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Ginseng

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 04:28:16 +0100

Asian Ginseng

This fact sheet provides basic information about the herb Asian ginseng—common names, uses, potential side effects, and resources for more information. Asian ginseng is native to China and Korea and has been used in various systems of medicine for many centuries. Asian ginseng is one of several types of true ginseng (another is American ginseng, Panax quinquefolius).
An herb called Siberian ginseng or eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus) is not a true ginseng.
Common Names—Asian ginseng, ginseng, Chinese ginseng, Korean ginseng, Asiatic ginseng
Latin Name—Panax ginseng

What It Is Used For
Treatment claims for Asian ginseng are numerous and include the use of the herb to support overall health and boost the immune system. Traditional and modern uses of ginseng include:

Improving the health of people recovering from illness
Increasing a sense of well-being and stamina, and improving both mental and physical performance
Treating erectile dysfunction, hepatitis C, and symptoms related to menopause
Lowering blood glucose and controlling blood pressure

How It Is Used
The root of Asian ginseng contains active chemical components called ginsenosides (or panaxosides) that are thought to be responsible for the herb’s medicinal properties. The root is dried and used to make tablets or capsules, extracts, and teas, as well as creams or other preparations for external use.

What the Science Says

Some studies have shown that Asian ginseng may lower blood glucose.Other studies indicate possible beneficial effects on immune function.
To date, research results on Asian ginseng are not conclusive enough to prove health claims associated with the herb. Only a handful of large clinical trials on Asian ginseng have been conducted.
Most studies have been small or have had flaws in design and reporting.
Some claims for health benefits have been based only on studies conducted in animals.
NCCAM supports studies to better understand the use of Asian ginseng. Areas of recent NCCAM-funded research include Asian ginseng’s interactions with other herbs and drugs and the herb’s potential to treat chronic lung infection, impaired glucose tolerance, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Side Effects and Cautions

When taken by mouth, ginseng is usually well tolerated. Some sources suggest that its use be limited to 3 months because of concerns about the development of side effects.
The most common side effects are headaches and sleep and gastrointestinal problems.
Asian ginseng can cause allergic reactions.
There have been reports of breast tenderness, menstrual irregularities, and high blood pressure associated with Asian ginseng products, but these products’ components were not analyzed, so effects may have been due to another herb or drug in the product.
Asian ginseng may lower levels of blood sugar; this effect may be seen more in people withdiabetes. Therefore, people with diabetes should use extra caution with Asian ginseng, especially if they are using medicines to lower blood sugar or taking other herbs, such as bitter melon and fenugreek, that are also thought to lower blood sugar.
Tell your health care providers about any complementary and alternative practices you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.

Sources

Ginseng, Asian (Panax ginseng). In: Coates P, Blackman M, Cragg G, et al., eds. Encyclopedia of Dietary supplements.New York, NY: Marcel Dekker; 2005:265-277.
Ginseng, Panax. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Web site. Accessed at http://www.naturaldatabase.com on July 2, 2007.
Ginseng. Natural Standard Database Web site. Accessed at http://www.naturalstandard.com on June 28, 2007.
Ginseng root. In: Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinckman J, eds. Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs. Newton, MA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2000:170-177.
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Hepatitis C and Complementary and Alternative Medicine: 2003 Update. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Web site. Accessed at
http://nccam.nih.gov/health/hepatitisc/ on July 9, 2007.

For More Information
Visit the NCCAM Web site at nccam.nih.gov and view:
• What’s in the Bottle? An Introduction to Dietary Supplements at nccam.nih.gov/health/bottle/
• Herbal Supplements: Consider Safety, Too at nccam.nih.gov/health/supplement-safety/
NCCAM Clearinghouse
Toll-free in the U.S.: 1-888-644-6226
TTY (for deaf and hard-of-hearing callers): 1-866-464-3615
E-mail: info@nccam.nih.gov
CAM on PubMed
Web site: nccam.nih.gov/camonpubmed/
NIH Office of Dietary Supplements
Web site: www.ods.od.nih.gov
NIH National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus
Ginseng Listing: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-ginseng.html
This publication is not copyrighted and is in the public domain. Duplication is encouraged.

