China :: Health :: Medicine

By: Billy Shonez Singh, M.S., L.Ac., Dipl. C.H. (NCCAOM) 2011 Cinnamon is used worldwide as a culinary additive and used in herbal medicine. Today I will talk about how it is used in promoting health based on East Asian medicine and Western pharmacology. You have two different kinds of cinnamon; you have the twigs (known in Mandarin as Gui Zhi) and the bark (known in Mandarin as Rou Gui ). The properties of the cinnamon twig (Gui Zhi) are different from cinnamon bark (Rou Gui). Gui Zhi is described as being sweet, pungent, and warm. Its functions are: Adjusting the ying (constructive) and wei (defensive) levels of the body. Therefore, it treats wind-cold deficiency which is characterized by Light sweat Weak pulse Fatigue Pale tongue Chills that are stronger than the fever It also treats wind-cold excess which is characterized by: Lack of sweating Floating and slow pulse Pale tongue Scratchy throat Aching muscles in the upper back and occiput Chills that are stronger than the...

Excuse the short deviation from my usual blogs on Chinese herbs and Traditional Chinese Medicine, (TCM) The the fact is, everything that is wrong with our food supply and as a result our health, is reflected by McDonald's oatmeal. Read on! Silly, gullible me, when I first heard a radio commercial advertising this new "healthy choice" McDonald's oatmeal, I actually thought it was a great new day and MickeyD's had seen the light. Fail! How To Make Oatmeal Wrong By MARK BITTMAN Theres a feeling of inevitability in writing about McDonalds latest offering, their full of wholesome also known as oatmeal. The leading fast-food multinational, with sales over $16.5 billion a year (just under the GDP of Afghanistan), represents a great deal of what is wrong with American food today. From a marketing perspective, they can do almost nothing wrong; from a nutritional perspective, they can do almost nothing right, as the oatmeal fiasco demonstrates. One positive often raised ab...

A friend of mine in Brisbane is doing an amazing job pioneering her own food empire. She's an amazing chef and a pasionate foodie and a great entrepaneur. Some of her blog entries:" The olive that made mefall onmy knees!", gives you a glimpse of her outragious food desire! Not only that, she puts her great raw food recipes online. Check out the healthy and delicious chia seed porridge. http://www.rawandpeace.com.au/index.html Have a look and if you're in Brisbane, Australia check out her cafe and food stalls.

Natural skin lightening products can be found easily in market nowadays. For women who are looking for a way to lighten their skin tone, they can choose skin whitening cream, skin lightening soap, skin lightening gel, skin lightening pills, and skin lightening lotion and so on. However, as for the oldest and enduring recipes for natural skin whitening, I am afraid that the answer has to be found from Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In ancient and modern China, healthy white tender skin is always one of the constant standards for beauty. So, no wonder Chinese medicine has accumulated so many various secret recipes that use Chinese herbs and mineral to lighten complexion. Among them, the 3 big natural skin lighteners have to be mentioned here. They are Bai Shao (White Peony Root), Bai Zhu (White Atractylodes Rhizome) and Bai Fu Ling (White Poria). And they are also known as the Three White Decoction (San Bai Tang). Skin lightening treatment history When it comes to widespread skin wh...

When air pollution hurts people’s health and heats up the climate it makes sense to do something about it. But what about pollution that cools the planet? Pollution and global warming AN IDEAL fossil-fuel power-plant would produce power, carbon dioxide and nothing more. Less-than-ideal ones—not to mention other devices for the combustion of carbon, from diesel generators to brick kilns and stoves burning dung—also emit various gases and gunk. These often cause local environmental problems, damaging lungs, hurting crops and shortening lives. And some of the gunk, notably soot or “black carbon”, can warm the planet, too. Next week ministers attending the governing council of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi will be presented with the summary of a new report on how fighting air pollution can help the global climate (the report itself is due to follow a couple of months later). The summary makes a powerful case for acting on two short-lived climate “fo...

