Pancreatitis is one of the deadliest conditions, not only because it’s so difficult to diagnose from biochemical serum markers that are often misleading, but also due to the fact that inflammation from the pancreas can radiate to other organs, so symptoms of this conditions can be felt differently than what’s medically known and may lead to wrong diagnosis.
Category: Chinese Medicine Page 1 of 2
Zedoary, commonly known as white turmeric, has been a staple in treating fungal conditions, especially resistant mycoses. It’s not just a wonderful healing herb, but it’s also used for culinary purposes and perfumery as the starches that comprise zedoary are readily digested and its essential oil gives off a powerful fragrance. It’s often used for treating gastrointestinal disorders – spasms, indigestion, flatulence, hyperacidity, ulcers, lack of appetite. Zedoary also finds application in treating colds, asthma, coughs, skin disorders, urinary tract infections, ulcers, hyperacidity. It seems to be a good source of hydration for the skin. Zedoary regulates body temperature. It protects you from cancer, hypercholesterolemia and lipid disorders. It is said to purify blood and strengthen uterine muscles. Its external use is perfect for treating wounds.
Self-heal is a very versatile and safe herb that definitely deserves your attention. It’s one of the staples of traditional Chinese medicine and for a good reason. However, it doesn’t predominantly grow in Asia, chances are you could encounter this herb in Europe and North America as well. The flower spikes are mainly used to treat a variety of conditions in folk medicine.
Hepatitis is a term that encompasses not only viral hepatitis (hepatitis A-E; abbreviated HAV, HBV, HCV, HDV, HEV), but also inflammatory conditions of liver that may have a variety of causes. I will not go into detail as to how many diseases this term could comprise, so it’s important to note that this list is focused solely on viral hepatitis and while some of these herbs may also be beneficial for other liver conditions, it’s best to check out my list about liver fibrosis as antiviral herbs are best supplemented with hepatoprotectives and antifibrotics.
As the coronavirus panic continues to spread, I figured now would be a good time to write an article about potential herbal treatment. I have summarized most of the herbs that may be effective against COVID-19 (otherwise known as SARS-CoV-2 or 2019-nCoV) based on molecular docking and previous experience from SARS and MERS outbreaks. Do keep in mind that each herb and its respective constituents work differently and while some of these are direct inhibitors of replication, others might be helpful in managing the symptoms. Many of the studies that provide information about these are based on older data. The last section of this article comprises my personal recommendations that I do believe may be helpful in managing the symptoms, most of them even having antiviral effects. Although COVID-19 is a new virus, it bears similarities to the previous SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, thus herbs effective against these strains may also be effective against the latest coronavirus. The genome of SARS-CoV-2 has been shown to be 89% similar to the genome of the original virus. These similarities are mainly in the proteins that are responsible for the virus’ life cycle.