WO2000054794A1

WO2000054794A1 - Wafer delivery system

Info

Publication number: WO2000054794A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/006772
Authority: WO
Inventors: Quing Non Yng-Wong
Original assignee: Yng Wong Quing Non
Priority date: 1999-03-18
Filing date: 2000-03-16
Publication date: 2000-09-21
Also published as: AU3884900A; JP2002539171A; EP1162988A1

Abstract

A primarily grain-based, or other non-sugar carbohydrate-based, wafer (typically disc-shaped and having a diameter of between about 7/8 inch-1 1/2 inch (e.g. about 2.1-3.8 cm) and a thickness of between about 1-2 mm (e.g. about 1/16 inch)) is used as a delivery system for a medicinal treatment or food supplement, preferably a homeopathic remedy, Chinese herb, or a combination of homeopathic medicines and Chinese herbs, with or without other substances. A dry substance comprising the Chinese herb, homeopathic remedy, or mixture of them is mixed with a solvent to produce a mother tincture, the tincture is preferably attenuated, and then the wafer is impregnated with the attenuation, as by soaking the wafer in the solvent containing the dry substance, or spraying the solvent containing the dry substance on the wafer, or incorporating the attenuation in the wafer during wafer production. Then solvent is evaporated, and the wafer is packaged for transport to a patient in need of the treatment or food supplement provided by the attenuation.

Description

WAFER DELIVERY SYSTEM

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The use of homeopathic remedies and Chinese herbs is becoming increasingly popular in the United States, as well as many other parts of the world, because of the demonstrated health benefits associated with their utilization. However the delivery systems presently used are not necessarily entirely effective for many patients. Normally homeopathic remedies are delivered in a solid or liquid form with a lactose, sucrose, or glycerin base. Diabetics cannot typically use treatments that are delivered in a sugar base. Also the delivery system for some homeopathic remedies can take longer to enter the patient's blood stream than desired.

Chinese herbs are typically delivered in decoctions or in concentrated form in tablets, capsules, or a like form. Because in concentrated form a significant amount of material (dry substance) is typically necessary in order to deliver an effective amount of the Chinese herb. Heretofore homeopathic techniques have not been typically utilized to deliver Chinese herbs, except for perhaps a few Chinese herbs that are listed in the Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States (HPUS), but then not in combinations, which is the most common way to deliver Chinese herbs since most Chinese medicinal preparations are a combination of a number of different Chinese herbs. According to the present invention several significant breakthroughs are provided in the manner in which homeopathic remedies, and Chinese herbs, and the like, are prepared and subsequently delivered to patients in need of treatment, for a wide variety of conditions. While almost any condition typically treated by homeopathic remedies or Chinese herbs may be utilized in the practice of the present invention, specific examples which have been shown to be effective are the utilization of dried Chinese herb mixtures for the treatment of insomnia, menopause (hot flashes), allergies, arthritis, anxiety, lowered libido, menstrual problems and fatigue, and for weight control or maintenance.

According to one aspect, the invention utilizes a particular type of wafer as the delivery system. The wafer is preferably grain-based, or other non-sugar carbohydrate- based, such as made primarily up to substantially exclusively (e.g. 51 -99+%) of soy, rice, wheat, or combinations thereof. Because it has a non-sugar base it can be used by diabetics for the delivery of homeopathic or Chinese medicines, medicinals, or food supplements. Also it readily dissolves in saliva, and can be quickly delivered to a patient's bloodstream by the patient putting a wafer on or under his or her tongue and holding it there, or moving it around slightly, until substantially dissolved (normally just a few seconds).

Another basic feature of the present invention is the utilization of homeopathic techniques in association with Chinese herbs, which has not heretofore been done except for a very few circumstances in which single Chinese herbs are listed in the HPUS; mixtures of Chinese herbs, as typically used in Chinese medicine, not heretofore being provided. When delivering Chinese medicines according to the invention while a non-sugar carbohydrate-based delivery system is preferred, conventional homeopathic delivery systems (e.g. sucrose, glycerin) also or alternatively may be used. The invention also allows the mixing of Chinese herbs with homeopathic dry substances, or other minerals or substances, for the treatment of certain conditions. According to one aspect of the present invention a method of delivering medicinal treatment or food supplement is provided. The method is practiced by: (a) Producing a grain-based or other non-sugar carbohydrate-based wafer that will readily dissolve in saliva, (b) Incorporating a medicinal treatment or food supplement in the wafer. And, (c) delivering the medicinal treatment or food supplement to a human's sensory receptors and activators and bloodstream by substantially dissolving the wafer in the human's mouth.

