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In my clinical practice, I treat someone with a cough every day. And in the winter, it might be 40 percent of the cases I see. In the absence of good herbal treatment, sudden-onset cough, once entrenched, can linger for weeks before resolving completely. TCM offers one of the best…

I remember a particular night in 1985. It was about 8:30 p.m. After a long day with patients, I leaned back at my desk, feet up, head against the back of the chair, eyes closed, and then, I felt something. It was a sorrowful feeling, one that wafted past me…

The thought and title for this article came courtesy of Charlie Xiu, of RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. Dr. Xiu, a practitioner of Oriental medicine, relocated from Canton, China, to head the department of Oriental medicine and conduct research at RMIT Australia. He serves as a delegate to the informal…

The following interview is the first in a series on fertility - causes and cures. Dr. Raymond Chang is the primary force behind the trend toward integrating acupuncture to enhance fertility in contemporary medical practice. He is the author of What Your Doctor May NOT Tell You About Getting Pregnant…

There currently is much debate within the medical field about the proper naming of medical practices that have their roots in China. It has gone to such extremes that the California legislators officially changed the word Oriental to Asian . However, in an effort to be politically correct, they may…

After recently graduating from an American acupuncture and Oriental medicine school in New York, I came to China for postgraduate study at the Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Hunan is a very green province in the central part of southern China - “the heartland,” as they say. Hunan doctors,…

As the public increasingly turns to herbal and nutritional supplements as alternative or adjunct treatments to conventional Western medicine, it’s important that all health care providers give patients an accurate picture of the efficacy and safety of those supplements. While clinical/experiential evidence might lead you to utilize a particular herb…

It is incumbent upon the current generation of practitioners to guard the essence of our practice, as so many thousands have done before us. Our arts have survived catastrophic events, dynastic conflict and, most notably, the test of time. They have not survived on good luck alone, however. It has…

The integrative world view associated with Oriental medicine recognizes there is no intrinsic separation between the polarities of existence - yin embraces yang - and the nature of the physical realm finds its echo in the heavens. It’s likewise our understanding that in the treatment protocols of constitutional facial acupuncture…

One of the challenges many practitioners face is that of effectively communicating with patients. Bedside manner is not a skill that is taught in school, although it should be. People have indicated time and again that they would rather return to a practitioner they felt may not be highly proficient,…

Contrary to what you might have heard, there is beauty in the kitchen. Just as Chinese herbs promote health, beauty, healing and rejuvenation for our face and body, Chinese texts laud the healing and beautifying effects of many foods. Food therapy, as effective as the other traditional Chinese medicine techniques…

Usually, within 24 to 48 hours of performing a strenuous activity, the individual is so sore that it is hard to move or function normally. When DOMS takes effect, the body will overcompensate, such as walking up and down a flight of stairs gingerly or using the entire body to…

There has been a lot of discussion, research, sales hype and promotion of tea ( cha ) for weight loss in the media, as Asian cha culture is gaining popularity in the Western world. This is particularly true with regard to lu cha (green tea).

Cardiovascular disease is our number one killer. One-third of Americans have one or more forms of it. Cardiovascular disease is a condition that is broadly defined, including anything affecting the heart or blood vessels. According to one estimate, our average life expectancy would increase by seven years if cardiovascular disease…

Chinese medicine arose, developed and flourished in a pre-modern society with decidedly pre-modern ideas and concepts. Early beliefs regarding pathogenesis focused on ghosts and other spiritual entities. The recording of Neijing was a pivotal step in the first modernization of Chinese medicine.

With spring just around the corner, we look at the awakening of the earth with fresh and expectant eyes. Nature is coming into full bloom with rain-washed, vibrant colors. Our hearts begin to sing, so to speak, as everything revives from the long, cold days of winter. All things in…

esearch continues to show that complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use, particularly by older adults, is on the rise. More people are using it, but how many discuss CAM use with their physician(s)? A recent report from the American Association of Retired Persons (now known only as the AARP) and…