MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'herbal'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:53:34 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182093&cid=t_106081_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-research%2Fadhd-herbal-treatment-three-options-worth-considering.php ADHD is short for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and  impacts about 10% of children and 5% of adults. Therefore it comes as no surprise that so many people are desperately searching for ways to manage both primary and secondary ADHD symptoms such as inattention, impulsive behavior, hyperactivity/restlessness, and low self esteem. One natural way of accomplishing this is with the help of an ADHD herbal treatment. The ADHD herbal treatment approach has been much maligned in recent years with scientific studies, mainly funded by large pharmaceutical companies, calling into question the effectiveness of ADHD herbal treatment alternatives. These studies on the other hand seem to contradict the anecdotal evidence which goes back thousands of years in some cases. An even bigger threat ... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182093 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5182093 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174612&cid=t_106081_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fchinese-study-compares-flu-treatments-prescription-drug-vs-herbal-remedy%2F2011.08.29 During the early days of the 2009 H1N1 influenza A pandemic, the popular herbal formula maxingshigan–yinqiaosan was used widely by TCM practitioners to reduce symptoms. (It’s hard to pronounce and spell, so I’ll refer to it as M-Y.) A new study was done to test whether M-Y worked and to compare it to the prescription drug oseltamivir. It showed that M-Y did not work for the purpose it was being used for: it did not reduce symptoms, although it did reduce the duration of one sign, fever, allowing researchers to claim they had proved that it works as well as oseltamivir. “Oseltamivir Compared With the Chinese Traditional Therapy: Maxingshigan–Yinqiaosan in the Treatment of H1N1 Influenza” by Wang et al. was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine earlier this month. The stu... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174612 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 18:00:51 +0100 5174612 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050949&cid=t_106081_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-research%2Fherbal-supplements-for-adhd-may-be-your-best-choice.php Having a child diagnosed with ADHD can cause quite a blow to a family unit. Usually this diagnosis follows a series of problems with the child in school and at home. The unruly behavior of your child will lead you down the avenue for relief. Your physician will most likely prescribe stimulants. These medications are effective in some children, but for all practical purposes, it is small percentages that have the desired result. The side effects of these medications can include restlessness, insomnia and some allergic reactions. Informed parents may choose to seek an alternative to these drugs. There are herbal supplements for ADHD that pose less problems for you and primarily for your child. There are a lot of natural effects that will come with these herbal supplements for ADHD. There are... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050949 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5050949 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5036227&cid=t_106081_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcurious-about-herbal-medicine%2F2011.07.17 So, you’re curious about herbal medicine. Is there any truth to this stuff? Uncle Howie tells you that he read in the National Enquirer about an herb that has better antibacterial effects on cuts and scrapes than Neosporin ointment — never mind that Neosporin is composed of three different antibiotics that come originally from bacteria themselves. So you set out on a quest to purchase some of this herb, known colloquially as goldenseal. When you go to your local Whole Hippie Dump-a-Load-of-Cash Emporium you find goldenseal alright, in about twenty different forms. On one side of the aisle are containers with loose, crushed up leaves and roots that look like medical marijuana. On a shelf, you find see-through capsules that seem to contain a powdered version of the herb. Down the aisle a... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5036227 Sun, 17 Jul 2011 21:00:14 +0100 5036227 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4975803&cid=t_106081_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2Findex.php%2F2011%2F06%2F28%2F2-types-of-tcm-pills-may-cause-serious-side-effects%2F News report from Singapore SINGAPORE – Three women developed adverse reactions after taking Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) supplements. The cases came to light after vigilant doctors, who suspected that their patients had suffered adverse effects after taking the supplements, submitted adverse reaction reports to the authorities. Two of the patients, aged 50 and 80, experienced significant weight gain, swollen legs, muscle aches, increased urination and excessive thirst after taking Ren Sem Tu Chon Chin Kuo Pill. This supplement is supposed to treat back and joint pain, as well as to improve blood circulation. It is manufactured in China. Another woman, aged 60, developed high blood pressure, low blood potassium level and low immunity after taking Huo Li Bao to relieve pain in h... Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975803 Sun, 26 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4975803 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4960349&cid=t_106081_160_f&fid=36190&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skincareblog.org%2F Sonal Bahuguna: Hair CareHair care with natural products makes it easier to maintain hair at home. For women her hairstyle and texture of hair completely compliments her beauty if they are maintained and groomed well. It is add on to her beauty that makes her personality vibrant and appealing. Hair care is lot easier if properly done at home at regular period. It not only saves time but helps you understand what all amount of care your hair need to look beautiful. Natural products are very beneficial for hair as they keep your hair healthy. There are several natural care products that can help you regain lost shine of your hair. 1. Aloe Vera Gel or Lotion Aloe VeraAloe Vera helps to grow hair and reduces hair loss. Aloe Vera has been known for its effective healing capacity and pro... Skin Care blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4960349 Wed, 22 Jun 2011 06:03:27 +0100 4960349 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159033&cid=t_106081_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D4541%26utm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dfreedom-of-information-reveals-some-unusual-testimonials-for-the-university-of-westminster-when-will-professor-geoffrey-petts-do-something-about-it Jump to follow-up Universities, like most businesses, cite glowing testimonials from grateful students, I doubt whether universities are any more honest than anyone else in their choice of what to publish. When I asked to see any letters that had been sent to the university, I was sent only one and extracts from it appear in the last post on Westminster. More dangerous nonsense from the University of Westminster: when will Professor Geoffrey Petts do something about it? But I knew (don’t ask how) that there had been more than that, and a slightly widened FOIA request produced some interesting results (though I’m aware of other letters that were not supplied -not good). As always, the information came with the caveat "Copyright in our response to your request belongs to ... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159033 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 08:50:30 +0100 5159033 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4902564&cid=t_106081_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-drugs%2Fwhy-herbal-remedies-for-adhd-can-be-more-effective-than-drugs.php You may have heard about herbal remedies for ADHD. Perhaps you have also done some research. In this article, you will learn why some parents and professionals believe that these supplements are much more effective than drugs and what to look for in a good quality product. An herbal ADHD remedy contains natural ingredients that reduce the symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, but what makes them different or even better than drugs? In order to answer this question, let’s first take a look at the pros and cons of prescription drugs. Prescription drugs have been on the market for decades and new drugs are being developed all the time. You are probably most familiar with the stimulant, Ritalin, which is used to curb the symptoms of ADHD, and today, you can there are ot... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4902564 Sat, 04 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4902564 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893693&cid=t_106081_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-medication%2Fherbal-adhd-remedy-is-this-really-going-to-help-my-adhd-child.php Can a herbal ADHD remedy really calm my hyperactive kid and help him to focus? The answer is a definite yes but first I want to tell you a few facts about ADHD. The first is that the psychostimulants are, as their name suggests, just that. They stimulate the brain but also the heart. That could be problematical for a child with a heart condition or even some minor cardiac problem. Millions of kids are on a Class II drug The second thing to consider before looking at a herbal ADHD remedy is that in the US, there is a very different mindset as regards drugs compared to our European neighbors. Research has shown that an American doctor is three times more likely to prescribe a psychostimulant than his European counterpart. The alarming part of all this is that millions of children are on Cl... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893693 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4893693 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4829104&cid=t_106081_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-medication%2Fherbal-supplements-for-adhd-fact-or-fiction.php If my child takes herbal supplements for ADHD, it is natural so it must be good! This is a fictional belief in that it is superficial, to say the least. Herbal supplements for treating ADHD must be approached with the same caution as that in using ADHD conventional medication. FDA Warnings When the FDA in 2006 told pharmaceutical companies to put warning labels on ADHD medicines, alarm bells started sounding in many parents’ heads. There ARE potential health risks and these can range from stunted growth, insomnia, mood swings and even cardiac arrest. It is a fact and if you do not believe me, try visiting the FDA site for a horror trip through the psychostimulant drugs jungle. Another alarming fact is that US doctors are three times as likely to prescribe these drugs than their... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4829104 Thu, 12 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4829104 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4775406&cid=t_106081_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2Fmaterial-world-part2-220307.mp3 One of my first posts about nonsense taught in universities was about the University of Westminster (April 2008): Westminster University BSc: “amethysts emit high yin energy”. since then, there have been several more revelations. Jump to follow-up Professor Petts The vice-cnancellor of Westminster, Professor Geoffrey Petts, with whom the buck stops, did have an internal review but its report was all hot air and no action resulted (see A letter to the Times, and Progress at Westminster). That earned Professor Petts an appearence in Private Eye Crystal balls. Professor Petts in Private Eye (and it earned me an invitation to a Private Eye lunch, along with Francis Wheen, Charlie Booker, Ken Livingstone . . ). It also earned Petts an appearence in the Guardian (The opposite of... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4775406 Tue, 03 May 2011 08:10:00 +0100 4775406 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4734355&cid=t_106081_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-research%2Fancient-herbal-adhd-treatment-proven-in-hospital-study.php Researchers at Sheba Hospital in Tel Aviv, Israel, have developed a natural ADHD treatment, that has proven to be effective. The formula, popular in Israel, supplies the developing brain with essential nutrients, found to increase concentration and memory. The herbal formula, designed for the study, contains a blend of herbs, many of which are legendary for mental concentration and development. Modern research shows that these herbs contain biochemical treasures that boost concentration and memory. ‘The herbal formula nourishes, and normalizes the brain, rather than just provide temporary artificial stimulation’ said A.Levine RNMH, Clinical Herbalist and researcher. The four month ‘Double Blind Random Placebo’ research study, tested the results of the herbal formul... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4734355 Wed, 20 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4734355 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159037&cid=t_106081_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D4269%26utm_source%3Drss%26utm_medium%3Drss%26utm_campaign%3Dwhy-does-the-mhra-refuse-to-label-herbal-products-honestly-kent-woods-and-richard-woodfield-tell-me Jump to follow-up The absurdness of allowing statutory regulation of herbal medicines, both Western and Chinese has already been pointed out here, in Government lends credibility to quacks and charlatans, and by Andrew Lewis in  “How to Spot Bad Regulation of Alternative Medicine“ The harm done by the government’s endorsement of herbal products could be ameliorated if they were labelled honestly. The labelling is a matter for the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA), and for a while I have been writing to the head of the MRH, Kent Woods, and to Richard Woodfield (head of MHRA herbal medicine policy), in an attempt to work out their reasons for not telling the consumer the simple truth. A similar (but even worse) problem arises in the label... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159037 Fri, 01 Apr 2011 10:37:42 +0100 5159037 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4658382&cid=t_106081_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fherbalists-if-ancient-wisdom-exists-so-does-ancient-stupidity%2F2011.03.30 David Kroll’s recent article on thunder god vine is a great example of what can be learned by using science to study plants identified by herbalists as therapeutic. The herbalists’ arsenal can be a rich source of potential knowledge. But Kroll’s article is also a reminder that blindly trusting herbalists’ recommendations for treatment can be risky. Herbal medicine has always fascinated me. How did early humans determine which plants worked? They had no record-keeping, no scientific methods, only trial and error and word of mouth. How many intrepid investigators poisoned themselves and died in the quest? Imagine yourself in the jungle: which plants would you be willing to try? How would you decide whether to use the leaf or the root? How would you decide whether to chew the raw leaf... