Category Archives: Integrative Medicine

By Oliver Giles November 08, 2019

Its been around since 3000 BC, but traditional Chinese medicine is not only survivingits thriving. Practitioners and manufacturers explain why and what the future holds

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In the future, people will send photos of their tongue via WhatsApp, says Lin Zhixiu. Hes not talking about the latest quirky internet craze or teenagers Snapchat habits. Lin is predicting how people will contact their doctors.

Lin is associate director of the school of Chinese medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), a department whose very existence may seem surprising in an era when medicine is so closely tied to technology that computers powered by artificial intelligence are diagnosing patients in Shanghai hospitals.

Everyone from toddlers to 90-year-olds comes to our clinic for traditional medicine, says Lin. I also see a growing trend of young people opting for Chinese medicine, especially when they have things like a cold, cough, flu or pain such as back or neck pain.

Hes not the only one. Rather than quietly closing shop as robots steal their jobs, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners are arguing that there is a place for their ancient remedies in the 21st centuryand theyre generating cutting-edge research to prove it.

In 2015, chemist Tu Youyou from the China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine won a Nobel Prize for deriving an anti-malaria drug from sweet wormwood. Other researchers have proved traditional remedies effectiveness at tackling everything from eczema to infertility, and for the first time this year the World Health Organisation has listed TCM in its annual global compendium that instructs doctors around the world.

This scientific backing is contributing to a global boom in TCM, which as an industry is estimated to be worth about US$60 billion a year and is growing 11 per cent annually.

Theres been a big change in the image of traditional Chinese medicine, says Viola Man-Chan, an executive director of PuraPharm, a major manufacturer of traditional medicines. Were disrupting the Chinese medicine industry by changing it from a very old-fashioned industry to something that is trendy, modern and accepted by the young generations. In modern life we cant just rely on traditions; we need evidence-based science to understand how it works.

PuraPharm operates its own laboratory, which collaborates with universities around the world. Weve been working with the University of Hong Kong faculty of medicine for, I think, 10 years now and we have identified a new active ingredient in one of the herbs, Man-Chan says. Weve found that this herb has very powerful antiviral and anti inflammatory effects, which is similar or comparable to the best-selling antiviral Western medicine.

Wai Yuen Tong, a Hong Kong-based company founded in 1897 that manufactures premium Chinese medicine sought-after around Asia, is similarly investing heavily in science.

Our research and development team is not focused on creating new drug formulas, explains Vivian Tang, the companys executive director. Instead, were focusing on two aspects: how to measure and improve traditional formulas efficacy and how to translate century-old production methods and re-engineer it as modern-day mass production.

Re-engineering traditional formulas is key to the industrys newfound success with younger generations. For centuries, Chinese herbal medicine has relied on patients cooking their own medicine, normally by boiling herbs, sometimes for hours at a stretch. Many people now simply dont have the time, so manufacturers are releasing their formulas as granules that dissolve quickly in boiling water.

At the CUHK clinic, Lin estimates that half the patients opt for granules. When it comes to Wai Yuen Tongs customers, Tang believes the proportion is even higher. Ninety-nine per cent of our younger clients will never spend an hour boiling raw traditional Chinese medicine themselves, says Tang.

See also: Vivian TangFrom Wai Yuen Tong Talks Traditional Chinese Medicine

Refining recipes to pill or granule form has also made it easier for TCM to be dispensed in hospitals. The way forward for traditional Chinese medicine for me is combining it with Western medicine. This could offer the best of both systems to the patient, says Lin, who is also director of the Hong Kong Institute of Integrative Medicine.

One of the most successful examples of the disciplines being combined is in treating cancer patients.

Cancer treatmentoperations, chemotherapy and radiotherapycauses serious side effects, says Lin. Patients may lose weight, they may lose their appetite, they may feel tired all the time. In these cases, we can give them herbal medicine to try and boost their immune system. Herbal medicine can also really help digestion and improve their energy levels. This is a very common practice in Mainland China and increasingly in Hong Kong.

Despite these steps forward, the industry still commonly hits headlines not for scientific discoveries or its rapid modernisation, but for some unethical doctors continued and controversial use of animal products.

Ingredients such as rhino horn and pangolin scales have long been prized by TCM practitioners, which has decimated wild populations and driven these animals, among others, to the brink of extinction. The trade of these ingredients is now illegal in almost all countries, and academics are searching for alternatives to try to curb the black market trade.

There are almost always substitutes, and I see a big trend towards plant-based medicine, especially with millennials, who care deeply about the environment and sustainability, says Man-Chan. Feng Yibin, an associate professor at the University of Hong Kong, has found plant-based alternatives to bear bile, for example, and multiple herbal substitutes for rhino horn.

People who might choose to pop an aspirin before boiling a medicinal brew might find that TCM is finding its way into their lives in other ways.

Herbal, a cocktail bar in Beijings trendy Sanlitun district, serves drinks inspired by ancient remedies. Singaporean Jamie Koh, the founder of Brass Lion Distillery, the citys only gin brand, scoured local TCM shops for ingredients when she was developing her infusion. LVMH is also betting on increasing interest in Chinese healthcare with Cha Ling, a skincare brand that combines traditional medical knowledge and the anti-ageing properties of puer tea.

In Shanghai, entrepreneurs Jen Hau and Polly Zhang are building a whole lifestyle brand inspired by Chinese medicine. The pair launched Jova Health in 2013 with three different blended juices, all of which were based on traditional medical recipes.

