Herbal Medicine

WebMd.com seems to really like acupuncture based on the idea that it can do very little (to no) harm and has some positive research. The complex topic of herbs with cancer they do not look on favorably. This is not surprising given the fact that there is so much misinformation and fear/caution about herbal treatments with cancer patients. When I work with a cancer patient I am communicating with the patients’ doctor so as not to interfere with conventional treatment and keep the Dr. apprised of what may be helping the patients. There are however, many “non-interfering” periods of cancer treatment where complimentary can be of use.

Acupuncture can be used nearly all the time. Although there is a theoretical caution about using acupuncture when white blood cell counts are low due to possible risk of infection.

Herbs, supplements can be used for a cancer patient safely when prescribed properly in all the following situations

• Before and during intervals of conventional treatment
• When a patient is not receiving treatment
• During conventional treatment to relieve side effects. The research seems mostly weak describing ways to take supplements to improve chemotherapy treatment efficacy.
  
• pre surgery preparation, recovery from surgery
  
• Post treatment side effects
• prevention
  

Treating a cancer patient with herbs and acupuncture is not just about treating cancer. By law I am not allowed to do this. However, within the diagnositic scope of my License as a California Acupuncturist I diagnose blood stagnation, phlegm accumulation, organ imbalances and other variations. The remarkable thing is that this approach to balancing the body that is germane to Chinese Medicine has tremendous benefit to patients and has for a very long time. While the oncologist tends to be focused on disease, I am focused on balancing the patient. Both have a place in the care of cancer patients. Alex

Also called alternative medicine, is the complementary approach a new model for Western medicine?

A few years ago, if you asked your oncologist for a referral to a masseuse, she’d think you were joking. But things have changed. Nowadays, your oncologist might be prescribing the massage — along with acupuncture, herbs and other therapies.

It’s a sign of a new trend: complementary medicine (also called integrative medicineintegrative medicine) is making its way into the mainstream, combining standard medical treatments with complementary ones. Some hospitals have even set up entire integrative medicine centers — largely because of patient demand.

“Patients love it,” says Simone Zappa, RN, an administrator in the Integrative Medicine Department at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. “And they love it because it works.”

Complementary treatments help many people with cancer. Massage, acupuncture, and hypnosis are being used along with radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery. These complementary therapies aren’t usually intended to treat the cancer itself. But they can ease side effects and improve quality of life. They may even reduce the amount of medicine you need for treatment.

What’s more, some of these treatments have been shown to work in scientific studies. The gulf between evidence-based Western medicine and traditional therapies is not as wide as it once was. And many people with cancer are benefiting.

Understanding Complementary Medicine

Complementary medicine includes dozens of treatments that have not been generally used in Western medicine. They extend from nutritional changes, to biofeedback, to yoga.

Experts stress that complementary or integrative medicine is not the same as “alternative medicine.” Complementary medicine for cancer is a complement — not a replacement — for traditional treatments like radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery. It’s an important distinction, since only conventional therapies have been shown to fight cancer.

People with cancer seek out complementary medicine for many reasons. Zappa says that, at Sloan-Kettering, she most often sees people suffering from pain, nausea, depressiondepression, anxiety, and fatiguefatigue. Some are wary of the unusual approach at first. But most are convinced after they try it, says Zappa. “What’s great about the integrative approach is that it gives back a feeling of control.”

Complementary Medicine’s New Converts

For hardened skeptics, phrases like “traditional healing techniques” and “alternative medicine” conjure up images of magic crystals and the smell of incense. But in fact, the people researching complementary medicine — and sometimes even practicing it — are likely to be wearing lab coats.

“The people doing this work are not crackpots,” says Heather S. Shaw, MD, co-director of the Integrative Oncology Program at Duke University. “I’m an oncologist and I spend a lot of my time parked on a laboratory bench doing research.”

Indeed, hospitals with complementary medicine divisions are spearheading research. Experts are using the same rigor in evaluating complementary therapies that they would in testing drugs or surgery. It’s not enough to assume that a treatment works just because it’s been used for thousands of years. Doctors want evidence.

After seeing the benefits of complementary medicine, many doubting oncologists have been convinced.

“My colleagues used to think I was nuts,” Shaw says. “They teased me about prescribing so-called ‘herbs and spices’.” But now her fellow doctors are always asking her advice on new ways to help their patients.

The Integrative Approach: Is It Proven?

Of course, here’s the big question: do we know if complementary medicine really works?

