Your gut’s well-being is foundational to overall health, influencing everything from digestion to mental clarity. When your gut is out of balance, you may experience pain, fatigue, and brain fog. Chorus is designed to be your companion in reclaiming a happy, healthy gut, and a life free from these debilitating symptoms
Nature’s Answer to a Happy Gut!
Inspired by the Traditional Chinese Formula Bao He Wan, a time-tested remedy that reduces food stagnation and harmonizes the stomach.
Expertly crafted in small batches using high-quality herbs, not commonly found in the US, Chorus is a testament to uncompromised quality and effectiveness.
How Chorus Works
Chorus adopts a unique approach to gut health. It nurtures an environment where positive bacteria thrive while keeping the negative ones in check. Think of Chorus not as a mere supplement but as a careful curator of your gut’s microbial environment, ensuring a harmonious, healthy biome where your healthy flora can flourish.
Ingredients Highlight
Each ingredient in Chorus plays a pivotal role.
Astragalus (Huang Qi): This immune-boosting herb can help heal the gut lining and reduce inflammation.
Licorice Root (Gan Cao): A soothing herb, Licorice Root can help heal stomach ulcers and provide relief from heartburn and indigestion.
Ginger (Sheng Jiang): Known for its anti-inflammatory properties, Ginger can help speed up the movement of food through the gastrointestinal tract, reducing bloating and cramping.
Peppermint (Bo He): Often used to alleviate symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), including abdominal pain and bloating.
Atractylodes (Bai Zhu): In TCM, this herb is used to strengthen the spleen, which is crucial for digestion and absorption of nutrients
Fu Ling – Poria Huo Xiang – Agastache Shan Zha – Crataegus Yi Yi Ren – Coix seed Cang Zhu – Red atractylodes Ge Gen – Kudzu Shen Qu – Massa Fermentata Bai Zhi – Angelica Dahuricae Mu Xiang – Auklandia Gu Ya – Rice malt Tian Hua Fen – Tricosanthes Hua Ju Hong – Citrus peel Bo He – Mint Gou Teng – Uncaria Shi Chang Pu – Acorus Bai Ji Li – Tribulus
Testimonials
We love it when our customers have such profound success using Chorus. Watch the videos below to hear their stories!
Chorus is ready to support you through chronic illnesses and stomach issues, providing the relief and wellness you seek. Are you ready to experience the Chorus difference?
For more insights, collaborations, or to reach out to Brehan, you can connect with him through his online platforms:
Brehan Crawford, based in McMinnville, Oregon, is a distinguished clinician specializing in the treatment of chronic conditions, particularly Lyme Disease and its coinfections. After earning his Master’s degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine in 2009, he deepened his expertise with a 5-year residency under the mentorship of the renowned Dr. Heiner Fruehauf at the Hai Shan Clinic. A Diplomate of Oriental Medicine from the NCCAOM, Brehan has pioneered innovative methods using Traditional Chinese Medicine for chronic infections. Known for mentoring other professionals, he regularly imparts knowledge on advanced Chinese herbal medicine applications. Beyond his clinical pursuits, Brehan enjoys singing, cooking, and hiking.
For centuries, Fuling, known scientifically as Poria cocos (Bai Fu Ling), has been a cornerstone in traditional healing approaches for chronic conditions. Its revered ability to nourish both spirit and body often equated to promises of extended life. In today’s era, while mushrooms like Lion’s Mane, turkeytail, Reishi, and Cordyceps steal the spotlight, it’s Fuling that remains a powerful, yet underrepresented ally for many facing health challenges
Poria cocos (Bai Fu Ling) boasts a rich history in ancient medical practices. Traditionally hailed for nourishing both the spirit and body, its reputed benefits promised a longer life. Remarkably, its relevance echoes today, especially when considering the staggering 1 in 3 Americans who are prediabetic.
Research
Looking at the research on Fuling’s benefits, one can’t help but notice most studies were conducted on mice. Perhaps that’s the secret behind the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ strength? Jokes aside, the results across these rodent studies are consistently promising, coupling these findings with its legacy in Chinese medicine gives compelling reasons to consider incorporating Fuling into our wellness routines.
Balancing Blood Sugar
The objective here was to uncover Poria cocos’ effects on type 2 diabetes. Through thorough phytochemical analysis, diabetic mouse model studies, and identification of its chemical compounds, the results were enlightening. Poria cocos extract showcased its potential by effectively lowering blood sugar levels in these mice.
The second research venture sought to unveil Poria cocos’ antidepressant capabilities. Behavioral tests on rats combined with evaluations of their brain chemical levels revealed astonishing outcomes. The mushroom extract may very well act as an antidepressant, addressing both anxiety and depression in rats.
Can Poria cocos combat atherosclerosis? Mice subjected to a high-fat diet and subsequent evaluation of their artery health suggested so. One particular ingredient, PCP, emerged as a possible guardian against artery disease.
To comprehend its effects on diuresis and water retention, various Poria cocos extracts underwent testing on rats. The takeaway? Certain extracts demonstrated potent diuretic properties, emphasizing its role in managing water balance.
The aim here was pinpointed – to understand if PCP can shield against liver damage induced by acetaminophen. Evaluations on both mouse and liver cell studies painted a hopeful picture. The evidence suggests that PCP plays a protective role against such damage.
While popular mushroom supplements continue to dominate the market, it’s high time we reevaluate our choices. Poria cocos, with its myriad of benefits, beckons for a closer look. Given its potential, isn’t it worth exploring over its more popular counterparts?
