April 2009

Key facts

• Influenza is an acute viral infection that spreads easily from person to person.
• Influenza circulates worldwide and can affect anybody in any age group.
• Influenza causes annual epidemics that peak during winter in temperate regions.
• Influenza is a serious public health problem that causes severe illnesses and deaths for higher risk populations.
• An epidemic can take an economic toll through lost workforce productivity, and strain health services.
• Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent infection.

Overview

Seasonal influenza is an acute viral infection caused by an influenza virus.

There are three types of seasonal influenza – A, B and C. Type A influenza viruses are further typed into subtypes according to different kinds and combinations of virus surface proteins. Among many subtypes of influenza A viruses, currently influenza A(H1N1) and A(H3N2) subtypes are circulating among humans. Influenza viruses circulate in every part of the world. Type C influenza cases occur much less frequently than A and B. That is why only influenza A and B viruses are included in seasonal influenza vaccines.

Signs and symptoms

Seasonal influenza is characterized by a sudden onset of high fever, cough (usually dry), headache, muscle and joint pain, severe malaise (feeling unwell), sore throat and runny nose. Most people recover from fever and other symptoms within a week without requiring medical attention. But influenza can cause severe illness or death in people at high risk (see below). The time from infection to illness, known as the incubation period, is about two days.

Who is at risk?

Yearly influenza epidemics can seriously affect all age groups, but the highest risk of complications occur among children younger than age two, adults age 65 or older, and people of any age with certain medical conditions, such as chronic heart, lung, kidney, liver, blood or metabolic diseases (such as diabetes), or weakened immune systems.

Transmission

Seasonal influenza spreads easily and can sweep through schools, nursing homes or businesses and towns. When an infected person coughs, infected droplets get into the air and another person can breath them in and be exposed. The virus can also be spread by hands infected with the virus. To prevent transmission, people should cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing, and wash their hands regularly.

Treatment

Antiviral drugs for influenza are available in some countries and effectively prevent and treat the illness. There are two classes of such medicines, 1) adamantanes (amantadine and remantadine), and 2) inhibitors of influenza neuraminidase (oseltamivir and zanamivir). Some influenza viruses develop resistance to the antiviral medicines, limiting the effectiveness of treatment. WHO monitors antiviral susceptibility in the circulating influenza viruses.

Seasonal epidemics

Influenza epidemics occur yearly during autumn and winter in temperate regions. Illnesses result in hospitalizations and deaths mainly among high-risk groups (the very young, elderly or chronically ill). Worldwide, these annual epidemics result in about three to five million cases of severe illness, and about 250 000 to 500 000 deaths. Most deaths associated with influenza in industrialized countries occur among people age 65 or older. In some tropical countries, influenza viruses circulate throughout the year with one or two peaks during rainy seasons.

Disease effects

Influenza can cause serious public health and economic problems. In developed countries, epidemics can result in high levels of worker absenteeism and productivity losses. In communities, clinics and hospitals can be overwhelmed when large numbers of sick people appear for treatment during peak illness periods. While most people recover from a bout of influenza, there are large numbers of people who need hospital treatment and many who die from the disease every year. Little is known about the effects of influenza epidemics in developing countries.

Prevention

The most effective way to prevent the disease or severe outcomes from the illness is vaccination. Safe and effective vaccines have been available and used for more than 60 years. Among healthy adults, influenza vaccine can prevent 70% to 90% of influenza-specific illness. Among the elderly, the vaccine reduces severe illnesses and complications by up to 60%, and deaths by 80%.

Vaccination is especially important for people at higher risk of serious influenza complications, and for people who live with or care for high risk individuals.

WHO recommends annual vaccination for (in order of priority):

• nursing-home residents (the elderly or disabled)
• elderly individuals
• people with chronic medical conditions
• other groups such as pregnant women, health care workers, those with essential functions in society, as well as children from ages six months to two years.

