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Hello i want to know about Rhinoceros Horn as i have 2 bird statues made of Rhino Horn and was told it is rare in Chinese Medicines can you let me know please Andrew 

From: Pcmeal3 Dear Dr. Shen: I have a Chinese friend who told me that when she was a young girl her grandmother made her drink herbal tea whenever she got a cold. She said that it tasted foul, but it worked amazingly well. Do the Chinese have good medicine for colds? Do they have side effects? I am curious, because I catch many colds working with children.

A: It seems like there are at least a hundred different Chinese cold remedies. Some are herb teas, others in pill form. I've tried about a dozen and they all seem work. However, be careful about purchasing cold pills which have been manufactured in China. Many contain ingredients which are not herbal and may not be listed on the label. Some of these chemical or pharmaceutical ingredients are banned for sale in the U.S. Safe Chinese herbal cold medicines are made in the U.S. (not just packaged in the U.S.). Brands like Dr. Shen's (my own), 7 Forests, Zand, K'an , Health Concerns are made in FDA inspected factories and assure better quality. As for the products, Yin Chiao is number one. Use these tablets at the first sign of a cold or flu or for the first or second day of the illness. Considering the number of users in Asia, Yin Chiao is possibly the biggest selling cold medicine of all time, yet here it's a secret shared by a few illuminati. The Yin Chiao formula evolved over fifty generations and probably reached perfection in the eighteenth century, when it was first published. The name Yin Chiao refers to the two main herbs in the formula, Yin for Jin Yin Hua (honeysuckle), and Chiao for Lian Chiao (forsythia). Other worthwhile Chinese herbal cold medicines are Dr Shen's Zong Gan Ling, Gan Mao Tui Re Chong Ji (a sweet beverage), Sang Chu Pills (for chest cold), Planetary Herbs' Yin Chiao plus Echinacia, Health Concerns' Yin Chiao Jr., Fritalaria and Loquat Cogh Syrup. Teas made with loose herbs or concentrated herbal extracts are knock down effective and may be tailored to an individual cold. These teas can be put together at Chinese herb shops which you can find in most big cities. The resident herbalist will determine if you have Wind Cold or Wind Heat and which level your disease is at. Then an individualized combination of herbs will be prescribed. If you can drink this brew (you won't be thrilled about the taste), you'll likely feel better within an hour. Side effects seem to be limited to formulas that contain large amounts of Ma Huang (Herba Ephedra). This wonderful herb, which can relieve wheezing, is also a stimulant that has been misused by diet mongers and herbal drug pushers out for a fast buck. The FDA is now trying to establish guidelines for proper dosage. From:

Dear Dr. Shen: Looking for a treatment for vertigo. After an attack of it I am lightheaded for weeks. Can anyone help? Doglove11

A: There are many causes of vertigo. Some are caused by excess, some by deficiency. Herbs and treatment used for one kind are contraindicated for the other kind. Without a proper diagnosis, you run the risk of doing yourself harm. This is not a condition for self-prescription. Find a good TCM doctor.

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From: LuvARabbit What is "5 element" acupuncture? Is it more effective than "regular" acupuncture?

From: Dr Shen 5 Element Acupuncture is based on one of several useful theories of Chinese Medicine. Other useful theories include, Yin and Yang, Theory of the Channels and Collaterals, The Six Pathogenic Factors, The Zang Fu Theory. A medical theory enables the doctor to understand the origin and course of disease. Chinese Medicine, however, is vast and empirical. That is, it's based on what WORKS. Theories are fine, but they're no substitute for experience. First find what works, then explain it in terms of theory. Outside of textbooks, in the real clinical world, knowledgable practitioners of Oriental Medicine will use whatever theories are necessary to get clinical results. Practitioners who are slavishly devoted to a single theory are missing out on the boundless practical treasures offered by the full range of Chinese Medicine.