For those curious souls yearning for a holistic approach to health, why not explore the lesser-known wonders of Poria cocos?”Unlock the ancient secrets of Fuling with a 3-month subscription to Chorus! Embrace a journey of wellness and discovery. Don’t miss out—subscribe now and transform your health!”.
For more insights, collaborations, or to reach out to Brehan, you can connect with him through his online platforms:
Brehan Crawford, based in McMinnville, Oregon, is a distinguished clinician specializing in the treatment of chronic conditions, particularly Lyme Disease and its coinfections. After earning his Master’s degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine in 2009, he deepened his expertise with a 5-year residency under the mentorship of the renowned Dr. Heiner Fruehauf at the Hai Shan Clinic. A Diplomate of Oriental Medicine from the NCCAOM, Brehan has pioneered innovative methods using Traditional Chinese Medicine for chronic infections. Known for mentoring other professionals, he regularly imparts knowledge on advanced Chinese herbal medicine applications. Beyond his clinical pursuits, Brehan enjoys singing, cooking, and hiking.
Discover the incredible reasons why drinking warm water is absolutely vital for your health! In this eye-opening video, we delve into the amazing benefits that warm water offers to your body and mind. From boosting digestion and metabolism to improving circulation and detoxification, warm water holds the key to a healthier you. Don’t miss out on this life-changing information!
Warm Water: The Digestive Dynamo
Our digestive system is a complex organ assembly line that breaks down the food we eat, extracting nutrients for our bodies to use. While each of us might have a unique digestive routine, one thing stands consistent: the positive effects of warm water.
Stimulation of Digestive Organs
When we put heat into our system by consuming warm beverages or food, we stimulate better blood circulation. Drinking warm water has been found to stimulate the digestive organs, thus increasing the blood flow to the digestive system. This improved blood circulation can potentially enhance digestion and mitigate constipation risks.
Dissolution of Hard-to-Digest Foods
Occasionally, our body struggles to digest certain food particles. Warm water can aid in dissolving and dissipating such foods, offering relief.
Acceleration of Food Breakdown
It’s not just about digestion; it’s about efficient digestion. When you drink warm water before or after meals, it has been suggested that food breaks down at a faster rate than when consuming cold or ambient water.
Cold Water's Cold Shoulder to Digestion
While the refreshing allure of cold water can be tempting, it might not be the most digestion-friendly option. Cold water can constrict blood flow to our stomach and intestines, slowing down our enzymatic activity, which is crucial for digestion. Moreover, the body’s endeavor to regulate its temperature after consuming cold water can detract from its digestive focus. Experts also suggest that consuming cold water immediately after a meal can solidify fats from our foods, challenging the body’s efforts to break down these fats.
Conclusion
The world is brimming with advanced health hacks and innovations, yet sometimes, the most potent remedies are the simplest. As research continues to shed light on the benefits of warm water, consider incorporating it into your daily routine. Not only is it a boon for digestion, but it’s also a holistic path to overall well-being.
Brehan Crawford, based in McMinnville, Oregon, is a distinguished clinician specializing in the treatment of chronic conditions, particularly Lyme Disease and its coinfections. After earning his Master’s degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine in 2009, he deepened his expertise with a 5-year residency under the mentorship of the renowned Dr. Heiner Fruehauf at the Hai Shan Clinic. A Diplomate of Oriental Medicine from the NCCAOM, Brehan has pioneered innovative methods using Traditional Chinese Medicine for chronic infections. Known for mentoring other professionals, he regularly imparts knowledge on advanced Chinese herbal medicine applications. Beyond his clinical pursuits, Brehan enjoys singing, cooking, and hiking.
Chronic gut problems, ranging from irritable bowel syndrome to chronic gastritis, have long been a bane for many. As the search for effective treatments continues, many are returning to nature, particularly botanical medicines. But how do these plant-based remedies stand up to scientific scrutiny, and what insights can traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) provide?
1) The Bile Connection: Nature's Digestive Conductor
First and foremost, any effective botanical treatment for gut problems must regulate bile flow. Bile, a digestive fluid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, plays an essential role in fat digestion and absorption. Its significance goes beyond mere digestion; bile harmonizes gut microbial populations, acting as a sort of “master gardener” for the intestines.
The Botanical Symphony of Bile Regulation
A crucial function of botanicals in the treatment of gut problems is the regulation of bile flow. As our body’s natural digestive aid, bile emulsifies dietary fats into minuscule globules, preparing them for efficient breakdown and absorption by our intestines. Moreover, recent revelations by EPFL scientists have demonstrated the ability of bile acids to transform fat-storing cells into fat-burning ones. This transformative process, pivoting from FAT STORING to FAT BURNING, emphasizes the indispensable role of bile not just in digestion but also in our body’s metabolic equilibrium.
Yet, bile’s function isn’t merely confined to fat management. It plays a pivotal role in expelling waste products, such as the protein hemoglobin from destroyed red blood cells and excess cholesterol. Thus, the efficient flow and function of bile are paramount to the health of our gut and overall metabolism.
Aucklandiae (Mu Xiang): An Ode to a Gut’s Best Friend
Mu Xiang, or Aucklandiae Lappae, isn’t just another herb; it’s a botanical wonder in the world of TCM. Mu Xiang for its therapeutic properties, influences bile secretion, ensuring the digestive and waste management processes operate at their peak.
Think of the bile as an ecologist for your gut. An analogy might help here: Picture a peculiar bird from Huntington Beach, who, in his adventurous spirit, swims right into an oil spill. His fellow avians may mock his misfortune, but along comes a kind-hearted ecologist. This savior cleanses the bird with gentle care, much like how Aucklandiae ensures our bile efficiently washes away waste from our system. And as that bird, affectionately named Randal, bonds with his rescuer over bird documentaries, our gut forms an intrinsic bond with botanicals like Aucklandiae.
