September 6, 2010 at 3:58 pm
· Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged chinese, herbs, medicine, herb, herbal, remedy, remedies, ibs, irritable, bowel, syndrome, diarrhea
Website Visitor Asks:
Making inquiries about herbal treatment for ibs. My daughter is 24 and has been suffering with diarrhea predominant IBS for about 3 years. We are not sure how it started, gastric flu or glandular fever but it is really ruining her life. Constantly worrying where the nearest toilet is. Symptoms are worse during the time she has her period and she gets very bloated.
Conventional western medicine has been less than useful so we would like to know if herbal remedies would help.
Hi,
We are certainly able to treat IBS effectively in clinic, and herbs are a big part of the treatment plan, but Chinese medicine addresses it many different ways; the ability to differentiate the individual’s imbalance is what makes TCM so effective. If your daughter is able to fill out the online evaluation form fully, I will try to help guide her.
Getting worse during her period could point to Liver Qi Stagnation, and the bloating could be Spleen Qi Deficiency. The diarrhea predominance in IBS often points to a condition called Damp Heat Draining down and we often use Peaceful Warrior and Restore the Middle Way formulas to address this.
Kind Regards,
Catherine
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August 29, 2010 at 8:43 am
· Filed under Answers ·Tagged chinese, herbs, medicine, herb, herbal, tonic, formula, organ, systems, Yin, organs, ageless
A Website Customer Asks:
Please could you tell me what actions the Sage Mountain formula has in Chinese Medicine terms. Thank you
The FDA won’t allow specific actions of herbs on the actual page where they are being sold as they can be considered fraudulent claims. Many of the herbs in the formula are described in more detail on the bottom right hand side of this page:
http://www.agelessherbs.com/healthyaging.html
It is considered a general superior tonic because there are herbs that support all of the major Yin organ systems: heart, lung, spleen, kidney, liver.
Hope that helps,
Catherine
Hello,
Thank you for your reply. I particularly wanted to know if the formula tonifies both kidney yin and yang; and if it nourishes blood?
It does nourish Blood, and is a Kidney tonic…but more neutral.
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August 27, 2010 at 7:46 am
· Filed under Answers ·Tagged chinese, herbs, medicine, qi, herb, herbal, liver, stagnation, heat, fire, formula, anger, frustration, stress, stuck
Website Customer Asks:
I bought the peaceful warrior to detox the liver in the past what is the difference between Free and Easy Wanderer and Peaceful Warrior?
Our Peaceful Warrior formula is used to detox the Liver and contains several very bitter and cold herbs. Bitter herbs stimulate bile flow and removes “Toxic Heat” , or “Liver Fire”, according to Chinese medicine. A Liver Detox has its place, but is too cold energetically to use over a long period of time as it would disrupt the Yin/Yang balance of the body and possibly damage the Spleen. It should be limited to 2-4 months use, and should only be used once per year (ideally in the Spring as this is the Wood Element Season). Exposure to toxins is a common culprit with Liver Fire.
Our Free and Easy Wanderer formula is more neutral (not so cold) and can be taken over a longer period of time to soothe Liver Qi Stagnation. Liver Qi Stagnation is a much more common condition; very few patients come in to clinic without an element of Liver imbalance in the states. Since anger and frustration can lead to Liver Qi Stagnation, it is no surprise that our stressed out society suffers from this condition.
Hope this clarifies,
Catherine
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August 25, 2010 at 2:09 pm
· Filed under Answers ·Tagged herbs, herb, herbal, how to, when to, best way, to take, dose, time of day
A website customer asks:
I always forget to ask this but I have heard it’s VERY important as different herbalists have different thoughts.
When do I take the herbs and can I take them together? …on empty stomach before ….hour after meals or anytime with food or not. And, could I take the 8 pills of the different formulas together, if you know what I’m saying…at the very same time?