From: VIAM24 Re: spasmodic Torticollis Dear Dr. Shen: Anyone ever deal with this? The neck is twisted and the muscles spams almost all the time. There is pain involved a lot of the time also . Life becomes very difficult .There is a web site about it. I have been diagnoised with it and wonder if any one has used acupucture or anything else to help relieve pain or spasming. Please e mail me if you have . Thanks .

A From: Dr. Shen: Any acupuncturist can treat this. Keep in mind though that if muscle spasms are chronic or recurring, conditions may benefit from Chinese herbal treatment as well. According to Chinese Medicine there are several possible causes for this condition. The most common involves a stagnation or perverse flow of Qi (energy) in the channels that traverse the neck. There are six of them. Often times this is caused by an overheating of the system called the Liver, which in itself can have several causes. If you can, find an acupuncturist who is versed in the diagnostic methods of Chinese Medicine. This will likely insure a successful acupuncture treatment. Good Luck.

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From: RMNTZR Dear Dr. Shen: Is echinacia safe for pregnancy?

From: Dr Shen The effect of most herbs used in the Western world have not been well studied on large populations over long periods of time. Chinese herbal medicine, on the other hand, is very explicit about which herbs are safe and unsafe for pregnancy. I suggest you stick to pure Chinese herbal pills like Yin Chiao. These herbal formulas are known to be safe for pregnancy. But be sure to get the brands made in the USA, as they contain only herbal ingredients. Besides, they work way better than echinacia, golden seal, or any other Western herb.

From: Alphea Dear Dr. Shen: I have a friend who after losing a lot of blood, due to an operation mishap, now has short term memory. She also can't remember some people that she knew before the mishap. What herbal treatment can she use to restore or strengthen her memory? She gets so frustrated at times and begins to cry.

From: Dr Shen According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, Blood deficiency is a known cause of memory loss. Blood deficiency, as it is known in TCM, is often remedied by ingesting herbs known to be Blood supplements and eating more red meat . The most widely used remedy is Ba Zheng Wan or Eight Treasures Pill. Helpful herbs are: Dang Gui (angelica sinensis), Bai Shao (peony root), Shu Di Huang (Chinese foxglove root steamed with wine), and Chuan Xiong (liguisticum).

From: VONWELT Dear Dr. Shen: I went to an acupuncturist/herbalist (Chinese M.D.) and she gave me Golden Book Tea/Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan which listed the following Di Huang/Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch 29.63% Shan Zhu Yu/Cornus officinalis Siebold et Zuccarini 14.83% Huai Shan Yao/Dioscorea japonica Thunb 14.81% Mu Dan Pi/Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews 11.11% Fu Ling/Poria cocos Wolff 11.11% Ze Xie/Alisma plantago aquatica L. 11.11% Rou Gui/Cinnamomum cassia Blume 3.70% Xiang Fu/Rhizoma Cyperi 3.70% What are these? I stopped taking them after a few days because they made me a little irritable and I was worried that Di Huang was related to Ma Huang. The doctor gave me them to strengthen the "kidney" (meridian?). Any comment? I have auto-immune hypothyroidism.

From: Dr Shen Golden Book Tea is a variation of Rheumania 6 combination, the classical formula for Yin deficiency. The addition of 2 herbs makes it usable for enhancing Kidney Yang as well. It is considered a very safe formula. Following are common names for the ingredients. Please note that the last ingredient, Xiang Fu (Cypress) is probably a deliberate misprint (to facilitate export). The real ingredient is Fu Zi (aconite) which is considered toxic when consumed raw . It is processed here to eliminate toxicity.

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From: PGerm30447 Dear Dr. Shen: I have started taking Dang Gui a few weeks ago to help relieve PMS symptoms, it has seemed to work very well and am wondering if I should take it daily since it also considered a dietary supplement. I would like to know just exactly what this herb is about?

