1.   Don’t realize how many of their friends, family and co-workers struggle with the same problems

2.   Feel alone, helpless and embarrassed

3.   Don’t know that Chinese medicine can be incredibly effective in treating these conditions

Digestive disorders range from hemorrhoids to “heart burn” to loss of appetite, and everything in between. One common Western diagnosis given to people with chronic diarrhea, constipation or abdominal pain is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). This complex disorder that afflicts up to 20% of the world’s population!  You may have heard IBS be referred to as an “incurable disease” by your physician.  Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can offer a safe, effective, natural, and drug-free way to address IBS and other digestive disorders by getting to the root of the problem.  My goal is to assess the entire constitution of the patient – considering physiological, psychological, and lifestyle aspects. Digestive symptoms may be triggered by stress, diet, emotional factors, hormone levels, and medications so it is important to conduct a through medical history and physical exam to discover the origin of these symptoms.

An initial visit includes:

·      A through medical history

·      A physical exam

·      An acupuncture treatment

·      A comprehensive treatment plan outlining recommendations for acupuncture, herbal formulas, massage, dietary/lifestyle changes and nutritional supplements

·      Plus, laboratory tests if applicable such as:

o     Food Allergies and Sensitivities Testing

o     Digestive Analysis

o     Microbiology and Parasite Tests

You don’t have to keep suffering!

·      A study from the Guangxi College of Traditional Chinese Medicine concluded that acupuncture was effective in the treatment of chronic gastritis, resulting in a 95% effective rate!  

·      An Australian study published in 1998 in the Journal of the American Medical Association lends strong scientific support to treating IBS with Chinese herbs.   

Click on Schedule Appointment or call 831. 426. 1093 today!

A modification of the famous formula, Shi Quan Da Bu Tang was shown to be effective in alleviating the signs and symptoms of Sheehan’s syndrome. This unfortunate complication of delivery can occur post pregnancy. It is marked by poor blood supply to the pituitary gland during delivery resulting in damage and reduced pituitary function.  Infertility is a common sequelae of this syndrome.

TCM and Infectious Disease

by Dr. John Chen, Ph.D., Pharm.D., O.M.D., L.Ac.

INTRODUCTION

In traditional Chinese medicine, the first reference to infectious disease appeared in Huang Di Nei Jing (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic) compiled in the first or second century CE.  This text discussed the presence of re bing (hot disease), which according to our understanding today, refers to the various types of infectious disease.¹ The understanding of infectious disease progressed further during the Ming and Qing dynasties as many people in

Southern China suffered and died from a variety of feverish conditions.  Many doctors recognized that these patterns of illness were significantly different from shang han(cold damage) patterns and therefore, must be diagnosed and treated differently.  Wu You-Xing,² Ye Gui,³ and Wu Tang,⁴ three of the most influential doctors during that era, collectively contributed to a new school of thought, namely wen bing (warm disease).  According to this new theory, warm and hot disease plagued everyone, starting “from one person to the entire household, from one household to the entire street, and from one street to the entire village.”  When affected, the disease first affects the exterior of the body, and progress to the interior, following the patterns of wei (defensive), qi (energy), ying (nutritive) and xue (blood) levels.⁵ Furthermore, it was observed that the cause of the warm and hot disease has “no sound nor smell, and no shape nor shadow.”  In addition, it was noted that the warm and hot disease may be transmitted from one person to another via “heaven (air borne)” or “earth (direct contact),” and affect weak, deficient individuals (i.e., those with low immunity).⁶ Lastly, many of the bitter and cold herbs and formulas used to treat these warm and hot disease are recognized today to have remarkable antibiotic effects.⁷ These observations were made and published approximately 200 years before the discovery of bacteria and other micro-organisms.  Wen bing (warm disease) theories accurately described the origins and transmission of epidemic disease, and the importance of the immune system in relationship to the pathogens.  Wen bing (warm disease) theories revolutionized and significantly influenced the theory and practice of traditional Chinese medicine, changes that persist even today.

PREVENTION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE One of the fundamental concepts in traditional Chinese medicine is that “superior medicine prevents disease, and inferior medicine treats disease.”⁸ Prevention of infectious disease is certainly no exception since bacteria and virus tend to adversely affect those who have weakened or compromised immune systems.

TREATMENT OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE

Traditional Chinese medicine considers infectious disease as wen bing (warm disease) and treats it with heat-clearing herbs.  Many of these herbs are confirmed to have remarkable antibiotic effects, including antibacterial and antiviral effects.