Meningitis

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 06:52:41 +0100

There are two types of meningitis: viral meningitis and bacterial meningitis. In most instances, viral meningitis is not a fatal disease. The patient will fully recover within a week by resting, drinking plenty of fluids, and taking OTC pain relievers. Bacterial meningitis, however, can be deadly if not treated promptly.

The symptoms for viral and bacterial meningitis are often the same, including a high fever and a stiff neck. That’s why, for all cases of suspected meningitis, it's critically important to head for the emergency room when symptoms first appear.

Viral and Bacterial Meningitis Symptoms

The most common meningitis symptoms for people over the age of 2 include:

High fever
Severe headache
Neck and shoulder pain
Sensitivity to light
Nausea and vomiting
Confusion
Sleepiness
Seizures

In infected babies and children under the age of 2, these symptoms may not appear — or may be difficult to detect. When infected, babies and young children may appear lethargic or be irritable, and they may vomit or not eat well. They may also have seizures as the disease progresses.

Bacterial Meningitis: A Quick Mover

Bacterial meningitis can progress rapidly, often within hours of the first symptoms, and if not quickly diagnosed and treated can cause serious long-term complications. For every hour treatment is delayed, the death rate increases by 3 percent, says Aaron E. Glatt, MD, president and chief executive officer of New Island Hospital in Bethpage, N.Y., and spokesperson for the Infectious Disease Society of America.

Each year nearly 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with meningococcal meningitis — the most prevalent type of bacterial meningitis — and between 10 percent and 15 percent of those cases are fatal. Among those who survive meningococcal meningitis, some 20 percent suffer long-term problems, including brain damage, kidney disease, or limb amputations.

"You should be aware of meningitis symptoms, and if you experience any of the symptoms, see your doctor right away," says Tom Skinner, spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "The earlier someone begins treatment, the better their chance for recovery."

How Viral and Bacterial Meningitis Spread

Both bacterial and viral meningitis are contagious, although neither is as easily spread as the flu or the common cold. The bacteria and viruses that cause meningitis are generally spread through close contact with an infected person's respiratory and throat secretions, through coughing or kissing or by sharing food or drink.

Another both types of meningitis can be spread is through contact with an infected person's stool — a reason why young children who aren’t toilet-trained, or their caregivers, can become infected.

Bacterial meningitis is especially of concern for college students, particularly those living in crowded dorms. Nearly 30 percent of all U.S. cases of bacterial meningitis are among teens and young adults aged 15 to 18. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all teens get vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis (the type caused by Neisseria meningitides bacteria), and many colleges require this vaccination.

Young children, particularly those in day-care centers, and military personnel — who live in close quarters in military barracks — are also at increased risk of meningitis, as are people with a compromised immune system.

Infected Persons May Not Have Symptoms

Not everyone who has been infected with a meningitis-causing virus or bacteria will develop meningitis. About 10 percent of the population in the United States carry the bacteria in the back of their throat for months at a time without actually becoming sick themselves. It only becomes a problem when the bacteria are unknowingly passed to another person who is more susceptible to it and becomes infected.

You cannot know if a person is a carrier of meningitis-causing bacteria. But if you have been in close contact with a person recently diagnosed with bacterial meningitis, call your doctor immediately. You may need to take preventative antibiotics to prevent developing, and further spreading, bacterial meningitis.

Meningitis Treatment

Meningitis, an infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord (the meninges), can be caused by either a virus or by bacteria. With the more common viral type of the illness, also called aseptic meningitis, the treatment is to stay in bed for a few days, drink a lot of fluids, and take OTC medication.

Bacterial meningitis is rare — but it's a potential killer. Bacterial meningitis is treated with antibiotics, but treatment must start within hours. Nearly 3,000 cases of bacterial meningitis are seen annually in the United States. Of those, 10 percent to 15 percent of the cases are fatal, while a high percentage of survivors are left with a permanent disability. In extreme cases and if not diagnosed early, bacterial meningitis can cause brain damage, hearing loss, learning disabilities, and gangrene of the extremities requiring amputations.

