels better simply because whatever their body is currently going through is nothing compared to the detox. Patients are usually still given some anti-anxiety drugs, mood stabilizers, or anti-depressants. This is not just to make them feel better, but to cushion the blow when the drugs do clear themselves from the system. That’s when the real struggle begins and they’ll need the most help.

Filed Under: Drug Addiction Recovery, General, Rehab | Tagged: Tagged With: Drug rehabilitation, Drugs, Health, Substance abuse

The False Acai Berry

As you watch television you get bombarded with news and infomercials about the different medicines there are available. Everything from those you need a written prescription for, to those that you had never heard of before. What you tend to see a lot of on tv is infomercials and news programs about herbal supplements that will allow you to live a healthier and better quality of life. One of these such supplements is the Acai berry and it is all over you television.

Whether it be from independent distributors to your local retail pharmacy, acai berry has been one of the most talked about herbal supplements for years. But the question is: What do we know about this magical herb? Can it really lead to a healthier life?

The acai berry has been popular forever, just not in the United States. In Brazil it was considered the most important fruit as it made up the majority of their diet. It soon became popular in the United States as companies began to market it in a variety of forms. Tablets, juices, smoothies, powders, are all forms of the acai berry.

The truth is that the acai berry does have antioxidants in the form of polyphenols but that it has been found that the acai berry only has middling levels of antioxidants. This is important to note because while it has been marketed as an antioxidant it was actually proven in a study that it has less antioxidant power than cranberry juice, grape juice, as well as red wine.

It has also been marketed as a weight loss drug. There is, unfortunately, no evidence to support the idea that the acai berry will actually help anyone lose weight.

Other claims that the acai berry can do have proven to be false. It has been claimed that it can help reverse diabetes. It has been said it can lead to a bigger penis size for men. These claims are patently false and do not contain the necessary evidence to ever consider these claims true. Acai berry is more of a scam than a life saver.

Filed Under: Health Food, Healthy Medicine | Tagged: Tagged With: Açaí Palm, Grape juice, Health