Love is the Heart Rescue

People are suckers for love. This is why pounding-heart lovers will rush into movie theaters tomorrow to see the heartfelt melodrama Slumdog Millionaire. Why not get more inspiration for love?

Love has profound impact on us. Daniel Kahneman, a Nobel laureate and an Israeli psychologist, wrote about what got him into the fascinating field of psychology. When German Nazis occupied France in 1940s, Kahneman and his family lived in Paris. During the wartime, Jews were required to wear the Star of David and had to obey a 6p.m. curfew. “I had gone to play with a Christian friend and had stayed too late. I turned my brown sweater inside out to walk the few blocks home. As I was walking down an empty street, I saw a German soldier approaching. He was wearing the black uniform that I had been told to fear more than others – the one worn by specially recruited SS soldiers. As I came closer to him, trying to walk fast, I noticed that he was looking at me intently. Then he beckoned me over, picked me up, and hugged me. I was terrified that he would notice the star inside my sweater. He was speaking to me with great emotion, in German. When he put me down, he opened his wallet, showed me a picture of a boy, and gave me some money. I went home more certain than ever that my mother was right: people were endlessly complicated and interesting.” (Kahneman, D. 2003. Maps of bounded rationality: A perspective on intuitive judgment and choice) Kahneman’s childhood Nazi experience presented tender loving nature of human beings when the boy least expected it. This particular incident of love display opened his mind to the “complimented and interesting” subject of psychology.

Love is at the heart of human world. No one can deny that people innately embrace the fundamental essence of human nature - love. We live for love, fight for love, and die for love. We compose poetry, write novels and produce movies to spread love. Globalization and civilization help us evolve into a special kind of race that not only reaches tangible goods like food and shelter, but also cultivates spiritual assets like love. Unfortunately, the very people who created love have been too busy to care for it. Current global financial crisis not only alarms business entities and policymakers to develop economic resolutions, it also serves as a wakeup call for global citizens. It urges us to analyze the underlying causes for the calamity and take a closer look at love. Did we jeopardize our well-being by stress, depression and OCD after succeeding at work and failing at home? Did financial and materialistic rewards drive us far away from nurturing love? Were we so involved in acquiring tangible assets that we overlooked the fact that the life’s gemstone is love instead of its filigree like vacation homes and private jets? Is now the time for us to rebound from financial deprivation as well as soul deficiency?

We all know that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. (CDC’s Heart Disease Facts and Statistics 2009) It is already heartbreaking to know that over 650,000 Americans died of heart disease each year, but it is more heart rending that few know love can really heals the physical heart. Loving relationships promotes better health, happiness and longevity, especially in times of severe downturns. When Dorbert Nerum’s team at the University of Houston conducted a research on the correlation between a high cholesterol diet and heart attack, they came across unanticipated health miracle brought by love. They fed experimental rabbits with the high cholesterol diet that guaranteed to elevate cholesterol level in the rabbits. Consequently, there was a build-up of plaque in rabbits’ arteries. This blocked blood flow and caused heart disease. The surprising finding was that one group of rabbits developed a lower cholesterol level and a smaller arterial plaque volume than expected. It took a while for the befuddled team to discover that a lab assistant’s extra care stopped the rabbits from suffering heart problems. After feeding the rabbits, the lab assistant took them out of the cage, talked to them, played with them and petted them. All these loving activities reduced the risk for heart disease by a very significant percentage, 60 percent! If a simple act of petting could prevent the rabbits from getting heart disease, think about how many lives we can save by doing little things to share love with people around us.