Millions of kilos of this herb are sold throughout Asia every year, yet most Americans have never heard of it. It is Astragalus Membranaceous, also know as Huang Qi and its one of the greatest immune boosting, fatigue fighting herbs in the world. The functioning plant part is the root which has been native to Northern China and Mongolia for centuries. Im excited to see Astragalus cultivation has begun in the U.S. Once found only in the wild, a wild root commonly grows 2-3 feet long and are more highly prized than a smaller cultivated root. The far more common product today is the cultivated version of Astragalus root which is usually only about a foot long and less dense which is obvious once it is sliced into long thin pieces, the usual way it is packaged and sold in the states. Asian cultures will traditionally add Astragalus to various soups and stews. Chicken soup with Astragalus tastes delicious and is probably the best way to boost your immune system when the seasons are changin...

What a hot day here in Sydney today. Looks as though it might storm this evening though. I have been busy today working on a nice website for the clinic. I decided to use a flash player based design for some big pictures to show off Bondi. Here's a link to the site and tell me what you think! http://www.wix.com/damienbodnarchuk/bondi-chinese-medicine-centre and here's a link to the facebook page too while I'm at it http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=115626995140952&v=wall# Acupuncture at Bondi Beach. Herbs at Bondi Beach

Join us to hear about the exceptional programs at New York College of Traditional Chinese Medicine that prepare you for a career in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Prospective students are invited to attend an NYCTCM Open House for an overview of school programs, a tour of the facility, open discussion, and information on the application process. Guest Student Visits and Personal Admissions Appointments If Open House dates do not match your schedule contact the admissions office to arrange a date and time that is convenient for you. A personal admissions appointment can be the best way to have your questions answered and to review your prior studies for transfer credit. Day, evening and weekend appointments are available. The Guest Student option is available on most Saturdays. We are accepting applications for Spring Trimester 2011 which starts May 3, 2011. Contact the admissions office for more information about our Guest Student Program. Visit NYCTCM's website for a schedule...

Do you have an energy crisis every afternoon or even once in a while. The busy lives most of us live can create havoc for our endocrine systems. The endocrine system acts like the main control panel in our body it secretes hormones which act as messengers telling the body how to work properly. We depend on our endocrine glands for all our energy. They are responsible for your mood, mental function, immune system, physical growth and reproduction. If something throws off the control system you may feel tired, depressed, gain weight, experience infertility, digestive issues and have trouble with body temperature regulation regardless of the outside temperature. The endocrine system includes the adrenal glands, thyroid gland, pituitary gland, pineal glands, pancreas, and reproductive glands. All areas of your health are effected by your endocrine glands. This is where Chinese herbs work best. If your tired in the afternoon, ginseng and other herbs in our Power Booster can give you refresh...

So many interesting and diverse things have been happening that this is quite possibly the longest break from the CMA blog that I have had! To keep you up to date: The Chinese Medicine Centre in Bondi is going well. I am meeting some lovely patients and some interesting cases for acupuncture and herbs. One major Oscar winning celeb got in contact with me for a treatment. That's it. No more details at all on that! A newspaper is angling for an interview. More on that soon. Other things of interest! More details soon. And the Dalai Lama is in town soon, wonder if he needs acupuncture :P :P Love and best wishes, Damien

It's been nearly a month since I had a chance to listen to an incredible group of M.D's talk about what "Wellness" looks like today. So I've had a little time to discuss the topic and think it over . Is wellness not missing work? Or is it simply feeling healthy? Wellness no doubt looks and feels different for many different people. I believe wellness starts with the right information. Information on how to stay healthy no matter what age you are and information on how to become healthy if you don't feel well now. But what else? What do you really need, to stay "well"? Are wellness supplements needed and which ones will really make a difference? This was the central theme of the 8th annual conference held in San Diego by the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine. If you are not familiar with the term Integrative medicine it's about time you should be. Dr. Tieraona Low Dog, one of the many incredible presenters over the weekend said it best, ...

It's been nearly a month since I had a chance to listen to an incredible group of doctors talk about what "Wellness" looks like. So I've had a little time to discuss the topic and think it over . Is wellness not missing work? Or is it simply feeling healthy? Wellness no doubt looks and feels different for many different people. I believe wellness starts with the right information. Information on how to stay healthy no matter what age you are and information on how to become healthy if you don't feel it now. But what else? What do you really need, to stay "well"? Are wellness supplements needed and which ones will really make a difference? This was the central theme of the 8th annual conference held in San Diego by the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine. If you are not familiar with the term Integrative medicine it's about time you should be. Dr. Tieraona Low Dog, one of the many incredible presenters over the weekend said it best, "Integr...

