Ancient Myths and Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese medicine inherits and develops major philosophies of ancient Chinese culture and uses them to understand disease and health. Therefore the understanding of ancient Chinese culture helps the understanding of traditional Chinese medicine.

The core philosophy of Chinese medicine is correspondence between man and nature. China has been an agricultural country for thousands of years. To get a good harvest, ancient people would follow the changes of seasons and climates to adjust their farming work like sowing and reaping.

Gradually they began to recognize the laws of nature. Besides, upon observation, people found that natural seasonal changes have extensive influence on plants and animals as well. Therefore, the ancient Chinese concluded that man, as an organism in nature, must also coordinate with the laws of nature. This understanding of the relationship between humans and nature is thus termed correspondence between man and nature. This philosophy includes the integrated and harmony concept. In accordance, traditional Chinese medicine holds that man and nature is a whole. Man should maintain both the harmony of his body and coordination with nature to maintain health.

Ancient Myths and Traditional Chinese Medicine

Fu Xi is the father of human civilization according to Chinese legend. He is respected as the head of the “Three Emperors” (Fu Xi,Shen Nong and Huang Di). According to the study of historians, Fuxi was born in today’s Tianshui, Gansu Province.

From legends and historical records, the major contributions of Fu Xi are: teaching people to fish and hunt, domesticating beasts, inventing musical instruments, composing music and designing the ancient calendar. Another important achievement of Fu Xi is the establishing Bagua, or the Eight Diagrams.

Bagua is a set of symbols with meanings in ancient China. “—” stands for yang while “--” stands for yin. Three of such symbols can be arranged into Eight Diagrams, called Bagua. Each diagram represents a certain phenomenon.

There was a mountain named Gua Tai in Tianshui. It is said to be where Fu Xi made the Eight Diagrams. At that time, people knew little about nature, so were scared and puzzled by rain, wind, lightning and thunder. Fu Xi wanted to figure out what was behind, so he often stood on the mountain to observe the heavenly bodies above and topography below. He also studied the footprints and textures of animals and birds.

One day while on Gua Tai Mountain, he heard a strange roaring. A strange horse leaped out of a cave opposite to Gua Tai Mountain. Fu Xi named it dragon-horse because the horse had a dragon head but a horse body with unique picture on its skin. The horse jumped onto a big rock in the Wei Shui River, the river at the foot of Gua Tai Mountain. The rock was shaped like Taiji. Together with the texture on the dragon-horse, Fu Xi was suddenly enlightened and made the Eight Diagrams.

Millions of years ago, life was harsh for humans. Wind, storms, thunder, lightning, floods, beasts, plagues and diseases threatened human’s lives all the time. Human instinct and intelligence helped them combat various natural disasters.
Herbs played an important role in relieving pain, treating diseases and saving lives. The one who was crucial in making this become reality is a legendary character—Shen Nong.

Shen Nong was an industrious, brave, intelligent and kind person. He was never at ease when he saw others suffering from injuries or diseases. So he decided to find out what herbs can be helpful. Hot or cold, he collected flowers, roots, leaves and fruits of all plants in the wild. He carefully observed and tasted them one by one and recorded the feelings and effects although he knew it was possible some of them would be poisonous. Finally, he knew the properties and actions of several hundred herbs, and used them to aid those in suffering. Since then, Human life has been better protected and improved.

In addition, Shen Nong was the founder of ancient agriculture in China. He taught people how to clear land and plant five grains, facilitating the transformation and development from an economy focused on fishing, hunting and livestock rasiing to an agricultural economy.

Huang Di, Xuan Yuan

Huang Di established his state at You Xiong (Xinzhen, Henan Province), so he was also called You Xiong. At that time, Yan Di Shen Nong was in decline while Chi You, a cruel chieftain, started wars between states, trying to conquer China.

Shen Nong went to Huang Di for help. Huang Di shouldered the responsibility of seeking peace for the country and fought Chi You at Zhulu. He caught and killed Chi You finally. He was then chosen by all the chieftains to become the head of China, taking the place of Yan Di.

