Author: Dr. Mee Lain Ling

Che Qian Cao – “Plant-Before-Cart” or Asiatic Plantain Pharmaceutical Name: Herba Plantaginis There was a Chinese general in the Han dynasty (206 B.C. – 220 A.D.) by the name of Ma-Wu.  One summer, the country was undergoing a severe drought and the people were suffering from famine. ...

12 April, 2013

Jin Ying Zi – Golden Tassel Seed or “Japanese honeysuckle” or Cherokee Rose Fruit Pharmaceutical Name: Fructus Rosae Laevigatae Once upon a time in northern China, there were 3 brothers who lived together with their wives.  But only one of the couples had a child and this...

10 April, 2013

Written by Dr. M. Ling, 9 April 2013 What is it?…Together with acupuncture, herbal medicine is a major pillar of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).  The Chinese Materia Medica lists over 9000 different single medicinal substances – plant, animal and mineral - of which 600 are in...

09 April, 2013

Written by Dr. M. Ling, 25 March 2013 Blood is a useful focal point for exploring health.  Whatever health outcome you are experiencing today, it is heavily related to what is in your blood. Blood bathes your cells 24 hours a day.  Blood not only brings vital...

25 March, 2013

Hypoglycemic herbs and their action mechanisms by HongXiang Hui, George Tang, and Vay LW Go Published in Chinese Medicine Journal (2009), accessed through BioMed Central Ltd. ABSTRACT Conventional drugs treat diabetes by improving insulin sensitivity, increasing insulin production and/or decreasing the amount of glucose in blood. Several herbal preparations...

20 March, 2013

Fast Food Linked to Asthma and Allergies in Kids by Alexandra Sifferlin, January 15, 2013 Published in TIME.com Obesity isn’t the only potential toll that dinner from the drive-thru may have on your health. It’s not just your waistline that may pay a price for eating fast food meals...

15 March, 2013

A Perspective on the Effects and Benefits of the Ancient Art of Hijama (Cupping) Therapy by Dr. David Parker, ND Published in the International Cupping Society (ICS) Magazine, January 2010 As a naturopath, nutritionist and healer, I was intrigued to explore the scientific reasons why the ancient art...

13 March, 2013

Evaluation of wet-cupping therapy for persistent non-specific low back pain: a randomised, waiting-list controlled, open-label, parallel-group pilot trial by Jong-In Kim, et al Published in the Trials Journal (2011), accessed through BioMed Central Ltd. ABSTRACT Background: Persistent non-specific low back pain (PNSLBP) is one of the most frequently experienced types of back pain...

12 March, 2013

Written by Dr. M. Ling, 12 March 2013 In the article on Acupuncture  - A Brief Introduction, we discussed the concept of invisible energy pathways, or meridians that run throughout the body in a closed circuit.   Powerful energy is transmitted through these meridians similarly as the...

12 March, 2013

Xian He Cao – Red-Crowned Crane’s Herb Pharmaceutical Name: Herba Agrimoniae One summer two Chinese officials were making a long trip to Peking (now called Beijing) to take a national examination for promotion.  Seeing that time was almost running out, they hastened their journey, only to find...

11 March, 2013