This tea will enhance the intestines function and relieves constipation, as well as replenishing vital essence and nourishment into the blood. After taking it continuously for one week, you will become regular.

1. 30g HE SHOU WU (ZHI) - Fleece Flower Root - Radix Polygoni Multiflori - Fo Ti Herb
2. 30g BAI ZI REN - Biota Seed - Arborvitae Seed - Semen Biotae Herb

1. Combine all the ingredients in a pot.
2. Add 1.5 liters of water.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a low simmer.
4. Cook for 50 minutes.
5. Makes about 1 liter of tea.
6. Let cool, strain, and chill the tea.
7. Drink as often as you wish.

Effects:
This tea will enhance the intestines function and relieves constipation, as well as replenishing vital essence and nourishment into the blood. After taking it continuously for one week, you will become regular.

This drink will effectively increase your sexual desire, and heighten your pleasure sensations without any harmful side effects.

1. 60g SHAN ZHU YU - Dogwood Fruit - Fructus Corni Herb
2. 1 bottle Whiskey Fructus Schisandrae
3. 60g WU WEI ZI - Schizandra Fruit - Fructus Schisandrae Herb
4. 1 cup Honey

1. Combine all the ingredients in an air-tight container.
2. Let it sit for 30 days.
3. Serve in a small glass.
4. You can drink it every day.

Effects:
This drink will effectively increase your sexual desire, and heighten your pleasure sensations without any harmful side effects.

This tea will increase vitality and strengthen the immune system; it is especially good for those who easily catch colds and those who often have a running nose or sneeze. After taking this tea continuously for one month, you will have more strength against the common cold and other minor sinus infections.

1. 50g HUANG QI - Astragalus Root - Radix Astragali Herb
2. 50g DU ZHONG - Eucommia Bark - Cortex Eucommiae Herb
3. 40g DANG SHEN - Codonopsis Root - Pilose Asiabell Root - Radix Codonopsis Herb
4. 30g Ginger

1. Slice ginger and combine all the ingredients in a pot.
2. Add 3 liters of water.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a low simmer.
4. Cook for 60 minutes.
5. Makes about 2 liters of tea.
6. Let it cool and strain. Discard the solids and chill tea in refrigerator.
7. Drink 0.4 liters(1 glass) everyday or 4-5 days or until finished.

Effects:
This formula will increase vitality and strengthen the immune system; it is especially good for those who easily catch colds and those who often have a running nose or sneeze. After taking this tea continuously for one month, you will have more strength against the common cold and other minor sinus infections.

This tea reduces blood sugar, reinforces the spleen and stomach, and preserves vital essence, especially good for people who has diabetes or weak body.

1. 60g SHAN YAO - Chinese Yam - Rhizoma Dioscoreae Herb
2. 40g FU LING - Tuckah (Poria) - Poria Herb
3. 40g JU HUA - Chrysanthemum Flower - Flos Chrysanthemi Herb

1. Combine all the ingredients in a pot.
2. Add 3 liters of water.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a low simmer.
4. Cook for 60 minutes.
5. Makes about 2 liters of tea.
6. Let cool, strain, and chill.
7. Makes 3 servings. Drink one serving every day.

Effects:
This tea reduces blood sugar, reinforces the spleen and stomach, and preserves vital essence, especially good for people who has diabetes or weak body.

This tea will increase overall vitality and reduce chronic fatigue. It is ideal for people who feel exhausted all the time or are feeling sluggish.

1. 50g DANG SHEN - Codonopsis Root (Pilose Asiabell Root) - Radix Codonopsis Herb
2. 50g GOU QI ZI - Wolfberry Fruit - Fructus Lycii Herb
3. 30g Ginger

1. Slice ginger, combine all the ingredients in a pot.
2. Add 3 liters of water.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a low simmer.
4. Cook for 60 minutes.
5. Makes about 2 liters of tea.
6. Let it cool and strain.
7. Chill in refrigerator.
8. Drink 0.5 liter(2 glasses) every day.

