Acne

What Is Acne?
Acne is a disease that affects the skin's oil glands. The small holes in your skin (pores) connect to oil glands under the skin. These glands make an oily substance called sebum. The pores connect to the glands by a canal called a follicle. Inside the follicles, oil carries dead skin cells to the surface of the skin. A thin hair also grows through the follicle and out to the skin. When the follicle of a skin gland clogs up, a pimple grows.

Most pimples are found on the face, neck, back, chest, and shoulders. Acne is not a serious health threat but, it can cause scars.

How Does Acne Develop?
Sometimes, the hair, sebum, and skin cells clump together into a plug. The bacteria in the plug causes swelling. Then when the plug starts to break down, a pimple grows.

There are many types of pimples. The most common types are:

Whiteheads. These are pimples that stay under the surface of the skin.
Blackheads. These pimples rise to the skin's surface and look black. The black color is not from dirt.
Papules. These are small pink bumps that can be tender.
Pustules. These pimples are red at the bottom and have pus on top.
Nodules. These are large, painful, solid pimples that are deep in the skin.
Cysts. These deep, painful, pus-filled pimples can cause scars.

Who Gets Acne?

Acne is the most common skin disease. Nearly 17 million people in the United States have it. People of all races and ages get acne. But it is most common in teenagers and young adults. Nearly 85 percent of people between the ages of 12 and 24 get acne. For most people, acne goes away by age 30. But some people in their forties and fifties still get acne.

What Causes Acne?
The cause of acne is unknown. Doctors think certain factors might cause it:

The hormone increase in teenage years (this can cause the oil glands to plug up more often)
Hormone changes during pregnancy
Starting or stopping birth control pills
Heredity (if your parents had acne, you might get it, too)
Some types of medicine
Greasy makeup.

How Is Acne Treated?
Acne is treated by doctors who work with skin problems (dermatologists). Treatment tries to:

Heal pimples
Stop new pimples from forming
Prevent scarring
Help reduce the embarrassment of having acne.
Early treatment is the best way to prevent scars. Your doctor may suggest over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription drugs. Some acne medicines are put right on the skin. Other medicines are pills that you swallow. The doctor may tell you to use more than one medicine.

How Should People With Acne Care for Their Skin?
Here are some ways to care for skin if you have acne:

Clean skin gently. Use a mild cleanser in the morning, evening, and after heavy workouts. Scrubbing the skin does not stop acne. It can even make the problem worse.
Try not to touch your skin. People who squeeze, pinch, or pick their pimples can get scars or dark spots on their skin.
Shave carefully. If you shave, you can try both electric and safety razors. With safety razors, use a sharp blade. Also, it helps to soften your beard with soap and water before putting on shaving cream. Shave lightly and only when you have to.
Stay out of the sun. Many acne drugs can make people more likely to sunburn. Being in the sun a lot can also make skin wrinkle and raise the risk of skin cancer.
Choose makeup carefully. All makeup should be oil free. Look for the word "noncomedogenic" on the label. This means that the makeup will not clog up your pores. But some people still get acne even if they use these products.

What Things Can Make Acne Worse?
Some things can make acne worse:

Changing hormone levels in teenage girls and adult women 2 to 7 days before their period starts
Leaning on or rubbing the skin
Pressure from bike helmets, backpacks, or tight collars
Pollution and high humidity
Squeezing or picking at pimples
Hard scrubbing of the skin.

What Research Is Being Done on Acne?
Scientists are looking at new ways to treat acne. They are:

Working on new drugs to treat acne
Looking at ways to prevent plugs
Looking at ways to stop the hormone testosterone from causing acne.

References:National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Nutritional and Herbal Therapy for Acne

The following Chinese herbal patent formulas can help treat acne: Fu Fang Zhen Zhu An Chuang Wan (a variation of Margarite Acne Pills) and Chuan Shan Jia Qu Shi Qing Du Wan.

