COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE IN BANGLADESH
Introduction
Alternative Medicine, the most favorite as well as the demandable market in today’s world. Today’s mammoth corporate Maknom International Inc. once started their operation with Therapeutic Items. With changing pattern of consumers’ life style this medicine has turned in to much alternative medicine. Like acupuncture there are also many giant companies like E. M Therapist, operating their alternative medicine market throughout the world by franchising, licensing and many other ways to globalize the alternative medicine markets.
Bangladesh is one of the great markets for Alternative medicine. There are more than one crore people represent a big market size for the marketers. Earlier people used to entertain their guests or acquaintances with medicine. But with changing time people become trendier. They are now approaching in to alternative including all kinds of medicine. This trend touches the medicine manufacturer. As a result we can see a lot of companies are now operating their business in this sector and many new companies are enthusiastic to enter in to the market.
History of Mk-082, E.M Therapist
There is an ancient Chinese proverb that says, “May you live in interesting times.” While some scholars say this expression was originally a curse. We at MAKNOM see it differently. We celebrate the many interesting changes that have come our way over the last 12 years- especially when it comes to the people we work with.
Our society is more diverse today than at any time in the past, a rich tapestry that comprises countless different backgrounds, ethnicities & attitudes. At MAKNOM we recognize that, just as the right blend of seasonings can give a dish its own unique taste, the many differences among us are what give life its fascinating flavor. In this spirit, we’ve created a plan that integrates best business practices to create a work place that reflects the unique diversity of a global life.
Over the last 12 years Maknom International Inc. is working in several fields, one of which is sales & marketing. In this field there are several products in different series. MK-082 E.M therapist is one of them. This product belongs to therapeutic series. With the help of Chinese specialist this product is made by our own supervision in our own factory in U.S.A. Over the years this product has gained several certifications & successfully marketed in North America, UK, Ireland, and Australia. At last we have started in Asia. I hope this product will help the people of this zone for better health like other countries.
The question whether alternating or pulsating magnetic fields have a biological effect, can be answered positively, in as much as the physical entity “magnetic field” is in a position to affect the organism in a bioenergetics way. We know that with many diseases the surface potentials of the cells in the organism seem to vary when compared with the normal values.
The magnetic field completely permeates the body and thus every single cell. The ions in the cells and the colloidal system are influenced, as we know, by magnetism and are moved in accordance with the magnetic pulsation that passes through them.
Furthermore, recent experiments proved that the partial pressure of oxygen in the tissue may increase up to 1,000% compared to the initial value under the influence of pulsating magnetic fields of a certain intensity and frequency. Thus the pulsating magnetic field enables an effective therapy which can be used for a broad range of indications. The changes in the surface potentials of the cell, the colloidal state and the degree of ionization of the tissue, which occur in many diseases are markedly influenced by the entire body in rapid pulsation.
This causes a better blood circulation in the vessels and capillaries, increasing the partial pressure of oxygen in the tissue and resulting in an accelerated transportation of metabolic waste products – a basic requirement for every healing process. Measurements by means of highly sensitive thermography devices showed a significantly improved circulation. Magnetic fields permeate the whole organism. When intensity and frequency are controlled properly, energy is accumulated in all tissues of the body. As a result of long-lasting changes in the condition of the colloidal tissues increases in cell activity and membrane potential will occur. In addition, intra-corporeal electric processes will intensity again and a regeneration of all functional parts and organs of the body can be clearly noted.
“Magnetic fields can be localized and targeted,” says neurologist Michael J. McLean, MD of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, in Nashville, Tenn., where more than 5,000 patients have been treated with magnets.
According to a new book, The Pain Relief Breakthrough: The Power of Magnets, co-authors Julian Whitaker, M.D., and Brenda Adderly say magnets can also help headaches, arthritis, menstrual cramps, carpal tunnel syndrome and a variety of other ailments. “My patients have reaped the benefits of magnets, and I believe that millions more can experience these miraculous results as well,” says Whitaker, director of the Whitaker Wellness Institute in Newport Beach, Calif., and founder of the American Preventative Medicine Association.
Many studies in animals and humans have demonstrated that acupuncture can cause multiple biological responses. These responses can occur locally, i.e., at or close to the site of application, or at a distance, mediated mainly by sensory neurons to many structures within the central nervous system. This can lead to activation of pathways affecting various physiological systems in the brain as well as in the periphery. A focus of attention has been the role of endogenous opioids in acupuncture analgesia. Considerable evidence supports the claim that opioid peptides are released during acupuncture and that the analgesic effects of acupuncture are at least partially explained by their actions. That opioid antagonists such as naloxone reverse the analgesic effects of acupuncture further strengthens this hypothesis. Stimulation by acupuncture may also activate the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland, resulting in a broad spectrum of systemic effects. Alteration in the secretion of neurotransmitters and neurohormones and changes in the regulation of blood flow, both centrally and peripherally, have been documented. There is also evidence of alterations in immune functions produced by acupuncture. Which of these and other physiological changes mediate clinical effects is at present unclear.
