Wild rice with Astragalus, Turmeric buttermilk biscuits, spiced pumpkin and Reishi Mushroom pie.
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Although massage is one of the most popular complementary and alternative medical (CAM) treatments for anxiety, its effectiveness has never been rigorously evaluated for a diagnosed anxiety disorder. This study evaluates the effectiveness of therapeutic massage for persons with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
Photo by © LWA/Dann Tardif/Blend Images/Corbis. Image of a young woman having a scalp massage. Available at: https://www.shutterstock.com/es/image-photo/mashage-davis-seguir-4217343868
Phlegm is a product of the body's activities acting upon qi and moisture taken in with food and beverages; it is "congealed moisture." Unlike qi, phlegm is always viewed by Chinese physicians as substantive and stagnating rather than light and flowing, though there are two kinds of phlegm: the visible, which has greater accumulation of matter, and the invisible, which is finely divided, though not as fine as qi. Phlegm is, in some ways, comparable to another body humor, blood, which is also produced by the body's activities acting upon qi, and is a sticky substance that shares some of the same potential pathologies with phlegm: deficiency, inadequate circulation, firm coagulation, and complexing with heat or cold factors.
Photo by Kamwo. Image sourced from Kamwo.
Dragons (Chinese: long) are a potent and prominent symbol in Chinese culture. The origin of the dragon image is unknown because it is so ancient. However, it is not unreasonable to assume that some of the massive fossilized bones encountered in several parts of China, including dinosaur and mammoth bones, were thought by ancient people to be those of huge dragons.
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"We found that immune cells in the spleen can contribute to chronic anxiety following psychological stress," said Daniel McKim, a graduate student at The Ohio State University and the lead author of the study.
"Our findings emphasize the possibility that the immune system represents a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of mental health conditions."
Credit: George Hodan/public domain. Scientists are uncovering clues. Image sourced from Science X. Available at: https://scx1.b-cdn.net/csz/news/800a/2014/stress.jpg
On virtually every other street corner, in every city or town or village in India, there is a chai wallah — a tea vendor who supplies the piping hot, milky brew that fuels the country.And because everybody — politicians, rickshaw drivers, schoolteachers — needs a daily cuppa, chai wallahs get to meet people from every walk of life.
Ravi, a chai wallah in the south Indian city of Pollachi. Photo courtesy of Zach Marks and Resham Gellatly. Image sourced from NPR. Available at: https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2016/06/13/9.pollachi_smaller_custom-f67d9f788f02f112013d8771b5e6a64de81f2ece.jpg?s=800&c=85&f=webp
Considerable health benefit is attributed to Ku Ding Cha. In traditional Chinese medicine terms, it is used to disperse wind-heat, clear the head and the eyes, and resolve toxin, thus being used for common cold, rhinitis, itching eyes, red eyes, and headache. In addition, it is said to calm fidgets and alleviate thirst, especially when one is suffering from a disease that causes fever or severe diarrhea. It transforms phlegm and alleviates coughing, thus used in treating bronchitis. Finally, it is said to invigorate digestion and improve mental focus and memory.
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Generally, alopecia is interpreted by Chinese doctors as the result of a deficiency syndrome, specifically involving blood deficiency, with generation of internal wind or invasion of external wind that affects the head; the situation is sometimes complicated by blood stasis and/or blood heat. The belief that there is an influence of wind in the etiology of the hair loss is reflected in the Chinese name for the disease, which is youfeng, literally oil-wind. The reference to oil, which can also mean glossy, is an expression characterizing the smooth, shiny scalp appearance where the hair has been lost. The Chinese name has led to some humorous translations; in the package insert for Alopecia Areata Pills, the primary indication is for "grease hair dropping."
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In a recent paper published in the journal Trends in Neuroscience, Oxford psychiatrists urge the scientific community to look beyond probiotics to consider a wider class of “psychobiotics” ― a new scientific term referring to any intervention that has an effect on mental health by way of changes in the gut microbiome.
