Cordyceps: Herbal fungi

Photo from:http://www.chinese-herbs.org/cordyceps/

Cordyceps sinensis, or Dong Chong Xia Cao is yet another fantastic herb frequently used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formulas. It is known for strengthening the immune system, and can assist in controlling symptoms of allergic asthma. It also nourishes the Kidneys and Lungs, making it the ideal asthma supplement in a constitutional formula (which I have definitely found to be true).  It can also enhance stamina and improve energy, and even help with sexual dysfunction for both men and women.

Did I mention that it's something of a parasite? Or that it's also called the Chinese caterpillar fungus?

It's somewhat disturbing, but if you really want to see how it grows (out in nature- not in the controlled environments that are now used for our consumption), you can check out the Planet Earth cordyceps video. But keep in mind what an amazing herb this is while the ant is dying!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Guk-x0BTDTM[/youtube] 

Here in Portland, ITM and Peoples Herbs have more information about how to buy this fantastic fungus. I've tried a few different capsules of the single herb, theirs is the best.

For more cordyceps and other medicinal fungi information, check out chineseherbs.org or pharmaceutical mushrooms.

The Society for Acupuncture Research

The SAR logo: The Chinese characters depicted in the Society for Acupuncture Research logo represent the concepts of "Research"and "Clinical Practice."

The Society for Acupuncture Research is a non-profit organization whose mission statement is:

"To promote, advance and disseminate scientific inquiry into Oriental medicine systems, which include acupuncture, herbal therapy and other modalities. We value quantitative and qualitative research addressing clinical efficacy, physiological mechanisms, patterns of use and theoretical foundations. "

SAR first began in 1991 as in informal group that discussed methodological concerns in acupuncture research. This eventually became the Society for Acupuncture Research which now sponsors annual symposia on research methodologies, and is affiliated with the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. Check the site for more information about the history of SAR as well as the impressive list of the board members.

SAR is also affiliated with the SPARC conference that will be at OHSU this Sunday (see SPARC Conference). The John Weeks at the Integrator Blog wrote a short synopsis of the conference here (scroll down to #3).

SPARC Conference

The 3rd annual Symposium for Portland Area Research on Complementary and Alternative Medicine (SPARC) is this Sunday, May 18. The focus of the conference this year is "Highlighting CAM research in Portland from Bench to Bedside." SPARC is a research symposium and poster session that highlights current CAM research in Portland.

Participating institutions in the conference include: Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, National College of Natural Medicine (NCNM), Oregon College of Oriental Medicine (OCOM), Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland State University, University of Portland, and Western States Chiropractic College. It should prove to be a very informative and interesting day, as there will be a great keynote speaker, Vinjar Fonnebo, MD, PhD as well as several Portland area research associates (such as my co-worker at the OCOM research department Ryan Milley, MAcOM, LAc). You can find more SPARC information on the Helfgott Blog.

The traveling poster sessions will be at these schools this week:

Monday, May 12 University of Portland

Tuesday, May 13 Oregon College of Oriental Medicine

Wednesday, May 14 Western States Chiropractic College

Thursday, May 15 Portland State University

Friday, May 16 Oregon Health & Science University

This will be my first year attending, and I plan to write up a synopsis next Monday. Be sure to check in next week!

Dandelion (Pu Gong Ying): The Useful Weed

Photo By Powi...(ponanwi)

Common dandelion, known in TCM herbal medicine as Pu Gong Ying, is a wonderful herb that deserves more appreciation in our society. It helps clear toxic heat from the body (red, painful eyes, cysts and benign masses), helps detoxify the liver, and promotes lactation in nursing mothers.

Use them in a salad- you can chop leaves and stems, flowers to decorate (wash them first, and find flowers that grow away from pesticides or sprays and from traffic). I found an interesting site that has several dandelion recipes, and Allrecipies.com also has some fun dandelion recipes.

