Safety Concern of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Source: https://sg.news.yahoo.com/chinese-medicines-may-contain-high-levels-toxins-230754907.html

British health regulators have issued a warning that some traditional Chinese medications contain "dangerously high" levels of lead, mercury, and arsenic.

On Tuesday, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) warned people not to use a number of unlicensed Chinese medicines, including a product called Bak Foong Pills, which are used to treat menstrual pain.

The medicine has been recalled in Hong Kong after it was found to contain up to twice the level of lead permitted by the Hong Kong Government.

Another Chinese medication called Hairegenerator, used for the treatment of hair loss, has also been recalled in Hong Kong after a sample was found to contain 11 times the permitted level of mercury.

The Swedish National Food Agency (SFNA), meanwhile, has found extremely high levels of arsenic in products going by a variety of names, including Niu-Huang Chieh-tu-pein, Divya Kaishore Guggul, and Chandraprabha Vati.

These are used for the treatment of mumps, sore throat, tonsillitis, toothache, skin infections, anorexia, and fever in young children.

"The adulteration of traditional Chinese medicines with heavy metals is a significant international problem and can pose a serious risk to public health," said Richard Woodfield, MHRA's Head of Herbal Policy.

 UK consumers can follow Woodfield's advice: "To help you choose an herbal medicine that is suitable for you, look for a product that has a Traditional Herbal Registration (THR) or product license number on the packaging.

These products have met the acceptable quality and safety standards. – AFP/Relaxnews, August 22, 2013.

As mentioned by Dr Chen during Live of Dr Chen chapters, there are 3 category of plant foods:

1. Poisonous Category (example, Ma Huang)

2. Herbal Categry (Korean Ginseng, TCM)

3. Fruits and Vegetable Category - Given that it's food, it can be consumed on daily basis. 

Commonly, we thought that TCM is better than western medicine, given that it's herbal. However, let's look at one example, Aspirin. Which is used to treat fever, inflammation, joint pain or even heart disease. 

Aspirin could be made from medicational herb call White Willow Bark. In TCM, white whillow bark is also used to help with pain relief, arthritis, reduce inflammation. 

However, why white willow bark from TCM "seems" better? Often, it's due to the concentration whereby in preparing the TCM, it's not as concentrated as western medicine. Thus, the effect is slower and side effect is lesser than western medicine. When we are consuming it, it will burden our kidney as well. 

Cheers

Siew Choon

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Immunotheraphy vs Nutritional Immunology in fighting Cancer

Saw the newspaper article lately in medical science in Immunotheraphy in fighting cancer, whereby it's leveraging on patient's own immune cells to attack cancer.

However, it's taking the immune cells out from the patient's body and do intensive training in the lab so that it knows how to fight a cancer cells when releasing the immune cells back to the body.

Why not we train up our immune cells on daily basis? Than waiting until things happen then only started leveraging on "external's intensive training"? How much is it going to cost and how effective it is?

This is something that has been advocating in Nutritional Immunology for about 30 years.

Who is the best Doctor?

Our immune system, who is the best doctor in the world, does 3 major function. Protect, Cleanses and Repairs. 

Let's look at how it fight against the normal viruses/bacteria.

So how to train up our immune cells on daily basis? 

Isn't it that we have to nourish with the right nutrition? 

Understand more on What is Nutritional Immunology here, on Dr Jau Fei Chen's session at University of Toronto, School of Medicine

Regards
Siew Choon
90263064

Preventing Broncitis with Nutritional Immunology

Lately has been seeing a lot of story about bronchitis, and for the acute case it could be deadly.

Let's understand more about bronchitis.

It's a inflammation of the mucous membranes of the bronchi, which usually coming into either acute form or chronic form.

Acute bronchitis - 90% of them are due to virus infection, only 10% of them are caused by bacteria infection.

Chronic bronchitis - Chronic bronchitis usually develops due to recurrent injury to the airways caused by inhaled irritants, e.g. pollutants or smoking.

Most of the case for kids, the bronchitis occurs is acute one. But do you know how to differentiate whether it's due to bacteria or virus?

Bacteria - more complex organisms. If it's bacteria infection, the mucous we are seeing is green/yellowish, in color.

Virus - non living. If it's virus infection, the mucous we are seeing is transparent in color.

Next, mother always ask. I will get doctor to give me antibiotic and that will resolve the problem. Isn't it the case??

Antibiotic doesn't kill virus






















For the case of bronchitis, do take note if it's due to virus or bacteria infection and leading to inflammation.

Do take note on the side effects of the medication used for bronchitis also.