It is possible to live through the menopausal years without suffering from hot flashes, mood swings, night sweats and other symptoms. Consider these menopause treatment options, when you are looking for a solution. Ever since the use of what was once standard therapy, Hormone Replacement Therapy, (HRT) has been proven much too risky because of the increased risk of breast cancer in 2002, what's a women to do? Today Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy, (BHRT) seems to be coming more accepted. The difference is hormones in BHRT are derived from plants such as soy and yams rather than from the urine of pregnant horses. But is taking unopposed estrogen a good idea? Our bodies normally maintain a delicate balance of hormones to keep it functioning optimally at any age. Today we have xeno-estrogens in our water, our cosmetics, our food and even on cash register receipts. So how do we know when our bodies have too much or not enough hormones?? As our livers work overtime to process ...

Join us to hear about the exceptional programs at New York College of Traditional Chinese Medicine that prepare you for a career in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. Prospective students are invited to attend an NYCTCM Open House for an overview of school programs, a tour of the facility, open discussion, and information on the application process. Guest Student Visits and Personal Admissions Appointments If Open House dates do not match your schedule contact the admissions office to arrange a date and time that is convenient for you. A personal admissions appointment can be the best way to have your questions answered and to review your prior studies for transfer credit. Day, evening and weekend appointments are available. The Guest Student option is available on most Saturdays. We are accepting applications for Spring Trimester 2011 which starts May 3, 2011. Contact the admissions office for more information about our Guest Student Program. Visit NYCTCM's website for a schedule...

As China ups its marketing as a destination for medical tourism, more and more foreigners are expected to arrive in the People's Republic for all sorts of treatments and operations, and we're not talking about just acupuncture or foot reflexology here. Kiwi portal Voxy tells of a breast cancer patient, Tricia Spence, from Gisborne, New Zealand, who went against her doctor's advice to have a full mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and removal of the lymph nodes to seek alternative forms of treatment in China. She found a hospital here (the report unfortunately doesn't say which one) that specialises in advanced, low toxic, minimally-invasive, targeted cancer treatment. Undergoing four cycles of sonodynamic therapy and photodynamic therapy combined with a very low dose of chemotherapy and treatment with Chinese medicine to improve the immune system, Spence's latest PET scans show nearly all her cancer, including a 4cm tumour, had cleared. The tre...

Have you seen the TV ad on sugar? It says the body can't tell the difference between cane sugar and corn sugar. Well if you were ever going to trust a TV ad I would not choose this one. Want to know what's safe and what's dangerous in the sweetener world? Looking for a natural alternative to satisfy your sweet tooth? High Fructose corn syrup (HRCS) is made by processing some of its glucose into fructose to produce a desired level of sweetness. But because of its processing, some brands can contain mercury a known neurotoxin. What's worse, is studies show it suppresses the "full sensation" causing people to over eat. Studies in rats proved this theory. Fructose comes from the sugar in fruits. .. but it also contains glucose and fiber and other nutrients. Today, some 70% of packaged foods contain sugar, most of it the HFCS type. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, sugar and simple carbohydrates like refined grains and HFCS may increase...

An article about the Biological Terrain theory of disease that Lok Kwan found on http://webnat.com/articles/ColdAndFluModernMedicine.asp . Author Steven H. Home explains the difference between the germ theory and biological terrain theory of disease. He discusses why modern medicine does not have a reliable remedy for colds or flu, and suggests that illness comes to weakened tissue. We should not be asking, how do we cure this disease, we should be asking how to become healthy. "...Why hasn't modern science, with all its searching, found the answer to the common cold and flu? This question naturally extends to other diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and so forth, since there are a lot of people who are asking, "How do I cure X disease?" but haven't been coming up with answers. Well, my answer to that is that modern medicine has found the answers to the questions they are asking. Unfortunately, they're asking the wrong questions! ...Most peop...