Bacterial Meningitis Symptoms: Not Everyone Gets Sick

The viruses that cause viral meningitis initially infect body fluids like saliva and nasal mucus. This is often how bacterial meningitis begins, too.

"Most people get infected and don't know about it because their bodies develop antibodies and the disease doesn't progress," explains Nathan Litman, MD, director of pediatric infectious diseases at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City and a professor in the department of pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. "For those who don't develop immunity, particularly young children, the disease can get into the blood."

With bacterial meningitis, the disease spreads sporadically, but those in close contact with an infected person have an increased chance of contracting the illness. "Person-to-person contact is the most common way bacterial meningitis is spread, with family members and others with intimate contact, such as boyfriends and girlfriends, having a 600 times greater chance of getting the disease than the rest of the population," says Dr. Litman. "However, sitting on the bus next to someone would not be significant exposure, nor would sitting in a classroom."

In most cases, it takes between three to seven days for symptoms to develop, and infected persons become contagious three days after the initial exposure.

People who are less able to fight infections, such as the elderly, young children, and those with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders are more susceptible.

Bacterial Meningitis Treatment

Patient are monitored closely in the intensive care unit and isolated to prevent the disease from spreading. When the doctor suspects bacterial meningitis in someone age 1 month to age 50, high doses of antibiotics are given intravenously. Breathing support may also be needed. Fluids are also given intravenously to prevent dehydration, and medications to maintain blood pressure are often given in conjunction with antibiotics.

Bacterial Meningitis Prevention: Vaccines

There are two kinds of meningococcal vaccines available to prevent meningococcal meningitis. Each can help prevent four of the five known types of meningococcus bacteria circulating in the United States. However, Type B meningococcus, which causes a significant proportion of cases, is not covered by either vaccine. This means the vaccines cannot be 100 percent effective in preventing meningococcal meningitis.

Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) is used for people 2 through 55 years old. This is currently included in vaccination schedules for children ages 11 to 18. A recent study found that the number of meningitis cases reported has dropped 30 percent overall since the vaccine's approval in 2000, while the rate decreased 64 percent in the sub-group of younger children and 54 percent in the sub-group of those older than 65.
Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4) is given to people older than 55.

Adults generally do not receive the vaccine unless exposed to someone with the disease or if they plan to travel overseas to particular regions; some countries, particularly in Africa, experience large, periodic epidemics. It takes up to two weeks for the vaccine to be effective.

Meningitis: Proactive Treatment

Someone who has come into close contact with a person who has meningitis should begin antibiotics immediately to kill any meningococcus already in the body. A meningococcal vaccination may also be recommended after such an exposure for people age 2 or older, particularly if there is a known outbreak in the area.

If meningitis is suspected, see a doctor immediately. Early diagnosis is key to preventing long-term effects from meningitis, and possible death.

Meningitis Info : kidsgrow

Source : Everyday Health
By Hedy Marks, MPH

Medically reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MPH

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Does Your Toddler Need a Multivitamin?

Fri, 29 May 2009 08:28:22 +0100

The experts are divided on whether or not toddlers need a daily multivitamin. To help you make a decision, check out the multiple reasons to give — or not to give — your child a multi.

Whether your toddler has boycotted all green food, or she’ll eat only PB&J sandwiches, you know that getting kids to eat a well-rounded diet isn’t easy. And even if your tot is relatively willing to eat fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods, you may still wonder if she’s getting all the nutrients she needs — or if you should supplement with a daily multivitamin.

It turns out that experts haven’t come to a consensus on whether or not toddlers should take multivitamins, and the American Academy of Pediatrics doesn’t have an official position on the subject. That means it’s up to you (along with your doctor) to decide what’s best for your growing tot.

Reasons to give your toddler a multi. No matter how hard you try, it’s likely that your toddler isn’t always eating healthy foods. (How can you reason with someone who is convinced that the only foods worth eating are white?) In which case, a daily multivitamin can help fill any nutrition gaps your toddler’s diet may have. You can think of that multi as a little insurance for your toddler and a little peace of mind for you.

