I Was Only Making Dinner

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Herb in PacketsI was making dinner tonight, nothing special, chicken, rice pilaf and salad. I’ve love the Near East brand of Rice Pilaf and have used it for years. So what’s so special to make me write about this.   Well, Near East is a well known, multi-million dollar company who has done their share of research on packaging their products. A small cardboard box holds the rice and a FOIL PACKET holds the herbs and spices, the secret ingredients that give the rice that great flavor.    

I poured my rice into my boiling water and then tried to rip open the foil packet even knowing in advance I’m going to have to get the knife or scissor to open it. It’s not a paper packet it’s a foil packet that holds the herbs and spices.   So I asked myself, why did this company decided to put their herbs and spices into a separate foil packet even though you mix the two together? Clearly the answer is the same reason that I have chosen to package my Chinese herb products into foil packets. 

Because freshness matters. Foil packets preserve freshness and flavor.  Foil packets are air tight and moisture tight and this matters when your dealing with natural herbs and spices.

Freshness makes the difference in potent herbs or stale herbs and spices. When your product is natural herbs, the  fresher the better.  This is the very reason packet technology is being used to package Chinese herbs throughout  Asia.  Foil packets don’t breath. Once the herbs are inside and sealed they are as fresh as the day they were dried. Foil packets provide a level of potency unmatched by any other type of packaging of Chinese herbs.

So thank you Near East for reminding us all, something simple like a foil packet can make the difference between a good product and a great, fresh, potent product. 

(Pac Herbs is the only company who has Chinese herbs packaged in stay fresh, individual PACKETS.)

Dr. Oz Recommends Ginseng for Swine Flu

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Chinese herb ginsengEver 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.

Shop for ginseng here.

American are spending more on CAM – Complementary & Alternative Medicine

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CAMAs patient awareness of health and disease prevention has grown, so too has their interest in alternatives to traditional therapeutic disease-based options. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) defines Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) as "a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not currently part of conventional medicine."   This may soon change with new health care legislation on the horizon.

Over the past 10 years, the therapeutic options afforded by CAM  have blossomed into a $45 billion industry. Of this, $12 billion has been spent on CAM health practitioners including chiropractors, acupuncturists and massage therapists. The remaining $33 billion is spent on stress reduction techniques including yoga and massage as well as on dietary supplements, primarily fish oil, glucosamine and echinacea.

In general, approximately 11 percent of out-of-pocket spending on health care in the United States is spent on CAM modalities, a number that has opened the eyes of many non-believers.

Patients are often reluctant to discuss the use of CAM with their physicians for fear of being rebuked or dismissed. Many physicians view alternative-based therapies as "quackery" and adopt an attitude of "semi-indulgent contempt," as described by one physician. Further complicating matters is the relative lack of practitioner knowledge and training on CAM modalities. Nudged forward by patient demand, this view is clearly changing and now more than 70 medical schools and 45 medical centers, including The Mayo Clinic and The Cleveland Clinic, have adopted integrative and alternative medical centers.

Dang Gui, An Ancient Herb for Modern PMS

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Chinese herb dang gui Mood swings. Depression. Irritability. Crying. Anger. Bloating. Breast tenderness. Fatigue. Insomnia. Painful menstrual cramps. Most likely you are one of the 90% of women that experiences Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS). And of that, 30-40% of you will have to rearrange your daily lives in order to maintain the proper self-care needed to manage these symptoms. Approximately every 28 days the body repeats this beautiful, life-affirming, and natural cycle. 

However,  if you are one of the millions of women who experience PMS, you may find yourself wondering what is ‘natural’ about your experience.  For most, these symptoms color every moment of those 5 – 7 days, including the week prior to the beginning of menstruation. This means that for 14 days out of every given month, you are feeling less than yourself. For thousands of years, practitioners of Chinese Herbal Medicine have been treating symptoms of PMS naturally. So in this modern world, where many of the solutions for relief involve harsh chemicals with potentially unpleasant side effects, returning to roots/plants is natural.  Dang gui is prescribed in Asia for almost every gynecological complaint, from regulating the menstrual cycle to treating menopausal symptoms caused by hormonal changes.