Nutritional Therapy

Description: Skin blemishes or pimples characterize this condition. It can occur at any point throughout the lifetime and is related to a hormonal imbalance. In Chinese terminology, the lungs control the skin, and acne is commonly a condition of ‘heat’ in the lungs. Thus, the Chinese approach to this condition is to cool the heat, cleanse the lungs, and also work externally on the healing process.
Recommendations: squash, cucumbers, watermelon, winter melon, celery, carrots, cabbage, beet tops, dandelions, aloe vera, mulberry leaves and plenty of fresh fruits
Remedies: · Blend a cucumber, apply externally; leave on for twenty minutes then wash off.
· Apply plain, low fat organic yogurt; leave on for twenty minutes then wash off.
· Rub watermelon rind on the acne.
· Apply aloe vera.
· Eat watermelon or drink watermelon juice.
· Drink dandelion and beet top tea.
· Drink lukewarm water with two teaspoons of honey every morning on an empty stomach. This effectively lubricates the intestines. If one does not evacuate the intestines regularly, the toxins either end up in the liver or coming out on the skin.

Avoid: fried foods, fatty foods, spicy foods, oily foods, coffee, alcohol, sugar, smoking, stress, constipation, makeup, washing with chemicals or soap. Rather, wash with cool water. If the face is dirty, steam it with hot water to induce sweating; then wash with cold water.

Diverticular Disease

Many people have small pouches in their colons that bulge outward through weak spots, like an inner tube that pokes through weak places in a tire. Each pouch is called a diverticulum. Pouches (plural) are called diverticula. The condition of having diverticula is called diverticulosis. About 10 percent of Americans over the age of 40 have diverticulosis. The condition becomes more common as people age. About half of all people over the age of 60 have diverticulosis.
When the pouches become infected or inflamed, the condition is called diverticulitis. This happens in 10 to 25 percent of people with diverticulosis. Diverticulosis and diverticulitis are also called diverticular disease.

What causes diverticular disease?
Although not proven, the dominant theory is that a low-fiber diet is the main cause of diverticular disease. The disease was first noticed in the United States in the early 1900s. At about the same time, processed foods were introduced into the American diet. Many processed foods contain refined, low-fiber flour. Unlike whole-wheat flour, refined flour has no wheat bran.

Diverticular disease is common in developed or industrialized countries—particularly the United States, England, and Australia—where low-fiber diets are common. The disease is rare in countries of Asia and Africa, where people eat high-fiber vegetable diets.

Fiber is the part of fruits, vegetables, and grains that the body cannot digest. Some fiber dissolves easily in water (soluble fiber). It takes on a soft, jelly-like texture in the intestines. Some fiber passes almost unchanged through the intestines (insoluble fiber). Both kinds of fiber help make stools soft and easy to pass. Fiber also prevents constipation.

Constipation makes the muscles strain to move stool that is too hard. It is the main cause of increased pressure in the colon. This excess pressure might cause the weak spots in the colon to bulge out and become diverticula.

Diverticulitis occurs when diverticula become infected or inflamed. Doctors are not certain what causes the infection. It may begin when stool or bacteria are caught in the diverticula. An attack of diverticulitis can develop suddenly and without warning.

What are the symptoms?
Most people with diverticulosis do not have any discomfort or symptoms. However, symptoms may include mild cramps, bloating, and constipation. Other diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and stomach ulcers cause similar problems, so these symptoms do not always mean a person has diverticulosis. You should visit your doctor if you have these troubling symptoms.

The most common symptom of diverticulitis is abdominal pain. The most common sign is tenderness around the left side of the lower abdomen. If infection is the cause, fever, nausea, vomiting, chills, cramping, and constipation may occur as well. The severity of symptoms depends on the extent of the infection and complications.
What are the complications?

Diverticulitis can lead to bleeding, infections, perforations or tears, or blockages. These complications always require treatment to prevent them from progressing and causing serious illness.

Bleeding
Bleeding from diverticula is a rare complication. When diverticula bleed, blood may appear in the toilet or in your stool. Bleeding can be severe, but it may stop by itself and not require treatment. Doctors believe bleeding diverticula are caused by a small blood vessel in a diverticulum that weakens and finally bursts. If you have bleeding from the rectum, you should see your doctor. If the bleeding does not stop, surgery may be necessary.

Abscess, Perforation, and Peritonitis
The infection causing diverticulitis often clears up after a few days of treatment with antibiotics. If the condition gets worse, an abscess may form in the colon.