Typically (c) is practiced by the human placing the wafer on or under his or her tongue until substantially dissolved. Also (a) is typically practiced utilizing conventional techniques, such as utilized for making communion wafers. In the preferred embodiment (a) is typically practiced to make a wafer at least primarily of wheat, rice, or soy, and having a generally disc-shaped configuration and between about 7/8 inch-1 1/2 inch (e.g. about 2.1 -3.8 cm), preferably about 1 1/8 inch, in diameter, and between about 1-2 mm (e.g. about 1/16 inch) thick, although a wide variety of other sizes and shapes (e.g. polygons) may be provided. While the method may be practiced for treating almost any type of condition, illness, or disease that homeopathic medicines or Chinese herbs are typically used to treat, for simplicity the invention is particularly desired with respect to administering a wafer to a patient in need of treatment to relieve the symptoms of insomnia, to relieve the symptoms of allergies, to relieve the symptoms of menopause (treating "hot flashes"), arthritis, anxiety, lowered libido, menstrual problems, and fatigue, or for body weight control or maintenance.

In the practice of the method, (b) may be practiced by making a homeopathic mother tincture with a medicinal treatment or food supplement, impregnating the wafer with the tincture, and evaporating the diluent used in making the tincture. For example according to the invention (b) may be practiced by incorporating a dry substance listed in the HPUS in a solvent, impregnating the wafer with the solvent containing dry substance (such as by soaking the wafer in it, or spraying the solvent with dry substance onto the wafer, or incorporating the solvent with dry substance into the wafer during its manufacture, or any other conventional technique that can effectively impregnate), and then evaporating the solvent (not necessarily all of the solvent, but at least some of the solvent). Evaporation can be accomplished merely by keeping the wafers at room or ambient temperature, or may be accomplished by heating them in a drying oven. Typically the solvent used is alcohol, or a mixture of alcohol and distilled water, and readily evaporates. Typically alcohol is at least 20% of the solvent, but more desirably is at least 35% of the solvent, up to about 90% of the solvent.

In the practice of the method described above, (b) may be further practiced by making at least a centesimal attenuation. According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a grain- based, or other non-sugar carbohydrate-based, wafer, e.g. having a disc shape with a diameter of between about 7/8 inch-1 1/2 inch (e.g. about 2.1 -3.8 cm) and a thickness between about 1 -2 mm (e.g. about 1/16 inch), and produced by (a) incorporating at least one dry substance listed in the Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States in a solvent, (b) impregnating the wafer with the solvent containing the at least one dry substance, and (c) evaporating the solvent. For example the wafer may be further made by practicing (a) by making at least a centesimal attenuation.

The invention further comprises a method of making a homeopathic attenuation, comprising: (a) Mixing at least one dried substance listed in the Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States with at least one other dried plant material comprising a Chinese herb not listed in the Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States, (b) Making a tincture of the mixture from (a) with a solvent, (c) Making at least one attenuation from the tincture, (d) Incorporating the attenuation from (c) in a delivery system (e.g. the wafer described above, or a conventional tablet, capsule, liquid, etc. including conventional homeopathic delivery systems). And, (e) evaporating solvent from the delivery system.

In the method (c) is typically practiced by making at least a centesimal attenuation, and (d) is preferably practiced by incorporating the attenuation in a grain- based, or other non-sugar carbohydrate-based, delivery system, (b) is typically practiced using a mixture of alcohol and distilled water as a solvent, with anywhere between about 20% and 90% alcohol.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide for the effective delivery of Chinese herbs and homeopathic remedies in the treatment of mammalian conditions (particularly humans) and/or for general well being. This and other objects of the invention will become clear from an inspection of the detailed description of the invention and from the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGURE 1 is a box diagram illustrating the practice of exemplary methods according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of an exemplary wafer according to the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the wafer of FIGURE 2; and FIGURE 4 is one exemplary form of a container for packaging wafers according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGURE 1 illustrates a number of alternative and sequential techniques for the practice of exemplary methods according to the present invention. According to one such technique, a dry substance from the HPUS, as indicated at block 10 in FIGURE 1 , is added to a solvent, as indicated by box 11. The solvent is typically a mixture of ethyl alcohol and distilled water. The amount of the alcohol may vary from about 20% to about 90%, and in one particular process according to the invention is about 50% each alcohol and distilled water. The combination of the dry substance 10 results in the production of a mother tincture, as indicated by box 12. While the mother tincture in box 12 itself may be utilized directly in the production of the final delivery system product according to the invention, as indicated by dotted line 13 in FIGURE 1 , preferably, as indicated by solid line 14, the mother tincture from box 12 is attenuated, as indicated at box 15 in FIGURE 1. The attenuation indicated in box 15 may produce a Class C tincture for botanical substances, or subsequent attenuations may be prepared from a Class C tincture, as indicated in the Class C section of the HPUS (the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein). Further, higher decimal attenuations may also be produced, and at least centesimal attenuations (including higher level centennial attenuations) may be produced, according to conventional techniques as described in the HPUS.