Photo by TLFurrer via Getty Images. Scientists are looking to gut bacteria to improve mood and cognition. Image sourced from HuffPost. Available at: https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/581a00ff190000a304c306c3.jpeg?ops=scalefit_720_noupscale&format=webp
Herb/Dietary Supplements (HDS) are the most popular Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) modality used by cancer patients and the only type which involves the ingestion of substances which may interfere with the efficacy and safety of conventional medicines. This study aimed to assess the level of use of HDS in cancer patients undergoing treatment in the UK, and their perceptions of their effects, using 127 case histories of patients who were taking HDS. Previous studies have evaluated the risks of interactions between HDS and conventional drugs on the basis on numbers of patient using HDSs, so our study aimed to further this exploration by examining the actual drug combinations taken by individual patients and their potential safety.
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Approximately one in three adults has high blood pressure (BP) worldwide. Hypertension and its consequences, such as stroke and heart attacks, are enormous public health problems1. The 7th Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure report recommends lifestyle modification (i.e., non-traditional approaches) with or without pharmacological intervention2. Although the effect of acupuncture on hypertension is controversial3,4,5,6,7, acupuncture may offer a non-pharmacological approach to reduce high BP.
Photo by Shutterstock 152066780. Image of traditional Chinese acupuncture with electro on body sourced from Shutterstock. Available at: https://www.shutterstock.com/es/image-photo/traditional-chinese-acupuncture-electro-on-body-152066780
Light receptors in stems, leaves and flowers have long been known to regulate plant growth. Roots also have these receptors, but it has been unclear how they sense light deep in dark soil.
Medicinal mushrooms and fungi are thought to possess approximately 130 medicinal functions. Recently studied medicinal actions of mushrooms include antitumor, immunomodulating, antioxidant, radical scavenging, cardiovascular, antihypercholesterolemic, antiviral, antibacterial, anti‑parasitic, antifungal, detoxicating, hepatoprotective, and antidiabetic effects.
File:Dried mushrooms.Jpg. In Wikipedia. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dried_mushrooms.jpg
Ling Shu, Guan Neng says that where needle does not work, moxibustion does. TCM theory holds that moxibustion has a dual effect of tonification and purgation. Different from needles and drugs, characteristics of moxibustion in materials and using fire determine that its efficacy is inclined to warming and nourishing.
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Though pain relief is still the primary reason many Westerners seek acupuncture, more have discovered what people in China, where acupuncture is part of routine medical care, have long understood: Acupuncture can offer relief from a vast array of health problems, including digestive issues; stress, anxiety, and depression; respiratory disorders, such as asthma and allergies; hormone-related issues like infertility, PMS, and menopausal symptoms; and more.
Illustration by: Stephanie Dalton Cowan. Image sourced from Experience Life. Available at: https://experiencelife.lifetime.life/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Nov16_ACU_HotSpots.jpg
In this intriguing talk, biologist Ameenah Gurib-Fakim introduces us to rare plant species from isolated islands and regions of Africa. Meet the shape-shifting benjoin; the baume de l'ile plate, which might offer a new treatment for asthma; and the iconic baobab tree, which could hold the key to the future of food. Plus: monkey apples
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A Pilot Study in Healthy Subjects
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In recent years, it has become clear that children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have difficulty with gross motor function and coordination, factors which influence gait. Knowledge of gait abnormalities may be useful for assessment and treatment planning.
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Millions of Americans suffer from persistent pain that may not be fully relieved by medications. They often turn to complementary health approaches to help, yet primary care providers have lacked a robust evidence base to guide recommendations on complementary approaches as practiced and available in the United States. The new review gives primary care providers—who frequently see patients with chronic pain—tools to inform decisionmaking on how to help manage that pain.
Image sourced from NCCIH. Available at: https://files.nccih.nih.gov/files/Mayo-Pain-Paper-social-graphics5-05.jpg
In Chinese medicine Raynaud’s phenomenon falls within the category of Hanjue (寒厥). It means cold extremities. The interior pathology of this disease is Qi and blood deficiency and Yang deficiency, whereas the exterior pathology would relate to cold invasion within the meridian. The treatment principle should be to nourish the qi and blood, whilst expelling the cold and to warm the yang. This theory can be carry out through the use of herbs, acupuncture and moxibustion.