Despite considerable efforts to understand the anatomy and physiology of the “acupuncture points,” the definition and characterization of these points remain controversial. Even more elusive is the scientific basis of some of the key traditional Eastern medical concepts such as the circulation of ei, the meridian system, and other related theories, which are difficult to reconcile with contemporary biomedical information but continue to play an important role in the evaluation of patients and the formulation of treatment in acupuncture.
Some of the biological effects of acupuncture have also been observed when “sham” acupuncture points are stimulated, highlighting the importance of defining appropriate control groups in assessing biological changes purported to be due to acupuncture. Such findings raise questions regarding the specificity of these biological changes. In addition, similar biological alterations, including the release of endogenous opioids and changes in blood pressure, have been observed after painful stimuli, vigorous exercise, and/or relaxation training; it is at present unclear to what extent acupuncture shares similar biological mechanisms.
It should be noted also that for any therapeutic intervention, including acupuncture, the so-called “non-specific” effects account for a substantial proportion of its effectiveness and thus should not be casually discounted. Many factors may profoundly determine therapeutic outcome, including the quality of the relationship between the clinician and the patient, the degree of trust, the expectations of the patient, the compatibility of the backgrounds and belief systems of the clinician and the patient, as well as a myriad of factors that together define the therapeutic milieu.
Although much remains unknown regarding the mechanism(s) that might mediate the therapeutic effect of acupuncture, the panel is encouraged that a number of significant acupuncture-related biological changes can be identified and carefully delineated. Further research in this direction not only is important for elucidating the phenomena associated with acupuncture, but also has the potential for exploring new pathways in human physiology not previously examined in a systematic manner.
An Alternative Therapy for Better Health
Alternative Medicine (Acupuncture)
Introduction:
Acupuncture is among the oldest healing practices in the world. As part of traditional Chinese medicine. A whole medical system that originated in China. It is based on the concept that disease results from disruption in the flow of qi and imbalance in the forces of yin and yang. Practices such as herbs, meditation, massage, and acupuncture seek to aid healing by restoring the yin-yang balance and the flow of qi (TCM), acupunctureA family of procedures that originated in traditional Chinese medicine. Acupuncture is the stimulation of specific points on the body by a variety of techniques, including the insertion of thin metal needles though the skin. It is intended to remove blockages in the flow of qi and restore and maintain health. Aims to restore and maintain health through the stimulation of specific points on the body. In the United States, where practitioners incorporate healing traditions from China, Japan, Korea, and other countries, acupuncture is considered part of complementary and alternative medicineA group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine. Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine, and alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine. (CAM).
Key Points:
- Acupuncture has been practiced in China and other Asian countries for thousands of years.
- Scientists are studying the efficacy of acupuncture for a wide range of conditions.
- Relatively few complications have been reported from the use of acupuncture. However, acupuncture can cause potentially serious side effects if not delivered properly by a qualified practitioner.
- Tell your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.
About Acupuncture:
The term “acupuncture” describes a family of procedures involving the stimulation of anatomical points on the body using a variety of techniques. The acupuncture technique that has been most often studied scientifically involves penetrating the skin with thin, solid, metallic needles that are manipulated by the hands or by electrical stimulation.
Practiced in China and other Asian countries for thousands of years, acupuncture is one of the key components of traditional Chinese medicine. In TCM, the body is seen as a delicate balance of two opposing and inseparable forces: yin and yangThe concept of two opposing yet complementary forces described in traditional Chinese medicine. Yin represents cold, slow, or passive aspects of the person, while yang represents hot, excited, or active aspects. A major theory is that health is achieved through balancing yin and yang and disease is caused by an imbalance leading to a blockage in the flow of qi.. Yin represents the cold, slow, or passive principle, while yang represents the hot, excited, or active principle. According to TCM, health is achieved by maintaining the body in a “balanced state”; disease is due to an internal imbalance of yin and yang. This imbalance leads to blockage in the flow of qiIn traditional Chinese medicine, the vital energy or life force proposed to regulate a person’s spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical health and to be influenced by the opposing forces of yin and yang. (Vital energy) along pathways known as meridians. Qi can be unblocked, according to TCM, by using acupuncture at certain points on the body that connect with these meridians. Sources vary on the number of meridians, with numbers ranging from 14 to 20. One commonly cited source describes meridians as 14 main channels “connecting the body in a weblike interconnecting matrix” of at least 2,000 acupuncture points.
Acupuncture became better known in the United States in 1971, when New York Times reporter James Reston wrote about how doctors in China used needles to ease his pain after surgery. American practices of acupuncture incorporate medical traditions from China, Japan, Korea, and other countries.
Acupuncture Use in the United States:
The report from a Consensus Development Conference on Acupuncture held at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1997 stated that acupuncture is being “widely” practiced—by thousands of physicians, dentists, acupuncturists, and other practitioners—for relief or prevention of pain and for various other health conditions. According to the 2007 National Health Interview Survey, which included a comprehensive survey of CAM use by Americans, an estimated 3.1 million U.S. adults and 150,000 children had used acupuncture in the previous year. Between the 2002 and 2007 NHIS, acupuncture use among adults increased by three-tenths of 1 percent (approximately 1 million people).