The Connection of Malondialdehyde (MDA) and Bile’s Role
Malondialdehyde (MDA), a cellular fatty acid peroxidation byproduct, reminds us of the complex interactions within our cells. Understanding such interactions is crucial as we explore the symbiotic relationship between botanical medicines and our body. Elevated levels of MDA are often associated with oxidative stress, and while research continues into its full implications, the role of bile and botanicals like Aucklandiae in promoting cellular health is undeniable.
2) Adaptability: Listening to the Body's Needs
An effective remedy should not be a one-size-fits-all solution in the ever-changing landscape of our body’s needs. Instead, it should adapt, much like our body does daily. The medical term for this is biphasic regulation. For instance, the remedy should promote movement when the bowels feel sluggish. Conversely, it should offer a calming effect on days marked by urgency.
Traditional Chinese medicine often focuses on restoring balance. Yin and Yang, the fundamental opposites in TCM, must remain in equilibrium for health to prevail. Botanical medicines that adhere to this principle of biphasic regulation, such as tractal loads, aim to restore this delicate balance, bridging ancient wisdom and contemporary medical understanding.
The Promise of Biphasic Regulation
The human body, in its infinite complexity, changes day by day. Some days, our digestion might be slow, making us feel bloated and uncomfortable, while on other days, we might experience the opposite. A remedy must be as adaptable as our body to recognize and address its shifting needs effectively. This is where the concept of **biphasic regulation** comes into play.
True to its name, biphasic regulation involves two phases – stimulating or calming based on the body’s requirements. For example, when the gut feels inactive, the remedy nudges it into action. On more active days, the remedy soothes and calms. This isn’t just a modern understanding; it’s an ancient principle with its roots in TCM, emphasizing the balance between Yin and Yang. Medicines like **tractal loads** embody this concept, providing a middle ground between ancient practices and modern needs.
Atractylodes Lancea( Cang Zhu): Gut’s Next Best Friends
Within the TCM pharmacopeia, Atractylodes lancea (Cang Zhu) holds a special place, particularly when addressing gut problems. Unlike some pharmaceutical interventions, such as Alosetron (Lotronex), which primarily slows down bowel movement and has many side effects, Atractylodes lancea doesn’t tamper with natural gastric emptying.
Instead, its magic lies in its ability to regulate. By influencing the CRF and vagal pathways, this botanical marvel takes on the role of a controller, governing the balance of gastrointestinal hormones.
Integrating Tradition and Modernity
While pharmaceuticals like Alosetron might provide temporary relief, their unidirectional approach often lacks the holistic understanding that herbs bring to the table. A combination of both, however, can be powerful.
Herbal formulas containing Atracylodes work on a deeper regulatory level, addressing the root of the problem. With time, as the body finds its balance, individuals often gravitate more towards these herbal solutions and complement them with lifestyle changes for long-term gut health.
Quality Matters: A Journey to the Mongolian Steppes
Botanicals are as effective as their source. The finest Atractylodes, for instance, hail from the vast, windswept steppes of Mongolia. Here, the dynamic Eurasian winds carry a rich diversity of microbiota. This exposure compels the Atractylodes plants to adapt, resulting in volatile oil pockets teeming with bioactivity. Notably, Chorus ensures that their Atractylodes, is sustainably wildcrafted, ensuring potency without compromising the environment.
3) A Gentle Approach: The Need for Forgiveness and Grace
The gut is sensitive, reacting to what we eat and our emotions, stress levels, and overall health. Therefore, an effective approach to gut health must be gentle, forgiving, and adaptive. In the realm of botanical medicine, plants like Kudzu exemplify this philosophy. Renowned in TCM for its healing properties, Kudzu embodies a remedy that offers grace, accommodating the occasional dietary indiscretions and life’s inevitable ups and downs.
Kudzu (Ge Gen): Unraveling The Roots
Known scientifically as *Pueraria lobata*, Ge Gen has been used for centuries in TCM. This plant has found its way into many traditional preparations, heralded for its therapeutic properties. Recent scientific research has added weight to these age-old claims, particularly in addressing the issue of intestinal permeability.
Intestinal permeability, commonly known as “leaky gut”, is a condition where the barrier function of the intestinal wall becomes compromised, allowing toxins, bacteria, and food particles to seep into the bloodstream. This can lead to a host of health issues, including chronic inflammation. Ge Gen is found to fortify this barrier, reducing the permeability and enhancing gut health.
The Hangover Helper
While TCM has long lauded Ge Gen’s benefits, modern science is catching up, especially regarding hangover prevention. Alcohol consumption can lead to liver damage, but Ge Gen comes to the rescue by repairing alcohol-induced liver injury. It’s not just the liver it protects; the overall formula, with Ge Gen at its heart, can be a savior after a night of overindulgence, mitigating the effects of a hangover.
Chrous
In the nexus of time-tested tradition and groundbreaking science, Chorus emerges as the beacon for holistic gut health. Harnessing the profound insights of Traditional Chinese Medicine, bolstered by rigorous scientific validation, Chorus champions a new era of wellness where adaptability, balance, and gentle care take center stage. As we journey into the future, let us not forget the whispers of the past. With Chorus, we celebrate the perfect harmony of age-old wisdom and contemporary understanding, providing a resonant answer to modern health challenges. Choose Chorus, where tradition meets today for a healthier tomorrow.