Huang Di’s throne lasted for a long time. During than time, China was stable, strong, and developed. A lot of inventions were made, such as Chinese characters, palace, boat, vehicles, clothes and compass carriage. It is said that Yao, Shun, Yu, Tang and other ancient emperors were all his descendants. So Huang Di was considered the ancestor of all Chinese.

LA FIBROMIALGIA

La fibromialgia afecta aproximadamente al 2% de la población. Las terapias convencionales ofrecen pocas garantías en el tratamiento de este complejo trastorno. El tratamiento actual consiste en ir probando con diversos medicamentos para los distintos síntomas con un gran margen de error. Es por ello que hasta el 90% de los que padecen este trastorno recurren a la medicina alternativa para aliviar su sintomatología. La acupuntura, por ejemplo, es una opción bastante recurrente en estos casos y que además ha demostrado ser eficaz en el tratamiento de la fibromialgia.

Desde la perspectiva oriental, ¿qué es la fibromialgia?

El dolor se entiende como la interrupción de la circulación del Qi en el cuerpo. La interrupción del Qi que resulta en fibromialgia se asocia generalmente con trastornos de Hígado, Bazo, Riñón y Corazón.

El tratamiento con acupuntura

La medicina china no reconoce la fibromialgia como un síndrome particular. En lugar de eso, trata los síntomas concretos que le serán propios a cada individuo de acuerdo con su constitución, estado anímico, intensidad y localización del dolor, patrón del sueño, entre otros síntomas.

Últimas investigaciones

Según un reciente estudio realizado por la Mayo Clinic, la acupuntura puede tratar de forma efectiva la fatiga y la ansiedad derivadas generalmente de la fibromialgia. En este estudio doble ciego, los doctores de la Mayo Clinic trataron con acupuntura a 25 enfermos de fibromialgia (grupo de tratamiento), y a otros 25 les aplicaron acupuntura “falsa” (grupo de control). Todos los pacientes se sometieron a 6 ciclos de tratamiento durante tres semanas. Después del tratamiento, aquellos pacientes del grupo de acupuntura habían experimentado una mejora en la fatiga y la ansiedad incluso un mes después de finalizar el tratamiento, mientras que el grupo de control no experimentó dichas mejoras.

¿Cómo prevenir la fibromialgia?

• Elimina las comidas prefabricadas de tu dieta, especialmente los productos con azúcar y harina blancas. El aporte nutricional de estos productos es muy escaso y con el tiempo afectan nuestro sistema digestivo y provocan obesidad, uno de los problemas más comunes relacionados con la fibromialgia.


• Incluye alimentos sin tratar en tu dieta, proteínas, carbohidratos, verduras, legumbres (son especialmente adecuados los productos a base de soja).


• Toma alimentos que beneficien el funcionamiento de Bazo y Estómago, evita las grasas, los helados, el alcohol, los alimentos crudos, calientes o picantes, el café y la fruta en exceso. Evita las bebidas energéticas a base de zumo ya que contiene la misma cantidad de azúcar que una golosina.


• Evita las bebidas con gas ya que son ácidas y llevan azúcares y sustancias químicas añadidas. Las bebidas con gas dañan el bazo y los riñones.


• Encuentra un deporte que te motive y practícalo.


• Sal a dar un paseo cada día.


• Hazte un masaje cada mañana estimulando los puntos acupunturales para que fluya el qi y la sangre por todo tu cuerpo.


• Aprende a relajarte de verdad, que significa conseguir relajación corporal y reposo mental.


• Detecta cuáles son tus viejas costumbres y pregúntate qué puedes hacer para mejorar tu vida.


• Haz tareas que te resulten interesantes y rompe tu rutina diaria.


• Si sabes que hay un exceso de estrés en tu vida, busca una solución. Comprende que el estrés puede llegar a acabar con la salud de una persona y si fumas o bebes alcohol para escapar de las situaciones que te estresan, te estás engañando a ti mismo.


