Traditional Chinese Medicine » time

Seacucumber and Malaria

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 09:37:01 +0000

Malaria is an infectious disease caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium and invade human erythrocytes. Treatment consists of eradication of malaria causes malaria vectors (mosquitoes Anophelini) and medical treatment to patients. However, when this happens a lot of vector resistance to pesticides and anti-malarial drug resistance is widespread and progressive. Development of vaccines for prevention efforts are also made, but until now there is no vaccine that can be used.

The malaria parasite’s life cycle consists of exogenous sexual phase (sporogoni) in Anophelini mosquitoes and asexual phase (skizogoni) in vertebrate hosts including humans. In Anophelini mosquitoes, Plasmodium will happen ookinet formation of micro-and makrogametosit in the midgut and then will develop into sporozoites that ended in the mosquito salivary glands Anophelini.

Sea cucumber (Cucumaria echinata) is one of the class Holothuroidea Invertebrate sea. These animals contain many beneficial substances, such as: collagen, mineral, mucopolysaccharide, vitamins, protein lectin, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), dekosaheksaenoat acid (DHA) and amino acids. Lectins are proteins that bind specifically carbohydrates. Lectin CEL-III (Cucumaria echinata lectin-III) is one type lectin specific form of galactose / N-acetylgalactosamine (Gal / GalNac) isolated from Cucumaria echinata body fluid.

CEL-III has hemolytic activity and cytotoxicity against malaria parasites by forming ion-permeable through the pores in the membrane of target cells (erythrocytes) by the binding of carbohydrate chains by N-terminal part of CEL-III. CEL-III also acts as a poison against the ookinet and induce cells to undergo apoptosis. So that CEL-III can inhibit the life cycle of the parasite in the mosquito Anophelini.

This is done by way of establishment of transgenic mosquitoes that combines Anophelini sea cucumber lectin gene with part of a mosquito gene so that the mosquito would release lectin into its gut during feeding. CEL-III protein on the malaria vectors is expected to be the best solution in the treatment of malaria interventions.