An abscess is an infected area with pus that may cause swelling and destroy tissue. Sometimes the infected diverticula may develop small holes, called perforations. These perforations allow pus to leak out of the colon into the abdominal area. If the abscess is small and remains in the colon, it may clear up after treatment with antibiotics. If the abscess does not clear up with antibiotics, the doctor may need to drain it.

To drain the abscess, the doctor uses a needle and a small tube called a catheter. The doctor inserts the needle through the skin and drains the fluid through the catheter. This procedure is called percutaneous catheter drainage. Sometimes surgery is needed to clean the abscess and, if necessary, remove part of the colon.

A large abscess can become a serious problem if the infection leaks out and contaminates areas outside the colon. Infection that spreads into the abdominal cavity is called peritonitis. Peritonitis requires immediate surgery to clean the abdominal cavity and remove the damaged part of the colon. Without surgery, peritonitis can be fatal.

Fistula
A fistula is an abnormal connection of tissue between two organs or between an organ and the skin. When damaged tissues come into contact with each other during infection, they sometimes stick together. If they heal that way, a fistula forms. When diverticulitis-related infection spreads outside the colon, the colon's tissue may stick to nearby tissues. The organs usually involved are the bladder, small intestine, and skin.

The most common type of fistula occurs between the bladder and the colon. It affects men more than women. This type of fistula can result in a severe, long-lasting infection of the urinary tract. The problem can be corrected with surgery to remove the fistula and the affected part of the colon.

Intestinal Obstruction
The scarring caused by infection may cause partial or total blockage of the large intestine. When this happens, the colon is unable to move bowel contents normally. When the obstruction totally blocks the intestine, emergency surgery is necessary. Partial blockage is not an emergency, so the surgery to correct it can be planned.

How does the doctor diagnose diverticular disease?
To diagnose diverticular disease, the doctor asks about medical history, does a physical exam, and may perform one or more diagnostic tests. Because most people do not have symptoms, diverticulosis is often found through tests ordered for another ailment.

When taking a medical history, the doctor may ask about bowel habits, symptoms, pain, diet, and medications. The physical exam usually involves a digital rectal exam. To perform this test, the doctor inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to detect tenderness, blockage, or blood. The doctor may check stool for signs of bleeding and test blood for signs of infection. The doctor may also order x rays or other tests.

What is the treatment for diverticular disease?
A high-fiber diet and, occasionally, mild pain medications will help relieve symptoms in most cases. Sometimes an attack of diverticulitis is serious enough to require a hospital stay and possibly surgery.

Diverticulosis
Increasing the amount of fiber in the diet may reduce symptoms of diverticulosis and prevent complications such as diverticulitis. Fiber keeps stool soft and lowers pressure inside the colon so that bowel contents can move through easily. The American Dietetic Association recommends 20 to 35 grams of fiber each day. The table below shows the amount of fiber in some foods that you can easily add to your diet.

The doctor may also recommend taking a fiber product such as Citrucel or Metamucil once a day. These products are mixed with water and provide about 2 to 3.5 grams of fiber per tablespoon, mixed with 8 ounces of water.

Until recently, many doctors suggested avoiding foods with small seeds such as tomatoes or strawberries because they believed that particles could lodge in the diverticula and cause inflammation. However, it is now generally accepted that only foods that may irritate or get caught in the diverticula cause problems. Foods such as nuts, popcorn hulls, and sunflower, pumpkin, caraway, and sesame seeds should be avoided. The seeds in tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, strawberries, and raspberries, as well as poppy seeds, are generally considered harmless. People differ in the amounts and types of foods they can eat. Decisions about diet should be made based on what works best for each person. Keeping a food diary may help identify individual items in one's diet.

If cramps, bloating, and constipation are problems, the doctor may prescribe a short course of pain medication. However, many medications affect emptying of the colon, an undesirable side effect for people with diverticulosis.

Diverticulitis
Treatment for diverticulitis focuses on clearing up the infection and inflammation, resting the colon, and preventing or minimizing complications. An attack of diverticulitis without complications may respond to antibiotics within a few days if treated early.

