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Channel Flow is a natural herbal formula that has been shown to be equally effective at pain-relief as NSAIDs, ibuprofen, and aspirin without the negative side effects. The long term administration of NSAIDs, ibuprofen, and aspirin at regular adult dosages is deemed unsafe for most patients due to danger to the heart, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract. Opiates are contraindicated long term because they are addictive. Although many doctors prescribe Tylenol, it can be dangerous to the liver especially in high dosages. Gastrointestinal effects include acute biliary pain, cholestasis, nausea and vomiting. The long term safety of Tylenol has not been established. Because herbal formulas made in China are often adulterated with unsafe analgesics, Health Concerns wanted to provide a safe, consistent and effective formula manufactured here in the United States. Therapeutic Actions of Channel Flow: Has pain relieving and relaxant properties Helps relieve joint, muscle, abdominal and gynecological pain and cramping Treats headache, arthritis, and fibromyalgia, especially when used with other formulas Supports normal menstruation and a fertile environment Formula Channel Flow, a modified Huo Luo Xiao Ling Dan Corydalis Extract Herbal Supplement, was developed by Misha Cohen, OMD, LAc, and Andrew Gaeddert, out of their clinical experience with fibromyalgia, abdominal pain, and gynecological disorders. This formula was designed for quick results. Corydalis (yan hu suo) was chosen as the chief herb for the formula, as it is very widely used in China for pain relief. It is 25% of the formula in a 7:1 extract. Corydalis invigorates the blood and alleviates pain. Corydalis also regulates Qi and is used for pain in the chest, abdomen, and epigastric area. It is also used for menstrual pain, as well as hernia-like (bearing down) pain. Corydalis has a mild sedative effect. Angelica (bai zhi) relieves pain, especially in the upper body, neck, and shoulders. Tang kuei (dang gui) has a special effect in relieving abdominal and uterine pain. Traditionally it is used for dysmenorrhea and arthritic pain. It increases local circulation of blood and has a warming effect. Its functions are to nourish, tonify, and invigorate the blood. Tang kuei, with salvia (dan shen) and myrrh (mo yao), alleviates pain due to blood stagnation in the extremities. White peony (bai shao) alleviates pain, spasms, and cramping. Cinnamon twig (gui zhi) was chosen for the specific effect of bringing the herbs to the surface of the body and to promote circulation of blood. The traditional functions include warming the channels. It has shown analgesic effects according to Western research. Salvia (dan shen) was chosen for its specific effect of relieving menstrual pain. Its traditional functions include invigorating blood and removing blood stasis and heat. According to Western research, salvia increases microcirculation of blood flow and has a sedative effect. Myrrh and frankincense are included for their functions in relieving pain. Frankincense (ru xiang) invigorates the blood and promotes movement of Qi. It alleviates pain and reduces swelling. Myrrh (mo yao) invigorates the blood, dispels blood stasis, reduces swelling and alleviates pain. Both frankincense and myrrh promote healing. Licorice (gan cao) alleviates pain and spasms, and has anti-inflammatory and detoxicant effects. Ingredients Corydalis extract rhizome (yan hu suo), Angelica root (bai zhi), White Peony root (bai shao), Cinnamon twig (gui zhi), Tang Kuei root (dang gui), Salvia root (dan shen), Myrrh resin (mo yao), Frankincense resin (ru xiang), Licorice root (gan cao) About Health Concerns The First and Still the Best Health Concerns is at the leading edge of research in herbal medicine and is known for bringing the centuries of knowledge amassed in the Chinese herbal tradition to the West. Health Concerns was the first company to manufacture Chinese herbal products in the United States for practitioners. Today Health Concerns continues to research, test, and adapt traditional formulas by applying the science of modern biochemistry. As a result, Health Concerns can offer a variety of formulas for a full range of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatment protocols as well as many products that address the specific conditions of Western patients. Commitment to Quality Health Concerns’ commitment to herbal medicine and modern science provides you with the best formulas available. The quality of their products has been remarkably consistent and dependable over the years. Since inception, they have been committed to taking whatever measures are necessary to guarantee safe herbs, free of contaminants or harmful ingredients. They provide a reliable, worry-free source of effective, quality Chinese herbs. Their stringent herb sourcing, quality controls, and testing for maximum potency and purity result in Chinese herbal formulas offering you the benefits of both ancient wisdom and modern science. Mission & Values Health Concerns is dedicated to promoting the benefits of herbal therapies by providing the highest quality herbal products available today. They understand that the traditional means of administering Traditional Chinese Medicine, through the brewing and drinking of teas, is not often effective for Western patients and have therefore developed a