Most of this information is available online at Herbasin and Natural Herbs guide, but hurry before they all go to seed

dandelion leaves : Photo by jerrycat

Spring Cleaning

I am now at the end of week two (out of three) of a Mediclear cleanse, which explains the reason for the coffee post from last week....

Spring is the time of the year for new beginnings, rebirth, and for cleaning things out. Including yourself. However, this spring has been pretty cold, and it's best to do a cleanse when it's warmer outside so your body won't be working as hard to stay warm and can do more to purge out what isn't needed.

There are a lot of individualized programs with detoxing, and it seems like a lot of stores have come out with their own "detox in a box," so be careful! Simply taking a lot of fiber and doing enemas can be harmful to your bowel health, so check in with a practitioner as to which program is best for you. That being said, it's important that while you are on a cleanse to have at least one bowel movement per day.

Groundspring Healing Center in southwest Portland sent out a great newsletter in January comparing Mediclear, the Biotics detoxification, and Standard Process cleanse, which really helped me decide which was best for me and which one I could afford. I haven't tried Biotics or Standard Process, but my experience with Mediclear has been pretty good thus far.

Doing a cleanse can take anywhere from a few days to a few months. There are several cleanses or detox programs, such as the Master cleanse and juice fasts. With all of them, there are usually dietary restrictions, such as cutting out red meat, dairy, wheat, COFFEE, and sugar (just to name a few...). These foods are often considered imflammatory to the body, and cutting them out for a while can help your you adjust to a new beginning.

That being said, if you decide to try a cleanse at some point, make a list of things you CAN eat, instead of focusing on what you CAN'T. It sure makes your life and the pleasure of eating a lot easier. Good luck if you feel like you are ready to try it- I feel better already!

Interview with a Practitioner: Dr. Zhenbi Li, LAc

1. What brought you to Portland?

The Oregon College of Oriental Medicine, one of the best TCM colleges, the beautiful surroundings, and friendly people in Oregon brought me here.

2. Why did you decide to become an LAc?

I like the wisdom of Oriental medicine. It works very well and helps people a lot .

3. Tell me about your practice

I practice at the Healing Sage Acupuncture and Herbal Clinic, in Camas, Washington and also at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine Acupuncture and Herbal Clinic in South East Portland. I treat many different diseases in my clinic, but my specialties are Gynecology and Oncology.

4. Where does your passion for the medicine come from?

My passion for Chinese medicine comes from the successful treatments I have done for my patients. I am very happy when I solve the problems, which stimulate my thirst of the knowledge of Chinese medicine. I often do both contemporary and classic research for the complicated cases. I gain knowledge and experience from doing that. 5. Any advice for patients? If you want to get the best effect from acupuncture and Chinese herbs, you must be patient as a patient. This means you need get several treatments and give us time to exert our healing skills and talent.

6. What is your favorite Portland restaurant and why? Wang's King is my favorite because it serves real Chinese food, not a modified version. It's just like me in my work as a doctor- I offer pure traditional Chinese medicine, not a modified version.

*Dr. Li and her husband Dr. Yufang Xue have also published several research articles within the USA. You can research those articles at pubmed.com.

Coffee as an herb...

coffee cup Photo By miketallman

I admit it. Coffee is one of my favorite herbs.

Having done several stints as a barrista through my undergrad, I continue to have a love/hate relationship with coffee that has finally developed into an appreciation I can live with.

I didn't really drink coffee until my 20's, which is about the time asthma became a bigger part of my being. I found that when I was having a difficult time breathing and didn't have access to an inhaler, I'd take a shot of espresso and would be able to breathe a little easier. Thus began my appreciation for "the bean."

Upon entering Chinese Medicine school a few years ago, I was afraid that they would ask me to stop drinking coffee. They didn't, and I was glad.

While searching for literature to prove to myself that it was fine to drink, I stumbled across Subhuti Dharmananda's article. He states that one cup a day is usually fine, and even beneficial for adults. Coffee is often seen as too much of a stimulant, which adds to the stress of life in America as a lot of us know it. Keeping it at a minimum is a good idea- pounding back two or more 20oz. coffees a day isn't. Check out a Canadian LAc's viewpoint of coffee here.

