Pac Herbs » Herbal Medicine

Can A New Diabetes Drug Come From Chinese Herbs?

Cathy Margolin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 07:20:38 +0000

My friends father has diabetes, you also probably know someone dealing with excess body weight and a lack of exercise that has resulted in diabetes. Something like 21 millions people have diabetes or pre-diabetes. For some countries that would be the entire population and then some. Scientist are studying just about ever possible angle to discover new drugs to improve insulin levels for diabetics. This recent research published in the British Journal of Pharmacology studies various Chinese herbs.

"If repeated in humans, all of these changes would be beneficial for people affected by type 2 diabetes or other metabolic diseases associated with insulin resistance," says lead author Dr Ying Leng, who works in the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai, China. Many countries have used herbal medicine much longer than America. When it comes to the use of Chinese herbs and herbal medicine in fact, in both Germany and Japan, herbs and herbal formulas are only prescribed by doctors. Hmm, why don't we have this? That's certainly another blog, back to diabetes.

Sleeping problems can become an additional unwanted side effect of diabetes. iSleep Herb Pac can help people with diabetes to get to sleep and stay asleep.

"Our work showed that this natural extract from Chinese herbs could point the way to a new way of helping people with type 2 diabetes as well as other metabolic disorders." says Dr Leng. There are already many Chinese herb formulas that improve digestion and can help with over eating. Hopefully soon we will have a standard herbal formula for insulin maintenance.

Chemo Side Effects Reduced With Chinese Herbs, Says Yale

Cathy Margolin — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 06:24:49 +0000

This remarkable research conducted at Yale University is incredible news for Americans. Asian societies, on the other hand, have used these Chinese herbs for generations and understand that boiling peony root, with licorice root, red dates and skullcap root can help the gastro-intestinal tract especially when one is suffering from diarrhea.

The recently announced research proved a drug made from four traditional Chinese herbs, dubbed PHY906, countered the side effects of chemo in rats. The researchers decided to give the mice, who were on a chemotherapy drug which has side effects of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, this blend of natural herbs. Not only did the four Chinese herbs improve the mices symptoms of diarrhea but it simultaneously cut the cancerous tumors growth.

“This combination of chemotherapy and herbs represents a marriage of Western and Eastern approaches,” said lead researcher Dr. Yung-Chi Cheng.

A study such as this and so many others, (see some of our earlier articles) are slowly beginning to open up American minds to the incredible health benefits of Chinese herbs. I found it interesting to listen to the interview with Dr. Cheng. He states that the four herbs must be used in combination and cooked together. Used individually, they did not perform the same function. He says, "deletion of any of those herbs, you have a different impact on three biological endpoints." This is exactly what Chinese medicine textbooks have told us for years. It is the combination of herbs cooked together that create the synergy and provide the valuable healing medicinal action.

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has become a core component in treating cancer patients. Diarrhea is one of the major side effects of the cancer drug irinotecan. According to Dr. Yung-Chi Cheng this herbal remedy is based on the formula which was first established 1,800 years ago and is also known as Huang Qin Tang. It was historically used and still is used today for treatment of diarrhea and GI disorder[s]. The popularity of natural herbal medicine has been expanding each year in America as more studies like this are published.

It’s not, A Chinese Herb for Weight Loss

Cathy Margolin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 07:15:31 +0000

I am often asked, "What's a good herb for weight loss?" Ever since ephedra was banned it seems people have wanted a substitute. Lately, one Chinese herb in particular is showing up in a lot of weight loss supplements. That herb is unripe bitter orange. Although it is not ephedra (ma huang), is does contain a similar chemical to the ephedrin called synephrine.

Bitter orange refers to the peel of a particular specie of unripe orange and has been used in Chinese herbal medicine for centuries. Also known around the world as citrus aurantium it's a native of the Far East and grows well in most warm climates. Unripe bitter orange is part of the Chinese herb pharmacopeia and has been used in Chinese cuisine, fragrance and medicine for over 2000 years.

The medicinal part of the bitter orange seems to get all the attention these days. It has digestive effects and carminative effects, meaning it can help prevent gas formation in the intestines.