Effects:
This tea will increase overall vitality and reduce chronic fatigue. It is ideal for people who feel exhausted all the time or are feeling sluggish.

This tea increases overall vitality, improves sexual endurance, and reduces chronic fatigue. It is an essential Remedy for people who desire more vitality and passion in their life.

1. 20g REN SHEN - Ginseng Root - Radix Ginseng Herb
2. 20g LONG YAN ROU - Longan Aril - Arillus Longan Herb
3. 12g GAN JIANG - Dried Ginger - Rhizoma Zingiberis Herb

1. Slice ginger, combine all the ingredients in a pot.
2. Add 1 liter of water.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a low simmer.
4. Cook for 50 minutes.
5. Makes about 0.6 liters of tea.
6. Let it cool and strain.
7. Drink it all in one day.
8. Ginseng is a very powerful herb, so drink this tea continuously for only one week. Stop for one week and then continue drinking for one week.

Effects:
This tea increases overall vitality, improves sexual endurance, and reduces chronic fatigue. It is an essential Remedy for people who desire more vitality and passion in their life.

1. 150g NIU BANG ZI - Arctium Fruit - Fructus Arctii Herb
2. 150g Carrot
3. 150g Chinese Radish With leaves

1. Combine all the ingredients in a pot.
2. Add 4 liters of water.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a low simmer.
4. Cook for 60 minutes.
5. Makes about 3 liters of tea.
6. Let it cool and strain.
7. Could be served either hot or cold. Drink as much as you like.

Effects:
This tea invigorates vital energy to strengthen your body and the immune system. It especially benefits people who have chronic ailments and long-standing weak constitution.

This tea helps you return to your youthful self. Huang Jing is an anti-aging herb, which replenishes vital essence and blood, nourishes your yin (of yin & yang), and strengthens the middle-jiao.

1. 60g HUANG JING - Siberian Solomonseal - Rhizoma Polygonati Herb
2. 40g TIAN MEN DONG - Asparagus Root - Radix Asparagi Herb

1. Combine all the ingredients in a pot.
2. Add 2 liters of water.
3. Bring to a boil, then, reduce heat to a low simmer.
4. Cook for 50 minutes.
5. Makes about 1 liter of tea.
6. Let it cool and strain.
7. Drink as much as you like.

Effects:
This tea helps you return to your youthful self. Hwang Jing is an anti-aging herb, which replenishes vital essence and blood, nourishes your yin (of yin & yang), and strengthens the middle-jiao (which regulates zeal and energy).

This tea helps eliminates wrinkles, moisturizes your skin, and replenishes the vital essence for a flawless complexion.

1. 60g HUANG JING - Siberian Solomonseal - Rhizoma Polygonati
2. 60g GOU QI ZI - Wolfberry Fruit - Fructus Lycii
3. 30g FU LING - Tuckah (Poria) - Poria

1. Combine all the ingredients in a pot.
2. Add 3 liters of water.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a low simmer.
4. Cook for 60 minutes.
5. Makes about 2 liters of tea.
6. Let it cool and strain.
7. Chill in refrigerator.
8. Drink as much as you like.

Effects:
This tea helps eliminates wrinkles, moisturizes your skin, and replenishes the vital essence for a flawless complexion.

This tea helps gets rid of pimples and blemishes of the skin.

1. 20g JIN YIN HUA - Honeysuckle Flower - Flos Lonicerae
2. 20g PU GONG YING - Dandelion Herb - Herba Taraxaci
3. 20g ZHI SHI - Immature Bitter Orange - Fructus Aurantii Immaturus

1. Combine all the ingredients in a pot.
2. Add 1.5 liters of water.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a low simmer.
4. Cook for 50 minutes.
5. Makes about 0.6 liters of tea.
6. Strain it.
7. Drink it all in one day.

Effects:
This tea helps gets rid of pimples and blemishes of the skin.

After drinking regularly, you will have younger looking skin and a glowing complexion.