Purify is a pear juice-based drink with rock sugar, to purify your lungs and your system; Replenish has a lot of iron and vitamins and is great for women having their period; and Nourish is a great substitute for milk drinksits almond milk and almond is a big ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine, says Hau.

Since then, theyve expanded their drinks range, released candles made using classic ingredients from TCM and launched Jova Senses, wellness classes that combine yoga, meditation and TCM.

As a millennial herself, Hau understands why TCM appeals to younger generations. It is all about implementing things into your daily life to improve your health, and its all natural, says Hau.

As opposed to, I dont feel well so Im going to take a painkiller. Or, I dont feel well so Ill drink some cough syrup, and on and on. Those are very short-term solutions, while Chinese medicine is a very long-term way of conditioning your body to put you in better health. And when you do need to see a doctor, the approach is very different. Chinese medicine always looks for the root cause, and its a lot less invasive, says Lin.

Its so non-invasive that, in five years, when you feel a cold coming on, you might not even need to see a doctor. Youll simply stick your tongue out and snap a photo from the comfort of your bed.

In Chinese medicine, we always look at the tongue. It says a lot about your health, says Lin. If the patient WhatsApps a photo of their tongue and leaves a message about symptoms, the doctor can make a diagnosis and write a prescription. I think that will become more and more popular in the future.

See also: Urban Escapes: Where To Find The Cleanest Air In Asia

View post:
In Good Health: How Traditional Chinese Medicine Is Evolving In Leaps And Bounds - Hong Kong Tatler

Detox is required in order to eliminate toxins from your body, promote weight loss and improve your health. Common ways ofbody detox include limiting alcohol, fasting, consuming simple and light foods, etc. In this article, we are going to talk about 2 simple, easy and inexpensive ways to detox, shared by lifestyle coach Luke Coutinho on a live session on Facebook. He informs that lungs, liver, kidney, bowels and skin are the five eliminatory organs of the human body. Even if one of them is jammed, you will experience more sickness, inflammation, body pain, skin problems, weight gain and hormonal imbalance.

Before knowing about the detox, Luke shares about symptoms that you need a detox:

1. When the lungs are unable to eliminate toxins (carbon dioxide from the body), you get sick, experience heart palpitations and toxicity in the body.

2. Liver functioning slows down if it is unable to deal with burden of toxins. It results in fatty liver, sluggishness, fatigue, etc.

3. If the kidneys are unable to filter toxins from the body, it will result in high uric acid in your body and increases toxicity in the body.

Also read:Delhi Pollution: 5 Simple Drinks To Detoxify Your Lungs Naturally

4. If your bowels don't function properly, it will result in constipation and increase the duration of waste in your body. This leads to gastric issues, gut issues, bacterial issues, migraine and low immunity to name a few.

5. Skin, being the largest eliminatory organ of the body, will react with acne, eczema, skin irritation, dry skin, flaky skin etc.

"The human body is meant to detoxify naturally. And this can be achieved by taking proper rest and getting adequate sleep," says Luke.

Resting and fasting can naturally detox your bodyPhoto Credit: iStock

Luke says that rest refers to fasting when it comes to body detox. Continuously eating makes your digestive system work continuously. Fasting gives your digestive system some rest. Your digestive system, gut and pancreas can only heal and repair itself when it is in a state of rest. People going through cancer treatment, chemotherapy or liver problems need a detox because of high intake of medicines.

Giving yourself breaks and rests will automatically help you with bodydetox.

Well, intermittent fasting is the perfect and most natural way to detox your body. You can fast for 12 hours starting after sunset to post-sunrise, and it will give your kidneys, lungs, liver and bowel the required time and space for a detox.

Also read:Intermittent Fasting: Know How To Practice It And The Benefits And Drawbacks That Follow

Sleep

Sleeping well is important for a healthy weight and good overall health. All the detox in your body occurs when you sleep. So, if you want a natural body detox, make amends in your lifestyle so that you are able to sleep well. Create a comfortable and cosy environment in your room, exercise regularly, quit smoking and alcohol, and do not use any gadgets at least an hour before your bed time, to get a good night's sleep.

Sleeping well can help you with a full body detoxPhoto Credit: iStock

Sleeping and resting/fasting, is the perfect way to detox your body naturally.

Also read:Top 6 Ways To Fix Your Sleep Cycle

(Luke Coutinho, Holistic Lifestyle Coach - Integrative Medicine)

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.

Get Breaking news, live coverage, and Latest News from India and around the world on NDTV.com. Catch all the Live TV action on NDTV 24x7 and NDTV India. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram for latest news and live news updates.

Excerpt from:
Full Body Detox: Try These 2 Simple, Inexpensive And Easy Ways To Naturally Detox Your Body - NDTV News

Its becoming pretty clear to us that the vitamin conversation is never really over. There is so much to know about the pills we pop on a daily basis, and we want to be experts on every. little. thing. While we have solved the mystery that is the multivitamin, were now asking ourselves WTF the difference is, if anything, between vitamins and supplements. Seriously, what even are ~supplements~, and why is Elle Macpherson plugging them? Were done being naive with these things, which is exactly why we consulted MD Sara Gottfried, to get some answers. You may recognize Gottfried's name from Goop Wellness as she is the one who creates one of their well known vitamin regimes (they're so good), High School Genes. When we chatted Gottfried, not only did she set a few (JK, a lot) of things straight, but she also let us know about three supplements we had no idea existed let alone should actually be taking. Prepare to be enlightened.

The actual difference between vitamins and supplements:

Supplements are any product that adds nutritional value to your diet or augments health. Vitamins are a type of supplement. Other types of supplements include minerals, herbs, or nutrients like fiber.

