By Cathy Margolin
on July 29, 2010
When I was a teen and found Prevention Magazine I was in heaven. It was the first magazine of it's kind to talk about natural cures and I knew then, (circa 1976) they were on to something. Now, some years later, the whole country knows what Prevention Magazine knew back then. Natural cures do work, from Acupuncture, to chocolate for it's flavonoids, and certainly the ancient practice of Tai Chi. Here's a quick video from the Today Show and the editor of Prevention Magazine about "9 Natural Cures you Trust".
I have to say, I'm a little disappointed Chinese herbs did make Prevention's top "9" list. There are certainly enough studies done on herbs especially Chinese herbs that are used by over a billion people on the planet to qualify them as "cures you can trust". …
By Cathy Margolin
on July 21, 2010
I not really much for celebrity gossip but tabloids are reporting Tiger Woods texted his friend Rachel saying "I feel like taking pills is my only alternative" for sleep. No doubt Tiger has been on the high stress life style for many years. Fame and fortune do have a price and like millions of people, it's easy to feel the only way to get a good nights sleep is with the help of a prescription drug.
Would somebody please pass him an iSleep Herb Pac before he lands in rehab, or pass on an address and I will be happy to send him some. Poor guy, somebody tell him Chinese herbs have been used for centuries to calm the mind and provide a peaceful, non-addictive way to fall asleep. I actually feel terrible for anyone who must rely…
By Cathy Margolin
on July 16, 2010
I wanted to post something different, something completely off the topic of Chinese herbal medicine. Sometimes life is just short and passing us by and without a little gratitude we forget how good life can really be. And not every blog needs to always talk about Chinese herbs, everyday.
So here's a thought… If you have food in your fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of the world. To feel even more grateful read the rest below.
Thanks and credit to Jason Mraz.
By Cathy Margolin
on June 26, 2010
Have we become a nation of pill pushers?
It's a fact, in 2009, doctors wrote more prescription than the total number of people in the U.S. When did we become so dependent on prescription drugs? If your anxious, we have a pill for that. If you need a sleep aid, we have a pill for that. If your depressed, fatigued, can't concentrate, have hot flashes, think your having a panic attack or just having menstrual cramps, we have a pill for that too.
Why do people believe all the answers arrive in a pill? Is it because the pharmaceutical industry spent 4.5 BILLION dollars on advertising and marketing in 2009 alone? That's more than the entire economies of many countries. With that much money, I guess they can convince people there is a pill for just…
By Cathy Margolin
on May 20, 2010
It’s only taken 15 years. The head of the FDA’s office of Nonprescription Products, Dr. Charles Ganley, sent a letter (released May 5, 2010) to the Consumer Healthcare Products Assoc. or CHPA on Feb 16, 2010 stating, "There is an insufficient basis to support the combination of acetaminophen and diphenhydramine as a nighttime sleep aid for relief of occasional sleeplessness when associated with minor aches and pains".
In other words, if your spending your hard earned dollars on products such as Tylenol PM and Excedrin PM your getting nothing more than minimal pain relief. Patients taking the over-the counter sleep products did not fall asleep any faster than those who took only acetaminophen or the sedative, known as diphenhydramine citrate, according to the FDA’s letter.
The FDA’s letter also questioned the data submitted by the drug
…
By Cathy Margolin
on May 17, 2010
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 prescription medications. But did you know that taking OTC acetaminophen can be poisonous and can cause serious liver damage. UCLA experts warn that combining many pharmaceutical drugs such as vicodin and percocet for pain with an OTC cold and flu medicine can be a deadly liver cocktail. New data is just surfacing because liver transplants are hitting an all time high in the U.S. Turns out the number one cause of liver damage is acetaminophen poisoning from long term overdosing.
We know you didn’t mean to overdose but did you realize more than two extra strength tablets or 650 milligrams daily is the U.S.
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By Cathy Margolin
on May 9, 2010
Typically, May weather in Wisconsin is wet, but not below freezing. This was not the case on May 7, 2010 in Marathon County when it snowed 3-4 inches in 24 hours. The freezing temperatures have likely killed all the newly planted Ginseng.
American Ginseng, also known as Panax quinquefolius, is a highly sought after Chinese herb used for centuries. It is the root of this herb that is used medicinally. Wisconsin depends on American Ginseng for over 15 million dollars each year and the freakish weather is estimated to have killed or damaged up to 80% of the new crop. The cold weather snap effects the recently planted seedlings the hardest and may seriously drive up prices.
Much of the harvest is exported to Asia where it fetches higher dollar values than in America. Asian cultures have used Ginseng…
By Cathy Margolin
on February 24, 2010
Asian countries commonly treat insomnia with Chinese herbs more affordably and without the side-effects associated with prescriptions. A study done in Taiwan showed patients complaining of insomnia were successfully treated with Chinese herbs. This study included 16,134 participants who received a total of 29,801 Chinese Herbal Medicine prescriptions. This large-scale study which used data assembled by the National Health Insurance of Taiwan, evaluated the frequency and patterns of Chinese herbs in treating insomnia. What’s unusual about this study is not just the sheer numbers of participants but the amount of data collected. Read the full study here.
The reason the study has such a large group of participants is simply because Taiwan has instituted a unique computerized data entry system as part of their health care system. Patients can choose to…