More and more scientific studies have shown that small changes in lifestyles lead to significant improvements in one’s health and well-being. However, love, the most powerful and the most effective intervention, has not been prescribed enough by health practitioners. Love has a stronger impact on the quality of life and development of diseases. It extends emotional transformation to physical restoration. Dr. Candace Pert conducted a famous research on the bio-chemistry of emotions to demonstrate how the emotions are connected to the body. She finds that receptors sit on the surface of body cells, and specialized cells like neurons have millions of the receptors surrounding them. These receptors scan, sense and receive chemical substances known as peptides. These peptides deliver emotional messages to the receptors. The emotional messages elicit bio-chemical reactions within the cells, and have positive or negative effect on cell’s growth and development. Dr. Pert advances the theory of body-mind connection through the evidence of chemical alternation at molecular level. Her finding coincides with the philosophy of Dr. Yongshu Yang, a revolutionary doctor in integrative medicine in China. Dr. Yang has treated thousands of patients through a mind-body approach since 1970s. Her clinical experience confirms that the body has self-healing ability or “natural medicine.” Proper emotional release and positive attitudes restore body’s healing mechanism. An angry individual has angry cells that attack and damage each other. A loving person has happy cells that attract and nourish each other. Dr. Yang discovers that people with anger suppression have greater risks for inflammation in all kinds of body cells, cardiovascular diseases and circulatory malfunction. On the contrary, people with positive and loving attitudes develop less inflammatory conditions and usually have a longer lifespan.

If the best doctor resides inside our mind, why not get involved with love to provide the natural pharmacopeias to others and ourselves? Love is both from the heart and for the heart.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”

Scorpion stings. Deathstalker scorpion kills.

Surgical removal of tumor is the best modern medicine can offer to treat cancer, but it often leaves behind some cancerous cells that make the cancer recur and spread.

However, when the dangerous deathstalker meets with the devastating disease, miraculous healing occurs. How is it possible?

Chlorotoxin, one component of the deathstalker's potent venom, has been discovered to advance gliomas (commonly known as brain tumor) treatment. The chlorotoxin is a type of protein that specifically binds to glial tumor cells while leaving normal cells intact. Scientific investigation shows that the injection of the protein limits cancer spread by keeping abnormal cells from moving and growing. What’s more amazing is that the chlorotoxin lights up cancer cells when combines with a fluorescent molecule. This allows surgeons to distinguish tumor cells during operation to perform more precise surgical elimination. Researchers from Seattle Children's Hospital Research Institute and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have completed pilot safety trails with the chlorotoxin application. If approved by the FDA for permission to begin human clinical trials, deathstalker’s lifesaving venom provides new hope to eradicate cancer cells.

Besides the chlorotoxin, other components of the deathstalker’s venom are found to help regulate insulin, and may be used to treat diabetes. “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” is exactly what the deathstalker scorpion is made of.

Ginseng, the Herbal King

"Quieting the spirit, removing noxious influence, brightening the eyes, and enlightening the mind. Continuous use leads one to longevity with light weight."
- Shizhen Li, China’s sixteenth century naturalist and author of “Great Compendium of Herbs”

There is nothing average about Ginseng. In the West, ginseng is known as "miracle tonic" that gives people energy boost. Ginseng based energy drinks such as Jones Soda and Snapple Fire may be found at most stores, and ginseng supplements populate shelves of countless supplement shops. In the East, ginseng is considered to be the king of all herbal medicines. During the holidays, it is offered as a valued gift that will bring good health. While ginseng is a potent revitalizer, many people do not really know how it works in the body. Understanding its ginseng can help you administer the herb safely and avoid side effects.

Two most common types of ginseng are Panax ginseng, also known as Asian, Korean or Chinese ginseng, and Panax quinquefolius, commonly called American, Canadian, or North American ginseng. The word “Panax” means “heal-all” in Greek. In Asian cultures, people traditionally believe ginseng to be crystallization of earth essence in the shape of roots, and think it is a cure for all. Clinical studies have shown that such beliefs actually enhance the healing effects of the root. The therapeutic components of ginseng are ginsenosides, active (steroid-like) compounds found in the herb that stimulate body’s endocrine and sympathetic nervous systems, as the herb’s sedative properties induce relaxation. Siberian ginseng is an inexpensive substitute for Asian and American varieties, and effectively enhances blood oxygenation to improve stamina and alleviate altitude sickness. Many climbers and other endurance athletes prefer Siberian ginseng to the other varieties.

