A few articles highlighting the commonly used herb in Chinese Medicine, Jin Yin Hua, or Honeysuckle Flower – a powerful antibiotic and antiviral:
Micheal Tierra article on Honeysuckle Flower
Honeysuckle Flower Reference on Acupuncture Today
Jake Fratkin article (one of my teachers) – Modern Applications for Antiviral Therapy
Dr. Maoshing Ni, or Dr. Mao as he is affectionately known, is a 38th-generation doctor of Chinese medicine and co-founder of Yo San University, a college of Traditional Chinese Medicine in southern California. He is considered ‘an authority on Taoist anti-aging medicine’ and has written many books on this topic. I think my favorite books are “Secrets of Longevity” for its common-sense wisdom in an easy-to-read format (which I have referenced many times for my patients’ use), “Second Spring“, another easy reference about treating menopausal symptoms naturally,” and his latest book, “Secrets of Longevity Cookbook” (I wrote a review of this cookbook that can be found here). Dr. Mao has become more famous in recent years due to his appearances on the Dr. Oz show – kudos to him for bringing Chinese Medicine to the masses, I say!!
I also now carry some of Dr. Mao’s wellness products, see my previous blog post.
For more information about Dr. Mao and Chinese Medicine, see his websites:
Ask Dr. Mao
Tao of Wellness
Article published in Lotus Guide, April/May/Jun 2014 issue:
This cookbook is a jewel! Dr. Mao, as he is affectionately known, is a 38th-generation doctor of Chinese Medicine, a co-founder of an acupuncture college, a prolific author, and of course, a well-respected authority on Chinese Medicine. Hippocrates said ‘let food by thy medicine’, and Dr. Mao shows one how in this book full of recipes from centenarians and from many years of experience with patients from around the world. The intro to this book gives ‘Top Ten Longevity Habits for Good Digestion and Good Health’ and the recipes focus on using his ‘Top Ten Healing, Anti-Aging Foods’ (which I must add, is very similar to my ‘Top Ten Foods for Longevity’ article written in 2010). Additionally, Dr. Mao’s book lists commonly-used culinary herbs and spices for specific health conditions, and each recipe notes which health condition(s) it can benefit. There is also specific menu combinations given for certain health conditions. But the real ‘treasure’ of this ‘jewel’ are the recipes themselves! Besides being healthy, these recipes are unique, scrumptious, and most of them are simple and easy too, so one who is new to cooking healthy should not be overwhelmed at all. Sample recipes are: Banana Buckwheat Pancakes (gluten-free), Avocado Hummus, Chicken Mango and Butternut Squash Soup, Vegetable Almond Pie (gluten-free), Millet Pilaf, Curry Vegetables with Brown Rice, and Pecan Pudding. (Some of the recipes use dried Chinese herbs, all of which are readily available at my office from my ‘herbal pharmacy’ – GoJi berries, hawthorn fruit, chrysanthemum, etc.) And I must lastly mention Dr. Mao’s Hot Herbal Cereal recipe – it is a combination of over 20 grains, nuts, seeds, beans and legumes that his family has been eating for generations – it is really a ‘one-stop, complete-nutrition meal, as he describes! Definitely consider adding this treasure of a cookbook to your kitchen shelf!
Dr. Mao is also the author of several other books, many of which I consider ‘must-haves’ for those interested in Chinese or Natural Medicine – Second Spring: Hundreds of Natural Secrets for Women to Revitalize and Regenerate at Any Age and Secrets of Self-Healing: Harness Nature’s Power to Heal Common Ailments, Boost Your Vitality, and Achieve Optimal Wellness.
Look at all the research showing Traditional Asian Medicine is an important medicine that works – the 8 branches of this medicine are Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Tai Chi and Qi Gong, Tui Na Massage and other manual therapies (cupping, gua sha), Dietary Therapy, Astrology and Caligraphy!!!! (And I think I am somehow missing Feng Shui but it may fit into the Astrology branch.) The last two are very important, unique arts, and therefore, medicinal themselves!) All are represented here: Qi Journal and Traditonal Chinese Medicine Research
The enteric nervous system, or neurons in the digestive tract, affects our mental health: See this article that refers to research on this topic, plus how IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and osteoporosis can arise from too much serotonin in the digestive tract, and also be related to such conditions as M.S. (multiple sclerosis) and autism, and also the strength of the immune system. This rather new field, called neurogastroenterology, fits very nicely in the holistic model of natural medicine, where we have discussed for years that many conditions are tied to the health of the digestive system. This is especially true in the model of Chinese Medicine, where we strengthen the digestion to treat such diverse conditions as menstrual irregularities, menopausal complaints, headaches, mental and emotional problems, headaches, diabetes, etc. along with IBS, MS, and immune system weakness!
Scientific American article Think Twice: How the Gut’s “Second Brain” Influences Mood and Well-Being
Yunnan Bai Yao
My first experience many years ago with this traditional Chinese medicine was dramatic. I was studying in Taiwan. One afternoon I fell in my tiny shower and cut a deep crescent of forehead and scalp open on the shower head bracket. Bleeding profusely, not speaking Chinese well yet, I got dressed, clamped a towel over my forehead, and ran across the street to my teacher. He took one look and got out some brown powder, which he sprinkled into the wound, and made me also swallow some. I thought I would be getting an infection and probably die far from home with this strange treatment. I had been imagining stitches, scarring, and pain. However, the bleeding stopped immediately and there was no swelling or pain. After less than a week of taking more of the Yunnan Bai Yao daily and placing it on the cut, the wound was nearly healed. After only a week, the large curved flap looked like an old wound, and it healed with almost no scar. I generally scar and bruise easily so this was amazing. Now, years later, there’s no mark. I still use it on any cut, before going to the dentist or having a procedure like a colonoscopy, and on my cat as well, in small doses.