As indicated in box 16. the mother tincture or attenuation is then used to impregnate a delivery system. In the preferred embodiment according to the invention the delivery system comprises a wafer. As indicated by box 17, a wafer, such as a conventional communion wafer, is made by conventional techniques. The wafer made as indicated by box 17 is schematically illustrated at 18 in FIGURE 1 , and one representative version thereof is shown in more detail in FIGURES 2-4. The wafer 18 is preferably made from primarily up to substantially exclusively (e.g. 51 -99+%) a grain, such as rice, wheat, barley, amaranth, hops, or any other conventional grain as long as it is capable of making a wafer 18 that readily dissolves in saliva. Alternatively, the wafer 18 may be made of any other non-sugar carbohydrate, such as from soy, corn, or the like. Lactose, sucrose, and gelatin, the common materials used as a delivery system for homeopathic remedies, are preferably avoided, but may be used for some subjects.

In the manufacture of the wafer 18 as earlier indicated it is preferred that absolutely conventional techniques such as used for making conventional wheat communion wafers, be utilized. Preferably the wafer 18 is uncoated, there being no reason to apply a protective film (such as shown in U.S. patent 3.007,848) in most instances. Also preferably the wafer is disc-shaped, as illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 3. having a diameter and thickness that allow it to readily fit on or underneath a user's tongue so that it can be dissolved there by the user's saliva in a matter of a few seconds (e.g. typically between 5 and 45 seconds). The diameter 19 is typically the conventional diameter for communion wafers, that is between about e.g. about 7/8 inch- 1 1/2 inch (e.g. about 2.1 -3.8 cm), preferably about 1 1/8 inch. The thickness 20 (see FIGURE 3) is between about 1-2 mm (e g about 1/16 inch). The weight of the wafer 18 will vary depending upon its size, but typically is less than three grams, e.g. about one to two grams. Other shapes (e.g. polygons), sizes, and weights may also be used.

The wafer 18 is impregnated with the attenuation from 15 or the mother tincture from 12, as indicated by box 16 in FIGURE 1. The impregnation may be accomplished utilizing any conventional technique, such as using the attenuation or tincture as part of the liquid for conventional wafer manufacture) soaking the wafer 18 in an attenuation or tincture, or spraying the attenuation or tincture onto the wafer 18, or in any other suitable conventional manner After impregnation at 16, the solvent and/or diluent is evaporated, as indicated schematically at 22 in FIGURE 1 The evaporation may merely be by maintaining the impregnated wafer 18 at ambient or room temperature conditions, or may be facilitated by passing the impregnated wafer 18 through a relatively low temperature drying oven (which does not in any way disturb the basic construction of the wafer 18) The evaporation procedure indicated by box 22 need not be practiced to evaporate all of the solvent While typically substantially all of the solvent is evaporated because the solvent is ethyl alcohol and distilled water, under some circumstances at least part of the solvent will remain with the wafer 18, and that typically does not cause any adverse consequences. The wafers 18 may be packaged in any suitable manner for delivery to the practitioner who will dispense them, or αirectly to the patient One particular manner in which the wafers 18 may be packaged is by utilizing the conventional container illustrated schematically at 24 The container 24 has a hollow cylindrical base 25 with indici.-: 26 thereon, and has a diameter sufficient to receive the wafers 18 therein without too much looseness around the periphery thereof, and has a closeable top 27 e.g that is attached by a hinge 28 and seals the open top of the base 25 closed when pivoted into the closed position A tab 29 on the lid 27 may be engaged to facilitate opening of the lid 27

While the container 24 may have any suitable conventional form, one particular form is such as shown in U S patent 2 852,054 Any other conventional packaging system either bulk or for dispensing, may be provided The directions/ingredients 26 need not be printed on the container body 25, but may be printed on a label which is then applied at a container body 25, or if appropriate not provided at all Once the wafers 18 are delivered to the user, they are utilized - and as indicated schematically by the box 31 in FIGURE 1 -- by the user taking one of the wafers 18 and putting it on or underneath his or her tongue and dissolving it there, either by simply retaining it, or by tongue pressure against it. Normally the wafer 18 (when a typical communion wafer) dissolves in saliva in less than a minute.