As with all herbs and substances that are potential stimulants, be careful of what you mix with medications and other supplements. Know what you are drinking, and choose organic and fair trade when you can. I recommend Stumptown.

Herbs vs Drugs

Ma huang, Chinese ephedra, was used to treat asthma,or at least wheezing, five thousand years ago. (http://www.healthcentral.com/peoplespharmacy/408/20658.html)

With all the bad press and the FDA trying to ban of some forms of Chinese herbal medicine, we as Chinese Medicine practitioners have to fight to prove that the herbs have truly healing medicinal properties when used appropriately in the correct combination.

If you haven't read about the girl who died of liver failure due to use of the drug by the name of Jin Bu Huan, then you should read this article and check out Chinese Medicine Notes on the story. Yael sites a lot of good resources and sites for more information about the drug (which is NOT an herb). The Mayo clinic and healthcentral.com also have information on ephedra.

At OCOM and most TCM schools, we study herbs for 3 years, then take an extensive and difficult herbal board. So it's disheartening when I try to fill a patients formula and realize that there is no bulk form of ephedra because it's unavailable. The correct dosage and appropriate administration of the herb is safe for both kids and adults, and it's a main and very effective ingredient in a lot of asthma formulas.

As with any news article you read, be sure to check your sources of information. Especially when it comes to herbs and drugs! A lot of unnecessary side effects can occur if too much of an herb is taken (just like a pharmaceutical). Be informed about what you are taking, and discuss your medications with a knowledgeable practitioner.

Interview with a Practitioner: Dr. Yufang Xue, LAc

1. What brought you to Portland?

The people, the climate and beauty of the West coast brought my family to Portland.

2. Why did you decide to become an acupuncturist?

Kindness and compassion made me a professional of Chinese medicine. Its great treasure and real practice keep me moving forward.

3. Tell me about your practice.

Our office is the Healing Sage Acupuncture clinic in Camas, Washington. I have a wide range of types of patients in my clinic, but my specialty is Geriatrics. I also focus on emotion management, pain management and GI disorders.

4. Where does your passion for the medicine come from?

The patients' need for help with disease and illness, and the appreciation of my patients are the sources of my passion for TCM.

5. Do you have any advice for patients? To truly trust in themselves. It is within their own being where they will have the strongest power to cure their diseases and keep themselves healthy. The role of the medical professional is to assist the patient in healing.

6. What is your favorite Portland restaurant and why?

I am a good cook, and in that way, I can keep my family's diet healthy and balanced when we eat at home. But I also enjoy a variety of foods in different restaurants. I do prefer Chinese dishes, especially those cooked with fresh ingredients. If I have to pick up one favorite restaurant in Portland, I would have to say Wong King's.

Dr. Xue has an office with his wife, Dr. Zhenbi Li, LAc, in Camas, Washington. You can check out their website at Healing Sage Acupuncture.com.

Women's Health (Part 2): TCM books

Kannon statue in Daienin, Japan Photo from: Wikipedia

I thought I'd share a few books that I've found to be very helpful when diagnosing women who come to the clinic with specific issues. While I don't expect anyone to rush out and buy these, it's often helpful to check out where practitioners are getting their information from!

Obstetrics and Gynecology in Chinese Medicine is the text used in the OCOM Traditional Chinese Medicine and Gynecology class, and it continues to be a great resource.

I know, it's a textbook.

However, the explanation Giovanni Maciocia gives each condition really helps us to see the most effective treatment for the presenting problem.

Another book that was recommended to me for is A Handbook of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Chinese Medicine: An Integrated Approach. This book is a little more specific, and also a lot easier to read. There are a lot of interesting formulas and approaches.