Dong quai produces a balancing effect on estrogen activity. In Chinese herbal medicine it's a welcome change in restoring the unique rhythms and cycles of a woman’s body.  This herb has earned a reputation among practitioners as the ‘ultimate’ herb for women. In China it is widely used, in combination with other herbs, as a daily tonic for women.   It is prescribed for almost every gynecological complaint, from regulating the menstrual cycle to treating menopausal symptoms caused by hormonal changes. Dong quai seems to have an adaptogenic effect on estrogen activity. This means it adapts to what your body needs at the moment.

Found in moist meadows, alongside of riverbanks, and in mountain ravines, the root of Dang Gui (pronounced ‘dahng gway’) resembles carved ivory, while the leaves resemble those of carrots, celery, or parsley. From May to August, honey-scented, greenish-white flowers bloom in flat-topped clusters. True to the serene environment in which it grows, it helps to relax the smooth muscle of the uterus and provides a mild sedative effect. It is able to do this because it contains chemicals that mimic the effects of estrogen on the body, restraining and supplementing the production of estrogen as needed.

As Chinese Herbal Medicine gains further acceptance in the United States, the doors of research are opening as well. A study by the international nonprofit organization, the Cochrane Collaboration, found that Chinese Herbal Medicine for primary dysmenorrhea roughly doubled pain relief and improvement in overall symptoms when compared with conventional Western pharmaceuticals. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dang Gui is  known to treat many types of gynecological problems, fatigue, anemia, and high blood pressure. It is the only non-animal source of Vitamin B12, has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antispasmodic, and sedative properties, and is also used as an aphrodisiac.   It is high in iron content and helps to prevent iron deficiency and anemia.  It is truly the ultimate all purpose tonic herb for women.

This article is designed to provided the reader with clinical research results and the potential benefits and or risks associated with CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicines). The author advocates neither for or against any particular therapy and recommends individuals speak with licensed medicial practitioners before using any Chinese herbal supplements or other health supplements.

US Navy and Marine Corps personnel use Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine

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acupuncture at pacherbs.com A heart felt thank you to all our troops oversees who will miss their families this Thanksgiving. We salute you and say God Bless.  
In recent years, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) has shown an increasing presence in the US health care system as well as in Canada, Australia, Denmark, and the United Kingdom.   The number of visits to practitioners of alternative therapies and total expenditures have  increased, rivaling or exceeding visits and expenditures for conventional medical care.  A study done on the use of CAM by the US military was consistent with patterns in the US civilian populations. 37% of a healthy US Navy and Marine Corps population who participated in this study  reported the use of at least one CAM treatment in the previous 12 months.
While CAM therapies such as chiropractic care have been a part of the military health care system for over a decade,  it is important to understand CAM treatments so that guidelines may be created for personnel who choose to use any of the diverse methods of treatment. Several treatments were consistently reported together; almost 55% of individuals who used acupuncture also used massage; 67% of individuals who used hypnosis also used relaxation, and 78% of individuals who used homeopathy also used herbal therapy.
The study results suggests that people more likely to use some form of CAM are women ages 25–49 years, White, educated, and middle economic class. Officers were 50% more likely to report CAM use than were enlisted personnel  Those who reported moderate to severe body pain were nearly twice as likely to report CAM use in comparison with those with none or very mild body pain Among the most commonly reported CAM therapies in civilian populations are chiropractic care, herbal medicine, relaxation therapy, and massage.
As the use of complementary and alternative medicine becomes more widespread, the DoD Force Health Protection program seeks to create a military force fully protected from preventable health threats throughout their military service. This includes assessing potential risks or benefits from unconventional medical alternatives and supplementation. For this reason, it is important to begin to understand prevalence of CAM use in active military personnel as well as general beliefs associated with CAM use in this population.
 