Brehan Crawford, based in McMinnville, Oregon, is a distinguished clinician specializing in the treatment of chronic conditions, particularly Lyme Disease and its coinfections. After earning his Master’s degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine in 2009, he deepened his expertise with a 5-year residency under the mentorship of the renowned Dr. Heiner Fruehauf at the Hai Shan Clinic. A Diplomate of Oriental Medicine from the NCCAOM, Brehan has pioneered innovative methods using Traditional Chinese Medicine for chronic infections. Known for mentoring other professionals, he regularly imparts knowledge on advanced Chinese herbal medicine applications. Beyond his clinical pursuits, Brehan enjoys singing, cooking, and hiking.
Explore the natural pain relief of Corydalis Salve and Evil Bone Water. Grounded in the tradition of Chinese medicine, this dynamic duo has been harnessed for its potent pain-relieving properties. By blending ancient remedies with modern understanding, discover how these topical treatments can offer unparalleled relief for various physical discomforts. Whether you’re well-versed in herbal treatments or are just beginning your journey, our in-depth look promises valuable insights into effective, natural pain management.
Pain Relief Power Combo: Corydalis Salve and Evil Bone Water
Take advantage of the synergistic effect of our two bestselling topical ointments for ultimate pain relief. Corydalis Relief Salve and Evil Bone Water are like the Yin and Yang of pain relief. Each topical works in separate yet complementary ways in managing pain. First, apply Evil Bone Water for fast and powerful pain relief. It will immediately soothe symptoms. Then, apply Corydalis Relief Salve for a longer-lasting, soothing effect.
Gentle stimulation with Corydalis, lavender, frankincense, and myrrh
Natural pain-relieving compounds activate dopamine and opiate receptors to decrease pain.
Coconut oil, Shea Butter and Beeswax base
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The Power of Combining Evil Bone Water with Corydalis Salve
Merging the capabilities of Evil Bone Water with Corydalis Salve unlocks the full potential of Corydalis, providing targeted and efficient pain relief. Evil Bone Water prepares the skin for better absorption of the salve, allowing it to penetrate deeper and offer pain relief for up to 2-3 hours longer.
This unique combination ensures that the Corydalis Salve is utilized to its fullest extent, maximizing benefits for users.
Understanding the Role of Alcohol in Topicals
Alcohol-based topicals, like ethanol, are widely used in topical applications and are generally safe, even under heavy-use conditions. Ethanol decreases skin oil and lowers the skin barrier function, making the membrane more permeable. This allows for better penetration of other herbs and ingredients, such as Corydalis, when used in combination with Evil Bone Water.
The Art of Using Liniments and Salves
Alcohol-based liniments, such as Evil Bone Water, are known for their quicker absorption speed compared to oil-based topicals. The alcohol content in these linaments allows the active ingredients to penetrate the skin rapidly and reach the affected muscles or joints more effectively. This leads to faster relief from pain and discomfort. The trade-off is that this volatility causes it to evaporate and dry quickly off the skin.
On the other hand, oil-based salves tend to be slower to absorb and act more as a time-release mechanism. They create a barrier on the skin, gradually releasing the active ingredients over time. While both types of topicals can be beneficial, combining them, you get the best of both.
How Corydalis and Evil Bone Water Complement Each Other
Topical Corydalis and Evil Bone Water are both known for their pain-relieving properties, albeit through different mechanisms.
Sensory neurons
Sensory neurons in our skin contain pain receptors that help us feel pain. These receptors can be turned on or off by natural substances in the skin, like histamine. The way we perceive pain is also influenced by our brain and brain stem. The most common type of pain receptor found in the skin is known as transient receptor potential (TRP) channels.
San Qi
Evil Bone Water, an ancient Chinese remedy, contains an ingredient called Panax notoginseng or “san qi,” which has been used for centuries to treat pain. The active components in Panax notoginseng are compounds called ginsenosides, which can be absorbed into the skin when applied topically.
Research has shown that one particular ginsenoside, called Rg1, can help reduce pain by blocking specific pain receptors (TRPV1 channels) and decreasing inflammation. This is achieved by reducing the production of a molecule called PGE2, which is known to cause inflammation. Another study found that ginsenosides might directly block these pain receptors in sensory neurons, further contributing to their pain-relieving effects.
Panax notoginseng has been used safely for centuries in traditional medicine, making it a reliable ingredient for remedies like Evil Bone Water. By targeting specific pain receptors and reducing inflammation, the ginsenosides in Evil Bone Water can provide relief from pain and discomfort, offering a natural option for managing pain.
Yan Huo Suo
Corydalis (aka Yan Hu Sou) contains high concentrations of alkaloids (mainly Dehydrocorydaline) and berberine. Dehydrochorydaline attaches to Dopamine and Opiate receptors to inhibit pain and relieve pain without creating an addiction. It does this by avoiding Dopamine receptors 2 and 4 (responsible for cravings) and instead stimulates and attaches to Dopamine receptors 1,3, and 5. Receptors 1,3, and 5 allow you to experience relief but are also the shutoff buttons for craving and wanting more Corydalis. The high concentrations of berberine support reducing inflammation in various tissues. The other plants and oils in the Relief Salve also contain compounds that help support the two main functions of Corydalis. The most notable helper in the formula is Copaiba which stimulates Cannabinoid (CBD) receptors in the same way as hemp.
Together is Better
Harnessing the power of natural remedies like Evil Bone Water and Corydalis Cream offers a promising pathway in chronic pain management. By combining these, we not only tap into the individual strengths of each remedy but also unlock their combined potential for enhanced relief.
