yin care & its 'expiration' in print

Hey Wait! Yin-care® Has an “expiration” date of 10.16.23!

At this time, there is an issue with the batch/expiration date on the boxes of bottled Yin Care. The currently available product in the United States is indicating an expired date of 10/16/23.

There is only one US supplier/importer of the product and I receive all my Yin Care directly from them. There is a post on their website explaining their decision to continue to offer Yin Care because of their knowledge and experience with it.

My own personal experience, having used Yin Care for decades, as well as my experience as a practitioner with patients, has me completely concurring with their assessment and decision. Ultimately, however, each potential user, patient or customer, has to make the decision to purchase and use one of the currently available product on their own best consideration.

Please read the information below from their website:

Indeed, Yin-care®’s current batch of Herbal Wash shows an “expiration” date of 10.16.23. As you can see, the word expiration is in quotes here. The reason is that we are required to put an “expiration” date on the product; however, it really is supposed to be considered a “Best By” date. We did try to get this printed on the boxes instead of “expiration” but the FDA equivalent in China would not allow for it.

Factory Level Testing for Efficacy
The liquid itself we do efficacy testing on at the factory level and it does show that the bottles are good well beyond a 10 year period. That would mean that these particular bottles are good at least through 2030. However, every practitioner likes to handle this differently. In our clinic, we take time to educate our patients about the situation and they are always ok with continuing to purchase and use our product regardless of the date printed. This may not be something with which you are comfortable.

Composition of Yin-care®’s Herbal Wash
Recall that Yin-care®’s Herbal Wash is both a water based extraction and an essential oil based extraction of the herbs. Due to the essential oils presence, it acts as a preservative. For example, if you have a bottle of Frankincense Essential Oil, do you consider it expired? It does not really expire because it is not pre-diluted and the same is for the Herbal Wash. Because it is highly concentrated even after 10 years, in the lab studies, it showed that it had NOT reached a form of expiration. Every 3 months lab technicians would check Yin-care®’s Herbal Wash efficacy on a petri dish of bacteria. As stated, it continued to show as effective.

Dr. Hudson has been using it since 1999 – has never had a problem with any product – We have one patient still using bottles form 2002 that work well. The expiration date is something we were forced to put on the bottles. If your patients still have a bottle in their cupboard that expired 10 years ago – it would still do the job.

They are working on a more sustainable solution, however, please know that there is a possibility that there will be a few months without any new supply and that would indicate a future use-by date.

Due to these factors, please consider carefully all the above when and if you decide to purchase a bottle of Yin Care. I want you to be aware of the printed “expiration” date and that you understand the factors and are ok with it. If you purchase Yin Care, it will be with this consent.

travel remedies. medicines to take along. remedies to fix you fast.

When we travel, there are health emergencies we’d want to prevent - or fix.

Infections and airborne allergies in transit and in crowds. Motion sickness. Or sea sickness. Sore feet. Sunburn. Bug bites. Headache. Muscle ache. Stomachache. Food poisons,. Hangoversw (!). Can't sleep. Can't eliminate… Which all sound kind of awful and why would we want to prepare for all of that instead of fun??? Just the point. Preparing for the 'hiccups' leaves us free for the fun.

If you don’t already have these Travel Remedies in your medicine cabinet, you can get the whole Travel Buddies Herbal Travel Bag on the Shop page.

GAN MAO LING The Exposure Prevention Formula. Strengthens immune response used preventatively. Best Resolving Viral Infection Cold and Flu Formula. 70% of ingredient herbs are anti-viral. Prevention: One dose (4 tablets) and one packet of EmergenC (lots of Vitamin C & Zinc). First thing in the morning on travel days. Cure: 4 tablets, 3 times daily.

PE MIN KAN WAN Allergy Remedy. Clears runny nose, nasal congestion, sinus infection. Dosage: 4-6 tablets 3 times a day

BAO HE WAN & ADHESIVE MAGNETIC PELLETS Motion / Travel / Sea Sickness. Bao He Wan works internally. Magnetic Pellets work topically. Harmonize the Stomach. For Nausea. Vomiting. Distention. Pain. Belching. Bao He Wan aids food digestion and removes food stagnation. Safe remedy for kids. For motion sickness, one dose before traveling. Another dose as needed. Apply adhesive Magnetic Pellets to ‘magic points’ (see point location map). Happy Travels!

