Gallstone formation (cholelithiasis) is another disease with a very low incidence in primitive societies, yet in modern society it affects more than 20% of women and 8% of men over the age of 40 (Gracie 1982). Each year hundreds of thousands of gallbladders are surgically removed, at great cost. 75% of all gallstones consist primarily of cholesterol, while the rest are formed from pigments (calcium bilirubinate), bile salts, bile pigments, inorganic calcium salts, and other minerals.

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Genital herpes simplex is a virus, spread by direct skin to skin contact.  As with most chronic viral diseases, once you are infected you can experience recurring flare-ups.  Symptoms include blisters on the genital area and anus, and occasionally the buttocks.  After a few days, the blisters break open and leave painful, shallow ulcers that gradually crust over and fade.  These attacks may be triggered by heat-producing factors like emotional stress, fatigue, sunburn, drugs (prescription or recreational), sexual activity or dietary errors

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The fluid pressure between the iris and the cornea builds up because the trabecular meshwork (the filter on the eye's drainpipe) becomes unable do its job properly. This is a bit more complex than it sounds. Recent evidence shows that there is a functional relationship between the ciliary body, which pulls, and the trabecular meshwork, which then distends and blocks fluid outflow. Originally thought to be a passive participant, it now seems that the trabecular meshwork itself has the ability to contract and open itself for fluid drainage (Wiederholt et al., 2000). The goal of internal herbal therapy is to preserve visual function and maintain the health of the optic nerve. The ideal medicine for glaucoma should improve microcirculation to the back of the eye, nourish and moisturize the intra-eye membranes, reduce IOP (intra-ocular pressure), calm stress, and improve fluid drainage

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Gout is a form of arthritis caused by an increase in the production of uric acid and its deposition in the joints, kidneys and other tissues. It is often characterized by acute onset with severe pain. It frequently affects the big toe (up to 90% of all cases), especially in the first attack. The concentration of uric acid in the body is a compound total determined by the amount eaten (in foods), how much the body produces, and how much is excreted in the urine. Excessive dietary intake of fatty foods or ingestion of alcohol or drugs often precedes gout attacks. However, 85% of cases are caused by failure to excrete sufficient urea via the urine (Stobo et. al., 1996). Standard allopathic treatment involves inflammation control with NSAIDS and uric acid control with Allopurinol or other drugs, along with avoidance of alcohol, fats, refined carbohydrates, and foods high in purine, such as organ meats (liver, kidney) and sardines (Emmerson, 1996).

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Chinese martial artists have known for centuries that herbs can help speed recovery from athletic or traumatic injury. Such herbs were often coveted and sometimes kept secret. Today, most "wounds" I see result from either surgery or motor vehicle accidents. I can’t tell you how many surgical patients have returned to tell me that that they healed much more quickly than their physicians expected.

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In TCM, Jaundice is divided into two basic groups, called Yin yellow disease, and Yang yellow disease. Yang yellow disease is actually acute jaundice or acute hepatitis. Yin yellow disease is chronic jaundice caused either by external toxins and dampness, or excesses of alcohol and greasy food. These factors weaken the digestive system and eventually block the liver. The blocked liver backs up, causing jaundice

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The sense organs are our window into the world. Few of us truly realize how precious sight and hearing and our other senses are until we are threatened with their loss. For example, vision loss is the one of the greatest fears of our aging population, second only to fear of cancer. The variegated cacophony of lights and sounds in the modern world distorts and alters our senses, too often separating and thus barring us from appreciating Nature’s true beauty and healing power. The sound of a bird's chatter, the rustling of the leaves in the wind, and the glint of the last ray of sunlight over a still lake have become sought-after luxuries in this chaotic modern world, when long before they were a daily blessing.

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When the lungs are too dry, there will be symptoms of dry mouth, tongue and perhaps dry cough. Construct a formula by choosing from lung-nourishing herbs which soothe, such as wild cherry bark (Prunus species), raw rehmannia root, glehnia root (sha shen or Adenophora tetraphylla), ophiopogon root (mai men dong or O. japonicus), apricot seed (xing ren or Prunus armeniaca), licorice root, wild asparagus root, Irish moss (Chondrus crispus), slippery elm bark, and marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis).

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The liver can become weakened and deficient. If this is not corrected, it can lead to liver atrophy and depletion of glycogen stores, even hepatitis. Signs include fatigue, low blood pressure, hypoglycemia, dry eyes, headache, heat symptoms and irritability. In such a case, we use white peony root and cooked rehmannia root to do what is known in TCM terms as nourishing the Liver blood and Liver Yin. Milk thistle seed also nourishes the liver, stimulating protein synthesis and cellular regeneration. Shilajatu and haritaki fruit are both very nourishing to the liver. Any of these herbs can also be used to lower elevated liver enzymes

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To test for a hidden food allergy, remove the item completely from your diet for two weeks, making sure to real all labels to ensure compliance. After two weeks, eat a moderate to large amount of the food in question and see if the re-introduction of the food causes a noticeable adverse reaction over the next 24-48 hours

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In a series of rigorous studies, researchers found convincing evidence that certain food ingredients provoke urticaria symptoms and sustain the disease in a majority of patients. In one trial, by following a diet avoiding preservatives, dyes and other natural pseudo-allergens, 73% of patients experienced remission of more than six months duration, as compared to 24% of controls.