The US FDA has warned against misuse of antibiotics, stating that "bacteria and other microorganisms that cause infections are remarkably resilient and can develop ways to survive the drugs meant to kill or weaken them. This antibiotic resistance is due largely to the increasing use of antibiotics."

Some NSAIDS (non steroid anti inflammatory drug are used to stop the inflammation too.

There is nothing better than our own Immune System to fight against the root cause that cause the bronchitis and stop the inflammation.

So how to let our B cells to fight against those invaders then??

Best is to nourish our immune system with more phytochemicals, antioxidants and polysaccharides.

Read up more why I consume Nutritional Immunology food, especially Oxyginberry which provides a great convenience.

Read up How I stay young and stay healthy?

Oxyginberry

Check out how mummies are benefited from Oxyginberry and preventing bronchitis.

Cheers
Siew Choon
90263064

What is Free Radicals Attack?

Have you seen an oxidised apple?

Yes, it's oxidised due to Free Radical attack.

How are free radicals produced?

What are the diseases caused by free radicals atack?

Can you see that we are exposed to free radicals anytime, anywhere?



Regards
Siew Choon

How Antioxidant helps in disease prevention incuding cancer

Antioxidant is the enemy of free radicals.

It forms a protection layer to prevent cells from being damaged. These are the compounds that can inhibit oxidative stress.

Wholesome plant definitely contains antioxidant, since antioxidant gives the fruits/vege colours and aroma. That's why we need variety of colours and types.

Without antioxidant, the protection layer is removed, and bare cells are easily being mutated/damaged. Look at picture above.

However, please be aware that lots of people are taking antioxidant from pills, e.g. vitamin/multi vitamins. When antioxidant is prepared chemically, or extracted from a wholesome food, it doesn't work the same anymore.

Further, do check out following on where does vitamins come form, and what's the side effects of taking vitamin supplements.

http://www.precisionnutrition.com/all-about-vitamin-supplements


Siew Choon
90263064
teysiewchoon@gmail.com

How Phytochemicals help in diseases prevention including Cancer

Phytochemicals - These are commonly found in all fruits and vegetables and that is the main reason why we have to take more fruits and vegetables. The best doctor in the world, which is our immune system needs phytochemical, anti-oxidant and polysaccharide.

 

Phytochemicals are chemicals that are produced by plants to help them from UV free radical damages. These beneficial chemicals block various hormone actions and metabolic pathways that are associated with the development of cancer.

 

Many phytochemicals have been shown to provide protection against malignant cell growth, look at few examples:

• Sulforaphane, a phytochemical exists in the cruciferous vegetables can activate the Phase II enzymes in our body to destroy cancer causing substances.
• Genistein, a phytochemical exists in Soy prevents the growth and spreading of tumours by cutting off their oxygen and nutrients supplies from capillary blood vessels.
• Indole-3, a phytochemical exists in broccoli and berries helps to break down cancer causing estrogen into harmless form.
• and many more..

Phytochemicals is very beneficial when it's coming through wholesome food source, as it doesn't cause any side effects. Unfortunately the same can't be said for chemically processed phytochemical supplement, like Genistein pill which may easily cause burden to liver and kidney as our body needs to perform additional steps to recognise them.

 

Orange contains 100+ types of phytochemicals, Aloe Vera contains about 300+ types, and cactus contains up to 10,000 types of phytochemicals. Given a choice, cactus will be very beneficial if we are able to take it into our diet.

 

I will share more on my diet to make my stay healthy and stay fit.

 

 

Siew Choon

90263064

teysiewchoon@gmail.com

 

 

What is Nutritional Immunology?

Nutritional Immunology (NI) is founded by Dr Jau Fei Chen, world outstanding Chinese, same as Mr. Lee Kah Sing, but she represents medical science. Her remarkable background is available here

Nutritional Immunology studies the link between Nutrition and Immune System. In the past when we talk about Nutrition, we often focuses on vitamin supplements, protein, drinking cow's milk, popping calcium/iron pills etc. But the Nutritional Immunology focuses on taking wholesome fruits and vegetables in strengthening our immune system, thus preventing diseases.

Since 29 years ago, Nutritional Immunology has been advocating taking natural, wholesome plant foods. It studies further on how Phytochemical, Antioxidant and Polysaccharides helps in our immune system, thus we can prevent all diseases.

These 3 nutrients can be found only in wholesome fruits and vegetables. Have a look at following Channel News Asia interview on what's Nutritional Immunology, and how it can help to prevent all diseases.

Today, we can't lack of food, but we are more concern on the quality of food we put into our mouth, do you agree?

To keep the body in good health is a duty, otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear

Siew Choon

Nutritional Immunology Coach

90263064