Another reason to give your tot a multivitamin: If your toddler has a specific, restricted diet, he may really benefit from getting an extra boost of nutrients. For instance, kids who don’t drink milk because they are lactose intolerant may require extra calcium and vitamin D. And kids who eat a vegan diet (that means no meat, eggs, or dairy products) may need extra vitamins B12 and D, as well as riboflavin, calcium, and iron. In these cases, a multivitamin may be helpful or even needed — and you’d be wise to check in and get your doctor’s opinion, too.

Reasons not to give your toddler a multi. While the extra peace of mind that comes with giving your child a multi should be a good thing, it could cause you to relax a little too much on the nutrition front. Some parents let the multivitamin do what they should be doing, which is feeding their kids a healthy diet. Vitamin supplements should never be viewed as a replacement for nutritious foods because the body absorbs nutrients from foods much more effectively than it absorbs nutrients from supplements. So if you constantly find yourself relying on a multivitamin to counteract the chips your child eats or to make up for the fact that your toddler refuses to eat produce, you need to rethink your strategy.

If you do decide to give your child a multi, consider these tips:

Buy a multi that’s made for kids. This will give your toddler the right amount of nutrients for her little body.
Only give your toddler the recommended dose (overdoing it on supplements can be dangerous).
Don’t call multivitamins candy — this will have your toddler begging for more. (The multi’s cartoon-character shapes are tempting enough without being told they’re a treat.)
Keep the bottle out of your child’s reach to make sure she can’t take extra doses.
Continue coaxing your finicky eater toward a healthy well-rounded diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, lean proteins, and whole grains.

Source : What To Expect

Swine Flue Basic

Mon, 25 May 2009 05:56:21 +0100

What is swine flu?
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza viruses that causes regular outbreaks in pigs. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. Swine flu viruses have been reported to spread from person-to-person, but in the past, this transmission was limited and not sustained beyond three people.

Are there human infections with swine flu in the U.S.?
In late March and early April 2009, cases of human infection with swine influenza A (H1N1) viruses were first reported in Southern California and near San Antonio, Texas. Other U.S. states have reported cases of swine flu infection in humans and cases have been reported internationally as well. An updated case count of confirmed swine flu infections in the United States is kept at http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/investigation.htm CDC and local and state health agencies are working together to investigate this situation.

Is this swine flu virus contagious?
CDC has determined that this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is contagious and is spreading from human to human. However, at this time, it not known how easily the virus spreads between people.

What are the signs and symptoms of swine flu in people?
The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with swine flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with swine flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

How does swine flu spread?
Spread of this swine influenza A (H1N1) virus is thought to be happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.

How can someone with the flu infect someone else?
Infected people may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 7 or more days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

What should I do to keep from getting the flu?
First and most important: wash your hands. Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Try not touch surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Are there medicines to treat swine flu?
Yes. CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with these swine influenza viruses. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms).

How long can an infected person spread swine flu to others?
People with swine influenza virus infection should be considered potentially contagious as long as they are symptomatic and possible for up to 7 days following illness onset. Children, especially younger children, might potentially be contagious for longer periods.

What surfaces are most likely to be sources of contamination?
Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air. Germs can be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets from another person on a surface like a desk and then touches their own eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands.

How long can viruses live outside the body?
We know that some viruses and bacteria can live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks. Frequent handwashing will help you reduce the chance of getting contamination from these common surfaces.

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?
There is no vaccine available right now to protect against swine flu. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza. Take these everyday steps to protect your health:

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
If you get sick with influenza, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

What is the best way to keep from spreading the virus through coughing or sneezing?

If you are sick, limit your contact with other people as much as possible. Do not go to work or school if ill. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Cover your cough or sneeze if you do not have a tissue. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.

What is the best way to keep from spreading the virus through coughing or sneezing?
If you are sick, limit your contact with other people as much as possible. Do not go to work or school if ill. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Put your used tissue in the waste basket. Cover your cough or sneeze if you do not have a tissue. Then, clean your hands, and do so every time you cough or sneeze.

