Health Tips
Topic: |
Date: |
| Osteoarthritis (OA) | |
| Multiple Sclerosis (MS) | December 11, 2009 |
| Traditional Chinese Medicine and Periodontitis | October 7, 2009 |
| Swine Flu | Sep 1, 2009 |
| Simple Steps for Disease Prevention | Aug 1, 2009 |
What does holistic and prevention mean in Traditional Chinese Medicine?After you read the following health tips, colleagues of IMEG Health® wish that you truly get the gist of their meaning within the context of Traditional Chinese Medicine. |
|
| Everybody talks about disease prevention. But how? [Part 1] | July 15, 2009 |
| Everybody talks about disease prevention. But how? [Part 2] | July 21, 2009 |
| 10 Causes of Fatigue | July 8, 2009 |
| Summer Treatment of Winter Conditions | July 1, 2009 |
| Is it all about balance? | June 25, 2009 |
| Meridian Time | June 18, 2009 |
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Contributed by Luke Lin
Registered TCM Practitioner, Registered Acupuncturist
Vancouver, BC
December 11, 2009
- avoid excessive exposure to heat or very warm temperatures,
- lead a normal life style,
- exercise frequently,
- eat a healthy diet.
The Benefits of TCM as Part of Your MS Treatment Strategy:
- Treatment :
- Acupuncture - used routinely in TCM to improve movement of “qi” and enhance blood circulation. Acupuncture is particularly effective in relieving the symptoms during the early stages of MS.
- Use of herb* - Tao Ren (peach kernel) and Hong Hua (safflower) are herbs that are routinely used in TCM to remove “blood stasis”, while other herbs may increase the body function as to improve the quality of life in those diagnosed with MS.
- Prevention :
- The combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine is effective in decreasing the recurrence of MS attack
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) – Fact Sheet Symptoms Blurred vision, vertigo, extreme fatigue, numbness and tingling sensation in the body, weakness, tremors and even cognitive problems. Predisposing Factors Genetic factors play a role in MS. The risk of developing MS is higher in those who have a parent, sibling, or an identical twin with MS. Treatment and its Goals There is no known cure for MS. Treatments aim to return function after an attack, prevent new attacks, and prevent disability. Prognosis The progression of MS, and a person's prognosis, cannot be accurately predicted in the early stages of the disease. Patients are advised try to lead a normal life, exercise frequently, and eat a healthy diet. Patients are also encouraged to avoid excessive exposure to heat, since it may exacerbate latent symptoms of MS, such as visual blurring, tingling and numbness, or fatigue. |
What is Multiple Sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis is a potentially debilitating neurological disease which is the result of damage to the myelin sheath, a protective covering surrounding nerve fibers of the central nervous system. Once the myelin is damaged, it interferes with the communication and relaying of messages between the brain and other parts of the body.
What is TCM perspective of Multiple Sclerosis?
From the TCM point of view, MS could be related to many factors including the “deficiency of qi”, “deficiency of kidney yang”, “deficiency of kidney yin” etc. However, all these factors may induce “blood stasis” which is thought to be one of the leading causes of MS. “Blood stasis” in TCM means that the blood circulation is blocked by some factors in the body.
Another leading cause of MS according to TCM is the concept of “phlegm”. “Phlegm” in TCM, is considered to be a stubborn, turbid fluid that resides in our body and results in blockage of “qi” and “blood”. Clinically, many patients with MS may have a combination of “blood stasis” and “phlegm” which makes the disease, as well as the treatment, more complicated.
Can TCM diagnosis provide an early detection of “Blood Stasis” which might induce MS?
A TCM practitioner is trained to diagnose the cause(s) of incoherent bodily functions. While it is impossible to accurately predict if someone will get MS, the ability to recognize the signs and symptoms of “blood stasis”, and the subsequent treatment of it, will at least result in the removal of one of the risk factors of MS. In other words, TCM pattern diagnosis can determine early signs of potential disease, and TCM treatments may decrease the occurrence as well as the recurrence of disease. Regardless of the factors involved (phlegm, blood stasis, kidney yin deficiency etc.), treatment and diagnosis must be done by a professional TCM practitioner, and early detection and treatment is recommended for best results.
Is TCM suitable for all MS patients?
While TCM does offer effective treatment methods for removing “blood stasis”, there may be exceptions to its efficacy. In patients that are too weak for treatment, or in cases where the blockage is too severe, treatment effects may not be as pronounced. This can only be determined through a properly assessed TCM diagnosis.
