Qing hao (Artemisia): Herbs that Fight Infection Caused by External Pathogens

Using "clear heat" herbs to reduce fever and fight infection.

There are many herbs used to fight infection caused by external pathogens. Qing hao or ‘artemisia’ is one such herb. According to Chinese herbal medicine, one of the properties of qing hao is to ‘clear heat’. This category includes herbs that will reduce fever and infection such as one transmitted by a vector like mosquitos or ticks. In fact, the anti-Malaria drug ‘Artimisinin’ is a derivative of this powerful herb. Artemisia is also the basis for a pharmaceutical used to treat cancer and also one for asthma.

Qing hao is used in herbal formulas such as ‘HerbalGuard’ to reduce symptoms associated with Lyme and other tick-born diseases. In combination with other clear heat herbs, artemisia is also used to treat chronic low grade fevers, one of the symptoms of tic born illnesses.

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Quenching Sweet Cravings with Stomach Channel 44 (the Inner Court)

This could be a quick fix for sweet cravings! Read on and give it a try.

In the traditional view, powerful cravings for sweet food often arise from a sort of heat within the stomach. This heat can often be linked to stress and anxiety, or a history of eating a lot of sweet or greasy foods. These emotions and habits create a vicious cycle of stronger than usual desire for sweet food that fuels the heat to get even stronger, rather than quenching it.

The point Nei Ting is often translated as "Inner Court," and it is by it's nature a very cooling point. It is taught that the point can draw stomach heat downward, and so reduce the urgency of the desire for sweets. The point is located between the big toe and the second toe, just where the two toes join together at the foot.

The next time your sweet tooth is harassing you, try pressing this point on both feet for five minutes each side, and see if it helps quench that fire!

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Recover Faster with HBOT

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has many beneficial uses due to oxygen’s uses in cells for energy and repair. HBOT is being used by many professional athletes to help them get back into action much quicker. Recently Aaron Rodgers, quarterback for the NY Jets, suffered an achilles tendon rupture. He reportedly used HBOT as part of his rehabilitation plan. Other NFL quarterbacks, for example, Kirk Cousins is also known to use HBOT for recovery and recuperation after games. HBOT is great for any injuries but is often used for more severe injuries induced trauma or surgery...

High pressure HBOT allows an increase of oxygen in the blood by more than 10,000%. The increased amount of oxygen is able to flood damaged cells and tissues that need oxygen for repair. Oxygen decreases inflammation and reduces swelling which allows for increased blood flow and therefore greater ability to deliver nutrients to damaged areas. Increased oxygen also stimulates stem cells which can improve regeneration of tissue, bone remodeling, and cartilage repair. If you have been dealing with an injury that is causing pain or limiting activity, then HBOT may be the therapy that resolves the inflammation to reduce pain and heals your injury quicker to get you back in action. 

References

1.     Chen CY, Chou WY, Ko JY, Lee MS, Wu RW. Early Recovery of Exercise-Related Muscular Injury by HBOT. Biomed Res Int. 2019 May 29;2019:6289380. doi: 10.1155/2019/6289380. PMID: 31275980; PMCID: PMC6560326.

2.     Barata P, Cervaens M, Resende R, Camacho O, Marques F.  Hyperbaric oxygen effects on sports injuries. Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 2011 Apr;3(2):111-21. doi: 10.1177/1759720X11399172. PMID: 22870471; PMCID: PMC3382683.

About Korey DiRoma,, N.D.

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Recover Faster with HBOT Related Services

Reduce Stress to Best Digest!

Stress and our digestion are interconnected.

Ever notice that when you’re stressed out your stomach can often feel off? Sometimes we can lose our appetite completely if our emotions are overwhelming. Other times it might seem like no matter what we eat, it doesn’t sit well. There’s no doubt about it, stress can impact our digestion in a multitude of ways.

Digestion is a delicate and important process that operates best when our body is not otherwise distracted. Distraction can include a perceived or real physical threat, the inability to stop moving, or being mentally consumed. These principles of metabolism come from our ancestral design of needing to be ready to react if under attack. This made sense because when we’re on the run from a predator, for example, it’s not the best time to enjoy a luxurious meal. While many of us no longer strive to survive, our bodies may not feel that way and if we don’t purposefully seek a state of peace, we may struggle with poor digestion as a result. Some key symptoms of digestive dysfunction include gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation and abdominal pain.

If you notice you frequently have some of these symptoms, a good first step is to adopt a “rest and digest” plan and implement the following:

-Do some deep breathing exercises going into mealtime. It can help to create a divide from any stressful situation you may be encountering and signal to the body that it’s safe to relax, allowing digestive enzymes to be produced and flow freely, ready to help breakdown the food we’re about to eat.