Coffee into traditional Chinese medicine

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:28:56 +0000

To discuss coffee’s classification into traditional Chinese medicine energetics I prefer to look at its actions and side effects. Increased alertness/energy, diuretic, diaphoretic, and purgative. The last three are easy to classify as drain dampness, resolve exterior and mild purgative. Classifying increased energy I think can mistakenly be classified as a Qi tonic. I mention mistakenly as I do not see coffee having any supplementing energies. If it were supplementing like Ren Shen or Huang Qi then I would expect over time that coffee would build your Qi and stamina. This is not the case. Once the effect of coffee wears off you are tired again and often more tired needing more coffee. I think coffee is borrowing from your jing and this is experienced as an increase in energy. Over time continuous coffee consumption will deplete your Jing and causes more fatigue. Bob Flaws explains how coffee can cause the stirring of ministerial fire giving you a sense of increased energy. more
To Quote Bob Flaws: It is also possible for ministerial fire to stir frenetically simply due to too much stirring. This means mental-emotional, verbal, and/or physical stirring. All stirring or movement is the expression of the activity of yang qi, and all the yang qi of the body is rooted in the life gate fire. Stirring consumes yang qi at the same time as it transforms and consumes yin essence. In particular, stirring of heart and/or liver fire due to emotional stress, excitement and anger or the stirring of excessive sexual desire and activity may stir ministerial fire to flame upward and become hyperactive above. Last but not least, many so-called recreational drugs which are acrid, warm, up bearing, out-thrusting, and scattering may also cause upward stirring of ministerial fire. – This includes marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, opiods, and hallucinogens. It also includes coffee, alcohol, and tobacco.
Bob Flaws has referenced from somewhere that coffee is acrid, warm, up bearing, out-thrusting, and scattering. My question is how does this description explain the diuretic and purgative affect?
Coffee is acrid, warm, up bearing, out-thrusting, and scattering may also cause upward stirring of ministerial fire according to Bob Flaws. Knowing Bob, he came to this conclusion through detailed analysis and appropriate references to respected Chinese medicine sources and journals.
This description explains how it can give a sense of increased energy and act as a diaphoretic. Any comments how the traditional Chinese medicine classification of Coffee above explains the purgative and diuretic effect?
According to traditional Chinese medicine herbal theory, which channel(s) do(es) coffee have an affinity for? This is often a contentious subject within traditional Chinese medicine since many of the main effects of coffee are related to its ability to affect the mind (i.e. inducing wakefulness and insomnia, reducing anxiety, and enhancing cognition). And since, according to traditional Chinese medicine, the mind is housed in the heart, it may appear that coffee is primarily directed to the heart channel. However, it is in my opinion that the tropism of coffee is primarily the liver, secondarily for the heart, and kidneys. The five-element theory illustrates the effect that coffee has on these three channels/organs. The liver over taxes from its mother element, the kidneys. In turn, the liver generates excessively with its child element, the heart.
I agree that coffee’s flavor is predominantly acrid and that its energy is very warm. Acrid herbs that enter the Liver act to up bear (another example is chai hu). Chai hu is acrid and cool, and it up bears qi. Coffee is acrid and warm and seemingly up bears the yang. This up bearing of yang is transferred to the heart where it arouses the mind, which leads to wakefulness, or insomnia, etc.
It is difficult to fit coffee neatly into a Chinese herbal category. It appears that coffee regulates the qi, while at the same time warms the interior. Generally, acrid herbs for releasing the exterior have affinities for the lung (the most superficial organ), or the bladder (the most superficial channel, taiyang). Even though coffee is considered to possess diaphoretic and diuretic actions, I do not think coffee has affinities for either the lung or bladder, and therefore would not be a particularly effective herb for releasing the exterior. Nor does coffee conform to the downward draining purgatives and laxatives categories, despite promoting bowel movements.
The grounds for coffee’s diaphoretic, diuretic, and purgative actions are less orthodox. From extensive self-experimentation, I understand that the diaphoretic action of coffee is a property that relates to coffee overdose. That is, an excessive consumption of coffee brings about diaphoresis, along with a host of other adverse effects: jitters (stirring of liver wind), and anxiety (disturbed mind). Diaphoresis and anxiety occur when coffee’s dispersing action excessively diffuses heart qi. The diuretic and purgative actions for the most part stem from the over taxation of the kidney and less so from any direct action on the fu organs. This seems a reasonable explanation, since the kidney controls the lower two orifices (1).

Pregnancy and Chinese medicine

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:26:02 +0000

Traditionally in China, when once people got married, they would immediately get ready for having a baby. That is why symbolic things such as dolls or lotus seeds would be put on the beds of the newly weds on their wedding day so as to bring in the meaning of having a baby as soon as possible.

When once a married woman becomes pregnant, things for the baby will start to be prepared. Prams, cot, baby clothes, etc will be readily prepared to welcome the arrival of the new born. more
From now on, the health of the mother is of utmost importance. Therefore, the mother should reduce her workload, eat healthily, and employ prenatal education. Prenatal education has come into being for over 2000 years in China. It was believed that a good pregnant mother should eat only meat which was cut only in square cubes, sit only on properly built chairs, walk without a sway, talk softly, etc. By doing so, the fetus would be able to learn the most valued virtues. Although in present days the above mentioned practice is no longer common, pregnant women in China still behave very carefully so as not to do anything which affects the fetus. Still now most people believe that the structure of the house or flat should not be changed while a woman in the house is pregnant since it will cause the fetus no good but harm.
Chinese Pregnancy- The first month after giving birth
The first month after giving birth is very important for a mother. She needs the most rest and the best nutrition. Otherwise, her body will not be able to recover and can easily get ill. In this month, she can’t go outdoors, can’t be exposed to wind, can’t wash with cold water, can’t drink cold water, can’t read books etc. However, if a mother really has to wash herself, she should do so by using water boiled with dried ginger skin. In some places in China, a mother must not wash her hair because otherwise she will get a chronic headache.
Compared to the west, western women can leave home after a week of giving birth and can go to work after two weeks. It is unimaginable in China.
In China, after giving birth, a woman should eat plenty of fish soup and pig knuckle soup. The pig knuckle soup is boiled for a long time with ingredients such as a lot ginger, eggs, pig knuckles in plenty of sweet black vinegar. It is believed that this soup can compensate for the loss of calcium and other nutrients needed by the body. It is a tradition to give out and share such soup to friends and relatives but one can only do so twelve days after the baby is born. Chicken is also ideal for meals after giving birth. In order to help a mother to recover from giving birth, it is recommended that she should eat rice cooked with ginger daily since it can enhance all bodily circulation. Apart from the above, it is also a tradition that after the baby has been born for one lunar month, eggs dyed red should be given to friends and relatives. However, anything salty should be avoided since it will hinder the production of breast milk of a mother.
It is only after the baby has weaned then the mother can start considering controlling her body weight.
Some practices may seem quite unimaginable. However, they are still practiced in most places in China. Even in Hong Kong, women would follow the above traditions as long as family expectations are involved.