Many studies in China have indicated that TCM and acupuncture treatment can effectively relieve the symptoms, promote the recovery of injured nerve cells and decrease the recurrence of MS attacks. For example, there are many herbs which can be used to eliminate the “blood stasis” and promote blood circulation, but there are many factors to consider before prescribing these herbs. These factors may include: the areas of injury, magnitude and scope of the “blood stasis”, the level of the “qi” (energy for promoting the blood circulation) as well as the root cause of “blood stasis”.
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, TCM treatment may be an option for treatment. For questions about TCM and the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis or any other health concern, please feel free to contact us at IMEG Health ®.
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Traditional Chinese Medicine and Periodontitis
by Gary Chan,
Registered TCM Practitioner, Registered Acupuncturist
Vancouver, BC
October 7, 2009
Upon browsing a health forum online, I came across a post from a person sharing his story of chronic toothache that he has had for the last 4 years. He shares that his dentist’s diagnosis was periodontitis, an inflammatory disease affecting the surrounding tissues that support the teeth. While curettage (cleaning) was performed regularly as recommended by his dentist, the improvement of his condition was not satisfying.
I find this story interesting because while the condition of toothache definitely falls into the territory of dentistry, the underlying cause of such problem can sometimes be outside of these experts’ considerations.
As everybody should be totally responsible to their own health, I find that solely relying on the expert is not a wise choice. Knowledge can be the tool to empower yourself in situation like this.
In traditional Chinese medicine, we also have our own perspective in oral health.
Primary Cause |
Manifestation |
Possible associate symptoms |
Possible environmental trigger |
Toxic Heat |
Toothache. Painful swelling gum. Redness or bleeding gum. Halitosis (bad breath). * Toxic Heat reside in the stomach system will likely cause symptom at the upper gum while the same pathogen reside in the large intestine system will likely cause symptom at the lower gum. |
Thirst. Hunger. Constipation. Feverish. Red face. Acne/Sore. Canker sore. Hyperactive. |
Intake of spicy food. Intake of hot nature food. Over eat. Constipation. Inflection. |
Kidney Deficiency |
Toothache with loose tooth. |
Lower back pain. Weak legs. Hyperactive sex drive. Sexual dysfunction. Frequent urination. Nocturnal urination. Insomnia. Fatigue. |
Over work. Overly sexual active. Lack of sleep. |
Without Traditional Chinese Medicine training, a practitioner will hardly consider them while evaluating your toothache. Base on my personal practice experience, I can claim that traditional Chinese medicine has an effective remedy for toothache/gum pain caused by these reasons.
While I still believe that a dentist should be one’s primary oral health care provider, personal hygiene is important as well. If you have a condition that doesn’t seem to be getting better, consider a second opinion from another practitioner, including a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner.
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Swine Flu
by IMEG Health®
Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture Clinic
Vancouver, BC
September 1, 2009
This year the Swine Flu has made its name and has been a great concern for people globally. It has been the headline in many newspapers and it has also been the top story in news coverage. Swine flu or the H1N1 virus is a pandemic influenza which means that it can spread easily and affect a wide geographic area. In beautiful British Columbia, Canada we are not excluded from the infection of the H1N1 virus. According to the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), in BC alone there have been 39 cases of H1N1. Out of these 39 lab-confirmed cases admitted to hospital, 18 have been admitted to the ICU. To date (Aug 18 2009), four laboratory-confirmed H1N1 cases in B.C. are reported to have died. However, don’t let these numbers scare you. Many people who have been in contact with the virus are not affected by it. Why? The answer is simple, our immune system. People who have a weaken immune system are much more susceptible to influenza these people may include children, seniors or people who are already sick. In TCM this new strain of influenza may cause complications that are hard to treat but is controllable by both Western medication and traditional Chinese medicine
Symptoms:
- Fever
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Body-ache
- Chills
- Extreme fatigue
- Some patients may also experience diarrhea and vomiting.
Diagnosis and Treatment:
To treat this condition with traditional Chinese medicine (“TCM”), the patient must diagnosed through TCM syndrome differentiation. The treatment is always tailored to the individual patients’ condition as well as his/her own body constitution, this is the main difference between TCM and conventional medicine. If the pathogen is stronger than the body’s vital qi (immune system), then we might focus on dispelling the pathogen. If the patient has weak vital qi (susceptible to sickness and slow recovery), in addition to dispelling the pathogen, the doctor may choose to tonify the vital qi to help the body recover from sickness. However, in any case acupuncture or prescription of herbs need administered by TCM professional.
