Traditional Chinese Medicine

Posts Tagged ‘yang’

Three plants have been revered in ancient and modern China for their healing properties: ginseng, green tea, and the Ningxia wolfberry. Ancient China is renowned for its rich tradition of natural medicine. Dozens of herbs and spices play a part in the Chinese lexicon, for cooking and for healing. In modern China, three of the most revered plants are ginseng, green tea, and wolfberry. Ginseng was revered in historical China because the root’s forked shape resembled “a little man.” In fact, its name is derived from the Chinese renshen meaning “man root.” It is used as a general tonic and to boost energy and vitality, and is especially good for men. Chinese and Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) is said to carry “yang” or masculine energy, and promotes circulation and warmth; American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), however, has “yin” or feminine energy.
Many people are surprised to learn that green tea is brewed from the same plant as black tea (Camellia sinensis). Only the processing of the leaves differs. Green tea is higher in antioxidants and polyphenols than other teas, and has been promoted to boost the immune system, fight cancer, improve heart health and more. Although the benefits of the polyphenols, catechins and other compounds in green tea have been shown to be helpful, human testing is still ambiguous about whether green tea has the health benefits that sellers claim. No effects of green tea have been scientifically established, perhaps because the caffeine content outweighs potential benefits. However, it remains one of the primary exports of Chinese culture – tea is still of noted ritual importance in China and Japan. Read the rest of this entry »

Traditional Chinese Herb Slows Tumor Growth in Laboratory Testing
Cordyceps mushrooms have proven to reduce radiation and chemotherapy side effects. Now research indicates this Chinese herb can prevent some types of cancer cell growth.

Dong Chong Xia Cao, or Cordyceps sinensis, is Traditional Chinese Medicine used in patients with kidney and lung diseases, as well as to ameliorate the effects of radiation and chemotherapy. A recently published study has shown that an extract of the cordyceps mushroom interferes with the growth of some types of tumor cells. Clinical trials are still needed to determine how best to use this herb in cancer treatment. more
The Use of Cordyceps Sinensis in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Dong Chong Xia Cao, as Cordyceps sinensis is known in TCM, is primarily a kidney yang tonic, warming the body and having anti-aging effects. It is also a lung yin tonic used for respiratory disorders such as coughing, wheezing and bronchitis if the Traditional Chinese Medicine pattern indicates it to be appropriate. Because it is both a yin and yang tonic, it is considered to be one of the safer Chinese herbs, not causing imbalance in the patient. In Western terms, this Chinese herb can be considered an immune stimulant and adaptogen.
How Cordycepin Fight Tumor Growth
Research at the University of Nottingham has shown that the active ingredient, cordycepin, acts on the cellular level to slow the growth of cancer cells. This effect happens at two levels, depending on the dose of the Cordyceps sinensis extract given.
At lower doses, cordycepin interferes with mRNA, which instructs the cancer cell on building proteins. At higher doses the mushroom extract directly impacts the production of protein by the cells. Although these two effects are technically different, both occur because cordycepin interferes with protein production in the cells.
Other Ways These Chinese Mushrooms Are Used in Cancer Treatment
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center’s review of Cordyceps sinensis includes information on its use as an anti–tumor agent. It cites a study in which the mushroom extract ameliorated chemotherapy and radiation side effects in lung cancer patients, enabling them to complete treatment. Other studies showed positive results when using Cordyceps sinensis in treating leucopenia, or low white blood cell counts.
In accordance with its Traditional Chinese Medicine use, patients with respiratory symptoms improved when given Dong Chong Xia Cao. There was also some preliminary evidence for the mushroom extract reducing renal toxicity in kidney transplant and chronic renal failure patients.
Potential Concerns When Considering the Use of Dong Chong Xia Cao
Although there were no reported adverse reactions, it is important to know that certain conditions may be exacerbated by the use of this mushroom extract. As an immune-stimulant, Cordyceps sinensis would be contraindicated for patients with auto-immune diseases.
Cordyceps sinensis may also lower blood sugar levels. Patients taking insulin would be advised not to take this mushroom extract without physician supervision. Similarly, the ability of Dong Chong Xia Cao to stimulate red blood cell production means it may not be appropriate for cancers originating in the bone marrow.
As with other Chinese herbs used in cancer treatment, Dong Chong Xia Cao may be most effective when used in accordance with Traditional Chinese Medical precepts, as has been borne out by recent scientific findings. Used in this way Cordyceps sinensis may prove useful in the treating both tumors and the side effects of the radiation and chemotherapy used to combat them.

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).

