In Good Health Blog » All About Herbs

Acupuncture and Herbs Treat a Wide Range of Symptoms

Lana — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 17:08:17 +0000

Acupuncture and herbs can help reduce the symptoms of many imbalances and illnesses by addressing the underlying causes. Both acupuncture and botanical medicine can work in conjunction with western forms of treatment to help you stay in good health. Here’s a review of some of the most common conditions we treat in Lafayette, CA:

Allergies:

Acupuncture and herbs can strengthen the immune system, which in turn helps the body defend against pollen and other pathogens. Symptoms of allergies can be greatly reduced through the use of acupuncture meridians and botanical medicines.

Arthritis

Acupuncture is a safe and natural method to help control joint pain for both osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Asthma

Acupuncture and herbs can be very useful in reducing both the symptoms and root cause of asthma and other lung disorders.

Colds & Flus

Acupuncture can boost the immune system to prevent the body from succumbing to acute infection. Acupuncture treatment and herbal medicines can also help reduce the intensity of external pathogens.

Fibromyalgia

Acupuncture can be used in conjunction with gua-sha ‘tool sand massage’ to bring significant relief to the pain associated with fibromyalgia.

Headaches

Acupuncture and herbs can offer safe and effective approaches to relieving headaches without causing side effects.

Insomnia

Acupuncture and herbs are useful for improving sleep quality and duration.

Menopause & Menstrual Conditions

Symptoms of menopause and menstrual issues can be relieved with the use of acupuncture and botanical medicines. In both cases, there can be imbalances in the body that when not addressed will lead to uncomfortable symptoms that can be treated naturally without side effects.

Pain

Acupuncture and herbs can be a helpful form of treatment for both acute and chronic pain. It can help identify the underlying causes of the pain while making the body more comfortable.

Stress

Acupuncture and herbs can help people manage stress by addressing the root causes while reducing the signs and symptoms.

St. Johns Wort treats depression

Lana — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 03:36:12 +0000

St. John’s Wort extract is effective as an anti-depressant in the management of mood disorders. Because the herb has an important side effect of increased photosensitivity, it may be best to consider St. John’s Wort as a winter time remedy. Although internal use of St. John’s Wort increases one’s sensitivity to the sun, when applied to the skin St. John’s Wort Oil acts as a sunscreen. What a beautiful balance offered by one herb!

See research here.

St. John’s Wort is also potentially effective against MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). See related post here.

Note of Caution:

St. John’s Wort can alter the metabolism of pharmaceuticals that you are taking concurrently. Speak with your acupuncturist, herbalist or other health care practitioner before beginning internal use of St. John’s Wort to be certain it is right for you.

Hawthorn Berry Health

Lana — Tue, 18 May 2010 17:41:42 +0000

Properties of Hawthorn Berries

Cardio-tonic (strengthens the heart muscle)

Diuretic (promotes urination)

Astringent (solidifies loose stool)

Hypotensive (lowers blood pressure)

Physical Effects

Heart and cardiovascular tonic

Relaxes and dilates blood vessels

Lowers blood pressure

Improves general circulation and blood flow

Strengthens damaged or weak heart muscles (increasing the heart’s efficiency)

Exerts a scrubbing action on plaque inside the blood vessels.

Click here for research on using hawthorn for hyperlipidemia and prevention of atherosclerosis.

For men:

Hawthorne is also useful as a tonic for men because it balances and enhances the adrogenic (male) hormones in general. Hawthorn berries also have the ability to relax and dilate blood vessels, which is helpful for erectile problems.

Cautions:

Hawthorn may interact with vasodilating medications and may potentiate or inhibit the actions of drugs used for heart failure, hypertension, angina, and arrhythmias. Do not use hawthorn with blood thinners such as Warfarin.

Large amounts may cause a drop in blood pressure and possibility of fainting. Generally considered safe for long-term use, do not exceed recommended dosage. Consult your health care professional for assistance with heart problems.

Walnut & Hawthorn Berry Dessert

Lana — Wed, 05 May 2010 17:58:53 +0000

50 grams Hawthorn fruit ‘Shan Zha’

150 grams Walnuts ‘Hu Tao Ren’

sufficient water for soaking and boiling

6 TBS honey or ¼ cup sugar

Soak the walnuts overnight or at least ½ hour. Rinse well and moisten with new water. Grind this walnut and water mixture into a thick liquid. Add more water to dilute if necessary to make it smooth and even.

Wash the hawthorn fruit in a strainer and then place in a Asian herb pot or other suitable pot. Add water to cover fruits by about 1 inch. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a medium fire and cook 20 minutes. Strain and reserve the liquid in a mason jar. Add more water to the pan of hawthorn and repeat the boiling and straining process one or two more times. Discard the dregs and save the liquid. The remaining liquid should total roughly 1000ml. Combine the hawthorn fruit liquid and the honey or sugar and stir and heat over a soft heat. When the honey or sugar has melted, slowly add the thick walnut liquid, stirring continually while pouring. Cook this mixture until it starts to boil slightly. Then pour into a bowl. Top with fresh mint leaves or other colorful bits of fresh fruit.

