This is a great article from acupuncture.com on the importance of toungue diagnosis in Chinese medicine.

http://www.acupuncture.com/newsletters/m_may10/tongue%20inspection.htm

Article from www. naturalnews.com

http://www.naturalnews.com/028709_gray_hair_He_Shou_Wu.html

(NaturalNews) For some, gray hair can be a sign of character or give a distinguished appearance. For others, gray hair can be an unwanted, daily reminder of advanced age. Conventional, mainstream approaches to restoring hair’s natural color are often just dyes or other synthetic methods of covering up the gray. Chinese medicine offers an alternative that doesn’t cover up signs of aging but actually gets to the “root” of the issue and can “turn back the clock.”

He Shou Wu (pronounced huh show woo) is a tuberous plant that’s medicinal quality is found in its root. It is native to China and also found in Japan and Taiwan. This herb, sometimes referred to as Fo-Ti or by its Latin name Polygonum multiflorum, is revered in Chinese medicine for its anti-aging and longevity-promoting effects. He Shou Wu means “black haired Mr. He” and is named after an elderly Chinese man who reportedly took the herb to restore his youth and vitality and saw the return of his black hair. This capacity to restore a person’s natural hair color is one of its most famous attributes.

Hair color is produced by tiny hair pigment cells within hair follicles called melanocytes. Melanocytes manufacture a pigment called melanin that gives hair its color. The more melanin that is present, the darker the hair color. When the activity of these melanocytes declines they stop making these pigments, resulting in gray hair. Hydrogen peroxide is produced naturally in the body, but when there is an excessive build-up it interferes with melanin production. Most people are familiar with hydrogen peroxide being used externally on hair to lighten its appearance. Essentially this is what is happening internally, at the cellular level when hair turns gray. The body is lacking an ability to effectively break down and clear out excess hydrogen peroxide that is produced as a by-product of the body’s metabolic processes.

Catalase is an enzyme produced by the body that works to break down and clear out excess hydrogen peroxide. As the body’s production of catalase declines, less hydrogen peroxide is cleared out of the body, melanin production is reduced, and hair turns gray. Together with catalase, another free radical scavenging enzyme present in the body is Superoxide Dismutase (SOD). SOD is excellent at protecting cells against lipid peroxidation and DNA damage. SOD levels in the body can potentially be raised by taking He Shou Wu, perhaps indirectly through the herbs’ effect on the liver and kidneys.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) states that a person’s hair is a reflection of the strength of the kidneys. It is believed that weak kidney and liver blood are the underlying causes for gray hair and other signs of premature aging. He Shou Wu works on the liver and the kidneys to improve the quality of red blood cells and reduce the buildup of hepatic (liver) fat. This in turn stimulates blood circulation in the scalp, where nutrient delivery is improved, nourishing hair follicles and promoting the production of melanin.

Potency and quality are keys when consuming He Shou Wu. It should have been growing for at least 4 years and it needs to be properly prepared (by a qualified herbalist) to experience the full tonic effects. This is done by slicing the root shortly after harvesting and then boiling it in a soup of black beans. It can then be made into a powder suitable for mixing in smoothies, or it can also be taken in capsule or tincture form.

Resources:

Teeguarden, Ron. The Ancient Wisdom of the Chinese Tonic Herbs. New York, NY: Warner Books -1998.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29468796

http://altmedicine.about.com/od/her…

http://altmedicine.about.com/od/drc…

http://www.disabled-world.com/healt…

http://www.naturalnews.com/026786_H…

http://www.scientificamerican.com/a…

About the author

William Rudolph is a natural health enthusiast who enjoys researching and learning about natural health approaches and strategies, longevity techniques, and natural ways of achieving peak performance.

Investigators: David Wraith and Hartmut Wekerle
by John Bonner

Swiss bee-keepers are the unlikely source of evidence to suggest that a proposed new treatment for multiple sclerosis will work, said immunologist David Wraith from the University of Bristol.

Wraith’s team has been investigating ways of blocking the specific T cells that react to proteins of the protective myelin sheath surrounding nerve cells. The T cells produce inflammatory cytokines that mediate destruction of the protective sheath.

He has been using synthetic peptides based on fragments of myelin protein to induce tolerance and stop the disastrous autoimmune response.