When purchasing dried fruit, 9 out of 10 people will pick the bag that looks prettier than the one that has fruit turned brown. Go beyond the beautiful color because that beautiful color is deceiving. It may even carry toxins. Sulfur dioxide is used to prevent discoloration in dried fruit but it's carries some significant side effects. The most common reactions are diarrhea, allergies, headaches and asthma. Now what about the herbs you buy? Do your herbs contain sulfur dioxide (SD) and does SD effect the fundamental quality of the herbs? Chinese herbs are derived from natural plant and mineral products. Like any natural product, they are vulnerable to mold and insect infestation. To control the decay and mold many herbal products and natural supplements are sprayed with sulfur based fumigation. This process kills bacteria, mold, insects and may also be used for bleaching/ cleaning raw herbs. But can it change the chemical constituents of a particular herb? In some cases we know fo...

Happy Lunar New Year! Enjoy the Year of the Rabbit, which should be a welcome respite after the exciting yet tumultuous year of the Tiger. Many patients have commented to me that 2010 was an interesting year, but are hoping this year will be a little calmer. So take it easy, but dont be too indulgent, and be sure to take some time to heal the body and mind with acupuncture and herbal medicine. In keeping with the celebration of 2011, Portland has a lot of activities to welcome in the Lunar New Year. Check out the Lan Su Gardens downtown- they have talks about Chinese Medicine for each year (associating specific organs with each animal year), discussions on Feng Shui, and Tai Chi this month. Have a wonderful 2011!

O Blissful! Those who hope to rise from this entangled sea of heartyearns. Who you turn to cannot use you, But in burning hearts we all take turns. O Blissful! Those who melt into the silent pool of fire. Unscathed they drink the searing heat, And cooling in their veins it takes them higher. O Blissful! Those who touch the wind with soothing feathers. Steadily they wield their empty blades Against harder steels and tougher leathers. O Blissful! Those who smell the morning dew And taste the placid sunrays, Shining on their tongue in different hue. O Blissful! Those who breathe through seeing eyes, But love is blind and leaves you breathless, Drowning in a lake of many lies. O Blissful! Those who feel the world from deep inside, Unfurling love for every thing And raising from the sea so many a tide. END POEM A pathetic love poem. Most of us have felt it at some point in life: the bittersweetness.

Need something to keep you from dragging through your day? Something to inspire you so the boss will notice what a great asset you really are? We all have those days where we are just dragging our butts to the office and sleep walking through our work day. Here are a few tips I use to keep me going when the all I really want to do is go back to bed. #1. Coffee works for a while, but I prefer a stiff, straight up ginseng drink. It perks up my mental focus and gives me the energy to make it through the evening commute. Ginseng is one of the most studied Chinese herbs, it's used world wide for treating stress, helps improve mental clarity and alertness. (See my favorite drink here) #2. Fresh Air! Get your butt outside at lunch time and walk. It's sounds easy when the weathers nice but no one's going out there in the middle of winter. So hit the stairwell's or the company gym treadmill if you have one. No-body is meant to stay sitting all day. #3. Power Nap on your break! ...

Chocolate can be irresistible! Isn't it ironic that chocolate has come to symbolize Valentine's Day, a day we celebrate the heart, and chocolate is surprisingly beneficial for our hearts? You may have heard studies say dark chocolate has flavanol which has attracted major interest as a non pharmaceutical option for high blood pressure. The cacao bean (the source of all chocolate) is a natural remedy which has been used since ancient times for it's health benefits. Only in recent years do we have the scientific research to support what so many people knew through the ages. Native Aztec and Mayan people ate cacao nibs to relieve depression, help with asthma and some say they used it as a powerful aphrodisiac. Chocoholic's worldwide can rejoice now that studies prove the effects on lowering blood pressure and the beneficial antioxidants cacao contains. In fact, greater antioxidant capacity than red wine and blueberries, walnuts or artichokes according to the USDA. The pol...

Two men propose toasts at a business function in Shanghai. Drinking, in China, is a major social ritual among grown men and it's considered very impolite and disrespectful to turn down a drink. RICH and overabundant meals are a tradition during the Chinese Lunar New Year. They are a way to celebrate the success of the past year and express hope for a prosperous new year. The idea is yu, meaning surplus or extra, a concept deeply ingrained because in ancient times there was much privation. Surplus was always a blessing. In fact, some older people take this idea so seriously that the word "enough" is not permitted before and during the holiday. There is never enough. So today the tables groan with food, platters overflow and some dishes are deliberately not eaten - there is always something extra. But privation is not a problem today. A week-long holiday filled with big rich meals, sometimes twice a day, when visiting relatives is too much for most digestive systems. Doctor...