THE GREAT MENDER TEA PILLS  / JIN GU DIE SHANG WAN  Muscle and Joint Support & Recovery. Aches, pains, strains, overuse. This formula will relieve aches & pain & facilitate recovery. After any repetitive motion activity: sightseeing, hiking, biking & workouts,. Strengthens tendons and bones. Helps heal traumatic injuries. Dosage: 8 teapills, 3 times daily.

WHITE FLOWER OIL Muscle Aches. Headache. Sinus Congestion. Tired Feet. Bug Bites. Multi-Purpose Topical Remedy. Relieves aches & pains. Inhale to clear sinuses. Stops itching. Relieve headache with a drop or two on temples or forehead. Soak to soothe tired feet. Apply topically twice daily (more often if needed). Keep away from eyes.

BURN CREAM / CHING WAN HUNG Burns. Sunburn. Rashes. Poison Ivy. Poison oak. Stops pain & itching immediately. Heals tissue. Keep Burn Cream in the kitchen. Apply immediately to affected area. Repeat 2-3 times daily.

CURING PILLS Indigestion. Nausea. Vomiting. Food Poisons. Hangovers. Remedy of choice for overindulgence! Single dose as needed, as soon as needed. One dose should do it.
 
PEACH KERNEL TEAPILLS Blocked / Irregular Bowels. Resolves common traveler's constipation. Rhubarb, peach kernel and flax seed combine to resolve occasional constipation. 8 teapills 3 times daily.
 
AN MIEN PIAN / THE PEACEFUL SLEEP FORMULA Insomnia. Tossing & Turning. Calms the mind. Relaxes the body. Promotes restful, restorative, uninterrupted sleep. 3-4 tablets at night before sleeping. If sleeping trouble persists, take 3-4 tablets, 3 times each day.

Take these medicines and the INSTRUCTIONS with you when you go…

Travel Safe and Have Fun!!

thieves. essential oil. soaps. sanitizers. oral hygiene. everything clean.

Have you been introduced to Thieves? If not, we've got to make that happen.

Why Thieves, you ask? It is a proprietary essential oil blend created by the Young Living (EO/essential oil company) founder whose research in the British Museum Library archives uncovered a formula with a 14th century legend behind it of European perfumers and spice traders who rubbed themselves with oils as they plundered and robbed the dead and dying. Great story. The point being that the oils are powerful antibacterials, antivirals, anti- a lot of really undesirable microscopic invaders. Thieves emerged from legend and is SUCH a strong EO protector that it just must be part of our medicine kits. And now, Thieves is the base for an array of excellent health, home and personal care products.

Let's look at what it's in it…

• Clove bud oil - analgesic. antibacterial. antifungal. antiseptic. disinfectant. immune stimulant. will numb the gums. for toothache.

• Lemon peel oil - as much as 72% limonene a powerful antioxidant. antiseptic. antiviral. astringent. invigorating.

• Cinnamon bark oil - antibacterial. antifungal. antimicrobial. antioxidant. antidepressant. tonic. soothing to gums and teeth.

• Eucalyptus Radiata leaf oil - antibacterial. anticatarrhal. antiviral. anti-inflammatory. expectorant.

• Rosemary leaf oil - analgesic. antibacterial. anticatarrhal. antiseptic. astringent. expectorant. mucolytic. stimulant.

The Thieves repertoire of incredibly effective, all-natural, chemical-free, daily-use, household and personal care items that I am a BIG fan of include soaps and sprays, toothpaste, mouthwash (my personal FAVORITE), hand sanitizers, household cleaners and wipes. Thieves EO provides the shield against illness-prone microscopic invasions and every product-version shines in its prescribed function. And, in the current pandemic universe, I always feel protected with Thieves and all Thieves products.

There is every kind of soap: bar soap, laundry soap, dish soap, hand soap. Thieves cleaners and cleansers and wipes. Toothpastes and floss and mouthwash. I diffuse Thieves EO in my rooms every day. Hand sanitizers go in my bag and in every clinic room. Surfaces and the air get a 'spritz' with Thieves Spray and I always carry a small spray to use after buying groceries or any shopping excursion. I keep hand wipes and surface wipes in multiple spots. I've found that my spaces and my days are simply better and cleaner and safer because I can use Thieves.

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Thieves Mouthwash - my favorite - an extra rave review.

Add the MINTS (for minty-fresh breath!) to Thieves EO and you get the best mouthwash ever - at least I think so - promoting whole-mouth health and cleanliness.

• Peppermint - analgesic. antiseptic. anti-inflammatory. invigorating. purifying. tasty. fresh. soothing.

