Unfortunately I found very often that many people, even some experienced Chinese medicine practitioners, fail to realize the difference between them and mix them up. I think it is necessary to tell them apart and know more their different usages.

The processing of Shu Di Huang and Sheng Di Huang

As we know that Di Huang is a genus of six species of flowering plants. The best time for collecting Di Huang is from October to November each year. After collecting, Di Huang is died in the sun, which is so-called Sheng Di Huang. In another words, Sheng Di Huang is the form of unprocessed Di Huang.

Shu Di Huang refers to the processed form of Di Huang. The major process is to steam the fresh or dried Di Huang with rice wine until they turn black and oily inside out. Another popular processing method is to steam and dry Sheng Di Huang along with Amomum villosum, wine and dried tangerine peel repeatedly until they turn black and oily completely.

The properties of Shu Di Huang and Sheng Di Huang

1. Sheng Di Huang:

• Temperature and Taste Properties: Sweet, Bitter and Cold.
• Meridian entered: Heart channel, Spleen channel and Lung channel.

2. Shu Di Huang

• Temperature and Taste Properties: Sweet, slightly warm and moistening.
• Meridian entered: Liver channel and Kidney channel.

The functions of Shu Di Huang and Sheng Di Huang

1. Sheng Di Huang is good at nourishing Yin, clearing heat and cooling blood.

Sheng Di Huang can be used mainly in following conditions:

• Diseases caused by pathogenic warmth and heat attacking Ying Blood System;
• Various hemorrhagic diseases caused by excessive blood-heat, such as hematemesis, rhinorrhagia, hematuria and uterine bleeding and so on;
• Syndrome of Yin deficiency, such as deficient Yin in late phase of treating febrile disease, fever due to Yin deficiency and thirst caused by interior excessive heat;
• Constipation and intestinal dryness caused by Yin deficiency.

Contraindications of Sheng Di Huang:
Due to Sheng Di Huang is of cold, greasy, slippery and stagnated nature, those who are with following symptoms should stay away from Sheng Di Huang.

• Spleen deficiency;
• Loss of appetite;
• Loose stools;
• Abdominal bloating.

2. The property of Shu Di Huang has changed after it is processed from Sheng Di Huang. The temperature changes from cold to slightly warm. Moreover, its functions change too and turn into a tonic for blood. Shu Di Huang not only works nourishing Yin, but also replenishes vital essence to benefit the marrow. In short, Shu Di Huang cures all disorders caused by deficiency of blood, Yin and essence.

Specifically, Shu Di Huang can be used mainly in following conditions:

• Anemia caused by blood deficiency;
• Dizziness;
• Palpitations;
• Irregular menstruation;
• Uterine bleeding;
• Hot flashes due to deficient kidney Yin;
• Night sweats;
• Nocturnal emission;
• Diabetes.

Contraindications of Shu Di Huang:
Due to Shu Di Huang is of greasy and stagnated property, it will easily cause indigestion. It is highly recommended to use it together with drugs helping digestion, such as Amomum villosum and dried tangerine peel. Those who are with the following symptoms should stay away from Shu Di Huang.

• Bloating caused by stagnated Qi in spleen-stomach or stagnated phlegm-dampness;
• Eat less;
• Loose stools.

The compatibility of Shu Di Huang and Sheng Di Huang

The representative formula of Sheng Di Huang is Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, which is a well-known medicine for benefiting kidney. Clinically Liu Wei Di Huang Wan is also commonly used in chronic nephritis, high blood pressure, neurasthenia, tuberculosis and other diseases.

The representative formula of Shu Di Huang is the famous Si Wu Tang, which consists of Dang Gui, Bai Shao and Chuan Xiong. Si Wu Tang is commonly used in the treatment of blood deficiency syndrome.

Although Shu Di Huang and Sheng Di Huang are the different processed products by the same herb, they are quite different. Both of them can promote the production of fluid by nourishing Yin and are used in the treatments of a variety of deficiency of Yin and fluid. However, Sheng Di Huang is good at cooling blood-heat, while Shu Di Huang is good at nourishing blood, which is the most important point we should keep in mind when using them clinically.

Chinese cupping is so easy to follow that it is once regarded as one of important home remedies. However, how to use Chinese cupping effectively and safely?

What is Chinese cupping?

Chinese cupping is a very unique treatment method, which was practiced among ordinary people long long ago. The basic theory behind Chinese cupping is to create a partial vacuum inside a cup by burning a cotton wool ball soaked in alcohol or exhausting the air with other instruments. And then the evacuated cups are applied to the skin and draw blood with the help of the negative pressure.