Read entire study here

TCM & Chinese Herbs May Be Another Alternative In Fight Against H1N1

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Chinese Herb researchTraditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is used by more than 3 billion people in the world. As temperatures begin to drop and winter approaches the seasonal flu and H1N1 cases begin to spread. There may be another alternative to Tamiflu & flu vaccines to battle the virus. Hong Kong based Rorric Bio-Technology Ltd. believes it may be able to offer a less invasive cure to H1N1 using Chinese Medicine. The Chairman of R&B Dr. Chow Ching-Fung says, “This formula is effective in two ways.

First it combats and eliminates the virus. Second, it boost the immune system, helping the patient to become stronger. Traditional Chinese medicine has a long history of being proven to have fewer side effects, as it uses herbal ingredients. But western medicine contains a mixture of chemicals from the manufacturing process. So the risks are higher.”

The formula is made of up 21 Chinese herbs. Dr. Chow says he has prescribed the formula to 100 patients suspected of contracting taking H1N1 and they have fully recovered after taking the formula. It’s currently in a powder form, but Dr. Chow says there may be a pill version in the future. Tests at the Wu Han Institute of Virology show that the formula is not only effective on H1N1 but also against other mutated forms of influenza A. Tests continue on 300 patients. If successful it will be the first Chinese Herbal prescription drug to cure H1N1.

Herbs treat Acetaminophen Side-Effects

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thumbnailThis is a very interesting story out of Stanford School of Medicine. They literally stumbled upon a “substance” to help avoid liver toxicity from acetaminophen related liver damage.

Gary Peltz, MD, PhD, professor of anesthesiology at Stanford said “My postdoctoral fellow, whose parents and other family members in Asia were taking this compound in their supplements, started laughing. He recognized it immediately.”

The supplement has been marketed as an herbal medicine known as Vitamin U and used for the treatment of digestive problems for years. (I love this part) “It’s highly abundant in many plants”.

Another victory for phyto-medicinals,  vindicated by Western doctors at one of the most prestigious universities in the U.S.  “By administering SMM, which is found in every flowering plant and vegetable, we were able to prevent a lot of the drug’s toxic effect,” said Peltz

It’s difficult to phanthom that  liver damage is a side effect of one of the most popular drugs (Tylenol) OTC for pain, and is also the number one cause of liver transplantation surgeries. What’s quite disturbing is this quote; “Unfortunately, the prevalence of acetaminophen makes it easy to accidentally exceed the recommended levels, which can occur by dosing more frequently than indicated or by combining two or more acetaminophen-containing products. However, severe liver damage can occur at even two to three times the recommended dose (the maximum adult dose is 4 grams per day; toxic daily levels range from 7 to 10 grams).

“It’s a huge public health problem,” said Peltz. “It’s particularly difficult for parents, who may not realize that acetaminophen is in so many pediatric medicines.”