Brehan Crawford, based in McMinnville, Oregon, is a distinguished clinician specializing in the treatment of chronic conditions, particularly Lyme Disease and its coinfections. After earning his Master’s degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine in 2009, he deepened his expertise with a 5-year residency under the mentorship of the renowned Dr. Heiner Fruehauf at the Hai Shan Clinic. A Diplomate of Oriental Medicine from the NCCAOM, Brehan has pioneered innovative methods using Traditional Chinese Medicine for chronic infections. Known for mentoring other professionals, he regularly imparts knowledge on advanced Chinese herbal medicine applications. Beyond his clinical pursuits, Brehan enjoys singing, cooking, and hiking.
Water Metabolism is a key diagnostic marker for people with chronic diseases like Long Covid, Fibromyalgia Lyme disease etc. Especially when we’re working in the world of disease clusters like IBS, POTS and MCAS or histamine responses, but it can apply basically anywhere.
Sadly, this is something that your primary and even most specialists just ignore. It’s both a very new and very old way of looking at functional health disorders so most clinicians either think it’s pseudoscience or they’ve just never heard about it because even though we like to think medical practice is pure science, its about as susceptible to fads as your average teenager’s tiktok feed but at the end of this post I will teach you how to tell if it’s out of whack yourself.
55 to 60 percent of the weight of a human body is water. Its what makes us deliciously plump like a brined turkey and is of course a big part of our electrical functioning because that water carries electrolytes that help keep your lights on.
If you weren’t stoned out your mind in high school biology you may recall that water moves across the selectively permeable phospholipid bilayer membrane of your cells by osmosis (At least that’s what I learned because I wasn’t cool so nobody offered me drugs until college). And like most of the places where medical science has a giant donut hole in it that indifferently keeps people sick, that’s not wrong but it’s missing the important part of the picture.
Knowing a few things would fill that donut hole and make it as delicious as you:
If osmosis were the only way water moved around our body we’d die of dehydration so enter Aquaporins. These are your cells’ HOV Lanes where water can move much more rapidly than simple osmosis. More on these in a second.
The importance of a great deal of physical movement like walking which most of our ancestors did all day long. it wasn’t just a stupid walk for their stupid mental health it was a normal part of everyday life until we invented couches and office furniture, unless you were wealthy enough to be carried around on a palanquin by other people constantly being fed bread and fruit–which is why many chronic illnesses nowadays mimic the diseases of the bougie classes in olden times. Carbs are cheap and feed fungus. Time is our real precious resource and you should spend more of it not being sedentary if you can. Gentle movement is the key to creating the vacuum forces that move water through your lymphatic ducts and the interstitium which is the flooded zones between cells where water can pool and start getting yucky.
Water in our bodies is just like water in nature.
Where it moves fast it is healthy, maybe even safe to drink. Where it sits still it grows pond scum.
The interstitium is a lake. It has three times as much fluid as the cardiovascular and lymphatic systems combined and nothing pumps it along as well as gentle physical activity. If you’ve read our posts on Long Covid and POTS you’ll recall a special role played in that process by fungus. Here we can see how mold toxins directly inhibit aquaporin function and result in more water being held in the interstitium:
Swamp monster time.
So if you’re constantly feeling puffy and soggy like a human loaf of french toast, but also showing signs of dehydration like like dizziness and headaches? Right here, this is you. And drinking more water might not be the solution. the “8 cups a day” rule is just something somebody pulled out of their butt and has no scientific evidence behind it. Hydration levels can be managed best by learning to pay attention to thirst:
that walking and gentle movement also promotes sweating which is the literal transit of water out of your body and a big way our bodies stay internally clean.
Don’t be this guy.
Along with movement comes a need to breathe. Your lungs are a giant literal pump. If you think it’s only for air make a “HHHH” sound in cold weather. the reason you can see your breath is because it’s carrying water.
The other things necessary for healthy water metabolism are regular bowel movement, regular urination, and for uterus owners in the right stage of life a regular menstrual cycle. If you went on oral birth control or had a hormonal IUD implanted, and immediately gained 15 pounds of water weight maybe that wasn’t the best thing for your POTS.
So, diagnosis:
Many of my patients have had mold toxin tests done and my honest take is that they’re unnecessary for managing these kinds of illness. While it’s nice to have a lab say “this is what’s making you sick” it doesn’t usually lead to effective treatment and often points people in the direction of fear-based behaviors that I won’t get into here because I don’t want a horde of methy RVs following me everywhere I go. Mold toxicity can generally be assumed here because it is part of the picture for everyone who falls into this disease cluster, see my posts on Candida, and is taken into account already in the treatments that actually work such as our Fibromyalgia protocol and Long Haul Covid toolkits.
One of the oldest and most accurate ways of diagnosing water metabolism problems comes from Chinese Medicine. Many areas of China are riddled with mold toxicity and a huge category of Chinese medicine practice is in the area of “Damp” diseases.
If you’ve ever seen an acupuncturist they probably wanted to look at your tongue but they might not have been able to say why because most of them have a fisher price medical education and I’m not throwing shade here except at the schools, I had that too, but it’s important to note that many acupuncturists, even the very good ones, often have a difficult time explaining what they are doing in a modern context.
The tongue is a muscle we can see and its relative swollen-ness can tell us a lot about whether or not excess water is being retained in the body, and why. If you have these scallopy toothmarks, it may be you.
The tongue also grows out of pharyngeal arches which create different sections of your body, and their status is still reflected in the different sections of the tongue, even when you’re no longer a fetus.