Chinese cupping is called as the therapy for blood stasis. From the perspective of Chinese medicine, Chinese cupping works mainly to promote blood circulation and enhance metabolism. The suction of slight subcutaneous hematoma can help remove the blood stasis, dispel the pathogenic wind-cold and dredge the channels and collaterals and so on.

In modern medicine, Chinese cupping is to cause congestion by broken capillaries with method of physical stimulation and negative pressure, which stimulates the healing function of human stem cells and absorption function of damaged blood cells in order to enhance and regulate the immune system.

What Chinese cupping can do?

Chinese cupping can open the pores, dispel pathogenic wind, promote blood circulation, expel pathogenic cold, relieve swelling and stop pain. Therefore, Chinese cupping can be used in the following treatments.

• Pain of rheumatoid arthritis;
• Lumbar muscle strain;
• Headaches;
• Asthma;
• Abdominal pain;
• Trauma;
• Congestion;
• Common cold and flu;
• Chronic low back pain;
• Sequelae of stroke.

In addition, Chinese cupping is also an important auxiliary treatment for the pain caused by any other diseases.

How to use Chinese cupping effective and safely?

Nowadays more and more people use Chinese cupping as one of important home remedies. However a lot of them have no idea how to use Chinese cupping effectively and safely?

Before you decide to use Chinese medicine, it is always a good idea to go to the hospital to identify the cause first. The causes for pain is rather complex. For example, if the pain is induced by some chronic diseases, fatigue or stress, such as lumbar muscle strain and so on, this kind of operation with Chinese cupping is relatively easy. And the accuracy of positioning of the acupuncture points is no so demanding. In such case, you can use Chinese cupping in your home once mastering the methods under the guidance of a doctor.

However, some other pains have relatively stricter requirements on the selection of acupuncture points, operation methods and time. It might be difficult to grasp for an amateur in a short period of time. In such case, you’d better go to the hospital for the Chinese cupping.

Who should avoid Chinese cupping?

Chinese cupping is not suitable for everyone. The following people should avoid Chinese cupping.

• Those who are extremely weak physically;
• Those who have scars, inflammation and ulcers and so on;
• Those who suffer from bleeding disorders (such as hemophilia, thrombocytopenia, etc.);
• Those who are right after illness, postpartum, or excessive bleeding.

How long cups should be left on the skin?

Many people would think that the longer of the time, the results of Chinese cupping would be better. Some even think that cup should be left until the skin turns blue. Is that true?

Actually it is a very wrong idea. Usually no more than 10 minute is considered as the best length of time for Chinese cupping.
The mechanism behind Chinese cupping is negative pressure rather than the length of the time.

If in the condition of high pressure, longer time would cause blisters or even infection to the skin. Of course, due to the physical conditions vary from person to person, 10 minutes are a relative length of time. Generally it is appropriate that the cups should left until the skin turns blue but not hurting the skin.

Basically, Chinese cupping is worth a try if you never experience it before.

Actually many people ever experienced the similar situation that the cold failed to improve a few days after taking Yin Chiao Chieh Tu Pien. The first idea comes to us is that Yin Chiao Chieh Tu Pien doesn’t work at all. However, as we know that treating cold with Chinese medicine are on the basis of syndrome differentiation.

Yin Chiao Chieh Tu Pien and cold types

According to Chinese medicine theory, there are two basic types of cold. One type is mainly caused by pathogenic wind-cold; the other type is mainly caused by pathogenic wind-heat.

1. Main clinical manifestations of wind-cold type:

• Severe aversion to cold;
• Light fever;
• Headache and sweat-free;
• No thirst;
• Thin white tongue coating;
• Floating and tight pulse.

Since this type of cold is caused by pathogenic wind and cold, according to Chinese medicine theory, it should be treated with herbs with warm property.

The basic principles for wind-cold type are as follows:

• To relieve superficies syndrome with pungent and warm natured drugs;
• To disperse lung Qi and dispel pathogenic cold.

Therefore, the representative formula for wind-cold type is Jing Fang Bai Du San.

2. Main clinical manifestations of wind-heat type:

• Severe fever;
• Light chills;
• Headache and sweating;
• Thirst;
• Red tongue with yellow tongue coating;
• Rapid and floating pulse.

Since this type of cold is caused by pathogenic wind and heat, according to Chinese medicine theory, it should be treated with herbs with cold property.

