Chinese medicine views the body as a dynamic, interrelated whole possessing a vital energy or life force called Qi (pronounced chee)  Health depends on the free flow of this energy and the interplay of the body, mind and spirit.  When disease occurs, specific herbs are chosen to rebalance the energy and allow the body to heal itself.

Everyone is on this water kick. I need to drink 8 bottles of water per day. "That's 48 bottles of water per week", as Lewis Black stated in his HBO special, "you need to bring a burro to the store with you just to carry all of those bottles.  The health benefits of drinking that much water have never be clearly defined.  However, the health benefits of tea have.

There are natural compounds in tea leaves called polyphenols.  Polyphenols are natural plant antioxidants. Antioxidants have been shown to prevent damage caused by free radicals to DNA and other molecules. 

Tea polyphenols have demonstrated several cancer preventive properties.  In addition to antioxidant activity, these compounds may reduce abnormal cell growth and inflammation, help the body get rid of cancer causing agents and restore communication between different cells in the body.

According to the National Cancer Institute, the relationship between tea consumption and human cancer has been studied in several different populations and at various cancer sites.  Some of the studies comparing tea drinkers to non-tea drinkers support the claim that tea-drinking prevents cancer.

In animal studies, different tea extracts, tea polyphenol mixtures, purified tea components, and tea infusions as the sole drinking fluid have consistently been shown to prevent cancer, including cancers of the colon, esophagus, liver, stomach, lung, breast, pancreas, and skin.  The purified component, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), prevented colon cancer.  A polyphenol mixture with EGCG, Polyphenon E, has also shown cancer preventive properties in animals.  Animal studies were inconclusive as to whether EGCG or Polyphenol E caused DNA mutations that might trigger cancer growth.

Tea consumption began as far back as 2737 BC.  The second emperor of China, Shen Nung, discovered tea when tea leaves blew into his cup of hot water or so the story goes.  And then in 1876 Thomas Johnstone Lipton opened his first shop in Glasgow using American merchandising methods.  At present Tea consumption in on the rise especially Green Tea.

Snapple has a television commercial touting the health benefits of it's green tea with a mysterious ingredient EGCG .  In addition to the many health benefits of EGCG mentioned above, researchers at the Mayo Clinic using laboratory cell cultures shows that a component of green tea known as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) [epi-gallo-cat-ekin-3-gal-ate] helps kill leukemia cells by interrupting the communication signals they need to survive.

So, instead of drinking 8 glasses of water per day why not drink 4 cups of tea and 4 bottles of water.  Guess what- you are still getting 8 glasses of water…you know why…BECAUSE TEA IS MADE WITH WATER…HELLO.  Beware of the water fanatics who claim that if you add anything to pure water like tea or lemon it will negate the health benefits…I'm yawning.

Drew DiVittorio Dipl., CH (NCCAOM)
Taoist Healing Arts Consultant
Classical Chinese Herbolog & Nutrition
National Board Certified
Tel: 917-582-3739
Blog: asianhealingartsinstitute.com
Bridging the Gap Between Oriental Medicine & Modern Nutrition

Technorati Tags: water, green, tea, polyphenols, antioxidants, free, radicals, cancer, prevention, inflammation, health

In 1978 while I was still in high school my mother developed breast cancer.  I had no idea what detoxification was or how it worked.  The nutritional program that she decided to use to help her overcome her condition was the Gerson Program.  The main strategy of this program is detoxification which treats existing conditions and can prevent disease.  Now in my 14th year of private practice detoxification as a healing strategy is the most important part of my practice.

How does detoxification work and why is it so important?

Today we are exposed to many toxins from the environment such as the air we breath(including house hold cleaning products), the preservatives in food and of course toxins from alcohol, prescription and recreational drugs. Recent studies have suggested that long term low level exposure to toxins such as heavy metals (mercury, lead, arsenic), pesticides, and industrial compounds are associated with such conditions as chronic fatigue, environmental and chemical sensitivities and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's.  High levels of toxins in the body have also been linked to headaches, fertility problems, memory loss, and depression.

How does the body becomes toxic? There are two phases of the liver, Phase 1 and Phase 2, which are mostly responsible for removing toxins from the body.  Basically, Phase 1 (cytochrome P450) removes the toxins from the blood.  The result of Phase I creates a 'free radical' (free radicals are electrically charged molecules that damage healthy cells). The free radical is then conjugated by Phase 2 and excreted from the body through urination or through the bowels.  It sounds complicated but it’s really not.

Basically, the more toxins we are exposed to, the more free radicals we produce which then burdens the liver's ability (Phase 1 and Phase 2) to remove the toxins or free radicals.  The result is more free radical production leading to more cell death and chronic inflammation.

Not eating or fasting on water is NOT detoxification.  According to research, the liver needs specific nutrients to detoxify.  Depriving the liver during a detoxification program only produces more free radicals which can lead to a healing crisis or poisoning of the body.  A safe and effective detoxification program requires specific nutrients to enhance the liver's ability (Phase 1 and Phase 2) to remove the harmful toxins stored in the body.

Let’s take a look at some foods, herbs and nutrients that are powerful antioxidants that can help our liver effectively and safely excrete toxins from the body.

Green Tea is the most popular antioxidant on the market today and has anti-cancer properties.  The catechins (phytochemicals) in green tea have been shown to lower the incidence of Parkinson Disease.  The National Cancer Institute is currently investigating green tea's chemotherapeutic potential.  In addition, green tea helps to regulate blood sugar and improves digestion.

Milk Thistle (silymarin the active ingredient) is a well know liver protectant and powerful antioxidant.  Milk Thistle is the best antioxidant which should be taken on a daily basis to help the liver manage the many toxins we are exposed to.