Influenza vaccination is most effective when circulating viruses are well-matched with vaccine viruses. Influenza viruses are constantly changing, and the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance Network (GISN), a partnership of National Influenza Centres around the world, monitors the influenza viruses circulating in humans. WHO annually recommends a vaccine composition that targets the three most representative strains in circulation.

WHO response

WHO, with its partners, monitors influenza globally, annually recommends a seasonal influenza vaccine composition, and supports Member States efforts to develop prevention and control strategies. WHO works to strengthen national and regional influenza diagnostic capacities, disease surveillance, outbreak responses, and increase vaccine coverage among high-risk groups.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Known in China as a ‘Qi’ tonic, astragalus is one of the most beneficial immune tonics and cancer-fighting herbs. It increases the body’s resistance to disease, strengthens the digestion, and improves the vitality of the immune system. Astragalus increases the ‘bone marrow reserve’, enabling the body to produce more immune effector cells {such as t-cells}, aiding the immune system in its fight against pathogens. In China, health practitioners prescribe astragalus as a daily tonic. Astragalus is often blended with other immune tonics such as ligustrum. Astragalus has a taste of SWEET and a temperature of WARM.

• Treating Cancer with Astragalus
• Treating HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) with Astragalus
• Treating Immune Deficiency with Astragalus
• Treating Spleen Tonic with Astragalus

Astragalus Proper Dose

Astragalus Reference Information

Supporting Research

Leung, A. and S. Foster. 1996. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients. New York: J. Wiley & Sons.

McGuffin, M. et al. 1997. Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton: CRC Press.

Bensky, D. and A. Gamble. 1986. Chinese Herbal Medicine. Seattle: Eastland Press.

http://www.altmd.com/Articles/Astragalus-Herbal-Remedies

Popularity: 8% [?]

http://health.usnews.com/health/best-hospitals/cancer-hospital-rankings/

Popularity: 1% [?]

Leucozepin

Build your immune system-increase white blood cells-

Natural ingredients-reishi mushroom & astragalus

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When someone gets diagnosed with cancer, it’s not only that person who suffers. It’s everyone around them, too! Watching someone you know and love go through chemotherapy is frustrating! You want to help but don’t know what can be done to make the other person happier and healthier. You would do anything in your power to help them get through this difficult time in their life NOW and put it in their past.

By : Dr. Donna Schwontkowski

Certainly there must be something that can be done to help your friend or loved one with cancer.

One solution is all natural herbs that can be used to strengthen the immune system and help regulate blood cell counts. These can be used as an adjunct to chemotherapy and in many cases used the same day that chemotherapy is given.

Just as drugs can affect many of the body systems, so can herbs. For example, one herb, cat’s claw from the Amazon rainforest, boosts white blood cell count and function both 34%, but also has chemical constituents in it for improving depression. In Peru, herbalists sometimes recommend placing the herb underneath the pillow and say that the next morning, a new attitude will be found.

Because of the ability of all natural herbs such as cat’s claw to affect the mind as well as the immune system, this herb is frequently found in all natural herb combination for chemotherapy patients.

Reducing Chemotherapy Side Effects Strengthens the Body

One particular herbal combination I have found recently that has been tested and researched has actions that include activating the natural killer cells that fight against cancer, relieving fatigue and boosting energy levels of those on a treatment program of chemotherapy. What a wonderful combination of benefits from something natural.

This is a major feat in itself because chemotherapy drugs are good at killing cancer cells, but during the process, normal cells are also damaged. When cells are damaged, they need to be repaired and the process can leave one feeling fatigued, weak and also susceptible to infection.

Nausea, vomiting and even pain are also common side effects. About half of chemotherapy patients report that they feel queasy even before the chemotherapy treatment session begins! It’s as if the body remembers feeling nausea from the last treatment session and is getting ready to start feeling the same thing again!