To help the colon rest, the doctor may recommend bed rest and a liquid diet, along with a pain reliever.

An acute attack with severe pain or severe infection may require a hospital stay. Most acute cases of diverticulitis are treated with antibiotics and a liquid diet. The antibiotics are given by injection into a vein. In some cases, however, surgery may be necessary.

When is surgery necessary?
If attacks are severe or frequent, the doctor may advise surgery. The surgeon removes the affected part of the colon and joins the remaining sections. This type of surgery, called colon resection, aims to keep attacks from coming back and to prevent complications. The doctor may also recommend surgery for complications of a fistula or intestinal obstruction.

If antibiotics do not correct an attack, emergency surgery may be required. Other reasons for emergency surgery include a large abscess, perforation, peritonitis, or continued bleeding.

Emergency surgery usually involves two operations. The first surgery will clear the infected abdominal cavity and remove part of the colon. Because of infection and sometimes obstruction, it is not safe to rejoin the colon during the first operation. Instead, the surgeon creates a temporary hole, or stoma, in the abdomen. The end of the colon is connected to the hole, a procedure called a colostomy, to allow normal eating and bowel movements. The stool goes into a bag attached to the opening in the abdomen. In the second operation, the surgeon rejoins the ends of the colon.

Points to Remember
Diverticulosis occurs when small pouches, called diverticula, bulge outward through weak spots in the colon (large intestine). The pouches form when pressure inside the colon builds, usually because of constipation. Most people with diverticulosis never have any discomfort or symptoms. The most likely cause of diverticulosis is a low-fiber diet because it increases constipation and pressure inside the colon.

For most people with diverticulosis, eating a high-fiber diet is the only treatment needed. You can increase your fiber intake by eating these foods: whole grain breads and cereals; fruit like apples and peaches; vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, spinach, carrots, asparagus, and squash; and starchy vegetables like kidney beans and lima beans. Diverticulitis occurs when the pouches become infected or inflamed and cause pain and tenderness around the left side of the lower abdomen.
References:
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Nutritional and Herbal Therapy for Diverticular Disease
Eat a high-fiber diet. This is the most important thing to remember to prevent diverticular disease.

Eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and less red meat and dairy.
Regular exercise is important to reduce occurrence of symptoms.
Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation.
Tumeric, ginger and bromelain (in pineapples) reduce inflammation.
Drink plenty of water to help ease passage through the colon.

Top 5 Foods For Lowering Cholesterol

Have you ever witnessed someone eating one of those fast food meals with a triple-burger sandwich, an extra-large order of French fries, and an even larger serving of soda and reflected - either to yourself or out loud - on how you could "hear their arteries clogging?"

Of course you have. In fact, you might have even heard your own arteries clogging as you consumed a meal filled with animal fat, simple sugars, and processed foods. Both Western and Chinese medicine alike recognize the importance of diet when battling high cholesterol, and eating improper foods such as these can trigger the digestive system to build up the amount of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) - which are also known as bad cholesterol - in the blood. This can then lead to life-threatening illnesses such as heart attacks, strokes, and, of course, clogged and hardened arteries.

Cholesterol, however, is a tricky condition. A person with high amounts of LDL cholesterol in their blood may have inherited the condition from a genetic predisposition, and it may not seem like changing the diet can help in any way. Happily for your health, this isn't true, and I have had tremendous success treating patients with very high cholesterol who simply needed a change to their diet and lifestyle to improve their health. Keep in mind that this change in diet does not have to be an all-or-nothing overhaul of deprivation and starvation. If you have high cholesterol, start simple!

Try incorporating the following five foods into your diet. They are high in fiber and low in cholesterol. They will not only help to lower your LDL cholesterol levels, but also benefit your body's health in general.

1. Apples: A study was conducted in Finland to determine whether or not eating apples can lower cholesterol. The results of this study determined that eating three apples a day for three months can help you drop your cholesterol level by twenty points. This is a result of apple's high amount of pectin, which is a source of dietary fiber that will draw LDL out of your system. Also, quercetin, an antioxidant, helps to inhibit the amount of LDL in the bloodstream. As autumn is a time for apples, be sure to take advantage of all of the tasty varieties that the season offers.