The approach has been successful in a laboratory model for human MS, experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. Repeated exposure to the peptides switches off the Th1 pathway, which generates T cells that produce tumor necrosis factor and other cytokines implicated in the inflammatory response in MS patients.

Treated mice express a different T-cell population, known as Th0, which produces the protective cytokine IL-10. This blocks any further autoimmune degeneration by preventing antigen-presenting cells from activating new Th1 cells.

The peptides are squirted up the nostrils rather than given as an intravenous vaccine. This makes use of the mucosal immune response designed to prevent damaging inflammatory reactions to harmless antigens in the air and (in the gut mucosa) in food.

“Most autoimmune diseases are inflammatory responses, and so we are tapping into the machinery which has been specially designed to dampen down the inflammatory process,” Wraith told BioMedNet News.

Even antigens that are otherwise harmful can be tolerated when presented to the immune system via the mucosal surface. Scientists in the mid-19th century described how Native Americans had devised a way of preventing skin reactions to poison ivy by regularly eating the plant’s leaves, Wraith says.

But, Wraith needed evidence that the beneficial changes induced by the vaccine in mice could also be generated in humans. “It is all very well having an animal model. But before we could think of trying this approach on patients, we needed evidence that people could produce the same type of T cells that generate the protective IL-10 response seen in mice.”

That evidence came from a study of beekeepers in Switzerland, which showed that regular exposure to bee stings switches off allergic reactions - the bee-keeper’s blood samples were rich in IL 10.

Wraith has an agreement in principle from the UK medicines licensing authority to begin trials in MS patients. These are likely to begin within the next year, after completing the necessary preclinical safety tests. Patients will probably receive a primary course of repeated weekly doses followed by monthly booster doses. He expects those patients in the early stages of the disease to benefit most.

Current treatments for MS do little more than treat the symptoms of the disease.

Even the controversial beta interferon therapy works only in some patients and then only slows the progress of the disease. “We hope that we can shut the gate - this is the only treatment that gets to the heart of the process that causes the disease,” he said.

Bio Med Net News July 27th, 2001

Dr. Mercola’s Comments:

MS is one tough illness to reverse. But if one gives careful attention to the eating plan and implements some of the treatments discussed below should help to resolve the underlying issues contributing to the problem.

Elimination of milk and dairy is critical. Studies have shown that cow’s milk consumption is correlated with MS prevalence (Neuroepidemiology 1992;11:304-12, Neuroepidemiology 1993;12:15-27).

Additionally one should always consider heavy metal toxicity when addressing MS.

NST is one of the more important aspects of a successful treatment strategy for neurological diseases like MS. NST can help by restoring balance to the autonomic nervous system with a secondary improvement in the immune system.

This certainly has been my experience with rheumatoid arthritis.

Dr. Klinghardt, who was not interviewed for this article, also has a considerable amount of clinical experience with MS and has found bee venom therapy to be helpful. There is a link to the protocol below for Lyme Disease which is identical to the MS protocol.

My comment in that article also has a phone number where professionals can order the bee venom.

Other useful measures include:

1. Vitamin D Deficiency - MS much more common in individuals with lower vitamin D levels and in countries where people get less sunlight exposure. A previous article in the newsletter showed a positive effect of sunlight exposure on MS. Maybe correcting a vitamin D deficiency can halt progression?

2. Calcium AEP - Although I don’t know of any good studies on it, the late Dr. Nieper in Germany used it extensively in his clinic and Dr. Robert Atkins in New York City claims that 85% of his patients get positive results from it. Although there is an oral form available, most physicians use an IV administration. I have not tried it yet but might enter a clinical investigation with it in the near future.

3. Electromagnetic Stimulation of the Pineal Gland - There is a Dr. Reuven Sandyk in the NYC area who uses AC pulsed electromagnetic fields to stimulate the pineal gland and he seems to get some very good results, although the treatment is very expensive and must be done long-term. Due to the prohibitively expensive equipment, Dr. Sandyk’s clinic is probably the only place to receive this treatment.