Acupuncture Side Effects and Risks:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates acupuncture needles for use by licensed practitioners, requiring that needles be manufactured and labeled according to certain standards. For example, the FDA requires that needles be sterile, nontoxic, and labeled for single use by qualified practitioners only.
Relatively few complications from the use of acupuncture have been reported to the FDA, in light of the millions of people treated each year and the number of acupuncture needles used. Still, complications have resulted from inadequate sterilization of needles and from improper delivery of treatments. Practitioners should use a new set of disposable needles taken from a sealed package for each patient and should swab treatment sites with alcohol or another disinfectant before inserting needles. When not delivered properly, acupuncture can cause serious adverse effects, including infections and punctured organs.
Status of Acupuncture Research:
There have been many studies on acupuncture’s potential health benefits for a wide range of conditions. Summarizing earlier research, the 1997 NIH Consensus Statement on Acupuncture found that, overall, results were hard to interpret because of problems with the size and design of the studies.
In the years since the Consensus Statement was issued, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has funded extensive research to advance scientific understanding of acupuncture. Some recent NCCAM-supported studies have looked at:
- Whether acupuncture works for specific health conditions such as chronic low-back pain, headache, and osteoarthritis of the knee
- How acupuncture might work, such as what happens in the brain during acupuncture treatment
- Ways to better identify and understand the potential neurological properties of meridians and acupuncture points
- Methods and instruments for improving the quality of acupuncture research
Finding a Qualified Practitioner:
Health care providers can be a resource for referral to acupuncturists, and some conventional medical practitioners—including physicians and dentists—practice acupuncture. In addition, national acupuncture organizations (which can be found through libraries or Web search engines) may provide referrals to acupuncturists.
- Check a practitioner’s credentials. Most states require a license to practice acupuncture; however, education and training standards and requirements for obtaining a license to practice vary from state to state. Although a license does not ensure quality of care, it does indicate that the practitioner meets certain standards regarding the knowledge and use of acupuncture.
- Do not rely on a diagnosis of disease by an acupuncture practitioner who does not have substantial conventional medical training.If you have received a diagnosis from a doctor, you may wish to ask your doctor whether acupuncture might help.
What To Expect from Acupuncture Visits:
During your first office visit, the practitioner may ask you at length about your health condition, lifestyle, and behavior. The practitioner will want to obtain a complete picture of your treatment needs and behaviors that may contribute to your condition. Inform the acupuncturist about all treatments or medications you are taking and all medical conditions you have.
Acupuncture needles are metallic, solid, and hair-thin. People experience acupuncture differently, but most feel no or minimal pain as the needles is inserted. Some people feel energized by treatment, while others feel relaxed. Improper needle placement, movement of the patient, or a defect in the needle can cause soreness and pain during treatment. This is why it is important to seek treatment from a qualified acupuncture practitioner.
Treatment may take place over a period of several weeks or more.
Treatment Costs:
Ask the practitioner about the estimated number of treatments needed and how much each treatment will cost. Some insurance companies may cover the costs of acupuncture, while others may not. It is important to check with your insurer before you start treatment to see whether acupuncture is covered for your condition and, if so, to what extent. (For more information, see NCCAM’s fact sheet paying for CAM Treatment.)
ClinicalTrials.gov:
ClinicalTrials.gov is a database of information on federally and privately supported clinical trials (research studies in people) for a wide range of diseases and conditions. It is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Acupuncture May Help Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder:
A pilot study shows that acupuncture may help people with posttraumatic stress disorder. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. Traumatic events that may trigger PTSD include violent personal assaults, natural or human-caused disasters, accidents, or military combat.
Michael Hollifield, M.D., and colleagues conducted a clinical trial examining the effect of acupuncture on the symptoms of PTSD. The researchers analyzed depression, anxiety, and impairment in 73 people with a diagnosis of PTSD. The participants were assigned to receive either acupuncture or group cognitive-behavioral therapy over 12 weeks, or were assigned to a wait-list as part of the control group. The people in the control group were offered treatment or referral for treatment at the end of their participation.
The researchers found that acupuncture provided treatment effects similar to group cognitive-behavioral therapy; both interventions were superior to the control group. Additionally, treatment effects of both the acupuncture and the group therapy were maintained for 3 months after the end of treatment.
The limitations of the study are consistent with preliminary research. For example, this study had a small group of participants that lacked diversity, and the results do not account for outside factors that may have affected the treatments’ results.
