Qi Spot

Conventional wisdom dictates that since soy products contain products similar to estrogen, and that estrogen “feeds” certain types of cancer cells, then soy products in theory could make some breast cancers worse.  New research implies the opposite.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-sci-soy9-2009dec09,0,6546847.story

Shari Roan writes,

Soy foods do not appear to increase the risk of breast cancer recurrence among survivors of the disease and may even confer some health benefits, new research suggests.

The study, published in today’s issue of the Journal of the American Medical Assn., should reassure breast cancer survivors that they need not scrupulously avoid soy foods, which have become increasingly popular in the United States in recent years. Research in animals has indicated that soy might increase the chances of breast cancer recurrence because it can act like the hormone estrogen, which promotes tumor growth.

So we CAN have our tofu and eat it, too!  What’s the “theory” behind how it makes cancer worse?  The isoflavones found in soy!

“Isoflavones can act as estrogens and add to the circulating pool of estrogen that is available and promote tumor growth. That is the concern,” said Bette J. Caan, a senior nutritional epidemiologist at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, who was not involved in the current study.

Let’s see what the evidence says:

“Some doctors have advised women not to eat soy foods,” said Dr. Xiao Ou Shu, a professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University and lead author of the paper. “But another school of physicians think it’s safe. So it has been controversial. Our findings are important because, nowadays, it’s very difficult to avoid soy exposure. Soy flour and soy protein has been added to many foods in this country. Women may consume it and not even know it.”

Shu and her colleagues analyzed data from the Shanghai Breast Cancer Survival Study of 5,042 women in China. The breast cancer survivors were ages 20 to 75 and were followed for an average of four years.

The study showed that the higher a woman’s intake of soy foods, the lower her chances of cancer recurrence and death. Patients with the highest intake had a 29% lower risk of death during the study period and a 32% lower risk of breast cancer recurrence compared with patients with the lowest intake of soy foods. Soy food intake was measured by either soy protein or soy isoflavone intake. Isoflavones are hormones found in plants.

Ah ha! But this is just one study.  What about others? Maybe this is just a fluke?

In research released earlier this year, Caan and colleagues at UC Berkeley also found that higher soy intake was linked to lower rates of breast cancer recurrence. That study, published in the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, followed almost 2,000 U.S. breast cancer survivors.

Okay. Not a fluke.  Does this mean people should go out and stuff themselves with tofu?

“We do not see a harmful effect of soy. That is the main message out of both studies,” Caan said. “Breast cancer survivors shouldn’t go out and take soy supplements, but they shouldn’t be afraid to drink soy milk in their coffee or eat tofu.”

Can Tofu help prevent breast cancer recurrence?

What about differences between the breast cancer that responds to estrogen and those that don’t? The ones that take tamoxifen and not?

Shu’s study found no adverse effects from soy food intake among women whose tumors grow faster because of exposure to estrogen, called estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, or among those whose cancers are unaffected by estrogen, called estrogen receptor-negative.

Nor were there differences in the findings among women who used the breast-cancer drug tamoxifen and those who did not. However, the study found that the drug was related to improved survival only among women who had low or moderate soy food intake, not higher intakes.

Ah, so don’t take too much.  Typical Chinese philosophy.  Also typical is the philosophy stated below:

“We cannot conclude from this study that there are no negative effects” from soy, she said. “We are studying soy as a whole food. We are not studying its components. It could be some components are not good for some people. But overall, we see women who eat a high amount of soy with better outcomes.”

There we go.  They’re looking at this like TCM doctors do: look at the WHOLE food, not just the individual components.