4. Alpha Lipoic Acid - A study from the Netherlands showed that Lipoic acid is a non-specific scavenger of Reactive Oxygen Species and decreased the phagocytosis of myelin by macrophages. Free radicals appear to play a regulatory role in the destruction of myelin (Journal of Neuroimmunology 1998 Dec 1;92:67-75)

5. Progesterone - Progesterone has actually been shown in animal studies to promote the formation of new myelin sheaths (Human Reproduction 2000 Jun;15 Suppl 1:1-13, J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 1999 Apr-Jun;69:97-107, Mult Scler 1997 Apr;3:105-12). I am not aware of any clinicians using progesterone the treat MS patients, but if any of my readers have any additional information on this, please e-mail me.

Article from www.mercola.com

The theory that diet may play a role in multiple sclerosis (MS) was further confirmed by a study indicating that starvation may impact the progression of the disease.

In the study, starving mice with a similar condition for 48 hours resulted in fewer symptoms and fewer signs of advancement of the illness in the brain. Although they still developed the disease, their physical symptoms were less severe.

Typically, a healthy, balanced diet is recommended for those suffering from MS, a neurological condition in which the immune system attacks the coating of nerve fibers in the brain. Researchers say that a nutritional approach combined with drugs may offset the progression of the disease.

And the researchers concede that the effect they have noticed may be due to the removal of just one ingredient from the diet - but they do not yet know which one.

Although it is uncertain why starvation may be beneficial to MS, researchers mention that the effect could be due to the removal of any one ingredient from the diet–though they are not sure which one. Leptin, a chemical released by the body that reduces appetite after eating, may also be involved.

Researchers also mentioned that the positive effects seen on the animal model of MS used in the study might not necessarily extend to humans.

Journal of Clinical Investigation January 2003;111(2):241-50

Dr. Mercola’s Comments:

MS is a very challenging problem to treat. There are no simple solutions. However this study suggests that lowering your food intake may help.

I suspect this may be largely related to normalization of insulin levels, and it is likely that the elimination of grains and sugars from the diet was the reason why investigators noted improvements in the above study.

Following a healthy diet is, of course, also key, along with eating right for your Metabolic Type.

Optimization of your vitamin D levels is also of primary importance as many studies suggest. You should NOT guess at your vitamin D levels; I highly recommend serial blood tests to help you maintain your vitamin D level around 50.

In my experience with MS patients there is nearly always a precipitating traumatic emotional event that causes the immune system to crash. Clearly, issues related to this event need to be addressed.

Fortunately, there are many tools to help you do that. Many of you know that I use EFT, personally and in my practice, for this purpose. Because MS is such a serious challenge I would not advise using EFT for MS by yourself, but rather only as a supplement to a trained EFT practitioner. Gary Craig has compiled a list of EFT Practitioner Referrals. Many of these therapists even offer a free 15-minute phone session in which you can ask them questions to see if you connect.

Also consider these other helpful approaches for MS:

1. Elimination of pasteurized milk and dairy is important for most people. Studies have shown that cow’s milk consumption is correlated with MS prevalence. Many people will tolerate RAW dairy, however.

2. Calcium AEP–Although I don’t know of any good studies on it, the late Dr. Nieper in Germany used it extensively in his clinic, and Dr. Robert Atkins in New York City claims that 85 percent of his patients get positive results from it. Although there is an oral form available, most physicians use an IV administration. I have not tried it yet but might enter a clinical investigation with it in the near future.

3. Electromagnetic Stimulation of the Pineal Gland–There is a Dr. Reuven Sandyk in the NYC area who uses AC pulsed electromagnetic fields to stimulate the pineal gland, and he seems to get some very good results. The treatment is very expensive and must be done long-term, however, and due to the prohibitively expensive equipment, Dr. Sandyk’s clinic is probably the only place that offers this treatment.

4. Alpha Lipoic Acid–A study from the Netherlands showed that Lipoic acid is a non-specific scavenger of Reactive Oxygen Species and has decreased the phagocytosis of myelin by macrophages. Free radicals appear to play a regulatory role in the destruction of myelin (Journal of Neuroimmunology 1998 Dec 1;92:67-75).

5. Progesterone–Progesterone has been shown in animal studies to promote the formation of new myelin sheaths (Human Reproduction 2000 Jun;15 Suppl 1:1-13, J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 1999 Apr-Jun;69:97-107, Mult Scler 1997 Apr;3:105-12). I am not aware of any clinicians using progesterone the treat MS patients.

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/08/01/Insights-on-Multiple-Sclerosis.aspx

Dr. Mercola’s Comments: