January is Glaucoma Awareness Month, and Chinese medicine has many treatments for this common eye disorder. Gradual blockage of the outflow of aqueous humor (a frontal compartment eye fluid) is the main glaucoma cause. If enough pressure builds, blood vessels and nerve fibers can become compressed and cause irreparable damage. Any glaucoma symptom, such as loss of small areas of peripheral vision (blind spots) may result. Herbal remedies, herb-derived eye drop formulas, a combination of both, and acupuncture have shown promising results in relieving fluid pressure in the eyes.

Because fluids, which are yin in nature, tend to be downward draining, other disorders are usually present in order to cause fluid accumulation in the upper areas of the body. Yang-influenced disorders flow upward like the flames of fire in nature. In the case of glaucoma, a fire syndrome is created internally and carries fluids upward and into the eyes. This explains the glaucoma symptom of pressure build-up in the eyes. In the case of glaucoma, the cause is first thought to be internal in nature rather than environmental. Internal disorders are generally influenced by age and genetics.

To everything, there is a season. Our physical and emotional health is no exception. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is nationally recognized during the month of December, is an example of how a change in seasons can affect our wellbeing.

Between 4 and 6 percent of the U.S. population suffer from SAD. It is more commonly observed in those who live at high latitudes (areas farther away from the equator to the north and south). Seasonal changes are generally more extreme in these regions, supporting the idea that SAD is caused by changes in sunlight availability.

Pregnancy is a very meaningful, important and joyful period for a woman, but it also comes with frequent medical appointments, heightened concern for health, mental strain and a greater sense of physical responsibility. These feelings can become overwhelming for some, and it can be difficult to maintain the balance and energy necessary for having a healthy pregnancy.

Chinese medicine has been restoring mental and physical balance for centuries and can help pregnant women with a variety of pregnancy issues. Acupuncture and certain herbs can treat nausea and vomiting and gestational diabetes, prevent pre-eclampsia, and manage fibroids, fatigue, low back pain, headaches, heartburn and hemorrhoids. Acupuncture also restores mothers' energy after giving birth and alleviates depression, anxiety and many types of post partum pain. It can also treat constipation, repair and tone after the physical trauma of birth and tone the blood, especially if much was lost during the birth process.

Regular treatment throughout pregnancy boosts the health of the mother, prevents complication during pregnancy. Chinese medicine influences baby growth and development as well. Pregnancy is broken down into trimesters in the Oriental medicine model. During the first three months treatment is designed to keep the baby intact and avoid miscarriage. There are also treatments for morning sickness and enhancing healthy appetites to avoid malnutrition. The next three months are the time for tonification and relaxation, preparing the body and mind for labor and monitoring baby growth and development. Treatment during the final months is aimed at avoiding early labor that may occur due to weakness or deficiency in the mother.

By Malcolm Simmonds

Herbs and naturopathy are two approaches that complement one another to form a whole system of healthcare - herbal naturopathy. To see how, it is useful to look at some of the significant features of the two individual disciplines.

November signals the beginning of the dreaded flu season, but this year Canadian researchers have found the key to keeping the cold and flu at bay. Ginseng, an herb widely used in Chinese medicine, is proving successful at reducing the number and severity of colds in research subjects.

At least 1 billion colds are reported each year in the U.S. , with a frequency of two to six colds per person. The study, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal in 2005, found that extracts of North American ginseng enhance immune responses and stimulate natural killer cell cytotoxicity to keep the body healthy through peak illness periods.

Youth is considered the time when we are at the pinnacle of health. Our bodies are healthy and strong. Yet adolescents and young adults face a myriad of health issues that often go unchecked. The teenage years are a time of significant change and transition, a time when it is easy for the body to become unbalanced as physical growth and hormone fluctuations contribute to both mental and physical disorders.

Disorders such as acne, body image issues, insomnia and other sleep problems, depression, sports injury and eating disorders are common health problems among young adults. Chinese medicine has proven successful at treating these ailments and their symptoms and at helping teens to transition into a healthy and lively adulthood.

Tai Chi, a centuries-old Chinese exercise system, is making its way into the Western mainstream. In ancient China , Tai Chi was a closely guarded secret passed down from family to family. In the 19 th century it was revealed to the masses and quickly became the national exercise of China . Today, Tai Chi is practiced as a therapy and preventative remedy for almost every ailment. Together with Qigong, Tai Chi holds a prominent place in Chinese medicine to relieve stress and clarify the mind.

Brought to the U.S. in the 1960s and introduced through universities, Tai Chi is relatively new to the Western world. With growing exposure, it has found a place among new therapeutic exercise trends in the West. Classes in Tai Chi can be found across the country through YMCAs, community centers, college campuses and gyms. From the World Gyms in Ohio to the Solinca Health and Fitness Club in southern Spain , Tai Chi seems to be everywhere. It is not uncommon to see it practiced in public parks, clubs or on television commercials, and almost everyone can recognize its graceful movements.

According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, current estimated cases of autism range from one in every 1,000 to one in every 500. Theories suggest vaccines are responsible, but there is growing concern that environmental toxins and pollution may be contributing factors. It is also theorized that nutrition, viral infections, immunizations and antibiotics may be causal aspects as well.

People speak in terms of children "developing" autism, but new research cited by the Autism Society of America suggest genetic ties -- that the disorder is present prenatal. An autism symptom will usually appear before the age of three, at which age a formal diagnosis can be made. Because an autism characteristic can be any combination of insufficiencies in language, social communication and cognition, autism is difficult to diagnose before normal development in these areas would usually occur.

Insomnia is more than tossing and turning. It's more serious than an inability to fall asleep early and has more debilitating effects than are commonly recognized. An estimated 32 million people suffer from insomnia in the U.S. Oriental medicine, with its focus on healing whole syndromes rather than individual symptoms, is widely used as an insomnia remedy and has shown great success treating those who experience insomnia.

Insomnia may present itself in different ways. For some, the inability to fall asleep is the most noticeable insomnia symptom while others are unable to reach a deep level of sleep and are startled awake by every noise. Any insomnia symptom would frustrate most sleepers, but night after night for months or years, the most serious issues of insomnia accumulate - the daytime effects. These can include physical tiredness, difficulty concentrating and feeling depressed, irritable or lethargic. Oriental medicine is a great insomnia remedy . It focuses on patients' individual insomnia symptom and builds a whole-healing plan from each symptom. It also has been widely successful in treating depression, stress and physical pain.