More information on Acetaminophen

GENERIC NAME: acetaminophen BRAND NAME: Tylenol and others DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Acetaminophen belongs to a class of drugs called analgesics (pain relievers) and antipyretics (fever reducers). The exact mechanism of action of acetaminophen is not known. Acetaminophen relieves pain by elevating the pain threshold, that is, by requiring a greater amount of pain to develop before a person feels it. It reduces fever through its action on the heat-regulating center of the brain. Specifically, it tells the center to lower the body’s temperature when the temperature is elevated. The FDA approved acetaminophen in 1951. PRESCRIPTION: No. GENERIC AVAILABLE: Yes. PREPARATIONS: Liquid suspension, chewable tablets, coated caplets, gelcaps, geltabs, and suppositories. Common dosages are 325, 500 and 650 mg. STORAGE: Store tablets and solutions at room temperature 15°-30°C (59°-86°F). Suppositories should be refrigerated below 27°C (80°F). PRESCRIBED FOR: Acetaminophen is used for the relief of fever as well as aches and pains associated with many conditions. Acetaminophen relieves pain in mild arthritis but has no effect on the underlying inflammation, redness, and swelling of the joint. If the pain is not due to inflammation, acetaminophen is as effective as aspirin. It is as effective as the non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug ibuprofen (Motrin) in relieving the pain of osteoarthritis of the knee. Unless directed by physician, acetaminophen should not be used for longer than 10 days. DOSING: The oral dose for adults is 325 to 650 mg every 4 to 6 hours. The maximum daily dose is 4 grams. The oral dose for a child is based on the child’s age, and the range is 40-650 mg every 4 hours. When administered as a suppository, the adult dose is 650 mg every 4 to 6 hours. For children, the dose is 80-325 mg every 4 to 6 hours depending on age. DRUG INTERACTIONS: Acetaminophen is metabolized (eliminated by conversion to other chemicals) by the liver. Therefore drugs that increase the action of liver enzymes that metabolize acetaminophen [for example, carbamazepine (Tegretol), isoniazid (INH, Nydrazid, Laniazid), rifampin (Rifamate, Rifadin, Rimactane)] reduce the levels of acetaminophen and may decrease the action of acetaminophen. Doses of acetaminophen greater than the recommended doses are toxic to the liver and may result in severe liver damage. The potential for acetaminophen to harm the liver is increased when it is combined with alcohol or drugs that also harm the liver. Cholestyramine (Questran) reduces the effect of acetaminophen by decreasing its absorption into the body from the intestine. Therefore, acetaminophen should be administered 3 to 4 hours after cholestyramine or one hour before cholestyramine . Acetaminophen doses greater than 2275 mg per day may increase the blood thinning effect of warfarin (Coumadin) by an unknown mechanism. Therefore, prolonged administration or large doses of acetaminophen should be avoided during warfarin therapy. PREGNANCY: Acetaminophen is used in all stages of pregnancy and is the drug of choice for short-term treatment of fever and minor pain during pregnancy. NURSING MOTHERS: Acetaminophen is excreted in breast milk in small quantities. However, acetaminophen use by the nursing mother appears to be safe. SIDE EFFECTS: When used appropriately, side effects with acetaminophen are rare. The most serious side effect is liver damage due to large doses, chronic use or concomitant use with alcohol or other drugs that also damage the liver. Chronic alcohol use may also increase the risk of stomach bleeding. Reference: FDA Prescribing Information

Martial Arts for Seniors – Tai Chi Study Say It Improves Osteoarthritis of Knees

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tai Chi Senior

Another Tai Chi study was just released and I couldn’t resist adding it here.  I’m an avid  Tai Chi fan and love to practice this slow, mental relaxation everyday.  It’s a wonderful way to clear your head while relaxing and stimulating your body.  It’s now also been proven to help those suffering from Osteoarthritis in the knee according to Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts who just released results from their study.

After  40 patients completed  twice weekly Tai Chi classes for 12 week,  knee pain was significantly less in the Tai Chi group vs the control group.  Additional benefits included, improved  physical function, self-efficacy, depression and health status for knee OA were also significantly better in the Tai Chi group vs the control group and best of all no severe adverse events were observed.

"Tai Chi reduces pain and improves physical function, self-efficacy, depression, and health-related quality of life," the study authors wrote. Furthermore,  the mental discipline of Tai Chi may minimize negative effects of chronic pain by improving psychological well-being, life satisfaction, and perceptions of health.  If you have knee pain, find a class near you or even a video you follow at home.  It’s not just your knees that will benefit from this ancient Chinese art form.

Read the study results here.

Find Balance in Your Life by adding A Chinese Herb

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Balance with Chinese Herbsby: Jennifer Dubowsky
Today I want to talk about balance, one of the most fundamental concepts in Eastern Philosophy and Chinese Medicine. Striving for balance is the search for harmony or equilibrium in our lives. This idea is often pictured as the Yin Yang symbol. There are many examples of yin and yang in our every day lives.  Your more active energy is considered Yang in nature and Yin is your calm energy. You feel best when Yin and Yang work together, for example, if you get good nights sleep (sleeping/nighttime is yin), you wake up refreshed and are able to have an active and fulfilling day (running around with kids/daytime is yang). This is an example of how the concept of yin and yang helps you to create balance in you life.
In my practice I often see parents, especially mothers, who are out of balance because they lack yin energy.This calming yin energy is depleted because so many parents, especially those who have children with special needs, are required to be always active and alert. So, if you have only a few moments to capture some calm,

Here are 5 quick ways (most take fewer than 5 minutes) to nourish your yin.