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4658382 Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:00:06 +0100 4658382 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4622283&cid=t_106081_107_f&fid=36672&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencebase.com%2Fscience-blog%2Fsix-science-selections-4.html Map mashup reveals world’s top science cities – Combining citation data with Google Maps reveals the cities where science prospers, and those where it doesn't. 9 arguments for (against) herbal remedies – About 40% of pharmaceuticals have a herbal origin but that doesn't mean natural is all good. Here's 9 arguments often posited in support of herbal over pharma. The first one: They’re natural. (So what? Strychnine is natural.), Read on for the other 8. The long-distance shimmer – The secret to controlling an NMR spectrometer is not to let your mind wander. The mind can play tricks on even an experienced spectroscopist…Chris Blake explains the loneliness of the long-distance shimmer. Simple salt removal to get fresh water – Simple... Sciencebase Science Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4622283 Tue, 22 Mar 2011 10:00:00 +0100 4622283 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4570654&cid=t_106081_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-medication%2Fherbal-adhd-medicine-finding-treatment-which-will-really-help-your-child.php Herbal ADHD medicine is attracting a lot of interest nowadays and we can see why. The whole philosophy of the idea that pills teach skills is coming under fire. More and more research shows that this is only a stop gap really in the treatment of ADHD. Parents often ask about what are the alternatives to the ADHD meds which are very powerful drugs. These are psychostimulants such as Adderall and Concerta and nobody knows exactly how they work on a child’s brain neither do they know what the long term effects could be on the child’s mental development. That is why parents just do not want to know anything else about these meds and are looking at herbal ADHD medicine with a lot of interest and curiosity. We just need a type of medication which can make children stop squirming, cha... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4570654 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4570654 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4560269&cid=t_106081_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fbig-herbas-research-deficit-why-it-isnt-about-the-money%2F2011.03.08 This is a guest post from Erik Davis of Skeptic North. ********** Bankers, Buyouts & Billionaires: Why Big Herba’s Research Deficit Isn’t About The Money It’s a scene from the blogosphere that’s become all too familiar. A skeptic challenges a natural health product for the lack of an evidentiary base. A proponent of that product responds that the skeptic has made a logical error — an absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, and in such a scenario it’s not unreasonable to rely on patient reporting and traditional uses as a guide. The skeptic chimes back with a dissertation on the limits of anecdotal evidence and arguments from antiquity — especially when the corresponding pharma products have a data trail supporting their safety and efficacy. The pr... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4560269 Tue, 08 Mar 2011 22:00:09 +0100 4560269 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4525087&cid=t_106081_129_f&fid=27216&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifewithadhd.com%2Fadhd-medication%2Fthe-difference-between-herbal-and-conventional-adhd-medicine.php ADHD is defined as a neurobiological disorder characterized by age-inappropriate features of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Research has shown that the disability tends to affect more boys than girls. ADHD is assumed to be caused by genetic factors but there is no empirical evidence to date that would point to the real cause of this condition. What is apparent though is that cases of ADHD have continued to rise by 3% to 5% in school-age children. As parents and teachers struggle to deal with this phenomenon, different methods are being tested and implemented. One approach deals with the use of ADHD medicine to help manage if not to treat the disorder.  An ADHD medicine come in two forms. One is the traditional medicine that is prescribed by doctors and the other is alternati... Life With ADHD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4525087 Sun, 27 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100 4525087 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4489673&cid=t_106081_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Ftreating-the-common-cold%2F2011.02.17 For the last week I have had a cold. I usually get one each winter. I have two kids in school and they bring home a lot of viruses. I also work in a hospital, which tends (for some reason) to have lots of sick people. Although this year I think I caught my cold while traveling.  I’m almost over it now, but it’s certainly a miserable interlude to my normal routine. One thing we can say for certain about the common cold — it’s common. It is therefore no surprise that there are lots of cold remedies, folk remedies, pharmaceuticals, and “alternative” treatments. Finding a “cure for the common cold” has also become a journalistic cliche — reporters will jump on any chance to claim that some new research may one day lead to a cure for the common cold. Just about any re... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4489673 Thu, 17 Feb 2011 17:00:17 +0100 4489673 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4489687&cid=t_106081_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D4117 Jump to follow-up The long-awaited government decision concerning statutory regulation of herbalists, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and acupuncture came out today. Get the Department of Health (DH) report [pdf] It is not good news. They have opted for statutory regulation by the Health Professions Council (HPC). This is much what was recommended by the disgraceful Pittilo report, about which I wrote a commentary in the Times, and here, A very bad report: gamma minus for the vice-chancellor, and here. The DH report is merely an analysis of responses to the consultation, but the MHRA says "The Health Professions Council (HPC) has now been asked to establish a statutory register for practitioners supplying unlicensed herbal medicines. The proposal is, following cre... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4489687 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 18:04:09 +0100 4489687 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4450302&cid=t_106081_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D4066 The Science Museum is a wonderful place. As a child it seemed magical. So all the more disappointing to find that it houses an exhibition that promotes quackery. The exhibition is uncritical and sometimes downright dangerous.  It does not teach you anything about science, it teaches anti-science and uncritical thinking. It was not originally like this. Most of the objects in the exhibition were originally part of Henry Wellcome’s Wellcome Museum of Medical History, based at 183 Euston Road. It was moved on permanent loan to the Science Museum in 1977 where it was known as The Wellcome Museum of the History of Medicine. > Recently the Wellcome-Trust sponsored exhibition was the subject of a blog post at Purely a figment of your imagination, written by Alex D... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4450302 Tue, 08 Feb 2011 17:06:50 +0100 4450302 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4304917&cid=t_106081_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F01%2F03%2Ftestimonials-arent-real-evidence%2F Testimonial evidence exists for pretty much any claim that has ever been devised — alien abductions, demon possessions, miracle medical cures and the like. One needs to look no further than the dietary supplement industry to see the influence of testimonials.  In fact, testimonials are probably the key marketing tool for the supplement industry.  Medicine, psychology, and the beauty industry, to name a few, often refer to testimonials in an effort to show the efficacy of their products or treatments.  It is not uncommon for people to make decisions based on testimonials that conflict with scientific evidence — giving more weight to the testimonial. This is a mistake because testimonials are not real evidence. Placebo Effect “Placebo” is derived from a Latin word... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4304917 Mon, 03 Jan 2011 13:59:30 +0100 4304917 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4281455&cid=t_106081_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FnANS4ZTMcmU%2F Trying to cure your pre-Christmas cold with all-natural Echinacea? A new study suggests that the so-called wonder herb, that’s been purported to prevent colds, may not be a miracle worker after all. It seems the herb, which is a wild flower found in the Midwestern plains, doesn’t have much impact on the duration or strength of colds. The study followed more than 700 cold sufferers, and found that people who took Echinacea saw around a 10% reduction in the duration of their cold. That ends up being about seven to ten fewer hours, which is not, according to lead researcher Bruce Barrett, considered a medically significant decrease. But Barrett advised that people who’ve experienced Echinacea’s healing properties should continue taking it, since the study isn’t absolutel... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4281455 Wed, 22 Dec 2010 22:14:53 +0100 4281455 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4272659&cid=t_106081_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F332%2Fhoney-skin-and-hair-care-gold%2F Honey has for centuries been the workhorse of natural beauty and health.  Ancient Egyptians used it for face and body and even for health, including cataracts, cuts, and burns.  The Greeks, most notably Hippocrates, used honey for skin disorders and ulcers. In our current fascination with the new and the manufactured, many of us have forgotten the wonders of nature.  Honey should be a staple in anyone’s beauty cabinet. Honey contains small amounts of niacin, riboflavin (aids energy production and warding off of certain diseases), pantothenic acid, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese (ensures healthy bones), phosphorus, potassium, zinc (aids immune and digestive systems), and other vitamins and minerals that do a world of good wherever it’s applied.  It’s the only known fo... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4272659 Sat, 18 Dec 2010 22:53:40 +0100 4272659 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4214516&cid=t_106081_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F321%2Fapple-cider-vinegar-for-troubled-skin%2F Few people realize as they spend hundreds of dollars a month on skincare that the perfect regimen might be just under their noses—literally.  Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is a household cooking item and cleaning agent, and also a little known acne home remedy. ACV Benefits to Acne-Prone Skin Acne is often a result of accumulated toxins in one’s body, a result of an unhealthy diet and lifestyle.  Used topically, ACV can detoxify skin over time by removing deep-seated bacteria from skin and regulating the skin’s pH, which makes it less likely to house bacteria.  ACV is also rich in alph-hydroxy acids; these dissolve fatty deposits in the skin’s surface as well as soften scaly conditions caused by many store-bought acne remedies.  Unlike other “home remedies” like benzoyl peroxid... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4214516 Tue, 30 Nov 2010 17:53:48 +0100 4214516 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4214318&cid=t_106081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FUrdwfDQsBQc%2F One of the most important reasons Chinese herbal medicine is different than the majority of Western herbal medicine because of its intentionally constructed formulas of multiple herbs.  Where herbs are abstracted from their formulas and extracted to reveal their constituent components, the results are usually disappointing.  I have personally found the most success with formulas when I seek (and manage) to fully appreciate the structure of a formula.  This, unfortunately, is not very often a simple task. The way most students learn about formula structure is twofold.  First, students learn herbal combinations and interpret all formulas based on the combinations they contain.  Second, if they’re diligent, they learn some version of Jun, Chen, Zuo, Shi (Emperor, Minister, Assistan... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4214318 Tue, 30 Nov 2010 15:48:57 +0100 4214318 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4134290&cid=t_106081_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F310%2Ftop-3-skincare-botanicals-and-where-to-get-them%2F Here’s a look at some of the skincare botanicals and what they are good for.  Plants have always provided the nutrients people need to stay healthy.  Many of those nutrients are particularly important for protecting and/or improving the skin’s health and beauty. The Nutrient Vitamin E Vitamin E is an essential antioxidant that prevents free radical damage, one of the causes of cellular aging.  It is one of the nutrients often missing in the diets of acne sufferers.  Topical applications are beneficial for reducing age spots and healing other blemishes.  Regular use of creams containing it may also prevent age spots from forming. The Sources Grape seed oil, wakame kelp and Shea butter are all botanical sources of vitamin E.  Grape seed oil has proven to be particularly beneficial ... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4134290 Thu, 04 Nov 2010 15:23:58 +0100 4134290 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4118955&cid=t_106081_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D3632 Jump to follow-up The Prince of Wales’ Foundation for Integrated Health shut down amidst scandal in April 2010. In July, we heard that a new “College of Medicine” was to arise from its ashes. It seemed clear from the people involved that the name “College of Medicine” would be deceptive. Now the College of Medicine has materialised, and it is clear that one’s worst fears were well justified. At first sight, it looks entirely plausible and well-meaning. Below the logo one reads “There is a new force in medicine. A force that brings patients, doctors, nurses and other health professionals together, instead of separating them into tribes.” "That force is the new College of Medicine. Uniquely, it brings doctors and other health professiona... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4118955 Fri, 29 Oct 2010 15:41:37 +0100 4118955 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4061088&cid=t_106081_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F290%2Feliminate-fine-lines-and-wrinkles-with-natural-skin-creams%2F Researchers and consumers alike understand what the root causes of skin wrinkles are, so there should be a basic solution on the market that will rejuvenate our skin to the firm, supple form it once had. It doesn’t make sense that we are able to walk on the moon and catalogue the entire human genome, but cannot find an answer to fine lines and wrinkles beyond antioxidants. Something is very wrong with this picture, don’t you think? Antioxidants offered in all natural skin care creams are the key to repairing the wrinkles and fine lines caused by harmful free radical activity, and there are a significant number of anti-wrinkle skin creams that contain natural compounds for this exact reason. Antioxidants reduce the risk of damage free radicals can cause to your chemic... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4061088 Tue, 12 Oct 2010 13:43:18 +0100 4061088 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4040565&cid=t_106081_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fbook-review-the-mayo-clinic-book-of-home-remedies%2F2010.10.07 I write a lot of critical articles. It’s nice to be able to write a positive one for a change. I received a prepublication proof of The Mayo Clinic Book of Home Remedies: What to Do for the Most Common Health Problems. It is due to be released on October 26 and can be pre-ordered from Amazon.com. Since “quackademic” medicine is infiltrating our best institutions and organizations, I wasn’t sure I could trust even the prestigious Mayo Clinic. I was expecting some questionable recommendations for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments, but I found nothing in the book that I could seriously object to. It is organized alphabetically, starting with acne and airplane ear and progressing through bedbugs, boils and bronchitis, dandruff, depression and diabetes to warts, w... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4040565 Thu, 07 Oct 2010 12:00:43 +0100 4040565 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4018289&cid=t_106081_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F5gc1INDGsDw%2F You may find that too much media coverage on how to take good care of our brains is confusing, if not potentially misleading. In The True Story — is mental exercise good, bad, or irrelevant, Dr. Pascale Michelon dissects for you a recent large study which was largely reported as bad news when in fact it brings good news (no miracles, but good news).  We hope you enjoy her insightful analysis — and all the excellent articles that follow in the September edition of our monthly eNewsletter covering cognitive health and brain fitness topics. Please remember that you can use the box in the right column to subscribe and receive this newsletter via email. Do you Mind Dear sapiens sapiens, do you mind: Dr. Joshua Steinerman encourages you to ask yourself the tough ques­tions: Do you mind ... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4018289 Thu, 30 Sep 2010 11:06:29 +0100 4018289 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3994127&cid=t_106081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FfTud5G8UyI0%2F Discussion With Heiner Fruehauf   Parasites and Possession Tags: Gu syndrome, herbology, Chinese medicine, Acupuncture Related articles Thoughts from the Front Line (9) The Life-giving Sword: version 2.0 (0) Strategy in Chinese Medicine: Timing and Momentum, pt. 3 (2) (Source: Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine) Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3994127 Wed, 22 Sep 2010 12:58:52 +0100 3994127 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3965412&cid=t_106081_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdo-drug-companies-pay-attention-to-herbal-medicine%2F2010.09.13 I’m only a monthly contributor here, but between being a Science Based Medicine (SBM) reader and having my own blogs, I often grow weary of the blind criticism that researchers and drug companies couldn’t care less about traditional folk medicines as drug products. My laboratory spends every single day working on natural product extracts in the search for compounds that may have selective effectiveness against cancer. So this is a bit of a sore spot for me. Two [recent] papers from Cancer Prevention Research on the potential anticancer effects of a diabetes drug (see Nathan Seppa’s story here) remind me to tell the story of a Middle Ages European herbal medicine used to treat polyuria that gave rise to one of the most widely prescribed drugs in the world, metformin (Glucophage ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3965412 Mon, 13 Sep 2010 18:00:21 +0100 3965412 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3957876&cid=t_106081_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Ffocus-naturally-without-caffeine-10-herbs-and-essential-oils-to-keep-you-on-task%2F You don’t have to have ADD to have serious problems with concentration: There are plenty of distractions just within your computer screen to keep you working hard to stay on task. But before you reach for your next cup of coffee, FitSugar suggests you try the following herbs and essential oils to sharpen your focus. Don’t have a bundle of Cedarwood hanging around the house? We found a few easy-to-use products that will help you reap the benefits of this list: Rosemary Ginger Grapefruit Basil Black Pepper Lemon Peppermint Eleuthero Yerba Mate Cedarwood Post from: BlissTree Focus, Naturally (Without Caffeine): 10 Herbs and Essential Oils to Keep You On-Task (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3957876 Fri, 10 Sep 2010 16:57:48 +0100 3957876 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3942797&cid=t_106081_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D3423 Conclusion At the moment, it appears that the renaming of the RLHH is empty re-branding. No doubt UCLH Trust see homeopathy as something that brings shame on a modern medical service. But to remove the name while retaining the nonsense is simply dishonest. Let’s hope that the name change will be followed by real changes in the sort of medicine practised, Changes to real medicine, one hopes. Other blogs on this topic Gimpyblog was first, with Farewell to the RLHH, hello to the RLHIM Quackometer posted An Obituary: Royal London Homeopathic Hospital, 1849-2010 Follow-up (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3942797 Tue, 07 Sep 2010 22:01:34 +0100 3942797 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3938421&cid=t_106081_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FncOsKc_7GXs%2F Many parents, health care professionals, and educators agree that there is a pressing need to develop effective treatments for ADHD to complement or substitute for traditional medication and behavior therapy approaches. This is because such treatments do not work for everyone, important difficulties often remain even when these treatments are effective, and evidence for the long-term benefits of these treatments remains less compelling than one would like. In addition, in the case of medication treatment, some individuals experience intolerable side effects and many have concerns about taking ADHD medication for an extended period. One alternative approach to treating ADHD has relied on the use of Compound Herbal Preparations (CHP) derived from traditional Chinese medicine. Practitioners o... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3938421 Mon, 06 Sep 2010 11:05:56 +0100 3938421 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3933115&cid=t_106081_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F09%2F03%2F8-tips-for-improving-your-memory%2F Improving your memory is easier than it sounds. Most of think of our memory as something static and unchanging. But it’s not — you can improve your memory just as you can improve your math or foreign language skills, simply by practicing a few tried and true memory building exercises. There are two kinds of memory — short-term and long-term. Short-term memory is the kind of memory our brain uses to store small pieces of information needed right away, like someone’s name when you meet for the first time. Research has demonstrated that short-term memory’s capacity is about seven pieces of information. After that, something has to go. Long-term memory is for things you don’t need to remember this instant. When you study for a test or exam, that’s long... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3933115 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:18:39 +0100 3933115 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3889080&cid=t_106081_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fsoap-drugs-and-rock-and-roll%2F2010.08.20 By ClinkShrink There’s always something new, even in the world of substance abuse. Lately I’ve been reading a lot in the media about K2, a synthetic cannabinoid that’s being sold (and outlawed) in many states. It’s commonly mixed with herbal incense and smoked. Nicknamed “spice,” it was originally created by scientists and called JWH-018. Apparently some states’ poison control centers have been getting calls about it due to the physical symptoms it can cause, specifically palpitations and GI problems. The part of the story that I thought was interesting was the fact that originally only 250 milligrams of the stuff was created, in an “official” research lab, but that home chemists quickly took up the experiment and it’s now a part ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3889080 Fri, 20 Aug 2010 21:03:20 +0100 3889080 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3813215&cid=t_106081_160_f&fid=36189&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.skinmdblog.com%2F248%2Fanti-aging-herbs-and-antioxidant-skin-care%2F If you want to achieve your goal of having firmer, younger looking skin, then you are going to have to take advantage of the amazing benefits of anti aging herbs and botanicals. You will not get the results you are after by applying products to your skin that are loaded down with synthetic compounds, as these substances don’t provide you with what it is you need.  Chemically developed ingredients can also be harmful to your health. You want all natural products for treating your skin, because they will not contain the toxins and carcinogens that most over the counter skin care products are developed with. Formulas are developed using healthy compounds like Jojoba, Maracuja passion fruit extract, Babassu wax, and other natural compounds supply the abundance of antioxidants necessary for ... Skin MD blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3813215 Mon, 02 Aug 2010 13:30:52 +0100 3813215 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3802386&cid=t_106081_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fa-letter-to-dr-josephine-briggs-about-her-support-of-naturopathy%2F2010.07.29 Josephine P. Briggs, M.D. Director, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Dear Dr. Briggs, As you know, we’ve met twice. The first time was at the Yale “Integrative Medicine” Symposium in March. The second was in April, when Drs. Novella, Gorski and I met with you for an hour at the NCCAM in Bethesda. At the time I concluded that you favor science-based medicine, although you are in the awkward position of having to appear ‘open-minded’ about nonsense. More about that below, but first let me address the principal reason for this letter: it is disturbing that you will shortly appear at the 25th Anniversary Convention of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP). It is disturbing for two reasons. First, it suggests that you know little about th... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3802386 Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:00:04 +0100 3802386 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3753944&cid=t_106081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FfrIUnkRRHj0%2F After posting an earlier post discussing the first of my five maxims, a request came up to present the rest of them. Never one to shy from a good request, today I’d like to present Reynolds’ Second Maxim, which is “Don’t hear horses and think zebras” which could also be phrased “Thou shalt not overcomplicate!” “This will be the seventh time we have destroyed Zion…” I remember going to the movies to see “The Matrix Reloaded” during the course of which a neat and tidy story which everyone was familiar with was exploded into about a million little subplots and alternate storylines with a new cast of characters that became hard to keep track of and events and motivations that didn’t make a great deal of sense. That a... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3753944 Thu, 15 Jul 2010 03:24:04 +0100 3753944 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3733181&cid=t_106081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FbBG8PXmqLTM%2F Let’s conclude this series on strategy in Chinese medicine with our final two points.   Treating Erratically Martin Luther once said that Mankind is like a drunkard who upon falling off his horse on one side overcompensates and promptly falls off the other side. In Chinese medicine, the opposite of sticking with the same protocol no matter the situation is constantly changing what you’re doing. Now, I want to draw an important distinction here. The speed with which you have to make adjustments will depend on many factors, especially the modality being used. The very nature of acupuncture is such that you’re both creating and reacting to changes in the patient’s energy field, which by its nature is subtle. This just naturally leads to treatments in most cases being ... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3733181 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 01:42:21 +0100 3733181 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3726681&cid=t_106081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2F2_QN_YuShfc%2F Conclusion of the Pungent + Sweet = Yang Qi experiment) Part 4 (Beginning of the Sweet + Sour = Fluids experiment).  You’re on part 5, the conclusion of the Sweet + Sour = Fluids experiment, right now! Flavors Experience This section contains the experiences felt during the ingestion of each herb and pairings. Calibration Herbs The calibration process was to know the intimate experience of the herbs from a personal perspective and have a knowing that converged in a way that the authors of the Tang Ye Jing had.  Therefore, much of this is poetic serving a pivot role for the further experiences. This is a rehashing from the first experiement. Dang Shen The simple act of sipping this herb allowed for relaxation to pour through my entire body. Hints of warm milk were hidden in this a... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3726681 Mon, 05 Jul 2010 16:14:21 +0100 3726681 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3718724&cid=t_106081_167_f&fid=38271&url=http%3A%2F%2Frebeccascritchfield.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F07%2F02%2F5-sweet-treats-for-summer%2F It’s perfectly okay to have a sweet tooth. As a card carrying member of the “sweet tooth club,” I know what it’s like to want something sweet after a meal. If you’re trying to make changes to cut back on sweets and lots of added sugars, it can be daunting thinking about giving up the sweet things you like. The key is to find a healthy middle ground. There are no “good” or “bad” foods. The idea of restricting really just makes you want it more. Instead, think about how often you have heavier desserts like cake and ice cream. Keep the portion to a few bites. But, have low-calorie sweet treats more often when you crave a little something sweet. Here are a few refreshing desserts that will be sure to satisfy. They are delicious and healthy sweet treats that will get you thro... Balanced Health and Nutrition Rebecca Scritchfield's Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3718724 Fri, 02 Jul 2010 03:43:32 +0100 3718724 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3706787&cid=t_106081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FTDSQnSjxfaI%2F You will remember not too long ago when Mitesh, a student at NCNM, released some very interesting information about an experiment he was doing concerning the flavors of Chinese herbs, their combinations, and their impact on human physiology.  Well, he completed a continuation of the project for this latest term project and has consented to let me share his findings with all of you. I want to apologize for the formatting – I’m actually on vacation and have limited time to put this together.  Sometimes, copying and pasting from other programs (like Microsoft Word) can be pretty tricky.  Hopefully, it will still be readable. I’ll also have another student project to share sometime soon.  It’s one student’s multi-disciplinary exploration of the energetics of C... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3706787 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 15:00:23 +0100 3706787 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3690974&cid=t_106081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FB6cDgBsZyCI%2F The past two weeks we’ve been discussing timing as it pertains to acupuncture and herbology. Let’s now tackle momentum. As you may recall, the quote we have been referencing from the Art of War is this: “When a falcon strike breaks the body of its prey, it is because of timing. When torrential water tosses boulders, it is because of momentum.” What Sun Zi is talking about here is the accomplishing of something difficult, moving mountains as it were. In Chinese medicine this can be compared to dealing with difficult and intractable cases, the likes of which unfortunately are rapidly increasing in number here in the U.S. These cases are often created by incorrect or ineffectual treatment of a condition that is made orders of magnitude more complicated by the failed treatmen... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3690974 Thu, 24 Jun 2010 02:39:47 +0100 3690974 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3690880&cid=t_106081_107_f&fid=36672&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencebase.com%2Fscience-blog%2F10-herbal-remedies-cohosh-or-tosh.html Is there any significant evidence that any of the following herbal remedies actually work in treating the conditions with which they’re associated? Aloe vera for treating minor burns, including sunburn – 2009 review concludes: “some promising results with the use of aloe vera for diverse dermatologic conditions, clinical effectiveness of oral and topical aloe vera is not sufficiently and meticulously explored as yet.” Black cohosh for reducing menopause symptoms – UK NHS clinical knowledge database states: “There is no good evidence that phytoestrogens, black cohosh, evening primrose oil, dong quai, ginkgo biloba, or ginseng are effective for treating menopausal symptoms.” Boswellia (frankincense) for coping with arthritis and joint pain: NHS Choic... Sciencebase Science Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3690880 Wed, 23 Jun 2010 12:00:08 +0100 3690880 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3671886&cid=t_106081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2F8WVahpWo_Tc%2F   Last week we began by exploring the concept of timing in acupuncture. This week we’ll move on to herbs. Timing in Herbology Timing is equally important in herbology, as knowing where in the system the disease currently is will dictate what formula you prescribe and what modifications have to be made (I discuss this in an upcoming free PDF entitled “Beginners Guide to Acute Respiratory Disease”). For this, the Six Conformation model used by Zhang Zhongjing (called the Six Channel Model in TCM) is without question the most powerful tool we have at our disposal, telling us where the disharmony is, what its nature is, and what principles are required to fix it.  This applies in acute as well as chronic cases. For example – If the problem is diagnosed as a Cold inva... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3671886 Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:33:04 +0100 3671886 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3662801&cid=t_106081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.blubrry.com%2Fchinesemedicine%2Ffiles.me.com%2Fericbenjamingrey%2Fgyphb3.mp3 Another aspect to the more advanced Chinese herb learning method that I teach is diving into the huge amount of information concerning where herbs grow up.  Using the metaphor of the growth and development of a human being, it is undeniable that where we grow up influences the people we end up becoming.  The same is true of Chinese herbs! I was going to write out this article, but I just couldn’t manage to sit in front of the computer, typing.  So, I made a podcast instead.  Enjoy it!  Inside, I talk about why I love the herb method I teach, why location matters when it comes to Chinese herbs, and I do a very small bit of application with one of your friends and mine, Chenpi – aurantium – citrus peel. If you are having trouble playing the podcast in your browser wind... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3662801 Tue, 15 Jun 2010 01:14:30 +0100 3662801 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3644885&cid=t_106081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FBI9oTIC2MlQ%2F This week I’d like to introduce a vital concept from the world of Classical Chinese military strategy, namely that of timing and momentum.  In the Chinese military classic The Art of War, Sun Zi states: “When a falcon strike breaks the body of its prey, it is because of timing. When torrential water tosses boulders, it is because of momentum.” In everything we do, whether using acupuncture, herbs, tui na, or even speaking with a patient, following this concept is what allows us to accomplish great things on behalf of our patients, while not following it will lead to frustration and lack of results. Let’s break this into two subjects and cover them individually. Timing In the current culture of TCM, the evidence-based protocol is king. A hypothetical example: &#822... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3644885 Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:55:57 +0100 3644885 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3644886&cid=t_106081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FtmRzfBbYKgE%2F Quite some time ago, before the changes that are currently sweeping Deepest Health, I promised that I would discuss an “herb learning method” and eventually develop it into a course of some kind.  Well, those wheels are turning again.  You can already get a basic report about the first stages of the method by signing up for our newsletter. Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll unpack some more advanced pieces of the method – including some application.  We’re getting closer to the point where I can release a fuller version of the method. First, I want to refresh your memory with some basic background material.  I think about herbs in a similar way as I think about people.  They have names, faces, general personalities.  They have families, friends, favori... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3644886 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 20:17:56 +0100 3644886 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3641152&cid=t_106081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FhHdOBR_78Hc%2F by G. Michael Reynolds, DOM If there’s one lesson that everyone learns very quickly once they start treating, it’s that modern patients have complex conditions that don’t readily fit into any of the ready-made boxes we have formed for them, whether from a Classical or TCM standpoint. Patients usually have multiple ailments all stacked on top of each other like a messy garage. Like said messy garage, some things are new, some things have been there a long time, some things no one knows where they came from, and sometimes there are even animals and insects hiding out. All of this is what you have on your plate the second a patient comes into your clinic, sits in front of you and says “my shoulder hurts” (the ubiquitous ailment). We’re all familiar with tha... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3641152 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:03:37 +0100 3641152 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3635916&cid=t_106081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FhHdOBR_78Hc%2F by G. Michael Reynolds, DOM If there’s one lesson that everyone learns very quickly once they start treating, it’s that modern patients have complex conditions that don’t readily fit into any of the ready-made boxes we have formed for them, whether from a Classical or TCM standpoint. Patients usually have multiple ailments all stacked on top of each other like a messy garage. Like said messy garage, some things are new, some things have been there a long time, some things no one knows where they came from, and sometimes there are even animals and insects hiding out. All of this is what you have on your plate the second a patient comes into your clinic, sits in front of you and says “my shoulder hurts” (the ubiquitous ailment). We’re all familiar with tha... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3635916 Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:03:37 +0100 3635916 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3632250&cid=t_106081_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fsunscreen-smarts-daily-health-quiz%2F How much do you really know about your health? You may think you know all the ins and outs of staying well, but our daily Health Smarts Quiz will test your knowledge on the spot. Answer our question, below, and check back tomorrow for the correct answer and your next pop quiz. photo: Thinkstock Today’s Question: When planning for a weekend in the sun, you definitely don’t want to forget your favorite natural sunscreen. But can you just slap on some SPF right before heading into the heat? How long before sun exposure should you apply sunscreen so your skin effectively absorbs it? #MicroPollDiv_259339 { width: 250px; margin: 0px auto; } Answer to Yesterday’s Question: Usually, the success of birth control pills is not changed by dietary or herbal supplements, but in a few ... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3632250 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:56:49 +0100 3632250 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3603711&cid=t_106081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FuS6eEvlmP4I%2F Just a quick post to let you know about some changes on the site.  I’ll be updating you with a few more short posts in the coming days, and probably intermittently for several months.  Just showing you around the new digs! I’ve done something that I was a bit frightened to do - I actually put some of my thoughts down on (electronic) paper and packaged it up for public consumption.  That may sound funny – obviously I do that all the time in blog entries.  But, there’s something very DIFFERENT about doing it as a PDF – something that someone can easily take away, share, and read in 20 years (!) if they so choose. I’ve made this report free – with one caveat.  I want folks to sign up for our new, free Chinese medicine focused newsletter. To get t... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3603711 Thu, 27 May 2010 01:30:55 +0100 3603711 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3511649&cid=t_106081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FBFKDSjZgr4Q%2F Here is the remainder of the Song dynasty travelogue about Fuzi, translated by Heiner Fruehauf. I hope you have enjoyed this exclusive translation.  You might want to pop over to the Classical Pearls Facebook page to discuss this article, and Fuzi in general.  I’ll see you there, or in the comments on this post. Click here if you would like to read the first part of the travelogue. —   The quality of the harvested root is entirely dependent on the care that has been taken in the process of cultivating the crop. Rich people always get the highest quality product, while poor people can rarely afford the highest grade. Sometimes the crop is harvested during the 7th month, yielding a product referred to as “Early Water” (Zaoshui), the roots of which are too small to fit snug... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3511649 Wed, 28 Apr 2010 15:00:00 +0100 3511649 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3505023&cid=t_106081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FFKEGy5-U48M%2F Conclusions It would appear that there was no convergence of experience with my second baseline when testing either the Sweet and Sour combination herbs or the Sweet and Pungent herbs. However, the combination of the two calibration herbs seemed to lend itself to the stated experience in the Neijing. I can therefore make a preliminary statement that Sweet and Salty settle the Shen for a meditative experience. Whereas Sweet and Bitter may have something do with cleaning and settling the blood. I am concerned that I may have misinterpreted the Tang Ye Jing flavors assignments, where I switched Salty and Bitter columns. This may not be a big error other than flipping the converged experience of calibration herbs from Sweet and Salty to Sweet and Bitter. But I would like to either confirm this... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3505023 Mon, 26 Apr 2010 15:00:36 +0100 3505023 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3499192&cid=t_106081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FmxDzp1SU8U8%2F Many of you may know that I work with Heiner Fruehauf, who was one of the founders of the Classical Chinese Medicine program at NCNM.  He still teaches there, but has several other projects as well.  