1. 60g FU LING - Tuckah (Poria) - Poria
2. 60g JU HUA - Chrysanthemum Flower - Flos Chrysanthemi
3. Honey (or your favorite sweetener)

1. Combine Fwu Ling and Jyu Hua in a pot.
2. Add 3 liters of water.
3. Bring to a boil, then, reduce heat to a low simmer.
4. Cook for 40 minutes.
5. Makes about 2 liters of tea.
6. Let it cool and strain.
7. Add honey.
8. Chill in refrigerator.
9. Makes 3 servings. Drink one serving every day.

Effects:
After drinking regularly, you will have younger looking skin and a glowing complexion.

This tea helps strengthen the Yang energy, kidneys (in Chinese life, the center of sexual desire), tendons, and bones to help you increase your sexual desire, and heighten pleasure sensations and responsiveness.

1. 30g DU ZHONG - Eucommia Bark - Cortex Eucommiae
2. 30g YIN YANG HUO - Epimedium - Herba Epimedii
3. 30g FU PEN ZI - Raspberry Fruit - Fructus Rubi
4. 20g BAI SHAO YAO - White Peony Root - Radix Paeoniae Alba

1. Combine all the ingredients in a pot.
2. Add 3 liters of water.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a low simmer.
4. Cook for 60 minutes.
5. Makes about 1.5 liters of tea.
6. Strain it.
7. Makes 3 servings. Drink one serving every day.

Effects:
This tea helps strengthen the Yang energy, kidneys (in Chinese life, the center of sexual desire), tendons, and bones to help you increase your sexual desire, and heighten pleasure sensations and responsiveness.

After drinking often, you may look and feel younger and a lot of energetic. This formula nourishes blood, replenishes important essence, and moistens the skin.

1. 80g GOU QI ZI - Wolfberry Fruit - Fructus Lycii
2. 60g SHENG DI HUANG - Raw Rehmannia Root - Radix Rehmanniae

1. Combine all the ingredients in a pot.
2. Add 3 liters of water.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a low simmer.
4. Cook for 60 minutes.
5. Makes about 2 liters of tea.
6. Let it cool and strain.
7. Makes 3 servings. Drink one serving every day.
8. For weak stomachs, make 4 servings. Drink one serving every day.

Effects:
After drinking regularly, you will look and feel younger and more energetic. This formula nourishes blood, replenishes vital essence, and moistens the skin.

This tea stops headaches, dispels “wind-heat”, that additionally helps you calm yourself, and stimulates yang energy.

1. 20g Bo He Herba Menthae ( 40g for fresh one )
2. 20g Ginger
3. 10g Brown Sugar (or your favorite for sweet )

Directions:
1. Combine ginger and brown sugar in a pot.
2. Add 1.5 liters of water.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a low simmer.
4. Cook for 30 minutes.
5. Add peppermint.
6. Continue cooking for 5 minutes.
7. Strain it.
8. Serve hot, this tea could substitute for coffee.
9. Take it as much as you like.

Effects:
This tea stops headaches, dispels “wind-heat”, which also helps you calm yourself, and stimulates yang energy.

This tea helps effectively relieve stress and invigorate vital energy.

1. 20g ZI SU YE Perilla Leaf
2. 10g Chen Pi Tangerine Peel
3. 7g Dang Shen Radix Codonopsis Pilosulae
4 . 10g Brown Sugar (or your favorite for sweet )

1. Combine all the ingredients in a pot.
2. Add 0.8 liters of water.
3. Bring to a boil, then, reduce heat to a low simmer.
4. Cook for 30 minutes.
5. Makes about 0.6 liters of tea.
6. Strain it.
7. Serve hot, this tea could substitute for coffee.
8. Take it as much as you like.

Effects:
This tea helps effectively relieve stress and invigorate vital energy.

Healthylicious Recipes tea will relax your mind and calms your body and give you a peaceful sleep.

1. 20g Suan zao Ren Semen Zizihpi Spinosae
2. 10g Fu Ling Poria
3. 20g Long Yan Rou Arillus Longan

1. Combine all the ingredients in a pot.
2. Add 1.5 liters of water.
3. Bring to boil, then reduce heat to a low simmer.
4. Cook for 60 minutes.
5. Makes about 0.8 liters of tea.
6. Strain it.
7. Drink it all in one day.

