The dried roots of the herb ginseng spp. (Araliaceae) have been used for centuries in Asian countries such as China, Japan and Korea. The oldest Chinese pharmacopia, Sheng-nong Ben-cao Jing, listed ginseng as a tonic with a myriad of effects (anti-aging, liver tonic, vital energy replenishment) and prescribed for...

Traditional medicine includes the knowledge and practices that rely exclusively on practical experience and observations handed down from generations to generations, either verbally or in writing. Traditional systems of medicine in India are culturally acceptable and usually inexpensive. This article is available only as a PDF. Please click on “Download...

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the most common sexual problem in men after premature ejaculation. ED, which usually has psychogenic and organic causes, is defined as the inability to achieve or maintain an erection for satisfactory sexual performance. This article is available only as a PDF. Please click on “Download PDF”...

Acupuncture is a component of the health care system of China that can be traced back for at least 2500 years. The general theory of acupuncture is based on the premise that there are patterns of energy flow (Qi) through the body that are essential for health. This article is...

Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM) are derivatives of natural products that have been used for centuries in China to treat a variety of human disorders, including immune-mediated disorders. The development of immunosuppressive agents with high efficacy and minimal toxicities has been the focus of novel drug research. This article is available...

Moist exposed burn ointment (MEBO) is an example of an alternative remedy proposed in the management of burn injuries. Developed in the late 1980s at the China National Science and Technology Centre in Beijing with its clinical use reported originally from China,1 MEBO is a petrolatum-based ointment containing sesame...

There have been significant advances in the understanding of keratinocyte stem cells since the 1970s, when the concept of interfollicular epidermis was initially proposed; later much work was focused on the specific region of the hair follicle outer root sheath, especially the bulge region (Fig. 1). Hair follicle stem...

Chinese medicine individualises its treatment plan and practice and refutes any general law. Therefore, Chinese medicine practitioners do not have the tradition of research. This article is available only as a PDF. Please click on “Download PDF” on top to view the full article.

Complementary and alternative medicine practices and products are often believed to be holistic and natural cures for many aliments. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is one of the most commonly used forms of complementary medicine in our culture. Rather than treating just the disease condition alone, TCM philosophy strives to...