Prevention:
Since a weaken immune system is more susceptible to influenza, then boosting the immune system would be a good place to start. Healthy lifestyle which include things such as sufficient sleep, regular exercise, nutritious diet and drinking plenty of water goes a long way. If you find that you easily get sick, consult a TCM professional to correct any imbalances that you may have in your body. Balance in your body is important for prevention of any disease.
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Simple Steps for Disease Prevention
by Dr. Bradley Matthews
Dr. TCM, Registered TCM Practitioner, Registered Acupuncturist
Vancouver, BC
August 1, 2009
Everyone knows that health is important, without our health we can not enjoy the beauty of this world. Sometimes simple steps such as healthy eating, regular exercise and medical checkups can go a long way in reducing risk factors and preventing disease. Most of us can improve our health and prevent disease by following the advice of the following list:
• Eat a well-balanced diet
• Lower the amount of fat and cholesterol in your diet
• Keep your weight at a level that is good for your height
• Exercise for at least 30-60 minutes on most or all days of the week
• Do not smoke cigarettes
• Do not use drugs
• If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation
• Wear sunscreen and avoid excess sun exposure to help prevent skin cancer
• Use a form of birth control if you are able to become pregnant but do not want to become pregnant
• Use a latex condom every time you have sex to help prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
• Women should do a breast self-exam once a month
• See a dentist and have regular eye exams
• See your acupuncturist every 4 - 6 weeks for routine care
• Seek help if you feel sadness that affects you daily life
"He who takes medicine and neglects to diet wastes the skill of his doctors." -Chinese Proverb
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Everybody talks about disease prevention. But how? [Part 1]
by Gary Chan,
Registered TCM Practitioner, Registered Acupuncturist
Vancouver, BC
July 15, 2009
At a recent health seminar I heard it said that “A dollar of prevention is worth $5.60 in cure.”
I am not sure how the exact measure in dollar value was determined, but I strongly agree that the effort put into prevention is multiple times worth the effort when it comes to trying to reverse a health condition.
Doctor Sun Si Miao (581 – 682 CE) was a historically significant doctor of Traditional Chinese medicine. His contributions to Chinese medicine are felt even today. There is a story about Dr. Sun and the an emperor of the Tang dynasty.
The Tang Emperor was greatly appreciative of Dr. Sun's medical skill after having been treated. The Emperor had asked Dr. Sun if he was the best doctor in the country to which he humbly declined such a compliment.
The Emperor then asked Dr. Sun who in his opinion is the best doctor in the country? Dr. Sun named several of the famous doctors of the time.
Dr. Sun then added that "While I have heard that those famous doctors are indeed very skilled, I don’t think any of them are as good a doctor as as my second brother."
The Emperor was very puzzled. He had never heard of the reputation of Dr. Sun's brother.
Dr. Sun continued, “… while my second brother is very good, he is actually not as skilled a doctor as my eldest brother.”
Now the Emperor was truly curious. "If they are such good healers," he wondered, "how is it that I have never heard of them treating any major diseases?"
Dr. Sun replied, “While I was traveling around the country, there were times that I was able to cure diseases that no other doctors had been able to cure. That helped to build up my reputation, ”
The Emperor nodded.
Dr. Sun continued, “In the village where my second brother practices medicine, all the villagers are cured before their conditions have developed into anything complicated. Therefore, my second brother only has the reputation of curing minor conditions, however, he is actually protecting more people’s health than many other famous doctors. So, in my opinion, he is a better doctor than me.”
“My eldest brother does not even practice medicine. He is the leader of a village. In his village, with his regulation and guidance on proper living, the villagers do not get sick at all. So, while most people will not realize my eldest brother’s contribution to the village’s health, in my opinion, he is the best doctor of all.” This little story shows us that 1500 years ago, the importance of illness prevention was understood.
(This topic will be continued in the next edition of Health Tips).
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Everybody talks about disease prevention. But how? [Part 2]
by Gary Chan,
Registered TCM Practitioner, Registered Acupuncturist
Vancouver, BC
July 21, 2009
I hope you enjoyed last week's Health Tip. The message it conveyed is very simple and it applies to all difficulties in life (not just for health) It can be summarized as follows:
- Disease prevention is the most optimal.
- Addressing a health concern early is smart.
- Addressing a health concern when there is "no other option" is not smart.