Again, I don't expect anyone to purchase these, but I think an amazon.com perusal might make help make more sense of TCM and gynecology. :)

What Can TCM Treat? Womens Health: Menses

Kuan Yin Photo by: colorcritical This is a subject that many women don't like to discuss, or if they do, it's often in a negative manner for a lot of valid reasons. The menstrual cycle is different for every female, and TCM treatment with acupuncture, moxibustion, and especially herbal formulas is a great way to relieve some of the symptoms women may experience with their cycles. TCM can help with irregular cycles, heavy bleeding, and many other symptoms.TCM herbal therapies are excellent for alleviating PMS symptoms, such as mood swings, uterine cramping, and breast tenderness. In TCM theory, Liver Qi stagnation is the reason for these symptoms, and a modification of the formula Xiao Yao Wan (Free and Easy Wanderer) can help relieve these symptoms. (Click here for a great summary of the formula by ITM's (Institute of Traditional Medicine) Subhuti Dharmananda).

Ba Zhen Wan (Women's Precious Pills) is another formula that is often given to women after they finish the cycle. It is meant to nourish and rebuild the blood that was lost during menses. Keep in mind that herbal formulas are often meant to be taken before the symptoms even start- they aren't like Advil where you take them after you feel the pain. Ask your practitioner about taking TCM formulas for PMS before you try them.

The herbs, in conjunction with acupuncture (usually points located on the limbs and head will be used, and sometimes on the lower abdomen) are a great way to keep the symptoms away. Women often feel more sensitive when nearing or at the beginning of the cycle, so the needles, while they shouldn't hurt, may feel stronger than usual.

There are a lot of amazing practitioners who specialize in women's health, so check out acufinder.com to find a practitioner near you.

Interview With a Practitioner: Sarah Hayes, LAc

Acupuncture Northwest

Sarah Hayes, LAc is a practitioner in North Portland who has a great blog. You can find her site at acupuncturenwpdx.com, and here is a some more insight into Sarah and her practice.

1. What brought you to Portland?

I moved to Portland to go to OCOM. It is the best acupuncture school in the country. Moving here also felt like coming home, being a native Northwesterner from Olympia, Washington.

2. Why did you decide to become an acupuncturist?

I always wanted to be a health care professional and actually I wanted to be an MD. When I was in my 20's I had my first experience with serious chronic pain, I had hip pain that was a horrific. The doctors I went to told me that there was nothing wrong, and that rest and Advil would improve my pain... When it didn't, I ended up turning to acupuncture and my hip pain was resolved in four treatments! I was blown away and so thankful to feel better and have my life back. All I kept thinking to myself was, there must be so many people who have a story similar to mine - people dealing with symptoms that you can live with but don't have to, like pain, fatigue or allergies. Unfortunately most people don't realize they don't have to live with this stuff. In short - I decided I wanted to be a different kind of doctor: I wanted to treat conditions that are not dealt with adequately by Western medicine.

3. Tell me about your practice.

I see a vast array of patients in my practice. I treat people in every stage of life, from birth on. We see a variety of conditions. Some of the most common include fertility, pain, allergies, autism, stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, digestive issues, post operative symptoms, and lots of crazy things that come up and for which western medicine just doesn't know how to treat.

I practice a variety of styles of acupuncture to accommodate the individual needs of my patients. I do trigger point work, Tan style acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and more. What works for one patient is not necessarily going to work for another... Thus I tailor each treatment to the individual.

I really get to know my patients. I listen to their stories, ask lots of questions and encourage them to tell me as much as they can about themselves. The more information I have, the better I can treat them. Patients usually come in for 1 or 2 specific complaints and we usually end up watching a handful of symptoms to track their progress and watch as they transform their health.

4. Where does your passion for the medicine come from?

I love what I do because the medicine works so well and people get amazing results. It is an honor to be in people's lives in such an intimate way. Listening to patients stories and watching their lives greatly improve is an incredible way to spend my days. I feel so lucky to facilitate health in a way that is so unique and powerful. I watch people change in ways they never thought were possible.