• Spearmint - antibacterial. anticatarrhal. antifungal. anti-inflammatory. antiseptic. relieving. refreshing. uplifting. stimulant.

Also adding:

• Vetiver - antiseptic, immune stimulant, nerve sedative, circulatory stimulant, calming, grounding, rubefacient (warming)

• Quillaja saponaria bark extract (soapbark) - with saponins that act as a natural foaming agent. Loosens buildup and cleans hard-to-reach areas.

Spicy sweet Thieves and minty Mints invigorate, clean and freshen without alcohol, artificial dyes or flavorings.

You can brush or rinse with Thieves Mouthwash:

1. As Mouthwash: Rinse, with 1/2 to 1 full capful for 30–60 seconds.

2. As 'Toothpaste' substitute: Brush well, with 1/2 to 1 full capful and your toothbrush. Rinse! Using Thieves Mouthwash in regular and consistent 'toothpaste style' will resolve gum inflammation and keep gums especially healthy.

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Introduction made… Explore Thieves and Thieves products. You will love them too.

yin qiao san & gan mao ling

Remedies for Cold and Flu… continued

Two (more / Ban Lan Gen Chong Ji discussed in my previous blog) preeminent formulas in our Chinese medicine pharmacy for resolving common cold and flu symptoms:

Yin Qiao San (or Yin Qiao Jie Du Pian/ Honeysuckle & Forsythia Tablets) has been relied upon by practitioners for many years to combat the common cold and influenza. Originally formulated in 1798, Yin Qiao San directly resolves 'heat toxins' with two herbs: Flos Lonicera(Honeysuckle)/ Jin Yin Hua and Fructus Forsythiae(Forsythia)/ Lian Qiao. They make up 36% of the formula. In Chinese herbal medicine, ‘heat toxins’ in this context are the viruses causing upper respiratory infections. The body-response to toxic viral invaders is fever(heat). Body temperature rises in order to literally burn up and out illness. The rest of the herbs in the formula join in to reduce fever, clear sore throat and push the heat toxins 'to the surface' and out of the body. Because the formula's active ingredients have such functionality and potency, Yin Qiao San has also been the foundation formula for pediatric measles and chicken pox.

Then, a formula from the modern times - Gan Mao Ling (Common Cold Effective Remedy). Only three decades old and not three centuries, Gan Mao Ling surpasses Yin Qiao San in treating the common cold, influenza and other upper respiratory infections. It is faster and more effective because the four component herbs — Radix Ilex/ Gang Mei Gen, Radix Evodia/ San Cha Ku, Radix Isatis/ Ban Lan Gen and Flos Lonicera/ Jin Yin Hua — are specifically antiviral and make up 74% of the formula. Twice as much of Gan Mao Ling is devoted to directly attacking the common cold and flu viruses when we compare to Yin Qiao San. Gan Mao Ling has taken the lead in treating colds and influenza. Its extensive and repeated use confirms the efficacy of this modern formula.

If you have one or both of these Chinese patent medicines in your medicine cabinet, you are well on your way to Taking Care of Colds and Flu anytime and every time.

As soon as you can, begin dosing with one or the other formula. My recommendation is to begin at the earliest stage with Gan Mao Ling, taking one, two or three doses that first day. This treatment may knock the cold or flu right out. If not and symptoms develop further, continue taking Gan Mao Ling and/or Yin Qiao San (take both with more initial severe symptoms) every three hours. If the cold/flu goes deeper settling into the chest and lungs especially with cough, we move to or add another more specific cough and/or phlegm formula. More on that in a soon to come blog…

ban lan gen chong ji... first signs of cold or flu

ban lan gen chong ji

For remedies that are effective and/or specific to the FIRST SIGNS of a cold or the flu, we begin with…

BAN LAN GEN CHONG JI

Packets of sweetened herbal granules, taken as a tea, dissolved in hot water.

If you have managed to take BAN LAN GEN CHONG JI at the true first sign of getting sick, the first packet can be enough to stop it from developing any further, period.

I let my patients know they can take this formula in several ways.

Take it immediately at the FIRST SIGN of COLD or FLU (scratchy throat, first sniffles or cough), once or twice or three times the first day. Monitor your symptoms and improvement. Then decide whether to continue taking BAN LAN GEN CHONG JI or move on to one or more of our other formula remedies if symptoms don't seem to be decreasing or disappearing. With fever and sore throat, you will very likely feel better after taking one or two doses.

isatis tinctoria

You can take BAN LAN GEN CHONG JI as your only remedy for acute cold and flu symptoms. Drink the tea 3–4 times a day for a week and up to 2 weeks.