• Busca un profesional de la medicina china que te ayude a mantenerte en un buen estado de salud mediante el uso de plantas chinas y acupuntura. Si visitas a un acupuntor de forma regular antes de enfermar, estarás evitando problemas realmente serios. Recuerda que el punto fuerte de la medicina china es la prevención.
  

By: Diane Joswick, L.Ac., MSOM

Fuente: Newsletter de la Fundación Europea de MTC - Sep 2009

MEDICINA ORIENTAL: Un enfoque diferente al convencional

La acupuntura es un método que alienta al cuerpo a promover una curación natural mejorando sus funciones. Se realiza mediante la inserción en puntos específicos situados cerca o en la superficie de la piel y tiene la capacidad de alterar diferentes condiciones fisiológicas y bioquímicas con el fin de tratar una amplia variedad de enfermedades ginecológicas, respiratorias, digestivas, dermatológicas, etc. Utiliza para ello agujas estériles de acero inoxidable (tan finas y flexibles como un cabello humano).

A diferencia de la medicina occidental que “disgrega" al hombre como una unidad bio-psico-espiritual, la medicina oriental hace hincapié en un enfoque holístico donde cuerpo y mente están unificados e interaccionan entre ellos.

Qi - El fundamento básico para la medicina oriental es que hay una energía vital que fluye a través del organismo y se llama "Qi" (pronunciado chee). Esta energía fluye a través del cuerpo en los canales conocidos como meridianos y conectan con todos nuestros órganos principales. Según la teoría médica china, la enfermedad se produce cuando el flujo cíclico de Qi en los meridianos se desequilibra o se bloquea.

Los puntos de acupuntura son áreas de sensibilidad eléctrica que han demostrado ser eficaces en el tratamiento de problemas de salud específicos. Han sido trazadas por los chinos durante un período de más de 2000 años.

Los Zang - Fu (órganos internos del cuerpo) son entendidas dentro del modelo oriental como sistemas funcionales con una esfera de actuación más amplia y distinta al enfoque convencional.

¿Cómo funciona la acupuntura?

Los puntos de acupuntura son áreas de sensibilidad eléctrica. La inserción de agujas en estos puntos estimula varios receptores sensoriales que, a su vez, envían señales hacia el cerebro.

El sistema hipotálamo – pituitaria es responsable de la liberación de neurotransmisores y endorfinas capaces de inhibir el dolor en el cuerpo. Se estima que las endorfinas son 200 veces más potentes que la morfina y desempeñan también un papel importante en el funcionamiento del sistema hormonal. Por esta razón la acupuntura funciona muy bien en el tratamiento del dolor de espalda, artritis, así como en el síndrome premenstrual y la infertilidad.

Las sustancias liberadas como resultado de la estimulación de los puntos de acupuntura no sólo permiten la relajación del cuerpo, sino que regulan la serotonina en el cerebro. Esta es la razón por la que la depresión es a menudo tratada en medicina tradicional china.

Algunos de los efectos fisiológicos observados en todo el cuerpo incluyen el aumento de la circulación, disminución de la inflamación, el alivio del dolor, el alivio de espasmos musculares y el aumento de T-célula que estimula el sistema inmunológico.

El especialista en Medicina Tracional China realiza un diagnóstico basado en un examen minucioso del cuerpo y que incluye la evaluación del pulso y la lengua. Una vez realizado el diagnóstico, el acupunturista elige los puntos de acupuntura más apropiados para el tratamiento.

Tanto la medicina oriental como la occidental responden a la finalidad de ponerse al servicio del individuo para mantener su salud previniendo enfermedades o curándolas cuando la salud se quiebra. Sin embargo, aquí acaban las similitudes entre ambas.

La Medicina Tradicional china se basa en un sistema de diagnóstico que permite un tratamiento individualizado para cada paciente. Dicho diagnóstico viene repetido varias veces siguiendo la evolución patológica de la enfermedad. El tratamiento basado en este tipo de diagnóstico, se niega a la estandarización y se va modificando a la vez que evoluciona la enfermedad; a la vez que, utiliza un conjunto de técnicas e instrumentos que le son propios y característicos y que no se asemejan a ningún otro tipo de medicina. Los instrumentos terapéuticos que utiliza son: acupuntura, moxibustión, ventosas, auriculoterapia, farmacopea, tuina (masaje), dietología y una compleja filosofía basada en toda una serie de consejos sobre la higiene de vida.