What is the best te

chnique for washing m

y hands to avoid getting the flu?
Washing your hands often w

ill help protect you from germs. Wash with soap and water. or clean with alcohol-based hand cleaner. we recommend that when you wash your hands -- with soap and warm water -- that you wash for 15 to 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based disposable hand wipes or gel sanitizers may be used. You can find them in most supermarkets and drugstores. If using gel, rub your hands until the gel is dry. The gel doesn't need water to work; the alcohol in it kills the germs on your hands.

What should I do if Iget sick ?
If you live in areas where swine influenza cases have

been identified and become ill with influenza-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you may want to contact their health care provider, particularly if you are worried about your symptoms. Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed. If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others.If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.

In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

Fast breathing or trouble breathing
Bluish skin color
Not drinking enough fluids
Not waking up or not interacting
Being so i rritable that the child does not want to be held
Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
Fever with a rash

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
Sudden dizziness
Confusion
Severe or persistent vomiting

How serious is swine flu infection?
Like seasonal flu, swine flu in humans can vary in severity from mild to severe. Between 2005 until January 2009, 12 human cases of swine flu were detected in the U.S. with no deaths occurring. However, swine flu infection can be serious. In September 1988, a previously healthy 32-year-old pregnant woman in Wisconsin was hospitalized for pneumonia after being infected with swine flu and died 8 days later. A swine flu outbreak in Fort Dix, New Jersey occurred in 1976 that caused more than 200 cases with serious illness in several people and one death.

Can I get swine influenza from eating or preparing pork?
No. Swine influenza viruses are not spread by food. You cannot get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.

Cordyceps

Wed, 13 May 2009 02:43:11 +0100

Introduction
Cordyceps is a rare and exotic medicinal mushroom, known in China for centuries. One that reportedly has a number of far reaching medicinal effects. Most people in the West have come to know this rare herbal medicine in only the last twenty years or so. During that time, modern scientific investigation into its seemingly miraculous range of healing powers has proven what Chinese practitioners have noted for centuries: That it works well in combating a myriad of medicals problems. This chapter is an overview of the description and uses for this once rare medicinal treasure.

Name and general description
A medicinal herb of long and illustrious history, Cordyceps sinensis is an Ascomycetes fungus closely related to the mushrooms. While not actually a mushroom in the taxonomic sense, it has been regarded as, and called, a medicinal mushroom throughout history. We will continue that tradition in this paper – referring to it as a mushroom. Please excuse such literary license.

The name Cordyceps comes from the Latin words: cord and ceps, meaning "club" and "head", respectively. The Latin conjugation accurately describes the appearance of the club fungus, Cordyceps sinensis, whose stroma or fruitbody extend from the mummified carcasses of insect larvae, usually caterpillar larva of the Himalayan Bat Moth, Hepialis armoricanus.

In historical and general usage the term “Cordyceps” usually refers specifically to the specific species Cordyceps sinensis, but there are also many other closely related species that come under the general term of Cordyceps. While Cordyceps sinensis may be the species of Cordyceps that is most well known throughout the world, there are many other species in the genus Cordyceps in which modern science has found valuable medicinal properties in as well. In this paper we will generally use the term Cordyceps without the species designator, as many of the different species of Cordyceps fit the description and uses revealed herein. Where a specific species designation is important, that species name will be given as well.

Cordyceps sinensis
Cordyceps sinensis has been known and used for many centuries in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). In nature, it is found only at high altitudes on the Himalayan Plateau, and is thus difficult to find and harvest. Because of the difficulties involved in harvesting this exotic medicinal, Cordyceps has always been one of the most expensive medicines known. This high price relegated it almost exclusively to members of the Emperor's court and other of the Chinese nobility, and it was historically beyond the reach of the average Chinese subject. Despite its cost and rarity, the unprecedented litany of medicinal uses for Cordyceps has made it a highly valued staple of the Chinese medical tradition.

