Chinese Herbs continue to come to the rescue!

Did you know that those small, edible and delicious saltwater clams, also called cockles, does more than satisfy the seafood lovers raw, baked or steamed, clam addiction? Their shells, which you can find strewn across sandy beaches, is an important herb used by Chinese Medicine Practitioners. It is particularly useful in the treatment of Heartburn, GERD or Acid Reflux. That's because the shell is made up primarily of calcium carbonate (as in TUMS).

This herb, which in Pin Yin is called Wa Leng Zi, can be found in the Materia Medica under the category of Herbs that Invigorate the Blood. In Chinese Medicine Blood needs invigorating when it becomes static. When the flow of blood is retarded it can cause several problems including pain, which is due to improper flow of blood and manifests as pain that is localized and sharp; and abscesses and ulcers, due to static qi and blood.

This sweet, salty and neutral in temperature herb enters the Liver and Spleen channels and has several actions & indications: (taken from "Materia Medica" by Dan Bensky & Andrew Gamble, Revised Edition, 1993)

• "Invigorates the Blood, dissolves phlegm and dissipates nodules: for immobile or mobile abdominal masses involving either blood stasis, stagnant qi, or accumulation of phlegm."

• "Absorbs acid and alleviates pain: for chronic pain in the pit of the Stomach (such as ulcer pain) or blood stasis pain accompanied by vomiting with acid regurgitation."

When combined with other herbs such as those found in the reflux remedy, Royal Reflux Remedy, a classical Chinese Herbal Formula, the actions are to clear Liver heat, direct the rebellious Qi downward, and if you have it, to stop vomiting. The main herb, Huang Lian, drains Liver fire and clears Stomach heat. If the formula drains the heat downward, then the rebellious Qi follows. Another ingredient, Wu Zhu Yu, helps to move the Qi downward, and also break up the constraint in the Liver due to anger or stress. The Wa Leng Zi absorbs stomach acid. The formula not only addresses acid regurgitation but the root of the problem: Stress, anger or a poor diet. That's the beauty of Chinese Medicine, it addresses the root of the problem not just the symptoms. According to Bensky, in a clinical trial of 124 patients with gastric and duodenal ulcers, a treatment with five parts Wa Leng Zi and one part Gan Cao (Licorice root) for 20 to 56 days yielded some impressive results. 59 cases were cured and 48 showed significant improvement. Most patients reported no side effects, but a few experienced repeated urinary tract infections, edema, and blood in the urine (hematuria). You don't have to rely on costly prescription and over the counter drugs for heartburn or GERD. Not only will they hurt your pocket but they come with their own side effects. All you need to do is make some lifestyle changes and jump start your healing with natural herbs.