The basic principles for wind-heat type are as follows:

• To relieve superficies syndrome with pungent and cold natured drugs;
• To disperse lung Qi and clear pathogenic heat.

Therefore, the representative formula for wind-cold type is Yin Chiao Chieh Tu Pien.

Yin Chiao Chieh Tu Pien and VC Yin Chiao Chieh Tu Pien

We know that there are two kind of patent Yin Chiao Chieh Tu Pien available in the drug stores, normal Yin Chiao Chieh Tu Pien and VC Yin Chiao Chieh Tu Pien. Therefore, what is the different between them?

The ingredients of Yin Chiao Chieh Tu Pien include 10 kinds of Chinese herbs, such as Lian Qiao (Forsythia Fruit), Jin Yin Hua (Lonicera japonica), and Niu Bang Zi (Fructus Arctii Lappae) and so on. Yin Chiao Chieh Tu Pien works to dispel wind and clear heat and toxicity, which is used in treatment of wind-heat type of cold.

VC Yin Chiao Chieh Tu Pien is the combination of Yin Chiao Chieh Tu Pien and western ingredients of chlorpheniramine, paracetamol and vitamin C.

• Chlorpheniramine are with effect of anti-nasal allergy;
• Paracetamol works to lower fever and relieve the pain;
• Vitamin C works to strengthen the body’s natural resistance to virus.

Yin Chiao Chieh Tu Pien and wind-cold type of cold

As we have mentioned that Yin Chiao Chieh Tu Pien is mainly used in the treatment of wind-heat type of cold. If the cold is caused by pathogenic wind-cold, it is not appropriate to apply Yin Chiao Chieh Tu Pien. According to Chinese medicine theory, the application of Yin Chiao Chieh Tu Pien in the case of wind-cold type of cold can just make it colder and worse, which is against the principle of warming the cold.

However, we can still used Yin Chiao Chieh Tu Pien in treatment of wind-cold type of cold. The method is to take Yin Chiao Chieh Tu Pien along with soup of fresh ginger and scallion stalk. Fresh ginger and scallion stalk can dispel pathogenic wind and cold on the basis of Yin Chiao Chieh Tu Pien. As a matter of fact, the alternative way is the variation of the formula of Yin Chiao Chieh Tu Pien.

Yin Chiao Chieh Tu Pien is a very good Chinese medicine formula for cold and flu traditionally. However, please do check your symptoms before taking Yin Chiao Chieh Tu Pien. Make a quick diagnosis of your cold will definitely help. Once you know how to judge your cold belongs to wind-cold or wind-heat, you are the one who make Yin Chiao Chieh Tu Pien a good drug.

Bi Syndrome, as a single symptom, can be seen in a lot of diseases in western medicine. They include rheumatoid arthritis, sciatica, bone proliferative diseases, brucellosis, thrombosis obliterans, scleroderma, erythematic nodosum, nodular vasculitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and polymyositis and so on.

Acupuncture rheumatoid arthritis history

As a matter of fact, the etiology, syndrome classification, as well as the prognosis about rheumatoid arthritis had been clearly recognized in Huangdi Neijing. And doctors of later generations continued developing this theory and accumulated a wealth of clinical experience on acupuncture rheumatoid arthritis treatment.

For example, in Han and Tang Dynasties, a lot of effective prescriptions had been accumulated and recorded. In Ming and Qing Dynasties, the pathogenesis, syndrome differentiation and compatibility of herbs had been developed further, which made acupuncture rheumatoid arthritis treatment more sophisticated.

Clinical manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is inflammatory diseases of soft tissue around the joints caused by a variety of reasons. It mainly refers to the manifestation of an acute or chronic systemic disease of connective tissues. Modern medicine believes that rheumatoid arthritis is generally related with streptococcal infection.

Main manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis include as follows:

• Pain, numbness, heavy, difficulty in extension and flexion on muscles, bones, joints and other parts of the body;
• Even hot and swollen joints in some severe cases.

Acute and chronic rheumatoid arthritis

• In acute phase of rheumatoid arthritis, multiple and wandering redness, swelling, heat and pain in large joints are main symptoms, accompanied often with fever, heart disease, erythema, subcutaneous nodules and so on.
• In chronic phase of rheumatoid arthritis, it is a longer duration, in which sufferers are with consciously joint pain and the inconvenience of activities.

Rheumatoid arthritis and pathogens

Chronic rheumatoid arthritis is slow and generally without swelling. There is usually persistent dull pain or sore. From the perspective of acupuncture rheumatoid arthritis treatment, the symptoms may vary from person to person due to invasion of different pathogens.