A recognized wonder of the natural world for upwards of 2000 years in China and the surrounding Orient, knowledge of this incredible phenomenon only reached Western scientific audiences in 1726, when it was introduced at a scientific meeting in Paris. A Jesuit priest, who chronicled his experiences with the Cordyceps mushroom during his stay at the Chinese Emperor’s court, carried the first specimens back to France. (Pereira, 1843) While always a rarity in nature, modern technological advancements in cultivation have made the prospect of affordable Cordyceps a reality, and its assembly of potential medicinal uses continues to augment therapy and gain audience as clinical trials proceed to scientifically prove what TCM practitioners have recognized for centuries, the legendary efficacy of the Cordyceps
mushroom.

Mycological Data:

Kingdom- Fungi
Phylum- Ascomycota
Class- Ascomycetes
Order- Hypocreales
Family- Clavicipataceae
Genus- Cordyceps
Species- Cordyceps Sinensis
Basionym: Sphaeria sinensis
Synonyms: Metarhyzium,Buevaria, Isaria
Anomorphs: Cephalosporium donqchongxiacao, Cephalosporium sinensis,
Chrysosporium sinense, Hirsutella sinensis, Mortierella hepiali,
Paecilomyces hepiali, Scytalidium sp., Scytalidium hepiali,
Tolypocladium sinensis

English names: Cordyceps mushroom, Caterpillar Fungus
Japanese names: Totsu kasu, Tochukasu
Chinese names: Hia tsao tong tchong, dongchongxiacao [chongcao], …………………..(Literal translation: "winter worm, summer plant" old Chinese; modern Chinese)

Description: The ascocarp or fruitbody of the Cordyceps sinensis mushroom originates at its base on an insect larval host (usually the larva of the Himalayan bat moth, Hepialis armoricanus, although occasionally other insect hosts besides the bat moth are encountered.) and ends at the club-like cap, including the stipe and stroma. The fruitbody is dark brown to black; and the ‘root’ of the organism, the larval body pervaded by the mushroom's mycelium, appears yellowish to brown in color. The immature larvae, which forms the host upon which the Cordyceps grows, usually lives about 6 inches below ground, is ca. 10-15 mm long and has a weight of ca. 0.05 g. The infesting spores of the Cordyceps, which are thought by some mycologists to be the infectious agent for the insect, are ca. 5-10 um long. As the fungus approaches maturity, it will have consumed greater than 99 % of the infested organism, effectively mummifying the host. As the stroma matures, it will swell and develop perihelia. The average weight of an individual stroma is only ca. 0.06 g. Optimal conditions permitting; the spores are eventually discharged and taken by the wind or fall within a few centimeters of their origin.

Habitat: Cordyceps is a fungus with an annual appearance. The normal harvesting period is between the months of April and August. Fruiting off the larvae of the moths, Cordyceps thrives only at altitudes above 3,800 meters above sea level, in the cold, grassy, alpine meadows on the mountainous Himalayan Plateau of modern day Tibet, Nepal, and the modern Chinese provinces of: Sichuan, Gansu, Hubei, Zhejiang, Shanxi, Guizhon, Qinghai, and Yunnan. The caterpillar shows signs of the fungal infection underground in the spring, at which time the mycelium begins to decompose the host until fruiting is stimulated. This is after the food source (the caterpillar) has been depleted and winter gives way to the spring and summer months, when the thawing of snow at lower altitudes allows foragers to more easily find the mushroom. Whether it also fruits under the snow in the more severe months, while seeming unlikely, is at present unknown.

Cordyceps: Parasite or Symbiont?