From: Dr Shen Dang Gui (There are many spellings) is considered a Blood tonic, and a Blood mover. It is rarely used alone for at least 2 reasons. First, it also has slight laxative properties, so if you have digestive complaints other than constipation, it must be combined with other herbs.  The most widely used preparation is called Women's Precious Pills. Second, it works way better when combined with other Blood tonics like peony root and Chinese foxglove root. If taking it alone relives your PMS, odds are your PMS is at least partially due to Blood deficiency. Find a practitioner of Chinese medicine to get even more help. If you can't find one in your area, e-mail me and I'll send you info. on a formula called Free & Easy Pill which contains Tang Kwei (different spelling) and works REALLY well for PMS.

Subj: Hot flashes! From: JSchnei778 Anyone tried black cohosh? Has it helped & are there any side effects?

From DrShen: Black Cohosh, Sheng Ma, is considered mildly poisonous and should not be taken either in large quantities or over long periods of time. Try a Chinese herbal formula like Two Immortals (Er Xiang Wan) or Great Yin Tonifying Pill (Da Bu Yin Wan). I can assure you they're safer and much more reliable than any single herb.

Subj: Re:Two Immortals/Menopause Dr. Shen, why would taking Two Immortals prolong a cold or flu? Also what harm can occur from overusing herbal remedies?

From DrShen: Early elimination of a cold or flu requires the body to mildly perspire. This means dispersing energy at the surface and opening the pores. As a tonic or supplementing formula, Two Immortals, like many tonics, can "consolidate the surface" making sweating difficult. This is said to drive the invading pathogen deeper within the body. "Locking the thief within the house" and prolonging the illness. As to why it is unwise to overuse herbal remedies - It should be obvious that there is a correct and appropriate amount of any medicine. Nature shows us that rest is necessary for continued growth. Overuse leads to loss of effect or decay.

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From: Turtle1ds Dear Dr. Shen: If you know the Chinese herb, tan kwe gin and Shou wei chu ,they sell in Chinese market . What are these herbs for , and how about the dose , and long term use?

A: Tang Kwei Gin is a syrupy sweet 'Blood Tonc" made with Dang Gui (Tang Kwei) and other modifying tonic herbs. It's most often used by women whose menstual irregularities are due to 'Deficiency of Liver Blood'. The formula itself is quite safe for longterm use, but as a Chinese import, its exact contents cannot be assured. Shou Wu Chi is also a liquid tonic. Its chief herb is He Shou Wu, also called Fo Ti. This is also a Blood tonic, but it is more designed to supplement the 'Jing' as well as the 'Blood', thus making it more useful as an 'anti-aging' supplement. Though it is not noted on the box, this product likely contains some alchohol, which, as the West has just discovered, is also beneficial to the elderly, but dangerous for pregnancy. (The Chinese have known this for about a hundred generations.)

Dear Dr. Shen: I am currently taking Tenormin. I exercise daily. You cannot go by your heart rate, how should I judge how hard to work out?.

From DrShen: Breathe only through your nose. If you have to open your mouth to gasp for air, you are taxing your heart and lungs. This cuts down your performance, but who cares? With regular effort you will again reach your current level. You will build energy rather than drain it, and you will have safely expanded your capacity.

Subj: women's precious pills From: SSamson603 Dear Dr. Shen: I am currently taking the Chinese patent formula Ba Zhen Wan (Women's Precious Pills) for irregular periods and have had good results. I also noticed that my skin is beginning to clear up. Could it be the herbs?

From: Dr Shen: Acne is considered 'Damp Heat' and is usually treated with formulas containing heat clearing herbs. (see http://www.drshen.com/herbsforacne.htm) But often times the 'Heat' is caused by 'Blood Deficiency'. The Blood being insufficient in quantity or quality to dilute normal body wastes (toxins). The resulting toxicity is called Heat to the Blood and shows on the skin. In these cases, Women's Precious Pills (a 'Blood Tonic'), used alone, given enough time, may be enough to clear the acne by building the Blood, thus diluting the toxins and eliminating the root cause of the heat. If, on the other hand, the source of 'Heat' is not from 'Blood Deficiency', these pills will not relieve the acne. What is necessary is to discover the source(s) of heat and then eliminate or neutralize them.