A popular adaptogen, Ginseng can increase one’s energy and resistance to physical stress over time when taken in small, frequent amounts (usually 100 or 200 milligrams, twice a week). Under the supervision of licensed clinicians, ginseng is used to treat anemia, diabetes, and erectile dysfunction. Additionally, it stimulates carbohydrate metabolism in the liver, increases/decreases blood pressure, enhances memory and cognitive functions, improves sleep patterns, and stimulates cell growth.
Different varieties of ginseng offer their own unique healing properties. In general, Asian ginseng has a warmer therapeutic effect than American ginseng. Chinese ginseng has a warming effect on the body, while Korean ginseng has a hot effect. Supplementing with Asian ginseng in the winter keeps body temperature warm and increases blood circulation, especially for middle-age and elderly. However, when a person experiences excessive emotional stress, anger and frustration or consumes too much fried and greasy foods, and alcohol, his internal body becomes hotter than normal. It is not recommended for him to take Asian ginseng, otherwise he may have flushed face, headache, sore eyes and skin rashes. American ginseng is considered to have a cooling effect that works well for fevers and respiratory tract disorders by strengthening immune system.
It is strongly recommended to consult with a healthcare practitioner before taking ginseng for health reasons. If you are thinking about trying ginseng drinks or snacks, make sure you don’t take it:

• With coffee because it may cause upset stomach.
• If you are pregnant or nursing.
• For colds and flu or other infections, as it nourishes bacteria and viruses, as well as the body.
• If you have hormone-dependent conditions such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids, or cancers of the breast, ovaries, uterus, or prostate (relates to panax ginseng).
• If you are on blood-thinner drugs such as such as aspirin, ticlopidine (Ticlid), and warfarin (Coumadin) because it may cause uncontrolled bleeding or hemorrhaging.
• If you are on sildenafil citrate (Viagra) because it may affect heart rhythm and increase risk for heart attack.

Chinese Herbal Medicine: Will It Surface or Sink?

Chinese herbal medicine refers to many compounds that are unused in Western medical practice. There is strong interest and wide application in those compounds as well as the theories that guide Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners to determine which compound to prescribe. Although abundant scientific research on Chinese herbal medicine’s pharmacological effects have been conducted in China, there is much less work in the West has been done on the same subject. Facing increasing costs and undesirable side effects of prescription drugs in the United States, American medical communities need to seek partnership with their Chinese counterparts to utilize the low-cost and less-risk Chinese herbs as an alternative to treat patients.

In China, herbs are commonly used among its population. Scientific collaboration between Western and Chinese medical research has been created through peer reviewed scientific journals and medical databases on pharmacology of Chinese Herbal Medicine. For instance, The Chinese Journal of Hospital Pharmacy and The Chinese Journal of Chinese Herbs are among the authoritative publications that showcase scientific studies on Chinese herbs. However, pharmacological efficiency of Chinese herbs is less known in The United States. While more medical schools start to incorporate alternative medicine including herbal medicine in their curricula, many Western doctors and scientists hold skeptical view toward Chinese herbs as superstition and archaic pseudoscience. Many Americans have a stereotype of Traditional Chinese Medicine as mystical and unscientific, which may lead to reluctant research among scientific communities. Additionally, many Chinese herbal medicines have been marketed as dietary supplements and there has been considerable controversy over the effectiveness, safety, and regulatory status of these substances. Misuse of marketed herbal products in the U.S. further reduces the scientific credibility of Chinese Herbal medicine. For instance, ephedra or Ma Huang in Chinese, contains ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. Due to the risk of adverse impact on the cardiovascular system and some deaths due to consumption of extracts in high doses, the use of ephedra is restricted in the United States. Chinese wormwood, Qing Hao in Chinese, was discovered as a source for artemisinin, which is now used worldwide to treat multi-drug resistant strains of falciparum malaria. It is also under investigation as an anti-cancer agent that may induces adverse effect. Moreover, certain Chinese herbs involve a risk of allergic reaction and a risk of poisoning in rare cases. Potentially toxic and carcinogenic compounds such as arsenic and cinnabar are sometimes decocted as part of herbal formulas or used on the philosophy of “using poison to attack poison.” Although Chinese culture is familiar with healing philosophy of herbal medicine, such practice creates legal and clinical risks in the Western medical system. Apparently, misperception on Chinese herbal medicine and incorrect application of herbs are major barriers to scientific research in the U.S.

Nonetheless, this is not to say that Chinese herbal medicine lacks of pharmacological effects. Chinese herbs contain powerful biochemical agents, which have been scientifically documented in Chinese medical literature. Their clinical application over hundreds of years in China confirm their therapeutic effects. Language barrier and conceptual differences hinder the communication between Chinese and Western medicine communities. It would take collaboration between English-speaking Chinese medicine practitioners and open-minded Western medical scientists to research on Chinese herbal medicine in the U.S. in order to deliver effective drug alternatives.

Secret Formula for Longevity

In the quest for the fountain of youth, we have done well to extend life span. We found anti-aging foods such as berries and broccolis. We advanced medical procedures for organ transplants. We even created magic pills like Viagra and Levitra to enhance sexual performance. These are all good, but what exactly can we do to maintain our health and live longer in a natural way? The secret formula to slow aging will be revealed here. Make sure you share it with your family and friends so that you will hang out with loved ones for a LONG time.

1. Finding the PURPOSE of life - the MOST potent ingredient

Having a sense of purpose in life helps us buffer from the unforeseen mishaps. Having a job we like, volunteering for a charity organization we believe in, joining social or religious groups, and devoting ourselves to families are good reasons that make us look forward to another day. This helps us establish a sense of wellbeing. We feel happier when people think we are useful. The purpose of life drives away alienation and loneliness, which are often associated to poor health in elderly.

2. Coping with STRESS like taking a walk in the park

When we feel anxious or tense, our stress hormones become elevated. Chronic stress reduces the length of telomeres, enzymes that affect how many times a body cell can divide. Stress also reduces telomerase activity and accelerates the aging process. According to a study at the University of California, San Francisco, women with the highest levels of perceived stress have shorter telomeres by the equivalent of at least an additional decade’s worth of aging. Stress also causes us to develop bad habits such as binge eating, excessive drinking, smoking and fidgeting. Having longer sleep with better quality is one way to alleviate stress level. We cannot please everybody. We cannot finish every task. Take it easy.
(Wanna know the red hot modern stress triggers? Read Stanley Bing’s article “Off the Grid” in Fortune Magazine issue August 6, 2007)

3. Eat a healthy and BALANCED diet

There is no one magic food that can turn back the clock. If we haven’t eaten well, forget about the past. Start to eat a balanced and healthy diet with three regular meal schedule today! We can make the most of our metabolism if we eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, dinner like a pauper. It’s Okay to consume fats, the right kinds of fats - monounsaturated and polyunsaturated including Omega-3 fatty acids. Fruits, vegetables and whole grains are good sources for carbohydrates. Don’t worry, moderate amount of carbohydrates do not cause water retention if our kidneys function well. We can get plenty of protein from lean meats and poultry, fish, beans and legumes. Soluble fibers found in foods are proven to have anti-aging effect, as fibers can keep blood sugar stable and insulin level down.

4. EXERCISE like an athlete

Remember Darwin’s “survival of the fittest”? Longevity is positively correlated to physical activities. 30-60 minute cardio workouts at least five days out the week help protect our heart, improve blood flow, keep bones strong, tone muscles, and more importantly, reduce inflammation and cancer risk. Physical activities including aerobics and strength training also lower our risk of developing depression, which is commonly seen in the retired population.