Although the spore is possibly an “infectious” agent that attacks the moth larvae as some authors have advanced, it is worth noting that the entomopathogency of the Cordyceps mushroom is disputed. A growing body of logical and empirical data is suggesting to many prominent researchers that Cordyceps sinensis actually has a symbiotic relationship with the host; that the connection is mutually beneficial, rather than pathogenic. This stands to logical reason, considering the remote and inhospitable environment in which the moth/Cordyceps pairing occurs. Nature tends to select against a parasite, in that a parasite usually results in the death of the host. A more logical explanation for the unique pairing between an insect and this fungus would be that it is a mutually beneficial symbiosis, whereby the moth perhaps gains an energy boost from the Cordyceps living in it’s body, as is known to occur when other animals consume Cordyceps (Jia et al 2004). In cultivation, Cordyceps often exhibits a single celled, yeast-like anamorph growth stage. Similar yeast-like symbionts of the genus Cordyceps have been found in other insects, most logically existing to some benefit of the host insect. (Suh et al 2001) If this is the case with the Cordyceps/moth pairing, then it may be the death of the insect host that is the stressor triggering the Cordyceps to produce its fruitbody. Once the host insect dies, the Cordyceps would have to go into a reproduce-or-die mode. In most fungi, the mycelium is the stable-state life form, rather than the
more usually seen fruitbody. It is most common in the fungal kingdom that fruitbody formation does not happen unless and until some severe stressor occurs, forcing this defensive reproductive-phase response. In nature, these stressors are usually heat and cold, fire and flood, or the complete consumption of the food source and the resulting nutrient deficiency. In the laboratory it is very difficult to trigger Cordyceps to fruit, but when fruiting does occur, it is always in connection with one or more of these types of stressors.

Edibility: Not usually considered an edible mushroom due to its small size and rarity as well as its tough texture. Traditionally, Cordyceps has been consumed with a variety of meats in the form of a medicinal soup, with the type of meat used based upon the target medical condition. (Zhou et al 1998) In the medical usage of today Cordyceps is often taken with some form of vitamin C, which has been found to aid the body in its digestion and absorption of the medicinal components of the mushroom.

History and Traditional Uses

Both resilient and rare, Chinese legends and myths of this revered healing mushroom and its chameleonic characteristics span the course of millennia. The first written record of the Cordyceps mushroom comes from China, in the year AD 620, at the time of the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-AD 907), bringing substance to the once intangible allegorical narrative, which spoke of a magical creature, who's annual existence alluded to a miraculous transformation from animal to plant, in summer, and then again from plant to animal, in winter. Published works on the subject continued; Tibetan scholars wrote of the mysterious healing animal/plant through the fifteenth to eighteenth centuries, and in 1757, the earliest objective and scientifically reliable depiction of the Cordyceps mushroom was written by the author Wu-Yiluo in the Ben Cao Congxin ("New Compilation of Materia Medica"), during the Qing Dynasty.

A member of the largest subdivision of true fungi: Ascomycotina, Cordyceps finds itself amongst the most famous medicinals of the modern age; Penicillium, from which, the antibiotic penicillin is derived, the most potent hallucinogen, L.S.D., derived from the plant-parasitic ergot fungus (Claviceps purpurea), and the most highly prized and rare fungal delicacies (truffles and morels). To date, hundreds of species of Cordyceps have been identified on six continents, in a variety of habitats and with equally varied food sources.

Discovered by yak herders in the Himalayas of ancient Tibet and Nepal, nature's disclosure of the Cordyceps organism was secondhand. Recognizing the ardent behavior of their animals after grazing on Cordyceps at high altitudes in the spring, these herdsmen sought the causal agent. The cap-less mushroom they eventually found has been used in traditional Chinese medicine ever since, to treat kidney, lung, and heart ailments, male and female sexual dysfunction, fatigue, cancer, hiccups, and serious injury, to relieve pain, and the symptoms of tuberculosis and hemorrhoids, to restore general health and appetite, and to promote longevity. More potent than Ginseng and worth four times its weight in silver in ancient times. Due to its rarity, legend, and efficacy against a variety of health-related conditions, Cordyceps has held, and continues to hold, a highly esteemed position in the vast ranks of Chinese herbal remedies, which the