Chinese medicine calls these sections an organ knows as the “three burners” and this is often mislabeled as pseudoscience because anatomists can’t find any camp stoves inside a human cadaver.
BUT when you look at the interstitium’s ability to move elements of your microbiome from one part of your body to another,
and you separate that microbiome into three distinct regions (respiratory, gastrointestinal, urogenital) corresponding with the pharyngeal arch regions, the three burners organ makes a pretty nice metaphor and starts to sound a lot more real.
So by looking at the tongue, you can see the parts of the body affected by excess water retention.
Distal third: Head and upper torso
Center: GI system (edges: hepatobiliary system)
Proximal third: Kidneys & urogenital system
Now go for a walk and consider a light sweat every day as one of the key things you can do for your health.
This is one of the foundational pieces of understanding for chronic illnesses, and most of the kits & protocols on our website for Fibromyalgia & Long Covid address the common dysfunction with water metabolism we see.
Brehan Crawford, based in McMinnville, Oregon, is a distinguished clinician specializing in the treatment of chronic conditions, particularly Lyme Disease and its coinfections. After earning his Master’s degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine in 2009, he deepened his expertise with a 5-year residency under the mentorship of the renowned Dr. Heiner Fruehauf at the Hai Shan Clinic. A Diplomate of Oriental Medicine from the NCCAOM, Brehan has pioneered innovative methods using Traditional Chinese Medicine for chronic infections. Known for mentoring other professionals, he regularly imparts knowledge on advanced Chinese herbal medicine applications. Beyond his clinical pursuits, Brehan enjoys singing, cooking, and hiking.
It’s one of the main ingredients in Evil Bone Water. Here’s why it’s so awesome.
This photo is from the Evil Bone Water factory. San Qi is in the bowl on the left. (on the right is Cinnamon…the real stuff, not what you find in the grocery store…but that’s for another blog post).
It’s one of the rarest and most expensive herbs in China, it’s notoriously difficult to grow, and for that reason is often excluded from mass-produced topical formulas. But Evil Bone water spares no expense to bring you the very best.
You can see the “standard” c-grade in this photo. It still works, but not as well. San Qi has over 200 bioactive phytochemical compounds, and has been extensively studied in the modern era. The powdered herb can be poured directly into open wounds, has an antiseptic quality and is known for healing massive traumas like surgical incisions and even gunshot wounds without leaving a scar.
Ischemias in the brain are really bad (it’s one type of stroke) but we get them all the time in other parts of our body from daily life. Bonking into a coffee table, overdoing it with yard work or in a martial arts class, even chronic pains like arthritis and fibromyalgia can involve ongoing ischemic damage. Your best friend for these types of injuries is San Qi.
Now we don’t recommend Evil Bone Water for internal use (I know some folks do, and I can’t say I’ve never tried it…but it might have an undesired laxative effect so please just… don’t). And if you have a stroke or serious injury, by all means please seek immediate medical attention. But for those everyday little things… keep a bottle of Evil Bone Water close at hand.
Do you know anyone who'd like to learn about EBW or San Qi?
Share this link with them and become their new best friend.
Dampness continues to be the pathogen on everyone’s mind this year, as an ever-increasing body of research shows the links between Covid-19 severity and Autoimmunity, Blood sugar problems and obesity.
When treating these conditions with TCM the first thing we always regulate is the body’s water metabolism. Are you feeling swollen, fatigued, or lethargic? When you change to a healthier diet do you initially lose water weight? You’re not alone.
The human body’s methods of regulating its fluids are robust and many, but they’re vulnerable to damage. And while we often feel like we are “dehydrated” and have to force ourselves to drink water, what’s really going on is that we are water logged, and our natural feeling of thirst is suppressed.
Would you rather drink from a clear alpine spring, or a tepid muddy pond with an algae bloom? Just as in nature, water in our bodies is cleanest when it is moving. When it sits still it is more prone to the growth of infectious pathogens, and it harbors toxicity from the environment such as microplastics, pesticides and heavy metals.
All of this is treated in TCM as pathological Dampness. And when we’re fighting a Damp Plague like Covid-19, pre-existing dampness can put our lives at risk.
Just as in nature, seasonal changes affect the ways our bodies hold, move, and release water. In Spring and Summer when the trees and plants are growing, blooming and fruiting, we tend to move more, sweat more, and move the circulation of gases, water and blood more into our muscles, skin and extremities. And in Autumn and Winter, we sit more, sleep more and rest; this is when gases, water and blood move back into our core.
As above, so below, in Traditional Chinese Medicine and High school biology.
What this means is that, if our bodies are not clean and our waters are dirty, it’s harder to eliminate that toxicity in the colder parts of the year. Yes, you can (and I would argue, you must) still move and sweat. But you can’t do it as much when it’s cold outside or you risk nasty things like new viruses moving in through your open pores.
So as we are now seeing the seasons change from Summer to Autumn, it is the Best time to eliminate dampness from your body. How to do it?
Sweat! Get outside and exercise. Walking, running, cycling, Yoga, martial arts, and many other activities are safe to practice while socially distanced. Enjoy these waning days of Summer and move your body. I’ve become a big fan of my friend and colleague Fabrice Piche’s Qigong YouTube channel.
Fix your digestion. If you’re prone to a sluggish gut, up your intake of fresh, gently cooked vegetables; especially seasonal Zucchini and squash. Spices such as ginger and Sichuan Peppercorns can boost gut motility and fight overgrowth of Candida-type yeasts that contribute to Dampness. Regular, complete bowel movements are one of the best ways to clean the body’s water metabolism. If you’re prone to bloating or post-meal fatigue, consider digestive aids such as Microgard Plus and abdominal self-massage.
