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Pacific College Newsletter - June 2006!Issue 24 In this issue you will find:
Important PCOM Dates
Chicago Campus Presents Alex Tiberi & Rick GoldPacific College Chicago is offering an evening of free lectures with two exceptional practitioners in traditional Chinese medicine and Thai bodywork, Friday June 9 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Alex Tiberi will explore the journey of Chinese medicine through surveying folk and shamanic traditions, medical sociology and the expansion and evolution of Chinese medicine into Western society. Rick Gold, a premier authority in integrating traditional Chinese medicine, Japanese seitai, shiatsu massage and traditional Thai bodywork techniques will provide a live demonstration and explain Thai massage. For more information on this event please call (773) 477-4822.
The Benefits Of Black Tea For Heart DiseaseBy: Jeff DennyNext 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 long been the most popular because of its distinct aroma and long lasting flavor. In recent years Green Tea has been under the microscopes of scientists looking to discover just exactly why it has for centuries been equated with long life, health, and well-being in the Orient. It has been suggested it is the powerful polyphenol antioxidant compounds and flavonoids in Green Tea that give it its miraculous reputation. Now scientists, such as those at the American Heart Association, are looking to Black Tea to see if it also possesses life giving and extending properties. Black Tea is derived from the leaves of the same perennial evergreen 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 drying, rolling, fermenting, and firing which gives it its distinguishing color and distinct 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 than that of Green Tea. The questions posed by modern medicine over Black Tea primarily concern its antioxidant properties and flavonoid compounds. Oxidation is a chemical reaction which results in the loss of electrons of a molecule, atom, or ion. Oxidation of metals leads to rust. Oxidation in the human body leads to degenerative conditions such as hardening of the arteries. Antioxidants such as those found in tea act as scavengers hunting down free radicals that can damage cells through chemical chain reactions with other molecules. Clinical trials have been conducted using Black Tea to determine if it has cholesterol-lowering affects. During such studies some subjects were given a caffeinated placebo beverage while others were given Black Tea. The results offered some evidence of Black Tea as an agent for lowering the oxidation of LDL cholesterols, which has been directly correlated to heart disease. Some scientists have suggested Black Tea can reduce the clotting factor of platelets in the blood and resist hardening of arteries. In test tubes the flavonoids found in Black Tea did in fact prevent clumping of blood platelets but it is not yet determined if this holds true within the living body. This leads scientists to believe Black Tea does in fact hold water in terms of preventing death after heart attacks when consumed regularly. For more information on the health benefits of tea, visit www.RoyalDynastyTea.com
Treating Children with Traditional Chinese MedicinePediatrics is one of the oldest specialties within Chinese medicine and dates from the early first millennium. Since that time, there has been continuous development in the diagnosis and treatment of children’s diseases. Past generations of Chinese doctors have discovered various characteristics that are common in all children. The various modalities (herbal medicine, acupuncture, Chinese massage and dietary therapy) of Traditional Chinese Medicine (known as TCM) have been providing children with solutions to their health problems for more than 2,000 years. This form of Asian medicine is the oldest and second largest medical system in the world today and is used by one quarter of the entire world's population. Unlike Western medicine, this time-tested professional medicine treats and assesses each person as an individual (not based entirely on a disease or symptom). Traditional Chinese Medicine is a noninvasive healing modality that facilitates the body's natural ability to heal itself by restoring harmony and balance to the entire individual. According to TCM, children are not just considered miniature adults. They are believed to be immature both physically and functionally; most common pediatric complaints are due to this immaturity. Chinese medicine states that because children's bodies are immature and therefore inherently weak, they are susceptible to diseases that affect the lungs such as colds, coughs, allergies and asthma and the spleen (or digestive complaints) such as colic, vomiting, diarrhea, indigestion, and stomach aches. Chinese medicine has been shown to offer substantial clinical benefits to patients who have been unresponsive to other forms of treatment. The treatment of these diseases using TCM have less side effects and unlike modern medicine, are curative not palliative, as they aim to eliminate the pathology of the disease instead of controlling or suppressing the symptoms. In most chronic diseases, Western medicine at best can only temporarily alleviate the symptoms of these diseases using various medications. This is because Western medicine takes a more reactive approach to medicine, in that the symptoms are treated. In addition to the lack of effectiveness of Western treatments, there are also possible side effects of repeated or long-term use of the medications. In TCM a proactive approach is taken, in that the whole body and how it functions is taken into account. Chinese herbs are prescribed in individualized formulas which are custom written to suit the needs of each child. These formulas typically consist of anywhere between four and fifteen herbs. Many herbs have anti-bacterial or anti-viral properties while others work to promote the body's innate ability to heal and recuperate. Herbal formulas can be very effective in the treatment of acute illness as well as in preventing illness when there is a history of chronic infections and antibiotic use. Pediatric Massage This treatment works wonders for common respiratory and digestive ailments. It can enhance circulation and relaxation, thereby improving health in general. Shoni-shin is a form of bodywork that makes use of small metal tools designed to bring qi to the surface, help it move by "spreading" it along the channels, and stimulate specific acupuncture points. There are about a half-dozen different tools in a shoni-shin kit, none of which penetrate the skin. A shoni-shin treatment can be performed in 10 to 20 minutes depending on the age of the child and the severity of the illness. If you are considering alternative medicine such as Traditional Chinese Medicine for a child, you should first discuss the proposed treatment with the child's doctor or pharmacist to make sure it is not dangerous or will not conflict with any traditional care the child receives. The doctor can also give you information about treatment options and perhaps recommend a reputable specialist. By coordinating alternative and traditional care, you don't have to choose between them. Instead, you can get the best of both.
Chinese Wisdom: Quote of the Day “A good traveller has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.” -- Lao Tzu
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