Articles

Acupuncturist Skye Sturgeon reviews a case study of a 68-year-old male whose chief complaint was cold feet, intermittent low back pain, and chronic tinnitus. Traditional Chinese medicine treatment plan is defined along with acupuncture points.

The Dragon Boat Festival 端午節 (for 2021, it falls on Monday, June 14th) is not only about boat races and delicious rice dumplings, but since ancient times was a time to focus on health.  The lunar date of the Festival, the 5th day of the 5th month, was considered a poisonous and evil day in the minds of the ancients. In fact, as this date signaled the beginning of hot, dry/muggy summer weather, people were prone to get sick, and plagues and epidemics were not uncommon. Various customs developed to ensure peace and avoid disaster, such as collecting herbs, hanging moxa, sprinkling realgar wine on walls, doors, and windows and drinking Pu huang wine. Read on to learn more about this ancient tradition!

The incidence of male factor infertility is believed to be increasing in the Western world. In Chinese, the word for sperm and essence is the same (jīng 精 ), that is, they have the same origin and are inextricably linked. According to Chinese medicine, the quality of sperm and its ability to fertilize an ovum is intimately linked to the health of the Kidneys and requires a number of factors to converge. 

Kai Kit Wan is the popularized name in Hong Kong for Jiè Jié Wán (解結丸), which literally means "to untie a knot" and refers specifically to reducing swelling in the prostate. This article gives the benefits of each herb in Kai Kit Wan, combination formulas for your patient’s specific needs, and the TCM terms of an enlarged prostate.

Mark Frost from the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Francisco highlights 3 important Yang Tonic herbs often used in formulas that benefit men's health. Yin Yang Huo, Xu Duan, and Tu Si Zi are discussed including their TCM functions and how the herbs can be used for different needs.

Whilst not explicitly discussed in the classical Chinese medical literature, the prostate is considered part of the Kidney organ system in contemporary texts. Although the influence of the Kidneys is paramount, the prostate is also directly influenced by the Liver organ system, and indirectly by the Spleen and Lungs.

The meat in this recipe specifically calls for mature Pigeon (1+years old as opposed to squab). According to the Ben Cao Gang Mu《本草纲目》 (Compendium of Materia Medica), “meat can replenish the five internal organs, benefit the Middle, nourish vital energy, strengthen the bones, resist Cold and Heat, and reduce Heat.” In addition to replenishing Qi, it is also known to regulate menstruation. Pigeon meat is sweet, salty and neutral, entering the Liver and Kidney meridians, functioning to nourish the Kidneys and vital Qi, while also dispelling wind, and tonifying Jing / Essence and blood.

We combine Huang Jing with its moderate tonifying properties with Quail, Dang Shen, and Huang Qi to form a delicious soup. This is an excellent recipe for those recovering from a long illness or a period of stress that has impacted the body's Zheng Qi.

Menopause is the phase in a woman’s life during which she transitions from a reproductive to a non-reproductive stage. Literally, the word is used to indicate the permanent cessation of menstruation. Menopause usually occurs between the ages of 45-55 and the period of transition typically spans 2-5 years. Hot flashes and other symptoms associated with this transition can last for many years more. Zhi Bai Di Huang Tang is an excellent formula for many cases as explained in this article.

As some women experience minimal or no perimenopausal discomfort, what causes the symptoms that can be so debilitating to others? According to TCM, the main causes for discomfort all the way from perimenopause through menopause and postmenopause include overwork, excessive sexual activity or too many childbirths, chronic illness, irregular diet, and excessive worrying or other emotional stress. According to traditional Chinese medicine there are three large categories of issues that can result in difficulty with the perimenopausal hormonal shift.

For practitioners of Chinese medicine, the black interior and paradoxical white feathered exterior represent and mirror the consolidation of Yin and Yang. Thus, the black-skinned silkie chicken is considered especially valuable medicinally and nutritionally. In Chinese dietary therapy all black foods are considered to be very helpful for treating Kidney disharmonies and the Blood, because black is the color associated with water and with the Kidneys in the five phases/wu xing.

We're sharing a delicious and time-honored family recipe. It contains nutrients derived from pork and black chicken, as well as tonifying herbs to promote a woman’s optimal health during pregnancy.

Traditional Chinese medicine gynecologists have known for thousands of years that regulating the menstrual cycle promotes fertility. Modern practitioners have begun to incorporate the knowledge we have of the biological stages of the menstrual cycle to focus on specific fertility issues and increase effectiveness.

The classic writings I quote are taken from the Zhubing Yuanhuo Lun, the Mawangdui, and Sun Si Miao. They will offer you the ability to contemplate the first three of the ten lunar months of pregnancy, interpreted and practiced by the leading physicians of that time. In studying the ancients on their thoughts regarding pregnancy, we must realize that these teachings came from the astute observations and witnessing of nature in all its glory and violence. The lessons the ancients learned originated from watching the power and influence of the moon, sun and stars, the weather, seasons, elements, the sowing, cultivating, and harvesting of crops, the language of plants and animals, and bottom line, the interdependence of all these factors as they affect everything on earth.

We all know herbs are amazingly effective, but have you ever wondered how their secrets were discovered? Did Shen Nong really taste them all and watch their effects in his see-through belly? How did they get their names? What are their backstories? Dr. Skye Sturgeon reads an excerpt from the book Chinese Herbal Legends where we learn the legend of Dang Gui.