The answer: It depends on the specific treatment. Acupuncture and massage — which not so long ago were considered pretty far-out — have been shown to help. Many studies have shown that acupuncture eases chemotherapy nausea, while other studies suggest acupuncture and massage may reduce pain from cancercancer or its treatment.

“A lot of oncologists don’t see acupuncture or massage as ‘alternative medicine’ anymore,” says Shaw. “These therapies are so well established that they’ve become standard.”

Other complementary techniques aren’t as well researched. So when a treatment is unproven, the question is whether its potential benefits outweigh its risks. If it’s risky, it isn’t used. But if the risks are very, very low, doctors may be more open.

“If a treatment is safe but unproven, why not give it a try if the patient is interested?” says David S. Rosenthal, MD, medical director of the Center for Integrated Therapies at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

Things get trickier with herbal and botanical supplements. Despite their wide popularity, few have been shown to be either safe or effective against cancer. On the other hand, some have been shown to be both ineffective and unsafe. One example is laetrile, which contains a substance found in the pits of some fruits. The active ingredient seems to be cyanide, and it has resulted in symptoms of cyanide poisoning. Some common supplements — like St. John’s wort and high doses of vitamin C — can interact with chemotherapy and radiation.

“You have to be very careful with botanical and herbal supplements,” says Zappa. “They are real drugs and we just don’t know a lot about them.” She hopes future research will show benefits. But for now, she and other experts urge caution. Given the risks, your doctor must know about all of the herbs, botanicals, and supplements you use.

Will My Insurance Pay for Complementary Medicine?

By and large, insurance companies don’t cover complementary care. Specifics vary with each insurer and from state to state. For instance, acupuncture is covered in some states but not others, says Rosenthal.

For now, most complementary medicine is provided on a fee-for-service basis. But advocates of integrative medicineintegrative medicine say this is likely to change.

“A lot of us are doing research now that, we hope, will show the benefits of these therapies,” says Rosenthal. “Once we have the evidence, we can make a case to the insurance companies.”

Shaw agrees. “We’re hoping to show that these treatments will actually save insurers money,” she says. “They may reduce hospitalizations and drug costs.”

Finding a Complementary Medicine Caregiver

A lot of people may offer “complementary medicine.” But how do you know if they’re reputable? It’s hard to be sure.

You’re lucky if you live near a teaching hospital with a complementary or integrative medicine center. Many offer complementary services right in the hospital. If you’re not close to such a center, talk to your doctor. He or she may know of people practicing complementary medicine in your area.

You should also look for credentials. For instance, acupuncturists should either have an LAc or be a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, says Shaw. You can see if your state licenses acupuncturists and other providers. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine has tips for finding qualified caregivers.

Shaw has two rules of thumb when judging good complementary medicine providers. First, they will not make any claims to cure cancercancer. Second, they will not try to convince you to stop conventional therapy. If a practitioner does either, you should find someone else.

There’s also the flip side. If you are interested in complementary therapies, it’s important your oncologist be open to them. Not every doctor is. Some flat out demand that their patients stop using all complementary therapies, since they don’t know enough about them, says Shaw.

“If you want complementary therapies and your oncologist is adamantly opposed to them, you might want to find someone else,” says Shaw. “There are a lot of open-minded oncologists out there who will help you.”

But Zappa predicts that opposition to integrative medicine will become more and more rare.

“People in medicine are scientists, and scientists rightly need proof that treatments work,” she tells WebMD. “But now we finally have a lot of good research coming out. Once the research is out there, no one can ignore it. These treatments really do help people feel better.”

©2005-2007 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved.
WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

This study demonstrates that the classic chinese herbal formula Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang (Remove Stasis from the blood mansion) increases hematopoietic stem cells. In TCM terms this formula activates blood and has many uses for patterns of blood stagnation. Modifications of this formula could really be of use for folks that are suffering from bone marrow suppressed anemias. Good to know. Alex

Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2007 Jun;27(6):527-30.LinkOut

[Experimental study on effect of xuefu zhuyu decoction on bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells of mice]

[Article in Chinese]

Gao D, Lin JM, Zheng LP.

Fujian College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (XFZYD) on the number, phenotype, cell cycle and colony formation of bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) in mice. METHODS: Kunming mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: the control group, the low- (3.25 g/kg), middle- (6.5 g/kg) and high-dose (13.0 g/kg) XFZYD groups. After they were medicated by gastrogavage respectively with saline or corresponding dose of XFZYD for 7 days, their bone marrow HSC were separated and counted. The phenotype Sca and cell cycle of HSC were detected by flow cytometer, and the colony formation was determined with semisolid methyl media culture. RESULTS: No obvious difference in the number of mononuclear cell, suspended cell and colony production was found among all the groups (P > 0.05); while the expression of CD34 and Sca-1 increased in the low-dose XFZYD group, but in the middle-dose XFZYD group increase only showed in Sca-1 expression. CONCLUSION: XFZYD plays a role of removing blood stasis and promoting regeneration through improving hematopoietic function by means of increasing the number and enhancing the function of premature HSC.