Lastly, our B vitamins are essential for detoxification especially Folic acid.  Folic acid helps our liver to metabolize homocystine, an amino acid which is associated with inflammation and heart disease.  Folic acid also helps to rid the body of harmful heavy metals.

For more information on detoxification or my detoxification program please contact me(use contact above)

Drew DiVittorio Dipl., (NCCAOM)

Technorati Tags: toxins, detox, detoxification, green tea, fruits, vegetables, veggies, milk thistle, antioxidant, vitamins, folic acid, liver, homocystine, inflammation, heart disease, cancer, catechins, phytochemicals

This was the cover of Time Magazine back in February 2004.  The article explains the link between chronic illness and inflammation as follows: 

Most of the time inflammation is a life saving procedure that allows the body to fight off infection from bacteria, virus and parasites. (Yes even in the industrial world we are constantly being bombarded by pathogens).  The instant any of these potentially deadly microbes slip into the body, inflammation marshals a defense attack that lays waste to both the invader and any tissue it may have infected.  Then just as quickly, the process subsides and healing begins.  Every once in a while, the whole feverish process doesn't shut down on cue. In any event, the inflammation becomes chronic rather that transitory.

Basically, this article is informing us that the constant exposure to pathogens (bacteria, virus, and parasites) will eventually lead to chronic inflammation, where the body cannot shut down the inflammatory response.  This leads to chronic illness such as autoimmune disease, cancer, heart disease, asthma, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, etc.

However, it is not just pathogens that we are being bombarded with.  We are also bombarded by man made pathogens which in most cases are more harmful.  For example, every time you breathe in a toxins from the air such as household cleaning products, pesticides, chemicals used to keep our lawns and sidewalks free from weeds or industrial generated air pollution, you are triggering inflammation.  Every time you eat a food with a preservative, a pesticide, a hormone, an antibiotic or refined sugar, you are also triggering inflammation.

The most exciting part of this research is that we now have one single healing strategy to help prevent chronic illness and promote healthy aging…..reduce inflammation.

What Can We Do?

Four Basic Rules To Reduce Inflammation:

1. Reduce stress-stress can also promote inflammation (the fight or flight response).
2. Supplement your diet with natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidants such as rosemary, green tea, and fish oil.
3. Use herbs to help you adapt to stress and also for foods that can trigger inflammation.
4. Start The Anti-Inflammatory Diet -avoid or eliminate the foods from the avoid list and replace them with those from the allowed food list.

AVOID Foods:

red meat, cold cuts, hot dogs, cured meats, shell fish, eggs, milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, all gluten grains (wheat, oats, spelt, rye, barley, processed soy, canned soups and vegetables (unless they are from a health food store), citrus (orange and grapefruits), coffee, alcohol, soda (especially diet), margarine, butter, refined oils, peanuts, peanut butter, all refined sugar and refined oils. (Trans fats are found mostly in processed foods)

Beneficial Foods:

Organic chicken, turkey, fish, legumes, soy and rice cheese and milk, non-gluten grains (millet, amaranth, buckwheat, quinoa, brown and white rice), unlimited fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, canned soups without preservatives and high sodium contents, grain coffee or tea, nut butters such as almond and sesame, good fats from olive oil, fish oil, flax seed oil

Remember, you do not have to give up the foods from the avoid list completely, you just have to reduce them. You are allowed to eat 10 items from the avoid list per week…its easy.

Drew DiVittorio, Dipl,.(NCCAOM), Oriental Medicine & Nutrition

Technorati Tags: heart, disease, arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic, fatigue, syndrome, sinusitis, allergies, asthma, digestive, food, allergies, inflammation, herbs, anti-inflammatory, diet

My interview for the book focused on the theories and treatment of Asthma according to Oriental Medicine. The theory I discuss in the book dates back to the Hun dynasty (220AD).  It is a classical text, the Shang Hun Lun (Treatise on Cold Induced Disorders), written by one the Great Masters and Physicians of Oriental Medicine, Chang Chong Ching. 

This classical text brilliantly explains specific symptoms and guidelines for treatment strategies related to colds and flu that can be acute or chronic.  The treatment protocols are still being used successfully today. 

The way we work with Asthma or any western pathology according to Oriental Medical Theory, is to translate the condition into the diagnostic categories according to Oriental Medicine.  For example we can divide the causes of Asthma into many different categories.  For this discussion, however,  I will present two of them.

Causes of Asthma According to Oriental Medicine:

Cold Phlegm; a patient with cold phlegm will present with copious amounts of sputum, a productive cough, a thick white coating on the tongue and a slippery pulse.

Kidney Qi and Yang Deficiency a patient will present with fatigue, cold limbs, low back pain, poor concentration, exercised induced asthma or difficulty breathing on, a pale swollen tongue with a deep or submerged pulse.

Treatment Strategies According To Oriental Medicine:

With Cold Phlegm Asthma, we remove sweet sticky foods from the diet (see my shopping list) which will reduce dampness and phlegm.  Conversely, one should begin to increase warming spices to help induce sweating and clear phlegm.  A traditional herbal formula that may be used for this condition would be a combination called Minor Blue Green Dragon (xiao qing long tang), which clears cold phlegm from the lungs and stops wheezing.

With Kidney Qi & Yang Deficient Asthma, we increase warming foods and spices and reduce cold food from the diet like green leafy vegetables and tropical fruits.  A traditional herbal formula used for this condition is Rehmannia 8 (jin gui shen qi wan).  Tshis formula strengthens the Kidney Qi and Yang and allows the free flow of Qi from the lung thus reducing wheezing.

 Drew DiVittorio, Dipl,.(NCCAOM), Oriental Medicine & Nutrition

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