So what does TCM have to say about soy and it’s estrogen wanna bes?  Check this out from http://www.tcmpage.com/hpmenopause.html

Some of the most interesting research for those concerned with women’s health issues has been done in the field of plant chemistry, and specifically in studies of chemicals called phytoestrogens. Phytoestrogens are chemicals produced by certain plants which resemble the estrogens that are produced by the human body, and which bind readily to estrogen receptors in the human body, but which are “weaker” forms of estrogen than human estrogen. Scientific studies suggest that higher levels of “strong” estrogen correlate with higher incidence of breast cancer in women. That is why women with a history of breast cancer, or a high risk of developing it are not recommended to be on hormone replacement therapy. Unfortunately, women in Western countries are exposed to higher levels of environmental estrogen than women in undeveloped countries. It is estimated that our environment adds 40% more “strong” (and harmful) estrogens to the body than are produced naturally. This could explain why the incidence of breast cancer is higher in developed countries, and is probably a complicating factor in many hormone-related conditions. The benefit of eating foods which are high in phytoestrogens, like soy beans, is that the “weak” estrogen of the plant binds to the body’s estrogen receptors, displacing the “strong” estrogens, which are then discharged harmlessly from the body.

So the docs were right all along: eat your veggies!  I must warn though, that since soy milk is very cooling and yin, it might be damaging to the yang natures of children or those with too much cold in the body.  This could lead to bloatedness and other digestive problems.

This new China Daily article says chili and garlic not useful for H1N1.  In the preceding post, I explain why.  To reiterate though, I said that H1N1 would be classified as a Warm pathogen disease.  Logic dictates that the warmth of chili and garlic would just exacerbate it.  They could be useful for other flus which are due to externally contracted cold, though.

Anyway here is the article (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2009-12/08/content_9134724.htm):

Garlic, chili ineffective against A/H1N1: Officials
By Cui Xiaohuo (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-12-08 07:59

Despite popular belief, neither garlic nor chili is an effective weapon against A/H1N1 influenza, health officials said yesterday.

The price of garlic – a popular flu remedy in traditional Chinese medicine – has skyrocketed by more than 500 percent this winter amid public fear about the spread of the potentially deadly virus. Recent media reports said that the demand for chili is also increasing.

But Wu Jiang, head of the immunity division under the Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said garlic and chili are not a cure for H1N1.

“There is no scientific proof that either garlic or chili is effective against the flu,” Wu said during a live web cast on Qianlong.com, the municipal government-run news portal.

“The two ingredients may work for people to improve their digestive functions and stay healthy, but they are definitely not useful for curing the flu,” said the official.

Yesterday, the price of garlic remained high at 7.40 yuan per 500 g at the Xinfadi market, the largest vegetable market in Beijing.

It cost less than 1 yuan per 500 g before the H1N1 outbreak. Chili cost about 7.50 yuan per 500 g, compared to 4 yuan earlier this year.

Liu Tong, head of Xinfadi’s market department, said there are signs that the price of garlic will soon drop, the Beijing Times reported.

“It is pure rumor that red pepper farmers and sellers are stocking up on the ingredient and waiting for the prices to soar like garlic,” Liu said.

“The price is rising because it needs to recover from a major drop earlier this year amid the economic slowdown.”

“Pet owners should pay attention when playing with them. I would suggest people not to kiss their puppies during this particular period,” Wu said during the web cast.

But the official denied that the virus was spreading among pets, including dogs.

She also said that 2.16 million people in Beijing had received H1N1 vaccinations by Sunday and 621 people, or three out of 10,000 cases, reported side effects.

Deng Xiaohong, vice-director and spokeswoman of the Beijing municipal bureau of health, said the number of flu victims is expected to peak during the upcoming New Year holiday.

More than 3 million vaccines are still available to residents in Beijing.

Local and foreign residents can apply by Dec 15 to receive the vaccine.

Despite their denial, the officials’ reasons for declaring this is obvious.  Firstly, prices are ridiculous given apparent demand.  This happened several years ago with moxibustion cigars to prevent SARS.  Second, as I said before, I don’t think Chili and Garlic would be good for a WARM pathogen disease.  Thirdly, can’t let those 3 million vaccine doses go to waste, like what happened with Tamiflu after SARS and avian flu.

It would be better if Chinese doctors could explain to their patients the difference between Cold damage and Warm disease.