In reality, most people visit a health care practitioner only in the event of a health problem. Although this is an unfortunate truth, the fact remains that most of us find it difficult and/or unnecessary to be proactive in disease prevention. Though ironically, we see the benefit in regular visits to the dentist to avoid dental problems.
It seems that while most of us understand the concept of a healthy lifestyle for disease prevention; however, few of us practice it. For example, I recently read an article about people hiring personal lifestyle coaches to help develop personal program in order to prevent diabetes, and it was estimated that only one out of six individuals will continue with the program.
There are personal and technical aspects involved in disease prevention. First, as a patient, it takes a significant personal commitment to make changes in our lives. For many that are already affected by a particular health concern, especially if it is a chronic condition, there can be no lack of resolve or energy to take the initiative to change.
On the technical side, we can break down the challenge of disease prevention into multiple levels.
- Preventing the existing condition (if there is one) from further development, and cure it if possible.
- Identifying other potential risks based on an individual's lifestyle choices, hereditary factors, etc.
- Preventing diseases by eliminating potential causative factors and potential triggers.
A health practitioner who does not have the understanding or training in these aspects will likely find it difficult to assist you in the area of disease prevention.
For those of you who feel inspired by and believe in the concept of disease prevention, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a great option. In TCM, the principle of treating a body before one is diseased is fundamental. We have a saying that says "zhi wei bing" or "treat in the absence of illness". The table below provides a summary of this concept.
| Disease prognosis | Corresponding principle in Traditional Chinese Medicine |
| When a disease is hiding and not yet shown | Prevention of disease |
| When a disease is showing but not yet developed | |
| When a disease is developing but not yet triggered | Prevention of further development + treatment + possible rehabilitation |
| When a disease has started but not yet transferred | |
| When a disease is transferred but not yet transformed | |
| When a disease is transformed but not yet final |
All diseases, from cancer to common colds, share this pattern of disease progression. Thus, it is important to recognize that once the disease has developed, it can be triggered (i.e. have a recurrence), transferred and transformed in any order. (I will continue with this topic in an upcoming issue of Health Tips).
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10 Causes of Fatigue
by Gary Chan,
Registered TCM Practitioner, Registered Acupuncturist
Vancouver, BC
July 8, 2009
This information comes from a magazine article I read which I thought would be worthwhile to share. It is summarized into the following table.
| 10 Causes of Fatigue | |
| 1. Medication. Certain commonly-used medications that have been related to low energy include diuretics, antidepressants, antianxiety medications, antihistamines, and cough syrups. | 6. Lack of exercise. Exercise can train the body’s muscle to act efficiently, which is why people who exercise regularly feel more energetic compared to those who don't. |
| 2. Obesity | 7. Insufficient secretion of thyroid |
| 3. Malnutrition | 8. Dehydration |
| 4. Sleeping problems/Insomnia | 9. Overuse of eyes |
| 5. Emotional distress | 10. Working in a dim environment |
Fatigue is a very common symptom among our clients, and while it is common, it can be very difficult to determine its cause.
One has to examine the pattern of the fatigue and remove its cause in order to solve this problem.
For example, does your lifestyle contain any of the 10 item listed above? If so, you may wish to seriously consider a lifestyle change. After all, fatigue can lead to depression, and depression can have major impact on one's life.
Do you normally feel tired during the work week, but full of spirit on weekends or holidays? If so, perhaps an attitude shift toward your work may help your fatigue.
Do you normally feel tired in the morning even though you have had enough sleep? If so, you may wish to consider whether you are getting sufficient exercise for your physical body.
Do you normally feel tired immediately or 1to 2 hours after a meal? If so, try to eat something different to see if certain foods may be contributing to your fatigue.
Do you normally feel tired in the afternoon for no apparent reason? If so, it may be a simple case of dehydration. I have found this to be extremely common in people working in an office environment.
Finally, I want to emphasize that fatigue is not "mandatory" and most of the time there is something you can do to help resolve the cause. A TCM practitioner may also be able to help you with your fatigue, but the most important component to solve this problem is your own desire to change.
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Summer Treatment of Winter Conditions
by Gary Chan,
Registered TCM Practitioner, Registered Acupuncturist
Vancouver, BC
July 1, 2009
“Dong Bing Xia Zhi”, or "Summer treatment of Winter conditions", is a unique therapeutic approach of TCM.
"Winter conditions" refers to diseases that normally get worse or are triggered in the winter time. Some common examples are asthma, bronchitis, allergic rhinitis, arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
According to TCM theory, all winter conditions will have a constricting or accumulating characteristic. For example, constriction of a blood vessel and the trachea, accumulation of phlegm, mineral deposit and cells.