PMID: 17633366 [PubMed - in process]

Related Links

• Changes in integrin expression are associated with altered homing properties of Lin(-/lo)Thy1.1(lo)Sca-1(+)c-kit(+) hematopoietic stem cells following mobilization by cyclophosphamide/granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. [Exp Hematol. 2002]
• [Effects of xuefu zhuyu decoction on functions of vascular endothelium in patients with unstable angina pectoris] [Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao. 2006]
• [Generation of CD34+/Sca-1+ cells from mouse embryonic stem cells with two-step differentiation in vitro] [Zhonghua Er Ke Za Zhi. 2004]
• [Effect of xuefu zhuyu decoction on function of platelet and endothelial cell] [Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 1999]
• [The effect of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in granulocyte colony stimulation factor-induced stem cell mobilization] [Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2006]

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Was medizinische plants?Plants Form die Hauptbestandteile von Medizin
in den traditionellen Systemen des Heilends sind und sind die Quelle
der Inspiration für einige pharmazeutische hauptsächlichdrogen
gewesen. Ungefähr 50.000 Sorten höhere Betriebe (ungefähr 1 in 6
aller Sorten) sind medizinisch verwendet worden. Dieses stellt bei
weitem den größten Gebrauch der natürlichen Welt in Zahl der
species.Most Sorte ausgedrückt werden verwendet nur in der
Volksmedizin, traditionelle Systeme der formalen Medizin mit
verhältnismäßig wenigen dar (z.B. 500-600 allgemein in der
traditionsgemäß chinesischen Medizin). Herum 100 Betriebssorten
haben erheblich zu den modernen Drogen beigetragen. Der Gebrauch der
medizinischen Betriebe erhöht sich weltweit, bezogen auf der Ausdauer
und manchmal der Expansion der traditionellen Medizin und einem
wachsenden Interesse an Kräutertreatments.Do sind sie work?There
vorhandene die Kräutermedizin dieser Anspruch, zum fast jeder
allgemeinen Beanstandung zu behandeln, aber es gibt normalerweise
begrenzten wissenschaftlichen Beweis, den diese bearbeiten. Einige
Kräuterbehandlungen sind hergestellt und haben irgendein klinisches
testing.Eat durchgemacht, das gesund ist, sind gesund: Alle wir kennen
den Wert des Essens der gesunden Nahrungsmittel für ihr Vitamin und
Mineralgehalt. Jedoch in den letzten Jahren haben Wissenschaftler
entdeckt, daß es Hunderte Substanzen in der Nahrung gibt, die Heilend
und Krankheitverhinderung properties.So haben, warum, wenn es
Nahrungsmittel gibt, die viele unserer allgemeinen Unpäßlichkeiten
heilen, haben wir nicht mehr über sie gehört? Möglicherweise ist
es, weil, gerade da wir eine Schnellimbißgesellschaft geworden sind,
wir auch eine schnelle Heilunggesellschaft geworden sind. Wir suchen
immer nach der einfachen Weise, Krankheiten zu kurieren und zu
verhindern, indem wir gerade eine Pille knallen. Würde nicht es
besser sein, natürliche Hilfsmittel zu benutzen? Hilfsmittel ohne
Nebenwirkungen, Krankheiten kurieren und verhindern?
Selbstverständlich wurde es! Das ist, warum ich entschied, diesen
Artikel zu schreiben. Ist hier zu einem gesuenderen Leben!.
Natürliche Harbal Medizin für gute Gesundheit und Eignung -
http://www.natural-herbal-meds-4-cure.com/