Acupressure is a traditional Chinese technique based on the same principles as acupuncture. Unlike Acupuncture, that uses needles to achieve response, acupressure uses gentle but firm physical pressure exerted by hand, elbow, and foot or with the aid of different devices. Pressure is applied to different acupuncture points found on the human body surface to achieve the desired remedial effect. more Many East Asian martial arts extensively use this technique to incapacitate their opponents. As per the historians acupressure is older than acupuncture, but acupressure lost popularity with the advent of acupuncture. Still it continues to be most effective method for the treatment of tension related ailments and pain. While we talk of acupressure and acupuncture we continuously refer to the traditional Chinese principles of acupressure or acupuncture points. The traditional Chinese principles treat the human body as a whole; it represents various jiaos or levels of the ventral body cavity. Any disease is taken as a loss of balance between the yin and yang energies and treatment of disease is attempted by modifying the activity of one or more systems of function. Chinese principle holds that acupuncture or acupressure works by normalizing the free flow of qi (vital energy), blood and body fluids (jin ye) throughout the body. Pain is treated by correcting the local or systemic upsurge or insufficiency. Pain is considered to indicate blockage or stagnation of the flow of qi, blood and/or fluids, the delicate balance between qi and blood is of primary concern in Chinese principle, hence the saying blood is the mother of qi, and qi is the controller of blood. Both qi and blood work together to move and to nourish the body fluids. Acupressure or acupuncture points are located along several layers of pathways, most commonly the twelve primary pathways or meridians, located throughout the body. Beside that other pathways are the eight unusual Pathways Qi Jing Ba Mai, Luo Vessels, the Divergent and the Sinew Channels. Ten of the primary pathways are named after organs of the body, eleventh pathway is named for the membrane that wraps the heart, the last pathway is the ‘three spaces’ (San Jiao). The twelve primary pathways run vertically, bilaterally, and symmetrically and every channel corresponds to and connects internally with one of the twelve organs. There are six yin and six yang channels in all. Out of these, three yin and three yang channels are present on each arm, and three yin and three yang on each leg. All the acupuncture points of a channel lie on its external pathway. The internal pathways are the deep path of the channel where it enters the body cavities and related organs. The external pathways of the twelve channels depict three complete circuits of the body, chest to hands, hands to head, head to feet, feet to chest, etc. There are some electronic devices now available which will make a noise when the correct acupressure/acupuncture point is pressed. As soon as a point is pressed, the muscle tension give way to the pressure, enabling the muscle fibers to stretch and relax, blood to flow freely, and toxins to be released and eliminated. Increased circulation also brings in more oxygen and other nutrients to the affected area. This increases the body’s resistance to illness and promotes a longer, healthier, more vital life. When the blood and bioelectrical energy circulate properly, we have a greater sense of harmony, health, and well-being. The acupressure expert decides which points to treat by observing and questioning the patient in order to make a diagnosis according to the tradition. There are four diagnostic methods: inspection, auscultation and olfaction, inquiring, and palpation. The whole process I relatively pain free. After prolonged finger pressure is applied directly on the pressure point; gradual, steady, penetrating pressure for approximately three minutes on the affected point is ideal. A general guideline is that the pressure should be firm enough so that it hurts between pleasant, firm pressure and outright pain. The middle finger is the longest and strongest of the fingers and is best suited for applying acupressure. The thumb is strong, too, but often lacks sensitivity. The knuckles or fist or other tools can be used according to specific requirements. The rule of thumb is to apply slow, firm pressure on the point at a 90 degree angle from the surface of the skin. It’s important to apply and release finger pressure gradually because this allows the tissues time to respond, promoting healing. After repeated acupressure sessions using different degrees of pressure, the patient will begin to feel a pulse at the point. This pulsation is a good sign, it means that circulation has increased in the affected area. Each body and each area of the body requires a different amount of pressure. At present different kinds of acupressure are being practiced. The same age-old pressure points are used in all of them to date. Varying rhythms, pressures and techniques create different styles of acupressure. Shiatsu, for instance, the most well-known style of acupressure, can be quite vigorous, with firm pressure applied to each point for only three to five seconds. Another kind of acupressure gently holds each point for a minute or more. Pressing with an intermittent, fast beat is stimulating; a slower pressure creates a deeply relaxing effect on the body. Slow motion kneading uses the thumbs and fingers along with the heels of the hands to squeeze large muscle groups firmly. This motion is similar to that of kneading a large mass of dough. This relieves general stiffness, shoulder and neck tension, constipation, and spasms in the calf muscles. Brisk rubbing uses friction to stimulate the blood and lymph. The skin is rubbed lightly to relieve chilling, swelling, and numbness by increasing circulation, as well as to benefit the nerves and tone of the skin. Quick tapping with fingertips stimulates muscles on unprotected, tender areas of the body such as the face. For larger areas of the body, such as the back or buttocks, loose fist is used. This can improve the functioning of nerves and sluggish muscles in the area. Acupressure can be very effective in helping relieve headaches, eyestrain, sinus problems, neck pain, backaches, arthritis, muscle aches, and tension due to stress. It also relieves ulcer pain, menstrual cramps, lower back aches, constipation, indigestion, anxiety and helps you get to sleep at night. The best part of acupressure is – there is no side effect as no drugs or medications are being used.