Imágenes: Luís Lucas http://www.luislucas.net/

Maneuvers for children’s free frequently seed diseases

Pediatric Tuina Therapy with a long history plays a unique role in Tradicional Chinese Medicine. When a baby falls ill, it is difficult to feed him medicines, so the children tuina therapy shows its remarkable advantages. Simple and easy to use, it regulates the interior and the exterior. It is just suitable for cases which the cause is not complicated, and illness comes suddenly, but it retreats quickly. The Chinese children tuina therapy has become a relatively independent system in its pas one thousand years’ development.

INDIGESTION

FEVER

DIARRHEA

Pediatric Acupuncture: Healing as a Family

Treating a child with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapies presents its own challenges and rewards. As Oriental medicine specialist Mitch Lehman points out, among the latter is the deep satisfaction of bringing families together to experience the power of childhood healing firsthand. Some are sick. Some are gravely ill. Some are scared. Some are not only unafraid, but they’re quick to allay the fears of their parents. All are very young, and all come to have their symptoms soothed, or even to be healed.For Mitch Lehman, L.Ac., treating children with acupuncture and other therapies from the practice of traditional Chinese medicine is more than carrying on a tradition that stretches back thousands of years. It’s a matter of being here now with a very young person who’s in pain.“I have treated children going through chemotherapy, children with cystic fibrosis, and children battling ADHD and much more,” he says.“I’ve been with kids who are facing very serious conditions. And what I’ve been part of, in terms of sharing in the experience of healing, has been amazing.”It’s not that children come to Lehman’s clinic — Select Health of San Diego (www.san-diego-acupuncture.com) — anxious to get started with acupuncture or to taste therapeutic Chinese herbal concoctions. To the contrary, there’s a lot to overcome at first.Getting Over the HurdlesAfter 2,800 hours of school and 7,000 hours of clinical training, Lehman opened his own clinic in 1997 and has been in practice ever since. Today, his practice includes treating autoimmune diseasepatients, fertility and gynecology, post-traumatic stress disorder and addictions, and, of course, pediatrics.“My pediatrics instructor, Alex Tiberi, got his assistants deeply involved in working with children from the start,” Lehman explains. “He would mark the points for e-stim, and we would do the actual work hands-on.”Pediatric acupuncture doesn’t jump right in with acupuncture needles. Instead, most pediatric patients start with e-stimulation, a process that uses small-voltage electrical stimulation at key acupuncture points. “You can’t start young children off with needles without a lot of preparation,” he says. “With young children, I usually begin with e-stimulation, which doesn’t hurt at all, and can even be kind of pleasant. Of course, e-stim doesn’t work with older children, so I gradually introduce the idea of needles to them — by using them on myself or on their parents, so they can see how we react to them. That gives them something tangible to go with.”Building Trust“A big challenge with pediatric patients is the fear of the unknown,” Lehman says. “We all deal with that, even as adults, but for a child it’s even more intense.” Children and their parents come to Lehman and find what looks like a medical clinic. “They’re a little nervous, because they naturally associate medical clinics with not feeling good, or even pain,” he says. “So I find that I have to develop a rapport with the child, to build a sense of trust through my honesty and by showing the child that I respect his or her opinion and will respond to any needs.”That means if it hurts, Lehman stops whatever he’s doing and proceeds more gradually. “Trust is something we keep building together,” he says.Sharp PointsAnd then there’s that fear of needles. “I have to gauge their nonverbal reactions to the needles, too,” Lehman says. “I’m communicating that what I’m doing is a good thing for the child, so he understands that this really is good for him. And if it gets too intense, I’ll back off with what I’m doing and give him relief.”One three-year-old Lehman treats has taken to calling the herbal formula Lehman prescribes for him “those yucky tasting herbs.” And they are certainly that, Lehman laughs.“He’s right,” Lehman says, “but he takes it anyway, and he doesn’t make a big deal out of it.”Tough CasesOne current case Lehman is working with is that of a 10-year-old boy with Tourette’s syndrome. TCM views Tourette’s as a “tremor-related” disease, as Lehman explains, in the same category with Parkinson’s and other conditions related to the concept of “wind.” “In Western medicine, Parkinson’s and Tourette’s have nothing to do with each other,” Lehman explains. “But TCM views them as being similar, and the treatment is thus similar.”Tourette’s is a terrible, and often-misunderstood, disorder. Lehman’s patient is at that age when symptoms begin to intensify in most patients, and the prognosis is not good most of the time. Treatment is limited to strong prescription medications that carry harsh side effects. But Lehman and the patient’s family have worked closely together to forestall, at least, the need for medication. “At this point, his symptoms would be getting progressively worse without any treatment,” Lehman says. “But he’s actually stabilized in terms of symptoms.”Lehman says the young lad isn’t crazy about the idea of needles, but he’s making adjustments as he goes. “Right now, I’ve got him using a couple of ear needles, and his parents are very involved in helping him maintain their use between visits. They are very involved in his care and have really educated themselves on all the nuances of dealing with Tourette’s.”That gets to the heart of a concept central to TCM and Lehman’s practice. “I work as part of a team with my patients and parents,” he says. “Everyone is crucial to healing in TCM. It’s all interrelated — a part of who we are as family members, neighbors in towns and cities, members of communities, clients and vendors to each other, and so on. Interrelationship is at the heart of TCM. We all have to be doing what we are doing, and doing it in harmony.”The Youthful Spirit of HealingThat’s what amazes Lehman about his young patients: They are very active in their own healing.Lehman has even seen that in his sickest patients. “No matter what they are fighting — even kids with cystic fibrosis or cancer — they are still kids, and they want to be kids. I’ve seen even the sickest kids respond to the treatment with this spark of life, this vigor to really live. It is a joy to see that. So even though I can’t necessarily cure a child in a case like that, I can be a part of the effort to restore her energy and zest for living. That’s precious to each of us, whether we’re sick or well.” Mitchell Lehman is a Licensed Acupuncturist in San Diego, California. He graduated from the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in 1997. Lehman apprenticed for 7 years with such acupuncture luminaries as Pacific College co-founders Joseph Lazzaro, L.Ac., Alex Tiberi, L.Ac., and Rick Gold, Ph.D., L.Ac., as well as Matt Callison, L.Ac., Erin Raskin. L.Ac., and Rick Warren, L.Ac. In addition to his private practice, he is the Director of Integrative Medicine for the Veterans Village Stand Down and has served in that capacity for the last six years.