• If rheumatoid arthritis is mainly caused by pathogenic wind, the pain is usually wandering, elusive or radiating to distance;
• If rheumatoid arthritis is mainly caused by pathogenic cold, the sufferers tend to have severe pain, even worse during cold weather while relieving during warm weather;
• If rheumatoid arthritis is mainly caused by pathogenic dampness, the sufferers tend to have heavy and sore joint pain, which can be triggered easily in cold and rainy seasons;
• If rheumatoid arthritis is mainly caused by heat transformed by exogenous pathogens, the main manifestation includes swelling and painful joints, even refuse to press.

General acupuncture rheumatoid arthritis treatment

Take knee rheumatoid arthritis as example. The inflammation locates in the knee. Usually acupuncture rheumatoid arthritis treatment needs to relax tendons and activate collaterals while expelling pathogenic wind and cold, removing dampness and clearing heat.

Main acupuncture points: Xue Hai (SP10), Dubi (S 35), Tsusanli (ST 36).
Secondary acupuncture points: Xiyan (ST 35), Heding (Extra 31), Yinlingquan (SP 9), ashi points, Weizhong (B 40), Weiyang (B 39), Sanyinchiao; (SP 6) and so on.

• If rheumatoid arthritis is mainly caused by pathogenic wind: Fengmen (B 12), Kanshu (BL18), Leshu (BL17);
• If rheumatoid arthritis is mainly caused by pathogenic cold: Dazhui (GV 14), Guanyuan (CV 4);
• If rheumatoid arthritis is mainly caused by pathogenic dampness: Pishu (BL 20), Chungwan (CV 12), Yinlingquan (SP 9);
• If rheumatoid arthritis is mainly caused by heat transformed by exogenous pathogen: Quchi (LI 11), Hoku (LI 4).

Acupuncture rheumatoid arthritis treatment prevents and cures rheumatoid arthritis by stimulating the human body through the role of meridians and acupuncture points. Joints have complex structure. Their activities and stability depend on mainly the surrounding muscles, ligaments, bursa and other structures so that joints are vulnerable to acute and chronic injury due to the invasion of exogenous pathogens. The exogenous pathogens cause blockage of meridians and thus blood stasis, which lead to pain. Acupuncture rheumatoid arthritis treatment works to expel cold-dampness and promote blood circulation to dredge collaterals. Once blood and Qi flow smoothly again, rheumatoid arthritis will disappear as well.

Common causes for fertility problem

The common causes of female fertility problems are as follows:

• Ovulatory dysfunction;
• Endocrine disorders;
• Menstrual irregularities;
• Pelvic inflammatory disease;
• Tubal blockage;
• Gynecological surgery complications;
• Uterine fibroids;
• Ovarian tumors;
• Leucorrhea;
• Endometriosis;
• Infirmities.

The common causes of male fertility problems are as follows:

• Abnormality of sperm’s quantity, activity rate and forms;
• Varicocele;
• Sexual dysfunction;
• Urethritis and so on.

Accupuncture fertility benefits

About 20% couples with fertility problems can not find the causes. This unexplained fertility problems might be caused by long-termed tension, stress, fatigue and mood disorders, which eventually lead to infertility. Accupuncture fertility treatment has its unique effect for this unexplained fertility problems. Accupuncture fertility treatment gives a lot of emphasis on the following three main aspects:

• The integrity of the human body;
• Physical condition;
• Psychological state.

When something wrong happened to the above-mentioned aspects, it would cause imbalance inside the body, which results in failure to conceive a baby. To solve the problems from these three aspects is the key for accupuncture fertility treatment. As a matter of fact, clinical experience found that after women suffering from fertility problems received accupuncture fertility treatment, it seemed to be a good response to the improvement of the ovulation function and endometrial thickening.

On the basis of these positive clinical experience, we believe that accupuncture fertility treatment has a unique effect for this unexplained fertility problems.

Common accupuncture fertility treatment

Accupuncture fertility treatment has proven effect in the long history of Traditional Chinese medicine. As treatments for any other diseases, accupuncture fertility treatment needs to identify the constitution first. If it is a proper diagnosis, and adopting the proper protocol and accupuncture points, usually it works for various types of fertility problems.

The most used accupuncture points are as follows:

• Guanyuan (CV 4);
• Qihai (CV6);
• Zigong (Extra 16);
• Shenshu (BL 23);
• Xuehai (SP 10);
• Yinlingquan (SP 9);
• Sanyinjiao(SP6) and so on.