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Subj: Help for friend From: Kalaflamme Dear Dr. Shen: I have a friend who has been diagnosed with spastic colon and diverticulitis. She frequently suffers from much pain and is confined to bed. What can you recommend? Thank you.

From DrShen: Acupuncture is often helpful in relieving pain with most, but not all, intestinal conditions. Does the pain feel better when warmth is applied? If so, moxibustion (an herbal heating method) can also be used. Herbal treatment is particularly good for digestive complaints as the medicine is, obviously, digested. However, exact diagnosis according to TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) is very important in cases like this which can be a mixture of hot and cold, excess and deficient. By the way, the modern diagnosis of diverticulitis, or spastic colon is unimportant to the Chinese doctor. She or he looks for signs like cold, heat, stagnation, or abnormal Qi. Once diagnosed and treated properly according to these conditions, results can be remarkable. Check out this page: http://www.drshen.com/herbsforibs.htm

Subj: Chronic cough in 7 yr old From: Reneeb Dear Dr. Shen: I have a son who has cough variant asthma. Cough variant asthma is not the same as true asthma, no difficulty breathing, wheezing, excessive phlegm. Its' allergic. We have been trying with different supplements to boost his immune system. Is there anything that is safe and effective in alleviating an allergic cough.

From: Dr Shen Despite what you have been told, allergies may not be the true cause. . Chronic persistant cough in children is most commonly caused by either of the following. Wet cough is usually due to persistant 'Dampness' (water) affecting the lungs. The herbal formulas Er Chen Wan, Pinellia Expectorant Pill, Pinellia 16 tablets (made by 7 Forests) taken over a period of 3-6 weeks will cure this condition unless deeper digestive problems require supplemental herbs. Dry cough is most often caused by lung dryness. This condition sometimes follows injury to the fluids caused by a disease such as cold or flu. In these cases, the Lung Yin becomes scarce. Sometimes the nose, throat, trachea, or lungs try to moisten the irritating dryness by creating mucous. This is often perceived as post nasal drip. Sometimes it is also understood as allergic cough. Dry Cough Pills will stop this cough by moistening the lungs. Loquat and honey syrups also work well for this kind of cough, because both herbs help to generate fluids.

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Subj: Night Sweats From: Beavcleve Dear Dr. Shen: Have you heard of night sweats stemming from insomnia?

From DrShen: According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, both night sweats and insomnia can stem from the same cause. This is known as 'Deficiency Heat' . It is the result of deficient 'Yin'. Since the nightime is the Yin time. Repeated health events occuring at night are associated with abnormalities of the Yin. Yin is cool. When you are low on Yin, you don't have enough to balance the Yang. For normal sleep to ocurr, the external Yang energy must retreat into the depths of the person where it is held in place by the Yin. At night, if the Yin is insufficient to restrain the Yang , the extra Yang breaks free, rises to the surface, and you are awake. Often you are warm. Your body will sweat to cool what it perceives as excess heat. If you sweat without exersion in the daytime (Spontaneous Sweating), chances are, you're short of Yang Qi; the daytime being the Yang time of the day. In this case, you aren't sweating because of heat. Instead, you sweat because your body lacks the energy needed to Consolidate the Surface (keep the pores closed).  An effective combination for this are Good Sleep Pills combined with Two Immortals Pills, usually in equal amounts.

Subj: DongQui for Post Menapausal Symptoms From: Reiki kk To: Dr Shen I am 46 years old had my ovaries taken out 3 1/2 years ago due to ovarian cancer and I can not take estrogen. I have been taking DongQui, Vit E , Evening Primrose oil to deal with the hot flashes. I am again taking chemo which seems to increase the flashes. Is there any other herbal remedy you can recommend??