Once I was at a workshop, and a friend there had been having violent nosebleeds. As the evening went on his nose began to bleed profusely. I always carry some Yunnan Bai Yao in my purse for emergencies. Another friend who is a TCM practitioner was there, and we gave the “emergency pill” to our friend, and had him snort some of the powder into his nose. The bleeding stopped. He went to a local emergency room where he had recently been treated for the nosebleeds, and the doctors there were very surprised at the lack of bleeding and swelling they expected to see. He did not need a painful cauterization, and even was able to rejoin our gathering.
More recently I recommended it to a friend about to have surgery on her nose. She and her surgeon expected her nose would be quite disfigured as the cancer on her nose would have to be dug out, bit by bit, leaving a pit. However, she took the red “emergency pill” in the packet of Yunnan Bai Yao the day before the surgery, swallowed some of the capsules and following her surgery she used the powdered form in the wound and took the capsules daily. It healed with little swelling or bruising in a very short time, and after a few weeks her nose showed no sign of the procedure. The depression in the tip of the nose filled in completely. Her surgeon was astounded, and very interested in learning more about this Chinese “wonder drug.”
J Walker
This is a Traditional Chinese Medicine recipe for cough, with or without phlegm: Pear and Rock Sugar Elixir recipe. It tastes great, is very easy to make and you will even think you just had a dessert that is good for you!! It is basically poaching a pear and making yourself a nice, little cough syrup.
It is traditionally made with Apricot Kernels, or Xing Ren, but almonds can make this recipe easily accessible to anyone. And if you want the Chinese medicinal for more effect, Xing Ren is always available in my office at a very reasonable cost.
More ideas for variations to this recipe:
– Apple juice (organic, unfiltered) could be used instead of the sugar and water.
– Cinnamon and/or cloves and/or ginger could be added if one has a ‘cold’ cough (clear, watery, or white phlegm, or other symptoms of cold, such as chills, no sore throat).
This is a handout that I wrote in 2010 for a lecture I gave at a local gym. This lecture was also covered by an article in the local paper, the Paradise Post, by Bonnie Sitter, “Ten Healthy Foods that could lengthen your life”, March 2010. (But sorry, it is not available online.) I now also give to to many patients as a general guide to start using dietary therapy for health.
Top Ten Superfoods for Longevity: A Medicinal Food Approach
Addendum for recipes are not provided here since I don’t have rights to publish recipes from references. However, the recipe references are in the handout and most could be found online.
There are a few recipes I have adapted or obtained from classes, and I will eventually post them online. But for now, please feel free to email me at info@heavenly-herbs.com if you would like them.
(References also are to a few of the good books on dietary therapy, for those really interested in healing with diet.)
Brief article on Doctor Oz website about the ‘Power of Chinese Medicine’, by Dr. Mao Shing Ni:
Dr. Mao, as he is known, is author of many books on Chinese Medicine. I have his book, Secrets of Longevity in my office waiting room, and I have used it as a reference for patients and also in articles I have written myself.
Article by Society for Acupuncture Research (SAR) re:
Natural Health magazine article on Traditional Chinese Medicine, May 2009:
Online article can also be found at Healing with Traditional Chinese Medicine
Acupuncture Today, ‘The Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine News Source”.
This monthly publication has a plethora of articles highlighting how Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine helps treat medical conditions, plus industry news for practitioners.
Traditional and Modern Chinese Herbal Formulas
Favorite products: Immune+, Circulation (SJ), Liver DTX, Ba Zheng San, many pain formulas (back, neck, shoulder, and knee – both acute and chronic)
Jake Paul Fratkin, DOM, Dipl.Ac., author and educator. Dr. Fratkin is the author of Chinese Herbal Patent Medicines: The Clinical Desk Reference, THE resource on this topic. This book includes any Chinese Patent Medicine sold in the U.S., which he has tested for ingredients and impurities. Dr. Fratkin is also an excellent educator who integrates Functional Medicine in his practice and teachings. I learned tincture-making primarily through his teachings years ago (but he now uses a different and less inventory-intensive process).
Dr. Jake Paul Fratkin
John Chen, Ph.D., Pharm.D., O.M.D., L.Ac., is the founder of Evergreen Herbs, a supplier of Chinese herbal medicine formulas, and Lotus Institute of Integrative Medicine, an educational company focusing on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Dr. John Chen is a third-generation Chinese herbalist and is THE TCM scholar on the pharmacological actions of Chinese herbs. He is also the expert in the field regarding drug and herb interactions. He has written several books.
Evergreen Herbs
Lotus Institute of Integrative Medicine
Dr. Jake Fratkin is an American scholar of Chinese Medicine. This is his October 2009 article on this topic. This article’s target audience is for Chinese Medicine professionals, but it is a great summary article discussing Chinese Medicine diagnosis and treatment for influenza in general.
http://drjakefratkin.com/swine-flu
Condensed version also published at Acupuncture Today, a professional journal.
Everything you should know about the flu, or inluenza! An Excellent newsletter written by Adam Atman, L.Ac. in October 2009, in the midst of the Swine Flu/H1N1 panic (wish I spent the time to write all this myself!) This highly-researched newsletter covers the issue completely: Discusses the issue from should you decide to get the flu vaccine to criticism over the hype about the ‘flu epidemic’ to recommendations on how to keep yourself healthy naturally! Timely information for every winter, I say:
Adam Atman, L.Ac., October 2009 newsletter