4. Do you have any advice for patients?

I always tell people to listen to their bodies and trust their instincts. We have a lot of information and if we pay attention, our body will tell us what we need to know.

I also like to remind people that life is crazy and it is not going to get any easier. No one gets a free pass, we all have stuff, and our job is to figure out how to be graceful within it all.

5. What is your favorite Portland restaurant and why?

I love Andina, they just do it right. But we go to the New Old Lompoc in Northeast a lot. It is a great place to go with the kids, it is causal and easy. They have a great beet salad and good beer. That's all we need.

Chinese Herbal Burn Remedy

Lately, a lot of my friends have been asking about natural burn remedies and medicine that can help with  skin regeneration after scratches, so I thought I'd share one of the best I've tried.

I tend to accidentally burn myself a lot (I love to cook), and the herbal ointment Ching Wan Hung has always worked really well. Ching Wan Hung is a sesame-oil based ointment combined with several other healing herbs such as dang gui (angelica) and hong hua (safflower), but I should warn you that not everyone enjoys the scent!

Another 'secret' use for this is with acne or pimples, as this formula is meant to help regenerate the skin and speed the healing process. I have also used this with my dog when she developed a raw spot on her leg. It worked great!

Ching Wan Hung is very reasonable priced, and can be found at your practitioners office or at mayway.com.

Portland Acupuncture Blog featured on Wellsphere!

Check out the featured acupuncture site on wellsphere.com, readers!! Portland Acupuncture Blog was chosen as the featured Wellsite.

Wellsphere.com is a great online community out to help people be healthy. They have a lot of information on all manners of staying well. There is an excellent "360 degree" view of acupuncture sites and a lot of great acupuncture information

Click HERE for the link! And thanks for reading!

What Can Acupuncture Treat? Skin conditions

Flower at the gates Photo by: leojmelsrub

Spring in the northwest is really very beautiful. There are so many different flowers and trees in bloom at different times, it's hard (for me) to keep track. Spring is the time of waking up, and the earth opens up in beauty after a reasonably cold winter here.

This season, while full of life and new beginnings, also signals the blossoming of certain plants which can cause those with sensitive skin a lot of discomfort. Rashes and reactions to the flowers, pollen, and pollution in the air can really wreak havoc on those with "thin skin." There are a lot of great techniques and herbal formulas that acupuncture and oriental medicine use to relive pain. There are several protocols for severe skin rashes that are effective, but they do take time.

The seven-star needle (also called plum-blossom) technique (check out this link for a quick video demonstration) sounds horrible, but is really very effective for relieving the itching sensation caused by rashes. The idea behind it is to release the heat that builds up from the histamine reaction, and it is done by tapping the tool over the area the rash covers.

My personal experience has been that while herbal TCM formulas are not as quick to treat the itching as a topical steroid cream, they are more effective in the long run. Treating the root of the problem is how skin diseases need to be treated- your body is reacting for a reason! Only treating the manifestation, which is the rash, doesn't stop it from  recurring.

Talk to your practitioner about your dermatological needs- acupuncture is also great for eczema, acne, and many other skin conditions, but each case needs to be individually assessed.

Enjoy the sunshine this week!

What Can Acupuncture Treat? Allergies and Hayfever

Cherry blossoms in Ulsan May 2005 Photo by leojmelsrub

The mix of snow, rain, sun and hail all in one day (in the middle of March) can make you wonder what is going on here in the Northwest. If you've lived in Portland long enough, you know that it usually means spring is almost here. With it comes the beautiful cherry blossoms, tulips, and (unfortunately), allergies.

As I have mentioned before, I have a lot of experience in this field of health issues, and I will be the first to say that acupuncture has helped me the most with the misery of a runny nose, wheeze, and red, itchy eyes and skin. However, you must start treating it before the symptoms arrive.