I have heard it said many times, that if you put 100 herbalists together, the only thing they would agree on would be to not prepare your herbs in aluminum; same thing for acupuncturists. As you have noted, there are varying opinions about how and when to take your herbs.
Thanks to author Michael Pollan and others who has shed light on the marketing efforts of the food industry, we now understand that breakfast cereal is not necessarily good for us because it contains “all the necessary nutrients” for life. There is a resulting full blown movement to eat whole, local, organic foods and people are coming back to their senses about nourishing themselves; hopefully, this revolution will also take place with herbs soon.
I have seen no measurable difference in clinic with patient taking their herbs at different times, with or without food, or on an empty stomach. I personally sit down with a large glass of water about ½ hour after lunch and take 100 teapills for the day. This works well for me because of my schedule, and I would never get a full dose if I had to remember to dose 3 times per day. The most common advise you see is 1 hour before or after a meal, but I am not convinced that this will change any outcomes.
It is ideal to take our herbs together; there is evidence that herbs or essential oils that are combined create a synergistic effect; the combined effect is greater than the individual effect. Some individuals are sensitive to Qi tonics as they may be too stimulating if taken in the evening. I usually advise patients to take Sea of Qi, or Restore the Middle Way formulas before 5 PM so they do not interfere with sleeping patterns.
Personally, I am just impressed when my patients remember to take their herbs at all; with so many years of clinical work, reality and practicality rules.
In Tea We Trust,
Catherine
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April 27, 2010 at 7:57 pm
· Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged asthma, attack, child, childhood, children, herb, herbal, herbs, kids, safe
Website Visitor Asks:
My daughter is 7 and suffers from asthma. I have recently been doing some research and have realized that her asthma medication has serious side effects and can even suppress her immune system. Furthermore, the medications help to suppress asthma attacks, but I see no indication that the meds are actually curing the asthma and the attacks are becoming more frequent. I am wondering if there are any herbs that are safe for children to use that will treat asthma. Thank you.
Hi,
There are 2 types of herbs that are often used for asthma; those that open the airways for immediate relief, and those that return the lungs to health. Herbs that open the airways include ephedra and grindelia. Ephedra is no longer available in the US because people were abusing it as a diet supplement; this is unfortunate as it really was valuable for those suffering with asthma. Grindelia is a bit hard on the kidneys for little ones and should be used with great care with children.
Because your choices are limited in using herbs for the actual asthma attack, you may have to rely on your inhalers until the lungs are repaired using tonic herbs for lungs. It may take up to a year, but the attacks should lessen and become less severe within 6 weeks of use. Tonic herbs can normalize the lung health, even if the asthma is due to a genetic disposition. Elecampane is one of my favorite tonic herbs for children and can be used along with mullein. Childhood asthma that is related to allergies can be addressed with tonic herbs that normalize the immune system such as eleuthro, and elecampane is also an immune system tonic.
Dosages vary depending on the product you chose. Herbal medicines can include teas, tinctures, glycerites, tablets, capsules, or teapills. Generally, recommended doses are for adults and are based on 165 pounds. Children’s dosages can be determined by their weight devided by an adult dose. It is necessary to dose the child consistently for many months for a great outcome. Most people make the mistake of skipping doses when the child seems better; this will not give the long-term results that will be possible with a more
Getting children to take their herbs can be quite a challenge with the flavors of herbs to consider. None of the herbs mentioned taste horrible, but it will probably require some honey to go down easier if you are using a tea. Glycerites are very sweet and easy to administer. Teapills are much smaller than tablets so they are easier to swallow for kids. One of my favorite ways to dose kids is through an herbal bath or using essential oils such as thyme and orange diluted in their bath water.
There are also several patterns associated with asthma in Chinese medicine.
In Tea We Trust,
Catherine
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April 23, 2010 at 8:32 am
· Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged adrenal, chinese, deficiency, essence, exhaustion, fatigue, herbs, jing, kidney, medicine, tonic
Website Visitor Asks:
Why is adrenal fatigue called “Kidney Deficiency” in Chinese medicine? I know the adrenals sit atop the kidney’s, but I have had my kidneys tested and they are fine.