Consider cutting your carbs. While we think of salty food as being the thing that makes us retain water (and it can definitely do this), we often forget that sugars do it just as well. Most of you know my story with obesity and blood sugar, and that I usually eat Ketogenic. I’ve been making exceptions for fresh Summer fruit, but now that blackberry season has passed I’ll go back to it for the Yin time of the year. You don’t always have to go that far, but reducing or eliminating grains and refined sugars can go a long way towards getting your body to shed extra water weight and feeling light and agile as the year cools off.
Sichuan Peppercorns add spice to your life and flavor to your meals! You can make them into a delicious condiment easily at home.
Botanical medicine can supercharge all of these lifestyle tweaks, and we’ve made the most commonly used formulas available through the clinic’s Online Store. Here’s a quick guide:
Blood Sugars elevated: consider Aquada and Microgard Plus with your meals, in addition to suggestions above.
Working in close proximity with others, having a difficult time maintaining social distance, or vulnerable to infection: Huo Xiang Zheng Qi tea is the most commonly used formula in China for prevention of the “Damp Plague.”
Waking up foggy-headed (does your spouse tell you that you snore?) with a low morning appetite: Warm Hearth tea and a Tibetan Foot Soak is an awesome start to your day.
Tending to sluggish bowels and constipation? A few sachets of Peak tea can usually get you moving.
I know there are a lot of options and combining these remedies or making custom blends can seem daunting. You can always schedule an appointment with me to get clear on your best path to health.
I hope you are enjoying Late Summer and staying well. As always, feel free to reply with your questions and feedback!
To your health,
Brehan and the Crawford Wellness crew
Brehan Crawford, based in McMinnville, Oregon, is a distinguished clinician specializing in the treatment of chronic conditions, particularly Lyme Disease and its coinfections. After earning his Master’s degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine in 2009, he deepened his expertise with a 5-year residency under the mentorship of the renowned Dr. Heiner Fruehauf at the Hai Shan Clinic. A Diplomate of Oriental Medicine from the NCCAOM, Brehan has pioneered innovative methods using Traditional Chinese Medicine for chronic infections. Known for mentoring other professionals, he regularly imparts knowledge on advanced Chinese herbal medicine applications. Beyond his clinical pursuits, Brehan enjoys singing, cooking, and hiking.
Seeking and providing care for chronic ailments of any kind is rife with uncertainties and unanswered questions. As a patient, you want as close to a guarantee as you can get from your medical provider that the time, money and effort you’re pouring into your recovery is worth it. As a provider, I know that every case is different and that it’s irresponsible to make guarantees of any kind other than that I’ll do my best. Medicine is as much art as it is science; complex conditions may resolve miraculously and simple acute ailments may be frustratingly untreatable. Good training and clinical experience creates expertise and improves outcomes but ultimately it may not be possible for everything to resolve.
So when patients come to me and say they’re looking for a solution for their symptoms of chronic Lyme disease it’s important to get expectations very clear.
As I’ve written before, beyond the 2-week window of acute exposure where antibiotics may be effective we can no longer use the term cure. Instead we use remission. While some patients will have their symptoms evaporate and never return, others may require some kind of ongoing treatment in order to maintain their health. This could be very easy and mild, like following a moderate diet and performing a few minutes of daily breathing exercises; or it could mean that they need to use herbal medicines for a prolonged period of time, treating their bodies to prevent relapse and improve overall health.
While the very existence of chronic Lyme disease is controversial, and many patients are told by their providers that they have “post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome” (which I’ve discussed in a different post), their symptoms often do not abate and in fact may worsen significantly over the estimated 6-month recovery window if they are denied proper treatment.
Typically, Lyme patients at our clinic notice significant recovery in one or more areas within the first month of treatment. This can be as significant as a reduction or elimination of pain; less air hunger; the restoration of a functioning and regular digestive system; or heightened mental clarity. With continued treatment, more systems are restored and patients experience more vitality returning to their lives.
In my clinical experience, the longer someone has been infected by Borrelia and its ilk, the longer they can expect to take to recover. This can be prolonged by many factors: age, stress, other injuries or health concerns, and a history of unhelpful interventions such as prolonged antibiotic use or unnecessary surgical procedures.
In some exceptional cases a full course of Lyme treatment can be resolved in as few as one to three months. In most others, it will take six months to three years. Borrelia and its coinfections can cause degenerative changes in every system of the body that require proper treatment, consistency and time to heal.
Seasonal and environmental factors also play a role. Many patients are susceptible to cold, damp climates and especially the mold exposure that can come from living in them. As a matter of course, we always take extra care in the wintertime of the Pacific Northwest to protect the immune system and keep blood circulation to the extremities adequate. The road to remission is not always a straight line and it’s normal to experience plateaus or setbacks along the way back to health.
One of my favorite things in clinic is to let a patient know that I’m considering them in remission. This is like a graduation from care to return to “normal” life and it usually means the patient is able to work, play, exercise and take on new projects. It also means that they’ll be tested by life’s stresses and may need to return to the clinic in the future. Major events like accidents, traumas and new infections can cause symptoms to flare and additional care may be necessary. But when it comes around a second time, it’s usually faster and easier to treat, especially when it’s addressed promptly.
This topic — like most in medicine — is not without controversy and I welcome your feedback. Please don’t misconstrue what I’m about to say as medical advice either general or specific. This information is merely for educational purposes.
The standard course of treatment for acute Lyme disease (the diagnosis of which you can see discussed here) is a 10-to-21-day course of antibiotics, usually Doxycycline or a similar drug, and is outlined here by CDC.