Natural herbal medicine is one of the best choices to reduce chemotherapy side effects because natural herbs often work on multiple body systems simultaneously, supporting the body functions holistically.

One proprietary formula of 15 all natural herbs has shown clinical results in an average of 7 days. The formula has a surprisingly pleasant taste and is reported by many cancer sufferers to change their condition from being bedridden to leading normal lives and even getting back to work.

The herbs included in this formula are:

Ligustrum Lucidum (fruit)

Polygonatum (root)

Poria (seed)

Codonopsis (root)

Psoralea (fruit)

Lycium (fruit)

Astragalus (root)

Dong Quai (root)

Tangerine (fruit peel)

Dendrobium (stem)

Chinese Licorice (root)

Spatholobus (stem)

Rehmannia (root)

Bai-zhu Atractylodes (root)

Reishi Mushroom (whole)

Dozens of research studies have reported that many of the all natural herbs in formulas like this are well known immune stimulators and have anti-cancer properties. They repair cellular damage, important when someone has cancer. Bai-zhu Atractylodes stimulates the two component parts of the immune system, the T cells and the B cells, producing more antibodies and more interferon and is known for its anti-cancer properties. Reishi Mushrooms promote the production of natural killer cells. Because of the actions of these all natural herbs, many cancer patients taking a combination such as this notice relief of anemia, relief of chronic fatigue, and relief from abnormal blood counts.

One of the big keys to recovering from cancer is regaining strength. Once this happens, the cancer patient feels better both physically and mentally and hope sets in.

For more info on herbal formulas that may help reduce chemotherapy side effects, see the website http://www.immuneenhance.com

Dr. Donna Schwontkowski is a master herbalist and a retired chiropractic physician. She is internationally known for her work in the field of herbs. Her website is http://www.drdonna.info

Popularity: 17% [?]

ScienceDaily (May 16, 2007) — Researchers at the University of Warwick have found that the standard British cooking habit of boiling vegetables severely damages the anticancer properties of many Brassica vegetables such as broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower and green cabbage.

Past studies have shown that consumption of Brassica vegetables decreases the risk of cancer. This is because of the high concentration in Brassicas of substances known as glucosinolates which are metabolized to cancer preventive substances known as isothiocyanates. However before this research it was not known how the glucosinolates and isothiocyanates were influenced by storage and cooking of Brassica vegetables.

The researchers, Prof Paul Thornalley from Warwick Medical School at the University of Warwick and Dr Lijiang Song from the University of Warwick’s Department of Chemistry bought Brassica vegetables, (broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower and green cabbage) from a local store and transported them to the laboratory within 30 minutes of purchasing. The effect of cooking on the glucosinolate content of vegetables was then studied by investigating the effects of cooking by boiling, steaming, microwave cooking and stir-fry.

Boiling appeared to have a serious impact on the retention of those important glucosinolate within the vegetables. The loss of total glucosinolate content after boiling for 30 minutes was: broccoli 77%, Brussel sprouts 58%, cauliflower 75% and green cabbage 65%.

The effects of other cooking methods were investigated: steaming for 0–20 min, microwave cooking for 0–3 min and stir-fry cooking for 0–5 min. All three methods gave no significant loss of total glucosinolate analyte contents over these cooking periods.

Domestic storage of the vegetables at ambient temperature and in a domestic refrigerator showed no significant difference with only minor loss of glucosinolate levels over 7 days.

However the researchers found that storage of fresh vegetables at much lower temperatures such as ?85 °C (much higher than for storage in a refrigerator at 4–8 °C) may cause significant loss of glucosinolates up to 33% by fracture of vegetable material during thawing.

The researchers found that preparation of Brassica vegetables had caused only minor reductions in glucosinolate except when they were shredded finely which showed a marked decline of glucosinolate levels with a loss of up to 75% over 6 hours after shredding.

Professor Thornalley said: “If you want to get the maximum benefit from your five portions-a-day vegetable consumption, if you are cooking your vegetables boiling is out. You need to consider stir frying steaming or micro-waving them.”

