People suffering from food allergies aren’t always aware that their symptoms are caused by the food they are eating.  It often can be more difficult to discover that a person is allergic to a certain type of food, as opposed to discovering that a person is allergic to a bee sting, for example.  Some people suffering from food allergies continue their day-to-day life with symptoms such as headaches or fatigue and have no idea that their symptoms could be from food allergies.

Symptoms of food allergies include: fatigue, hives, eczema, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, nasal congestion, cough and asthma.  Even more serious conditions include: difficulty breathing, decreased blood pressure, increased heart rate, dizziness, mental confusion, slurred speech, anxiety attack and cardiovascular collapse, according to the American Academy of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AAAOM).

Many herbalists consider two major systems when dealing with allergies – the immune system and adrenal-stress handling system.  These two systems are under great pressure due to environmental changes.  The fast pace of modern living and working may have an adverse effect on these systems, as well.

The Five Element Theory serves as a major diagnostic and treatment tool in Traditional Chinese Medicine.  It is based on the observation of the natural cycles and interrelationships in the environment and within ourselves.  For example, there are five environmental elements – fire, earth, metal, water and wood – each corresponding with certain body organs, such as the heart, spleen, lungs, kidneys, liver, intestines, stomach, urinary bladder and gull bladder.  The five different elements are associated with different times of the year: fire with summer, Earth with late summer, metal with autumn, water with winter and wood with spring.

The five elements interact with each other (they depend on each other).  For example, the liver, belonging to the Wood element, directly affects the spleen, which belongs to the Earth element.  Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners try to maintain a balance among the body’s organs

Spring is associated with the Wood element, which governs the liver and gall bladder. Strong winds are typical during spring.  The blowing of wind in spring could over-strengthen the liver, which in turn could affect the spleen.  If so, a disharmony of the liver and spleen occurs.  TCM practitioners may detect this imbalance by observing symptoms such as stomach pain, acid regurgitation, stomach distention and diarrhea.

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

Used as a medicine in China for over 4,000 years, green tea’s known medical benefits range from curing headaches to depression. The world of alternative medicine can now add “breast cancer prevention” to the long list of benefits.

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

Vegetarianism is more than just leaves and twigs. It’s also a far cry from the granola-munching we picture from the ’60s. Diverse in colors and flavors as it is in textures and nutrients, vegetarian diets also play a part in preventing and reducing the risk of cancer.

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.

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

Since ancient times, the ginger plant has been used as a medicine in Indian, Asian, and Arabic healing treatments. Some of its most common uses involve treating nausea, upset stomach, and diarrhea, as well as colic, heart conditions, and arthritis. Ginger is valued around the world for its medicinal and cooking uses, and is an important cooking spice believed to cure the common cold and heavy menstrual periods in many cultures. Ginger grows in the moist, fertile soil in its native Asia, where its use as a culinary spice goes back nearly 5,000 years.

Prostate cancer also referred to as the “Hidden Cancer” is one of the primary causes of death among American men. It is estimated that drinking green tea regularly reduces the risk of prostate cancer by two-thirds.

Several studies have supported the fact that drinking six to 15 cups of green tea daily can significantly reduce the chance of developing prostate cancer.

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

We struggle with it every day, remembering Aunt Ella's birthday, when to pick up the kids from soccer practice, or even why you walked into the kitchen (what did I come in here for?). We've all been there, time and time again, struggling with memory.

For thousands of years, traditional Chinese approaches to excellent nutrition, health, and living habits are crucial to maintaining a balanced flow of qi, or life energy, through the body. An ancient Taoist concept of essential life force present in all objects and aspects of life, qi is balanced in the body through the integration of nutrition and medicine.

A balanced diet is more than just peas and carrots, but a thorough balance of warm and cool energy; the yin - cold, dark, and passive - and the yang - heat, light, and active - are combined in the forms of food to create balance and harmony within the body. Hot versus cold (yin vs. yang) are the two most important oppositions in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

Legend and lore suggest Chai Tea was invented by a royal king in India who kept his recipe undisclosed and sacred. In fact Chai Tea is a product of Ayurveda, a science of India that dates as far back as five thousand years. Chai does not refer to a particular type of tea but the manner in which it is prepared and served, with milk/cream and honey/sugar. Traditionally each family would have their own recipe of herbs and spices to mix and boil with tea leaves. This recipe was based on available ingredients and the constitutions of family members. Typically this is a highly potent blend that has myriad medicinal and health promoting properties. Among these benefits of consuming Chai regularly is to increase the digestive fire, sooth and relax the digestive tract, increase waste and toxin excretion, elevate metabolism, and decrease appetite.

Science is finding Tea (Black, Green, and Oolong), the main ingredient of Chai, is an excellent source for anti-oxidants, good for the heart, and reducing cholesterol levels. In addition numerous herbs are combined with the Tea to give it its unique flavors and healing properties. It isn't one herb or spice in general that aids in digestion but the combination of many acting together. The result is a delicious, piquant, and often times dark brew.