5. Control WEIGHT gain, especially the WAISTLINE

“Obesity accelerates aging by promoting insulin resistance or type-2 diabetes, increasing the risk of heart disease and cancer, contributing to inflammation, and leading to degenerative arthritis and disease of the lungs.” Says David Katz, M.D., M.P.H., director of the Yale Prevention Research Center. Eating less and exercising more can easily help us shed excess pounds. Waist circumference is a common measure for abdominal fat. Excess fat in the abdomen, independent of total body fat, is considered a risk factor for ailments such as diabetes, high triglycerides, and high blood pressure. It is considered “healthy” if our waistline grows an average 1/6-inch each year. Take extra caution if we have to shop for new belt.

6. SEX is necessary to keep adults healthy

“Sexual activity is a form of physical exercise.” says Dr. Michael Cirigliano of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Making love three times a week burns around 7,500 calories in a year -- the equivalent of jogging 75 miles. Heavy breathing during sex raises the amount of oxygen in cells. It helps organs and tissues function at their peak. DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), a popular anti-aging hormone, is released naturally right before orgasm and ejaculation. Many people consider lovemaking as an effective way to reduce stress level.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine 101

More and more Americans begin seeking complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to solve health problems. According to a survey conducted by The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) in 2002, 50 percent of U.S. adults age 18 years and older have used some type of CAM. Due to the heterogeneity of CAM, some people may hold misconceptions about the practices of CAM. The following sections are provided to highlight the basics of CAM.

What is the definition of CAM?

The NCCAM defines CAM as “a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine.” David Eisenberg, M.D., Director of the Division for Research and Education in Complementary and Integrative Medical Therapies of the Osher Institute at Harvard Medical School, describes CAM as “practices explicitly used for medical intervention, health promotion, or disease prevention which are not routinely taught at United States medical schools, nor routinely underwritten by third party payers within the existing United States health care system.” Alternative medicine, complementary medicine, integrative medicine, holistic medicine, and natural medicine are other terms for CAM.

What are the common practices of CAM?

1. Energy Medicine
Energy medicine deals with the application of energy fields (such as magnetic field and bio-field) under the concept that the human body holds energy and people interact with each other through energy exchange. Energy is considered as the vital life force under different names in different cultures. Qi is known as energy in traditional Chinese medicine, Ki in the Japanese Kampo system, and Doshas in Ayurvedic medicine. Illnesses arise when there is an imbalance of energy in the human body. Restoring the normal flow of the energy helps improve one’s health. Qi Gong from China, Reiki and Johrei from Japan, healing touch, and intercessory prayer are examples of energy medicine practices.

There is an increasing demand for energy medicine in America in recent years. Some academic medical centers began investigation projects on the subject. However, energy medicine remains very controversial in the mainstream medical field, because the existing scientific technology cannot demonstrate the biophysical means of human energy field, external energy field, and their therapeutic effects. Dr. Mehmet C. Oz, Professor and Vice Chairman of Surgery at Columbia University in New York City, Director of the Cardiovascular Institute, and Founder and Director for the Complementary Medicine Program at New York Presbyterian Hospital, says "As we get better at understanding how little we know about the body, we begin to realize that the next big frontier … in medicine is energy medicine.”

2. Mind-body Medicine
Hippocrates (ca. 460BC-ca. 370BC) recognized the moral and spiritual aspects of healing. He believed that treatments could occur only with consideration of patient’s attitude, environmental impacts, and natural remedies. Traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicines integrated the mind healing into their medical philosophies, dating back more than 2,000 years. Scientific developments in the West around the 16th and 17th centuries led to a separation of the spiritual or emotional stage from the physical body.