A: Yes there are herbs and herb formulas which can potentially be of help to you. But it's very diffilcult to advise you about single symptoms. In Chinese Medicine, we rarely treat only the symptom. We treat the person. The condition of your body is unusually complex. Taking chemotherapy makes it even harder to understand, and more important that the treatment be appropriate. I would be suprised if the combination you are taking is of great help. But it won't do you harm either. Try Two Immortals Pills.

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Subj: Re: tourette syndrome Date: 98-01-07 13:57:47 EST From: Zwobodas Dear Dr. Shen: I am interested if anyone knows anything about using acupuncture in the treatment of Tourette's syndrome. This is for my 8 year old son thanks in advance for taking the time to help a little boy fighting a very difficult battle.

From DrShen: This condition, of uncontrolable expression, suggests pent up Liver Qi with heat affecting the heart (mind). Treatment will vary, as we treat the person rather than the disease. I've only had one Tourette's patient (She barked); so I can't qualify as an expert. But I believe it's worth trying acupuncture for this condition as well as Free and Easy Pills.

Subj: Herbs for bone spurs From: NATSUN97 Dear Dr. Shen: Can anyone suggest some herbs that can be used for bone spurs of the heel.

From DrShen: Bone spurs are quite common on the heel and very painful and bothersom. This abnormal growth of bone matrix is due to weak Kidney Yin. So, for that matter, is osteoporosis and some kinds of kidney stones. To treat this, and herbalist will combine Kidney Yin tonics with Kidney Yang tonics, Blood Movers, Blood Breakers, and downward directing herbs. The Chinese Herbal pill, Kang Gu Zheng Shen Pian is specific for bone spurs. It can be found in Chinatown herb stores.

Subj: Re:St. Johns MAO or not? From: Chesyre Dear Dr. Shen: I have been taking Klonipin for quite sometime for panic disorder, within these few passed months I have been have small anxiety episodes and they are starting to get worse again. I don't know anything about any herbs that can help, but heard you could take herbs instead of Klonipin or whatever.

From DrShen: The herbs you probably heard about are St. John's Wort or Kava Kava. Neither of which is used in Chinese medicine. Lately these herbs have become very popular in the West. They are used for a variety of mind disorders ranging from depression to anxiety to insomnia. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can be strikingly effective for these conditions. Most anxiety and panic is cause by Heat in the Heart affecting the mind. We see the emotional mind as located in the chest (Heart). This condition often begins with emotional constraint in the chest resulting in stagnation of Chest Energy (known as Liver Qi). This stagnation results in heat in the chest which causes anxiety and/or restlessness. Left untreated, insomnia can follow. Herbs that circulate Blood and Qi in the chest like Salvia (sage) and Bupleurum (Hare's Ear Root) are most often combined with cooling herbs like Mentha (mint) and heat draining herbs like Caulis Akebia (Mu Tong) or Medula Junci (Rush pith). If anxiety is accompanied by palpitations, add Oyster shell and a bit of Amber to stabilize and anchor the spirit. Try Good Sleep and Worry Free Pills.

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Subj: Dong Quai/Damiana From: Irenasmith Dear Dr. Shen: I have been following your posts with great interest. I have a newfound respect for Chinese herbs, but don't know much about them yet. I was hoping your expertise could help me with a problem I am having. I have a female problem of spotting during my monthy cycle. This started after the birth of my son. First I developed an ovarian cyst which went away on its own. Then the spotting started and it got worse every month. I was treated by my gynocologist, and was fine for a couple years. He said it was due to improper shedding of my uterus. It started again this fall, progressively getting worse each month. I decided to try Dong Quai before going back to my doctor. The health food store only had a Dong Quai / Damiana mix. It has worked great. I have had no spotting since I started using it. I am a little worried though, that this months menstruation is lighter than usual. I don't take the herbs when I am menstruating. I don't know how to use this herb, and was hoping that you can help.