2. Spinach: Spinach, along with other green leafy vegetables, contains a carotenoid known as lutein. Lutein has been associated with the prevented buildup of cholesterol in the blood. With a little help from one or two helpings of fresh spinach, you'll be on your way to low cholesterol levels in no time!

3. Oats: There are few things as satisfying as a warm bowl of oatmeal in the morning. Whole grain oats, like whole wheat, are a high-fiber grain. While whole wheat is helpful in lowering cholesterol, oats contain more soluble fiber and therefore are more likely to reduce the levels of LDL cholesterol in your system. When eating foods containing oats, however, be sure to always eat whole grain oats, because the oats found in processed foods like granola bars often don't contain soluble fiber.

4. Homemade orange marmalade: Who would guess that this delicious fruity spread would also be good for lowering LDL cholesterol? Orange marmalade includes orange rind - which contains compounds known as polymethoxylated flavones (PMFs). PMFs are found in the pigment of orange peel and are responsible for lowering bad cholesterol -yet not reducing good cholesterol. You can use orange rind in your cooking as well.

5. Green tea: Green tea is beneficial for many conditions and ailments, and LDL cholesterol is no exception. Drink one cup of green tea daily and you may find that your high LDL cholesterol levels will say their final farewell.

Lowering your cholesterol starts with the foods you eat - and the foods you choose not to eat. Be sure to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Eating the right foods can help you on the way to a long, healthy life.

Fibromyalgia

According to the American College of Rheumatology, fibromyalgia affects three to six million Americans, or about 2 percent of the population.

What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a syndrome, a recognizable constellation of symptoms of unknown causation. The primary symptom of fibromyalgia is widespread muscle pain. The majority of sufferers are women between the ages of 34 and 56. Ten to twenty percent of those with FMS are severely debilitated.

As recently as twenty years ago, fibromyalgia was unrecognized. Clinical examinations often revealed no concrete findings. X-rays, blood tests, and muscle biopsies appeared normal, and therefore the symptoms seemed unexplained. Currently, a diagnosis is made by first ruling out other conditions that may mimic its symptoms such as hypothyroidism, lupus, Lyme disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. Then the diagnosis is based upon the patient's history and physical findings. A history of generalized muscle pain and malaise coupled with the finding of 11 of 18 specific tender points is suggestive of fibromyalgia.

Primary symptoms:

Pain
Fatigue
Sleep disturbances
Secondary symptoms:
Stiffness
Headache and facial pain
Abdominal discomfort
Irritable bladder
Numbness or tingling
Chest pain
Cognitive disorders
Environmental sensitivity
Disorientation & balance problems

Possible causes:
While the cause of fibromyalgia is elusive, there are many events which are thought to trigger the onset including viral or bacterial infection, trauma, or autoimmune disease. Theories pertaining to alterations in neurotransmitter regulation, immune system function, sleep physiology, and hormone control are all being studied.

Western treatment:
Common treatments are geared toward improving the quality of sleep and reducing pain. Because deep sleep is so crucial to bodily functions such as tissue repair, antibody production, and regulation of neurotransmitters, hormones, and immune system regulators, the sleep problems that FMS patients suffer from is thought to be a major contributing factor.

Medicines that boost the body's level of serotonin and norepinephrine (neurotransmitters that modulate sleep, pain, and immune system function) are commonly prescribed. While some patients respond well to these drugs, improvement varies from person to person. In addition, the medications may have side effects such as drowsiness, constipation, dry mouth, rash, headache, nervousness, tremors, dizziness, and increased appetite.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen may also be beneficial, though they should not be taken for long periods of time due to potential nephro-toxicity. Narcotic pain relievers, tranquilizers, and cortisone derivatives have been shown to be ineffective and should be avoided because of their potential side effects.

What can Chinese medicine do?
Chinese medicine views fibromyalgia as a condition resulting from general weakness of the liver, kidney, spleen and heart, caused by emotional stress, over strain, lack of adequate sleep and nutrition, and disturbed body rhythm - in other words, the body is out of "sync."

A Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner completes a full assessment of a patient in order to accurately determine what imbalances are present. There are a number of different patterns that we see frequently with FMS and treatment should be tailored to each patient's pattern. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can help control pain, increase energy and improve sleep and other symptoms. Fibromyalgia symptoms are greatly influenced by stress, amount of activity, and environment.