In the modern world, mind-body medicine focuses on the interactions among the mind, the body, the effects of emotional, mental, social, and spiritual behaviors on a person’s health, and the empowerment of one’s capacity for self-care. Among a variety of mind-body intervention techniques, relaxation, hypnosis, visual imagery, meditation, yoga, biofeedback, tai chi, qi gong, cognitive-behavioral therapies, group support, and autogenic training are commonly practiced in the United States.

3. Manipulative and Body-based Practice
Manipulative and body-based practices treat the structures and systems of the body, including bones and joints, soft tissues, and circulatory and lymphatic systems. Chiropractic and osteopathic manipulation, Massage therapy, Tui na (Traditional Chinese Medicine Massage Technique), Reflexology, Rolfing, Bowen technique, Trager bodywork, Alexander technique, and Feldenkrais method are under the umbrella of Manipulative and Body-based Practice.

In the United States, manipulative and body-based therapies are primarily practiced by doctors of chiropractic, osteopathic physicians, physical therapists, and physiatrists. The majority of the research on the cost and utilization of spinal manipulation have focused on chiropractic, which covers 90% of manipulative practice. Similar to spinal manipulation, massage is commonly used for musculoskeletal dysfunctions. However, a significant fraction of people seek massage care for relaxation and stress relief.

4. Biologically Based Practice
Biologically based practice includes vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids, proteins, botanicals, animal-derived extracts, prebiotics and probiotics, whole diets, and functional foods. Increasing use of dietary supplements in the past two decades indicates that there is a strong desire for consumers to promote overall health and wellbeing. Clinical studies find some evidence for the effectiveness of dietary supplements in improving energy level and promoting health.

In addition to dietary supplements, herbal supplements also became popular in recent years. Like over-ther-counter and prescription drugs, they have active ingredients that affect one’s physical environment. If herbal supplements are applied properly, they can work wonders. However, the correct application of herbal supplements depends on herbs’ properties and individuals’ body constitutions. Self-prescription is not recommended and may cause adverse effects.

What are the conceptual foundations for CAM?

Generally, CAM follows these basic concepts:

• Body has the ability to heal itself.
• Take a proactive role in disease prevention to achieve balanced health.
• Target at the root cause of an illness instead of focusing on the symptoms of the illness.
• Holistic treatments address all aspects of one’s life. Body, mind and spirit cannot be treated separately. The abnormal condition of one directly affects the wellbeing of others.
• Try natural methods first, and avoid invasive procedures that may cause other problems later on. However, seek these procedures when necessary, and integrate CAM into treatment plans.

How prevalent is CAM in the United States?

The NCCAM survey conducted in 2002 finds that 50 percent of U.S. adults age 18 years and older have used some form of CAM. There is a significant increase in the use of herbal supplements, growing from 12.1 percent of adults reporting the usage in 1997 to 18.6 percent in 2002. Yoga practice has increased 40 percent during the same period, from 3.7 percent to 5.1 percent. If prayer specifically for health reasons is considered as a form of CAM, the number of adults using this healing method rose to 62 percent in 2002. The 2002 National Health Interview Survey showed that 4.1% of the respondents reported lifetime use of acupuncture, and 1.1% (representing 2.13 million Americans) reported recent use of acupuncture.

Why do Americans seek CAM?

When suffering from chronic ailments that have not been successfully treated by conventional medicine, many Americans turn to CAM for help. CAM works particularly well with chronic disease management and health maintenance through proper diet, exercise, stress management and emotional healing. Disease prevention is the goal of some CAM users. While some people seek CAM based on friends’ or physicians’ recommendation, others try CAM out of curiosity. Of course, the economic burden of conventional medical treatments urges people to look for alternative healthcare solutions.
Americans use CAM for different types of diseases and conditions. It is commonly seen that people use CAM for pain management of neck, back, and joints, psychological disorders such as anxiety or depression, gastrointestinal disorders, and sleeping problems. Women are more likely than men to experience mind-body therapies, while men often seek CAM for musculoskeletal conditions or chronic and recurring pain. Higher socio-economic status increases the likelihood of CAM utilization.