The accupuncture points can help not only promote blood circulation to remove blood stasis, but also benefit vital Qi. Therefore, it can adjust endocrine and enhance sexual function in a short period of time by this way.

Another phenomenon must be paid enough attention too. Clinically some women suffering from fertility problems are found unexpectedly pregnant during accupuncture treatments for other diseases such as rheumatism, cervical spondylosis, and lumbar spondylosis and so on. Actually we can find a lot of this kind of examples clinically. Accupuncture fertility treatment is so magic, which should deserve a further exploration scientifically.

Other arguments about accupuncture fertility

In May 2006, magazine of “Fertility and Sterility” published two articles on accupuncture fertility treatment leading to a successful fertilization in vitro fertilization. In one experiment, the pregnancy success rate among women received accupuncture fertility treatment had been increased two times. In another experiment, accupuncture fertility treatment increased the pregnancy rate in vitro fertilization by 50%.

The researchers did not know how accupuncture fertility treatment exactly works. However, someone speculated that accupuncture fertility treatment have a positive effect on hormone levels and promote blood flowing to the uterus and ovaries. Some other argued that accupuncture fertility treatment play a role in relaxation, which can alleviate the pressures caused by fertility problems thus increase the pregnancy success rate.

Although Fo Ti herb is so good a herb, it would not be as effective as it should be, sometimes the converse effect, if Fo Ti herb is prepared improperly. In order to fully use the potentials of Fo Ti herb, I try to clarify some common questions about it as follows.

How long should I take Fo Ti herb?

A lot of evidence shows that Fo Ti herb can be consumed both in food and drug. In general, for most of people Fo Ti herb is a relatively safe herb. Theoretically it is all right no matter how long you take Fo Ti herb. As a matter of fact, it needs a long-term use to improve or cure hair loss and prevent hair graying. Anyway, as the old saying goes, the reason why herbs can cure diseases is because of its bias in property, which is also the basic theory in Traditional Chinese medicine.

Given for the above-mentioned reason, it is recommended to use Fo Ti herb no more than three moths in a course of the treatment, and no more than three times a year. In other words, you’d better stop for a month after a course. In addition, just make sure no more than 30 grams per dosage. During that interval, check the results and changes just in case something unexpected happened.

How to prepare Fo Ti herb?

Here take Fo Ti herb powder as an example. These usages are only for your reference only. Of course, there are many other excellent usages out there.

• 1. Common usage of Fo Ti herb. Take 10 grams of Fo Ti herb powder and blend them well with a little cold boiled water first, and then add appropriate boiling water. To make it taste better, add your favorite seasonings, such as sugar, honey, juicy or other ingredients.
• 2. Fo Ti herb tea for hair loss. Place 100 grams of Fo Ti herb powder in a vacuum bottle, and then keep them soaked for half a day. It is ready to serve immediately after it turns brown-red in color. In addition, more boiling water can add to the vacuum bottle after drinking. And replace new Fo Ti herb once it turns light in color and becomes tasteless. At the same time, rub the affected area with sliced ginger, a few times a day.
• 3. Fo Ti herb wine for graying hair. Prepare 30 grams of processed Fo Ti herb powder, 30 grams of Rehmannia herb powder and 15 grams of Angelica powder and then soak them into 1000 ml of sake. Drink them after 10 ~ 15 days, about 15 ~ 30 ml per day.
• 4. Powders of Fo Ti herb, Poria and Atractylodes. Blend 30 grams of processed Fo Ti herb powder, 11 grams of Poria powder and 8 grams of Atractylodes powder and then take them with warm water. This formula work for beauty, skin care and hair blackening.
• 5. Soup of Fo Ti herb and eggs. Prepare 30 grams of processed Fo Ti herb powder, appropriate amount of water and 2 eggs. And then add the right amount of onions, ginger, salt, cooking wine and so on. Boil them with strong fire first and then slow fire afterwards. Remove the eggs after they are done. And peel eggs and make them ready to serve. Eat both soup and eggs, once a day. This soup of Fo Ti herb and eggs are perfect for those who are unable to benefit from tonics due to deficiency.

Contraindications of Fo Ti herb

The contraindications of Fo Ti herb are as follows:

• Those who have loose stools on a regular basis should avoid taking Fo Ti herb;
• Avoid cooking Fo Ti herb together with iron cooker;
• According to the experience from our predecessors, Fo Ti herb should avoid eating along with pork, lamb, carrots, onion and garlic.