By: Sam Gaines

IRRITABILIDAD Y MAL HUMOR SEGÚN LA MEDICINA ORIENTAL

A menudo, la irritabilidad y mal humor son una consecuencia del estrés en la vida diaria. Con el tiempo estas emociones, pueden progresar a estados emocionales más serios, como la ansiedad y la depresión, así como otras condiciones de salud tales como problemas digestivos, insomnio, etc.

El estancamiento de Qi de Hígado y las emociones:

Dentro de la medicina oriental, los trastornos emocionales pueden estar asociados a un número de patrones de desarmonía diferentes; sin embargo, la ira, la irritabilidad y la frustración son señales de que nuestro Qi (fuerza vital) no fluye libremente.
El hígado en la Medicina Tradicional China es el responsable de la fluidez del Qi en todo el cuerpo e influye en nuestras emociones. Cuando se interrumpe la función del hígado de mover el Qi, se produce el llamado estancamiento de Qi de Hígado.

La irritabilidad y el mal humor pueden ser síntomas de estancamiento de Qi de Hígado y puede incluir además: dolor y distensión en los hipocondrios, sensación de opresión, suspiros, distensión abdominal, náuseas, regurgitación ácida, eructos, diarrea o estreñimiento, bolo histérico, menstruaciones irregulares, dismenorreas, distensión de los senos antes de los períodos. El estancamiento de Qi de hígado se asocia habitualmente con el síndrome premenstrual.