wide range of products based on TCM formulas in a tablet form. Health Concerns delivers outstanding products that improve people’s lives. Product Quality Assurance Herb Selection Their quality control program begins with the herbs themselves. They hand select the finest wild picked or organically grown herbs whenever possible, paying close attention to species, region of cultivation, time of harvest, and the spirit in which plants are grown and collected. They use only the most potent part of the plant. They do not use herbs that are endangered, sprayed or fumigated. Laboratory Testing Trained herbalists evaluate the herbs for quality on the basis of smell, taste and appearance, as has been done for thousands of years. The amount of active components, strength, and efficacy are then verified by analysis. To screen for pesticides, heavy metals, sulfites, and bacterial contamination, samples are sent to independent labs, which use the latest technology. Capillary electrophoresis, high-pressure liquid chromatography, gas chromatography, and thin-layer chromatography provide detailed compositional analysis at the molecular level. Processing and Potency Once the herbs have passed inspection, they are processed according to tradition to maximize potency and eliminate undesired effects. Raw herbs may be steamed, baked, alcohol-soaked or ginger-processed. The selection of each herb is double-checked and quantities are weighed twice so that formulas are uniform from batch to batch. Herbs are granulated and cooked as a decoction to improve bio availability. Combining Components They devote meticulous attention to each individual component of a formula and then, of course, to how components work together. Roots are cooked over low temperature overnight. Flowers are prepared by infusion. Alkaloid-containing herbs are soaked in alcohol, and aromatic extracts are added last to preserve their volatile components. A small amount of acacia gum and cellulose are used to bind the ingredients together, while magnesium aids the tableting process. Tableting and Packaging Once the herbs are compressed into tablets, they are coated to ease swallowing and preserve freshness. To make sure they can be absorbed, their disintegration is timed. During the final stage of manufacturing, they are packaged into bottles, inner and outer safety seals are applied, and each bottle is stamped with a lot number and manufacture date. A sample of each batch is sent to an outside lab to ensure the accuracy, purity and potency. Fully Tested & Guaranteed All Health concerns formulas are made in accordance with cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practices). Their manufacturing facility is certified by NSF International, an accrediting organization that tests, audits and certifies facilities. At Health Concerns, traditional and scientific assessment combined with time-honored methods of processing result in the most effective and reliable herbs available anywhere. Their testing criteria, known as SIDI (Standardized Information on Dietary Ingredients), is endorsed by the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), and the Natural Products Association. Their herbalists bring decades of training, experience, and care to the task of evaluation. They guarantee their products without reservation. We invite you to open a bottle of Health Concerns’ formulas to taste and smell the difference. Benefits This formula can be used successfully for relieving pain from knee tendonitis, tennis elbow, headaches, and for routine pain as you would an NSAID or Tylenol. Clients have used Channel Flow alone or with other herbal formulas for arthritis, fibromyalgia, endometriosis, dysmenorrhea, headaches, TMJ pain, low back, shoulder and neck pain, and post-surgical recovery. The formula has also been used experimentally for foot and ankle pain. In general, two to three tablets provide equivalent pain relief to 400mg of ibuprofen. In pain clinics, motivated patients have found that Channel Flow can significantly lower the need for opiates. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): Channel Flow, also known as Huo Luo Xiao Ling Dan (modified), regulates Qi and blood and warms the channels. Clinical Case Studies: Case 1: A thirty-year-old patient who worked as a social worker was dependent on NSAIDs and ergot medications to control her migraines. A neurologist advised her to stop all NSAIDs and headache medicine. She was advised to stop these medications cold turkey to prevent rebound headaches. She found that three tablets of Channel Flow effectively stopped 90 percent of her headaches. Case 2: A patient who had rotator cuff surgery was prescribed oxycodone every 4-6 hours for post-surgical relief. He had many side effects from the drug and he was afraid he was going to become addicted. In addition to acupuncture, he found that two to three tablets of Channel Flow worked to control his pain without the side effects of the oxycodone. His surgeon commented that he had recovered faster from surgery than any other middle-aged patient. Use The standard serving is two to three tablets, three times per day. For acute conditions, it can be used four or more times per day. It is recommended that you take the formula between meals, two hours apart from medications. Channel Flow can be used symptomatically for pain. For best results, it should be incorporated into an overall pain management plan.