-Try to limit the water you drink at meals. This can dilute our gastric juices which carry the enzymes we need to break down and absorb our food. It’s best to stay well hydrated in between meals and snacks, in addition to eating hydrating foods (fresh fruits, vegetables, soups and stews, for example).

-Set the stage for a peaceful and enjoyable meal. This can include using visually appealing dishware or including lovely lit candles on the table (which you’ll sit at—I’m looking at you, single females eating over the sink).

-Whenever possible, limit the mealtime audience to the people you enjoy. Sometimes certain people or certain topics of conversation can bring about lots of stress and while this cannot always be avoided, do your best to eat around those whose company you enjoy. And if you find the conversation is bringing you down, try to redirect by suggesting other topics or asking questions that shift the focus to pleasantries

The holidays can tend to be a time of great joy but also increased stress for most of us. With that in mind, try to put some of these tips in place and prioritize your self-care. It’s in caring for ourselves that we are best able to care for and love on those around us. Wishing you happy holidays and much love.

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Remaining Vigilant while Transitioning Gracefully from Fall into Winter

One myth or misconception is that ticks are not present during the winter.  After seeing so many ticks in late spring into early summer and then again, but maybe less so, at the beginning of the fall, we must still remain vigilant all year round.  According to the SUNY Upstate Medical University website, “ticks don’t die in the winter, they go into dormancy around 35 degrees and hide in perfectly formed igloos under leaf litter. As soon as the frozen ground thaws and the ground temperature reaches 45 degrees, ticks will begin to emerge in seek of a host for blood feeding. And if the weather gets bad again, they seek shelter, but they don’t disappear.” 

Now that we’re into the month of December, we’re transitioning from autumn into winter.  Some of the oldest Chinese medical texts suggested thousands of years ago that humans should live in harmony with the natural cycle of the seasons.  After the warmer seasons that are full of activity, now is the time to honor slowing and quieting down, to reflect inwardly, and to rest and conserve energy so that we may be replenished and recharged instead of burned out when the spring returns.  Just as the leaves fall off the trees and the roots store the essential nutrients needed for re-growth in the spring, we can shed unwanted layers, getting rid of what does not serve us anymore, while grounding into and cultivating the positive and healthy aspects of our being.

According to Chinese medicine, autumn corresponds to the metal element—to harvesting, the lung and large intestine organs, the nose, skin and body hair, grief as well as awe and inspiration; while the winter corresponds to the water element—to storing, the kidney and bladder organs, the ears, bones and head hair, fear as well as courage and ambition.  The lungs help distribute our defensive energy, called Wei Qi (‘way chee’), to the surface of the body to ward off colds and flus, while the kidneys store our source energy, called Yuan Qi (‘you-wan chee’), our most dense core strength and will-power.  The kidneys help anchor down the pure air we breathe in through the lungs to be used as vital energy to support all the systems of the body.

 During this time of introspection and consolidation, it is important we recharge and cultivate personal practices of a healthy diet, movement, mindfulness, getting enough sleep and relaxation, and self-care like receiving an acupuncture treatment.  Try setting attainable changes that will make you feel better to increase energy, focus and suppleness while decreasing pain, fatigue and stress.  Try to think of one thing (or more!) that you’re grateful for before you go to bed, this can help improve your immunity.  

https://www.upstate.edu/news/a...

 

 

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Remaining Vigilant while Transitioning Gracefully from Fall into Winter Related Services

REN 12: For A Healthy “Summer” Stomach

According to Chinese Medicine, summer "cold foods" can injure digestion. REN 12 can help!

The summer brings much excitement and enjoyment. Finally, we can thaw out after the harsh winter and cold spring we had this year. Often in the summer we eat foods that we don’t eat in other seasons, like cold vegetable and fruit salads, cold drinks, and ice cream treats. According to Chinese medicine, this can injure the digestion. The organs that receive and distribute the food and drink that we take in are the stomach and spleen—the stomach receives and the spleen is said to transform and transport the nutrients throughout our bodies to use as vital energy or Qi. These organs like to be warm to perform their healthy functioning.

The point REN 12, also know as CV 12 or conception vessel 12, is named Zhong Wan or Middle Cavity. This point has a direct affect on the stomach. It is on the channel that comes up the midline of the front of the body and is the central most point. It has the action of tonifying the stomach and fortifying the spleen. In other words, it nourishes these organs and increases their available Qi. This point is in the midline of the upper abdomen half way between the belly button and junction where the ribs come together, or about your hand’s width above the belly button.

Sometimes in needing to cool off in the summer we eat cold foods and drinks that can hurt our stomach and impair digestion. This point is used to rectify abdominal pain and fullness, nausea, acid reflux, diarrhea and more. If you experience any of these you can locate this point and apply gentle pressure. On an emotional level, particularly the emotions of worry, anxiety and overthinking can also injure the healthy functioning of the stomach and spleen pair, resulting in a weakness and therefore slowed down digestion and improper absorption of our food. If anger, frustration, and resentment are present, especially while eating, this can further impair the healthy functioning resulting in stagnation of Qi which often manifests as abdominal pain. For all these things, REN 12 is helpful.