So start now, while it's still raining! Check out your local acupuncturist for a series of visits- twice a week will work wonders for it. If you are here in Portland and twice a week seems like a lot of money, check out the CAN website for group acupuncture at a great price.

In the mean time, I recommend, Bi Yan Pian or Cang Er Zi Wan (Upper Chamber) to help open the nose and clear excess phlegm before the congestion takes over. You can find these from your practitioner or Wing Mings on 82nd Street.

Acupuncture sites to see

"Ceiling tiles" Photo by leojmelsrub

While in the throes of finals and my first acupuncture board (of four boards) at the end of the month, I may not be posting much for a few weeks.

However, I plan to put up a lot of great posts in April, and I'll leave some interesting sites related to acupuncture and the practice thereof.

1. Check out the NCCAOM website to see what they have to offer- it's an interesting site that tells you a lot about the organization. We students will be checking into this site frequently in the next several months to schedule our tests.

2. An interesting marketing site that discusses how to advance your practice, no matter what field you're in. Check out the Advance My Practice site to see how you can advance!

Research and CAM Blogs

I've had a few posts about research in the past (almost) year, and have rounded up a few great blogs that discuss research in the CAM (Complemetary and Alternative Medicine) field. -The Integrator blog is managed by John Weeks, and is one of the most well-respected blogs for CAM research and integrative medicine. The Integrator Blog informs about "news, reports, opinion and networking for the business, education, policy and practice of integrative medicine CAM, and integrative health care." If you are interested in research happenings, or simply about integrative medicine, I recommend checking this site daily.

- The Helfgott Blog is managed by the Helfgott Istitute, which is based here in Portland at NCNM, is "aimed at increasing awareness about integrative medicine on a world-wide scale." There is a lot going on in the integrative medicine communities in Portland, and the Helfgott blog is most likely to be up to date on what's happening next.

- A local LAc and OCOM graduate is Sarah Hayes, who manages acupuncturenwpdx.com and her own practice in North Portland. She has some great posts regarding research, not to mention a detailed FAQ section.

Chinese Medicine Blogs

Carved Buddha leojmelsrub

I wanted to share a few sites with my favorite local and international bloggers with you this week, as there are lot of great people doing great work out there, including practitioners and students.

Yael is an LAc who writes chinesemedicinenotes.com has some great posts, including an interview with Dr. Leon Hammer, who made and interesting statement about Chinese Medicine in their interview.

• "Chinese Medicine cannot survive as a complement to Western medicine. Chinese Medicine has to be an alternative to Western Medicine. They can collaborate but not merge." -Dr. Leon Hammer

Yael also wrote a post with a list of TCM blogs to visit and note. Chinese Medicine Notes a great site with a lot of good information.

Another blogger is Eric Gray from deepesthealth.com. Eric is a student here in Portland at NCNM, and the Deepest Health blog has a lot of information on balancing your life in different ways, including the community project, "Year of Sagely Living." One of my favorite posts from Eric is "7 simple ways to be a great student AND not kill yourself during finals week."

• # 1 " Realize you can’t do it all. It’s hard, I know. This is probably the one thing I have done this term that has saved me despite some setbacks outside of my control. I want to be the best student in the universe. I want to do this while being a great father, partner, small business owner AND save the world while I’m at it."

I think this can apply to all of our lives at some point! It's just nice to see it in a blog.

Both of these fellow bloggers have a lot of important information for students, practitioners, and people who are genuinely interested learning more about Chinese Medicine. I recommend you check out their blogs as regularly as I do.

Acupuncture and IVF in the news

The BBC came out with an article reporting how acupuncture greatly increases the chance of pregnancy with in vitro fertilization. Click HERE for BBC article

However, the Chicago Tribune also came out with a study that discussed the use of acupuncture with IVF, but wasn't quite as positive about the results.

Click HERE for Chicago Tribune article

Hmm.....an interesting view of how different Europe and America are in views of health care options......

Technorati Tags: BBC, Chicago Tribune, acupuncture, fertility, IVF