Popularity: 1% [?]

Naturopathic Doctors Reducing the Side Effects of Standard Cancer Treatments- chemotherapy and Radiation…

As most know, when getting diagnosed with cancer and seeing their Oncologist, they most often recommend chemotherapy and/or radiation. Both of these treatments have vast side effects, including; radiation induced fatigue, burning with urination, bone pain, blood in the urine or stool, nausea, vomiting, peeling of the inner lining of the mouth, peeling of the hands and feet, sores in the mouth and hair loss, to name a few.

These side effects are usually caused by a few things; For patients getting Radiation, they are often told to do a number of weeks, usually 6 weeks of treatment and with constant radiation to one particular part of the body, the burning, irritation, and tenderness usually occurs pretty quickly. Soon after Radiation induced Fatigue will set in.

With Chemotherapy, usually 3-4 cycles are recommended usually providing most of the side effects mentioned above. The problem with chemotherapy is this; chemotherapy usually has its potent killing effect within the first 5-7 days, and then the dose dependent curve of the chemo, in terms of it being effective past one week is greatly reduced. Here begins the problem-is that people are told to do chemotherapy and radiation yet their doctors are not talking with them about what to do to reduce/eliminate the side effects of these treatments.

There are a number of Natural Treatments, including High Dose I.V. therapy, Detox regimens, Supplementation centered around detoxing the liver and colon, diet, Acupuncture, etc that people can do to eliminate/reduce the side effects associated with these drastic conventional Treatments. One such doctor that specializes in Natural Cancer Treatments and Support is Dr. Joe Brown- A Naturopathic Doctor located in Tempe, Arizona.

Dr. Joe Brown has an outpatient Treatment facility in which he works with patients who are doing Conventional Treatment to help them both get throuth the side effects of these treatments and to stimulate their immune system to do what it should have done in the first place before being diagnosed. Dr. Brown’s Treatments center around stimulating the Immune System of people, providing an alkaline diet to alkalinize their body, providing a complete supplement regimen, and providing Treatments from literally around the world to patients. Dr. Brown’s goal is to treat the person with cancer, not just the cancer.

Dr. Joe Brown, N.M.D.
Natural Health Medical Centers – Outpatient Treatment Facility for Cancer Patients-Looking for Natural Treatments
2055 E. Southern Ave., Suite B
Tempe, Arizona 85282
602-421-2613 ph
480-456-8600- Back Line only answered during Business Hours
CancerAlternatives@DrJoeBrown.com
www.DrJoeBrown.com

Emphasis: Cancer – Patients diagnosed with cancer looking for Alternative Treatments

Licensed and Accredited by the State of Arizona
-Winner of the “Princeton’s Top Doctors” -2009, New York
-Winner of the Spirit Award-2008-Presented by Channel 3 T.V.-Good Morning Arizona (http://www.azfamily.com/video/somethinggood-index.html?nvid=258306)
-Alumni Association Ambassador of Southwest College Medical School- Tempe, Arizona
-Past CoHost of 1310 Independent Radio
-Winner of the Hero Award-2008 from 104.7 F.M.-Radio Station, Phoenix Arizona
-Featured in the INCURABLES Series, Satellite & Cable T.V. (Cancer Survivor, Now Cancer Doctor!!)
-Winner of the “Who’s Who in Medicine” – 2008, New York.

www.drjoebrown.com

“There are More Options than chemo and radiation!!”

Popularity: 3% [?]

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Relazovac helps to promote healthy sleep patterns.

Non-habit forming-all natural herbal compound.

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The Health of Your Back Can be a Sign of Your Overall Health! Does Your Back Hurt? You May Need a Lifestyle Adjustment

By: Dr. Tod Sinett And Dr. Sheldon Sinett

Losing weight, changing dietary and exercise habits, and reducing stress may not seem like common prescriptions for treating those aches and pains that may ail your back — but these things often go hand in hand with successful treatment for back pain. This is why successful treatment for back pain means a patient often ends up with benefits way beyond simply a healthier back!