Several worthy points in this article published in China Daily:

Govt recommends TCMs for flu (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/hkedition/2009-12/05/content_9122871.htm)
By Phoebe Cheng (HK Edition)
Updated: 2009-12-05 06:49

HONG KONG: Some Chinese remedies have been recommended by the government in the fight against human swine flu before the flu vaccine arrives in mid December.

The Chinese Medicine Department of the Hospital Authority Friday announced five Chinese remedies believed to help prevent infection by influenza, including human swine flu – especially for the populace of Hong Kong.

“Considering the environment of Hong Kong, the five remedies are medically tailored to Hong Kong people with reference to Hong Kong’s circumstances and the physical condition of Hong Kong people,” said assistant professor Cao Kejian from the School of Chinese Medicine, the University of Hong Kong.

Cao, in addition to three other Chinese medicine practitioners, was invited by the Hospital Authority in May this year to formulate influenza preventatives. They have also been to Beijing to have further discussions with the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and came back to Hong Kong with a set of suggested Chinese medicine remedies from Beijing which were then refined to meet the specific needs of Hong Kong people.

One of the remedies said to be especially appropriate and effective for the winter-spring season in Hong Kong is reportedly able to prevent both colds and influenza. It contains su ye, jing jie, sang ye, and ju hua, 10g each plus 3g gan cao.

“Su ye and jing jie can prevent cold while sang ye and ju hua can help prevent influenza,” Cho said, adding, “Thus, this remedy can help people avoid both cold and influenza.”

Another Chinese medicine practitioner, Wang Yongqin, senior lecturer of the Clinical Division, School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, recommended that Hong Kong people have lighter meals instead of having an excessive fatty and oily diet in the winter, for a healthier body and prevention of flu. Spicy foods, he advises, should also be avoided as they may create too much heat in the lung and lead to flu.

“More vegetables and fruits are recommended, but avoid deep fried and spicy foods,” said Wang.

There have recently been claims that chili and garlic can help prevent flu, but Cho said they were just rumors and there was not any official proof of such efficacy.

The 14 Chinese medicine clinics under the Hospital Authority are providing information about the five remedies concerned on the Authority’s website at http://www.ha.org.hk/chinesemedicine. Different people with different physical constitutions and conditions should choose different remedies, and are strongly advised to seek a physician’s advice on selecting the best remedy for themselves.

Specific medical prevention and remedies aside, maintaining good health and a strong immune system through good health practices and diet are crucial, according to the Hospital Authority.

I love this article for the following reasons: it talks about herbal medicine.  Second, it mentions one often ignored aspect of medicine – different people’s constitutions require different treatments.  This is definitely inline with Chinese Medicine’s holistic nature.  Third, the article also mentions importance of diet – fried and fatty foods are to be avoided since they increase Heat and Phlegm.  H1N1 would be classified as a warm pathogen disease – therefore this diet restriction makes sense.  Also, use of ju hua in particular (chrysanthemum flower) makes sense as this is very cooling herb.  The comment about garlic and chili also contradicts this.  This may help with seasonal flu, though.

A slight comment on the comment about causing Heat in Lung leading to flu.  I believe that a modern scientific way of explaining this is that people eat these foods and end up hyperstimulating their immune functions, leading to an overactive inflammatory process with makes symptoms worse.

From Shanghai Daily, an article so good, I can hardly comment on it…

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2009/200912/20091201/article_421176.htm

by Zhang Qian

BROWN sugar is a warm yang energy food that reinforces energy and is especially good for women during menstrual periods and after childbirth. It can also whiten the complexion. Zhang Qian takes a taste. Many Chinese people don’t like the look of brown sugar – they think refined white granulated sugar, or at least rock sugar, is preferable.

But brown sugar has more nutrients than refined sugar and it’s especially good for women, according to traditional Chinese medicine. Many people also think it tastes better.

Dark brown sugar, light brown sugar, white sugar and rock sugar are all made from sugar cane, refined and processed to different degrees. Sugars also come from sugar beets and fruits, but here we’re talking about cane sugar.