1. Place one hand on your lower abdomen and breathe deeply until you feel your stomach rise. Exhale slowly and repeat 10 times. When you are stressed, you breathe into your chest and that increases anxiety but these slow and deep breaths will help you regain your calm.

2. Eat a handful of Goji berries. They are great snack and they nourish your yin or try almonds before you go to bed. Almonds contain tryptophan, an amino acid that helps induce sleep and relaxation.

3. Use lavender essential oil in your bedroom on your bed sheets, in your bath, or as a perfume.Lavender’s scent is relaxing.

4. Take 5 minutes of silence every day, away from children, spouse, TV, Blackberry, cell phone, everything. Silence is the balance to all life’s unavoidable stimulation.

5. Remember one thing for which you are grateful. Write it on a post-it note; carry it with you if you need too. Being grateful helps balance out the difficult periods.

Jennifer Dubowsky, a licensed acupuncturist with a practice in downtown Chicago, Illinois. You can find more about Jennifer at  Acupuncture Chicago.

This article is designed to provide the reader with clinical research results and the potential benefits and or risks associated with CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicines). The author advocates neither for or against any particular therapy and recommends individuals speak with licensed medical practitioners before using any Chinese herbal supplements or other health supplements.

Once used only in Chinese Medicine, Now This Southern Weed May Help Alcoholics

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kudzu A Chinese Herb eats a carKudzu, a vine also known as Ge Gen in Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine has been considered a weed and an invasive species in the "Deep South" for the past 50 years.

 

It has also been celebrated as one of the 50 most fundamental herbs in Chinese Medicine.

 

While first prized for its sweet smelling flowers, it’s encroaching and invasive nature soon made it unpopular to some and a flight of fancy for others. Here in the US, poetry, books and films have been written about this vine, and it has the making of a legend in its ability to grow one foot a day and up to sixty feet a year, covering any structure, small or large. Our picture shows it eating a car. 

 

Festivals have been planned in its honor, clubs have been formed and individuals have been known to create hundreds of baskets from its vines. In Japan and China, it is used daily in teas and consumed just as turnips would be.  Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine practitioners have used kudzu for over 2000 years to treat many diseases, including diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

 

Scientists in Alabama and Iowa have reported the first evidence that root extracts from kudzu show promise as a dietary supplement for a high-risk condition that affects almost 50 million people in the United States alone, metabolic syndrome. Scientists have been seeking natural substances that can treat metabolic syndrome,  which creates an excessive amount of glucose in the blood and is linked to both diabetes and obesity. 

 

A new study evaluated kudzu root extracts, which contain healthful substances called isoflavones. Connect here for Metabolic Syndrome Study Recently, there have also been several laboratory studies conducted on mice that show Kudzu to be effective in reducing alcohol intake. A study has shown this commonly used Chinese herb seems to prevent the usual increase in binge drinking that occurs after five days of abstinence  and also prevents relapse. 

 

Extracts of various parts of the kudzu vine  are said to be "helpful in treating a variety of maladies, including alcoholism and intoxication," said Ting-Kai Li, a professor in the department of psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center, and former director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Considering that nearly eighty percent of abstinent alcoholics or addicts relapse within a year, the value of Kudzu  in helping to treat alcoholism could make it a legend in the world of medicine.

 

It has been suggested that once Kudzu  has been further studied,  this Chinese herb has a high likelihood of replacing Antabuse, a well-known but slightly toxic medication that is currently used to treat chronic alcoholism. One researcher involved in the study Dr. Diamond said we  “hope this novel compound will become an effective therapeutic agent for alcoholism.” So what was once deemed a weed by the USDA, has the  potential to become a goldmine for the South. It has even been suggested that Kudzu could be used to produce the same amount of ethanol as an acre of corn, thus supplementing our current energy resources as well. Click here for a link to the studies referenced.

