By Steve Goodman

Spring awakens nature's bounty after months of winter doldrums. With the rebirth of flowers and greenery the feeling of new hope is borne upon every wind. Unfortunately for millions, those same gentle winds bring with them seasonal allergies - along with the annual misery of sneezing, congestion, watery eyes, runny nose, and just overall suffering.

Traditional Chinese medicine often views springtime allergies as related to the Element of Wind. As in all TCM, allergies are looked on as being caused by an imbalance in the flow of qi. In this case, it is considered a blockage of qi to the nose and sinuses. TCM calls allergies "Bi Yuan," which literally translates to "nose-pool". Bi Yuan comes from a deficiency in Wei Qi - the internal force that protects us from wind. TCM practitioners will usually want to treat allergies by using all the disciplines that strengthen qi, herbs, and acupuncture, Qi Gong etc. However, Chinese herbs alone have been used for centuries for the treatment of springtime allergies. There are many herbs to be used. There are specific herbs that are known to dry phlegm, others to relieve coughs, and still others that can alleviate red and itchy eyes. Therefore, TCM practitioners will often create their own combination of herbal medications, some held in strict confidence, depending on the symptoms of the patient.

by Alex A. Kecskes

American women are four to six times more likely to die of heart disease than of breast cancer. While women often encounter heart problems later in life than men-typically seven or eight years later-once they reach 65, they seem to catch up, making heart disease the leading cause of death among women over 65.

Even more alarming is this: Women are less likely to survive heart attacks than men; worse still, women are at much greater risk of suffering a second heart attack. Some experts believe that women just don't seek or receive treatment as soon as men. Others think the failure to survive is due a woman's smaller heart and blood vessels, which are more easily damaged. But take heart. There are a number of natural pro-active steps you can take to reduce your risk of heart disease.

Doctor Kam S. Woo, a professor and consultant cardiologist at the Chinese University of Hong Kong found that villagers in Pan Yu, a town in Guangdong Province in southern China had one of the lowest rates of heart disease in the world. He concludes this may be due in part to the traditional Chinese diet of vegetables, rice, and green tea. He believes people should eat more fruits and vegetables, emphasize plant proteins and eat less dairy products and meat. He also suggests adopting a Chinese way of cooking, which includes steaming instead of deep-frying foods in oil.

Avoid the saturated fats found in meats and coconut oil. Check food labels for fat calories. Follow heart-healthy recipes, and don't be shy about asking for low-fat dishes when eating out. Many restaurants now serve heart-healthy dishes. At the store, look for snack chips without hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils. Try natural peanut butter instead of the pasty, hydrogenated kind. Replace unhealthy fats with healthy fats like olive, canola, or peanut oil. Use butter very sparingly or use butter flavoring. Finally, for those who've heard that a glass of wine may be beneficial, studies suggest drinking grape juice can have the same effect as consuming wine.

More than half of the heart attacks in women under 50 are related to smoking. Quitting can lower your risk of heart attack by one third in just two years. If you smoke and use birth control pills, you're at even greater risk. There are many products and programs to help you quit smoking. Talk to your doctor about the best way to quit smoking. Breathing second hand smoke can also affect your heart and lungs. If you live with a smoker, encourage them to quit.

If you have high blood pressure, consult your doctor on ways to control it. Your doctor may recommend regular exercise, losing weight, and eating a healthy diet to help control high blood pressure. Cutting down on salt can also help. As for cholesterol, ask your doctor to check it and, if it's at unhealthy levels, how best to manage it.

Many women go from bed to car to computer desk, and then back to car to couch and to bed-with very little exercise in between. Keep in mind, like any other muscle in your body, your heart needs regular exercise to work properly. So do your heart a favor and do some brisk walking, swimming, jogging, or biking. With today's over abundance of fitness equipment and programs, you have no excuse. If you find exercise boring, find an exercise partner. Jog with them or take your dog for a walk. Try to exercise at least 30 to 60 minutes, 4 to 6 times a week. Consult your doctor before beginning any exercise program. If you're overweight, be sure to talk to your doctor about a safe and effective way to lose weight.

