According to a new review of existing research, complimentary and alternative medicine may help men manage premature ejaculation.  For the full review, click here.

​The authors reviewed research on the effectiveness, safety, and evidence for acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, Ayurvedic herbal medicine, and a Korean topical cream on premature ejaculation.

Results showed that acupuncture delayed ejaculation by 30 seconds compared to a placebo, Chinese herbal medicine delayed ejaculation by about two minutes, Ayurvedic herbal medicine by nearly a minute, and the topical cream by more than eight minutes.

In one instance, the combination of Chinese herbal medicine and SSRIs (a common drug intervention) delayed ejaculation by two minutes longer than SSRIs alone and nearly three minutes longer than Chinese herbal medicine alone.

There are no approved treatments for premature ejaculation.  While there were limitations due to the weakness of the studies being evaluated, this review shows complimentary and alternative medicine is an option for men who do not want to visit the doctor, take drugs long-term, or be on a waiting list for counseling.

If you want to try something different, call up your acupuncturist.  They will be happy to answer any questions you have and find an herbal formula to help!

April is Parkinson's Awareness month!  This post highlights some exciting new research in Parkinson's Disease (PD) at Cornell University. 

Researchers found that the main ingredient in aspirin may stop the process leading to cell death in PD.  The published paper can be found here.  The compound is called salicylic acid and is found naturally in many plants.  Scientists were studying its effect on cell death in plants when they noticed its similarities to a medication called selegiline, used to prolong the anti-parkinson activity of levodopa.

To understand its potential to treat PD, the researchers know they would need to study it in human cells.  They tested three forms of salicylic acid (plant-derived, synthetic, and a form from Chinese medicinal herb licorice) to see if it could prevent cell death in human cells.

Results:

• All forms of salicylic acid were able to stop a specific enzyme from damaging brain cells.
• The salicylic acid derived synthetically and from medicinal Chinese licorice were more effective than the plant-derived salicylic acid.

Discussion:
This research shows that salicylic acid may interact with an enzyme linked to PD to stop cell death in laboratory settings.  This opens the door to development of compounds that are similar to, but more effective than, aspirin.  Undoubtedly, more research is needed.  Note, although salicylic acid is a main component of aspirin, aspirin itself has not been shown to be beneficial in PD. 

In this study, a medicinal Chinese herb was as effective as a synthetic compound, and more effective than aspirin itself. Meanwhile, eating licorice for these therapeutic purposes is not recommended.  The licorice used in this study is a specific form derived from Chinese medicine.

About licorice root:
Licorice root, Radix Glycyrrhizae, is traditional Chinese herb that tonifies energy, especially in the digestive and respiratory systems.  In combination with other herbs, it releases cramps and alleviates pain, is used as a poison antidote, can lessen the harsh and toxic nature of other herbs, and enhances the overall effects of an herbal formula. 

Source: Parkinson Disease Foundation

Yesterday, I made chicken bone broth.  I drink bone broth to improve immune function, support the endocrine system, heal the digestive tract, increase blood cell count, and a source of dissolved minerals.  And there are many other health benefits to drinking bone broth, too!

While traditional Chinese medicine views each person as unique, bone broth is one thing that every person can include in their diet without harm.  It's not too much of an inconvenience to make at home and definitely worth the effort.  Making your own bone broth is one of the more affordable ways to remain healthy, especially since you can use kitchen scraps.

I take a whole roasted rotisserie chicken and remove the skin and meat from the bone.  Of course, a higher quality chicken will yield higher quality bone broth.  I put the bones and a few pieces of skin to a slow cooker and add leftover veggies like celery greens and ends, onion and garlic with skins, carrots, mushrooms, and green onions.  I also added some excellent herbs and spices such as ginger, turmeric, black pepper, and bay leaves.  I didn't have any on hand this time but star anise and cinnamon are also wonderful additions.

Then I cover with water and set the slow cooker for 24 hrs.  After about 24 hours, I pick out the larger veggies and bones, then drain the broth through a colander into a glass container and store in the fridge.  It's that simple!

This morning, I had a cup with whisked eggs (a modified eggdrop soup), a large handful of spinach, and some avocado. Bone broth is also fantastic for soup bases, braising veggies, or sipping by itself.

Notes For Cooking

• Can use any type of bone: ribs, pork chops, fish with heads, etc
  
• Bigger bones (cow, pig, sheep) contain more marrow
  
• Smaller bones or small amount of connective tissue will yield little broth
  
• Avoid adding starchy or cruciferous veggies
  
• Wait until end to add salt to taste
  
• Skim any froth that comes to the surface.
  

Many people have been working outdoors recently readying gardens and crops for summer.  When working in the heat, it is important to stay hydrated and pace your efforts to avoid dehydration, heat stroke, and heat exhaustion.

Chinese herbal medicine has a tasty option to help with summer heat.  Watermelon fruit and peel are used to quench thirst, generate body fluids, lessen feelings of heat, and promote urination.  It is an excellent snack if you are going to be working or playing hard this summer.

Chrysanthemum flower (Chrysanthemum morifolium) has been brewed for thousands of years in Asia and continues to be one of the most commonly consumed herbs in China.  Chrysanthemum is aromatic, has a cooling effect on the body, and has a slight bitter and sweet flavor.

This delicious flower is most known for its effect on vision and eye health.  It is used to brighten the eyes, improve vision, and clear minor eye irritation.  It helps support the natural moisture and coolness of the eyes.  It is widely used by individuals who experience mild, occasional dry eyes or redness due to irritation by dust, wind, or overstrain, especially during the spring or summer months. 

Chrysanthemum is also used to calm and clear the mind.  Consuming a relaxing cup of chrysanthemum tea can help to relieve stress and tension when due to mild overwork or too much thinking.

Ever since the earliest record of traditional herbs, the beneficial effects of long-term consumption of chrysanthemum have been recognized.  It has long been a favorite of Daoists and poets.  The famous painter Zheng Ban-Qiao (one of the “Eight Eccentrics” of 18th century Yangzhou) remarked:

A recent study published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases compared the effectiveness of the thunder god vine (Tripterygium wilfordii) to methotrexate for the short term treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

The study showed the treatment effect of the thunder god vine was not inferior to methotrexate in participants with active RA.  The response rates were 55.1% and 46.4%, respectively.  What's really interesting is that the combination of methotrexate and the thunder god vine was significantly more effective than methotrexate alone, with a response rate of 76.8%.

Many of the thunder god vine’s anti-inflammatory and immune-regulatory properties relate to the ability of diterpenes to inhibit the production of cytokines, COX-2, and other inflammatory substances.

Please note that the study used a pharmaceutical grade extract of the plant prepared from the peeled root.  Other parts of the plant, including skin of the root, leaves, and flowers, are considered toxic.