Low back pain doesn't happen overnight and once understood, can resolve quicker than you realize. We have to look at our lifestyle, nutrition, how we think & feel, etc. to unravel the condition. You could take a pain reliever but still the underlying imbalance will be there after the relief is gone. The key word for low back pain is DEFICIENCY.

Causative Setting: Holistically speaking, our lifestyle and ability to manage it appears to be overstressing most of us whereas our circulatory systems are tight and obstructing thus preventing nutrients to nourish us and elimination of toxins. Our dietary preferences in the U.S. are excessive while empty of nutrients, full of preservatives, pesticides, hormones and processed with additives. This generation endures more stress, changes and emotions keeping us up later and/or deep sleep is not achieved. The result is we lack the necessary energy or life force to be our best. This further makes us irritable in our relationships which worsens all the scenarios described before.

As we break down our energy, immunity and support, our self image and esteem parallels our internal organs ability to weather the challenge. In particular our kidneys and adrenals become weakened or deficient requiring us to take back what has been given up to regain our essence, vitality, our quality of life.

Initially, winning strategies in lifestyle, diet and rest need to be re-constructed. This article was wriiten to suggest successful alternatives enabling the reader to rapidly acquire anti-aging versus aging strategies.

The source of deficiency stems from 4 main areas: 

• LEFT KIDNEY DEFICIENCY
• RIGHT KIDNEY DEFICIENCY
• KIDNEY ENERGY DEFICIENCY
• EXTREME CHRONIC FATIGUE

FOOD THERAPY: LOW BACK PAIN 

This issue may involve not only low back pain but also sciatic pain complicated by other syndromes such as chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, Epstein Barr, etc. Four causes of low back and leg pain.

There are several categories based on Chinese medicine nutrition and Traditional Chinese herbs that support and correct low back pain:

LEFT KIDNEY (yin) DEFICIENCY:
Characteristics: Heat symptoms, dizziness, ringing in the ears, dry throat, dry mouth, fever, low backache, weak legs, involuntary seminal emission, spontaneous sweating, red tongue, emaciation, deep shiny red tongue

Foods: millet, barley, tofu, string bean, black bean, black soy bean, mung bean, mung bean sprouts, kidney bean, azuki bean, and most other beans, kuzu root, watermelon and most others, blackberry, mulberry, blueberry, huckleberry, water chestnut, wheat germ, potato, seaweeds, spirulina, chlorella, black sesame seed, sardine, crab, clam, eggs, pork, cheese
Herbs: marshmallow root, rehmannia root, Asparagus root, aloe vera gel, colloidal silver (If the constitution is cold and/or most or low back & sciatic is cold and/or moist then choose from the groups below)

RIGHT KIDNEY (yang) DEFICIENCY:
Characteristics: cold symptoms in the body such as cold extremities, weakened knees, weakened lower back, avoidance of cold environments, pale skin, depression, lethargic thinking, deficient libido, intermittant menstruation and clear vaginal fluid

Foods: walnuts, black beans, onion family (onion, garlic, chives, scallions, leeks), quinoa, chicken, lamb, trout, salmon
Spices: cloves, fenugreek, fennel seeds, dried ginger
Avoid cooling foods, fruit, raw foods, excessive salt, use seaweed cautiously.

KIDNEY ENERGY (qi) DEFICIENCY:
Characteristics: low energy, low back pain, weak knees, pale tongue, minor cold signs, frequent urination, incontinence, inability to urinate, dribbling, involuntary seminal emission, other seminal/urinary problems.

Foods: wheat berry, sweet rice, parsley
Herbs: rose hips, oyster shell, clam shell, schizandra berry, raspberry and blackberry leaves, gravel root

EXTREME CHRONIC FATIGUE (Jing Deficiency):
Characteristics: dizziness, ringing in ears, loose teeth, loss of head hair, painful knees and lower back

Food: micro-algae (chlorella, spirulina, wild blue-green), fish, liver, kidney, brain, bone and its marrow, human placenta, cereal grasses, wheat grass,solomon seal, almonds, ghee (clarified butter), goat's milk, nettle leaves, royal jelly, bee pollen, Doddler seeds, millet, wheat, black sesame seeds, soybeans, chestnuts, mulberries, raspberries, strawberries, seitan, walnuts
Herbs: deer antler, deer horn velvet, Deer Placenta, Lycium fruit, Polygonum multiflorum root, Eucommia bark, Dendrobium stem, Cinnamon bark, white ginseng, semen cuscutae, astragali seed (complanati), cordyceps, astragalus, codonopsis, reishi, morinda, eleuthero root, paeonia , gambir, gecko, cibot rhizome, tianshan snow lotus, tibet carthami

For final decision on which foods to choose for your condition, please consult a trained master herbalist with in-depth knowledge of Traditional Chinese herbs and food therapy, American herbology and other nutritional systems.

Tags: adrenal deficiency, kidney deficincy, leg pain, alternative, chronic fatigue

Most of the menopause products are created based on 3 strategiess:

• a single supplement/herb wonder
• a combination of past researched supplements/herbs with an addition of the latest fad herb
• in most cases a newbie manufacturer/distributer copies another company's product that is selling well

The result is that it is difficult for the consumer to determine what works. So how do you know what works?