SUMMARY

In Western medicine, the discovery of antibiotic drugs is one of the major breakthroughs in modern medicine.  It enables doctors to effectively treat many different types of infections.  Unfortunately, decades of abuse and misuse have led to growing problems of bacterial mutation and resistance.  At this moment, many of these “super bugs” can only be treated with the newest and most potent antibiotic drugs, and unfortunately, many of them have potent side effects as well.  Due to the number of antibiotic drugs, and the various species of micro-organisms, it is beyond the scope of this article to discuss the benefits and risks of each individual drug.  As a category, antibiotic drugs are extremely effective against most types of bacterial infections.  The key points are to select the correct antibiotic drug with least potential side effects, and make sure that the patient finishes the entire course of therapy. In traditional Chinese medicine, herbs and herbal formulas are also extremely effective for treatment of various infections.  In fact, most modern pharmaceutical drugs were originally derived from natural sources, including penicillin (the oldest antibiotic drug) and gentimicin (one of the most potent).  One of the main benefits of using herbs is their wide spectrum of antibiotic effect, with indications for both bacterial and viral infections.  Furthermore, most of these herbs are extremely safe, and do not have the same harsh side effects as drugs.  Therefore, when treating patients with bacterial or viral infections, it may be beneficial to use herbs with confirmed antibacterial and antiviral effects. In summary, both drugs and herbs are effective to treat mild to moderate cases of bacterial infections.  However, because drugs are more immediately potent and can be prescribed with more laboratory precision (via cultures and sensitivity tests), they are more appropriate for life-threatening infections, such as meningitis or encephalitis, or mutant strains of bacteria, such as beta-lactam-resistant Staphylococcus aureusand methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA).  On the other hand, use of herbs is far more effective than drugs for treating certain vital infections, such as the common cold and influenza, as drugs are essentially ineffective for these conditions.  Most importantly, herbs are much gentler to the body and safer than drugs.  In other words, herbs treat infections without damaging the patient’s underlying constitution.  This allows the patient to recover faster, and become more resistant to secondary or re-current infections.

About the Author:
John K. Chen, L.Ac., Pharm.D., O.M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. John Chen is a recognized authority in both western pharmacology and Chinese Herbal Medicine.  He teaches at the USC School of Pharmacy, Emperor’s College, Yo San University of TCM, OCOM, Five Branches, AOMA and ACTCM.  Dr. Chen’s most recent published work is Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology (2003, AOM Press) and Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications (2008, AOM Press) for which he was the lead author.

http://www.aborm.org/_research/research.html

Please note: Dan Shen should not be combined with other herbs or drugs that thin the blood unless specifically prescribed by a medical professional. For best results patients should only take Dan Shen under the supervision of trained health care provider.

Doctoral Fellows John Nieters and Maureen Rozenn at the second affiliated hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University.

For the last month I have been studying in China as part of my clinical Doctorate in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) and my PhD in Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Western Medicine with a specialization in Women’s Health and Fertility.

So what exactly have I been doing all of this time, you ask?

Program Highlights  

·        Intensive Gynecology study in an integrated TCM-Western setting.

o       Hundreds of patients were successfully treated with custom herbal prescriptions every day.

o       Treatment principals were based on both TCM diagnostics and Western lab and imaging tests such as hormone panels, pap smears, basil body temperature charts (BBT) and ultrasounds of the ovaries and uterus.

o       Specific herbal formulas were used to treat infertility, irregular and painful menses, habitual miscarriages, PCOS, endometriosis, uterine fibroids and menopausal symptoms.

·        Intensive Acupuncture study with my PhD adviser, Dr. Fang.

o       A wide range of illnesses were treated with acupuncture in Dr. Fang’s busy clinic.

o       Tinnitus, hearing loss, vertigo

o       Neurological problems

§         Trigeminal neuralgia, numbness, sciatica, migraines

o       Post partum issues

o       Orthopedic diseases

§         Knee, back and muscle pain

§         Torn ligaments

§         Muscle atrophy

·        Intensive Internal Medicine study of various topics:

o       Childhood illnesses

o       Cardiovascular diseases

o       Dietary modifications to promote health and vitality

o       Modern applications of ancient herbal formulas for:

§         Liver disease

§         Autoimmune disease

§         Diabetes

Dang Gui (Radicis angelicae sinensis) is traditionally used to regulate the menstrual cycle, reduce menstrual cramps, strengthen the blood and support overall energy and health. Several studies have found that Dan Gui has both an invigorating and stabilizing effect on the uterus, making it an idea herb to regulate menstruation. In addition it has been reported to have anti-inflammatory and pain relieving effects.

Shu Di Huang (Radix rehmanniae preparata) is also traditionally used to strengthen the blood and regulate menstruation. Research shows that this herb can influence the endocrine system through regulating various feedback signals to the pituitary gland (this gland plays a key role in fertility).

Yi Mu Cao (Herba leonuri), also known as “Motherwort”, is one of the most commonly used herbs in Chinese medicine to promote blood circulation in the uterus, regulate menstruation and enhance fertility. This herb’s ability to increase circulation has the action of stimulating the egg’s decent down the fallopian tube into the uterus.

Ba Ji Tian (Radix rorindae officinalis) and Yin Yang Huo (Herba epimedii) are known as Yang tonics in Chinese medicine. They promote ovulation and are used to treat anovulatory conditions such as premature ovarian failure and polycystic ovarian syndrome. Studies have demonstrated their ability to influence the endocrine system and stimulate hormonal secretion.

* Note. These herbs are powerful and useful medicinals which should only be used under the supervision of a health care professional trained in Chinese medical theory, treatments and herbal therapy. They influence the reproductive system and uterus, thus they should not be used in pregnancy unless specifically prescribed by a licensed health care provider.