Effects:
This tea tranquilizes your mind and calms your body to relax and give you a good night’s sleep.

You don’t have to go on a diet. This tea effectively helps reduce weight, eliminates unwanted cellulite, and will help you see your body’s contour. For the best results, healthylicious recommends to eat light.

1. 60g He Ye Lotus Leaf

2. 40g Shan zha Hawthorn Fruit

1. Combine all the ingredients in a pot.
2. Add 3 liters of water.
3. Bring to a boil, then, reduce heat to a low simmer.
4. Cook for 60 minutes.
5. Makes about 1.5 liters of tea.
6. Let it cool and strain.
7. Makes 3 servings. Drink one serving every day.
8. Save the rest in the refrigerator.
9. According to healthylicious, after taking this tea continuously for 3 months, you need to stop for one month before taking it again.

Effects:
You don’t have to go on a diet. This tea effectively helps reduce weight, eliminates unwanted cellulite, and will help you see your body’s contour. For the best results, healthylicious recommends to eat light.

This tea improves digestion, maintains a normal metabolism, and reduces bloating to help you stay slim.

1. 50g Ju Hua Flos Chrysanthemi
2. 50g Fu Ling Poria
3. 50g Shan Yao Phizoma Dioscoreae

1. Combine all the ingredients in a pot.
2. Add 3 liters of water.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a low simmer.
4. Cook for 60 minutes.
5. Makes about 1.5 liters of tea.
6. Let it cool and strain it.
7. Makes 3 servings. Drink one serving every day.
8. Save rest of the tea in refrigerator.

Effects:
This tea improves digestion, maintains a normal metabolism, and reduces bloating to help you stay slim.

This tea burns fat, reduces blood cholesterol, moistens the intestine to help you lose weight.

1. 6g Dang Shen Radix Codonopsis Pilosulae
2. 6g Green Tea

1. Combine all the ingredients in a teapot.
2. Brew it the way you brew green tea.
3. Take it as much as you wish.

Effects:
This tea burns fat, reduces blood cholesterol, moistens the intestine to help you lose weight.

Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons Ginger, Grated
1 Teaspoon Turmeric Powder
1 Cup Water
2 Teaspoons Honey, Raw

Directions:

1. Boil your water, and then put in your ginger and turmeric powder. Make sure that you let it steep for seven to nine minutes.
2. Strain out the herbs and add in the honey. Stir until completely dissolved, and it’s recommended you drink this tea warm.

• Chicken                                       1, about 1 kg, or 600g lean pork
• Ginseng shreds                         30g
• Water                                           1 litre
• Salt                                               2tsp

• Clean chicken thoroughly. Remove head and feet, as well as skin if desired. If using pork, wash and leave in one piece.
• Except salt, combine all other ingredients in a pot. Cover and bring to the boil. Simmer over low heat for about 1 hour. Add salt in the last few minutes of cooking.

In the book ‘Jin Kui Yao Lue’, written in the Han dynasty, it says, ‘Back pain with cold feeling can be as heavy as carrying five thousand coins’. The cold referred to here is the cold-dampness effecting the back.

In clinical terms, backache can be caused by wind-cold, damp-heat, blood stasis, injury, pregnancy, labour, over-work, or overactive sexual activity, resulting in kidney deficiency.

Treatment of backache with TCM

First of all we have to tonify the kidney, then reach a dtermination of treatment based on the differentiation of the symptoms and signs.

Cold-damp type backache

Main symptoms

Backache with cold-heavy feeling cannot move, worse when lying down and during cold rainy days, thick white coating on the tongue.

Treatment

Expel wind-evil and clear away cold, warm and dredge the channel.

If the source of the pain moves, it can mean there is a wind-evil, which has to be expelled. For this we can use Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang.

If you suffer from cold-damp backache, you have to keep warm and dry. Do not go swimming, as the water will effect the damp. Feng Shi You, a kind of herbal oil can be used to rub the back area to warm and relax the muscles or use a medicated plaster which contains herbs. Put this on the back to support it and relieve the pain. Moxibustion is also good for this type of backache.