Two are accessible online: Classicalchinesemedicine.org : a fantastic educational resource for people interested in the roots of Chinese medicine.  Heiner is really building something special there.  Note:  CCM.org is currently down as they upgrade.  It’s going to be 100% more fantastic when it re-launches. Classicalpearls.org : Home of easily the most effective and Classically based encapsulated herbal formulas.  Based on the research and clinical work of Dr. Fruehauf, I use them personally in my own practice as well as being a willing advocate of them whenever people will liste... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3499192 Fri, 23 Apr 2010 15:00:08 +0100 3499192 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3482994&cid=t_106081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2Fltk8v-rs50A%2F Here’s the second section of Mitesh’s paper, a continuation of last weeks’ post on the topic.  This is more set-up and mostly covers information about the herbs he used, including the Blue Poppy translations of each herb as described in the Shennong Bencao Jing.  He also explains the reasoning behind some of his herb choices, sometimes citing scholar and clinician Heiner Fruehauf. PS:  I will announce the results of the Deepest Health Reader Survey shortly, and have just contacted the winner of the Living Meridian Acupuncture Charts.  If I get permission from that person, I will divulge their name.  Thanks everyone for your time and input! Herb Selection and Essential Information Note on references : The Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing version used was the Blue Poppy translat... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3482994 Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:02:26 +0100 3482994 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3453909&cid=t_106081_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D2914 Yet another university has stopped its homeopathy course. The particular interest of this course was that it was being run at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, the vice-chancellor which was Michael Pittilo, until his recent premature death. Pittilo is the person who recommended to the government that herbalists and Chinese medicine practitioners should get honours degrees and be regulated like doctors. His report, was, in my opinions, disastrously bad.  It recently emerged that this, very bad, advice would not be accepted by the Department of Health (DH), so the campaign against the Pittilo proposals, on this blog and elsewhere was successful. The alternative DH proposals look pretty silly, but we won’t really know until after the election exactly what will happen. ... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3453909 Fri, 09 Apr 2010 06:04:10 +0100 3453909 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3454044&cid=t_106081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FVRJ2r4QWC-4%2F Today, I would like to present the first part of a three-part series about flavor combinations in Chinese herbal medicine. You may remember that the issue of flavors is one of the things I’ve been discussing with my students at NCNM. The question of what the symbol of flavor actually means and how it can best be used by practitioners is one of considerable importance, in my opinion. I tend to become suspicious of any piece of information that is said over and over again, yet never described in much detail. Flavor fits that description, in my experience. In my class, I ask students to conceive and complete a project on a topic of interest in the realm of herbal medicine. Most students decide to dive deeply into exploring a single herb, using research, art, poetry, dance, horticulture,... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3454044 Thu, 08 Apr 2010 16:56:17 +0100 3454044 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3269792&cid=t_106081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2F5B4VcFtTpfk%2F I have a feeling I’m going to get in trouble for my teaching. It’s not that I’m that revolutionary, or that I really even know that much more than my students. It’s just that my fundamental orientation towards the universe is to be always, always asking questions. I don’t always need to let those questions come out of my mouth (undergrad philosophy students, take notice!) but they are always in there. In particular, I tend to question fundamentals. Fundamentals, here, are those basic concepts that act as building blocks for entire edifices of knowledge. Fundamentals, here, are also those things that people most often tend to take for granted.   It’s just the philosopher in me, some might say. But, I could just have easily learned the habit in m... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3269792 Sat, 13 Feb 2010 02:29:52 +0100 3269792 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3246886&cid=t_106081_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2Fnewsjack-bbc7-040210.mp3 Jump to follow-up I don’t know about you, but I’m bored stiff with homeopathy. There are a lot more important things. Nevertheless, it remains a gross insult to reason, and there has been such enormous success in combating it over the last five years so, this is not the moment to stop. Hats off to the Merseyside Skeptics Society. I admit that when I first heard about the 10:23 campaign, it seemed to be a bit of a gimmick, but in fact it turned out to be an enormous success., not just in the UK but also in Canada, Australia and New Zealand The campaign was focussed on Boots, the UK’s biggest pharmacy chain, In particular the fact that Boots sell homeopathic pills. and regularly gives appallingly bad advice about all forms of quackery that they stock. I&#82... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3246886 Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:31:28 +0100 3246886 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3231621&cid=t_106081_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FIIIxZFxw9p8%2F Herbal remedies are increasingly common as some people try to limit their consumption of prescription medications and turn to more natural options. The problem is, natural doesn’t necessarily mean safe or safe for you, particularly if you have other issues, such as heart disease. Statistics show that more than 15 million Americans reportedly use herbal remedies or high-dose vitamins. Of course, the number could be higher because not everyone reports what they take. Researchers from the Mayo Clinic decided to review the use of natural supplements and their interaction with heart disease medications to see what types of concerns, if any, doctors and patients should have. In the case of people with heart disease, natural supplements can affect the efficacy of the medications and cause h... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3231621 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 07:51:18 +0100 3231621 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3146106&cid=t_106081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FT7J3FGQGKLQ%2F As a first-year student, I was so blown away by everything I was learning in school for Chinese Medicine, I couldn’t keep my mind straight. I was being rearranged, challenged on every level. I really couldn’t have blogged about the questions I was having if I tried. During my second year, things were less windswept but busier – that was my strongest blogging year during my tenure at NCNM. My third and fourth years were *much* busier in terms of work at school, work outside of school – the blogging clip declined. Also, while I was more able to formulate relevant questions, I was less likely to actually pose them. Why? Part bravado, part fear, part exhaustion. Bravado might be the wrong word, let me explain. Learning something new, especially something as new as Chine... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3146106 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 18:27:58 +0100 3146106 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3124630&cid=t_106081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FI7sezYinDdY%2F Many practitioners and proprietors of herbal pharmacies are under the mistaken impression that the purchase, storage and prescription of Mahuang (Ephedra) is illegal. It isn’t. I guess I could just keep this post short like that, because it’s really all that needs to be said, but let’s be a little more verbose – shall we? I was reminded about this issue by a student at NCNM, my friend Tim Rudowsky. He’s an enterprising fellow, always researching, and apparently this issue piqued his interest. See, at the NCNM school pharmacy, students are unable to use Mahuang. Students and professors who have a strong preference for Classical formulas often lament this fact. It’s an issue of particular concern during this time of the year in the cold, wet, windy Columbi... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3124630 Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:00:52 +0100 3124630 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3178780&cid=t_106081_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2Flondon-news-220307_NEW.wmv This article was meant to celebrate their collective efforts and to celebrate the fact that those efforts are beginning to percolate upwards to influence the powers that be. It seems invidious to pick on one example, but if you want an example of beautiful and trenchant writing on one of the topics dealt with here, you’d be better off reading Andrew Lewis’s piece "Meddling Princes, Medical Regulation and Licenses to Kill” than anything in a print journal. I was a bit disappointed by removal of the comment about the Prince of Wales.  In fact I’m not particularly republican compared with many of my friends.  The royal family is clearly good for the tourist industry and that’s important.  Since Mrs Thatcher (and her successors) destroyed larg... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3178780 Thu, 17 Dec 2009 07:01:58 +0100 3178780 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3033643&cid=t_106081_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F_K_33PKyicQ%2F Herbal supplements seem like a safe bet to many people because they’re natural. While this may have some merit, many poisons are natural too – just think of what can happen if you eat the wrong type of mushroom. So, it’s important to know not only what herbal supplement you are taking, but what its effects are overall. You don’t want something that is supposed to help you end up causing more harm. To show you how this can be, a study out of Massachusetts, published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, found that some herbal supplements can raise the level of lead in women’s blood, sometimes to unsafe levels. The researchers studied 12,807 men and women who were at least 20 years old. What they found was that there was an average 10% increase in blood l... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3033643 Thu, 26 Nov 2009 23:47:36 +0100 3033643 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2984923&cid=t_106081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FFk9RJAXyiKc%2F I have to admit to some weirdness around the concept of “constitution.” This is absolutely unfounded, I have no clinical or theoretical information to back up my feeling. I think I’ve just seen this concept be misused. Once you get an idea in your head that a patient is a “Chaihu person,” or a “Bladder CF,” or a “Shaoyang patient,” it seems to be a little difficult to think outside that box. It offends my desire to meet the patient where they are without preconceptions. Now, don’t get me wrong, I realize that this is part of what WE DO in Chinese medicine in particular and natural medicine in general. We look at the gestalt of the patient, and we make a helpful generalization about their condition and the treatment that is likely ... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2984923 Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:00:41 +0100 2984923 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2958984&cid=t_106081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FwYtxQ25lvgI%2F Today, on a walk I was taught an important lesson by some late migrating geese. In the late summer and autumn, we get a whole lot of geese flying overhead in my neighborhood. We live pretty close to a couple of wildlife refuges, one being specifically devoted to waterfowl. In general, in Portland, the autumn is always accompanied by the resonant, melodic sound of Canadian geese fleeing Canada. It’s one of those things that is commonplace, yet never seems to lose its magic. I’ve noticed a lot of things in Autumn are like that – the leaves turning, the miracle of the harvest, the start of formal schooling and so on. Anyway, today I had one of those magic moments – fog bank just rolled in, walking on a hill in clear view of the setting full moon and the rising sun refl... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2958984 Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:51:45 +0100 2958984 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2912347&cid=t_106081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FwaBOjeTXNr0%2F So, I didn’t write much about using the faculty of sight in learning Chinese herbs. That’s mostly because I’m doing other research about it, particularly around the doctrine of signatures and I’d prefer to write more when I have more to say. I’m already retooling my NCNM class for next year based on what I’ve learned. Let it suffice to say for now that, in class, we enjoyed ourselves working with our eyes. Overall, one of the most interesting things I learned is that many have resistance many people have to just sitting with something and looking at it. Maybe it’s because so many cultures find it rude to stare? I don’t think the plants care. Anyway… Many people seem to believe that what they see at first glance is as much as there is to... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2912347 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:38:56 +0100 2912347 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2912405&cid=t_106081_134_f&fid=36012&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FBattleDiabetes%2F%7E3%2FDdWrs_Tj-dw%2F And they taste pretty good too! In an age of pharmaceuticals we tend to forget that there are things like herbal teas that can help improve our diabetes. Herbal teas are gaining popularity in the United States and this could be due to the infusion of Western and Eastern Medicine techniques being blended together more often. So what type of herbs are in herbal teas for diabetes control? There are a few but I’m going to give you the two most popularly utilized herbal teas for diabetes control. Bilberry Tea – Never heard of it? Well maybe you know the Bilberry by it’s more popular American name of the Huckleberry. Bilberry herbal tea is known as the most effective herbal tea in aiding diabetes for those who are not insulin dependent. So mainly we’re talking about thos... Battle Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2912405 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:06:57 +0100 2912405 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2898973&cid=t_106081_105_f&fid=39005&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.allkidney.