References:
- Michael Hollifield, Nityamo Sinclair-Lian, Teddy D. Warner, and Richard Hammerschlag, “Acupuncture for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Randomized
Acupuncture Shows Promise in Improving Rates of Pregnancy Following IVF
A review of seven clinical trials of acupuncture given with embryo transfer in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) suggests that acupuncture may improve rates of pregnancy. An estimated 10 to 15 percent of couples experience reproductive difficulty and seek specialist fertility treatments, such as IVF. IVF, which involves retrieving a woman’s egg, fertilizing it in the laboratory, and then transferring the embryo back into the woman’s womb, is an expensive, lengthy, and stressful process. Identifying a complementary approach that can improve success would be welcome to patients and providers.
According to Eric Manheimer of the University Of Maryland School Of Medicine’s Center for Integrative Medicine and colleagues who conducted the systematic review, acupuncture has been used in China for centuries to regulate the female reproductive system. With this in mind, the reviewers analyzed results from seven clinical trials of acupuncture in women who underwent IVF to see if rates of pregnancy were improved with acupuncture. The studies encompassed data on over 1366 women and compared acupuncture, given within one day of embryo transfer, with sham acupuncture, or no additional treatment.
The reviewers found that acupuncture given as a complement to IVF increased the odds of achieving pregnancy. According to the researchers, the results indicate that 10 women undergoing IVF would need to be treated with acupuncture to bring about one additional pregnancy. The results, considered preliminary, point to a potential complementary treatment that may improve the success of IVF and the need to conduct additional clinical trials to confirm these findings.
References:
- Manheimer E, Zhang G, Udoff L, et al. Effect of acupuncture on rates of pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing in vitro fertilization: systematic review and meta-analysis. British Medical Journal. Published online February 2008.
Learning Objectives:
- Discuss the history of acupuncture
- Compare the differences between western medicine and Chinese medicine
- Identify how acupuncture research is conducted
- Describe research on the efficacy of acupuncture and the mechanisms underlying itsvarious uses
This lecture is part of the CAM Online Education Series. The series contains 10 chapters. Each lecture includes:
- A video lecture by one author, including the transcript
- A question and answer transcript
- An optional online test
- Additional resource links
- A certificate of completion
Although developed for health care professionals to receive continuing education, members of the public are invited to view the series and learn more about various aspects of CAM and CAM research.
Acupuncture: An Evidence-Based Assessment
“Surgery or Acupuncture? Antibiotics or Herbs? BOTH ARE BETTER. More and more M.D.s are mixing Ancient Medicine and New Science to treat everything from the common cold to heart disease.” said Life Magazine, Sept. 1996. Ancient Medicine is also called Alternative Medicine, which includes chiropractic, naturopathic, homeopathic, and Chinese therapies such as acupuncture, massage, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). As the world gets smaller, people expose and understand more to these alternative methods. The government, regulatory agencies, and medical professionals are also paying more attention and conducting more researches on them. In 1980, The World Health Organization released a list of 43 types of pathologies which can be effectively treated with acupuncture. A 1993 study found that one in three Americans had used alternative therapies. While Western techniques are clearly better at dealing with trauma and bacterial infection, the Ancient Medicine is more successful with chronic diseases such as asthma. The combination of Ancient Medicine with Western science provides better healing solutions for people looking for good health.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been practiced in Asia for over 5,000 years. It is not surprising, therefore, that between 65 to 80 percent of the world’s health care services are classified as “traditional medicine.” The philosophy behind TCM is holistic health care, from diagnosis to treatment to maintenance. TCM works to regenerate the organ functions in one’s body. Health is restored by bringing the bodily functions into balance, activating and increasing the body’s natural immune system.
In excess of 5,000 Chinese herbs have been categorized and classified according to the various properties which they contain. Over the years, more than 25,000 formulas were created and refined for specific types of infections, illnesses and diseases. These formula are specific combinations of herbs; most of them discovered over a thousand years ago. The combinations became necessary and more complex as experience shown that some herbs canceled out the effect of other herbs. It was also discovered that the medicinal properties of many herbs required certain other herbs to be present to act as a catalyst.
The healing power of the ingredients found in these natural herbal formulas has never been doubted by most Asians. The difficulty in utilizing many of these ancient formulas has been determining which formula work with the individual person/symptom-complex combination. TCM prescribes a formula based upon the individual being treated as opposed to Western practices where treatments and preventatives are tested for their effectiveness on a group of people.
Thus, the effectiveness of TCM in the past was largely determined by the doctor prescribing and administering the formula. These doctors drew upon all of their resources in prescribing a specific formula: Physiology and pathology of the human body, disease etiology, blood, bodily fluids, channels-collateral, and differentiation of symptom-complexes all relate to the physical manifestations of an illness. The doctors then interpreted these physical manifestations through the basic theories of Yin-Yang, the Five Elements, Zang-fu, and Qi.
Modern Chinese Medicine
For years, the Chinese government and the government of the Republic of China on Taiwan have put great efforts into promoting the modernization of Chinese medicine. As a result, there are now professionals trained in both traditional Chinese Medicine and modern Western medicine to conduct research on the development of Chinese Medicine. The Western Science methodologies have been employed to analyze the effectiveness of herbs and treatment on various subjects. Many of the differences between TCM and Western scientific practices are now being studied for their synergistic potential. Joint research efforts with research institutes such as Stanford University, College of Physicians & Surgeons of Columbia University, and National Cancer Institute have been made to evaluate the effectiveness of Chinese Medicine and improve the classification and selection/prescription of formulas. This research indicates that Chinese Medicine is very effective in regenerating organic function and treating chronic diseases.