Was medizinische plants?Plants Form die Hauptbestandteile von Medizin
in den traditionellen Systemen des Heilends sind und sind die Quelle
der Inspiration für einige pharmazeutische hauptsächlichdrogen
gewesen. Ungefähr 50.000 Sorten höhere Betriebe (ungefähr 1 in 6
aller Sorten) sind medizinisch verwendet worden. Dieses stellt bei
weitem den größten Gebrauch der natürlichen Welt in Zahl der
species.Most Sorte ausgedrückt werden verwendet nur in der
Volksmedizin, traditionelle Systeme der formalen Medizin mit
verhältnismäßig wenigen dar (z.B. 500-600 allgemein in der
traditionsgemäß chinesischen Medizin). Herum 100 Betriebssorten
haben erheblich zu den modernen Drogen beigetragen. Der Gebrauch der
medizinischen Betriebe erhöht sich weltweit, bezogen auf der Ausdauer
und manchmal der Expansion der traditionellen Medizin und einem
wachsenden Interesse an Kräutertreatments.Do sind sie work?There
vorhandene die Kräutermedizin dieser Anspruch, zum fast jeder
allgemeinen Beanstandung zu behandeln, aber es gibt normalerweise
begrenzten wissenschaftlichen Beweis, den diese bearbeiten. Einige
Kräuterbehandlungen sind hergestellt, und haben irgendein klinisches
gesundes testing.Eat sind Healthy:We durchgemacht, die alle den Wert
des Essens der gesunden Nahrungsmittel für ihr Vitamin und
Mineralgehalt kennen. Jedoch in den letzten Jahren haben
Wissenschaftler entdeckt, daß es Hunderte Substanzen in der Nahrung
gibt, die Heilend und Krankheitverhinderung properties.So haben,
warum, wenn es Nahrungsmittel gibt, die viele unserer allgemeinen
Unpäßlichkeiten heilen, haben wir nicht mehr über sie gehört?
Möglicherweise ist es, weil, gerade da wir eine
Schnellimbißgesellschaft geworden sind, wir auch eine schnelle
Heilunggesellschaft geworden sind. Wir suchen immer nach der einfachen
Weise zu kurieren und Krankheiten, indem man gerade ein pill.Wouldn’t,
zu verhindern knallt ist es besser, natürliche Hilfsmittel zu
benutzen? Hilfsmittel ohne Nebenwirkungen, Krankheiten kurieren und
verhindern? Selbstverständlich wurde es! Das ist, warum ich
entschied, diesen Artikel zu schreiben. Ist hier ein zur gesuenderen
life!.Natural Harbal Medizin für gute Gesundheit und Eignung -
http://www.natural-herbal-meds-4-cure.com/

Eat healthy are HealthyWe, which all the value of the meal of the
healthy food for their vitamin and mineral content. However in the
last years scientists discovered that there are hundreds substances in
the food, which welfare-end and to disease prevention characteristics
have. So why, if food, which heals many of our general indispositions,
has us does not belong there more over it? Possibly them, because,
straight became we there a high-speed lunch company, are we also a
fast healing company became. We always look for the simple way to
prevent diseases to couriers and by slamming a straight pill. Fair
view of the increasing number of ADS of television set and in the
magazines for drugs. Frequent the side effects are to be prevented
more badly than the illness, which they are meant, around or to
couriers! Wouldn’t it be better to use natural aids? Aids without side
effects, diseases couriers and prevent? It became of course! That is,
why I decided to write this article. It is here to the healthier
life!.In new years which discovered scientists that food contains
“phytochemicals”, which is a fantastic name for naturally occurring
chemicals. This is not the same, as nutrients, which all we know,
which are substances, which for supporting life.Natural Harbal of of
medicine for good health and suitability -
http://www.natural-herbal-meds-4-cure.com/ are necessary

Some Useful and Common Herbal Medicine

Herbal medicine is the oldest form of healthcare known to mankind. Herbs had been used by all cultures throughout history. It was an integral part of the development of modern civilization.

Herbal medicine is the use of plant and herb extracts for their therapeutic value. Most plants contain and produce chemical substances that aid in healing and other physical treatments.

The following list of common herbs is an example of possible health benefits for treating some ailments.

Chamomile
This herb is popular as a tea and can calm nerves, relieve stomach distress, prevent ulcers, and help fight infection. Chamomile may be used to relieve morning sickness during pregnancy.

Dong Quia
Dong quai has been used in Asia for thousands of years as a tonic for the female reproductive system. It also balances and strengthens the female organs and regulates their functions.

Feverfew
Several studies confirm feverfew’s value in preventing migraines. Feverfew may be used as an anti-inflammatory for relief of arthritis, to relieve some types of menstrual problems, and as a digestive aid.

Garlic
More than 1,000 scientific studies have shown health benefits of garlic. Garlic has been used as protection against colds and flu. In addition, garlic may help lower cholesterol, prevent blood clots, reduce blood pressure and protect against bacterial and fungal infections.

Ginger
Ginger has been used for centuries to control nausea and for reducing inflammation.

Goldenseal
Goldenseal may be used to reduce colds, flu and other respiratory infections especially at the beginning of infection. Goldenseal has both anti-infective and immune-system stimulating properties that may shorten the course of the illness.