For more about contraindications about Fo Ti herb, please refer to my another post of What Should Avoid in Hair Loss Treatment with Fo Ti.

Although Fo Ti herb is a relatively safe herb, according to some reports it would cause acute liver injury in some individuals. The clinical manifestations included fatigue, anorexia, nausea and oil disgusting. And then it followed by yellow urine, icteric sclera and systemic yellowing of skin etc. After stop taking Fo Ti herb and receive treatment, liver function was back to normal rapidly. If any of the above-mentioned symptoms occur during the course of Fo Ti herb, stop taking and it is highly recommended to seek doctor’s help immediately.

Nowadays high blood pressure is a common cardiovascular disease, the serious complications of which have been one of the leading killers. I believe the same situation ever happened to ancient China as well. From the descriptions of ancient documents, we can find a lot of medical cases on how Chinese medicine treated and lowered blood pressure. Of course, there were no exact words and disease documented as high blood pressure in these medical works. The reason is simple there wasn’t blood pressure reader available for them to get the accurate readings from the blood pressure. However, remedies of Traditional Chinese medicine are based on the syndromes. From the descriptions of syndromes, we can infer that a lot of herbs that lower blood pressure had been found and a lot of experiences had been accumulated in long-term clinical practices.

The following are those common herbs that lower blood pressure.

Han Fang Ji, also known as Radix Stephaniae Tetrandrae, is one of effective herbs that lower blood pressure. Han Fang Ji woks to induce diuresis for removing edema and dispel pathogenic wind to stop pain. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that Han Fang Ji contains tetrandrine, which is the main component that makes Hang Fang Ji one of herbs that lower blood pressure.

Gou Teng, also known as Ramulus cum uncis Uncariae, works to tranquilize liver Yang to stop the pathogenic wind and clear heat to relieve spasm in remedies of Chinese medicine. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that Gou Teng contains rhynchophylline and rhomotoxine, which are the main components that make Gou Teng one of herbs that lower blood pressure. The mechanism for Gou Teng to lower blood pressure is to inhibit directly or indirectly vasomotor centers or block the sympathetic nerve or nerve ganglion.

Ge Gen, also known as kudzu root, works to resolve superficies to promote eruption and promote fluid production to relieve diarrhea. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that Ge Gen contains puerarin and its glycosides, which are the main component that make Ge Gen one of herbs that lower blood pressure. The mechanism behind for Ge Gen is primarily to block ?-receptor to lower blood pressure.

Luo Bu Ma, also known as Herba Apocyni Veneti, woks to induce diuresis for removing edema. Its main active ingredient of iso-quercetin and quercetin glycosides can lower blood pressure. The mechanism behind Luo Bu Ma is related with inhibition of vasomotor center and the expansion of the blood vessels.

Huang Lian, also known as Rhizoma Coptidis, works to clear heat, remove dampness and toxicity. The main ingredient is berberine, which makes Huang Lian one of herbs that lower blood pressure. And Huang Lian lowers blood pressure via many ways.

Lian Zi Xin, also known as Plumula Nelumbinis Nuciferae, works to clear heart-fire. Its main ingredient is liensinine, which has short and weak effect on lowering blood pressure. But after it is changed to Neferine, it has a stronger and lasting effect on lowering blood pressure.

Yin Yang Huo, also known as Epimedium, works to warm kidney to strengthen Yang, dispel pathogenic wind and remove dampness. It is its active ingredient of icariin that makes Yin Yang Huo one of herbs that lower blood pressure. Any forms of Yin Yang Huo, decoction, fluid or icariin, can lower blood pressure, especially in lowering diastolic pressure.

Du Zhong, also known as Cortex Eucommiae Ulmoidis, works to benefit liver-kidney and strengthen the physique. It is its main ingredient of propane benzene derivatives that make Du Zhong one of herbs that lower blood pressure. The mechanism behind Du Zhong is to lower blood pressure through direct vasodilatation and inhibition of vasomotor center.

Ye Ju Hua, also known as Flos Chrysanthemi Indici, works to clear heat-toxicity. Its ingredient of lowering blood pressure can inhibit sympathetic nerve and blood platelets. In addition, Ye Ju Hua obtains the anti-adrenergic effect, which can decrease peripheral resistance without reducing cardiac output.