The connection between health and back pain

It’s always interesting to look at the statistics between other areas of health and back pain. Eighty five percent of Americans do not exercise regularly. Eighty five percent of Americans also suffer from back pain. The truth is, back pain is almost always multi-factorial, and not addressing all pieces of the puzzle means managing back pain rather than treating it! There are three main causes of back pain. They are structural: (muscles and bones), nutritional (diet and hormones), and emotional, (stress, anger, resentment, etc.) This dynamic triad is in constant flux. If one side gets thrown off balance, the other sides will be affected as well.

In treating back pain, I always make sure to address each of these areas because they almost always overlap. For example, overweight people tend to have more back pain because of the pressure on their spine (a structural problem). Even though changes in eating habits, such as reducing refined sugars and caffeine, can have their own positive effects on back pain, these healthy dietary changes can also lead to weight loss. And that weight loss alleviates the structural problem of too much pressure, as well. A similar situation is found in smokers. Smoking cigarettes actually causes a structural problem within the back by dehydrating the spinal discs, resulting in serious pain. However, many smokers also lead less healthful lifestyles, including drinking more caffeine and exercising less.

Additionally, high stress levels (emotional) can cause a rise in a hormone called cortisol, leading to inflammation in the body and increased back pain. Combine this with a tendency to eat foods high in sugar caffeine while stressed and you’re just adding more fuel to the fire.

The back door approach

The great thing about a multi-factorial approach is that you can usually work on one aspect of back pain by taking care of another part of the triad — and wind up solving multiple problems at once. This approach of treating the root cause rather than just the symptom is referred to as the “back door approach”. In other words, it’s not always what hurts that is what needs to be fixed! If someone is suffering from back pain from emotional causes, you can use the back door approach and treat the emotional stress to relieve the back pain without ever touching the back. For example, exercise and stretching is a proven stress reliever. So even though exercise might not seem like the best cure for back pain, in this case it might just do the trick. The results are then cyclic — as you reduce stress, back pain becomes lessened, mood improves, you’re less likely to eat sugary foods or reach for caffeine, and so on.

On the same note, someone who has great difficulty changing their diet might fare better by first focusing on structure and stress reduction. When this happens, their cravings for sugary foods are diminished because the body is in better balance. Once again, an effect of the back door approach — by impacting one aspect of back pain you solved the other two.

Patients often ask me for my favorite strategies for managing back pain. Here are the three things that I tell them:
Keep stress levels under control. This means effectively juggling work, family, and personal needs. Over time I have learned that this is one of the areas that most people neglect most. Finding the right ways to deal with stress (which can be different for everyone) is one of the healthiest things that you do for yourself. And remember, if you don’t take care of yourself, it’s more difficult to take care of the people who depend on you.
Maintain dietary balance and decrease overall portion size: Eat a variety of healthful foods, avoid most processed foods, and choose organic whenever possible. I definitely still enjoy an occasional bowl of ice cream, dessert, or potato chips, but always aim for moderation. You’ll find that filling your body with healthful foods leaves little room for the not so healthy stuff! Overeating the wrong, or even the right, foods causes fluctuations in blood sugar and digestive irritation/overload. Unstable blood sugar can cause irregular moods, which leads to stress and inflammation in the body. Digestive irritation and inflammation causes stomach upset, muscles cramps, body aches, and back pain.
Take care of your structure: Get treated once a week by a chiropractor, stretch and exercise regularly, and see a massage therapist about once a month.
I’d like to leave you with this: If you have back pain, embrace the pain and figure out what your body is telling you. You may not like the message, but you can be sure that if you work on the emotional, chemical, and physical aspects of your health, it will be more than your back that feels better!