This article is designed to provide the reader with clinical research results and the potential benefits and or risks associated with CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicines). The author advocates neither for or against any particular therapy and recommends individuals speak with licensed medicial practitioners before using any Chinese herbal supplements or other health supplements.

Monthly Period Cramps, Frankincense and Myrrh to the Rescue

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myrrh tree a Chinese herbModern Science is proving Chinese herbs are  useful for pain and menstrual cramps.

Frankincense and myrrh are two herbs mentioned repeatedly in the bible. I find it fascinating that Egyptians used myrrh for embalming the bodies of Pharaohs while frankincense was used in India as incense for worship during biblical times.  These shrubs or small trees of the family Burseraceae  produce a liquid when the bark is punctured. That liquid or resin is then dried and cooked with vinegar or honey for medicinal uses in Traditional Chinese Medicine. (TCM)  While both trees originated in the Arabian peninsula, we know they arrived in China by 400 AD, where the exploration of their medicinal properties was noted.

What’s incredible is  both of these trees is used in TCM combination’s or herb formulas mainly to unblock the flow of blood, treat traumatic injury and stop pain. They are excellent for abdominal pain during menstruation and for irregular menstruation .  These Chinese herbs can also be used in formula combination’s to help treat amenorrhea (absence of menstruation) and dismenorrhea (painful menstruation).  Furthermore, both can be used externally, frankincense is known to ease the tendons and muscles  while myrrh is used for non-healing sores such as bed sores.

Dietary supplements using these Chinese herbs are  now produced from the active substance of  frankincense, known as Boswellic acid.  Researchers have identified Boswellic Acid as a  potent anti-inflammatory agent .  This acid inhibits the 5-LOX (lipoxygenase) system, which is involved with enzymatic pathways that produce leukotrienes and thrombaxanes (inflammatory molecules) from fatty acids.  (Following all this?) Drugs that inhibit this pathway are normally used to treat arthritis, asthma and ulcerative colitis.  Unlike conventional NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen, the accepted treatments for pain and  inflammation, prepared boswellia doesn’t seem to cause stomach irritation in small doses and it does not cause liver damage like acetaminophen.    The anti-inflammatory properties in Boswellia  Acid  are also effective  in reducing the aching and stiffness associated with back pain.

Ggulsterone is the active substance within the myrrh resin. After many years of research, guggulsteron, also known as Guggul, has become popular in the United States for its cholesterol-lowering properties.1 By inhibiting the FXR gene in the nucleus of liver cells, this leads to the more efficient excretion of cholesterol in the liver, thus lowering serum cholesterol levels.  Amazing what Chinese herbs come from a scrubby desert  tree.

Traditional Chinese Medicine recognizes frankincense and myrrh as blood regulating herbs that complement each other. They invigorate the blood, dispel blood stasis and reduce swelling, relieve pain and promote healing.  It is more than coincidence that  myrrh is commonly used in TCM for menstrual irregularities and  Western medicine research substantiates guggul’s ability to improve liver functions.  TCM theory and Chinese herbs, emphasize the importance of  liver  blood for regular and healthy menstrual function and relates  stagnate liver blood to the cause of painful periods.

Given the compelling scientific evidence regarding the chemicals in these two Chinese herb  resins and the history of frankincense and myrrh, we can be certain of their potent medicinal properties.   It certainly is amazing that nature has given us such powerful medicines for menstrual cramps, arthritis, cholesterol and for pain.  Nature sure has had a remarkable way of providing for our needs, today and in ancient times.

1.(Tripathi YB, et all Thyroid stimulating actions of z-guggulsterone obtained from Commiphora mukul. Planta Med 1984;1:78).

This article is designed to provide the reader with clinical research results and the potential benefits and or risks associated with CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicines). The author advocates neither for or against any particular therapy and recommends individuals speak with licensed medicial practitioners before using any Chinese herbal supplements or other health supplements.