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fchinese-herbal-medicine-and-kidney-stones.html%23utm_source%3Dfeed%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3Dfeed Kidney stone pain or ureteric colic is perhaps the most feared symptom of urolithiasis. People who experience it at its worst will do anything that they have been told will help in the passing kidney stones. Because of this fact there are many questionable products on the market which claim to pass kidney stones or dissolve kidney stones. From time to time I have reviewed some of the more prominent preparations. There is a natural tendency to discount what we don’t understand or were not trained to understand. I am no exception to this rule, having not been trained in traditional herbal medicine in a country where it is practiced. However I do believe the current upsurge in published studies utilizing traditional medicine has allowed for a bridging of knowledge between two worlds whi... All Kidney News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2898973 Tue, 13 Oct 2009 01:22:16 +0100 2898973 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2898974&cid=t_106081_105_f&fid=39005&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.allkidney.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fgreen-tea-and-kidney-cancer-news.html%23utm_source%3Dfeed%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3Dfeed An abstract from the Journal Oncology Reports. has brought Green Tea back into the news yet again. EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate), the major antioxidant found in green tea, has been shown to inhibit the growth of many tumor cells even inducing the tumor cells to spontaneously die by a process known as apoptosis. EGCG can inhibit one of the enzymes involved in DNA synthesis and repair and thus cause reactivation of genes that lead to this effect. The gene responsible is known as TFPI-2, a member of the Kunitz-type serine proteinase inhibitor family. Previous studies demonstrated that the expression of TFPI-2 and invasiveness of renal cell carcinoma had a negative correlation. TFPI-2 may induce tumor cell apoptosis in renal cell carcinoma. Lower expression of TFPI-2 in renal cell carcinoma ... All Kidney News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2898974 Sun, 11 Oct 2009 17:48:32 +0100 2898974 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2857412&cid=t_106081_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D2310 More boring politics, but it matters.  The two main recommendations of this Pittilo report are that Practitioners of Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine should be subject to statutory regulation by the Health Professions Council Entry to the register should normally be through a Bachelor degree with Honours For the background on this appalling report, see earlier posts. A very bad report: gamma minus for the vice-chancellor The Times (blame subeditor for the horrid title), and some follow up on the Times piece The Health Professions Council breaks its own rules: the result is nonsense Chinese medicine -acupuncture gobbledygook revealed Consultation opens on the Pittilo report: help stop the Department of Health making a fool of itself  Why degrees in Chinese med... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2857412 Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:23:19 +0100 2857412 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2838948&cid=t_106081_105_f&fid=39005&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.allkidney.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fherbal-preparations-to-dissolve-kidney-stones.html This study supported a possible role of the use of this herb in preventing stone formation. But the diuretic effect may need to be accounted for as this could interact with other common medication to cause dehydration or predispose for acute renal failure in certain circumstances. Safety data was not available for human subjects. Rubia cordifolia Reportedly a herb used since ancient times. It is also known as Manjistha. It is used as a “detoxifier” in traditional medicine. The herb was found to be useful as an antibiotic agent active against at least 2 common species of bacteria. The exact dose is unknown. Antibiotics are useful for the treatment of kidney stones only when infection is suspected. The antibacterial property of this herb may be of use however its exact spectrum ... All Kidney News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2838948 Sat, 26 Sep 2009 03:32:57 +0100 2838948 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2838953&cid=t_106081_105_f&fid=39005&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.allkidney.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fcolon-cleanse-and-the-kidney-to-cleanse-or-not-cleanse.html photo credit: DoctorWho The notion that the normal operation of the Gut results in pounds of un-excreted toxic materials, that accumulate over the lifetime of a human being is the basis of the colon cleansing industry that has sprung up nearly simultaneosusly world wide. The theory behind colon cleansing hails back to the era of the greek and egyptian schools of medicine. Where autointoxication was believed to be responsible for all causes of disease. Autointoxication refers to an ancient theory that food enters the digestive system and rots giving rise to pus which enters the blood stream and causes all manner of ills. By 1919 the idea of autointoxication had run its course being debunked in the professional literature of the time. However despite the fact that there is no evidence of any... All Kidney News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2838953 Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:21:22 +0100 2838953 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2800628&cid=t_106081_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fwayback-wednesday-say-yes-to-no-nitric-oxide.html Back in 2006, nitric oxide (NO) was all the buzz. I’ve since discovered that it’s been utilized to treat everything from vascular eye disease to erectile dysfunction (yes, it’s the stuff in Viagra!). Today, a look back at my original post discovering this wonder substance, derived from ancient Chinese herbs.   What Nitric Oxide Can Do [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2800628 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 13:00:52 +0100 2800628 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2757951&cid=t_106081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FvFZwiZuZGXQ%2F In my last article, I mentioned my idea that the best way to learn Chinese herbs is through what I’m calling the “relational method.” Before we can dive headlong into the process I am describing, we need to prepare some ground. Today, I want to talk a little about learning in general, relationship styles and relationships skills. My motivation for doing this is twofold. First, I really believe that an astonishing number of people looking to learn aren’t really sure how they do that best. Yes, folks, there is more than one way to take in information. The way you learned in grade school is NOT necessarily the best one. Second, the nature of my developing theories on teaching and learning are deeply interwoven with the relational method of learning Chinese herbs. I thi... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2757951 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 21:51:27 +0100 2757951 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2744176&cid=t_106081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FAOdydrHXZNM%2F I’ve been working on developing some courses I want to teach. I plan to teach them online, via an extension of Deepest Health, but also some using the Gift Economy model at my clinic – Watershed Community Wellness. Some of these courses will be geared toward Chinese medicine students and practitioners who are having a difficult time resonating with herbs, or already resonate and want to go deeper. I’ve worked hard over these last few years to deepen my own relationship with herbs, so I’ve tried pretty much every technique one could dream of – in some ways, this suits me ideally to teach classes about the topic. However, it’s been a while since I’ve taught formally. The last time I taught was in the context of academic Philosophy, quite some time ag... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2744176 Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:54:11 +0100 2744176 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2695497&cid=t_106081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FUjtaw8zyV0Y%2F This article is already ridiculously long. However, let it suffice to say that I found many documents I had downloaded from the internet or scanned from books at the library – all pertaining to this formula or one of its variants. Again, as I further uncover, digitize, clarify and organize my vast library of data not only will I have the great experience of reengaging with that material but I will make it easier to access and more accessible to the AI of Devonthink. Thanks for reading! Related posts:Why Chinese herbal formula science is the most advanced medicine out thereHow Devonthink is blowing my mind and rekindling my love for Chinese Medicine (Part 1/2)Questions for the ancients Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin. (Source: Deepest Health: Explori... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2695497 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:59:33 +0100 2695497 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2670962&cid=t_106081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2F7yVJz1-C864%2F I’m continuing to be neck deep in business planning. Today we finalized a bunch of copy for our website, came closer to opening a business bank account, got a bunch of things finalized with the lawyer, and had our first “official” meeting as a LLC (hilarious – board meeting with two people at the kitchen table). I’m going to start getting all of these steps together and all the tips and tricks I came up with to give as a free PDF to folks on Deepest Health someday soon. That is, when things calm down a bit. Hopefully, soon, I’ll get some time to actually get back into learning the MEDICINE. :) I’d like to let Portland-area Chinese medicine enthusiasts (and folks with plenty of frequent flier miles) know about some fantastic opportunities coming yo... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2670962 Wed, 05 Aug 2009 02:19:52 +0100 2670962 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2667563&cid=t_106081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2Fq_UPIGEt2Aw%2F Hey folks, I’m still trying to settle on the right publishing schedule. I’m going to let weekends be pretty loose, publishing sometimes but not others. I’m also going to move the topics around a bit to be more conducive to writing great articles for you folks. When I settle on the right schedule, I’ll create icons for each – then you’ll know I’m serious. :) For now, I’m going to move the heaviest topic (Herbs and Acupuncture) deeper into the week. We’ll see how I can shift things around. For now – please enjoy this handpicked list of my Top 8 favorite articles on Deepest Health having to do primarily with herbs and acupuncture. One of my earliest articles, about an herb I don’t even use – Mu Zei, horsetail. It’s... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2667563 Tue, 04 Aug 2009 05:46:56 +0100 2667563 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2657780&cid=t_106081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FRamD5Buo3Kw%2F I’m positively buried in a ton of unbelievably exciting business work, all of which will be coming out in a series of posts sometime in the not-too-distant future. When I’m not working on that stuff, I’m hiding from the brutal heatwave that is currently crouching over my fair city, Portland. However, I’ve found some time to engage in a rather lively conversation in the comments on my recent post about a post on another blog concerning the Lingshu and the superior physician. This discussion, and a conversation I’ve been in with a close friend for the last year, has me thinking about the future of Chinese medicine. It should be noted that, as an American, I’m almost certainly talking about the American profession of Chinese medicine – as different pl... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2657780 Thu, 30 Jul 2009 23:15:30 +0100 2657780 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2649155&cid=t_106081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FPXcJj3kZY-M%2F It’s a scorcher here in Portland – a place known for its cool, wet climate. We’re in the middle of a heatwave that’s bringing us three consecutive triple digit days. I spent most of yesterday having fantastic business meetings at my clinic, Watershed Community Wellness. I also had a great time setting up the medicinary. As I was putting the herbs in their places, I remembered a recent reader question about how to find decent Chinese herbs. I have been researching and purchasing Chinese herbs since the beginning of my third year in school. Most herb companies will allow you to create student accounts. This was a fantastic opportunity for me, because I was able to sample the quality of various companies’ herbs, think about pricing and what I really wanted to car... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2649155 Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:36:11 +0100 2649155 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2621918&cid=t_106081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdeepesthealth.com%2Fpodpress_trac%2Ffeed%2F666%2F0%2F3tgeq4.mp3 On this inaugural day of the New Era here at Deepest Health, I would like to offer something long overdue.  You may remember a particularly engaging podcast interview series with Arnaud Versluys PhD, LAc who practices here in Portland, OR but teaches Chinese herbal medicine all over the world.  He has recently created the Institute for Classics in East Asian Medicine (ICEAM) which I hope to be working with for the rest of my days.  If you haven’t already, I recommend you sign up for and participate in his forum, and check out his upcoming class offerings. In case you lost the links: The first part of the Arnaud Versluys interview The second part of the Arnaud Versluys interview And now, without further delay – listen to the final portion.  It is a shorter section, focused o... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2621918 Mon, 20 Jul 2009 21:49:32 +0100 2621918 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2452746&cid=t_106081_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FBav8FBjtkiA%2F Health Canada, the Canadian equivalent of the U.S. FDA, has issued a warning against Slim Magic Herbal products, used for weight loss. This warning was issued because investigators found an undeclared pharmaceutical ingredient similar to the prescription medication sibutramine, which is a prescription drug to help treat obesity. The products also contain a thick soluble fiber used to make you feel full as it expands when it absorbs water. This may cause an obstruction to your esophagus. According to the warning issued by Health Canada earlier today: The use of sibutramine may cause serious side-effects, including cardiovascular reactions, such as increased blood pressure, chest pain, and stroke, in addition to dry mouth, difficulty sleeping and constipation. Sibutramine should only be used... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2452746 Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:00:38 +0100 2452746 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2424273&cid=t_106081_117_f&fid=36026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Fzimney-health-and-medical-news-you-can-use%2Fglymetrol-a-scam-targeting-people-with-diabetes%2F I’ve recently seen a number of TV commercials for a product called Glymetrol that are extremely troubling. In fact, I find the marketing of Glymetrol offensive on so many levels it’s hard to know where to begin telling you about it. First is the cavalier manner in which this “natural” product is being marketed to people with diabetes, a potentially life-threatening disease, with severe long-term consequences if not managed properly, even though it has neither been reviewed nor approved by the FDA. People with diabetes should be under the close care of a physician fully knowledgeable about their condition, their blood sugar levels, their diet, their weight, their insulin sensitivity and their medications. Only at the bottom of the Glymetrol FAQs page does it even remotely suggest co... Dr. Z's Medical Report blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2424273 Wed, 20 May 2009 17:02:59 +0100 2424273 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2365006&cid=t_106081_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1372 Jump to follow-up It seems that bits of good news don’t come singly. First honours degrees in acupuncture vanish, Now a big chain of shops selling Chinese herbs and acupuncture has gone into administration. It seems that, at last, people are getting fed up with being conned out of their hard-earned money Herbmedic Barking A local [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2365006 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:37:52 +0100 2365006 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2353967&cid=t_106081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FLP9Kf_Yz8RI%2F Engaging in the program I set out a couple of weeks ago hasn’t been much of a problem.  Finding the extra moments to use for writing to the blog has been more of a challenge.  :) I have altered the program in a couple of important ways, however.  It just hasn’t worked for me to limit the formulas to those I indicated at the outset.  Instead, I find myself naturally gravitating to working with 3-5 formulas each week as I work with patients.  Given that I’m not taking the Chinese herbs portion of my NCCAOM board exam until the summer, I’m okay with not doing a rigorous and systematic review of formulas in the next 12 10 weeks. The Bladder and Kidney channels have gone alright.  To be entirely honest, it’s been hard to get back into the kind of basic, point... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2353967 Wed, 22 Apr 2009 01:45:49 +0100 2353967 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2348454&cid=t_106081_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fsurgery_patients_unaware_of_herbal_risk.htm Many don't know that some herbal supplements before surgery raise risk of bleeding By Salynn Boyles WebMD Health News April 16, 2009 — Most patients facing elective surgery still don't tell their surgeons or anesthesiologists about herbal supplements they are taking; many doctors still don't ask, and the failure to communicate can have a big impact on surgical risk. More...     © 2009 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved. Caution: In addition to the surgery risks alluded to in the article, some herbs with anti anxiety/depression properties may interact with prescription drugs used to treat conditions such as anxiety disorders, depression, heart disease, HIV, and seizures, or to prevent transplant rejection, and pregnancy (oral contraceptives). If you are taking any prescribe... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2348454 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 08:48:00 +0100 2348454 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2321570&cid=t_106081_127_f&fid=38263&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fdeepesthealth%2FBMCc%2F%7E3%2FhK6Wsppumv0%2F Well, it’s finally come to this - the final quarter of my formal institutional training in Classical Chinese Medicine. Wow.  I mean, really, wow.  There are quite a few of you out there who are in the same boat I am - looking graduation in the face.  It’s exciting, yes, but it’s also a little hard on the nerves.  In my case, I have a number of personal and professional obligations criss-crossing through my schedule.  They all have to be satisfied if I am going to end my NCNM career with a bang.  I spent several hours today thinking about how best to approach the sheer cliff that is my next twelve weeks. Along with my normal class obligations, my Student Government (SGA) duties, my family life and my thesis writing (and a whole lot more I won’t list here) - I h... Deepest Health: Exploring Classical Chinese Medicine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2321570 Wed, 01 Apr 2009 23:33:48 +0100 2321570 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2414826&cid=t_106081_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1284 The Health Professions Council (HPC) is yet another regulatory quango. The HPC’s strapline is “Working with health professionals to protect the public” At present the HPC regulates; Arts therapists, biomedical scientists, chiropodists/podiatrists, clinical scientists, dietitians, occupational therapists, operating department practitioners, orthoptists, paramedics, physiotherapists, prosthetists/orthotists, radiographers and speech & language therapists. These are thirteen very respectable jobs. With the possible exception of art therapists, nobody would doubt for a moment that they are scientific jobs, based on evidence. Dietitians, for example, are the real experts on nutrition (in contrast to “nutritional therapists” and the like, who are part of... DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2414826 Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:18:12 +0100 2414826 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2135025&cid=t_106081_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D920 Jump to follow-up It’s only a matter of weeks since a lot of young scientists produced a rather fine pamphlet pointing out that the “detox” industry is simply fraud.  They concluded “There is little or no proof that these products work, except to part people from their cash.” With impeccable timing, Duchy Originals has just launched a “detox” [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2135025 Mon, 26 Jan 2009 21:15:19 +0100 2135025 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1955263&cid=t_106081_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D5253 So screams the Bernama news item. The market value of the local herbal supplements and cures industry is expected to increase to RM12 billion this year compared with RM10 billion last year as a result of the increasing acceptance of herbal medicine by consumers, says the chairman and founder of Global Bio-Herbs Economic Forum Council, Datuk Yeat Sew Chuong. “Demand is increasing yearly because of better knowledge and information about these cures,” he said, adding that Europe and North America still accounted for the bulk or 80 per cent of the sale of herbal cures. “This means that the market potential for herbal cures in Asia is huge,” he told Bernama in conjunction with the 2nd Global Bio-Herbs Economic Forum to be held at the Putrajaya International Convention C... Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1955263 Wed, 12 Nov 2008 05:00:00 +0100 1955263 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1750162&cid=t_106081_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D4247 Harriet Hall reviews Trick or Treatment: The Undeniable Facts about Alternative Medicine by Simon Singh and Edzard Ernst in Science-based Medicine The authors had made this strong statement: While there is tentative evidence that acupuncture might be effective for some forms of pain relief and nausea, it fails to deliver any medical benefit in any other situations and its underlying concepts are meaningless. With respect to homeopathy, the evidence points towards a bogus industry that offers patients nothing more than a fantasy. Chiropractors, on the other hand, might compete with physiotherapists in terms of treating some back problems, but all their other claims are beyond belief and can carry a range of significant risks. Herbal medicine undoubtedly offers some interesting remedies, but... Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1750162 Mon, 01 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1750162 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1750166&cid=t_106081_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D4234 The BBC Reports A fifth of Indian herbal medicines sold on the internet contain potentially lethal substances, according to a new study in the United States. The study at Boston university analysed 193 products and found that 20% of them contained lead, mercury or arsenic. Be warned…. a Indian herbal medicines queried (Source: Malaysian Medical Resources) Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1750166 Sun, 31 Aug 2008 04:00:00 +0100 1750166 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1606787&cid=t_106081_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F331380368%2F This study also showed that the subjects could not predict how well they would remember, which is consistent with my 45 years experience as a professor. Students are frequently surprised to discover after an examination that they did not know the material as well as they thought they did. Tests not only reveal what they know and don't know, but serve to increase how much they eventually learn. If I were still teaching, I would give more tests. And I would encourage students to use self-testing as a routine learning strategy, something that one study revealed to be a seldom-used strategy. The repeated self-tests should include all the study material and not drop out the material that the student thinks is already mastered. Source: Karpicke, Jeffrey D., and Roedinger, Henry L. III. 2008. The... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1606787 Thu, 10 Jul 2008 03:55:29 +0100 1606787 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1526119&cid=t_106081_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F06%2F17%2Fevaluating-drug-free-alternatives-for-adhd%2F It’s a list that would make any health-food storegoer proud: Vitamins. Fish oil. Giving up processed foods, sugars, or food additives. Herbal therapy with St. John’s Wort, echinacea, gingko biloba, or ginseng. Biofeedback. Massage. Yoga. All healthful pursuits, for sure, but are any of these alternative therapies effective for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (A.D.H.D.)? Don’t bet the rent, says an article in today’s New York Times. According to author Tara Parker-Pope, About 2.5 million children in the United States take stimulant drugs for attention and hyperactivity problems. But concerns about side effects have prompted many parents to look elsewhere: as many as two-thirds of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or A.D.H.D., have used some ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1526119 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 16:35:09 +0100 1526119 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1388964&cid=t_106081_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthbolt.net%2F2008%2F04%2F21%2Fhow-dandy-the-anti-stress-benefits-of-a-dandelion%2F Image details: Creatas Images Single Image Set served by picapp.com Spring is in the air for many of us, and usually that means allergies, yard work and the weeds that cause a lot of allergies and yard work. But the next time you see a stray dandelion pop up in your yard, don’t be so quick to dig it up. Instead, admire it for it’s stress-busting abilities. Here’s the scoop: The leaves of a dandelion are packed with calming B vitamins and lethicin, which lessen stress and anxiety by balancing chemicals in your brain. Dandelions also boost levels of the happy chemical, seratonin. Now, we’re not recommending that you run out and pluck these from your yard to make a meal out of. But the next time you head to the grocer, look for premixed salad kits that include dandelio... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1388964 Tue, 22 Apr 2008 02:07:37 +0100 1388964 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1284897&cid=t_106081_134_f&fid=36012&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBattleDiabetes%2F%7E3%2F247187762%2F And they taste pretty good too! In an age of pharmaceuticals we tend to forget that there are things like herbal teas that can help improve our diabetes. Herbal teas are gaining popularity in the United States and this could be due to the infusion of Western and Eastern Medicine techniques being blended together more often. So what type of herbs are in herbal teas for diabetes control? There are a few but I’m going to give you the two most popularly utilized herbal teas for diabetes control. Continue Reading Two Herbal Teas That Can Help Lower Blood Sugar (Source: Battle Diabetes Blog) Battle Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1284897 Fri, 07 Mar 2008 05:37:38 +0100 1284897 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1283524&cid=t_106081_135_f&fid=35272&url=http%3A%2F%2Fslimconomy.