Some Chinese medical advice: eat food that has come up to room temperature or at least not straight out of the refrigerator, especially fruits and veggies. When you do eat something cold, add some ginger or other warming spices like cinnamon, cardamom, clove, or even cayenne to assist your digestive forces. This way, you will cool off and your stomach will thank you!

Have a great summer!

Sources: A Manual of Acupuncture by Peter Deadman.

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Ren 17: Powerful Point for Heart Health

Ren 17 "Tan Zhong": Revealing the Heart - free the heart of tension, and connect it to the rest of your body and being.

Usually translated as "Chest Center," Tan Zhong is a powerful point for heart health in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is also an excellent point for releasing anxiety and fear, and is also useful for acid reflux. The point is located in the center of the breastbone, at the fourth intercostal space (space between ribs), which is usually at the level of the nipples in men.

To stimulate this point, use a finger to apply gentle pressure at the top of the breastbone, and massage down about four inches to the fourth intercostal space, where a small notch in the breastbone can usually be felt at Tan Zhong. Softly press on the point, or try making small circles with you finger for 3-5 minutes. Then lay your palm over the point and rest for as long as feels comfortable and right. During this time place your other palm about two inches below your navel and relax. End by rubbing the bottoms of your feet for a few minutes on each side.

This process helps free the heart of tension, and connect it to the rest of your body and being.

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Research Suggests Huperzine A May Benefit People with Alzheimer’s Disease

Research demonstrated that Huperzine A may benefit people with Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, neurodegenerative disorder associated with impaired cognitive function and memory loss. Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by the presence of amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, low levels of acetylcholine, and cholinergic neuronal loss in the brain. Pharmacological treatment uses acetylcholinesterase inhibitors to try to raise acetylcholine levels. Huperzine A, an alkaloid found in clubmoss plants of the Lycopodium genus and Huperzia genus, may have beneficial effects for people with Alzheimer’s disease since research discovered that Huperzine A has acetylcholinesterase inhibiting properties. Research also demonstrated that Huperzine A has a variety of neuroprotective effects, including reducing oxidative stress to neurons by reducing lipid peroxidation, increasing antioxidant enzyme activities, and reducing cellular death of neurons by protecting mitochondria from being damaged by beta-amyloid. Clinical trials in China have shown that Huperzine A may have benefits in cognitive function and memory for people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Citations:

Wang, R., & Tang, X. C. (2005). Neuroprotective Effects of Huperzine A. Neurosignals, 14(1-2), 71-82.

Xu, S.S., et al. (1995). Efficacy of tablet huperzine A on memory, cognition, and behavior in Alzheimer’s disease. Acta Pharmacol Sin, 16:391–395.

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Restore with Kidney 1 | Point of the Month

Kidney 1 for cancer prevention or restoration.

The Chinese medical approach to cancer starts with prevention by maintaining a healthy state, but in the event of a cancer diagnosis, Traditional Chinese Medicine can help address root causes and restore healing.

October is breast cancer awareness month and an important focus of this awareness is how to prevent it from occurring in the first place or from recurring after a diagnosis, instead of simply looking for it with imaging. I read a quote today by an unknown author that said, “if you do not make time for your wellness, you will be forced to make time for your illness.” It’s important to engage in ways that prevent cancer such as eating a healthy diet that is organic and pesticide free when possible and using non-toxic products on your body and in your house to avoid chemicals that disrupt hormones and can cause cell mutation, as well as engaging in other healthy lifestyle practices like exercising, relaxation, and good sleep to decrease stress.

Traditional Chinese Medicine, including acupuncture, herbs, Qigong meditation, bodywork and nutrition can be used at any stage of cancer awareness or treatment—from prevention to early diagnosis, before and after surgery, during conventional treatment, to after those treatments are completed, or alongside your personal journey in however you chose to treat your cancer.

Receiving regular acupuncture treatments whether weekly, monthly, or seasonally can help prevent the occurrence of many diseases. Your acupuncturist will give you recommendations on frequency of treatment. These treatments can help strengthen the body to improve immune function, inhibit cancer growth, detoxify, alleviate side effects of conventional treatment, protect the organs and ensure their healthy functioning, and calm the mind and emotions.

One point that might be used in breast cancer prevention and treatment is kidney 1, named ‘Yong Quan’ which translates to gushing stream. It is located on the bottom of the foot approximately one third of the distance between the base of the second toe and the heel. The kidney meridian travels up the inside of the leg through the abdomen, chest and breast area and if breast tumors are located along that pathway, kidney points will definitely be chosen. Because the bottom of the foot is a tender area to needle, heat and/or pressure can be applied here instead.