The active property of unripe bitter orange that are so desirable for those seeking a weight loss supplement is the synephrine. This alkaloids appears in slightly higher quantities in the unripe fruit than in the ripe bitter orange. Today many weight loss supplements are including varying amounts of bitter orange peel extract for it's synephrine value to hopefully increase metabolism which may help a person lose weight.

However, if you are looking for herbs for weight loss this is not the magic bullet. There have been some reports that taking unripe bitter orange is conjunction with caffeine, mate and other stimulants can cause cardiotoxicity, increased blood pressure and increased anxiousness. Sounds like a bad combination to me and I would stay clear of supplements combining these stimulants.

Unripe bitter orange was never used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for weight loss but it was used and still is used to help improve digestion and to move the Qi or energy, help unblock the bowels, and it has been used to raise blood pressure. But like most Chinese herbs, its use is magnified when paired with other herbs in a set formula with proven time tested benefits. Funny how an old Chinese herb is new again.

Natural Alternatives to Birth Control Pills for PMS

Cathy Margolin — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 05:59:27 +0000

Many young women are looking for a natural alternative to birth control pills for the PMS and cramps they get each month. Chinese herbs are very effective at controlling and eliminating PMS (premenstrual syndrome). The birth control pill is an option many women choose because they are not familiar with Chinese herbal medicine.

The approach I take is very different than the way progesterone and estrogen therapy found in the "Pill". Chinese Medicine can treat PMS and cramps successfully without artificial hormones.

Chinese Medicine recognizes that the liver is an organ that not just cleans blood but also moves blood. When the liver is overly taxed by stress, lack of sleep, drugs or accumulation of chemicals (including hormones found in our food supply) the liver energy can become stagnate. This stagnation effects the breasts, the uterus and eventually all the channels of the body because the liver cannot effectively perform it's functions.

PMS results because the liver energy and the liver blood are not moving. Breast tenderness occurs because the liver channel energy runs through the breast area and up to the head which may also result in headaches. If the liver is given an opportunity to "detoxify" this can help move the liver Qi or energy.

Chinese herbs treat this stagnation with herbs that help move the blood, help normalize hormones and herbs that help reduce the liver Qi stagnation. By moving the liver energy, the emotional component of PMS such as moodiness and irritability are resolved. This may seem foreign to Americans, but is a common practice of the Chinese.

Chinese herbal formulas for PMS symptoms date back to over 1000 years ago. This is a remarkable testament to their popularity and to their success. We have many modern day clinical studies that have been done on Chinese herbs for PMS, click here to read about the largest one conducted on over 3000 women.

Herbal remedies are safe and can provide complete cures for menstrual symptoms. Symptoms will reduce immediatly and often resolve completely within a few months. A formula used by many women in China is call Jia Wei Xiao Yao San. Today it is found in every drug store in pill form or individual herbal packets throughout Asia. Many people in China prefer the packets because it's potency is much stronger than pills. We don't yet have these herbs in every drug store in America, but we are sure the American drug stores will catch on soon. For our favorite PMS Relief product go here.

Is This Chinese Herb the Next Cash Crop?

Cathy Margolin — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 04:23:08 +0000

Some say Kudzu is a highly invasive weed, others call it a highly profitable cash crop or herb. I say it depends upon your point of view.

Michael Wyss, Ph.D., a Neuroscientist with the University of Alabama says kudzu contains healthy substances, called isoflavones. One particularly important isoflavone is puerarin, found only in kudzu. In fact, it’s the most abundant isoflavone in the plant. Puerarin is important because it can help control insulin for diabetics and reduce cholesterol.

The Chinese have used kudzu, a prominent Chinese herb in Traditional Chinese medicine, for centuries. It has been a proven mainstay for relieving muscular tension, reducing hypertension, dysentery and is commonly used for fevers due to the flu. Kudzu's is full of health benefits and from my point of view could be the next cash crop.

Researchers in the U.S. investigated the effects of kudzu in rats. Female rats were given an extract made from kudzu root for two months. Another group of rats were fed a standard diet. At the end of the study, the rats given the kudzu extract had lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and lower blood sugar and insulin levels than the rats that ate the control diet. According to Wyss, only a very small amount of kudzu root extract was needed to achieve these results.