Anybody can produce testimonials but long term repeatable, sustainable results are very challenging to produce. The research on the research demonstrates that women are not getting the truthful facts but rather a marketing spin to get you buy their product or one where they share in the proceeds. In most cases, the manufacturer may truely believe they have a formula that will work based on misinformation on a herb's benefits.

Chinese herbs for menopause will primarily 1) raise the body's energy, 2) nourish the blood, 3) cool the body and 4) normalize the body's thermostat. And indirectly, because the underlying imbalance is corrected, the menopause symptoms will begin to dissapate within 2 hours.  

Most discoveries about herbs have come from Chinese herbal medicine but revealed to the American public in an incomplete manner. The American manufacturers share the info about an herb as a solution for everyone who has a particular symptom. Nevermind, all the body of Chinese medicine and theory that understands that there are different body types or constitutions that may accompany those symptoms. Menopause is a hot body type condition requiring specific emphasis on cooling the liver. 

Chinese herbs which have proven to be effective for hundreds of years on millions of patients. Most Chinese master herbalists understand that after millions of subjects there isn't much need to research what is obvious, tried and proven. Its essential to apply the right formula to the right constitution and symptoms, not just the symptoms. In addition, in order to discern this  relationship between body constitution and herb formulation, it is essential to choose the most knowledgeable practitioner.

A Practicing Master Herbalist Knows More About Herbs Than Any Other Profession?

A seasoned master herbalist (10 years+) who works with herbs every day is the best source for herb medicine. The opportunity to practice with patients is essential in order for the herbalist to determine best practices beyond their education. What is taught in our traditional Chinese herbs and herb medicine schools is only a beginning knowledge and needs to be tested. Better yet, graduates need long term apprenticeship before they are ready to correct imbalances with their clients. Medical doctors rely on their Physician's Desk Reference for information on herbs which is truely a beginning base source. A one herb or multiple herb formula is not going to work for all. The formula will probably work for a small percentage of the women with a similar body type but not the majority. For instance, the Chinese herb, Black Cohosh, has been exposed as unsuitable for menopause. Its used for fevers.Notwithstanding, American supplement makers have discovered a method to take advantage of the half truths provided to everyone and so the tale carries on. Never mind that its short term benefits decay in 2-3 weeks. A better option would be bupleurum combined with other balancing herbs.

In summary, the best choice of herbs for menopause will take into consideration the woman's constitution or body type when constructing a formula. Additionally, herbs that have a long established record for hundreds to thousands of years must be perceived with greater preference over herbs with a minimal account. I encourage everyone to seek a seasoned source in herbal medicine. 

Tags: women's issues, night sweats, traditional chinese herbs, Health, womens needs, herbs, chinese herbs, menopause, insomnia, hot flash

 

The second tier of Asian medicine, after Food Therapy, is traditional chinese herbs - therapy chosen because of its relevant affective strength on the human body. Herbal therapy is applied to open the channels with specific influence on the underlying cause of imbalance and related symptoms. Widespread knowledge of herbal remedy is essential or injury could follow. Herbal medicines have the same strength as food except that it does impacts the body directly. When reduced to an extract level which equals about 4-5 times the strength of the basic herbs, the effect is quicker and stronger. Natural herbs do not heal any better than synthetic medicines but they can help the body to fight disease, strengthen the body's immune system, and help to harmonize the body's functions. After a master herbalist learns about individual herbs then a herbalist will proceed to herbal formulas which make a greater impact to energize, reduce or harmonize more body parts in the restorative process. Traditional Chinese herbs deserve respect because harm can occur if not applied correctly. Though not as dangerous as synthetic medicines, imbalances can occur if rendered inappropriately. On the positive side, they can achieve freedom from imbalances and pain, quickly, while rooting health.  

The MERIDIAN ATTRIBUTION OF HERBS

There are 12 channels in the human body. These clearly defined channels are influenced by historically beneficial herbs that are known to impact a specific channel. Additionally, The various herbs can affect the functions of the body with multiplicity. For instance, when a person has a hot type imbalance, the herbs recommended must be cool or cold, and if the person suffers from a cold type disease the herbs that should be taken are warm or hot. A hot type disease may be liver-heat or stomach-heat; a cold type disease may be lung-cold or spleen-cold conditions. Here is where a thoughtful practitioner shows their value. Herbs that can purge liver heat may not be able to rid stomach heat; herbs that can warm a cold spleen may not be able to warm cold lungs. As a result, multiple herbs have been evaluated for their various affects on the processes of different organs. The functions of the herbs and the 12 meridians can be interrelated and this is what is meant by the meridian attribution of herbs. Herb have been researched, observed for centuries and well documented for their specific influence on the channels. In particular, well trained master herbalists will know which channel and at what point along the channels, the herbs impact. Below are common Traditional Chinese herbs used by a herb master.

Common Traditional Chinese Herbs include the following:

American Ginseng	Chinese Scullcap	Licorice	Shiitake
Asian Ginseng	Corydalis	Ligustrum	Fo-ti
Astragalus	Dong Quai	Maitake	Chinese Ginger
Bitter Melon	Eleuthero	Reishi	Ginkgo biloba
Bupleurum	Green Teas	Schisandra	Longan fruit

Herb therapy when combined with compatible food therapy can be extremely valuable in aiding an ailing person towards normal balance. When you add exercises (Tai Chi & Qi Qong) that wake up the natural restorative energies of the body then the potential for optimal health is achievable. 

Tags: Health, yin, alternative medicine, 12 Meridians, chinese herbs