In China, the pomegranate fruit symbolized longevity. Now there is scientific evidence for the fruit's restorative powers. Scientists have tested the juice in mice and found that it combats hardening of the arteries (atherogenesis) and related diseases, such as heart attacks and strokes. According to results published in the August 2006 issue of Atherosclerosis, subjects who drank 180 ml (6 oz.) of pomegranate juice per day for three months experienced a reduced risk for atherosclerosis, a condition that leads to arterial wall thickening and hardening.

Scientists have long known about health benefits of pomegranates. The latest studies have shown that the juice limits the genetic tendency of the hardening of the arteries.
"We have established that polyphenols [antioxidant chemicals] and other natural compounds contained in the pomegranate juice may retard atherogenesis," said Claudio Napoli, a professor of medicine and clinical pathology at the University of Naples, Italy. He also stated that, "The protective effects of pomegranate juice were higher than previously assumed,” making pomegranate juice appear to have even more value than was previously realized.

The Chinese king Tang Xuan Zong of the Zang dynasty asked a monk who was more than 130 years old, "How could you live so long? Did you take any medicine for that?" The monk answered, "Drank tea daily, no thing else." Thus goes the legend.

China is the largest producer of Green tea, while Japan and Korea also contribute considerably. Green tea comes from the same plant as black tea, Camellia sinensis. What makes it different though is the manner in which the plant is processed. It is the least processed of the commercial teas. The leaves are picked and then immediately 'fired' -- a tea processing term, which means the leaves are either steamed or heated. The leaves are then dried. This process also helps retain the antioxidants that retard the aging process in human beings.

By Michelle Fletcher, B.A., http://michellefletcher.net

A 4,000-year-old technique may do wonders for heart health. From high blood pressure to cardiac rehabilitation, the ancient Chinese practice of Qi Gong has been proven to strengthen and revitalize the heart.

Are you wondering if eating right and exercising is enough to keep your heart and circulation in tip-top shape? You might want to join ranks with others who are boosting heart health by adding supplemental herbs to their diet. Here’s a look at some proven herbal heart helpers.

1. Garlic: Affectionately called the stinking rose by those who love its culinary uses, most people don’t think of garlic as a medicinal herb. Still, it has been used for thousands of years as a treatment for a wide range of conditions. Some of those uses include infections, wound healing and tumors. Today, we know that garlic lovers can boast about their lowered cholesterol and blood pressure. The National Cancer Institute is now looking at garlic’s ability to fight several forms of cancer, including stomach and colon cancers.

Next to water, Tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world. Since ancient times it has been considered a precious commodity and major influence on trade routes and expeditions. Among all the teas available, Black Tea has ling been the most popular because of its distince aroma and long lasting flavor. In recent years Green Tea has been under the microscope of scientist looking to discover just exactly why it has for centuries been with long life, health, and well-being in the Orient. It has been suggested it is the powerful polyphenol antioxidant compounds and flavonionds in Green Tea that give it its miraculous reputation. Now scientist, such as those at the American Heart Association, are looking to Black Tea to see if is also possesses life giving and extending properties.

Black Tea is derived from the leaves of the some perennial evergrenn shrub known in Latin as Camellia Sinensis that green Tea leaves come from. The difference in Black and Green leaves is the manner in which they are processed. Green leaves are not oxidized or fermented which allows them to retain natural enzymes but also decreases their shelf life. Black Tea on the other hand goes through a process of dying, rolling, fermenting, and firing which gives it its distinguishing color and distince flavor. While it has a shelf life of nearly seven times that of Green Tea the potent enzymes become activated and change into different molecules which may have different effects on the human body. Black Tea has remained the more popular beverage throughout the centuries because it has a stronger flavor then that of Green Tea.

by Angela Johnson, MPH (PCOM – Chicago)

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the number one cause of death among women and men in the United States?1-2 Estimates suggest that every 29 seconds someone in the United States suffers from a coronary event, and every 60 seconds someone loses their life as a result. According to the American Heart Association, in 2003 one in every five deaths was associated with CHD, causing an estimated 479,305 fatalities.3

by Angela Johnson, MPH (PCOM - Chicago)

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the number one cause of death among women and men in the United States?1-2 Estimates suggest that every 29 seconds someone in the United States suffers from a coronary event, and every 60 seconds someone loses their life as a result. According to the American Heart Association, in 2003 one in every five deaths was associated with CHD, causing an estimated 479,305 fatalities.3