What can you do?
Eat lightly for dinner, preferably vegetables, grains, and little protein.
Avoid tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, potatoes, dairy products, red meat, alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and processed or refined foods.
Take a hot bath before bedtime.
Practice some form of meditation before bed to relax the body and prepare for sleep.
Go to sleep at the same time every night, before 11 pm.

TCM for Low Back Pain

Back pain is commonly considered a nerve impingement syndrome. The way it works is that there's some kind of structural problem that prevents the nerves from exiting the spinal cord through the spinal vertebrae and out into the body. When there is something pinching one of these nerves as it exits the spine it causes pain. The common term for this problem is a "pinched nerve."

One way in which doctors determine if there is a nerve impingement is by having the patient lean to the right, and then to the left in order to see if that movement has any effect on the pain. If it does, then a nerve is being pinched. If that pinching can be relieved, then, presumably, the pain will go away along with it. It is important to note that this is just one way of testing for a nerve impingement syndrome. This test isn't always an end-all diagnostic tool.

While removing the obstruction to the nerve should remove the nerve pain, it doesn't always work. Surgery, which is expensive at best and dangerous at worst, may be required. Chinese medicine sees these pains as having several possible etiologies. An examination of these causes and some suggested treatments to alleviate the pain are discussed below. Perhaps you'll recognize your own situation and be able to see an acupuncturist/herbalist to help treat it.

Qi stagnation
Qi is pronounced "Chee" and is sometimes spelled Chi. This is basically the energy that circulates throughout your body. This Qi flows through a network of channels and meridians. This sounds much like our neurological system. If push came to shove, we could say that Qi stagnation is the pinched nerve syndrome. But this is not entirely accurate because acupuncture is very adept at treating this frequent cause of back pain without having any effect on the mechanics of the situation. We simply insert needles near the location of the pain and at a few other strategic locations to stimulate the movement of qi in the desired area and the pain goes away. We don't do any manipulation of the spine, perform surgery to remove a herniated disc, or perform any other invasive procedure and, yet, the pain is relieved. This begs the question - Is the nerve impingement theory the correct explanation for back pain?

While debating the cause is interesting for theorists, it does little for the sufferer. Left untreated, Qi stagnation can lead to blood stagnation, and what was a dull ache that radiates outward from the central location can become a very sharp fixed pain. Qi stagnation lower back pain is sometimes found in women who have painful periods. Again, in this case, acupuncture is the treatment of choice.

Another cause of Qi stagnation is the invasion of cold or dampness into the acupuncture channels that go up and down the spine. In Western culture we talk about catching a cold. In Chinese medicine we can also catch a damp. This damp and cold can end up in the meridians and slow the flow of Qi and cause pain. For instance, if cold or damp weather aggravates the condition, then it is likely that you've got some cold or dampness stuck in the channels of the back impeding the flow of Qi. This is actually a typical form of arthritis. A great herbal formula for this is called Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang. However, this is only appropriate if the problem is aggravated by cold or damp weather. If your diagnosis is incorrect it won't help, and may even hamper your healing. That is why it is recommended that you see a qualified acupuncturist/herbalist who can give you an accurate diagnosis.

Blood Stagnation
There are two main causes of blood stagnation; one is that there was some local trauma. This could be caused by heavy lifting, a sport's injury, or perhaps even an automobile accident. Any specific trauma to the back will give rise to what we call blood stagnation. The treatment principle is the same as the Qi stagnation. We just get the blood moving and the pain goes away. We may also choose to use some herbs to dispel the blood stasis. Blood stasis is the local inflammation, bruising, and purple thick blood that is found at the site of the trauma.

Yun Nan Bai Yao is a commonly used herbal formula that is used to heal bruising. It is sold in capsule form and powdered form. You'll want to take the capsule form if the skin isn't broken, and the powdered form sprinkled right on to the wound if there is bleeding present. For the form that comes in capsules, you'll want to be sure that is says "in capsules" on the package. The spelling on that package is slightly different. It's called "Yunnan Paiyao". Same thing inside. Its 100% San Qi or Radix pseudoginseng, an herb that has proven to be remarkably effective for bleeding and blood stagnation conditions.

