Here's one for ancient chinese medicine -

Anonymous

That's great Chef ! Have found a few TCM practitioners in my general area, next step is to filter, and make an appointment.  Can't wait !  I want to get the topical DIM that Truebff gets from hers.  I also want to go for reflexology, Oh my God, this will be divine !!

Anonymous

I don't believe everything I read, especially if it's that far fetched as this Korean story

No human flesh pills found in China: MOH

http://www.globaltimes.cn/NEWS/tabid/99/ID/708497/No-human-flesh-pills-found-in-China-MOH.aspx 

Anonymous

Studies of Fu Zhen therapy in the United States and China have demonstrated its value in treating a wide range of immune-compromised conditions, including cancer, leukemia, AIDS and ARC, and chronic Epstein-Barr virus. In a study of seventy-six patients with Stage II primary liver cancer, twenty-nine of the forty-six people receiving Fu Zhen therapy in combination with radiation or chemotherapy survived for a year, and ten survived for three years. Only six of the thirty patients who received radiation or chemotherapy alone survived one year, and all died by the third year. In laboratory studies, Fu Zhen herbs have prevented the growth of transplanted tumors.

The most highly praised blood tonic in the East, Tang kuei (Angelica sinensis), has been used clinically in China to treat cancer of the esophagus and liver with good results. The Chinese have claimed dramatic success using this herb both alone and in combination with other medicinal agents in treating cervical cancer and, to a lesser extent, breast cancer in women. It can be administered in either infusion or douche form. Many other Chinese herbs could be cited for their documented antitumor effects.

Nearly all of the Chinese herbs used today to treat cancer and other immune-deficient conditions fall into three broad categories. Tonic herbs increase the number and activity of immunologically active cells and proteins. Toxin-clearing herbs clear the blood of germs and of waste products from the destruction of tumors and germs. Blood activating herbs reduce the coagulation and inflammatory reactions associated with immune response. Herbal therapy in cancer treatment can improve appetite, reduce nausea and vomiting, and alleviate stress.

In Japan, classical Chinese herbal formulas are prepackaged and standardized. Kanpo, the Japanese version of Chinese herbalism, has reported many successes in treating cancer. In Tokyo, many kanpo doctors work in conventional hospitals prescribing drugs but moonlight to pursue their private herbal practices. Kanpo doctors dispense with much of the conceptual framework of traditional Chinese medicine such as the division of the body into yin and yang parts.

Another component of Chinese medicine used in cancer treatment is chi gong a 3,000-year-old exercise that combines the slow, symmetrical, graceful movements of tai chi with meditation, relaxation, patterned breathing, guided imagery, and other behavioral techniques. The aim is to enable a person to regulate and direct the flow of chi, or vital force, within his or her own body. The student or patient is taught to focus his or her chi at a point in the center of the body, roughly two inches below the navel, called the dan tian, or vital center. From this center, the chi is said to emanate to distant regions of the body. Students reportedly learn to sense the presence of chi at the vital center in the form of localized warmth and then to direct the life energy to specific parts of the body. Based on the experience of students who take chi gong courses for self-treatment purposes, it usually takes about three months for the exercises to show their effect. In cancer therapy, the Chinese practitioner prescribes exercises geared to the individual patient.

For further information on Oriental medicine and Acupuncture

American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine
455 Arkansas Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
Phone: 415-282-7600

American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine 

c/o National Acupuncture Headquarters
1424 16th Street, Northwest
Suite 501
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 202-265-2287

American Academy of Medical Acupuncture 

2520 Milvia Street
Berkeley, CA 94704
Phone: 415-841-7600

Traditional Acupuncture Institute

American City Building
Suite 100
Columbia, MD 21044
Phone: 301-9974888

Institute for Traditional Medicine

2442 Southeast Sherman
Portland, OR 97214
Phone: 503-233-4907

For further information on Fu Zhen therapy and herbal healing.

Anonymous

Antiproliferative activity of 71 herb extracts was tested on breast cancer cells

2003 MAR 24 -- Antiproliferative activity of 71 herb extracts was tested on breast cancer cells. According to a study from the United States, "Chinese medicinal herbs are traditionally used to prevent and treat a variety of diseases, including cancer. These herbal preparations are purported to have many biological effects including direct antiproliferative effects on cancer cells, antimutagenic activity, and stimulatory or suppressive effects on immune responses.

The present study investigates the effects of aqueous extracts from 71 Chinese medicinal herbs on the growth of 5 breast cancer cell lines (SK-BR-3, MCF7, MDA-MB-231, BT-474 and MCNeuA). "A total of 21% (15/71) of the extracts demonstrated greater than 50% growth inhibition on at least 4 of the 5 cell lines. Dose response curves were obtained for several of the most potent crude extracts and demonstrated IC50 values ranging from <10 microgr/ml to >1 mg/ml. Six of seven herbs tested induced high molecular weight DNA fragmentation, an early marker of apoptosis, while one of these also induced low molecular weight DNA fragmentation. Flow cytometric analysis of breast cancer cells exposed to one of these herbs (Rheum palmatum) suggested that it arrests cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle.

Campbell and coauthors concluded:

These results indicate that many of the herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of cancer have significant growth inhibitory effects on breast cancer cells in vitro.

Campbell and colleagues published the results of their study in Anticancer Research (Antiproliferative activity of Chinese medicinal herbs on breast cancer cells in vitro. Anticancer Res, 2002;22(6C):3843-3852). The corresponding author for this report is M.J. Campbell, University of of California San Francisco, Mt Zion Med Center, Department Surgery, Rm C342, 1600 Divisadero, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA.

Anonymous

A TCM practitioner gave a presentation on how Dong Quai had been used on breast cancer. He had all the statistics and had published on it in the last ten years. I'm sure that's one of ther herbs used in your information. Your info seems to confirm that typically they use Donq Quai in combination with other herbs.

My neighbor uses Dong Quai capsules from the health food store for PMS.

Anonymous

Lucy,  I have always read that Dang Gui (Radix Angelica sinensis) or Dong Quai was estrogenic. According to this study, it is not

"A.sinensis and ferulic acid potentiated the phagocytic activity of macrophages when given to mice.
Clinical studies
Commentary:
An intense review of Chinese Medical literature shows no evidence of either substantial hormone neither content nor hormonal activity in humans or animals when given this herb. The basis for some of its activity is its strong effect of relaxing the muscles, esp.. uterine muscles. The herb is not reported to have oestrogenic activity and is not contraindicated during pregnancy. A. Sinensis is a nearly universal ingredient for pregnancy disorders and approved by the Japanese Ministry of Health for inclusion in pregnancy formulations"

http://www.cancerdialogues.com/research/oncologyherb.htm 

ETA, let me know if my link doesn't work, have been having trouble since system upgrade