From DrShen: Thank you for reading my posts. Metrorrhagia, or bleeding between between periods, is difficult to self diagnose, because there are diverse causes. Bleeding can be caused by excess conditions like Heat or trauma, or cysts and growths which exert pressure and rupture the vessels. But a positive response to Dang Gui is a clue that your bleeding may be due to a Deficiency condition like Blood or Spleen deficiency which can weaken the vessels. Most of the herbal formulas used for these deficiency conditions will contain some Dang Gui. Damiana is not used in Chinese medicine, so information on it is largely folkloric and less reliable. The most commonly used formula for deficiency bleeding is called Gui Pi Wan (kwei pi wan) . It is extremely safe and will not harm you even if your bleeding is due to other causes. If you have a friend or relative who lives in a city with a Chinatown, perhaps they could get it for you. It's available in Chinese herb stores. Normal dose is 1-2 bottles per week.

Subj: Dampness diagnosis From: CLODENE Dear Dr. Shen: My acupunturist has told me I have a lot of dampness in my system. I have pain in the left side of my face running down the left side of my neck and arm. I have gone to several accupunturists and though the treatment does decrease the pain somewhat, without treatment it comes right back. what do you think and is there anything else I can do?

From DrShen: There's a commonly used saying in Chinese Medicine "Dampness is Difficult". There are several ways this accumulation of water can display itself. Swollen tissue, phlegm, overweight, cysts, tumors, weeping sores are all expressions of dampness. Disharmonies with dampness are hard to get rid of. Curing them takes time, perserverence and, above all, daily attention. Once a week acupuncture is no match for long standing dampness. Improved diet, excersise, and herbs are needed. If dampness is part of your problem, make sure you take a formula that includes herbs that Drain Dampness. Excercise is needed to remove moisture via the breath and sweat. Avoid dairy products, cold, and raw food. All of these promote the retention of water as phlegm (a form of dampness).

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From: hismaj69 Dear Dr. Shen, I am writing you to ask if you have heard of Dr. Song Quan Chi. He is a doctor in China who has a cure for epilepsy in herbal pillets and capsules. I have epilepsy and I have great respect for Chinese medicine and would like to try his remedy, the only problem I have is " money ". It is very expensive, but if I could cure my seizures it would be worth it. If you have not heard of his work, you can read about it on his web page, it is http://www.o-c-s.com/epilepsy/chi/

From DrShen: Sorry, I never heard of Dr. Chi, but I checked out the doctor's web site. Very interesting. Dr. Chi seems about as authoritative as you can get on the subject of Epilepsy. Next to his, my opinions are worth little. However the site gives rise to several thoughts. First, epilepsy is treatable in TCM, but I'm always suspicious of magic bullet medicine whether it's Eastern or Western. Remember, TCM treats the person, not the disease. But there are many noteworthy exceptions to that rule. Second, there's a lot of bad research in China as well as America, and claims of vast numbers of successes must be viewed cautiously. Third, secret formulas are a family tradition in China, but not here. If you make and sell medicine in this country, you must reveal what's in it. It's a crime to do otherwise. Once revealed, these formulas are often common sense variations of standard approaches. Last, the cost didn't seem high to me.$250 - $1000 didn't seem like a lot of money for those kind of promises. Check out: ttps://www.drshen.com/herbsforepilepsy.htm

Subj: Chinese med and Candida From: Lv2breathe Dear Dr. Shen: I have yeast. I've had a fungal infection on my toenails for three years. I also suffer a great deal of fatigue if I eat foods that encourage yeast growth. I am using the book, Healing with Whole Foods, Oriental Traditions and Modern Nutrition, by Paul Pitchford. It has changed my life. His suggestions have helped enormously. I've diagnosed myself as having excess dampness together with deficiency. The dampness is what aggravates Candida overgrowth.

From DrShen: Yes. A dietary approach to candida is a good beginning. And remember that the candidiasis is only the visible part (the branch), and, as you know, the root lies in dampness and deficiency. Life loves water. Fungi are no exception. Fighting the candida by restricting sugar helps you feel better, but normally doesn't address the root of dampness and deficiency. Some practitioners believe that the overuse of antibiotics has cause an epidemic of intestinal fungus (candidiasis). As antibiotics indiscriminately kill all the intestinal bacteria, they create a lifeless, cold, damp environment in the intestines, perfect for growing fungus. Look here: https://www.drshen.com/herbsforvaginalyeastinfections.htm

Subj: Re:5 element acupuncture help From: Listra888 Dear Dr. Shen: I'd like to know how 5 element acupuncture is different from other acupuncture.

From DrShen: Five element acupuncture uses The 'theory of the Five Elements' as a means of selecting acupuncture points. Five element theory is one of several theories of Chinese medicine. Other theories in Chinese medicine are 'Yin/ Yang Theory', 'Theory of the Channels and Collaterals', and the Eight pathogenic factors.. Diagnosing a patient according to different theories can sometimes yield differing choices of acupuncture points.

Personally, I take a practical approach to healing, employing the theory or combinations of theories that best fits the occasion. There are, however, those who believe in sticking to a single theory, and in seeing all patients from that point of view. They feel that those who practice according to a single theory become more skilled in its use. I have known many practitioners of Five Element acupuncture who are purists in this way.

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Q: I have a small white scar on my chin due to a cyst I had one year ago. Does anyone know of any treatment which could help fade/get rid of this scar? Thanks!

A: Try twice a day rubbing with Wan Hua Oil.

Re: Rosacea From: KLWay Dear Dr. Shen: I tried various things and never had a lot of success. I worry about the possible side-effects of the antibiotics I'm on.

From DrShen: Rosacea, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, rosacea comes from interior heat reaching the Blood, which has risen to the face and stagnate there. Many sources of heat can combine in the body to inflame the vessles - overly stimulating diet, Blood or Yin deficiency, agitation or stress, hot pathogens, etc. As to antibiotics, you should worry about the side effects. Antibiotics are improperly prescribed for treating a longterm condition like rosacea. The results are obviously destructive to the body's normal flora and fauna. All the side-effects to the longterm use of antibiotics are not yet known. Look here: http://www.drshen.com/herbsforacne.htm

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Subj: Ginko Biloba From:Puma4000 Dear Dr. Shen: Is Ginko Biloba safe to take for asthma during pregnancy?

A: Not in my opinion. The seed of this herb has long been used in Chinese Medicine for asthma, but never alone. It's always used in formulas together with other modifying herbs, as it has a mildly toxic nature. There are four main causes of asthma. Successful herb formulas used to treat asthma must contain herbs to treat the cause of the condition. If ginko is used, there must also be herb(s) to neutralize the toxicity. Herbs can greatly relieve asthma suffering. Be sure to use the right formula. Check out our asthma page: http://www.drshen.com/herbsforasthma.htm

Q: Dr. Shen: I have a prostate problem and the main ingredient, pygeum rips my stomach up. How could I palliate the pygeum, or what can I replace it with?

From Drshen: If taking it with food fails, try Stomach Curing pills or Po Chai pills. Chinese herbal antacids include powdered Oyser shell (Mu li), Clam shell, and Cuttlefish bone (Hai Piao Xiao) If you wish to use Chinese herbs to help your prostate, take the pill known variously as Golden Book Tea or Sexoton pills. It has been used for centuries to help prevent benign prostate hypertrophy . Avoid the Chinese pill called Prostate Gland Pill (aka kai kit pill), as it is useful only for acute prostate inflamation and not usually indicated for chronic prostate enlargement. Above all, find a practitioner.

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