Hi,
In Chinese medicine, organ systems encompass a complex functional system rather than just the organs themselves. Practitioners trained in Chinese medicine look for patterns of imbalance to determine the underlying “Root” causes that must be addressed in order to bring the body back in to balance. Within this system, the adrenals are part of the Kidney energetic system.
Moreover, the whole syndrome involved with adrenal fatigue, or adrenal exhaustion, points to the depletion of “Essence” that is stored in the Kidneys. Essence is also referred to as “Jing” and is a substance that must be protected and preserved in order to have a prolonged life of good health and wellness. One can have a genetic pre-disposition to an Essence Deficiency, or can burn through the available Essence through poor lifestyle habits; in our culture, the latter is more likely.
Because we are only allowed only a certain amount of Essence at birth, exhausting it can be devastating for our health. This is why those with adrenal fatigue have such a difficult time recovering, often suffering for many years if they do ever fully recover. It is much better to avoid adrenal exhaustion by moderating stress, sleeping well, and eating well, but if you have already been diagnosed with adrenal exhaustion than Kidney Tonic Herbs are one of the best ways to begin to restore your health.
Wishing You Well,
Catherine
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April 22, 2010 at 8:11 am
· Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged chinese, chronic, fibromyalgia, health, herb, herbal medicine, herbs, medicine
Website Visitor Asks:
How long does it take to see a difference using your herb formulas; I have been suffering with fibromyalgia for many years and started taking the Ageless Herbs Minor Blue Dragon formula a few weeks ago and cannot tell a difference.
Hi,
Fibromyalgia is often more difficult than other conditions, but any chronic health condition is going to take time to reverse. I wish that all healing was instantaneous! This would be especially helpful in our rural community acupuncture clinic where the patients are not familiar with natural healing and often have unrealistic expectations.
The FAQ’s page outlines more of what you should expect with natural healing. It is often said that it takes 1 month of natural therapies for each year of affliction, so chronic conditions it can take a long time. This rule does vary greatly from person to person, and I have seen people heal faster expected many times.
I totally understand your frustration and have been known to be a bit impatient myself, but healing is a process; “it takes as long as it takes”, one of my teachers used to say. Addressing emotional issues can also help speed up the process greatly, especially with something like fibromyalgia as emotions are directly related to health issues in Chinese medicine.
Warm Regards,
Catherine
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April 21, 2010 at 6:29 pm
· Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged acid, antacid, Chinese medicine, GERD, herb, herbal, liver qi stagnation, meadowseet, reflux
Website visitor asks:
Are there any great herbal antacids available?
Hi,
My favorite herbal antacid is meadowsweet herb, and we include it in our Stomach Pills formula that addresses an array of digestive issues.
Meadowsweet herb is often misunderstood by practitioners tied to reductionist theories as it contains salicylic acid, the same compound as in aspirin. Actually, salicylic acid was originally isolated from plant compounds such as meadowsweet or willow bark and was then synthesised based on these natural sources.
Because meadowsweet does contain significant levels of a substance linked with causing stomach problems, some well-meaning, mis-informed souls deduce that it must also cause stomach problems. Actually, meadowsweet has been used throughout history to treat ulcers and a host of other stomach problems. As it turns out, the salicylic acid is not broken down and made available until the herb enters the small intestine, so it will not cause the problems that the isolated synthesised aspirin does. This is one of the reasons I advocate whole herbs and why I rely on historical uses of herbs tested over hundreds, and sometimes thousands of years of practical application.
My only issue with using meadowsweet this way is that it often is only a temporary solution that does not address the true underlying imbalances that truly lead to acid reflux or GERD; mainly being Liver Qi Stagnation. Unless herbs that sooth the Liver energetic system are used, those suffering with chronic acid reflux are unlikely to experience prolonged relief.
