Dr. Ting Hung-Leung, Hong Kong's deputy director for Traditional Chinese Medicine, commented: "The problem in 1997 was we had over 7,000 practitioners of herbal and Traditional Chinese Medicine and anyone could call themselves TCM practitioners." Now rigid licensing and educational standards have made the study more acceptable to Western standards.

As a result, Chinese herbal medicine and clinics offering acupuncture treatment are opening up in many American medical schools and the ancient treatments are being tested in laboratories for effectiveness. Researchers and patients alike are surprised at the results.

Did you know that emphysema can even be treated by Chinese herbal therapy? First, patients should consider what their diets include. Do's include: protein (fish, eggs, lean meats), nuts, seeds, legumes, fiber-rich vegetables and soy. Don'ts include: complex carbohydrates, caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, simple sugars and things ending in "-ose."

Never skip meals, but rather eat small meals throughout the day and have a small snack before bed. The most important Chinese herbal remedy is brewer's yeast, which stabilizes blood sugar levels.

Chromium picolinate is also necessary for optimal insulin activity. Pacreatin and proteolytic enzymes aid in digestion. Zinc helps control appropriate insulin release. Glutamine will reduce sugar cravings. Many people with hypoglycemia are found to be lacking certain essentials: manganese and vitamin C with bioflavonoids.

Doctors also recommend herbal teas with burdock, dandelion or licorice to stabilize blood sugar levels. Ohiopogon is a powerful tonic that strengthens the lungs and heart and should be taken twice daily, 6 grams at a time. Check with a specialist to see what options are best for you.

"I think acceptance by the mainstream medicine is getting better and better,"said Che Chun Tao, professor and director of the School of Chinese Medicine at Chinese University. "I can tell you, before 1997 there were no doctors in hospitals who were willing to touch any herbal materials in clinical trials, but now there's quite a number of clinical trials going on and there's better acceptance from medical doctors.

I believe a combination of traditional Chinese medicine together with western medicine is needed for treating serious diseases and it's important to offer a choice for patients and the general public," he said. Currently, clinical trials for Chinese herbal extracts are being tested all around the world to cure some of the world's most serious diseases.

"If you are taking herbs without experiencing any results after a week or two, then perhaps your formula needs to be changed, unhealthy foods eliminated from your diet, or other changes made," says Jiang Wind Xiao, one Chinese herbal exhibitor.

"If you are being told to take herbs for long periods of time without seeing any benefits, or are experiencing side effects, then perhaps you need to see another practitioner." Pharmaceuticals should still be used for emergencies, but for long term care Chinese herbal remedies work best.