A modern diagnosis technique is also used to enhance the old traditional diagnosis method. Taking a patient’s pulse has been a traditional way of detecting illness. With new techniques developed through modern Chinese Medicine, pressure reactions convert variances in the patient’s pulse into electromagnetic waves. These waves are analyzed by a computer and then registered on a screen. This represents the combination of modern scientific precision with the art of traditional Chinese Medicine. It opens up a new world of medical diagnosis and treatment.
Western methodologies are also making the formula of TCM available globally. Originally, these ancient formulas once prescribed were taken home and slowly boiled into soup to be consumed. This four-hour process was done twice daily and the soup often smelled and tasted unpleasant. Modern technology has finally enabled the potent essence of these healing herbs to be extracted in their natural state for delivery to people in need around the world.
Human Organ Restoration Theory
The Human Organ Restoration Theory is a combination of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Western Scientific methodologies. Initially, pathology, symptommatology and clinical therapeutics in the East and West were studied to bring about the best treatment possible. With the precision of western technology, the exact combination of herbs was determined and its effectiveness was evaluated. The restoration of organic function is done by using Chinese medicinal herbs. These herbs are formulated to regulate physiologic functions while at the same time repairing the dysfunction of the pathologic organ. With the help of modern technology, the effectiveness of TCM can be verified through analysis. Once the effectiveness of the treatment is determined, the normal physiologic metabolism is restored.
The Advantages of TCM
For most of its history Western medicine has approached health and a well being from a very different perspective. It has been reactive, rather than proactive. Symptoms and science have been the drivers. Western medicine examines and dissects to determine what is not working in the body and attempts to introduce external, often synthetic, chemical compounds to compensate. TCM, on the other hand, asks why the body is not functioning properly and attempts to use individualized organic herbal formula to rejuvenate and to restore the body to its natural state.
For example, Westerners determined that people with Diabetes Mellitus lack sufficient insulin and/or the ability to regulate the amount of insulin that their bodies produce. So they created an industry to allow diabetics to externally monitor and regulate this function by testing their blood and by injecting themselves with manufactured insulin. TCM instead focuses its treatment on restoring the natural balance and functionality of each person’s organs. TCM, more specifically, has developed formula which helps to restore the pancreas and to revitalize natural insulin production and regulation within the body.
TCM offers many advantages and can be used safely on its own or as a complement to Western pharmaceuticals. The most significant advantages of the TCM approach are:
Thousands of years of classification, testing, and refinement of herbal formulas.
· Few and often no side-effects due to natural ingredients.
· Individualized treatment
· No chemical residues, unlike many Western pharmaceuticals.
· Treats the why (from the root), not the what (from the symptoms).
· Rejuvenates the body’s organs to correct symptoms at their root causes.
· Revitalizes the body’s natural immune system.
· Long-term results.
Diabetes and Hypoglycemic Effects of Selected Ingredients:
Dia-Naturale, a Traditional Chinese Medicine formulated by Dr. Lian Jin Chong, is designed to restore pancreatic function and to proliferate insulin beta cells. Yu Xiao San has been shown to gradually and effectively lower blood-sugar levels and increase insulin secretion. In addition it has been shown to regulate carbohydrate metabolism, improve blood circulation, lower blood cholesterol and increase immune response1. The main herb components are Gui Jian Yu (Euonymus alatus).
Clinical Results:
From Feb. 1992 to Oct. 1992, 10,618 cases were selected as subjects based upon the diagnostic criteria established for diabetes mellitus by the World Health Organization. The patients were drawn for clinical assessment from the formerly China Beijing Chao Yang District Red Cross Hospital (presently Beijing Anyuan Hospital) and from 48 comparable hospitals nationwide.
Treatment Criteria and Result:
Clinical Recovery: The preferred criterion: FPG (Fasting Plasma Glucose) <6.1 mmol/L (110mg/dl), HbA1c <6.8%; symptoms and complications recovery; discontinuing medication after 3 months or more.