Lai Fu Zi, also known as Semen Raphani Sativi, works to promote digestion to relieve stasis and expel phlegm for descending Qi. It is its ingredients of Mustard Seed glycosides, Cryptocarya ketone and asarone that make Lai Fu Zi one of herbs that lower blood pressure.

There are many other herbs that lower blood pressure in the remedies of Chinese medicine. The list would be longer if I list them all. Although it is not a comprehensive list for herbs that lower blood pressure, they can solve most of the problems about high blood pressure if they are used properly. If you are interested in knowing more about them, just feel free to drop me a note.

Causes of neck pain

Given that busy work and life stress combined with fatigue and poor posture at work, people who live in modern times tend to suffer from neck pain unknowingly. The worse trend is that not only the adult but also the younger generation suffer from neck pain.

Besides the symptom of neck pain, in severe cases the secondary symptoms include dizziness, headache, palpitations, insomnia, chest tightness, gastrointestinal discomfort and other symptoms. This phenomenon should arouse us again how importance our lifestyle can do to us.

For people suffering from neck pain, almost everyone ever experienced a series of examinations, such X-ray, blood test, nerve conduction, endoscopy, EEG, computed tomography, or MRI. However, most of the results of examinations indicate that everything is quite normal. From the perspective of modern medicine, this is a kind of unexplained neck pain.

Acupuncture for neck pain

This kind of unexplained neck pain is characterized by a special sore point besides the pain in neck, shoulders, back and other parts. This special sore point is called “ashi acupuncture point” in Chinese medicine, while a “trigger point” in western medicine. Pressing ashi acupuncture point can cause particular feelings of sore, numb, bulging and heavy.

Common treatment protocols and treatment points by using acupuncture for neck pain are as follows:

1. Type of neck pain based on nerve root. Main treatment points are Laozhen, Houxi?SI 3?, ShousanIi(LI 10), Chize (L 15), Xiaohai (SI8) and Jiaji etc. Treatment protocols are mainly to dredge the channels and promote blood circulation to remove blood stasis.
2. Type of neck pain based on spinal cord. Main treatment points are Juegu, Kunlun, Tsusanli (ST 36), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Shenshu (BL 23), Dazhu (BL 11) etc. Treatment protocols are mainly to benefit bone and restore marrow content, benefit kidney and complement essence.
3. Type of neck pain based on sympathetic and vertebral artery. Main treatment points are Anmian?(Extra 8), Anmian (Extra 9), Neiguan (P6), Shenmen (H 7), Sanyinchiao (SP 6), Taixi (K 3), Yinwei and Yangwei etc. Treatment protocols are to nourish kidney Yin and reconcile the relationship between Yin and yang.

Studies and experiments of acupuncture for neck pain

Acupuncture for neck pain is effective in most of neck pain cases, according to the studies and experiments. To verify the effect of acupuncture for neck pain, researchers ever observed the reactions with EMG during acupuncture therapies. The researchers found that during EMG resting the fibrillation and positive waves were disappearing along with the disappearance of positive signs. At the same time, the strength of muscle with damaged nerve was back to normal and the voltage, current and phase are tending to normal as well. All the results are promising and indicate that acupuncture for neck pain were working.

Rehmannia herb’s temperature and taste properties

• Sweet
• Bitter
• Cold

Rehmannia herb’s meridian tropism

• Heart
• Lung
• Liver

Main ingredients of rehmannia herb

Main ingredients of rehmannia herb are sterols and polysaccharides.

• Sterols and glycosides: ?-sitosterol, a small amount of stigmasterol, vegetable oil sterols and other sterols; There are more than 20 kinds of glycosides and most are iridoid glycosides, such as Catalpol, dihydro Catalpol, rehmannin, Aucubin and daucosterol;
• Sugars and glycosides Sugar: stachyose, raffinose, glucose, sucrose, fructose, mannotriose, verbascose and galactose etc.;
• Other: mannitol, vitamin A, alkaloids, amino acids and other ingredients.

Traditional applications of rehmannia herb

Rehmannia herb has been used to treat different illness since ancient times in China. Main applications include as follows:

• Yin deficiency with internal heat;
• Low-grade fever or fever;
• Dry mouth and sore throat;
• Maculae;
• Abnormal blood circulation forced by blood-heat;
• Hematemesis;
• Nosebleeding;
• Hematochezia;
• Uterine bleeding;
• Diabetes.
• …

Pharmacological effects of rehmannia herb

• Regulating the function of immune system;
• Protective effect on adrenal and thyroid;
• Anti-inflammatory and reducing fever;
• Cardiotonic, lowering high blood pressure and diuresis;
• Protecting liver, lowering blood sugar and invigorating blood;
• Promoting blood clotting and glandular secretion;
• Anti-radiation, anti-tumor and anti-aging;
• …

Usage of rehmannia herb

Regularly rehmannia herb is used as decoction, 10 ~ 30g each dose or double dosage in the case of using fresh rehmannia herb.