When used in a timely manner and for an appropriate duration this treatment is 80% to 90% effective and is one of the only times that Lyme can be said to be cured. Many patients do also utilize anti-microbial, biofilm-dissolving and neuroprotective Chinese herbal formulas during this time to increase their chances of a successful outcome, and following antibiotic treatment use formulas to heal the gastrointestinal system and promote a healthy gut ecology. Additionally, some patients who experience fatigue, pain, or depression following antibiotic treatment find Traditional Chinese Medicine to be exceptionally helpful to resolve their symptoms. For cases of chronic Lyme we use the term remission and make every attempt to ensure that remission is permanent.
Many patients who are not diagnosed or treated quickly enough for this standard treatment to be effective may still be prescribed antibiotics and may still experience some relief — but that relief is often temporary.
Chronic Lyme disease, AKA Post-treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS) is a complex and chronic polymicrobial condition which does not respond to the use of antibiotics and where antibiotics may in fact be dangerous. The name of this condition is under debate but I prefer to use the term chronic Lyme as there is ample evidence (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) available that shows lingering infectious issues in the body; and many patients who seek help for this condition have never been treated by antibiotics at all. To use the PTLDS term is an insult to patients who have never received treatment; and to those that have received treatment, it is implied that an infection is no longer present (this often is not the case). This term is a blatant disregard for the suffering many patients with chronic Lyme experience and often gives them false hope that the condition will resolve on its own.
Patients diagnosed with PTLDS often are prescribed antidepressants, pain medicine and psychotherapy and shuffled out of their doctors’ offices as quickly as possible. These treatments are seldom effective and leave patients feeling unheard, unwelcome and isolated.
The preferred treatment for chronic Lyme by many physicians and practitioners who advertise themselves as “Lyme-Literate” is the prolonged use of multiple-antibiotic cocktails with the intention of trying to hammer the infection into the ground for good. These treatments are also not supported by evidence and in fact evidence is available (1) (2) (3) (4) which points towards a significant amount of danger in engaging in this type of practice. The misuse of antibiotics in children may have an especially harmful effect (1).
Any Lyme patient who has received a prescription for one of these cocktails will likely recall the cringe on their pharmacists’ face when looking at the script. That is because pharmacists are well aware of the dangers of utilizing antibiotics for prolonged periods of time, as well as the potential for drug interactions due to polypharmacy.
So what is there to do?
The three factors involved that cause the long-lasting suffering endured by Lyme patients, and their solutions:
Borrelia and coinfections, and toxicity must be eradicated when possible. The reason we use the term remission is because the emerging evidence seems to indicate that some of these infections cannot in every case be completely elminated from the body. Borrelia in particular, because of its ability to hide behind a hardened, thick biofilm shell in a cystic state for decades, may not be possible to completely eliminate.
Because chronic Lyme is a polymicrobial condition — not just one organism that causes the debilitating symptoms many patients experience, but a cohort of coinfections and environmental factors — merely using antibiotics by definition cannot be effective. In future posts I’ll describe each coinfection and comorbidity of chronic Lyme in detail.
Nonetheless, fight we must. Traditional Chinese medicine is exceptional at reducing infectious loads of bacteria, viruses, mold/fungi, parasites, and other metal & chemical toxicities. The botanical substances utilized for the last three thousand years in China have a long, safe and successful track record of dealing with even the worst infectious epidemics in human history and are uniquely suited to tackling these kinds of diseases today.
In future posts I’ll discuss some of the key ingredients we use to fight infections, how they are synergistically combined to increase their efficacy, and the latest research which documents how they work in scientific detail. Simply put because these are botanical medicines — plants which have evolved in some of the harshest climates and environments on Earth — they have developed the ability to fight chronic infections from multiple vectors at once and are able to get around the problem of antibiotic resistance.
Because of the first factor, we must strengthen the constitution and immune systems of each chronic Lyme patient to keep them healthy once the infectious load is reduced. As many have experienced, each subsequent month or year that their condition drags on weakens them against further infections. They may catch every cold that comes along, get a food-borne illness from a communal meal which others did not contract, be highly susceptible to environmental factors such as climate or mold toxicity or heavy metal exposure, and have multiple chemical and/or food sensitivities which limit their ability to travel or even leave their own home. The weakened immune system of these patients also leaves them vulnerable to flares of once-thought-eradicated infections such as Borrelia. Because it can be difficult to eradicate Borrelia entirely with certainty, once its infectious load is reduced we rebuild the strength of the body’s immune system to keep any possible lingering nodes of infection at bay.
As an example, Many patients with chronic Lyme cannot produce a fever, and cannot recall having had one over 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit for decades. While it may be uncomfortable to experience, a major milestone for these patients is to experience a nice high fever as their body fights off an acute infection successfully.
Organ and tissue damage caused by the infections. The specific damage each major infectious and toxic vector of chronic Lyme can cause is an article I’ll write in the future. But to sum up briefly: microscarring, biofilms, and chronic infectious and toxic loads can reduce the function of the liver, kidneys, heart, lungs, digestive system, endocrine and nervous systems — every system of the body really. This must be repaired and Chinese medicine, due to its long history of working successfully with chronic degenerative conditions, is uniquely suited to be useful here. We have formulas which are able to influence gene expression for specific growth factors and restore detoxification pathways that are especially powerful in these situations.
Chinese herbal medicine is fantastically effective at addressing both the root cause of the suffering that chronic Lyme patients endure, and at relieving the symptoms.
Don’t be this guy.
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