Is it possible to overdo it with a vitamin or supplement?

Yes. In health, theres almost always a U-shaped curve, meaning too little is bad and too much is badgetting the right dose is crucial. In addition, not everyone needs vitamins or supplements, so its important to determine whether any supplement is totally necessary. Too little vitamin A causes eye problems; too much vitamin A can cause hair loss, dizziness, nausea, headaches, coma, and even death. Too little vitamin D can cause osteoporosis, bone pain, muscle weakness, heart disease; too much can cause buildup of calcium in your blood (hypercalcemia), poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, weakness, frequent urination, and kidney problems. Consult with your doctor. In functional medicine, we track the blood levels of many supplements over time to make sure our patients are absorbing them well and getting the correct dose.

Three-lesser known supplements to get familiar with:

Chasteberry (Vitex agnus-castus)for PMS. Also known by several other terms, including chaste tree, chaste tree berry, and vitex. It is proven to reduce PMS and infertility, presumably by raising progesterone. Chasteberry, used by the ancient Greeks more than two thousand years ago, restores normal progesterone levels in the body. In Germany, where integrative medicine is practiced as the standard of care, chasteberry is approved for menstrual irregularity, PMS, and breast pain. A Stanford University School of Medicine study shows that in women with low progesterone, fertility rates are higher among those taking chasteberry.

Berberine. Blood sugar rises with age (starting at fifty), and berberine is one of the supplements proven to help you normalize serum glucose. Not only that, berberine will cool inflammation in your body, lower cholesterol, assist weight loss, and behaves like an antioxidant. Taking 300 to 500 milligrams once to three times per day has been shown to activate an important enzyme called adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, or AMP, nicknamed metabolic master switch.

Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA). This powerful antioxidant significantly lowers blood sugar levels and reduces nerve-related symptoms from diabetes. [It] acts to prevent cell damage and restore the function of neurons in [diabetics]. Even with a whole-foods diet, its hard to get enough to keep your oxidant/antioxidant status in balance. ALA repairs damaged cells, and its one of the most critical anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant agents you can ingest. When applied as a serum, alpha-lipoic acid (5%) has been shown to reduce aging in the face over twelve weeks. ALA is 400 times stronger than vitamins C and E.

The most common misconception with vitamins and supplements:

That they are regulated by the government. Supplements, including herbal therapies (also known as botanicals), often lack the scientific scrutiny that the Federal Drug Administration requires prescription medications to have. Since the mandatory regulation is minimal, its a case of buyer beware. Quality of a product is left to the manufacturer, which means that you must take great care when choosing your supplements.

Pro tip:

Consider taking only one new supplement at a time so you are able to determine whether it is helping you. Give it at least 6-12 weeks, and if it isnt working after this period, move on to another choice.

[As always, we are definitely not doctors or medical know-it-alls. And everybody is different, so make sure to check with a doctor before trying anything!]

Photo: Trays,Herms; Supplements, HUM Nutrition

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MD Sara Gottfried Talks the Differences Between Vitamins and Supplements - coveteur.com

Photo: Golden Roots Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine/Yelp

Looking for the best acupuncture options near you?

Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top acupuncture spots around Anaheim, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best spots to venture next time you're in the market for acupuncture.

Anaheim-area consumers historically spend more in November at health and beauty businesses than other months of the year, according to data on local business transactions from Womply, a provider of online reputation management and direct response marketing for small businesses. The average amount spent per customer transaction at Anaheim-area health and beauty businesses grew to $53 for the metro area in November of last year, second only to December with an average of $54, and 3% higher than the average for the rest of the year.

Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions.

First on the list is Evolve Integrative Health. Located at 6200 E. Canyon Rim Road, Suite 109D in Anaheim Hills, the chiropractor and acupuncture spot is the highest-rated acupuncture spot in Anaheim, boasting five stars out of 49 reviews on Yelp.

Next up is West Anaheim's Peebro Skin & Total Health Care, situated at 408 S. Beach Blvd., Suite 108. With 4.5 stars out of 102 reviews on Yelp, the medical spa, acupuncture and skin care spot has proven to be a local favorite.

West Anaheim's Jaein Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine, located at 3441 W. Ball Road, Suite E, is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the acupuncture, tui na and pain management specialist spot five stars out of 37 reviews.

Golden Roots Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine, a Chinese medicine specialist and acupuncture and massage therapist spot in Northwest Anaheim, is another much-loved go-to, with five stars out of 19 Yelp reviews. Head over to 1781 W. Romneya Drive, Suite D to see for yourself.

Story continues

Last but not least, over in Anaheim Hills, check out Hands on Wellness Center, which has earned 4.5 stars out of 40 reviews on Yelp. You can find the chiropractor, acupuncture and massage therapist spot at 5100 E. La Palma Ave., Suite 104.

This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.

Excerpt from:
The 5 best acupuncture spots in Anaheim - Yahoo News

Supported by the Office of the Provost, the first Abess Scholars have wide latitude to bridge the gap between science and environmental policy.

One plans to invite studentsto accompany her, virtually, onall-female expeditionstothe Arctic andAntarctica.Another intends to explore the realities and mythos of barrier islands through the ever-shifting sands of Captiva Island and the musings of its most famous resident. A third is organizing a workshop on the connections between climate change, water insecurity, and migration.

They are all members of the inaugural class of Abess Scholars, eight researchers who through their innovative work have advanced the Leonard and Jayne Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policys mission at the University of Miami to create interdisciplinary initiatives that bridge the gap between science and environmental policy.

With special support from the Office of the Provost, the first Abess Scholars, who include seven faculty members from five schools or colleges and one award-winning author, have wide latitude to pursue activities that will increase interdisciplinary environmental education, research, and outreach across the University and the broader community.

Their energy and innovative approaches are inspirational to me and to Gina Maranto, my colleague at the Abess Center who has been instrumental in developing the program,said Abess Center Director Kenny Broad, professor in the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences Department of Marine Ecosystems and Society and the 2011 National Geographic Explorer of the Year. The core goal of the Abess Center is to connect different players across the University who can address real-world environmental problems and each Abess Scholar now has the opportunity to amplify the Abess Centers mission in their own creative and exciting way.

Provost Jeffrey Duerk, who over his career has collaborated with multiple teams from multiple disciplines to develop biomedical imaging technology, is leading the effort to integrate the team science approach into the Universitys burgeoning culture of interdisciplinary inquiry. He said the Abess Centers 30-odd affiliate faculty are uniquely positioned to enhance interdisciplinary teaching and scholarship across the University, a key goal of the Roadmap to Our New Century.

Our mission as a University is to be a hub for the kind of collaborative research that can address such complex problems as climate change or chronic disease, but that cant happen without a cadre of experienced interdisciplinary practitioners, Duerk said. The Abess Scholars program will strengthen the Abess Center and the University by identifying and cultivating affiliated faculty who can espouse the values of creative interdisciplinary collaboration and mission-driven research pertaining to one of the worlds most complex and over-arching challenges, the environment.

In addition to the Abess Scholars, the Office of the Provost supports a number of initiatives designed to advance interdisciplinary inquiry across the University. They include the University of Miami Laboratory for Integrative Knowledge, or U-LINK, and the Louis Glaser Fellowship in Integrated Teaching and Learning, which is accepting proposals through Dec. 1.

Launched in 2016, U-LINK awards up to three years of funding to multidisciplinary teams who are tackling complex problems. The Glaser fellowship is designed to give faculty the time and resources to expand their knowledge beyond their primary discipline and design new, experimental, cross-disciplinary undergraduates courses.

Three of the inaugural Abess Scholars, who will receive funds and support for one year with the possibility of a two-year extension, are also members of different U-LINK teams, and all but one were chosen from the ranks of the Abess Centers affiliated faculty. The honorees are:

Natalie Barefoot, School of Law

The practitioner in residence and lecturer in law for the School of Laws Environmental Justice Clinic, Barefoot supervises two class-action toxic torts cases and projects related to policies and practices that affect low-income and minority communities in Florida. Before joining UM, she was the executive director of Cet Law, a nonprofit that advances laws and policies to protect cetaceanswhales, dolphins, and porpoisesand their habitats. For her Abess Center project, she plans to engage studentsin climate change and biodiversity issues and inspire young women to explore STEM fieldsby bringing them, through remote classrooms and video, on two all-female expeditions, one to theArctic Circle this November, and the other to Antarctica in November 2020.

Alberto Cairo, School of Communication

The Knight Chair in Visual Journalism, an associate professor in the Department of Journalism and Media Management, and a member of the HURAKAN U-LINK team that aims to improve hurricane forecast products, Cairo teaches courses and has written text books about infographics, data visualization, and data journalism. He just published his first book for the general public, How Charts Lie, which explains how graphs, charts, and maps can mislead readers. For his project, Cairo plans a workshop for the UM community to demystify the graphical literacy that is now so essential to navigating our data-driven world.

Kenneth Feeley, College of Arts and Sciences

The Smathers Chair of Tropical Tree Biology and associate professor in the Department of Biology, Feeley draws on both natural history and advanced empirical modeling to study the ecology and biogeography of tropical forests, specifically how they are affected by large-scale anthropogenic disturbances such as climate change, deforestation, and habitat fragmentation. Through his work, he strives to understand the implications of human activities to help inform management and conservation strategies. His project is pending.

Michael Grunwald, Author

Now a senior writer for Politico magazine, Grunwald has worked at The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, and Time, and received numerous awards, including the George Polk Award, the Worth Bingham Prize, the Society of Environmental Journalists Award, and the Sierra Clubs David Brower Award for his work. The author of The Swamp: The Everglades, Florida, and the Politics of Paradise, and The New New Deal: The Hidden Story of Change in the Obama Era, he is writing a book about food production.

Joanna Lombard, School of Architecture

An architect and professor in the School of Architecture with a joint appointment in the Department of Public Health Sciences at the Miller School of Medicine, Lombard focuses on the intersection of architecture, landscape, culture, and health, especially in relation to climate change. She is a founding member of UMs Built-Environment Behavior and Health Research Group and a member of the U-LINK team exploring hyper-local adaptations to climate change. For her project, she will examine past and present perceptions of coastal resilience on Floridas barrier islands by studying the writings of artist Robert Rauschenberg at the time he adopted Captiva as his home and primary studio.

Katharine Mach, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science

An associate professor in the Department of Marine Ecosystems and Society, Mach assesses climate change risks and, through innovative approaches to integrating evidence, informs the options for responding effectively and equitably to increased flooding, extreme heat, wildfire, and other hazards. A lead author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes Sixth Assessment Report, she co-directed the scientific activities of the IPCCs Working Group II, which culminated in the Fifth Assessment Report. She is also associate deputy editor for Climatic Change and an advisory board member for the Aspen Global Change Institute and Carbon180. For her project, she plans to organize one or more science-policy workshops that examine the risks and opportunities for managing the changing climate.