La Medicina Tradicional China es excelente para desbloquear el estancamiento de Qi de hígado. Puede tratar la irritabilidad y el mal humor eliminando los bloqueos, redirigiendo el movimiento del Qi, asistiendo al hígado y el bazo (grupos funcionales) con la acupuntura, dietoterapia y fitoterapia y tuina.

Libre flujo del Qi

El hígado es responsable del libre flujo de Qi (fuerza vital) en todo el cuerpo. Cuando el hígado funciona sin problemas, la actividad física y emocional de todo el cuerpo también funciona sin problemas. Así, para una salud óptima, ¡mueva el Qi!

Stretching - El hígado controla los tendones. De acuerdo con la medicina oriental, el hígado almacena la sangre durante el descanso y la libera en los períodos de actividad, mantenimiento así una adecuada flexibilidad y nutrición en los tendones. Es importante realizar ejercicios de estiramiento, pruebe con el qi gong, yoga o tai chi.

Ejercicios oculares – En MTC se dice que el hígado se abre en los ojos. Aunque todos los órganos tienen alguna relación con la salud de los ojos, el hígado está relacionado con la adecuada función ocular. Recuerde realizar descansos especialmente si se trabaja con ordenador durante largos períodos de tiempo y hacer ejercicios oculares.

Alimentos verdes - El verde es el color del hígado. Comer plantas frescas, vegetales de hojas verdes, brotes y hierbas de cereales inmaduros - puede mejorar las funciones generales del hígado según la MTC.

Agrio - ácido - Alimentos y bebidas con sabores agrios y ácidos estimulan el Qi del hígado.
Actividades al aire libre - Trate de realizar actividades al aire libre.

Cardo Mariano, diente de león, alcachofera – El cardo mariano, el diente de león y la alcachofera –entre otros- protegen el hígado liberándolo de toxinas.

Acupuntura - La acupuntura y la medicina oriental puede ayudar a mejorar el estado general de salud del hígado, así como tratar el estrés, la ira y la frustración que a menudo están asociadas a los patrones de desarmonía de hígado. Por ello, un tratamiento periódico puede tonificar los sistemas de órganos internos y puede corregir aquellas molestias, antes de que se conviertan en problemas graves.

HOW DOES ACUPUNCTURE WORK?

Eastern Explanation:

The Eastern Explanation for how Acupunctures works is that the life energy flowing through the body which is termed Qi (pronounced chee) can be influenced and balanced by stimulating specific points on the body. These points are located along channels of energy known as meridians that connect all of our major organs. According to Chinese medical theory, illness arises when the cyclical flow of Qi in the meridians becomes unbalanced or is blocked.

Western Explanation (definition of Acupuncture):

Acupuncture is the stimulation of specific points located near or on the surface of the skin which have the ability to alter various biochemical and physiological conditions in order to achieve the desired effect. Explanation of How Acupuncture Works
Acupuncture points are areas of designated electrical sensitivity. Inserting needles at these points stimulates various sensory receptors that, in turn, stimulate nerves that transmit impulses to the hypothalamic-pituitary system at the base of the brain.

The hypothalamus-pituitary glands are responsible for releasing neurotransmitters and endorphins, the body's natural pain-killing hormones. It is estimated that endorphins are 200 times more potent than morphine. Endorphins also play a big role in the functioning of the hormonal system. This is why acupuncture works well for back pain and arthritis and also for P.M.S. and infertility.

The substances released as a result of acupuncture not only relax the whole body, they regulate serotonin in the brain which plays a role in human and animal disposition. This is why depression is often treated with acupuncture.
Some of the physiological effects observed throughout the body include increased circulation, decreased inflammation, relief from pain, relief of muscle spasms and increased T-cell count which stimulates the immune system.

