Chinese Herbal Medicine May Help Reduce Menstrual Pain Says Cochrane Collaboration
Mon, 21/12/09 – 15:15 | No Comment

A study involving nearly 3,500 women in several countries suggests Chinese herbs may be more effective in relieving menstrual cramps than drugs, acupuncture or heat compression.
Australia-based researchers said herbs not only relieved pain, …

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New discoveries in Chinese Herbal Medicine for Oral Cancer
Sat, 6/02/10 – 17:27 | One Comment
New treatments for oral cancer with chinese herbsChinese herbs can play a role in oral cancer inhibition according to a study recently published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, Febuary  2010. Surgery, radiation and chemotherapy have been the tri-fecta standard of care for oral squamos cell carcinoma (OSCC) yet the past 20 years survival rates have not improved.

This latest study reveals celastrol, a chemical  found in Chinese herbs may help treat cancer by inactivating a protein necessary for cancer growth.

Oral cancer strikes men over 40 twice as often as women and tends to spread rapidly. Tobacco use is believed to be the cause of 70-80% of oral cancer cases, whether it be from smoking or chewing tobacco. Poor oral hygiene and alcohol abuse may also increase ones risk for cancers of the mouth, tongue, lips, and gums.  
 
This recent study was conducted at the Medical College of Georgia in Atlanta, funded in part by the by National Institutes of Health, the Mayo Foundation  and a grant from the American Heart Association. The study reported a  “combination of GA and celastrol has a synergistic antitumor effect” and concluded this “may be a promising modality for treating oral squamous cell carcinoma.”1

“Gambogic acid (GA) is a major active ingredient of gamboge, which has been widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is reported that GA possesses diverse biological effects, such as anti-oxidant and anti-infectious activities".2-3 Recent pharmacological studies have revealed that GA also has potent cytotoxic and anti-cancer activities in several cancer cell lines” 4
 

Celastrol  is a chemical  found in  the Chinese herb called  Thunder God Vine (Tripterygii Wilfordi Radix Folium). Various preparations of Thunder God Vine have been used in Asia over the last 50 years in the treatment of a number of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.5


Cancer  treatments may now incorporate this herb compound with other treatments to improve patients survival rates. "The celastrol induces the protein to form fibrils and clusters it together, which inactivates it," said researcher Ahmed Chadli.  "When they are clustered, they're not available for other functions that help cancer grow."

As a side note celastrol an active ingredient in some Traditional Chinese herbal medicines has also been found beneficial in studies  for prostate cancer.6
 
References:
 
            The Journal of Biological Chemistry   http://www.jbc.org/content/285/6/4224.abstract

From the  Center for Molecular Chaperone Radiobiology and Cancer Virology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia 30912,
 
The  Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, and
 
         The Organic Chemistry Laboratory, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Jacksonville, FL
 Supported by the American Heart Association Grant SDG 0930019N and a Seed award from the Cardiovascular   Discovery Institute at the Medical College of Georgia. Correspondence should be addressed: Center for Molecular Chaperone Radiobiology and Cancer Virology, Medical College of Georgia, 1410 Laney Walker Blvd., CN-3151, Augusta, GA 30912.
           
Laboratory of Oral Tumor and Oral Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology and     Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai 200011, PR China

1 Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese  Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, PR China  &    

2 Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310009, PR China

 
3The Chinese anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive herbal remedy Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F.  Pub med.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10680192



4Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese  Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, PR China

& Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310009, PR China


5.  The Chinese anti-inflammatory and immune suppressive herbal remedy  Tripterygium wilfordii    

       http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10680192

6 Celastrol in prostate cancer therapies. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19545787

 

 

 

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Herb & Vitamin Fillers – is there a recommended dose?
Thu, 4/02/10 – 7:39 | No Comment
Herb & Vitamin Fillers – is there a recommended dose?

Current FDA labeling laws do not require manufacturers to list the amount of filler in their dietary supplements. Currently, there is no technology to make capsules or pressed supplements without using a filler i.e. starch.

One herb, two herbs, red herbs, blue herbs…. What’s the difference?
Thu, 28/01/10 – 0:53 | No Comment
One herb, two herbs, red herbs, blue herbs…. What’s the difference?

When we speak about using plants as medicine there are two very different and distinct methods, Western herbalism and Chinese herbal medicine.   I find a lot of confusion between these two methods, so I've written a …

Licorice for Weight-Loss? I’m skeptical
Thu, 21/01/10 – 22:05 | No Comment
Licorice for Weight-Loss? I’m skeptical

Who really needs another article about weight loss plans and products? We’re inundated with advertising on weight loss supplements and the last thing we need is more of the same.  Alas,  I’m asked all the …

Med Students Say They Can Benefit From CAM
Thu, 21/01/10 – 0:59 | No Comment
Med Students Say They Can Benefit From CAM

Another study, I found this one most encouraging. A survey of 1784 current U.S. medical students from around the country said knowledge of Complementary and Alternative Medicine could help them as Western doctors do a better job. …

Two Common Questions?
Mon, 18/01/10 – 22:15 | One Comment
Two Common Questions?

The two most common questions: 

What are Chinese herbs and Why Packets?

 
iSleep Herb Pac and PMS Relief Herb Pac are both made exclusively with Chinese herbs. These herbs are a combination of roots, bark, seeds and …

Real Definition
Thu, 14/01/10 – 23:07 | One Comment
Real Definition

What is the real definition today of Alternative Medicine?  
 
25 years ago it was TM.
20 years ago it was Chiropractors.
15 years ago Ayurvedic Medicine and Yoga.
10 years ago it was Acupuncture.
5 years ago it was …

Rheumatoid Arthritis Responds Well To This Herb
Wed, 13/01/10 – 0:56 | No Comment
Rheumatoid Arthritis Responds Well To This Herb

If your suffering with Rheumatoid Arthritis or know someone who is, this should interest you. 
 
A study was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in August 2009 on a Chinese herb used for rheumatoid arthritis, …

This Desert Herb Boost Energy and Helps Infertility
Sun, 10/01/10 – 20:19 | No Comment
This Desert Herb Boost Energy and Helps Infertility

When you’ve only got a desert to work with, how does one become a farmer?
How about grow a highly sought after Chinese herb that happens to love the desert. That’s exactly what one desert nomad started …

CAUTION ADVISED When using Acetaminophen, Herbs are a safer alternative
Thu, 7/01/10 – 21:04 | No Comment
CAUTION  ADVISED When using Acetaminophen, Herbs are a safer alternative

Usually I write about Chinese herbs, but today’s a brief diversion on a compelling topic.
 
If you're like most Americans your medicine cabinet is stocked full of over-the-counter medicine (OTC) and probably at least a few …

New Cancer Treatments Possible Via A Very Special Mushroom
Tue, 5/01/10 – 23:35 | 3 Comments
New Cancer Treatments Possible Via A Very Special Mushroom

A while back I wrote about a type of mushroom called Cordyceps used in Chinese medicine which sells for $100.00 an ounce or even more. (Click here for that article) Here’s one reason this herb/fungus …