Damp-Heat type backache

Main symptoms

Backache with warm or burning sensation, worse in hot environments, sometimes easier after movement, Yellow, greasy coated tongue, soft and rapid pulse.

Treatment

Clear away the heat and expel the damp, soothe the channels and relieve pain.

If there is severe pain, add Ru Xiang Mo Yao. The heat treatment of Moxibustion does not suit this type of backache. It needs something cool to help and it is better to use essential green oil.

Kidney deficiency type backache

Main symptoms

The backache is helped by pressing or massaging for the relief of pain, weakness in the knees and legs, worse when feeling tired; if one lies down it feels better and is easily recurring.

If there is kidney yang deficiency, feel cold, have lower abdominal pain, pale hot flushes, red tongue, rapid and weak pulse.

Treatment method

Kidney yang deficiency: tonify the kidney yang.

Moxibustion, Feng Shi You and medicated herbal plasters are also helpful for this type of backache.

Kidney yin deficiency: tonify kidney yin.

If backache continues for a long time and there are no significant yang or yin deficiencies, it is usually because of kidney deficiency. For this we can use Qin Er Wan.

Blood stasis type backache

Main symptoms

Backache, sharp pain, the source of the pain is fixed, if mild backache feel as though cannot bend. In severe cases, one cannot move because of the source of the pain, the area does not like to be pressed, purple tongue or purple spots on the tongue, hesitant pulse. Some patients may have a history of injury.

Treatment Method

Promote blood circulation to remove blood stasis. Regulate vital energy and elevate pain.

If there is any wind and damp symptoms, add Du Huo, Wei Ling Xian, Qin Jiao to expel the wind-damp. If there is a kidney deficiency, add Xu Duan, Du Zhong, and Huai Niu Xi to invigorate the kidney and strengthen the bones.

Overall, in cases of backache, the root cause of the problem is due to kidney deficiency and the branches of this are external effects, injuries etc. The book ‘Zhen Zhi Zhun Sheng’, says, ‘there are wind, damp, cold, heat injury and blood stasis, vital energy stagnation, phlegm, of all branches, kidney deficiency is the root.’

The key cause is the kidney deficiency. Therefore in TCM, when we treat cold-damp, damp-heat and blood stasis type backache, usually we use some herbs to tonify the kidney and strengthen the back.

There is formula, Han Re Gou Tong Feng. This formula is not extremely hot or cold, but is good for backache with feelings of low energy and osteo-arthritis backache with warm feelings in the back area. Another formula, Zhuan Gu Guan Ji Wan is more suitable for backache with weak and cold feelings in the back area.

In general, gentle exercise like Qigong or Taiji may be beneficial to prevent back injury and the use of herbs to tonify the kidney can also be effective in preventing backache. Anyone may find a combination of these useful.

If the baby is already feeding independently of the mother, a newly developed Chinese herbal drink called "Fu Fang Ban Lan Gen Lu" can be given in a small bottle, or it can be mixed with the feeds. It tastes sweet and it is usually not too difficult to get the baby to drink it.

If the child is over one year old, there is a Chinese herbal powder, which can be put into a banana or a fruit jelly, which makes it easier to take.

A Case Study

Jack was only two months old when he was brought to see me three weeks ago. At the time, he was suffering from severe eczema all over his body, on his face, legs, arms, back and head. His skin was very red, dry and itchy and he scratched it a lot. Inevitably he did not sleep well and was very irritable. He was also constipated.

The cause of this was the stress his mother had suffered before he was born. Jack's mother was a gentle lady. Two weeks before Jack was born, she found out that her husband was having an affair with another lady. This came as a shock to her and Jack was born three weeks early.

When Jack was born he was already suffering from eczema; one week after he was born, his father left them. Jack's mother was very emotionally upset and started to eat a lot of chocolate. After this she would give a breast feed to Jack. In my opinion, this affected Jack's eczema.

