Chinese Herbs and Self Breast Massage for Breast Health

prevent breast lumps with self love, self massage and herbsBreast tissue is made up of fat cells which include mammary glands, ducts, lobes and adjacent lymph ducts and nodes.  Keeping this tissue just as healthy as any other body part and be done easily with self massage and herbs to move the flow of qi, or energy in this tissue.

Many well known herbs such a ginseng and astragulus are beneficial at moving qi, but did you know there are also some very good herbs which can specifically help with benign breast pain?   Many breast lumps are small and movable and may be more pronounced during menstruation as a result of fluctuations in hormones.  Traditional Chinese medicine treats these as stagnant qi, or stagnant energy that has been blocked.   There is a terrific protocol for self breast massage at EssentiallyPink.com.  Do this massage at least once a week or as needed when you have minor pain in the surrounding lymph nodes in the armpit and breast area.  This is a free and easy way to promote self breast health.  Just as brushing and flossing becomes routine so should self breast massage.

In addition to massaging the breast tissue,  combination of Chinese herbs has been used successfully throughout Asia for hundreds of years for breast problems.  Herbal formulas can help relieve the stagnation and stress that may accumulate in the chest.  Herbs such as tangerine peel, bupleurum, white peony and vaccaria seeds create a synergy of actions that help move the stagnate Qi in the chest.  Vaccaria seeds are especially good at helping invigorate the blood and reduce pain and swellings in the breasts. These seeds alone are also very good at promoting lactation, but only for women who are already lactating.  Creating breast health should be a priority in every women’s life.  It’s time for a shift from a fear based breast cancer model to one of self love and breast health.  Being proactive is up to you. 

The Doctor Will See You Now, If There Is Enough Time?

best natural sleep aidsWhich is more valuable, time or money?

When you go to your doctor, does your doctor have time for you?  Do they listen to you, i.e. why you're not sleeping, why you're so fatigued and does your doctor have time to hear you and respond? 

We all know our health care system has many advantages and disadvantages, I find Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) doctors to be one of the huge advantages.  If you have the opportunity to visit an Integrative or Alternative Medicine practitioner such as a Naturopath, Homeopath or Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncturist or Herbalist you can find a plethora of caring, responsible health practitioners that have THE most important piece of the health care solution, they have TIME for their patients.

So many good doctors are hampered by insurance company payment systems they simple can't afford to give you their time.  Today, visiting a Homeopathic office I overheard the questions the doctor of Homeopathy was asking his patient.  In depth questions, about the patients stress levels, menstrual cycle, sleep and herbal supplement use.  Although I only heard  a minute of the conversation I knew this doctor was giving the most important medical attention possible.  He was taking the TIME to really listen to his patients problems. 

One reason I believe so many good people are turning to alternative therapies such as Chiropractors, Acupuncturists, Herbalist, Naturopaths and Homeopathic doctors is simple for this reason of "Time".  When a CAM doctor hears you have a sleeping problem they won't just scribble the name of a sleep aid pill on a piece of paper and rush out the door.  Rather they actually take the time to investigate your entire health history and look for the root cause of the problem. 

Time can make all the difference.  Wishing you lots of it in 2011.

Herbal Gifts From The First Christmas

best natural remedies for menstrual crampsAs Christmas approaches once again we often hear the story of baby Jesus and the Wise Men who came to present gifts of frankincense and myrrh.   Why would “Wise Men” bring a baby herbs and just what exactly are frankincense and myrrh?

Both of these herbs have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for over 1600 years and are mentioned in the Book of Exodus.  Both of these tree resins, look like little rocks but are actually the bleeds from trees.   But not just any trees.   Frankincense is the resin of the Boswellia tree, whose roots can grow in solid rock.  The trees are renowned for growing in unforgiving environments and can survive violent storms and harsh conditions.  The tree is “tapped” a similar process to taping maple trees for syrup and the resin bleeds out.  It naturally hardens into small rocks and valued for its healing abilities.  Chinese medicine has used frankincense as an internal tea to move the blood and relieve pain. 