Therapeutic effects of this recipe

Supplement the lungs and kidneys

Nourishes yin fluids in the body

Indications:

Chronic, weak lung cough & shortness of breath

High blood pressure and/or high cholesterol

Kidney deficient impotence

Low back pain

Chronic thirst

Dry stool (because the nuts have moistening oils)

Slow digestion with abdominal distention (especially of fatty foods)

Cautions:

Lotus seeds

Lana — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 19:56:38 +0000

Lotus seeds ‘Lian Zi’ strengthen the digestive system and the kidneys. The seeds are also used for strengthening certain types of heart deficiency. White lotus seeds (peeled before drying) are better quality than the red lotus seeds (unpeeled product). Soak overnight and cook with soups and warm cereals, or mix with rice. Lotus seeds are also included in several herbal medicine formulas.

indications:

chronic diarrhea (spleen qi deficiency)
loss of appetite
premature ejaculation
uterine bleeding
vaginal discharge
palpitations
anxiety
insomnia

Kudzu – a nourishing & healing root starch

Lana — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 01:48:01 +0000

Kudzu root, the invasive plant of the south, really does have some great value. In fact, its unusual ability to grow several feet in one day is testament to its strength and ability to replenish the body’s resources. This healing, fibrous root can be used as a cooling, regenerative medicine and is common in many traditional Asian formulas. When it is purified as a starch (root fibers removed), you can use it as a food. It is easy to use as a thickener (instead of corn starch) for soups, stews and dessert puddings. Incorporating foods like this into your diet is a great way to help balance your body while going about your life.

Kudzu root has the following functions:

Relieves muscles, clears heat
Nourishes yin, alleviates thirst
Release rashes to the surface (to bring them up and out of the body)
Alleviates diarrhea (when herb is toasted)
Modern research: decreases blood pressure, reduces blood sugar

Kudzu Pudding for clearing heat:

1 cup pear juice or mint tea

2 full teaspoons Kudzu powder

Makes enough thin pudding for 1-2 servings. Double or triple depending on number of people.

Add liquid to pot and begin to heat. Meanwhile, powder Kudzu starch with mortar and pestle or by other suitable means. In separate bowl, mix kudzu powder with 1/4 cup water or more as needed, similarly to how one dissolves corn starch. Slowly add kudzu mixture to pot. Boil slowly and stir regularly until the preparation thickens. This can take as much as 20 minutes.

Common uses:

To lower a fever, treat colds
To regulate the bowel movement (calm hypermotility if loose or induce softer BM if hard)
To stimulate the appetite
To relieve fatigue
To relax the muscles, shoulders and back of neck

Mountain Garden Herbs in Burnsville, NC is an organic grower of kudzu in the United States.

http://www.mountaingardensherbs.com/

Smooth your mood with Mimosa Flower Tea

Lana — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 19:05:06 +0000

Mimosa Tree Flower Tea ‘He Huan Hua Cha’

6 grams Mimosa Flower ‘He Huan Hua’ (Albizzia julibrissinis)

honey (to taste)

Place mimosa flower in a cup and soak in boiling water. Strain. Add honey to taste and drink when cool.

Functions:

Nourish heart and fortifies the spleen

Resolves depression and moves liver qi

Clears the mind and encourages a cheerful spirit

Indications:

Upset emotions and troubled mood

Nervous exhaustion

Fatigue and listlessness associated with unsmooth mood

Chest oppression and discomfort

Sighing

Mental sluggishness

Eye diseases

I also like to mix mimosa flower with various types of green tea. It gives the tea a sweet flavor and has nice benefits for the health.

Longevity food – Goji berries

Lana — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 18:24:55 +0000

These lovely red berries are also called wolfberries or ‘Gou Qi Zi’.

Botanical name: Lycium barbarum

Goji berries, with their sweet taste, enter and work in a moistening and strengthening way upon the channels of the kidney and liver. The energetic temperature of these berries is neutral, which means that they can easily be used with both warm and cold cases.

According to Eastern medicine, goji berries have 3 traditional functions. These are:

1. Tonifies and strengthens the blood, yin and essence of both the liver and kidney channels (or meridians)

Here are some examples of what Goji berries has been traditionally used for:

sore back & legs
abdominal pain
reduced sexual strength
dryness along the kidney and liver channels
infertility & impotence
high blood pressure
grey hair

2. Benefits the essence and brightens the eyes

Here are some examples of symptoms treated by Goji berries according to this function:

blurred vision
dry eyes
diminished visual acuity
dizziness

3. Moistens and strengthens the yin fluids of the lung

According to this function, Goji berries can be used for the following symptoms of lung dryness:

dry or consumptive cough
blood-streaked sputum
thirst
chronic, dry throat

DOSAGE: Daily dosage of Goji berries is typically 6-12 grams.

CAUTION: Be cautious with the use of goji berries in the case of dampness in the spleen (loose stools, poor appetite, etc.) as this herb is already moistening.

Caution should also be used in the case of dampness in the lungs (wet phlegm, nasal mucus, etc.).

Also, ask your acupuncturist about the use of goji berries in pregnancy.