After the consultation with Jack and his mother, I prescribed one week of Chinese herbal tea for Jack's mother to take and advised her to stop eating chocolate and to relax more.

One week later they came back. The mother had taken all of the herbal tea and the baby's eczema had gone completely. His skin had become more supple and soft and he slept all through the night with no scratching. He also took his food much better.

In conclusion, treating small babies like Jack through the mother's system can be very successful. It is better to treat the condition as soon as possible rather than waiting until the child is older.

Asthma in terms of TCM

In terms of TCM, asthma can be divided into cold type, heat type and deficiency type.

The main symptoms and signs of cold type asthma are:
A feeling of fullness and distress in the chest, dyspnea with a wheezing sound in the throat, coughing with thin sputum, frequent attacks in cold seasons or caused by cold, whitish, moist and glossy fur on tongue, taut and tight pulse. The treatment principle is to ventilate the lungs and expel pathogenic cold, and eliminate phlegm to relieve the asthma.

The prescription is She Gan Ma Huan Tang (She Gan, Ma Huang,  Ban Xia, Sheng Jiang, Da Zhao, Xing Ren, Su Zi).

The main symptoms and signs of heat type asthma are: Dyspnea with wheezing, irritable, oppressed sensation in the chest, even gasping for breath. Yellowish mucoid sputum, thirst, frequent occurrence in hot seasons or on closely associated with heat, reddened tongue, with yellow greasy fur, slippery and rapid pulse. The treatment principle is based on removing heat phlegm and facilitating the flow of Lung-Qi to relieve asthma.

For this, modified prescriptions of Ma Xin She Gan Tang and San Zi Yang Qing Tang (Ma Huang, Xing Ren, Shen Shi Gao, Gan Cao, Su Zi, Ting Li Zi, Di Long, Sang Bai Pi, Gua Lou Ren, Chuan Bei Mu) can be used.

The main symptoms and signs of deficiency type asthma are:

Chronic and recurrent attacks for a long time, constant minor and persistent asthma at ordinary times, the sound of cough being low and weak, palpitations and shortness of breath, spontaneous perspiration and aversion to wind, general debility, pale tongue with a little fur, deep thready and weak pulse. The treatment principle is based on tonifying the lungs and spleen and improving inspiration to relieve the asthma.

The prescription is the powder of Ginseng and Ce Jie with additional ingredients (Ge Jie, Hua Tou Rou, Mai Men Dong, Wu Wei Zi, Huang Qi, Dong Chong Xia Cao, Bei He, Fu Ling, Chen Pi, Zhi Gan Cao).

Correct differentiation is crucial:

Although there are different types of asthma, as indicated previously, my clinical experience shows that the main types of asthma occur differently in China compared to Britain. There are more cold and deficiency types of asthma in China and more heat type asthma in Britain, due to the different geographical conditions and different lifestyles.

Therefore, when we treat asthma in this country, it is incorrect to copy the asthma prescriptions straight from Chinese books. This is what the chapter "Discussion on Therapies in Accordance with Local Conditions" in "Plain Questions" (Chapter 12) has explained: "Why can a disease be cured with different remedies?" Dr Qi Bo replied: "Geographical conditions are different".

In the old days in China, there were always people suffering from cold and hunger which causes Qi and Blood deficiency. Therefore, Ma Huang Tang and Ginseng are very commonly used for asthma which is described in many classical TCM books.

Nowadays, in Britain, most asthmatics suffer because of high pollen, lack of fresh air, eating and drinking too much high energy, high heat and rich food. This causes excessive heat in the lungs. The Lungs fail to be moist, the patient feels short of breath leading to tightness in the chest, general hot feeling with dry mouth with red tongue and lips. It is usually accompanied by eczema and hay fever, and is worse in the summer.

In this case, if we treat it by using Ma Huang, which has the property of warmth and Ginseng which is a tonic, it may cause the lungs to over-heat and the lung energy will be unable to remain pure and descendant. Therefore, we have to change to prescriptions such as Yin Qiao San and San Ju Yin to clear away lung heat and moisturise the dryness to relieve the asthma.