For prevention, you can take a dose a day BEFORE or AS SOON AS you may be in contact with seasonal colds or flu. Definitely start regular daily doses (3 times daily) when someone around you is sick and you are exposed.

Interesting fact: During the SARS outbreak in China, families DEPENDED on Ban Lan Gen Chong Ji, used it consistently, and now it is a home medicine cabinet must-have.

Ban lan gen is the Chinese pin yin name for Radix Isatis or Woad Root. This very potent root drains heat and toxins, cools down fire and fever. It is used widely in formulas to resolve seasonal toxic pathogens (sore throat and upper respiratory infections) and epidemic disorders (measles and mumps). It also treats jaundice and hepatitis. It is a flowering plant in the same family as broccoli and the root was cultivated throughout Europe for its beautiful blue dye color. Medicinally, in our time, it is being researched for its ability and efficacy for inhibiting the influenza viruses.

Also. Please note. The tea packets contain some sugar for sweetening the tea to taste. This remedy may not be appropriate for everyone.

jade windscreen. build your immune system.

Jade Screen Teapills Yu Ping Feng San build up a weakened immune system. Its principle herb Astragalus is at the helm.

Astragalus is preeminent in both western and eastern herbal protocols. Adaptogenic, antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral. Actions to accomplish what is needed, east or west.

Astragalus radiates qi out from the channels, bolstering the protecting wei qi that activates the immune system close to the body surface in the lymph, and in the blood and interstitial fluids. Chinese medicine equates Astragalus’ radiating function with its recognized ability to increase and improve our allotment of immunity.

Jade Screen Teapills combine Astragalus with two additional herbs, Atractylodes and Siler (Chinese name fang feng means ‘guard against wind’) to further promote and enhance immunity. Atractylodes is an adaptogen also, and an immunostimulant, increasing macrophage activity, lymphocyte and white blood cell production. Siler is antipyretic and analgesic, dispersing ‘wind invading’ constituents out from the surface of the skin.

We recommend BUILDING IMMUNITY NOW - with Chinese herbs - and with acupuncture – to ward off the worst and protect the best.

Pediatric applications of Jade Windscreen and its restorative benefit in asthma patients have been studied with good results.

Health histories of 32 children in one clinical study included chronic colds, cough and pneumonia. The children were dosed with for 15 days of every month with the Jade Screen Yu Ping Feng Wan formula. With four months of dosing, 11 of the children had no cough, cold or flu. 13 children had one bout of common cold and 7 had two occurrences.

In a laboratory study, mice were exposed to dust-mite induced asthma. Then in the remission phase, Yu Ping Feng San was administered and the effectiveness against asthma recurrence was determined by significantly reduced airway resistance, increased antibody production and alleviated pulmonary inflammation.

And a pediatric remission stage asthma study of 50 young patients compared Yu Ping Feng San with corticosteroid aerosol inhalation (a treatment which prevents inflammation in the lungs making asthma attacks less severe). 25 patients were treated with YPFS and 25 with inhalers. The effective rate for the patients who received the YPFS treatment was 92%; for the inhaler group, 72%, after a 3 month period. A followup one year later showed the YPFS group had between none and 2 recurrences and the inhaler group had between 2 and 5.

These are good results. Hopeful. And helpful.

A course of Jade Screen Teapills can be your journey to a season without (or with fewer) allergies, colds, flu – and even asthma attacks, whether you are young or old.

burnout

You are lying down and feeling warm. You close your eyes and the lights go dim. You slow your breath. Unwrinkle your brows. The needles begin their magic. Acupuncture can be pretty ‘magical’ - as much as it is healing. An excellent remedy for our times.

As you relax into the energy-moving needles experience. As you reach that alpha state you couldn’t quite get to during your morning meditation. Acupuncture is simply as much as it is complexly an excellent remedy. Why remind you of this now?

A patient sent me a link to an article in the New York Times, “We Have All Hit a Wall” . And then I got an NPR email. Same subject. BURNOUT.

Acupuncture can be an excellent diffuser of all the ways we feel when we are BURNT OUT.

From NPR's 'The New Normal'. Friday April 9...