THE BASICS OF CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE

• What is a Chinese Herbal Formula?
• What is the difference between Western Herbs and Chinese Herbs?
• Safety of Chinese Herbs
• Selection of Quality Herbs
• About Chinese Herbal Medicine

Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine consists of 5,767 substances derived from plant, animal, and mineral sources. The use of these substances can be traced back to 1,000 BC. Over the past 3000 years, an incredibly rich and powerful system has medicine has been created. During this time, classical herbal formulas that are effective for many health concerns have been developed. The herbs are available in the form of herbal teas, liquid extracts, tablets, capsules, granules, lotions, creams, salves, or poultices.

What is a Chinese Herbal Formula?

Individual substances are rarely prescribed alone in Traditional Chinese Medicine. A carefully balanced recipe of several different herbs is specifically tailored for each person's entire health condition. Each herb is chosen for its own specific functions. In addition, herbs can enhance the strengths and reduce the side effects of each other. The combination of substances in a formula creates a new therapeutic agent that can treat much more effectively and completely that a single substance.

What is the difference between Western Herbs and Chinese Herbs?

Western Herbal Medicine tends to use one or two herbs to treat just a specific symptom. A Chinese Herbal formula has as many as 20 different herbs. The herbs are selected to work synergistically to treat the whole person. In Chinese medicine, due to our diagnostic system, we are able to assess a persons whole constitution (the health of their whole body) and treat the root (or cause) of a health concern along with a branch (or the symptoms) of a health concern. It is in this way that we are able to treat a person's whole body and mind, rather than just a symptom.

Safety of Chinese Herbs

One of the most appealing qualities of Chinese Herbal Medicine is the low risk of adverse reaction or side effects. Herbal medicine uses all the constituents of the plant, including the cellulose. The herb is completely balanced, and therefore has minimal side effects.
The most commonly reported adverse reaction is minor gastrointestinal upset. Modifying the herbal formula or adding herbs to strengthen the digestive system can remedy this. If you do notice any side effects, please stop taking your herbs and consult your herbalist right away.

Selection of Quality Herbs

To be confident that the herbs that you use are of the highest potency, quality, and safety; only use herbs from manufacturers that are certified by the Therapeutic Goods Administration of the Australian government as having Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) - a hygiene guideline even more strict than in the United States.

Do not use endangered species (plant or animal), and promote wildlife conservation through the use of surrogate natural substances.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration

By: Diane Joswick, L.Ac., MSOM

BEIJING PROMUEVE EL USO DE LA MEDICINA CHINA EN EL TRATAMIENTO DE LA GRIPE A (H1N1)

El gobierno municipal de Beijing ha destinado 10 millones de yuanes (1,46 millones de dólares) para promover el uso de la medicina china en el tratamiento de la gripe A (H1N1), informó el Buró de Administración de Medicina China de la ciudad (BJTCM). Un total de 4 de los 10 millones se invertirán en la realización de análisis clínicos, mientras que el resto se destinará a tareas de investigación orientadas a elaborar un remedio tradicional con el que se pueda tratar esa enfermedad.

Wang Yuguang, uno de los responsables del Centro de Medicina China y Occidental del Hospital Ditan de Beijing, uno de los hospitales que están recibiendo a pacientes con gripe A (H1N1) en la capital china, dijo a Xinhua que están trabajando para obtener una medicina tradicional "efectiva" que se pueda utilizar para hacer frente a posibles brotes de gripe durante el otoño y el invierno. Tu Zhitao, un responsable del BJTCM, informó de que 30 enfermos de gripe A (H1N1) en Beijing han recibido un tratamiento basado exclusivamente en la medicina china, de los cuales diez ya han sido dados de alta.

"Sin embargo, los diez presentaban síntomas leves cuando llegaron al hospital", aclaró Wang. La medicina china se usa habitualmente para tratar la gripe común, aunque tarda más en hacer efecto que la medicina occidental. Según el Ministerio de Salud Pública, China ha confirmado hasta ahora 1.040 casos de gripe A (H1N1), de los que 756 han salido del hospital. No se ha registrado ninguna muerte causada directamente por la enfermedad.

Fuente:Newsletter Julio 2009 - MTC - Xinghua (07/07/2009)