There is an asthma teabag, (containing Jin Yin Hua, Bei Sha Shen, Gua Lou Pi, Yin Xin, Chuan Bei Mu, etc) available from Healthylicious.co.uk  which has been developed by myself to treat the modern Western type asthma with a fairly high degree of success.

Case history of Heat type asthma:

Katherine, aged 9 years old, who had suffered from asthma for 7 years, first visited me on 8/6/99. She had suffered attacks every week, especially at school when running about or doing sports. When she had attacks, she was out of breath, had a pink complexion, very red lips, and was thirsty all the time.

She was also feverish, short-tempered, easily upset, tired, had difficulty in getting to sleep, normal appetite, slightly constipated and had a red tongue with no coating on it.  She liked eating chocolate, did not like fruit and vegetables and had to use her inhaler up to 4 times a day.

This asthma was due to lung heat caused by incorrect diet. I prescribed 6 asthma tea bags for one week and asked her to stop eating chocolate, cheese, milk, chips and crisps and to eat more pears, radish and other fruits and vegetables.

During her second visit one week later, on 16.6.99, she told me she had no attacks that week, generally felt cooler and happier, had slept better and had more energy. After another two weeks treatment using asthma tea bags she was getting better all of the time, and could do sports just like normal children without using her inhaler.

For a further 2 months she used 1 teabag over 2-3 days to generally clean and moisten the lungs. After this period, she did not take  the tea bags for over a year. Recently, her father came to my clinic for treatment himself and told me that Katherine has not had any asthma attacks during this year, and was a much happier child as a result.

In TCM, arthritis falls into the category of "arthralgia-syndrome (A.S.)", which is usually differentiated into wandering, painful, fixed or heat A.S., according to the related pathogenic factors.

Both acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can be used to tackle these conditions individually. Acupuncture and aromatic oils usually help to relieve the pain, stiffness, and swelling.  

Usually, a swift improvement in joint movement can be observed. Herbal medicine is always tailored to each individual case, so unusual or severe cases will receive appropriate treatment. Both traditional and new patent herb formulas are very effective, and I use these in my practice.

From my experience gathered over the years, my general feeling is that in the early stages of the disease, the symptoms can be controlled quickly, which may lead to the arrest of the process.

In the later stages, the pain, stiffness, numbness and swelling can be dramatically reduced. In addition, the deformity of the joints can be controlled, if skilled and careful  treatment is given.

Care for yourself

In TCM, it is thought that arthritis is closely related to cold, wind and dampness. It is not uncommon that some people feel sore joints and pain after sleeping on the floor without an appropriate insulation layer.

Some patients get arthritis because of not keeping warm in the cold environment. In general, it is advisable to keep warm and to be away from dampness and cold water.

A special Chinese herbal ointment can be used daily to warm and relax muscle and joints, and to relieve aching and stiffness.

She had severe pain around her liver area and a cough, bringing up a lot of green phlegm. She also suffered from headaches, sinus problems, hot flushes and very dry itchy skin.

She also perspired a lot and had severe palpitations. Her heart rate was 102 beats per minute and her blood pressure was 167/140mmHg.

nitially, I gave her acupuncture treatment to stop her drinking and smoking. After 30 minutes, the treatment had  finished and I checked her blood pressure again. It was 151/121mmHg, and her heart rate was 81 beats per minute. I prescribed a special herbal tea for her to take for two weeks.

She came two weeks later on the 18th February. This was the 11th day without any drink at all. She said her smoking had reduced to 20 cigarettes a day. She explained that after the acupuncture, she felt very relaxed and more balanced. There was no pain around the area of her liver and her headaches had gone. Also, the palpitations had lessened and she had little sweating. The condition of her skin was better and she did not feel hot and nervous anymore.

However, she still felt anxious and ate a lot more, which she did not like. Her blood pressure was 100/83mmHg and her heart rate was 60 beats per minute.

gave her another acupuncture treatment and prescribed herbal pills for anxiety. Also, I gave her herbal tea to regulate her digestive system and to suppress her appetite.

