Common Sources Of Error In Clinical Trial Literature

Part 1: Introduction To Statistical Methodology Introduction Since the early 1960’s statistical studies in medicine have moved from being a newly introduced innovation to the most acceptable way to verify medical theories and practices. However, the critical limitations of this methodology are often ignored and this, along with poor handling of appropriate statistical methods, has resulted in many false positive …

Healing The Gut: Restore the Spleen Qi Part 4 – More Insights Into The Human Microbiome And Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)

Introduction In this article we will explore and evaluate the empirical research-based knowledge to date and attempt to integrate this with TCM theories and practice. In order to do this effectively we need to clearly define our terms, understand the concepts embodied in these terms, and also appreciate the implications and limitations of each of these concepts. The following section …

Healing The Gut: Restore the Spleen Qi Part 3 – Clinical Protocols Using Prepared Chinese Herbal Medicines

Introduction Parallel with the growing body of Western research, over the past decade Chinese and other (mostly Asian) researchers have also been investigating the human microbiota and correlating their findings with TCM theory as well as the traditional actions of the Chinese herbal materia medica (CHM). Such studies are becoming increasingly common and it is not unusual for new information …

Healing The Gut: Restore the Spleen Qi Part 1 – Survey Of Current Biomedical Knowledge

Introduction Western medicine appears to be approaching a ‘revolution’ in terms of understanding how the gut functions in health and disease. The rapidly expanding pool of detailed research, mainly in vitro, points to the close association between disorders of gut structure and function and the development of a wide range of acute and chronic diseases. Thus, we now know that, …

Research Update: Huan Lian Jie Du Tang (Coptis & Scutellaria Decoction)

Introduction Huang Lian Jie Du Tang (HLJDT) was first recorded in ‘Medical Secrets of an Official’ (wai tai mi yao), by Wang Tao, 752 CE, a work in 40 volumes that covers every branch of medicine and contains over 6,000 formulas. HLJDT was originally used for severe conditions in which a virulent pathogen (Heat Toxin or Fire Toxin) pervades the three Jiao …

The Clinical And Pharmacological Actions Of The TCM Formula “Yi Gan San” (Restrain The Liver Powder)

Introduction The traditional Chinese herbal formula Yi Gan San (YGS) was recorded by Xue Kai (a.k.a. Xue Liang-wu) in the Bao Ying Cuo Yao (Synopsis of Caring for Infants), 1555. It was originally intended for pediatric use in cases with spasms, feverishness, bruxism, anxiety with palpitations, and restless sleep with terrifying nightmares. In contemporary practice its clinical applications have been …

Dementia – Orthodox Western And Traditional Chinese Medical Approaches

Preamble The incidence of various types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, is steadily increasing.  The prevalence rates rise with increasing age. In Australia, the prevalence is 2% for people in their 60’s increasing to over 32% for those in their 80’s and beyond. Moreover, these figures are expected to double by the year 2020. With the increasing numbers of people …

Migraine Headaches – A Review Of Current Western And Traditional Chinese Medical Approaches To Diagnosis And Treatment

PART 1 – MIGRAINE HEADACHE IN WESTERN MEDICINE Introduction Headache is the most commonly occurring neurological disorder, affecting 60-80% of the population at any one time. (Sahai-Srivastava & Ko, 2008) According to the International Headache Society (IHS), The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd Edition (ICHD-II), headaches are divided into two basic categories: primary and secondary. The former are those …

Female Infertility Treatment Options: Western And Traditional Chinese

ABSTRACT This paper explores and contrasts the western medical (WM) and the traditional Chinese medical (TCM) approaches to fertility management. Although the likelihood of success using the WM approach has been well researched and TCM has not, it appears that, based on the best available evidence, the TCM approach may be just as effective as well as more economical. Moreover, …