Licorice
Licorice is an important herb for treating a host of ailments. It may help as an anti-inflammatory and to soothe stomach upset and control coughs. Licorice Root has properties similar to cortisone and estrogen. It stimulates the adrenal glands and may help the body cope with stress.

Peppermint
Peppermint oil calms the stomach, the intestinal tract, and the nervous system. It can also reduce the inflammation of nasal passages and relieve muscle pains.

Some of us have this misconception that because herbal medicines are natural, they are 100% safe. This is not true all the time. The best defense against the possible side effects herbal medicines might give is to educate ourselves with the basics on the herbal medicine in question and to use it with caution.

Natural Harbal Medicines for Good Health and Fitness – http://www.natural-herbal-meds-4-cure.com/

Eat Healthy be Healthy

Eating at least three servings of wholegrain foods each day could reduce your risk of heart disease and certain cancers by up to 30 per cent

Crucial to the idea of a balanced diet is including foods in the right proportions; the aim is to get all the nutrients your body needs while maintaining a healthy weight. The US government provides a basic idea of what nutrients we need. It isn’t a case of having roughly equal measures of everything.

There should be a lot of some foods and just a little of others. Some fats and oils, for example, are important in the diet for various reasons, including absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. But you only need a small amount compared with foods such as vegetables

We all know the importance of eating healthy foods for their vitamin and mineral content. However, in recent years, scientists have discovered that there are hundreds of substances in food that have healing and disease prevention properties.

So why, if there are foods that will heal many of our common ailments, have we not heard more about them? Maybe it’s because, just as we’ve become a fast food society, we’ve also become a fast cure society. We’re always looking for the easy way to cure and prevent diseases by just popping a pill.

Just look at the increasing number of ads on TV and in magazines for drugs. Often the side effects are worse than the disease they’re meant to prevent or cure!

Wouldn’t it be better to use natural remedies? Remedies with no side effects, to cure and prevent diseases? Of course it would! That’s why I decided to write this article. Here’s to a healthier life!.

In recent years scientists have discovered that foods contain “phytochemicals”, which is a fancy name for naturally occurring chemicals. This is not the same as nutrients, which we all know are the substances necessary for sustaining life.

Natural Harbal Medicines for Good Health and Fitness – http://www.natural-herbal-meds-4-cure.com/

Some Useful and Common Herbal Medicine

Herbal medicine is the oldest form of healthcare known to mankind. Herbs had been used by all cultures throughout history. It was an integral part of the development of modern civilization.

Herbal medicine is the use of plant and herb extracts for their therapeutic value. Most plants contain and produce chemical substances that aid in healing and other physical treatments.

The following list of common herbs is an example of possible health benefits for treating some ailments.

Chamomile
This herb is popular as a tea and can calm nerves, relieve stomach distress, prevent ulcers, and help fight infection. Chamomile may be used to relieve morning sickness during pregnancy.

Dong Quia
Dong quai has been used in Asia for thousands of years as a tonic for the female reproductive system. It also balances and strengthens the female organs and regulates their functions.

Feverfew
Several studies confirm feverfew’s value in preventing migraines. Feverfew may be used as an anti-inflammatory for relief of arthritis, to relieve some types of menstrual problems, and as a digestive aid.

Garlic
More than 1,000 scientific studies have shown health benefits of garlic. Garlic has been used as protection against colds and flu. In addition, garlic may help lower cholesterol, prevent blood clots, reduce blood pressure and protect against bacterial and fungal infections.

Ginger
Ginger has been used for centuries to control nausea and for reducing inflammation.

Goldenseal
Goldenseal may be used to reduce colds, flu and other respiratory infections especially at the beginning of infection. Goldenseal has both anti-infective and immune-system stimulating properties that may shorten the course of the illness.

Licorice
Licorice is an important herb for treating a host of ailments. It may help as an anti-inflammatory and to soothe stomach upset and control coughs. Licorice Root has properties similar to cortisone and estrogen. It stimulates the adrenal glands and may help the body cope with stress.

Peppermint
Peppermint oil calms the stomach, the intestinal tract, and the nervous system. It can also reduce the inflammation of nasal passages and relieve muscle pains.

Some of us have this misconception that because herbal medicines are natural, they are 100% safe. This is not true all the time. The best defense against the possible side effects herbal medicines might give is to educate ourselves with the basics on the herbal medicine in question and to use it with caution.

Natural Harbal Medicines for Good Health and Fitness –
http://www.natural-herbal-meds-4-cure.com/