RESEARCH: There is a lot of research currently being done on the effects of Goji berries. Studies show that Goji berries have an overall positive effect on the functions of the body, including immunity, blood pressure, sleep, mood, mental clarity and energy. Have a look at these studies:

Studies show a positive effect on health in general:

Goji Berries: Immune Function & General Well-being

Studies show that Goji berries can lower the blood pressure:

Goji Berries: effect on hypertension

Studies show that Goji berries can increase the immune system. Here’s research indicating that Goji berries can reduce the growth of cancer cells:

Goji Berries: effect on gastric cancer

Goji Berries: effect on colon cancer

Goji Berries: effect on breast cancer (by favorably altering estradiol metabolism)

Goji Berries: effect on prostate cancer

Goji Berries: effect on tumors

Cleanse with Clay!

Lana — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:53:25 +0000

Certain types of clay from the earth have an astringent, pulling nature. This cleaning ability is activated when wet clay goes through its drying process. When used externally on the body, this means that clay can be used to draw out toxins or other foreign particles from the epidermis. The external use of clay is quite safe. A clay poultice can be used as a remedy for:

Bee stings
Acne
Skin wounds
rashes
To draw out toxins and foreign substances (such as splinters, dirt & city grime)
To heal first degree burns and repair damaged tissue

Clay comes in different colors, each appropriate for a different types of skin.

Delicate, dry skin: use white or light blue clay
Medium or mixed skin types: use yellow, green and lavender
Oily skin: reds and black clay

How to make a clay poultice:

4-16 oz clay (depending on size of area to be treated)

Distilled water (or herbal liquid)

Mix clay with enough water (or herbal liquid) to make a thick paste. Spread with a spoon or clean paint brush onto skin, pressing it into the flesh so that it adheres. Leave on until clay dries and pulls away. This clay mixture can be used as a facial mask.

Clay Facial Mask: made with clay and liquid mixture (either water or herbal teas – such as green tea)

Okay to mix colors to treat specific conditions on different parts of face
The thicker that it is applied, the longer it takes to dry (increasing the detoxifying and drying effect)

Internal Use:

The internal use of clay is best done under the guidance of an herbal practitioner, as it is important to make sure that your body’s constitution matches the therapeutic effect of the clay. Clay is not used internally when one has a common cold, flu, symptoms of damp-heat, or during pregnancy.

Internal use of clay can be used for:

Diarrhea (due to deficiency)
Bleeding
Increasing immunity
detoxification

Common types of medicinal clay: Bentonite Clay, Montmorillonite Clay

Other names: Halloysite, kaolin, Hydrous aluminum silicate

Herbal Medicine Tinctures – removing the alcohol

Lana — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 04:09:09 +0000

Many herbal tinctures are made using alcohol as a base. The alcohol is used to extract and preserve the medicinal properties of herbs, but does not have to be consumed with the medicine. If you would like to prepare an alcohol-free version of the tincture for children or patients who cannot tolerate alcohol, follow these instructions.

To remove 65% of the alcohol in 5 minutes, pour a small amount of boiling water over the herbs. Alcohol boils at 180 degrees Fahrenheit, 32 degrees lower than the boiling point of water, and will evaporate first. Tinctures prepared in this way remain good for five days if refrigerated, or two days otherwise.

To remove 95% of the alcohol, simmer each dose for 5-8 minutes in 1/3 cup water. Non-metallic pots (such as glass pyrex) are best to prevent oxidation or adverse chemical reactions. Use very low gas flame. Tinctures prepared in this way remain good for five days if refrigerated, or two days otherwise.

For young children, add the entire daily dose to 2 oz or ½ cup of boiling water to evaporate the alcohol, then add 3 oz of fruit juice or cereal with honey, maple syrup, or raw sugar to mask the taste. Total daily amount may be divided into 2-6 individual doses. The doses that are not being consumed right away should be used within 24 hours, so as not to weaken their effects.

For a stronger and more rapid effect, the formulas should be taken on an empty stomach. For those with more sensitive stomachs, doses should be taken with food or after meals (this moderates the herbs’ effects and rate of absorption).

For babies less than or as old as one year, and for children between the ages of one and four, frequency of dosage is more important than quantity. The herbs should be given each time the child would ordinarily nurse, drink, or eat. For children between five-years-old and twelve-years-old, regularity and timing are also critical factors: the herbs should be taken shortly after awakening, before or after regular meals, and at bedtime. In general, it is easiest to administer medicine to children as part of their morning, mealtime, or evening ritual. For small children and for those averse to strange tastes, the extracts may be squirted into the back of the throat where there are fewer taste buds and it is easy to trigger the swallowing reflex. The herbs need not be refrigerated, as they have a long shelf life when kept tightly capped and out of direct light. No medicine should be given chilled from the refrigerator, but rather warmed or at room temperature. The extracts may also be mixed with room temperature fruit juice, milk, cereal, and mashed fruits or vegetables to facilitate ingestion and further mask their taste. However, when the herbs become diluted by more than small quantities of foods or liquids, the overall dosage or frequency may need to increase in order to obtain the expected effects, unless a very slow and moderate action is desired.