Myrrh is commonly used topically for bed sores, and in Chinese herbal medicine it is paired with frankincense as a pain reliever.  It can be used for menstrual cramps or in the event of an injury such as a sprain, strain or bruise these two together can invigorate the blood, reduce swelling, relieve pain and promote healing, similar to the way we use over the counter pain relievers.  Now you see why these would be a valuable gift for Jesus, or anybody living in ancient times. These natural herbs were the first Christmas gifts and have proven useful throughout the test of time. 

Happy holidays.

Are Chinese Herbs A Better Sleep Aid Than Melatonin?

I am often asked this question.   My answer usually is something like this. 

Just because you are not familiar with Chinese herbs does not mean they not as effective as the everyday sleep aids you've often heard about.  Simply because Chinese medicine has not been the predominant form of medicine in the U.S. for the past 200 plus years does not negate the fact that over a billion people on the earth depend on this medicines systems and theories.  The continual use of herbal sleep medicine for over 1000 years, gives it both a safety record unmatched by other sleep remedies, and a success rating no other natural treatment can hold a candle too.

In comparison, Melatonin was discovered in 1958,  it took another 25 years to accumulate knowledge about  melatonin and what effect it had on both physiological and behavioral aspects of people.  It's use as a sleep aid started about 20 years ago and clinical studies on it's use as a sleep aid vary greatly.  This may be partly due to melatonin not being a regulated drug with regulated dosage levels, like other hormones sold only by prescription.This pineal hormone may be more important for overall well being, than as a OTC (over-the-counter) sleep aid. 

Comparing the two as sleep aids is a bit like comparing apples and oranges.  One is a hormone the other botanical medicine, one has only two decades of use while the other over a thousand years. One has thousands of conclusive studies…. do I need to continue? 

Unleash the power of herbal medicine and learn about and try the most famous herbs used in the world to help you sleep.

Boost Your Immune System with This Herb, Dr. Weil Says

Astragalus  root, also known as Huang Qi  or astragulus membranaceous has been used for over 2000 years to keep people healthy.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine today we may call it “supplementing your Qi”, either way it’s boosting your immune system to fight off stress and everyday germs.  Add it to boiling water for some tea  and you will have more energy and increase your natural immunities.  Dr. Andrew Weil calls it one of the five supplements he recommends for a healthy immune system.  This herb is also known as an adaptogen.

Astragalus is usually used in combination with other herbs in Chinese herbal medicine.  iI is commonly used to supplement spleen/pancreas and stomach energy.  It is both safe and inexpensive and is commonly found in Asian cooking.   You may even want to add it to homemade chicken soup  for a kick ass immune busting soup. 

If you prefer the more convenient pre-cooked astragalus you can find them here.   Adding a little bit of granules to warm water and drink as a tea or add it to your favorite shake or juicing recipe. Granules are the preferred method throughout Asia simply because they won’t attract bugs like most raw hers do after sitting in your cabinet for a long time and the convenience can’t be beat. Our Astragalus granules are the highest grade available and although we cannot verify certified organic, they are always thoroughly tested for contaminants and as close to organic as is possible.

Mindfulness is as Effective as Anti-Depression Meds

Stress Relief Herbs and Acupuncture Since today we need a 'research study' to validate that something truly has value, here's one for you. 

A study just published in the Archives of General Psychiatry found that depression can be treated with "mindfulness" more effectively than with an antidepressant drug or a placebo.  Since according to the National Institute of Health (NIH) there are 14 million or so Americans suffering from depression, I'm doing my part in spreading the word. 

What exactly is "mindfulness"?  Generally it refers to being in the present moment.  It incorporates meditation and "helping patients watch their feelings and  thoughts in a way that lets them work with them differently", said Zindel Segal of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health, in Toronto, Ontario.

Participants who received mindfulness therapy learned how to meditate on their own for 40 minutes a day, in addition to going to a session with a therapist.

"It’s kind of like going like going to the gym and working a muscle, except in this case you’re not working a muscle in your body, you’re working the muscles in your brain that help you understand and control your emotions," Segal said.  Ahh,  this might explain the popularity of yoga studios, we become mindful when doing yoga.

Now if you live in San Diego there is a place called "The Healing Playground" at Herbin Acupuncture and Wellness which is the perfect place to exercise your "Mindfulness". 