White sugar is the most processed and refined. The more refined it is, the whiter it is, but the sweetness doesn’t change.

Brown sugar is made from cane juice with minimal processing, like simple condensation. It retains vitamins, amino acids, carbohydrates and micro-elements like iron, zinc, manganese, and chromium.

Given the small amounts consumed, the mineral content is insignificant, except in TCM, which holds that brown sugar is a “warm” (yang energy) food that helps reinforce energy by “warming” the body. It reinforces energy and blood, benefits the spleen, warms the stomach, dispels pathogenic wind and cold (too much yin/cold energy), activates blood circulation and combats blood stagnation.

It is especially recommended for women with menstrual problems, those who have just given birth, children with poor appetites, and those who are weak and elderly.

Warm brown sugar soup (just sugar and water) is more easily absorbed than raw sugar.

Because it reinforces and activates blood, it is recommended for women during their periods and during yue zi, the postpartum period.

It smooths the flow of menstrual blood and relieves cramps. After a period, drinking a cup of thin brown sugar soup before lunch daily can help make up for blood loss and relieve associated fatigue.

A cup of dark sugar soup before dinner can relieve serious discomfort.

After giving birth, drinking thick brown sugar soup for seven to 10 days can help make up for lost energy and blood and aid in recovery.

TCM says new mothers often suffer from stagnation of blood and energy, causing belly pain. Brown sugar soup with herbs can help. It also helps the uterus contract and promotes milk production.

Cooked with other foods, brown sugar has different benefits.

Combined with white fungus, wolfberry (gouqi) or jujube, it reinforces yin energy and acts as a diuretic. Adding longan and ginger can strengthen its energy and blood-reinforcing function.

Ready-mixed herbal dark sugars are available on the market, such as ginger brown sugar, motherwort dark sugar, e’jiao (donkey hide gelatin) dark sugar and rose dark sugar.

This saves time for complicated cooking.

Brown sugar can be used externally to dispel toxins and nourish the skin. In the old days Chinese used to apply highly concentrated brown sugar liquid to relieve inflammation and pain caused by bee stings.

Putting brown sugar liquid on the skin in cold weather can relieve dry, itchy skin.

Some modern research shows brown sugar can reduce the appearance of aging and improve the complexion by helping the body resist oxidation, accelerating metabolism and reducing melanin pigment.

Diabetics, of course, should avoid it. Those with problems of pathogenic heat, such as ulcers and constipation, should avoid brown sugar and use rock sugar instead.

Ready-mixed brown sugar is available in hypermarkets.

DIY therapies: Ginger and brown sugar juice

Ingredient: Ginger powder, ginger juice, brown sugar

Function: Helps relieve stomach ache and dispel pathogenic cold.

Suitable for everyone except diabetics.

Motherwort brown sugar

Ingredient: Jujubes, pepper, brown sugar, motherwort

Function: Helps relieve belly ache; reinforces blood and energy.

Suitable for adult women, including menstruating girls.

Afterbirth brown sugar

Ingredient: E’jiao (donkey’s skin), pepper, brown sugar

Function: Helps relieve belly pain after childbirth and promote discharge.

Suitable for women after childbirth.

E’jiao brown sugar

Ingredient: E’jiao, brown sugar

Function: Reinforces blood; nourishes yin energy; dispels pathogenic wind; nourishes organs.

Suitable for everyone except children and diabetics.

Rose brown sugar

Ingredient: Rose, brown sugar

Function: Reinforces blood; regulates energy; helps improve mood.

Suitable for women.

Nourishing facial mask

Ingredient: Black tea (2 teaspoons), brown sugar (2 teaspoons), flour

Preparation: Cook soup, filter, add flour, mix.

Apply, leave on for 15 minutes, wash off with water.

Apply twice a month.

Function: Helps nourish and protect skin.

Whitening facial mask

Ingredient: Brown sugar (300g), fresh milk or milk powder

Preparation: Combine brown sugar, hot water and milk or milk powder.