Contraindications of rehmannia herb

Given that rehmannia herb is of nature of cold and stagnation, people of deficient spleen and stagnated dampness should avoid using it.

In addition, the origin of rehmannia herb is another issue should be paid attention to. When condition allows, we should always choose the authentic rehmannia herb. So-called authentic medicinal herbs refer to the herbs growing and processed in one specific area, where has the most suitable soil and climate to grow them and mature technology to process them. The efficacy of herbs originated from different areas might be different significantly. The same is true to rehmannia herb too.

Chinese medicine insomnia theory

According to Chinese medicine insomnia theory, the causes for insomnia are as follows:

1. Gastrointestinal function and eating disorders. Eating disorders would damage gastrointestinal function easily, which leads to stagnation of food and phlegm-heat;
2. Liver function disorders. Liver can be impacted easily by negative emotions. The folded functions of liver can result in stagnation of Qi and blood stasis. Therefore, people with negative emotions tend to feel upset and suffer from insomnia;
3. Dysfunction of heart and kidney. People who are with physical weakness or chronic illness are usually deficient of kidney Yin. The disharmony between the heart and kidney tends to contribute to heart-fire hyperactivity. The heat can injure shen (spirit), which is stored in heart. Therefore, it would lead to restlessness and insomnia.
4. Function disorders of spleen and stomach. Anxiety and stress injure the heart and consume heart Yin furtively, which will lead to mentally wandering and insomnia. The injured spleen can result in loss of appetite and deficiency of blood, which in the end fail to nourish the heart and lead to insomnia;
5. Gall bladder dysfunction. A guilty conscience, cowardice and the feeling of frightened and upset easily can lead to insomnia as well.

The root of Chinese medicine insomnia theory

From the perspective of Traditional Chinese medicine insomnia theory, there are many causes for insomnia. But the root is basically related with the sickness of the “heart”. For example,

• Deficiency of heart blood;
• Deficiency of kidney Yin fails to eliminate heart-fire;
• Excessive liver-fire can lead to excessive heat-fire;
• Confusion of heart (mind) by phlegm;
• …

All these causes, more or less, are relevant to the “heart”. Actually, a considerable portion of the “heart” in Chinese medicine insomnia theory is relevant to brain in modern medicine.

Chinese medicine insomnia remedies

The principles of Chinese medicine insomnia remedies are subject to the syndrome, which refers to the so-called syndrome differentiation.

The regular Chinese medicine insomnia remedies are as follows;

• Soothing the heart and tranquilizing the mind;
• Clearing heat and eliminating fire;
• Nourishing yin to reduce pathogenic fire;
• Clearing heat and expectoration
• Promoting blood circulation to dissipate blood stasis;
• …

Although the principles of Chinese medicine insomnia remedies might vary, the results tend to be good if used properly.

Regular used herbs for insomnia

In Chinese medicine, insomnia can be treated by many herbs. The list is so long that it is hard to list them all.

Some regular used herbs for insomnia are as follows:

• Tian Ma (Rhizoma Gastrodiae);
• Lingzhi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum);
• Ge Gen (Radix Puerariae);
• Du Zhong (Cortex Eucommiae Ulmoidis);
• Shi Chang Pu (Rhizoma Acori Graminei)
• Yuan Zhi (Polygala tenuifolia);
• Bai Zi Ren (Semen Platycladi);
• Suan Zao Ren (Zizyphus spinosa);
• Lian Zi Xin (Plumula Nelumbinis Nuciferae);
• Hu Po (Amber);
• Niu Huang (Calculus Bovis);
• Zhu Sha (Cinnabaris);
• …

All these herbs have the effect of soothing the heart and tranquilizing the mind. No doubt using these herbs in appropriate combination according to the principles of Chinese medicine, insomnia can be cured or improved.

In addition, Chinese medicine insomnia remedies are more than that. Acupuncture, ear acupuncture, electro-acupuncture and laser acupuncture are also the regular and proven remedies to treat insomnia. In most of cases of the combination of herbs and acupuncture in Chinese medicine, insomnia tends to be cured more quickly and effectively.