The founders and creators of this incredible "Healing Playground" concept are Lori Powell and  Lara Koljonen, who is also a Licensed Acupuncturist.   It's a place to carve 30 minutes (or more if you like) out of your day to listen to meditation cd's, relax in a zero gravity chair or sofa and rejuvenate.  This is an alternative to the standard coffee house.  It’s a place that will help you gain perspective, de-stress and unwind. You can drink a cup of organic tea or use many of the healing stations at your fingertips such as the biofeedback stress reduction station, a dvd station with movies centered around healing and emotional health, or aromatherapy audio programs on everything from breast health to meditation and more.

If you don't have a "Healing Playground" near you create your own meditation spot in a small corner of your favorite room.  Adding some mindful meditation or Chinese herbs to your life will help you relax and de-stress. A great option before succumbing to the soon to be out-dated anti-depressant drug therapy.

 

(The National Institutes of Health was established by the United States Congress to support the mission of the National Institutes of Health—improving health through scientific discovery.)

Stress Relief Herbs, Grab the Adaptogens

Stress Relief herb teaScience can split an atom, create nuclear fusion and clone Dolly the sheep, but it can't copy the chemical compounds in adaptogenic herb teas.

How is that possible?  Stress relief herbs contain such a complex number of chemicals  that modern pharmacology has yet to be able to reproduce what nature can make.

Whole plant/herb remedies are very different than single compounds which is what Western medicine primarily uses. Discovering how the chemical compounds in these now very expensive herbs, also known as adaptogens, work inside our bodies is yet to be unraveled. Adaptogenic herbs adapt to what our body needs.  They can calm us if we need calm and the same herb stimulates us, if we need a stimulant. They help the body to adapt to physiological and psychological stress.

Need some of this around holiday time?  Yes, it is really possible that plants can do this.   

Where did the term adaptogenic come from?  It started  with a Soviet doctor who first coined the term in 1947.  Nikolai Lazarev, was examining psychotropic drugs, specifically stimulants such as amphetamines and cocaine which were used in the military. Lazarev saw the powerful short-term gain along with the long term side-effects from these drugs.  He recognized these drugs lead to addiction and was looking for a better solution. He needed something that worked both in the short term and long term.  In  other words, he needed adaptogenic herbal compounds. He found the answer in plants such as  American ginseng, Asian ginseng, Schisandra,  Astragalus, Cordyceps, Eleuthero, Licorice, GoJi berries, Dang Shen and Reishi mushroom and coined this term.

 

Ultimately, what he found were herbal remedies that can boost the body's resistance to stress, whether the stress is from physical exertion, infection or emotional and environmental stressors.  (The relatives coming over may fall into that last category.)

 

Adaptogens stimulate the immune system positively creating a healthy environment.  These plants such as Ginseng, Cordyceps, GoJi berries and Reishi all have two things in common, they have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries and they are rich in polysaccharides.  Polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates that act as energy stores and boost the immune system. These natural stress relief remedies increase vital energy and are also known as Chinese herbal qi tonics.

These herbal remedies are all much more than the sum of their individual parts.  Which is exactly why modern science has not been able to copy them.  They continue to become more popular as the Western world discovers the benefits of these incredible, edible, Chinese herbs.

You can find herbs for stress relief on our product page. Thanks for reading.

 

 

 

Quit the Hormones, The Best Herbal Remedy For Night Sweats

Herbs for menopause night sweatsDid you decided to quit the hormones but still need to find some sanity? The best herbal remedy for night sweats and hot flashes is here. When it comes to night sweats as a result of menopause or perimenopause then the best remedy is one that helps reduce the internal excess heat being produced.  During this changing environment of female hormones levels, night sweats although common, are not at all pretty.    I’ve known many women who actually soak through several pj’s and spend the night throwing the covers on and off.

One of the best herbal remedies for menopausal night sweats is a combination of Chinese herbs called Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan, also known as  Anemarrhena, Phellodendron, and Rehmannia formula.  These herbs working together can relieve many of the annoying and uncomfortable symptoms that accompany hormonal changes including anxiety, depression, headaches and vaginal dryness.   This formula has been used for generations of women who are looking for a natural and safe alternative.  Pac Herbs has made this same formula with a few extra herbs to increase it’s action and it’s now available as a tea.  See it here.

Always be diligent when buying a menopause herbal supplement because much of what is sold often doesn’t even meet the labeled ingredient quantity.