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September 2012 [Volume 11, Issue 9]
To Your Health is brought to you by:
In this issue of To Your Health:
By Andrew Rader, LAc, MS
I am now sitting in a small grove of redwoods, writing this article with pen and paper about how we don't spend enough time in nature and I am looking at my watch so that I can finish in time to get back to my office and send the article in to meet the deadline. What's wrong with this picture?
We live in a time and place where our connection to the natural world is at an all time low. Our circadian cycles, which are based on the sun, are thrown off by artificial light and schedules that ignore the sun. Our senses are diminished by the smaller ranges of colors and sounds, tastes and sensations we now encounter in a man-made world, rather than those that are found in nature. Our sense of pace or rhythm has been sped up with the advent of time measurement down to seconds. How many of us would put up with dial up Internet speeds after having tasted high-speed connections? We travel multiple time zones, we work night shifts, we work shifts period. We eat by the clock, we wake up by the clock, and we consume synthetic and genetically modified substances. We expose ourselves to EMFs via electrical wiring, wireless technology, cell phones, TV, radio and microwaves. We even dose ourselves with X-rays, and low-grade radioactivity.
Herb of the Month – Hawthorn (shan zha)
What is hawthorn? Why do we need it?
Hawthorn belongs to the same botanical family as the rose. An extremely common thorny shrub, it can reach a height of five feet and grows on hillsides and sunny wooded areas across the world. Hawthorn shrubs contain shiny leaves that grow in a variety of shapes and sizes. Its flowers (white, red or pink) grow in small clusters, followed by small red or black berries that usually appear in the spring.
The leaves, berries and flowers are used medicinally. These items contain bioflavonoids, which have a variety of cardiovascular benefits, including a reduction in hypertension, increased coronary artery blood flow and improved contraction of the heart muscle. Large-scale clinical trials have confirmed that hawthorn is effective in treating patients with earl-stage and mild congestive heart failure. Other smaller studies have shown that it may help patients with angina and abnormal heart rhythms.
How much hawthorn should I take?
Many herbalists recommend taking 80-300mg of a hawthorn extract, either in capsule or tablet form, two to three times a day. If traditional preparations are used, patients are recommended to take 4-5 grams per day, or 4-5ml of a hawthorn tincture three times daily.
When using hawthorn, make sure to take only standardized hawthorn products. Look for a label that says the product contains between 4-20mg of flavonoids and 30-160mg oligomeric procyanidins, or 1.8% vitexin rhamnoside/10% procyanidins.
What forms of hawthorn are available?
Hawthorn comes in a variety of forms, including capsules, tinctures, and fluid or solid extracts. Patients can also make a hawthorn tea by combining dried cut hawthorn leaves, flowers and berries in boiling water.
What can happen if I take too much hawthorn? Are there any interactions I should be aware of? What precautions should I take?
Hawthorn is extremely safe. The American Herbal Products Association has given hawthorn a class I rating, meaning it is a safe herb with a wide dosage range. Nevertheless, it is always wise to follow the recommended dosage. In addition, patients who are pregnant or lactating should not take hawthorn.
Some studies have suggested that hawthorn may enhance the effects of digitalis, a heart medication. People taking cardiac medications should consult with their health care provider before taking hawthorn or hawthorn-containing products.
Question about Acupuncture For Rosacea: Would acupuncture help with the treatment of rosacea? Can rosacea and extreme redness of the face indicate an imbalance, and perhaps more yang than yin?
Answer: Yes, acupuncture can help reduce the symptoms. Usually Chinese medicinal herbs are part of the treatment plan. Rosacea does indicate an imbalance. Usually it can be traced to a specific organ. Your initial examination will be able to tell more about the nature of your individual symptoms. Yin Deficiency is common, and this will create a Yang Excess through not adequately balancing the Yang.
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