© 2008 Dr. Tod Sinett and Dr. Sheldon Sinett

Author Bio
Dr. Todd Sinett is the owner of the Midtown Chiropractic Health and Wellness practice in New York City (www.midtownchiro.com), which provides chiropractic care and applied kinesiology, nutritional and supportive counseling, and physical and massage therapy to thousands of individuals, including noted sports figures and celebrities. The center hosts weekend wellness programs and corporate informational seminars and publishes a periodic online newsletter, Balance in the Body (www.balanceinthebody.com). Sinett has appeared as clinical expert on many television programs including The View, FoxMD, and Good Day New York. Visit his website at www.drsinett.com.

For more than forty years, Dr. Sheldon Sinett was a leading chiropractor and pioneer in combining chiropractic medicine with a variety of cutting-edge, holistic practices.

About the Author:

For more information, visit www.thetruthaboutbackpainbook.com.

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Popularity: 1% [?]

Understanding Ovarian Cancer

Author: Lorna Darden

Ovarian Cancer is a women’s disease and it is on the rise. We as women have to take care of ourselves every single day. Even though no matter how much health food we eat and how much we exercise unfortunately, sometimes it’s not enough.

Ovaries are reproductive glands that produce the egg. There is one ovary on each side of the uterus in the pelvis. The egg travels through the fallopian tube and fertilizes into a baby. Ovarian Cancer begins in the ovaries. Many tumors can develop in the ovaries. Most of these are non cancerous, they can be removed by removing part of the ovary, the tumor or the ovary itself. If it is a cancerous tumor it can spread throughout the body and can be more complicated.

Your ovaries have three kinds of tissue:

Epithelial cells that cover the ovary.

Germs cells which are found in the ovary and develop into eggs that are released into the fallopian tube that are released every month.

Stromal cells which develops most of the female’s hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Tumors are named depending on which cells the tumor came from. It could be benign (no cancerous) and cancerous. There three ways to tell what kind of tumor it is by checking all three of tissues.

The Epithelial tumor covers most of the ovary. Most tumors that are found turn out to be this tumor.

The Germ cell tumor comes from part where the eggs develop in the ovary.

Stromal cell tumor comes from the connective tissue that holds the ovaries together.

Epithelial tumors usually do not spread and or lead to serious illness. Malignant tumors are cancerous and can spread to certain parts of the body. Noncanerous tumors are different from malignant cancer they do not grow into the connective tissue and to the stomach. The benign tumor can develop at a young age and even though it can be life-threatening, in most cases it is not. Epithelial ovarian cancer is called carcinomas. 85%-90% of ovarian cancer is epithelial. Here are the different types of ovarian cancer.

Fallopian tube cancer- Is very rare; it usually carries the same symptoms as ovarian cancer. It starts in the tube which carries the egg from the ovary to the uterus. The survival rate is about the same also.

Germ Cell Tumor- The germ cells form the eggs. Some tumors of this sort can be benign. Sometimes it can be life-threatening, only 5% of germ cell tumors are ovarian cancer.

Teratoma- Are germ cell cancers, they are the most common cancers. They usually affect women in their forties and teens, it is called a dermoid cyst, because it looks like skin. It can have different types of tissues like bones, hair and teeth. It can be removed by surgery.

Dysgerminoma- Is a common cancer as well. It affects women in their twenties and teens. It usually is cancerous; some do not grow or grow to fast. About 75% of patients have surgery to remove the ovary if it has spread.

Stromal Tumors- Are mostly found in women in their fifties. These tumors make up about 5%-7% of ovarian cancer. 5% of young girls develop this tumor. The symptoms are abnormal vagina bleeding, something like a period occurring after menopause. This happens because the tumor may cause female hormones; it can also cause breast development and early menstruation in girls.