Two weeks later, on the 4th March, she continued to feel better and reported that the herbal pills were good for relaxation. After the acupuncture she felt more balanced again and her blood pressure was 100/60. In general, she felt a bit tired and said she felt she could do with more energy.

Her smoking was down to fifteen cigarettes a day; her appetite had calmed down and she had lost some weight. I prescribed another acupuncture treatment and she continued to take the herbal pills for improving her energy.

Her last visit was on the 18th March 1999. She came to say she felt good and had not had a drink at all. She did not enjoy smoking and had only two cigarettes a day until then. I gave her another acupuncture treatment to consolidate the treatment and she had two weeks supply of herbal pills (for anxiety) to take back to Greece with her, when she started work.

At Easter time, I met her sister and she told me how glad she was to see her sister back to being normal, healthy person again.

Acne is a skin disorder which results in spots, whiteheads, blackheads and in the more serious forms, cysts and abscesses, which can leave disfigured pitted scars when they heal. In more severe cases the eruptions can feel sore or itchy. Acne is commonly seen on the face, back and chest.

Most adolescent boys and girls suffer from acne at some point but most grow out of it. However, some people can suffer from acne into their late thirties, sometimes even into their forties. In girls, acne can get worse before periods.

Acne is not dangerous, but it is unsightly, and therefore distressing to the sufferer. Although mild acne normally disappears in the early twenties, more severe acne may leave permanently raised or pitted scars, which may additionally result in psychological damage to sensitive teenagers

What causes Acne?

At puberty, the raised levels of hormones increase glandular secretions of the oily substance sebum.

Also, excessive bacteria on the skin, high humidity and eating too much chocolate and greasy foods are all causes of acne.

Traditional Chinese Medicine classifies acne into three different types:

1) Wind-Heat affecting the lung channel.

Wind heat in the lung can stimulate the skin and cause acne.

Main Symptoms & Signs

There are red papules and tubercles with inflammatory infiltration around them, accompanied by a burning sensation, red tip of the tongue with thin yellow fur and slippery rapid pulse.

2) Damp-Heat in the Spleen and Stomach.

Main Symptoms & Signs

Induractive acne and cystic acne which are mainly characterised by skin lesions, yellow and greasy fur coating on the tongue and soft rapid pulse.

3) Disharmony of Chong & Ren channels.

Main Symptoms & Signs

This type of acne changes according to the menstruation cycle. It is usually worse before menstruation, accompanied by irregular periods or period pain.

The tongue is dark red with yellow coating. The pulse is taut, thready and rapid.

Treatment of Acne

Internal treatment

According to the different types of acne, individual treatment principles are made and suitable herbal prescriptions are achieved.

1) Wind-Heat affecting the lung channel.

Treatment principle
To expel wind and clear away heat in the lung channel.

Prescription
Modification of Pi Pa Qin Fei Yin -  Herbs: Pi Pa Gao, Gan Cao, Sang Bai Pi and Huang Qin etc.

2) Damp-Heat in the Spleen and Stomach.

Treatment principle
Clear away heat and eliminate dampness.

Prescription
Modification of Che Qian Shen Shi Tang - Herbs: Che Qian Cao, Mu Dan Pi, Yin Chen Hao and Ku Shen etc.

3) Disharmony of Chong & Ren channels.

Treatment principle
To regulate the Chong and Ren channels. Soothe the Liver and ease the effects of stress.

Prescription
Modification of Xiao Yao San - Herbs: Mu Dan Pi, Dang Gui, Bai Shao, Yi Mu Cao, Chai Hu etc.

All of the above herbal prescriptions are available in loose herbs for decoction, concentrated powders and in capsule and pill form. The most effective herbal pills are Jin Ju Di Dan Wan and Xia Zhi Qing Dai Wan.

External Treatment

1) Detoxifying herbs for external wash: Bai Hua She She Cao, Ku Shen, Huang Bai and Zhi Zi.

2)Herbal gel for washing greasy skin on the face: Liu Wu Xi Ye.