Renato Molina, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric ScienceAn engineer and economist specializing in the economics of natural resource extraction, conservation, and natural disasters, Molina is an assistant professor of environmental and resource economics, a visiting scholar at the Faculty of Natural Resources at the Pontificia Universdad Catlica de Valparaso in Chile, and a member of the U-LINK team exploring the next generation of coastal structures. He focuses on the intersection between game theory, sustainability, and institutional settings and relies on economic insight to inform responsible policymaking for environmental and natural resources management. For his project, he plans to study the effects of climate change adaptation efforts on real estate markets and the implications for vulnerable communities.

Justin Stoler, College of Arts and Sciences

An associate professor in the Department of Geography and Regional Studies, Stoler holds a secondary appointment in the Miller School of Medicines Department of Public Health Sciences and has spent a decade studying communicable diseases and water insecurity in Accra, Ghana. The co-director of the Health Geographics Lab, he employs spatial modeling techniques to explore the geographic patterns of urban health disparities and environmental influences on social and behavioral epidemiology. For his project, he is convening a workshop with population and environment scholars to explore the connections between climate change, water insecurity, and migration.

Read the original post:
Expanding the horizons of environmental research - University of Miami

Have you noticed lattes, ice cream and smoothies with a tawny hue? That could be a sign of a not-so-secret ingredient: turmeric. The botanical is omnipresent in health food aisles, in the form of pills and powders.

Turmeric, native to South Asia, is one of the fastest-growing dietary supplements. In 2018, products racked up an estimated 300 million in sales in the United States, a more than sevenfold increase from a decade earlier, according to a report from Nutrition Business Journal.

Brightening up the pantries of many homes in India, the spice is interwoven into daily life, the cuisine, and cultural and healing traditions. A member of the ginger family, it has been used in ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. Apply turmeric to wounds, and its believed to fight infection. Mix it with milk, and the mind calms. Tint the entrance of new homes with a paste to welcome prosperity.

Turmeric is auspicious and one of the most important herbs, said Anupama Kizhakkeveettil, a board member of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association.

Sliced open, or dried into a spice, the Curcuma longa plant imparts its amber colour and earthy, bitter flavour to food like curry. The active ingredient captured in many turmeric supplements is curcumin. Curcumin, along with the other curcuminoid compounds, compose only about 3 per cent of the dried spice.

And bottles will often say turmeric on the front but list curcumin in the ingredients.

Turmeric is hailed for helping a host of conditions: high cholesterol, hay fever, depression, gingivitis, premenstrual syndrome and even hangovers. In ayurvedic medicine, it is believed to act as an anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-parasitic, and has long been used to help with diabetes, pain, rheumatism, osteoarthritis, memory and skin conditions like eczema.

We use it for so many different conditions, its a time-tested herb, Kizhakkeveettil said. Unfortunately, our science doesnt fit into complete randomised controlled trials. That is alternative medicines biggest challenge.

Researchers sought to answer this by sifting through the available literature. In a 2017 paper in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, they concluded its fools gold. There are claims that it can cure everything, said Kathryn Nelson, a research assistant professor at the University of Minnesota and the studys lead author. To me, that is a red flag.

Dr Amit Garg, a professor of medicine at Western University in London, Ontario, knew about turmerics medicinal use because of his Indian heritage. He knew first hand of its rich cultural significance too: on his wedding day, his relatives rubbed the spice all over him because it is believed to be cleansing.

After seeing the effectiveness of curcumin, in smaller studies, Garg and his colleagues decided to test it on a larger scale in hopes it would make elective aortic surgery safer by reducing the risk of complications, which include heart attacks, kidney injury and death. In the randomised clinical trial that followed, about half of the 606 patients were administered 2,000 milligrams of curcumin eight times over for four days, while the others were given a placebo. It was a bit disappointing, but we couldnt demonstrate any benefit used in this setting, Garg said of the study, published last year in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

In fact, there is not enough reliable evidence in humans to recommend turmeric or curcumin for any condition, according to the US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Turmeric became a nutritional golden child partly because of its promise in laboratory studies cellular and animal. Some research indicates that both turmeric and curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric supplements, have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-parasitic activity. But this has mostly been demonstrated in laboratory studies, and, in many cases, the benefits of preclinical research isnt observed in clinical trials.

According to Natural Medicines, a database that provides monographs for dietary supplements, herbal medicines, and complementary and integrative therapies, while some clinical evidence shows that curcumin might be beneficial for depression, hay fever, hyperlipidemia, ulcerative colitis, osteoarthritis and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, its still too early to recommend the compound for any of these conditions.

And Natural Medicines has found there isnt enough good scientific evidence to rate turmeric or curcumins use for memory, diabetes, fatigue, rheumatoid arthritis, gingivitis, joint pain, PMS, eczema or hangovers.

Physicians say more research is needed. Dr Gary Small, a professor of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, who studies curcumins effect on memory, sees a lot of therapeutic potential. He also states that existing research demonstrates curcumins biological effects.

What may be affecting curcumins efficacy, doctors say, is that it is poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. In Indian cooking, turmeric is usually heated in a fat, like oil, which can increase absorption. Certain supplement manufacturers are also taking steps to improve this curcumins bioavailability by combining the compound with other components. For instance, a chemical found in black pepper called piperine is sometimes added to curcumin supplements in proprietary blends to increase its absorption.

Researching curcumin can be challenging because some blends have better bioavailability than others, and varying amounts of the active ingredient. If you did the study over and over again but used slightly different preparations, you would probably have different results, said Dr Janet Funk, a professor of medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, who studies curcumins effect on bone.

Still, even if absorption improved, curcumin would not have any biological effects, Nelson contends. Turmeric may still have health benefits, she said, but they just may be from another compound or combination of compounds.

Consuming it by mouth is safe, up to 2g of turmeric daily for a year, and 4g daily of curcumin for a month, according to Natural Medicines. Turmeric aficionados who also use it as a face mask can relax too; the database indicates it is most likely safe to apply to the skin.

Doctors recommend that patients tell a physician they are taking turmeric. High doses of turmeric and its isolated constituents can have some rather unpleasant side effects, including diarrhea and nausea. Curcumin may also interact with anti-coagulants and anti-platelets, antacids, and drugs used for chemotherapy and to control blood pressure. While the spice is considered safe in food, therapeutic doses should be avoided during pregnancy.

The US Food and Drug Administration does not test dietary supplements such as turmeric for safety and effectiveness but announced this year that it would improve oversight of the growing industry.

One study published in 2018 in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, found that the cheaper the turmeric product, the more likely it was to have chemical compounds suggestive of synthetic curcumin; and products with turmeric root were more likely to have higher lead levels. One sample exceeded recommended limits for lead.

How about all those turmeric lattes? Doctorssay that sprinkling a little bit of the bitter spice into frothed milk doesnt have proven health benefits. But that doesnt mean it isnt delicious.

As for Garg, he is not closing the bottle cap on curcumin. To wit: he is in the middle of a randomised study with a different preparation and dosing to see if curcumin prevents the progression of kidney disease. There are still many promising things about curcumin and turmeric, he said. I remain open-minded. New York Times

Read this article:
Turmeric: what are the benefits and is it good for you? - The Irish Times

At mbg, we're no strangers to the benefits of functional medicine. Nutrition, sleep, exercise, stress levels, relationships, and genetics are all major contributors to chronic disease, and sometimes piling medication upon medication just won't cut it.

While we're not suggesting you skip out on your routine checkups, it's becoming increasingly popularcrucial, evenfor people to start thinking about the ways lifestyle factors can influence and help treat disease.

In fact, there's a new study (the first ofits kind, no less!) to actually show how a functional medicine model can provide unique health benefits for patients. What researchers found was that functional medicine can yield a greater quality of life compared to the standard, primary care model of medicine.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Network Open, analyzed two groups of patients for two years: 1,595 patients treated at Cleveland Clinic's Center for Functional Medicine and 5,657 patients treated at a primary care health center. To assess each patient's quality of life, researchers used the PROMIS questionnaire, a validated measure by the NIH. This questionnaire assesses patients' global physical and mental health through factors such as fatigue, physical function, pain, gastrointestinal issues, and emotional well-being.

In as little as six months, they saw around 31% of functional medicine patients improve their PROMIS global physical health scores by 5 points or more, an improvement that has a very noticeable effect on daily life, according to the study. Only 22% of primary care patients were able to raise their scores this high.

There are a variety of reasons why functional medicine could have helped raise these patients' scores. Researchers believe that in addition to the holistic, functional medicine model itself, the types of patients seeking functional medicine and whether or not they believe in this model of care could have contributed to these global physical health improvements. While future research is needed to address these concerns, it's exciting that people are now starting to recognize functional medicine as deserving of these evidence-based experiments.

"This is a first-of-its-kind study to evaluate the impact of functional medicine model of care on patients' health-related quality of life," leader of the study Michelle Beidelschies, Ph.D., agrees. "In the past, evidence to support the model has been primarily anecdotal, published as case reports."

What's even more interesting about this study is that the sample of primary care patients actually had a higher median income than the functional medicine group. It speaks to the significant benefits of the functional medicine model that despite these patients' higher financial status, they still had a lower quality of life than the Cleveland Clinic group.

Perhaps these results can inspire even the most traditional of physicians to include integrative medicine into their practiceor, at the very least, allow them to regard functional medicine as a legitimate health care model.

"Functional medicine practitioners have suggested that their patients are improving with a systems-based approach to chronic disease,"Beidelschies says. "Now, they have evidence that their approach is associated with improved quality of life."

With respect to Beidelschies and this new study, it looks like holistic healing is truly becoming a practical measure for patient care. In this case, soul really is meeting science.

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Functional Medicine Linked To A Higher Quality Of Life, New Study Finds - mindbodygreen.com

True Food Kitchen has opened its first Miami-area restaurant at the Falls.

The health-driven restaurant has replaced the former T.G.I.Friday's and occupies more than 10,000 square feet with an indoor dining room, a patio, and a bar.

"At True Food Kitchen, we believe that every ingredient matters in everything we serve," True Food Kitchen brand chef Robert McCormick says.

True Food Kitchen was bornin Phoenix, Arizona, in 2008 when cofounder Dr. Andrew Weil didnt want to sacrifice flavor for the sake of healthy eating. The Harvard-trained Weil made a name for himself by embracing alternative medicine techniques. The doctor and author is known for books such as The Natural Mind: An Investigation of Drugs and the Higher Consciousness. The prolific doctor also hosts a podcast and sells skincare products and wild-caught seafood on drweil.com.

The integrative medicine doctor wanted to create a restaurant that served food people could enjoy and not regret eating.Eleven years later, there are 28 locations in 17 states, including New York, Louisiana, Colorado, and California. The Falls outpost marks the seventh True Food Kitchen in Florida, with other locations in Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Tampa, Naples, and Jacksonville.

The entire menuis based on Weil's anti-inflammatory food pyramid, which stresses eating more fruits and vegetables and minimizing the consumption of processed foods. The menu offers dishesfilled with whole grains, lean proteins, healthy fats, and limited carbohydrates. "Anti-inflammatory is a lifestyle," says Christine Ferris, senior marketing brand manager for True Food Kitchen.

Each menu item avoids causing the fatigue, bloating, and loss of energy that certain meals create, Ferris says. Even the higher-calorie items on True Food's menu, such as desserts and alcoholic beverages, should be enjoyed without any guilt, according to Ferris.

The menu also changes with the seasons."We change our menu quarterly because it allows us to showcase seasonal ingredients that are nutrient-dense and at the peak of their freshness and flavor, McCormick says. Most items are vegetarian, although chicken, seafood, and even steak are offered. All dishes can also be made gluten-free and can be customized for a particular diet.

True Food Kitchen has incorporated sea buckthorn an orange-red berry into its fall menu. The plant is used in some of the bar's drinks, from the antioxidant mimosa, infused with the berry, cava, honey, and pomegranate, to a ginger margarita ($12), made with ginger liqueur, organic reposado tequila, and honey.

"From nutrient-dense staples and carefully sourced proteins to little-known superfoods, we use the most responsible, creative, in-season ingredients we can find," McCormick says.

The menu includes permanent dishes too. The ancient grain bowl ($14) reflects each level of the anti-inflammatory pyramid by including miso-glazed sweet potato, house-made cilantro paste, turmeric, grilled portobello mushrooms, avocado, and hemp seed. Edamame dumplings, made with dashi and white truffle oil, are another staple on the menu.

The bar also serves organic, biodynamic, and sustainable wines, along with a wide selection of beers.

Ferris says the restaurant localizes its bright and approachable atmosphere by adding local artwork to embody Miamis culture. You will feel the energy when you walk in."

True Food Kitchen is an exciting addition to the shopping center, says the Falls' manager, Dailen Rodriguez. "The community is very wellness-aware, making the restaurant a great fit for our customers."

True Food Kitchen at the Falls. 8888 SW 136th St., Miami; truefoodkitchen.com.Monday through Saturday10 a.m. to 9 p.m.,Sundaynoon to 7 p.m.

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Dr. Andrew Weil's True Food Kitchen Opening in Miami at the Falls Mall in South Miami-Dade - Miami New Times

Diwali 2019: With a change in your diet because of festive indulgence, you may experience increased acidity. Try these home remedies suggested by nutritionist Nmami Agarwal for some effective results.

Acidity home remedies: Poor gut health can be the primary cause of acidity and gas

Diwali 2019: It is Diwali and sweets, fried food, nuts, seeds and even alcohol might be a part of daily diet for most of you. And believe it or not, the increased acidity can be credited to this change in diet and also poor gut health and digestive system. According to lifestyle coach Luke Coutinho, the first step towards preventing indigestion problems like constipation, bloating, acidity and gas is: improve your gut health. This can be done by increasing intake of probiotics and prebiotics, which provide healthy bacteria to your gut and improve overall gut flora. A healthy gut is directly proportional to a healthy digestive system and inversely proportional to the frequency of gas, acidity and other related problems.

In one of her posts on Instagram, nutritionist Nmami Agarwal says that acid is produced in the body to digest food. It is when this acid gets produced in excess that problems like excessive burping, gas, flatulence etc start popping up. In this article, we are going to talk about ways to combat acidity naturally.

Improper eating pattern, consumption of spicy and oily food, lack of physical activity, stress and even dehydration may be possible for acidity. So, regular exercise, a healthy and nutritious diet and sufficient intake of water are the first few steps towards reducing acidity.

Also read:Try This Jeera And Ajwain Tea To Get Rid Of Bloating, Gas And Acidity Once And For All

1. Chew your food properly: The first step of digestion begins right in the mouth, before food even enters the gut. Not chewing your food properly can reduce the action of enzymes present in the mouth. This in turn can lead to partially digested food and more acidity.

Acidity home remedies: Chew your food properly to prevent excess acid productionPhoto Credit: iStock

2. Have a glass of cold milk: Drinking a glass of cold milk is an excellent way to combat acidity. Milk is alkaline in nature and can neutralise stomach pH, thus reducing acidity.

3. Ajwain or carom seeds: Chewing ajwain seeds is the age-old, time-tested remedy for dealing with gas, acidity, bloating and flatulence. Nmami says that you can boil half tsp of ajwain in one glass of water. Strain it, add some lemon juice and a pinch of salt in it. Anti-acidic properties in ajwain can be effective in reducing acidity.

Also read:Here's How You Can Use Ajwain And Hing To Ease Gassiness And Indigestion

4. Mint chaas or buttermilk: According to Nmami, mint chaas or buttermilk too is an excellent remedy to reduce stomach acid. Not only is buttermilk hydrating in nature, it can also neutralise acid in the stomach. Mint on the other hand, is know to lower acid in the stomach. Whenever acidity is giving you a hard time, you can try having mint buttermilk for some quick and effective results.

Mint chaas or mint buttermilk can effectively reduce acidityPhoto Credit: iStock

5. Do not blindly take antacids: Regular consumption of antacids can lead to acid rebound. This means that you stomach begins to produce more acid than before. "This makes your entire gastrointestinal tract go for a toss," says Nmami. Constipation and diarrhoea are only a few of the many side effects of consuming antacids regularly.

Before you think of popping antacids, try the aforementioned home remedies. They might take a little time but they surely can reduce acidity effectively. Wishing you all a very happy, prosperous, safe and healthy Diwali!

Also read:Acidity: Foods To Eat And Avoid

(Nmami Agarwal is nutritionist at Nmami Life)

(Luke Coutinho, Holistic Lifestyle Coach - Integrative Medicine)

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.

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Do Not Let Festive Indulgence Make Room For Increased Acidity; Try These Home Remedies To Stay Healthy This Diwali - Doctor NDTV

Among some natural health proponents, apple cider vinegar has gained a reputation as a cure-all. On the website PreventDisease.com, the alternative health author John Summerly writes, The question is not what apple cider vinegar can do, but what can't it do.

He goes on to cite research suggesting how the common kitchen condiment can help fight diabetes, heart disease, allergies, high cholesterol, cancer, and weight gain. Some evidence suggests that it might reduce the inflammation associated with psoriasis.

RELATED: What Is Schizoaffective Disorder?

Some sources, such as an article titled Schizophrenia & Natural Remedies on the website Jung Circle, list cider vinegar as an ingredient that can be used in a formula to soothe the body when you're coming off psychiatric medications.

Other online articles, such as one on Psycom,highlight evidence suggesting that what happens in the gut may be connected to what happens in the brain.

An investigation published in February 2019 in Science Advances suggests that the gut microbiome (the ecosystem of bacteria and microbes that live in the digestive tract) may be linked to schizophrenia (a chronic and severe neurological brain disorder). Based on stool samples, the researchers observed that people with schizophrenia have less-diverse microbiomes that people without schizophrenia.

RELATED: Mental Illness Signs, Symptoms, Treatment, and More

Some alternative health advocates hold that apple cider vinegar may improve overall gut health, and if the gut-mind connection is true, then this acidic natural fermented liquid has the potential to help ease the symptoms of schizophrenia.

Drew Ramsey, MD, a nutritional psychiatrist who incorporates evidence-based nutrition into his treatments, believes that what we eat can affect mental health. He makes dietary recommendations designed to help individuals with depression, anxiety, and emotional wellness concerns.

What we really look for is how do we help people eat a more nutrient-dense diet with foods and nutrients linked to brain health, says Dr. Ramsey, who is an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City.

His eating plans includeleafy greens, colorful vegetables, B vitamins, minerals like zinc and magnesium, and fish rich inomega-3 fatty acids. Ramsey bases his dietary guidance on studies such as one published in October 2019 in the journal PLoS One, which demonstrated a drop in depression among young adults who followed a Mediterranean-style diet for three weeks.

When it comes to apple cider vinegar and the brain, however, the proof of a relationship is just not there, according to Ramsey.

RELATED: The Truth About Apple Cider Vinegar and Hepatitis C

Apple cider vinegar really has no role in nutritional psychiatry and mental health disorders and to suggest such is to really be speaking without any evidence, he says. I probably prescribe more food to mental health patients than anyone else in America, and I have never prescribed apple cider vinegar.

Ramsey is concerned that some people think cider vinegar is a magic-bullet solution.

There is an idea behind it that drinking apple cider vinegar is going to enhance microbiome diversity, but there is not science behind it yet, he says. We want to guide people with evidence and not hype on the internet.

Ken Duckworth, MD, the medical director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), also warns against apple cider vinegar as a treatment for schizophrenia.

There is no evidence that it is helpful, he says. No rational person would recommend it.

That said, Dr.Duckworth does not discount the value of some natural remedies that may improve aspects of mental health. He points to research demonstrating a brain benefit from omega-3s,cranberries, and the spice turmeric.

For comprehensive information on evidence-based natural health solutions, Duckworth directs individuals to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, the federal governments lead agency for investigating complementary and alternative medicine.

I remain open to research that would help [establish]that there is an alternative remedy that demonstrates efficacy for schizophrenia, he says. Absence of proof is not proof of absence, but you need meaningful proof before you can make assertions."

When it comes to schizophrenia specifically, Dr. Ramsey highlights research published in the journal Nature Communications finding that long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in fatty fish such as salmon reduce the risk of psychotic disorders.

The study showed a significant decrease in the progression to schizophrenia in individuals who received omega-3s, he says.

RELATED: Early Treatment Programs for Schizophrenia Multiply

About 1.1 percent of the population in 2014 or about 2.6 million Americans age 18 and older live with schizophrenia, according to the Treatment Advocacy Center. An estimated 40 percent of individuals with the condition go untreated in any given year.

Common symptoms include delusions and hallucinations; alterations of the senses; an inability to sort and interpret incoming sensations, and an inability therefore to respond appropriately; an altered sense of self; and changes in emotions, movements, and behavior.

The American Psychiatric Associationpublishes guidelines for the treatment of schizophrenia, which features information on antipsychotic medications and therapy. Duckworth notes that these schizophrenia medications include Clozaril (clozapine), which is the only FDA-approved medication for suicide risk reduction in patients with schizophrenia.

Ramsey stresses that treatments need to be multimodal, with a combination of responsible medication management, a supportive care team (involving a peer counselor, a psychiatrist, and a case manager), and employment.

Working is good for mental health, he says. For people with psychotic disorders, it provides self-esteem, structure, and an income.

For people with schizophrenia, getting access to appropriate psychiatric and mental health care and supportive employment is much more important than apple cider vinegar, Ramsey adds.

To find resources and help for schizophrenia treatment, Duckworth recommends contacting the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

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Is There Evidence Behind the Use of Apple Cider Vinegar for Mental Illness? - Everyday Health