Apply to face, wash off with water after 30 minutes.

Use daily for three months.

Function: Helps decrease melanin pigment and whiten complexion.

Sugar scoop image from:

Garcia Studio, Inc.
933 Fielder Avenue NW
Atlanta, GA 30318
404-892-2334

What is so special about Cordyceps? A recent Indian news article says that smugglers attempting to bring Cordyceps sinensis samples into Kashmir have been arrested.  USD 300,000 worth of the materia medica was found – about 90 kg.

Here is the article from bbcnews <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8375276.stm>

Indian Police Arrest “Caterpillar Mushroom” Smugglers

Police in Indian-administered Kashmir have arrested four people trying to smuggle the rare medicinal herb, caterpillar fungus, to China.

The fungus – known as caterpillar mushroom – is used in Chinese medicine and is believed to be an aphrodisiac.

Police say about 90kg (200lb) of the fungus was seized in the Ladakh region near China. It is worth about $300,000 (£180,000) on the black market.

Caterpillar fungus is found about 5,000m (16,500ft) above sea level.

It must be harvested in freezing monsoon rains in the alpine pastures of the Himalayan mountains around Tibet.

Infertility cure

The fungal parasite – Cordyceps sinensis – infects the larvae of a butterfly and grows inside the body of the insect.

The parasite eventually kills the insect when it becomes a caterpillar and then the fungus grows out of the head of the dead caterpillar.

The power of the fungus was discovered some 1,500 years ago and was used by Ming Dynasty rulers as an aphrodisiac and a cure for infertility.

Recent Chinese studies suggest it also has cancer-fighting and cholesterol-lowering properties.

So far so good – talking about the life cycle.  However, I feel a bit more information is needed, especially to explain why this materia medica is so valuable.  I mean, yeah, it’s hard to find in nature (although it’s not rare and endangered like the tiger)

According to http://tcm.health-info,org, Cordyceps is sweet in flavor and warm in nature.  This means that it is nourishing in general and mildly stimulates the immune system.

strengthen kidneys, tonify yang – impotence, sore/weak back

-tonify kidney yang, nourish lung yin, transform phlegm

-cough, wheezing, bleeding, Xiao Ke

The “aphrodesiac” function stated by bbcnews isn’t right on the dot.  Cordyceps is used to strenghten the kidneys.  The Kidneys in Chinese medicine house Essence, and control reproduction.  Deficient kidneys result in menstrual problems or sperm problems.  I can see how it can be considered an “aphrodisiac” but to label Cordyceps as ONLY that is doing it an injustice.

“Xiao ke” is actually the Chinese term for diabetes, which at stages can be considered as problems of the Lung and Kidneys (and Spleen), which are collectively in charge of water metabolism.

Cordyceps sinensis

Also Used For:

Orally, Dong Chong Xia Cao / Cordyceps is used for strengthening the immune system, for reducing the effects of aging, promoting longevity, treating lethargy, and improving liver function in people with hepatitis B. It is also used to treat coughs, chronic bronchitis, respiratory disorders, kidney disorders, frequent nocturia, male sexual dysfunction, anemia, heart arrhythmias, high cholesterol, liver disorders, dizziness, weakness, tinnitus, wasting, and opium addiction. It is also used as a stimulant, a tonic, and an adaptogen which is used to increase energy, enhance stamina, and reduce fatigue.

Cordyceps was actually mentioned in a 4th season episode of House, MD.  Dr. House mentions that it can treat cancer “in monkeys”.

I consider cordyceps a wonderful herb – if you can get it wholesale.  As I said, it’s relatively hard to find and is often smuggled.  I had heard that people would increase its weight by inserting paper clips into the caterpillar, therefore increasing product weight and thus, selling price.  Pretty darned sneaky.

However, there are other, long term, cheaper ways to tonify Spleen, Lung and Kidney.  I personally recommend mixing shan yao (chinese yam) into congee.  Bai he (lily bulb), almonds and lotus seeds are also a personal favorite.