Best of Health,
Catherine
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December 29, 2009 at 4:23 pm
· Filed under Answers ·Tagged cold, colds, formulas, herb, herbal, herbs, immune, lung, lungs, phlegm, remedies, remedy, system
Website visitor asks:
I have a lot of phlegm in my lungs and I get sick a lot, what will help me get better?
Hi,
We may be looking at 3 separate issues here:
1.) If you are “getting sick a lot”, you may need to address your immune system, or Wei Qi in Chinese medicine, for true healing. Luckily, there are many herbal tonics that restore and strengthen the immune system; one of my favorites is elecampane which is included in our White Tiger Return lung formula.
2.) Since the illness is specific to the Lungs, we can deduce that herbal lung tonics would be appropriate to address Lung Deficiencies and phlegm in the lungs.
3.) A lot of phlegm could be the result of Spleen Qi Deficiency in Chinese medicine. If the Spleen energy is depleted, damp conditions tend to develop in the body. Herbal Spleen tonics such as codonopsis are central in repairing the Spleen function and are also included in the White Tiger Return formula. There are also herbs included such as mullein that are astringent and have a more immediate effect on the phlegm in the lungs.
White Tiger Return formula would address all 3 issues, but if you feel that you require more support, we there is Resilient Warrior formula specific for the immune system and Restore the Middle Way formula for Spleen Qi Deficiency. Also, consider a remedy for short-term use to combat those viruses that pop up before your immune system is repaired such as Evil Airborne Warrior; it will also help with the phlegm in the lungs.
Please let me know if you have questions after perusing the formulas and articles.
Kind Regards,
Catherine
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December 28, 2009 at 8:35 pm
· Filed under Answers ·Tagged chi, chinese, diet, fasting, food, foods, herbs, juicing, lose, loss, medicine, natural, qi, raw, spleen, weight
Website Visitor Writes:
I have been trying to lose weight through a raw foods diet for almost five months now with mixed results; while my weight dropped about 4 pounds in the first few months, I haven’t lost any more weight and my energy level is dropping. Additionally, I am finding that my digestion is becoming irregular. I would appreciate any guidance!
Hi, When speaking of raw foods, a basic Chinese medical theory comes in to play; in Chinese medicine, the Spleen is the organ system in charge of the ‘transformation and transportation of food and fluids’. The Chinese concept of ‘Spleen’ is not merely an organ that helps to cleanse the blood like a large lymph gland, but functionally, the Spleen is central in the utilization of foods.
Chinese medicine is very practical in regards to the way the body actually functions. In Western medicine, many of the theories and deductions that have been formulated relate to the way that information has been gathered; through the lifeless, stagnant cadaver and the dissection of the lifeless body. Chinese medical theory is based on the living organism and a myriad of interrelated functions.
Raw foods diets are not typically seen in traditional systems such as Aurvedic medicine and Chinese medicine, and lack the empirical proof of supporting life over a number of generations. Those going through juicing fasts will often comment that the process is ‘cleaning their system out’. Often, this translates to loose bowel movements removing waste; what is actually occurring is that they are damaging their Spleen function.
Many people become frustrated when trying to live a healthy lifestyle or lose weight because of these contradicting philosophies. If we try to utilize historical uses of herbs and foods to avoid reductionism thinking, we can see that raw foods and juices are best used in moderation. Unfortunately, raw salads, juice, fruits, and iced drinks are a staple in many diets that are reputed to help people improve their health, and possibly maintain a healthy weight. Actually, raw foods best play a minor role, while cooked grains, legumes, steamed vegetables, nuts, and fish would be more beneficial in an overall strategy for sustainable weight loss.
I would suggest utilizing a Spleen Qi tonic to reverse the damage done and to promote healthy weight loss. Please let me know if you have any questions.
My Best,
Catherine
©Catherine Browne 2010
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