The other cause of blood stagnation is a long history of Qi stagnation. The Qi is said to move the blood. Should the Qi remain stagnant for long enough, then the local body fluids that are supposed to be flowing begin to stagnate as well. We might also see some emotional component in this particular pathology - for instance, a long history of frustration, resentment or some other really bitter emotional pathology. We all get frustrated once in a while and that can give rise to the Qi stagnation type of back pain, but if it goes on for long enough it becomes more tight, compacted. In this case, the body begins to really manifest that stagnation in the form of lumps, tumors, sharp pains or other blood circulation problems. Other formulas might be better to treat this particular issue and once again, it is recommended that you consult a trained Chinese medicine herbalist who would be able to direct you to the appropriate formula.

Damp Heat
This pathology can cause radiating pain that actually circles the lower back down into the groin area. This kind of symptom may suggest some problems that would be better addressed by Western medical attention. Check with your MD and if you don't have any serious pancreas or liver pathologies, then go visit your practitioner of Chinese medicine, we have some great answers for you.

Basically; this is a back pain, normally in the lower back, that is associated with a kind of infection in the urinary tract or other area in the lower abdomen. This might be kidney stones, or this could be a bladder infection. In any case, it is often some uro-genital disorder that may include a local infection of some sort. Herbal medicine is often times employed to dry the damp and clear the heat. Herbal medicines again would be used to treat this condition, though the formula itself would be chosen based on other signs and symptoms.

Kidney Pathology
Like the damp heat problem listed above, this is not a nerve impingement syndrome but an issue that deals with the organs found beneath the skin in the lower back. Those are the kidneys. Kidney pathologies run the gambit from stones, to a deficiency of Yin or Yang in the body. Yin deficiency tends to include lower backache that is a long-term problem, six months minimum with no history of trauma. It just started hurting one day and never went away. Other symptoms of Yin deficiency include hot flashes, night sweats, tinnitus, irritability, restlessness and the feeling that your hands and feet are too hot. Acupuncture treatments would be consistent with stimulating the kidney functions and herbal medicines such as Liu Wei Di Huang Wan would be employed to treat the root cause of the pain.

A deficiency of Kidney Yang could also give rise to lower back pain. Other symptoms of Kidney Yang deficiency would be early morning diarrhea, cold hands and feet, lack of energy, pale face, hearing loss, feeling cold all the time, frequent urination, low libido.

In either case, we would seek to strengthen these most important organs to take away the lower back pain. This might take a little longer to achieve than the Qi or Blood stagnation problems. But it still responds well to treatment with acupuncture for the specific pains and herbal medicines that go a little deeper into the organs to strengthen what is weakened. Herbal medicines for this might include Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan or one of the other patent formulas designed specifically for lower back ache due to a deficiency of Kidney Yang.

Most of the herbal formulas mentioned in this article are available at pharmacies that carry pre-made Chinese medicines in pill form. Another way in which a trained Chinese medicine herbalist would use these formulas is as the base for a more complex formula. This prescription not only takes into account the things I've mentioned above, but also other signs and symptoms that you might not consider related to your back pain. An intelligently written formula will treat the root cause of the pain as well as all of its manifestations, not just the back pain alone.

Formulas written specifically for the patient tend to be a little more expensive than the pills you'll find in your local Chinatown, but they also tend to be more focused to your specific needs and often times can work better. Once a formula is written, the prescription can be filled at a Chinese herb pharmacy in the form of raw, or bulk herbs that would need to be taken home and brewed into a tea for consumption. Some of us use powdered extracts instead of raw herbs and put these extracts into capsules for easier consumption. Both are effective.

Backaches are a common pathology among people everywhere and thanks to the Westward expansion of traditional Chinese medicine, people are coming to appreciate the age old medical wisdom of the Orient. This is especially true with regard to the alleviation of back pain.

Treatment of Candidiasis by TCM

Candidiasis is an infection caused by a species of yeast, usually recognized as candida albican. Candida albican is a natural resident of the large intestine, held in check by the intestinal flora. However, the balance can be disturbed, leading to yeast overgrowth. This, in turn, can directly or indirectly cause the development of a variety of symptoms.