According to Chinese medicine, we are born with a given amount of energy, kind of like a savings account, and then it is up to us to continue to replenish and build our reserves through good lifestyle practices that will ensure longevity, like a checking account that we sometimes withdraw from, but also need to make deposits into. The kidneys are considered “the body’s energy foundation that generate the power for the entire body and support the activities of all other organs” (Lu, p.133.) This point is an area of focus in some forms of Qigong meditation for its ability to nourish our deepest source of energy. Applying pressure by rubbing the foot here will also help unbind negative emotions, like fear or anger, that can cause agitation and insomnia. You can even activate this point by rolling your foot over a tennis ball.

For a more in-depth discussion of the TCM approach to cancer see my previous blog post: https://stramcenter.com/blog/blog-detail/cancer-the-chinese-medical-framework-view/

Sources:

A Woman’s Guide to Healing from Breast Cancer by Nan Lu, O.M.D., L.Ac.

Jade Woman Qigong, The Healing Power of Taoist Medicine for Every Woman by Master Liu He

A Manual of Acupuncture by Peter Deadman.

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Review of Glacier Tropical SPF 20, a natural mineral based sunscreen

Price:  $14.98 for 4 ounces or $3.75 per ounce
SPF: 20
Active ingredients: zinc oxide, 10%
Antioxidants: green and white tea extracts, Vitamin E
Ease of applying: good on dry skin, more difficult absorption on wet skin
Scent: scent is a hint of green tea
Water resistant: does not bead with water, seems to come off easily with wet skin

There are so many different types of sunscreens on the market all with differing levels of protection, that it can be quite confusing as to which products may be the most effective. Some may be less effective, but unfortunately may also be more harmful!

I like to spend a lot of my free time outdoors, either walking or running, playing a round of golf, or occasionally sitting at the park or lake side with my family. Often I can be outdoors anywhere from 1 hour to 6 hours at a time. It is definitely important for my family and I to have very good protection from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. Over the past week, I have had the pleasure of trying a new, more natural sunscreen product called Glacier Tropical SPF 20.

First a little science about ultraviolet rays. The sun produces ultraviolet rays at different wavelengths, some short and some long. The shorter waves are known as UVB rays and are the waves responsible for the reddening of the skin and causing sunburns. UVB rays can vary in intensity depending on season and time of day. They are also the rays responsible for Vitamin D production in the skin. These rays can also cause cancer, mostly squamous cell carcinomas. Most sunscreens base the SPF rating on its ability to block UVB rays since this is measurable in terms of skin reddening.

UVA rays are longer rays and therefore are more penetrating. They penetrate deeper into the skin and can also penetrate glass. UVA rays do not vary in intensity so remain at the same level regardless of time of day or season. Most sunscreens do not block UVA very well, and UVA rays cause accelerated skin damage and malignant melanoma, a very serious and deadly type of skin cancer.

Glacier Tropical SPF 20 is a mineral sunscreen. The main active ingredient is micronized zinc oxide, 10% which is very good at blocking both UVB and UVA rays. The main active ingredient in many sunscreens is oxybenzone, which is good at blocking UVB rays, but not UVA. Oxybenzone is also a chemical that accumulates in the body with continued use and is known to cause hormone disturbances and possibly developmental toxicities.

The other qualities of Glacier Tropical that make it a very good and effective mineral sunscreen are that it absorbs relatively well for a zinc oxide based protectant. This is probably due to the use of micronized zinc, which helps penetrate the skin a little better. It took me about 40 seconds of constant rubbing for it to fully absorb. I did not see a lot of white residue, and it actually provided a relatively clear finish. I could notice a very slight lightning of my skin tone, and I do have a darker skin tone. Another added benefit is that it contains natural antioxidants such as green tea extract and Vitamin E. It does not contain Vitamin A as many sunscreens tend to have. Vitamin A can actually accelerate skin damage and skin cancer, especially when in the sun. Any sunscreen you buy should not contain Vitamin A or retinyl palmitate.

Some things I would like to see improved from this sunscreen are its water resistant capabilities, ease of applying with wet skin, a smaller list of inactive ingredients, and a higher SPF rating. I did not get to use the product while swimming, but I did find it more difficult to apply while sweating. It did take a longer time for it to rub clear. Also with the skin wet, it seems to come off easier. Some of the inactive ingredients are chemicals that are difficult to pronounce, but after looking them up, they were all much safer than oxybenzone and Vitamin A.  I would like to see this sunblock in an SPF 30. This would give it a slight increase in protection, from about 94-95% to about 97% blockage of rays.

Overall I think this is a great product for anyone to use, and my family and I are definitely making the switch from conventional, chemical based sunscreen to this natural, mineral based sunscreen.

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