Effect of Dia-Naturale of Hyperglycemia Using a Streptozotocin-Induced Insulin Resistant Diabetic Rat Model
In a placebo controlled experiment on the effect of Yu Xiao San 8805 on the treatment of hyperglycemia using a streptozotocin-induced insulin resistant diabetic rat model with the Medical School of Stanford University in the United States3 in 1994, about 100 rats were introduced and were divided into three groups – placebo, Yu Xiao San 8805, and a western drug “Metformin”. Dr. Ida Chen, director of General Clinical Research Core Laboratory and senior research scientist of Stanford University School of Medicine, stated that ?Yu Xiao San 8805 has shown statistically significant effect on the increase in triglycerides (TG) in these streptozotocin-induced insulin resistant diabetic rats. Specifically, plasma TG concentration tends to increase in diabetic rats (and in diabetic patients); both Metformin and Yu Xiao San 8805 appeared to have a “controlling” effect – i.e. “they alleviated the increment of TG occurring in these rats.”4
Pancreas Islet Cells Stimulation by Euonymus alatus
Scientists from Japan have tested that Euonymus alata sieb has a blood sugar lowering action. The administration from the sodium oxalacetate, the effective component of Euonymus alata sieb brought about lowering of the blood sugar level in normal and alloxan diabetic animals. The same drug was given to diabetic patients, and it found effective in all of 10 of Type I and in 6 of 11 of Type II diabetics. It was also found that long-term administration of sodium oxalacetate induced hyperplasia and proliferation of the islet cells of the pancreas in rats, but no mentionable changes were found in other organs.
The findings suggest that the active component of Euonymus alata sieb stimulates the islet cells, regulates the abnormal metabolic process, and enhances the secretion of insulin, and thereby controls the diabetic condition.6
Hypoglycemic Effects of this products & Other Selected Ingredients
This product is composed of the following ingredients: Euonymus alatus, Cortex Lycii Radicis, Arctium Lappa L., Platycodon Grandiflorum, Litchi Chinensis, Curcuma longa, Panax quinquefolium L.
Euonymus Alatus
In an experiment with normal mice and Alloxan induced diabetic mice, Euonymus Alatus showed hypoglycemic effects. The fasting serum glucose level in diabetic mice was reduced significantly, but similar effect on fasting serum glucose level was not produced in normal mice.7
Cortex Lycii Radicis
It is reported that soluble molecules of Cortex Lycii Radicis had hypoglycemic effects on rats.8
Arctium Lappa L.
Animal data: Streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice given burdock experienced
aggravation of hyperglycemia .9 However, studies in non-diabetic rats indicate some
Platycodon Grandiflorum
The effect of Platycodon grandiflorum on the improvement of insulin resistance and lipid profile was investigated in lean (Fa/-) and obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats, a model for noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Dietary Platycodon grandiflorum feeding for 4 weeks resulted in a significant decrease in the concentration of plasma triglyceride in both lean and obese Zucker rats. Furthermore, dietary Platycodon grandiflorum markedly decreased both plasma cholesterol and fasting plasma insulin levels, and significantly decreased the postprandial glucose level at 30 min during oral glucose tolerance test in obese Zucker rats. Although there was no statistical significance, the crude glucose transporter 4 protein levels of obese rats fed Platycodon grandiflorum tended to increase when compared with that of obese control rats. Therefore, the present results suggested that Platycodon grandiflorum may be useful in prevention and improvement of metabolic disorders characterized by hyperinsulinemia states such as noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus, syndrome X, and coronary artery disease.12
Curcuma longa (Turmeric)
In a research study of the effect of turmeric (Curcuma longa) and its active principle, curcumin, on diabetes mellitus in an Alloxan induced diabetic rat model. Administration of turmeric or curcumin to diabetic rats reduced the blood sugar, Hb and glycosylated hemoglobin levels significantly. Turmeric and curcumin supplementation also reduced the oxidative stress encountered by the diabetic rats. This was demonstrated by the lower levels of TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances), which may have been due to the decreased influx of glucose into the polyol pathway leading to an increased NADPH/NADP ratio and elevated activity of the potent antioxidant enzyme GPx. Moreover, the activity of SDH (sorbitol dehydrogenase), which catalyzes the conversion of sorbitol to fructose, was lowered significantly on treatment with turmeric or curcumin.13
Panax quinquefolium L. (American Ginseng)
In a double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled preliminary short-term clinical study to examine the effects of postprandial glycemia in humans, American ginseng (Panax qinquefolius L) Ginseng attenuated postprandial glycemia in both diabetic and nondiabetic subjects. No differences were found in postprandial glycemia between placebo and ginseng when administered together with the glucose challenge to non-diabetic subjects. When ginseng was taken 40 minutes before the glucose challenge, significant reductions were observed (P<.05). In subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus, the same was true whether capsules were taken before or together with the glucose challenge (P<.05). Reductions in area under the glycemic curve were 18%+/-31% for nondiabetic subjects and 19+/-22% and 22+/-17% for subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus administered before or together with the glucose challenge, respectively.14
Conclusion
Yu Xiao San 8805, composed of material medica of Traditional Chinese Medicine has been used since 1988 as a Traditional Chinese Medicine for Type I and Type II diabetic patients in China Beijing Chaoyang District Red Cross Hospital (presently Beijing Anyuan Hospital) as well as other state hospitals in China. Clinical study in 1992 of 10618 cases, and an animal study in 1994 suggested that Yu Xiao San 8805 lowered blood sugar levels and had a controlling effect on triglycerides (TG) levels, respectively. Studies of ingredients of Yu Xiao San 8805 also suggested various hypoglycemic effects. Further studies are needed to investigate the mechanisms of Yu Xiao San 8805’s functions in human body.
Alternative Medicine Categories
This classification system was designed by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) to assist in prioritizing applications for research grants in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). It is divided into seven major categories and includes examples of practices or preparations in each category. Mandated by Congress, the NCCAM was established under the Department of Health and Human Services to support high quality scientific research into both the safety and efficacy of alternative medical treatments.
The fact that CAM therapies are being investigated does not mean that they are effective.
Within each major category there are 3 sub-categories:
· CAM: Medical practices that are not commonly used, accepted, or available in conventional medicine.
· Behavioral medicine: Those practices that fall mainly within the domains of conventional medicine.
· Overlapping:
Practices that can be either CAM or behavioral medicine, depending on their application.
Information presented is for viewer education only. DoctorsCorner.Com does not endorse any particular form of alternative therapy.
Mind-Body Systems
This subcategory involves whole systems of mind-body practice that are used largely as primary interventions for disease. They are rarely delivered alone; instead, they are used in combination with lifestyle interventions, or are part of a traditional medical system.
Mind-Body Methods
This subcategory contains individual modalities used in mind-body approaches to health. These approaches are often considered conventional practice and overlap with CAM only when applied to medical conditions for which they are not usually used (for example, hypnosis for genetic problems).
CAM
| Yoga
Internal Qigong Tai Chi |
Behavioral Medicine
| Psychotherapy
Meditation Imagery |
Hypnosis
Biofeedback Support Groups |
Overlapping
| Art Therapy
Music Therapy Dance Therapy |
Journaling
Humor Body Psychotherapy |
Religion and Spirituality
This subcategory deals with those no behavioral aspects of spirituality and religion that examine their relationship to biological function or clinical conditions.
CAM
| Confession
Nonlocality Nontemporality |
Soul Retrieval
Spiritual Healing “Special” Healers |
Social and Contextual Areas
This subcategory refers to social, cultural, symbolic, and contextual interventions that are not covered in other areas.
CAM
| Caring-based Approaches (for example, Holistic Nursing, Pastoral Care) Intuitive Diagnosis |
Overlapping
| Placebo
Explanatory Models Community-based Approaches (for example, Alcoholics Anonymous, Native American “sweat” rituals) |
| II. Alternative Medical Systems
This category involves complete systems of theory and practice that have been developed outside of the Western biomedical approach. It is divided into four subcategories: Acupuncture and Oriental medicine; Traditional Indigenous systems; Unconventional Western systems; Naturopathy. |
Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine
|
Traditional Indigenous Systems
This subcategory includes major indigenous systems of medicine other than acupuncture and traditional oriental medicine.
|
Unconventional Western Systems
This subcategory includes alternative medical systems developed in the West that are not classified elsewhere.
CAM
|
Overlapping
Anthroposophically-extended Medicine
Naturopathy:
This subcategory is an eclectic collection of natural systems and therapies that has gained prominence in the United States.
It is divided into Three Subcategories:
1. Clinical preventative practices
2. Lifestyle therapies
3. Health promotion.
Clinical Preventative Practices:
This subcategory refers to unconventional approaches used to screen for and prevent health-related imbalances, dysfunction, and disease.
| Electro-dermal Diagnostics
Medical Intuition Chiriography |
Functional Cellular Enzyme Measures
Panchakarma |
Lifestyle Therapies:
This subcategory deals with complete systems of lifestyle management that include behavioral changes, dietary changes, exercise, stress management, and addiction control. To be classified as CAM, the changes in lifestyle must be based on a nonorthodox system of medicine, be applied in unconventional ways, or be applied across non-Western diagnostic approaches.
Health Promotion:
This subcategory involves laboratory and epidemiological research on healing, the healing process, health promoting factors, and autoregulatory mechanisms.
Phytotherapy or Herbalism:
This subcategory addresses plant-derived preparations that are used for therapeutic and preventive purposes.
Individual Herbs:
| Ginkgo Biloba
Hypericum Garlic Ginseng Echinacea Saw Palmetto Urtica Diocia (Nettle) Kava Kava Hawthorne Witch Hazel Bilberry Ginger Aloe Vera Capsicum Feverfew Green Tea |
Tea Tree Oil
Licorice Root Yohimbe Valerian Bee Pollen Cat’s Claw Evening Primrose Dong Quai Fenugreek Marshmallow Psyllium Tumeric Mistletoe Mahonia Aquifolium Oleum Menthaepiperitea (Peppermint Oil) |
Combinations:
| Padma 28
Essiac JCL 2306 |
Hoxsey
Saw Palmetto/Pygeum Africanium |
Special Diet Therapies:
This subcategory includes dietary approaches and special diets that are applied as alternative therapies for risk factors or chronic disease in general.
| Pritikin
Ornish McDougall Gerson Kelly-Gonzales Wigmore Livingston-Wheeler Atkins Diamond |
Vegetarian
Fasting High Fiber Macrobiotic Mediterranean Paleolithic Asian Natural Hygiene |
Orthomolecular Medicine:
This subcategory refers to products used as nutritional and food supplements (and not covered in other categories). These products are used for preventive or therapeutic purposes. They are usually used in combinations and at high doses. Examples include niacinamide for arthritis and melatonin to prevent breast cancer.