Symptoms of candida overgrowth in the intestine include diarrhea, constipation, bloating, flatulence, and itchy anus. Damage to the intestinal wall allow toxins to enter the bloodstream. This condition is called "leaky gut syndrome" and often leads to food allergies, foggy brain, migraines and depression. Candidiasis has the ability to disrupt the endocrine system causing symptoms such as weight gain or weight loss, PMS, menstrual irregularities, joint pain, asthma, hay fever, muscle spasms, fatigue, and chronic tiredness. Once it travels to the rest of the body, the candida can live in any of the mucous membranes, particularly the vagina, lungs, and the sinuses.

Most women with vaginal candidiasis experience symptoms such as severe vaginal itching and/or a cottage cheese like discharge which has a sweet or bread like odor. Redness, swelling and discomfort can appear in the vulva and vagina, making sexual intercourse extremely painful. Another form of candida is oral candidiasis. Oral candidiasis symptoms include whitish patches that appear in the oral cavity such as on the tongue, inside the cheeks or on the palate. It typically occurs in people with abnormal immune systems, such as cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, people taking immunosupressive drugs to protect transplanted organs, and people with HIV infection. People who have had stomach surgery, burns, nasogastric tubes and catheters, or patients with granulocytopenia (deficiency of the white blood cells) are particularly at risk for deep organ candidiasis.

According to TCM, candida albicans can be classified as a species of chong or parasite. As a fungal infection, it flourishes in a stagnant environment permeated by damp heat. This condition is primarily a result of damage to the spleen or stomach. When the Qi transformation associated with the spleen is weakened by poor diet, stress, or taxation fatigue, it can no longer correctly separate clear Qi from turbid Qi. This leads to an internal accumulation of dampness. This dampness, heavy in nature, sinks to the lower body. In addition, emotional stress overloads the liver, causing liver Qi stagnation and blood stasis. As a result, this can aggravate or contribute to arthritis, fibroids, endometriosis, or cancer. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, along with a proper diet, works systematically by modifying the internal environment and restoring homeostasis. Treatment is designed to reduce the yeast over growth by combining herbs to strengthen the spleen, regulate Qi flow, and eliminate damp heat.

The most important line of defense against candida is a proper diet. The diet should be low in carbohydrates and high in protein; all breads including wheat and rye breads, dairy products, cheeses of all kinds, cottage cheese, alcohol, sugar, cookies, cakes, honey, and vinegar should be eliminated. Cold and raw foods cause interior dampness and therefore should be avoided. Leftovers should be frozen, not refrigerated, since molds have a great opportunity to grow overnight. Foods should also be rotated considering the easiest way to acquire food allergies is by consuming the same foods repeatedly.

Are Menstrual Cramps Normal?

There are many symptoms that accompany menstruation. Normal menstruation usually has a regular cyclicity, a consistent flow pattern, and a minimal amount of clots. Travel, stress, trauma, and dietary changes can all alter the menstrual cycle. These alterations should be temporary and any persistent change should prompt you to have your body evaluated. On the other hand, how your menstruation is changed can alert you to how your body is reacting to stress.

Some discomfort associated with the onset of menstruation is normal. Pains that are increasing or require pain medications are not normal and need to be evaluated. Especially in teens whose menarche and subsequent menses are irregular or painful, this may indicate an underlying problem such as endometriosis. By first prescribing oral contraceptives for this condition without addressing the underlying imbalance - the inflammatory activity - the problem may persist even years after initial onset. This may also affect fertility when planning a family later in life. Other reasons for painful menstruation can be infection, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, IUD usage, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and uterine fibroids. Chinese Medicine believes that when we experience pain, the body is trying to communicate to us an imbalance needing treatment or care. The approach to treating pelvic menstrual pain needs to be a natural and holistic one. This means we need to not only address the pain and associated symptoms, but we also need to address the underlying cause. By identifying the nature of the condition, appropriate acupuncture treatment or herbal remedies can be administered to address the condition as a whole. The key to successful eradication of menstrual pains and associated symptoms is to treat the condition early on.