The study suggests that kudzu may be an effective alternative treatment that could be used in conjunction with traditional drugs to control insulin and cholesterol levels, and ultimately lower a patient’s risk for metabolic syndrome. In some cases, doctors may be able to give patients lower doses of other drugs, reducing the chance for side effects from the medication and making medications more affordable.

The root is the part of the kudzu plant or Pueraria lobata which holds the herbal medicine. It can grow to the size of a human body and is the source used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and modern herbal products. Kudzu grows in mostly in shaded areas of mountains, fields, along roadsides and thin forests, throughout most of China and many parts of the Southern U.S.

If your looking for kudzu as an individual herb supplement you will most likely have trouble finding it. In TCM kudzu is always used in formulas or combinations with other herbs. If your looking to lower your cholesterol or balance your insulin levels using natural herbs, I suggest finding a licensed Acupuncturist who is knowldgeable in Chinese herbal medicine. If you need help finding someone in your neighboorhood we are happy to make recommendations. Just call or email us.

Thanks for reading.

How Long Can You Last? The Test of Time

Cathy Margolin — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 06:09:25 +0000

In the business world when economic times get tough a business that weathers the storm is a true survivor. A standout, that must have incredibly popular products that make people come back for more even when unemployment is high and people are unwilling to spend. A business that survives must have proven itself worthy of providing great products at a fair price. Products that people simply can’t do without. When a business does this for 70 to 100 years or more we are all impressed. The stamina, the fortitude and adaptability to survive for so many years must mean this business has some incredible products which we all crave. Ford Motor Company and Kodak come to mind, some of the oldest American businesses.

But what do you think about a business that has survived providing the same products for 341 years? It’s truly unheard of in America. We have only been an independent nation for 234 years and no single business has survived since revolutionary days. Yet, a Chinese herb pharmacy called Tong Ren Tong is still in business after 341 continuous years. They still sell Chinese herbs, just as they did in the year 1669. In fact, in Beijing they operate from the same location since 1702.

They are a household name in China, Hong Kong and much of Asia. They operate pharmacies, drug retailers and various joint ventures throughout 13 countries in Asia. Wouldn’t you be a household name if you were 341 years old? The picture above is me standing in front of their Hong Kong store. (No pictures were allowed inside)

Tong Ren Tang was the supplier of medicinal Chinese herbs to the royals of the Qing Dynasty, from 1669 until their collapse 1911. They have succeed in weathering the storms of Chinese government takeovers, communism and now globalization and prescription medications. Tong Ren has been successful for hundreds of years because Chinese herbs work, it’s as simple as that. Chinese herbs worked 300 hundred years ago and they work today for all kinds of illnesses. Whether your buying ginseng or reishi mushrooms Tong Ren has the herbs and they know how to prescribe them for everything from the common cold to cancer.

When you have incredibly popular products that work well, are needed by the masses and provide real value at a fair price your business will survive regardless of the economic times and government takeovers. Chinese herbs have proven to be that commodity. Chinese herbs are medicine that continues to heal people, even centuries after they were first introduced.

Bitter Melon to Ward Off Breast Cancer Cells

Cathy Margolin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 06:50:32 +0000

What vegetable is green, oblong, with the skin of a toad and the name of a fruit? The answer is bitter melon, a tropical native popular in South Asia and India. Most Westerners would cringe at the taste. But it’s time it start showing up in American diets now that a new study from The Journal of Cancer Research, (March 1 issue) indicates bitter melon may also ward off breast cancer.

Bitter melon has been used in Traditional Chinese herbal Medicine for ages. This study, published by the American Association of Cancer Research and conducted in St. Louis MO, showed this Chinese herb has an ability to slow the growth and in some cases kill breast cancer cells.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer of women in the U.S. It's time prevention, not just research for a cure, be emphasized, including dietary changes to effectively stop the spread of this deadly cancer.

Chinese herbal medicine commonly uses bitter melon for the treatment of diabetes. It is naturally high in Vitamin C, calcium, has twice the potassium of bananas, twice the beta carotene of broccoli and is fiber and B vitamin rich. Now we should add breast cancer prevention to the list of what this incredible, edible, Chinese herb can do.

This Chinese herbs preventative properties need to be publicized. Prevention is not only more cost effective, it is the solution to all our health challenges as we age. Staying healthy and happy is a health goal we all share. Find some bitter melon today and eat your way to good health.