The general principle of treatment is to reverse or undo these factors. In other words as we say in TCM "Unblock that which is the constricted, and transform (or excrete) that which is accumulated."
In order to understand the benefits of treating a winter condition in summer time, let us take a look at the chart below that illustrates how our body and environment operate differently in the different seasons.
| Summer | Winter | |
| External Factor (The environment) | A yang prominent season.
|
A yin prominent season.
|
| Internal Factor (The body) | A yang prominent state
|
A yin prominent state
|
Both the external environment and the body tending toward constriction and accumulation in the winter time, thus the winter conditions will be worse in this time of the year.
The opposite is true of summer and it is for this reason that a lot of symptoms simply go away spontaneously when the seasons change.
I am fond of the following analogy that illustrates the concept of having treatment of a winter condition in winter time compared to summer time.
"It is said that treating a winter condition in winter time is like making a fire with a hand drill; whereas, treating a winter condition in the summer is like starting a fire with another torch."
At this point, it should be clearly understood that while the treatment of a winter condition is most desirable in the summer, the season itself should not be a deterrence to seeking treatment. Winter conditions can still be treated in the winter, with good effect. It is simply that the condition may not respond as favourably as it would if it were treated in the summer. Therefore, if you are affected by a condition that is usually worse in the winter, it might be wise to consider having it treated in the summer.
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Is it all about balance?
by Gary Chan,
Registered TCM Practitioner, Registered Acupuncturist
Vancouver, BC
June 25, 2009
As TCM practitioners, we often discuss with our patients the concept of "balance" as it relates to health. In most cases, when patients hear this, they nod as if to say they understand.
However, what do we as practitioners really mean when we say "it's all about balance"? If patients don't understand the true meaning of the term, how can they be expected to apply its concept to their daily lives?
The fact is, the term "balance" can actually be quite misleading. For example, if I were to divide many days such that half of the hours were spent doing active things, while the other half was spent in a completely sedentary state, would that be an example of "balance"? My feeling is that there may be little or no health benefits in such a rigid lifestyle.
In TCM, when we are using the term "balance", we are actually talking about the concepts of yin and yang. We do not require that people divide their lives into multiple aspects in exactly equal amounts. Balance is dynamic. Like yin and yang, balance is actually a constant state of ebb and flow (in scientific language - a dynamic equilibrium), never staying static.
One can work as hard as they like, but one can overwork once it starts disturbing one's sleep. One can rest lots but one can have too much once it starts slowing down the individual.
Perhaps "harmonize" is a better word to describe what we refer to as a balanced lifestyle.
I often use the analogy of a violin string. In order to play the right note, you cannot be too tight nor too loose. Do not let any single aspect of your life overwhelm your whole body. This is what I refer to as "balance".
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Meridian Time:
by Gary Chan,
Registered TCM Practitioner, Registered Acupuncturist
Vancouver, BC
June 18, 2009
One unique feature in life cultivation of traditional Chinese medicine is called “ying shi", which can be roughly translated as “complying with time”.
There are different degrees of “ying shi”, such as respiration (a short form) and different life stages (a long form).
A lifestyle that coordinates activity based on the daily energy flow is very beneficial to health and life cultivation.
Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, vital energy travels around the body through different meridians at different times of the day.
Here is a simple reference of the corresponding time and meridian.
| 23:00 to 01:00 | Gallbladder | 01:00 to 03:00 | Liver |
| 03:00 to 05:00 | Lung | 05:00 to 07:00 | Large Intestine |
| 07:00 to 09:00 | Stomach | 09:00 to 09:00 | Spleen |
| 11:00 to 13:00 | Heart | 13:00 to 13:00 | Small Intestine |
| 15:00 to 17:00 | Urinary Bladder | 17:00 to 19:00 | Kidney |
| 19:00 to 21:00 | Pericardium | 21:00 to 23:00 | Triple Burner |
Due to the limited space of this session, I will quickly highlight some of the important indications and discuss this topic more in-depth in the future.
- Activity between 23:00 – 03:00 will result in an inefficient or incomplete detoxification process. If this were to occur over an extended period of time, it will contribute to stress, fatigue and eventually serious health conditions.
- Most of the digestive organs are more active in the morning. Therefore, breakfast and lunch are more important than supper in terms of digestion and absorption.
- A symptom that always deteriorates or surfaces during a certain period of time can be a good indication that there is a problem with the corresponding meridian/organ
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