A recent survey by the job site Indeed found more than half of workers are feeling burned out. It's worse for remote workers, who say working from home is becoming monotonous and draining. Things have gotten so bad that LinkedIn recently decided to give its employees an entire week of paid time off at the same time around the world, as CNN reported. Some large tech companies have announced that their employees can choose to work from home forever. Other companies are trying to lessen the burden of Zoom burnout. Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser announced a new "Zoom-Free Fridays" policy, banning video calls on Fridays to combat what she calls "the relentlessness of the pandemic workday."

If this feels too familiar or too true, join the pack.

We must be ‘on’ for BURNOUT right now. And it isn’t that it finally arrived. It is just its latest version.

Patients come to acupuncture feeling all sorts of out-of-sorts ways - depressed, overwrought, unfocused, unproductive, lethargic. And while they don’t always call it BURNOUT, it is often where they are.

Now, with the over-long pandemic sequestering, patients are frazzled, anxious, melancholy, despondent, exhausted, confused. BURNOUT is as likely a cause mid-pandemic as pre-pandemic.

If you are in need of an energy restore or reset. If you are in need of unwinding and redirecting. If your ‘channels need moving’ and your mind needs clearing… Acupuncture Works!

COVID remedies

We are not yet out of the woods. We may be thinking otherwise. Many of us are getting vaccined. Some not. So. Just in case you get caught with COVID you can still take good herbal care to keep the virus from taking you to the worst place.

Since our Chinese herbal pharmacy is FULL of upper respiratory infection remedies used year round for colds (winter and summer), flu, bronchitis, and sinus allergies, we look to these for help with the coronavirus too. THESE ARE NOT CURES. THESE ARE RESPIRATORY AND GI FORMULAS FOR THE REDUCTION AND RESOLUTION OF SYMPTOMS.

First, upper respiratory issues:

• Fever or chills

• Cough

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

• Fatigue

• Muscle or body aches

• Headache

• New loss of taste or smell

• Sore throat

• Congestion or runny nose

Clear Wind-Heat Teapills / Sang Ju Yin Wan / Mulberry Leaf and Chrysanthemum Formula : For early stage viral infection (Wind-Heat) attacking the lungs. This formula disperses the ‘wind-heat’, stops cough and clears the lungs as it expels phlegm, clears the eyes and head (red, swollen eyes and headache) resolves sore throat. Prescribed when there are fever & chills, cough, sore throat, runny nose or blocked nasal passages, dizziness and eye pain.

Kudzu Releasing Formula / Ge Gen Tang / Pueraria Combination : For initial stage of viral infection(Wind-Cold) and transitional stage between acute and chronic rhinitis or sinusitis with muscle ache in the neck and upper back and body especially. Formula of choice for muscle and body aches that accompany viral infection, colds and flu.

Minor Bupleurum Formula / Xiao Chai Hu Tang / The great and classic harmonizing & regulating formula. Originally created for exterior pathogens working their way interior, from the surface to the lymph, bringing herbs to the lymphatic level to treat symptoms similar to the beginning stages of pneumonia: cough with phlegm, fever, chills, difficulty breathing. In the Japanese Kanpo herbal tradition, Minor Bupleurum is an acknowledged and powerful resistance strengthening immune system tonic.

Then, gastrointestinal:

• Nausea or vomiting

• Diarrhea

According to data, as many as 1 in 5 cases of coronavirus have at least one gastrointestinal symptom and 1 in 4 MILD cases of the virus ONLY showed out GI symptoms which include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. If you were to have COVID-19, these GI problems may slow down recovery and the digestive issues may worsen the sicker you become. Huo Xiang Zheng Qi Tang is the herbal medicine of choice for resolving gastrointestinal symptoms and restoring GI balance.

If you or a loved one are showing symptoms, contact your practitioner for herbal help. Don’t delay. Start using the formulas AS SOON AS YOU NOTICE YOU ARE SYMPTOMATIC. THEY WILL HELP.

tiger bomb is here

I’ve written about my devotion (because it does the job and then some) over the years to Tiger Balm. I’ve included it in my Green First Aid Kit as ESSENTIAL. I hate to say just how many decades (!) my devotion has lasted. And I hate to say that I don’t know that or if when I first discovered and put it to use, it was formulated with petrolatum and paraffin. But I know now. And care. And want to be able to use and recommend something that is NOT mineral oil derived, something that is ‘Organic’ whenever possible and ‘Natural-Not-Pharmaceutical’. So comes CuringMom’s Tiger Bomb. It’s all that - organic natural non-pharmaceutical. It’s made by me. It’s substitute-able for Tiger Balm in ANYONE’s Green First Aid Kit. It’s in production. For sale. To you! You can ORDER IT anytime on my website.