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F03%2Fonions-herbs-or-maybe-just-beer.html In our not too distant past, in the days of the Wild West, shifty fellas scuttled about the country selling amazing cures for anything that ailed you. These "cure-all tonics" were often no more than flavoured water. A favorite was "snake oil", and so the first generation of the Use-Car-Salesman was born. Now there's a large underground market in the sales of "herbal cures" for HIV/AIDS. The claims run the gamut from totally eliminating AIDS and "restoring you to health of youth" as some websites claim, to getting rid of any associated ill effects or just helping you cope.In my travels from Africa, parts of Asia and India recently, I have picked up a few different products with wild claims. I'm not sure what's in all of these little boxes, but if I had HIV I'd apparently be cured several ti... Slimconomy blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1283524 Thu, 06 Mar 2008 13:27:00 +0100 1283524 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1062774&cid=t_106081_87_f&fid=34591&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.badscience.net%2F2007%2F12%2Faids-quackery-international-tour%2F Ben Goldacre The Guardian Saturday December 1 2007 If you were going to be actuarial about media coverage - an eighth of a column inch for each premature death perhaps - then this paper would be filled with diarrhoea and Aids. Today is World Aids Day: so come with me on a world tour of Aids quackery. South Africa [...] (Source: badscience) badscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1062774 Sat, 01 Dec 2007 00:56:33 +0100 1062774 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1022522&cid=t_106081_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fherbal_sex_pills_pose_hidden_dangers.htm By JUSTIN PRITCHARD, Associated Press Writer LOS ANGELES — Many of the pills marketed as safe herbal alternatives to Viagra and other prescription sex medications pose a hidden danger: For men on common heart and blood-pressure drugs, popping one could lead to a stroke, or even death. "All-natural" products with names like Stamina-RX and Vigor-25 promise an apothecary's delight of rare Asian ingredients, but many work because they contain unregulated versions of the very pharmaceuticals they are supposed to replace. That dirty secret represents a special danger for the millions of men who take nitrates — drugs prescribed to lower blood pressure and regulate heart disease. When mixed, nitrates and impotency pharmaceuticals can slow blood flow catastrophically, leading to a heart a... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1022522 Tue, 13 Nov 2007 07:38:00 +0100 1022522 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1022523&cid=t_106081_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fpharmaceuticals_and_herbs__dangerous_combinations.htm By Hege J. Tunstad Medicines and herbal remedies are not always a good combination. Some combinations could be fatal - but which ones? The health foods industry is large and diverse, and a lot of people take different types of dietary supplements and herbal remedies. Whether they are necessary or have any effect what so ever, is much discussed, but we still take them, just in case. And natural herbal products can't hurt, can they? In the doctor's office, we find posters urging us to tell our doctor which health food products we eat. And there is a reason for that: Herbal remedies and medication affect one another in your body. It is almost like mixing wine and beer - the effect is unpredictable and not always positive. The result could in the worst case be fatal. Like if you wish to increa... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1022523 Tue, 13 Nov 2007 07:34:00 +0100 1022523 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1012393&cid=t_106081_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F181262480%2F Alternative treatments for autism abound, from nutritional supplements to special shots to craniosacral therapy to hyperbaric oxygen therapy to holding therapy, to name a few. November is Complementary and Alternative Medicine Month and Science Blogs considers homeopathic “remedies,” including Abel PharmBoy on Homeopathy is NOT herbal medicine and Respectful Insolence on A Real Death by Homeopathy. Sometimes it seems that one hears so much about such “alternative” treatments” that one starts to feel that just doing “the basics”—let’s say, school, speech, OT, some physical therapy—is not enough. In further honor to this month, here is a description of some real snake oil. Share This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1012393 Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:30:21 +0100 1012393 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=932016&cid=t_106081_87_f&fid=34591&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.badscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D543 Ben Goldacre The Guardian Saturday October 6 2007 The news this week that herbal remedies can be ineffective or dangerous is boring: but come with me on a journey through time (time… time…) to the origins of medicine. (Source: badscience) badscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=932016 Sat, 06 Oct 2007 10:50:07 +0100 932016 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=875010&cid=t_106081_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract_herbal_and_dietary_supplements_for_treatment_of_a.htm Am Fam Physician. 2007 Aug 15;76(4):549-56 Herbal and Dietary Supplements for Treatment of Anxiety Disorders Saeed SA, Bloch RM, Antonacci DJ. East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina Use of complementary and alternative medicine has increased over the past decade. A variety of studies have suggested that this use is greater in persons with symptoms or diagnoses of anxiety and depression. Data support the effectiveness of some popular herbal remedies and dietary supplements; in some of these products, particularly kava, the potential for benefit seems greater than that for harm with short-term use in patients with mild to moderate anxiety. Inositol has been found to have modest effects in patients with panic disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Physicians should not encou... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=875010 Sun, 16 Sep 2007 08:20:00 +0100 875010 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=862223&cid=t_106081_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract__evaluation_of_antidepressantlike_activity_of_aqu.htm Indian J Exp Biol. 2007 Jul;45(7):610-6. Evaluation of antidepressant-like activity of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Terminalia bellirica Roxb. fruits in mice. Dhingra D, Valecha R. Pharmacology Division, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar 125 001, India. din_dhingra@rediffmail.com The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of T. bellirica on depression in mice using forced swim test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST). The extracts were administered orally for 10 successive days in separate groups of Swiss young male albino mice. Aqueous extract (50... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=862223 Tue, 11 Sep 2007 08:18:00 +0100 862223 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=747150&cid=t_106081_87_f&fid=34867&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thediabetesblog.com%2F2007%2F07%2F20%2Fasian-herb-aids-in-blood-sugar-control%2F Filed under: Type 2, Childhood, Adult Onset, ResearchI've dabbled with herbal remedies over the years -- astragalus for good health, arnica for muscle soreness, echinacea for immune support, I even sent away for a bag of some wild grown herbal tea leaf when I was trying to get pregnant with our second child. That stuff was disgusting to drink, but I immediately noticed it whisked away some hormonal imbalances I experienced after the birth of our first child. A naturopathy novice, I haven't read any herbal medicine books nor met with a naturopathic doctor. But even my guarded respect for allopathy (Western medicine) cannot prevent herbal medicine from speaking to my soul. Whenever I read good news about an herb, I am downright enthused. A new study suggests the herb Salacia oblonga may help... The Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=747150 Fri, 20 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100 747150 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=713240&cid=t_106081_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fabstract__antidepressantlike_effects_of_the_traditional_ch.htm Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2007 Aug;61(4):401-406 Antidepressant-like effects of the traditional Chinese medicine kami-shoyo-san in rats Park SW, Kim YK, Lee JG, Kim SH, Kim JM, Yoon JS, Park YK, Lee YK, Kim YH. Department of Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, Paik Inje Memorial Clinical Research Institute, Inje University, Busan; Department of Neuropsychiatry, Masan Dong-Suh Hospital, Masan; Department of Psychiatry and Depression Clinical Research Center, Chonnam National University Medical School, Kwangju; College of Oriental Medicine, Dongguk University, Gyeongju; Department of Food and Biotechnology, Dongseo University, Busan, Korea Kami-shoyo-san (KSS), a traditional Chinese medicine, has been used to treat patients with neuropsychiatric disorders. The aim of the present paper was t... Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=713240 Wed, 04 Jul 2007 08:13:00 +0100 713240 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=711963&cid=t_106081_109_f&fid=35671&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.anxietyinsights.info%2Fdangerous_duo_antiepileptics_plus_herbals.htm Herbals and botanicals may cause seizures or interact with and reduce the efficacy of antiepileptic drugs. Joseph I. Sirven, MD Approximately 40% of Americans use herbals or botanicals,1 whose pharmacokinetics, efficacy, or safety have not been rigorously studied. When used concurrently, these alternative remedies may reduce AEDs' efficacy, increase the risk of seizures, or cause other neurologic adverse effects. More... Current Psychiatry ©2007 Dowden Health Media (Source: Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info) Latest entries from www.anxietyinsights.info blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=711963 Tue, 03 Jul 2007 08:46:00 +0100 711963 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=676210&cid=t_106081_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F124847486%2F For a report on Day 2 of the Autism Omnibus hearing (”vaccine court“), see Autism Diva (and go here to read the transcript of Day 2). If you are already feeling like it might not be a bad idea to talk about something else besides vaccines and mercury in regard to autism, you can read about a new play about an autistic boy and his parents, God’s Middle Name; it will be performed on Saturday in Ottawa (interesting to me is that the same actor plays both the son and the father). Would you like to be autistic for a day? The June 14th Moonee Valley Community quotes Val Gill as saying this. Gill is the principal and chief executive of the Western Autistic School and was awarded a “Public Service Medal for outstanding service in the field of Autism Spectrum Disorder, incl... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=676210 Thu, 14 Jun 2007 17:08:13 +0100 676210 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=534115&cid=t_106081_87_f&fid=34865&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thecancerblog.com%2F2007%2F04%2F10%2Fthought-for-the-day-clear-the-clutter-outta-that-body%2F Filed under: All Cancers, Diets, Books, Thought for the DaySpring is here. Time to clean the house. And time to give the 'ol body a once-over too.According to Chinese medicine, spring is the best time of the year to cleanse the body. So if you're feeling lethargic, sluggish, and just plain weighed down, consider these invigorating tips from Penelope Sach's book Detox: Regaining your health and vitality.Think about this: Cut back on white flour products, sweets, and alcohol. Drink one glass of water every hour to flush out excess sugar in your system. Up your intake of herbal teas. Add natural detoxifying agents to your diet, such as cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, fish, and eggs. Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comm... The Cancer Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=534115 Tue, 10 Apr 2007 04:00:00 +0100 534115 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=397033&cid=t_106081_86_f&fid=34466&url=http%3A%2F%2Fclinicalevidence.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F01%2Fanother-variety-post-scienceblogs-round.html Committed to cleaning out my aggregator today - here are some interesting things from the ScienceBlogs family:- Pharyngula explains "What is a gene?" (complete with great illustrations)- A Blog Around the Clock gives a great introductory overview of how genotype affects phenotype- Mike the Mad Biologist discusses a new state initiative in Massachusetts to monitor and evaluate compliance with processes to reduce hospital-acquired infections- Martin of Aardvarchaeology brings thesis work by Isto Huvila melding information science and archaeology to our attention - the thesis is titled "The Ecology of Information Work."-Cognitive Daily talks about reasons why doctors report that they don't enroll their patients in clinical trials- Terra Sigillata notes that legislation that will provide for h... Clinical Evidence, Searching Tidbits, and Other Minutiae blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=397033 Sat, 20 Jan 2007 20:44:00 +0100 397033 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=478803&cid=t_106081_87_f&fid=34882&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbreathspakids.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F01%2Fdiet-supplements-safety-and-children.html We're used to media pieces that warn us of the nutritional inadequacies of our diet or suggestions that intensive farming strips our food of nutritional value to the point where we would all be well-advised to take supplements. Lots of lifestyle media advise us to be wary of pharmaceutical preparations and to consider 'safer, natural' alternatives. The New York Times has published an interesting essay: Diet Supplements and Safety: Some Disquieting Data (use Bug Me Not if it asks for a log-in and read the correction) that is taken from Dan Hurley's Natural Causes: Death, Lies and Politics in America’s Vitamin and Herbal Supplement Industry. I haven't seen the book but it has attracted some adverse comments from interested parties on amazon.com (which is why I've given the US rather than U... Breath Spa for Kids blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=478803 Wed, 17 Jan 2007 17:27:00 +0100 478803 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=478804&cid=t_106081_87_f&fid=34882&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbreathspakids.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F01%2Fhomeopathy-and-herbalism-on-nhs-who_10.html An interesting paper in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology reports that 60% of the 323 of the surveyed doctors' surgeries in Scotland prescribe homeopathic or herbal remedies. Researchers examined the prescribing data for 1.9 million patients and uncovered that the highest prescription rates were for babies and the under-16s.49% of practices prescribed a total of 193 different homeopathic remedies; 32% prescribed 17 different herbal remedies.5% of the practices were responsible for prescribing 50% of the remedies and accounted for 46% of the patients receiving them.4160 patients (2.2 per 1000 registered patients) were prescribed at least one homeopathic remedy during the study period. 73% were female and the average age of patients was 47.Babies under 12 months were most likely t... Breath Spa for Kids blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=478804 Wed, 10 Jan 2007 15:37:00 +0100 478804