Link to the study here

This post is proudly part of the Kathleen Show: Prevention not Prescription Tuesday's

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Another study just published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute reported having a double mastectomy, or removing an otherwise healthy breast to prevent breast cancer from occurring in healthy tissue had no added benefit. This was a population study conducted by MD Anderson in Houston TX. Surgery as a prevention against breast cancer had no measurable benefit.

Connect to this study here
http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/djq018

Dr. Oz Recommends Ginseng for Swine Flu

Cathy Margolin — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 06:19:13 +0000

Ever since Dr. Oz's interview in Esquire magazine (Dec. 09) I've been fielding a phethera of questions on ginseng. Thanks Dr. Oz, I'm always happy to talk about the Chinese herbs I love. It's an added bonus that the best American Ginseng is actually grown in Wisconsin, my old stomping grounds. I also love to buy American whenever possible.

In response to a question "how to prevent swine flu", Dr. Oz says: “Vitamin D and American ginseng are the two things I recommend the most. Vitamin D because it stimulates dramatically the ability of the immune system to respond, and American ginseng because it stimulates these things called Toll-like receptors in the gut. They’re ancient – our most primitive immune response – and they make it difficult for bugs to get in through the intestinal wall.”

This is an excellent post on ginseng from Acupuncture Chicago.By Jennifer Dubowsky

Did you know there are different types of ginseng and they are all considered potent herbs for helping the body adapt to stress – both mental and physical. Ginseng is best known for its ability to stimulate your immune system and fight fatigue and stress. Several dozen studies have shown that ginseng enhances physical and mental performance, improves mood, and aids metabolic function. Other studies suggest ginseng maybe anti-inflammatory and can provide a wealth of benefits including: improved blood cholesterol; lowered liver toxicity; lowered blood sugar levels; improved blood oxygen flow; control of respiratory diseases; and enhanced stamina.

The 3 Most Well Known Types Of Ginseng

Chinese Ginseng (Panax ginseng)

Considered the "king of all herbs" in many countries, found in the forests of northeast China, Manchuria and Korea. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chinese ginseng is used to tonify the "Qi" (vital energy or life energy force) and is a powerful "yang" or warming tonic herb. It has been reported to: stimulate the immune system; fight fatigue, combat stress, slow aging, balance blood sugar levels, enhance mental performance and memory, lower cholesterol, and strengthen the heart muscle. It may even have anti-tumor and anticancer properties. Before rushing off to get some Chinese Ginseng be aware that it's overuse can have some negative side effects including; irritability, insomnia and rapid heart beat.

*Panax ginseng has had a notorious reputation as a sexual rejuvenator, particularly for men, however much of this reputation seems to be over-hyped.

American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolium)

Is indigenous to eastern woodlands from Georgia to Quebec, and was used by Native Americans. The picture in this post is of American Ginseng. While not as well known as Chinese Ginseng, American Ginseng has been around for hundreds of years. Jesuit Priests were reported to be trading American Ginseng to the Chinese as early as 1718. American Ginseng has a more "yin" or cooler nature than its Chinese counterpart. While still energizing the body, American Ginseng calms the central nervous system, quiets the brain and lowers blood pressure. Also, because of its more "yin" nature, it is generally better to use on a daily, long term basis than Chinese Ginseng. However if you tend to have a cold constitution, this might not be the herb for you.

Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus)

Native to Siberia, Japan, Korea and China. Although not a "true ginseng", this variety is most highly prized. Eleuthero was traditionally used to promote longevity and general health. Many herbalists prefer Eleuthero as the ginseng for helping with women's health issues, particularly with depression associated with PMS and menopause. Research, mostly from Russia, confirms this herb's ability to increase mental and physical performance, stimulate the immune system, increase movement of white blood cells, promote circulation and enhance the benefits of medical radiation treatments while lessening its negative side-effects.

Cautions About Ginseng

Ginseng should be avoided by patients who are pregnant or have high blood pressure. In addition, ginseng may increase the effects other stimulants, which may cause sweating, insomnia, or an irregular heartbeat. It should not be used in conjunction with antipsychotic medications, steroids or hormones. As with all Chinese herbs it is best to consult with a Chinese Herbalist and see what is best for you before taking ginseng products.