By Eric Brand

When most Chinese medicine practitioners think of bing lang (betel nut), we think of a dried cross section of a seed that is used to kill parasites, downbear qi, and disinhibit urination. Few practitioners know that betel nut is also chewed as a mild psychoactive drug in Taiwan and other parts of South and Southeast Asia. In fact, one of the most unexpected sights for many foreigners upon arriving in Taiwan is the presence of thousands of little shops selling betel nut. The shops are often brightly lit with Vegas style flashing lights, and they are commonly staffed by young women wearing bikinis. These shops are especially common in the southern part of Taiwan, particularly in rural areas.

How did we get from a Chinese medicine for intestinal worms to flashing lights and bikinis?

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By Eric Brand

Here is an interesting article from Taiwan on Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang. The article assesses several products on the market for the presence of aristolochic acid (AA), which would come from the presence of Xi Xin in Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang. Essentially the conclusion of the article was that Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang basically lacked significant levels of AA and was not associated with nephotoxicity in the patient population that was studied.

Here's the full text:
http://www.cmjournal.org/content/5/1/6

by Bob Flaws

If people know you're a doctor, they're always asking you in social settings how to treat this or that ailment they or a loved one is suffering from. If people know you're a famous doctor, albeit of Chinese medicine, these kinds of requests are ubiquitous and never-ending. So I wasn't particularly surprised this weekend when a woman I was chatting with at a social gathering asked me for a recommendation for a Blue Poppy formula. As always in such situations, I strongly advised that she see a professional practitioner of Chinese medicine who could do a proper in-take and diagnosis. However, the woman told me she had been to see many practitioners of acupuncture/Chinese medicine over the years as well as Western MDs, DCs, and NDs, all to no avail.

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By Eric Brand

Marker compounds refer to chemical constituents within a medicinal that can be used to verify its potency or identity. For some medicinals, the marker compounds could be described as active ingredients. In other substances, the marker compounds of interest are chemicals that confirm the correct botanical identity of the starting material. There is not consensus on the correct marker compounds for all traditional medicinals, because some medicinals have unknown active constituents and others have multiple active constituents. In some situations, experts disagree about which group of constituents is responsible for the therapeutic effects of a given substance, so there is a lack of consensus when it comes to determining which constituents are the correct marker compounds for such items.

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By Eric Brand

What is the difference between full-spectrum extracts and standardized extracts? What do these terms mean and how do they affect us as Chinese medical practitioners?

1. Full Spectrum Extracts

In the context of Chinese medicine, full spectrum extracts tend to refer to products that reflect the natural constituent yield that is obtained from a traditional water decoction. Historically, most prescriptions have been prepared as a water decoction, so replicating a decoction is thought to provide the best approximation of the spectrum of constituents that Chinese medicine’s time-tested results are based upon.

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by Malia Kirby

I am not a person who ignores coincidences. Usually, when they occur in my life, I tend to stand up and take notice and yesterday, when my hubby told me to check out the recent post a colleague and fellow SWAC grad wrote and I found myself nodding enthusiastically as I read, I immediately asked her permission to direct you all to her words.

You see, Catie started to take her yoga practice seriously the exact month she started her acupuncture practice out in Raleigh by doing yoga at least once per day for 108 days. The realizations she has come to are EXACTLY what I'm talking about with this series on being present. Take a look at her personal experiences if you're interested to see what mindfulness can do for you at Yogalove: life in the flow. It is definitely worth your time.

By Eric Brand

The Qing dynasty materia medica text Ben Cao Bei Yao (The Essential Herbal Foundation) was written in 1694 CE by Wang Ang. This book provides us with insight into the actions ascribed to herbs in the Qing dynasty, just prior to the modern era of Chinese medicine. Notably, many of the actions of herbs have changed over the years. Observing the different viewpoints on a given medicinal’s actions over the ages gives us insight into its fundamental nature and broadens our understanding of its potential applications.

Did you know that Ku Shen (Sophorae Flavescentis Radix) was once said to nourish yin? The “Shen” in Ku Shen’s name is shared by Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix), Xuan Shen (Scrophulariae Radix), Sha Shen (Adenophorae seu Glehniae Radix), Dang Shen (Codonopsis Radix), and Dan Shen (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix), all of which have historically been ascribed supplementing properties. Naturally, Ku Shen is still a damp-drying, bitter cold medicinal, so the Ben Cao Bei Yao notes that it shouldn’t be used for liver-kidney vacuity in the absence of heat. That said, it does say that Ku Shen supplements yin and boosts essence, and nourishes the liver and gallbladder. It is also said to quiet the five viscera, disinhibit the nine orifices, engender liquid and allay thirst, and brighten the eyes. One of the additional comments notes that when dampness and heat exit, qi and blood become balanced. Thus, the five viscera are naturally quieted.

Here’s a fun one: Burnt rice. In Asia and the Middle East alike, burnt rice that is stuck to the bottom of the pan is a delicacy, something that kids fight over at the end of the meal. The Ben Cao Bei Yao includes it with the other medicinals, and it is said to open the stomach and fortify the spleen. It also transforms food and checks diarrhea. The explanation given is that the burnt rice has a fragrant qi, which opens the stomach and fortifies the spleen to assist digestion. It is slightly burnt, which causes it to be astringent in nature; thus it checks diarrhea. Yum…

From gold to breast milk to human teeth, the Ben Cao Bei Yao has all kinds of fascinating entries on animal, mineral, and herbal products. Lots of fun reading, too bad there is no market for classical texts in English…

Fortunately, we have this fun blog so I'll keep translating little snippets from time to time. Bookmark our site and keep coming back to visit!

By Eric Brand

Chinese medical theory is constantly evolving; many fundamental theories have been questioned, analyzed, and refined throughout history. A number of diseases and pathomechanisms that were recognized historically were discarded by subsequent generations, and a number of innovations and new concepts have been presented over the years. This dynamic process has resulted in a modern body of knowledge that has winnowed down obsolete theories while simultaneously advancing new explanations for conditions that were previously unknown or undeveloped in the literature. From our modern vantage point, we see many examples of pathomechanisms that failed to withstand the test of time, as well as many opportunities to advance Chinese medical theory into new and unexplored dimensions.

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By Eric Brand

I've made several posts about the work of Prof. Zhao Zhongzhen, one of the world's leading experts in herbal medicine authentication. Prof. Zhao is somewhat akin to a modern day Li Shi-Zhen, with his tireless pursuit of scholarship and his attention to culture, science, and tradition. I wrote a blog about Prof. Zhao in my blog series on Modern Masters, which can be found here. Today I'd like to post links to some of his work that is available for free on the internet.

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By Eric Brand

In this photo we have several different types of red ginseng. Red ginseng is processed by steaming, which causes the root to change color. Straight out of the ground, fresh ginseng is light brown in color. If it is dried in the sun, its color becomes yellowish-white. This ginseng is known as white ginseng; in Chinese it is called “Bai Ren Shen” or “Sheng Shai Shen” (this name is generally used when the tails are still intact). If the roots are steamed before drying, the color is red and the product is known as “Hong Shen.”

Red ginseng is primarily produced in China and Korea. China produces large amounts of both white and red ginseng, while Korea tends to produce mostly red ginseng and only a small amount of white ginseng. The steam-processing alters the spectrum of active ingredients (ginsenosides) present, so red and white ginsengs differ from one another in terms of chemistry and pharmacology. In traditional medicine, red ginseng is considered to be warmer and stronger for supplementing qi. White ginseng is said to be better for boosting fluids and is considered to be more balanced in temperature.

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