Black Pepper as Cancer medicine

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:23:49 +0000

Black Pepper May Enhance Curcumin Based Cancer Stem Cell Treatment
Two kitchen spices, long used in Traditional Chinese Medicine herbal formulas, work in synergy against breast cancer in initial laboratory testing. Clinical trials needed
Turmeric, yu jin in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and black pepper, TCM’s hu jiao, are found in formulas dating back thousands of years. Western medical research has been attempting to find the active ingredients in Chinese herbs such as these but this process ignores the value of synergistic actions between herbs. The results of a recent study reinforce the importance of the TCM concept of combining appropriate herbs for more effective treatment. more
How Hu Jiao and Yu Jin Are Used in Chinese Medicine
Yu Jin (Curcuma longa, tuber) is a cool Blood Invigorating herb in TCM. It has been used to reduce the pain of traumatic injury and reduce healing time. Western style studies of yu jin have shown it to alleviate jaundice and pain, as well as reducing enlarged livers in viral hepatitis cases.
Hu jiao (Piperis nigri, fruit) is considered a Warm the Interior and Expel Cold Herb. Herbs in this category are used for those who have a tendency to feel cold, have poor digestion and slow pulses. It has been used effectively in treating chronic diarrhea in children and in some types of chronic nephritis. Both are used in Chinese herbal formulas for some types of cancer.
Turmeric and Black Pepper Medicinal Properties in Western Terms
Curcumin from turmeric has been shown inhibit some types of inflammation, slow breast cancer cell production of telomerase,an enzyme important to continued cell growth and division, and to stimulate apoptosis or natural cell death. It also slows angiogenesis, the production of blood vessels which supply the tumor. And turmeric appears to have a protective effect during chemotherapy and radiation treatments
Black pepper’s role in cancer treatment is two fold. First, it increases the bioavailability of other spices such as turmeric. Black pepper also inhibits some of the inflammatory cytokines produced by the tumor cells, which has a secondary effect of slowing tumor progression.

The University of Michigan Breast Cancer Stem Cell Study
The initial study has shown that the combination of curcumin, from turmeric and piperine from black pepper work synergistically to decrease breast cancer stem cells while not negatively affecting normal cells. This study was done using cell cultures so results are preliminary. The Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Michigan is now planning its first clinical trials to see whether the effects are the same in women taking the curcumin – piperine combination orally.
Potential Concerns About the Use of Yu Jin and Hu Jiao to Treat Breast Cancer
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, herbs are evaluated for their individual properties and for their interaction with other herbs. Some are synergistic, as has been seen in the breast cancer stem cell study and this may be used to advantage in cancer therapy.
But the TCM properties of the herbs may make them less effective for different people. Both hu jiao and yu jin are contraindicated in some types of Yin Deficiency, a common deficiency in menopausal women.
If the clinical trials indicate these spices are useful in treating breast cancer, women who have a reaction to them due to Yin Deficiency issues will have the option of consulting a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner for a personalized formula to further support the body during cancer treatment.