West has only recently begun to incorporate into officially accepted medical practices. Western descriptions of the health benefits of the Cordyceps mushroom came as early as the eighteenth century. The first such publication came from a French Jesuit priest named Perennin Jean Baptiste du Halde, who recounted his experiences with the mythical healing agent while a guest at the Emperor's court in China. Shortly after its introduction to the French scientific community, “hia tsao tong tchong” as it was then known, began to intrigue men of science and medicine. Perennin's illustration of the never-before seen association between a mushroom and an insect sparked the first Western concept of and interest in
biological pest control. However, it wasn't until 1843, that the Reverend Dr. M.J. Berkeley, having published his findings in the New York Journal of Medicine, officially defined the “root” of the Cordyceps organism, which at that time, had been taxonomized as Sphaeria sinensis. Berkley described this “root” as he called it, as that of a caterpillar, which "had been taken over almost entirely by the mushroom's mycelium". Sphaeria sinensis was not moved into the Cordyceps genus until 1878, by Pier Andrea Saccardo, who was at that time the Professor of Natural History at the University of Padua,
Illinois.

The evidence of its use as a medicinal by the Chinese-American community dates as far back as the early to mid-nineteenth century, when the Lloyd Brothers of Cincinnati, Ohio first marketed the mushroom in the United States. By the turn of the twentieth century, the Lloyd Bro’s company had become the largest producer of herbal remedies in the United States. Once a rather exclusive medicine, modern cultivation techniques have now made the mycelium of this caterpillar-borne fungus more readily available, lowering its cost on the world market and have allowed for more in-depth research into its healing potential.

MILK

Sat, 02 May 2009 11:59:03 +0100

Choosing a formula
Your family doctor will usually recommend a formula made from cow's milk. Some formulas are iron-fortified (which means they have extra iron in them). Some formulas have very little iron or none at all. Most doctors recommend using an iron-fortified formula. Remember that regular cow's milk is not the same as infant formula made from cow's milk. Some formulas are made of soy milk instead of cow's milk. If your baby seems to be allergic to formula made from cow's milk, your doctor may suggest using a soy-milk formula. Use infant formula for the first year. Babies aren't ready for regular cow's milk until about the time of their first birthday.

Baby formula is sold in several forms:
Ready-to-use This is the most expensive kind of formula, but no mixing is necessary. Concentrated liquid This is a less expensive formula. You mix the formula liquid with an equal part of water. Powder This is the least expensive formula. You mix one level scoop of powdered formula with 2 ounces of water and stir well.

Switching to a different formula
Sometimes it may be necessary to change the kind of formula that your baby drinks. Extreme fussiness, certain food allergies, or a need for more iron are some of the reasons why your baby's formula may need to be changed.If you're concerned about your baby's stool habits or about the color or consistency of the stool, changing his or her formula isn't necessarily the answer. How often babies soil their diapers and the color and consistency of their stool is different from baby to baby. Talk with your doctor before changing your baby's formula--you may not need to change after all.Report any of these symptoms to your doctor:

Dry, red and scaly skin
Diarrhea
Extreme fatigue or weakness
Forceful vomiting

Sterilizing and cleaning
You should sterilize bottles and nipples before you use them for the first time. You can do this by putting them in boiling water for 5 minutes. After that first time, you probably don't need to sterilize them again. Instead, wash bottle, nipples and caps in hot, soapy water. Rinse them carefully. You can also run them through the dishwasher, which kills more germs than washing by hand.

Mixing formula
The most important thing to know is that you must follow the directions on the formula container exactly. Always measure carefully and never add extra water to the formula. You should also wash your hands before preparing the formula.If you use well water or there are problems with the water in your town, you may want to boil the water first or use bottled water. If you boil the water, let it cool off before mixing it with the formula. Always use a clean cup to measure the water.

Warming bottles
You can probably feed your baby a bottle without warming it first. It is okay for the formula to be cool or room temperature. If your baby seems to prefer warm formula, you can put the filled bottle in a container of warm water and let it stand for a few minutes. Check the temperature of the formula on your skin before feeding it to your baby, to be sure it isn't too hot. The formula should only be lukewarm.Do not heat bottles in the microwave. Microwaves heat foods and liquids unevenly, and this can cause hot spots in the formula that can burn your baby.

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Written by familydoctor.org editorial staff.
American Academy of Family Physicians