Ovarian Cysts- Are a build up of fluid in the ovaries. They are usually not life-threatening in women that are ovulating and not going through menopause. If it produces while you are going through menopause and in a girl who has not started having her periods being concerned maybe an option. Your doctor will want to do a check-up after your cycle if you have a cyst. The doctor might want to wait a few months to see if it will go away. The only way to tell if the cyst is malignant, they will have to take it out and examine it. Some cancers can be treated with surgery, chemotherapy, and medications.

Be healthy, know your body and get regular check-ups.

Health and You

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/understanding-ovarian-cancer-717277.html

About the Author:

I’m a wife and mom of three beautiful children. I live in ILLinois USA. I have been an online marketer for two years and have been writing articles for a year. My main subjects are business and health.

Popularity: 4% [?]

• Reduces inflammation

• Pain  & Joint Stiffness
  

• Cramping

By Thomas Garran

Pain is a common response to various types of conditions in the body. Mostly, people experience pain due to physical injury but pain can be caused by arthritis, shingles, cancer, menstrual problems, and many other diseases. The pain response is generally thought to be a way that the body tells the mind that there is a problem. Unfortunately, the sensation of pain is often very difficult to bear and can lead to a variety of health problems in itself such as loss of sleep, depletion of energy, further illness, and a general loss of well-being. This is, of course, not to mention a person’s inability to perform some basic functions in their life such as work, certain physical movements, and even just sitting can be a challenge. This article will address some of the basic causes of pain and how some herbs from Chinese medicine can help to relieve pain.

In Chinese medicine it is said that when there is pain there is stagnation of blood or qi, or both. This roughly means that there are various biological functions of the body that are not flowing smoothly and can often lead to or be the result of inflammatory conditions. For this reason Chinese herbs are used to encourage (quicken) the blood flow and move the qi. At the same time “clearing heat,” i.e. reducing inflammation is a common strategy used to assist in the relieving pain.

There are a number of herbs is Chinese medicine that relieve pain by encouraging the blood flow and moving qi. Of these, Notoginseng, Red Peony, Curcuma rhizome (Turmeric), Ligusticum (Cnidium), Carthamus (Safflower), and Red Sage are some of the most frequently used herbs for encouraging the flow of blood and relieving pain. Notoginseng is probably the most famous for the treatment of pain and is also used to stop bleeding. Turmeric, Red Sage, and Red Peony are used for relieving pain, especially associated with various types of inflammation including, but not limited to arthritis. Red Sage is also very famous for the treatment of various circulatory conditions and is extremely important in the treatment of impaired circulation due to high cholesterol and diabetes. Ligusticum is used for many types of pain and is used extensively for headaches and menstrual pain. Carthamus is used in Chinese medicine for many different types of pain and is considered a very strong herb for encouraging the flow of blood.

Cyperus is one of the most important herbs in Chinese medicine for moving the qi. It is very effective to relieve pain in the abdomen and breasts associated with menstruation. This herb is very often combined with White Peony for menstrual pain and breast tenderness/pain in premenstrual conditions. It is sometimes also combined with Chinese Hawthorn for the treatment of digestive complaints such as pain in the stomach and intestines.

Chinese Licorice is one of the most frequently used herbs in Chinese medicine and is often combined with many of the above herbs to “harmonize” their action. Also, Chinese Licorice is combined with White Peony in a famous formula to relieve abdominal pain due to digestive problems.

Pain is tiring and Astragalus is well known to increase the strength and endurance of the body. Because healing requires strength, Astragalus is a very good herb to help the body endure pain as well as heal from it.

While pain is inevitable in life, suffering is optional. The above herbs are very effective in the treatment of a variety of conditions caused for resulting from pain. They are generally safe and often effective.

• Reduces inflammation
• Pain  & Joint Stiffness
• Cramping

Thomas Avery Garran is a Chinese medicine practitioner with 17 years of experience, a number of articles, and a book, “Western Herbs According Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Practitioners Guide.” His blog is http://sourcepointherbs.blogspot.com .

Popularity: 1% [?]