Single Nutrients:
| Ascorbic Acid
Carotenes Tocopherols Folic Acid Niacin Niacinamide Pantothenic Acid Pyridoxine Riboflavin Thiamine Vitamin A Vitamin D Vitamin K Biotin Choline S-adenosylmethionine Calcium Magnesium Selenium Potassium Taurine Lysine Tyrosine Gamma-oryzanol |
Iodine
Iron Manganese Molybdenum Boron Silicon Vanadium Co-enzyme Q10 Carnitine Probiotics Glutamine Phenylalanine Glucosamine Sulfate Chondroitin Sulfate Lipoic Acid Amino Acids Phosphatidylserine Melatonin DHEA Inositol Glandular Products Fatty Acids Medium Chain Triglycerides |
Pharmacological, Biological and Instrumental Interventions:
This subcategory includes products and procedures applied in an unconventional manner that are not covered in other categories.
Products:
| Coley’s Toxins
Antineoplastons Cartilage EDTA Ozone H2O2 Hyperbaric Oxygen IAT 714X MHT-68 |
Gallo Immunotherapy
Cone Therapy Revici System Enzyme Therapies Cell Therapy Enderlin Products T/Tn Vaccine Bee Pollen Induced Remission Therapy |
Procedures/Devices:
Chiropractic Medicine:
Massage and Body Work
| Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy (OMT)
Cranial-Sacral OMT Swedish Massage Applied Kinesiology Reflexology Pilates Method |
Polarity
Body Psychotherapy Trager Body Work Alexander Technique Feldenkrais Technique Chinese Tui Na Massage and Acupressure Rolfing |
Unconventional Physical Therapies:
| Hydrotherapy
Diathermy Light and Color Therapies Heat and Electrotherapies |
Colonics
Alternate Nostril Breathing Techniques |
VI. Biofield:
Biofield Medicine involves systems that use subtle energy fields in and around the body for medical purposes.
| Therapeutic Touch
Healing Science Healing Touch Natural Healing SHEN |
Mariue
Reiki Huna External Qi Gong Biorelax |
VII. Bioelectromagnetics:
Bioelectromagnetics refers to the unconventional use of electromagnetic fields for medical purposes.
STATUS OF CURRENT TRIALS:
At least five large, multi-institution randomized controlled trials currently under way at the center. A study on the use of Hypericum (St John’s wort) for depression at Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, with additional support from the National Institute of Mental Health, is about 60% enrolled. It will be fully enrolled this year, and findings could be available for publication next year.
Other agents undergoing trials are Ginkgo biloba for preventing dementia, acupuncture for osteoarthritis pain, glucosamine/chondroitin sulfate for osteoarthritis, and shark cartilage for lung cancer.
Four new controlled trials are planned for this year and next. They will address the treatment of hepatitis and liver injury with milk thistle; treatment of insomnia with valerian and melatonin; the use of feverfew to treat headaches; and the effect of Echinacea, one of the largest-selling botanical products, on resistance to upper respiratory infection.
Congress has charged the center with facilitating the integration of CAM practices into mainstream medicine. The way to do this is to provide evidence of efficacy and safety, publish it in a peer-reviewed journal, and support educational programs for students and practitioners.
The public is increasingly using CAM. In 1997, 42% of Americans used one or more complementary modalities, up by about one third from 6 years earlier. The public chooses these practices because they believe, and some evidence suggests, that some of them sustain and improve health. But they need guidance about which practices are safe and effective.” Some CAM practices are already accepted for certain situations including hypnosis, biofeedback, and behavioral therapy, transcutaneous nerve stimulation for chronic pain, acupuncture, spiritual counseling, dietary changes, and aerobic exercise.
Herbal Medicine
An herb is a plant or plant part used for its scent, flavor or therapeutic properties. Herbal medicine products are dietary supplements that people take to improve their health. Many herbs have been used for a long time for claimed health benefits. They are sold as tablets, capsules, powders, teas, extracts and fresh or dried plants. However, some can cause health problems, some are not effective and some may interact with other drugs you are taking.
To use an herbal product as safely as possible
· Consult your doctor first
· Do not take a bigger dose than the label recommends
· Take it under the guidance of a trained medical professional
· Be especially cautious if you are pregnant or nursing
Herbals at a Glance Series Shown below:
1. Aloe Vera
2. Asian Ginseng
3. Green Tea
4. Garlic
5. Ginger
6. Turmeric
7. Astragalus
8. Bilberry
9. Bitter Orange
10. Black Cohosh
11. Cat’s Claw
12. Peppermint Oil
13. Noni
Aloe Vera
Introduction:
Common Names—aloe vera, aloe, burn plant, lily of the desert, elephant’s gall. Latin Names—Aloe vera, Aloe barbadensis.This fact sheet provides basic in