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Hyperthyroidism is the primary manifestation of a group of diseases characterized by an over-active thyroid gland and increased production of thyroid hormone. Major symptoms of hyperthyroidism include: rapid heartbeat resulting in palpitations; heat intolerance or sweating; emotional symptoms including but not limited to irritability, anxiety and insomnia; tremors; exhaustion; softer, finer hair; hair loss; easy bruising; lighter and more infrequent menstrual periods; muscle weakness; eye problems such as itching, watering, bulging and double vision; and weight loss.

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I nickname hypglycemia "sub-clinical glycogen storage disease" (real gsd) because in 1996 while in Kathmandu, Dr Mana was examining a hypoglycemic patient and demonstrated via palpation that the liver had shrunk in size, indicating low levels of glycogen. In TAM, this problem, linked to low blood pressure, fatigue, and nervousness in a disease called ojaskshya, and is considered to be the result of weak digestion and blood deficiency (rasaksaya). The problem is often found in nerve-natured (Vata prakriti) patients. It is treated by combining digestive herbs and general rasayana tonics (Bajracharya, 1988). This insight led me to understand much more clearly my treatment goals. Many patients have found relief following the below strategies.

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It is a mistake to assume that clinical blood tests for thyroid function are infallible. In fact, it is my clinical experience (shared by other holistic doctors) that persons whose blood tests do not show problems often continue to have symptoms. When treated with either thyroid hormone or herbal alternatives, many of these patients improve dramatically. The simple tried and true method of taking the basal body temperature with a thermometer is often a more accurate way to assess thyroid status, and is certainly less expensive than laboratory evaluations. Blood tests measure the amount of thyroid hormone that is produced by the body and circulated in the blood, but they cannot tell if the body is utilizing the hormone properly at the cellular level.

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Understanding of the importance of lymph tissue in immunological function throughout the body is gradually increasing, with researchers focussing on the functions of LALT (larynx-associated lymphoid tissue), MALT (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue), and VALT (vascular-associated lymphoid tissue). I think of these lymph tissues as immune governments or police stations, where lymphocytes go to get their orders, identify criminals, coordinate activities, transmit information and receive nutritional paychecks.

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In the simplest of simple understanding, the immune system can be overactive or underactive, in exact concordance with the ancient concepts of excess and deficiency.  Immune deficiency states render us more susceptible to infections and tumors, and immune overactivity makes us vulnerable to unnecessary inflammation and tissue destruction. Another aspect of immune dysfunction is now being recognized in diseases such as amyloidosis, in which abnormal deposits of proteins from fragments of immunoglobulins appear in tissues. Recalling that one of the purposes of the classic divisions of Ayurveda is to help us recognize universal patterns within the whole, we can divide immune problems into three large categories for ease of understanding, broken into both positive and negative manifestations.

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Many people still believe that the effects of herbs are either very weak, or can only stimulate or suppress immune function in a general way.  We are now learning that individual herbs have powerful and often very specific effects on immune function—another exciting area of natural medicine.  The ability to see these effects both in the clinic, with regard to blood tests and patient response, and in the laboratory, is gradually changing our understanding toward greater respect for herbal medicines, awareness of potential dangers, and a desire to understand in greater detail what these medicines are capable of doing. However, it is still true that herbs, because they are complexes, tend to act in multi-faceted ways.  Here we will examine the various immune system players, and give examples of herbs that can modify or enhance their actions.

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Sometimes just nourishing the blood is not enough. In spite of a good diet and adequate digestion, I often get patients complaining of poor circulation accompanied by symptoms like a weak pulse, cold intolerance, or cold fingers and toes. Again, it is important to first determine underlying medical conditions that may be causing the symptoms, such as iron deficiency anemia, hypothyroidism, cardiac weakness, vitamin B-12 deficiency etc.

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Herbs that can be of great benefit in these conditions when used as simples (single herbs in capsules or tablets) include tien chi root, which helps heal the ulcers, and boswellia gum, coptis or DGL licorice root, which control inflammation. Sometimes plain green tea can also be helpful. Inflammatory prostaglandin levels are almost always highly elevated in these diseases, and studies have shown great benefit in using large amounts of flaxseed or fish oils (Stenson, 1992).

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Problems with eustachian tube drainage are an important causative factor in these infections. The eustachian tube helps drain exudates and mucus from the middle ear. In young children, this tube is not fully formed, so chiropractic adjustments are reputed valuable in some cases to help with drainage (Froehle, 1996), though no long-term studies have been done (Sawyer et al., 1999). In cases where dietary errors, allergy or other factors causes abnormal exudation, bacteria can easily multiply, leading to infection.

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