FIGURE 1 also illustrates an alternative technique in which dried Chinese herbs (typically a mixture of at least two herbs) 32 are used as the starting material for making the mother tincture 10 Alternatively, both dry substance from the HPUS and dry Chinese herbs (that is 10, 32 in FIGURE 1 ) may be used to produce the mother tincture 10, and other materials or minerals may be used, such as mother of pearl, or other materials disclosed in U.S. patents 5,807,554, 5,834,000, and 5,874,084 (the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein)

In one example according to the present invention, a various number of dried plant materials, comprising Chinese herbal compositions, were utilized in the practice of the present invention, to produce the wafers 18 according to the present invention. The Chinese herbs that were used in the practice of the invention were the following: those in a commercial product known as "Breathe" (namely astragalus root, sapashinikovia root, licorice root, schisandra fruit, mume fruit, baical skullcap root) for the treatment of allergies, those used in the commercial product "Flex N Spring" (namely kudzu root, notopterygium root, clematis root, atractylodes rhizome, cinnamon twig, tumeric rhizome, achyranthes root), for relief of stiffness and improving range of motion, those used in the commercial product "B-Quiet" (schisandra fruit, mother of pearl powder, tangerine peel, and acanthopanax root bark) for the treatment of insomnia, the commercial product "XY+" (namely colla cornus cervi, colla plastri testudinis, cnidium seed, epimedium, ginseng root, angelica root, licorice root, poπa, colla corn, asini cordycepts, prepared rehmannia root), for the treatment of lowered female libido, the commercial product "Women's 4" and "Cool Flashes" (namely angelica root, motherwort, curculigo rhizome, epimedium morinda root, anemarrhena rhizome phellodendron bark, and spatholobus stem) for the treatment of menopause (e g the symptoms of hot flashes), and "Herbal Slim' (namely astragalus root, cornus fruit schisandra fruit, alisma rhizome, burdock fruit, lepidium seed, lotus leaf, and rhaponticum root), for weight control or maintenance In addition to the above materials the following are other materials that may be used, for example, in the manufacture of wafers 18: astragalus root, epimedium, white peony root, poria, angelica root, ginseng root, atractylodes rhizome, acanthopanax root bark, licorice root, lycium fruit; radix isatidis seu baphicacanthi, folium daqingye, radix puerariae, fructus forsythiae suspensae, flos lonicerae japonicae, flos chrysanthemi indici, sichuan lovage root, salivia root, prepared rehmannia root, polygala root, atractylodes root, cinnamon root, costus root, cape jasmine fruit, concha margaritaferae, radix angelicae sinensis, gelatinum asini, rhizoma gusuibu, flos carthami tinctorii, radix paonia rubra, fructus psoraleae corylifoliae, radix pueraria, radix panacis quinquefolii, concha margarita, sclerotuum poriae cocos pararadicis succinum. The individual combinations of the dried plant (and other) material for each were processed according to the incubation method in the HPUS to acquire a homeopathic mother tincture.

Ethyl alcohol and distilled water were mixed in parts to obtain a 50% solution of dilution alcohol, mixing the dried plant material in a proportion of 1 part the dried plant material to 9 parts dilution alcohol. The bottles were sealed and warmed to about 37°C via a water bath, and temperature was maintained for about one hour with occasional agitation. The bottles were stored in a dark environment at about room temperature (e.g. about 20-25°C), agitated every three days for four weeks, then decanted and filtered to produce a mother tincture. Each of the above mother tinctures contains 1/0 (0.10) part of the dry crude substance, and therefore corresponds to the 1 x (q or 0) attenuation and becomes classified as a Class C Tincture for Botanical Substances.

Subsequent attenuations were prepared according to the attenuation procedures in the Class C section of the HPUS: i.e. one milliliter (1.0 ml) of tincture is succussed with nine milliliters (9.0 ml) diluent (87% alcohol) to produce 10 milliliters (10.0 ml) of 2x/1 c attenuation.

Higher decimal (x) attenuations were produced by: 1.0 ml of the preceding attention (2x) with 9.0 ml of diluent (87% alcohol) to produce 10.0 ml of 3x attenuation. Subsequent attenuations are prepared by succussing 1 ml of the preceding attenuation with 9 ml of diluent to produce 10 ml of the succeeding attention. Higher centesimal (c) attentions were also produced as follows: 1.0 ml of the preceding attenuation (1 c) with 99.0 ml of diluent (87% alcohol) to produce 100 ml of 2c attenuation. Subsequent attenuations were prepared by succussing 1 ml of the preceding attenuation with 99 ml of diluent to produce 100 ml of the succeeding attenuation.

Each of the different levels of attenuation were used to impregnate a wafer 18 by spraying the attenuation onto the wafer 18 (a conventional primarily wheat communion wafer). Then in each case the wafer was allowed to sit at ambient temperature for several hours, which resulted in solvent being evaporated. No attempt was made to determine exactly how much solvent was evaporated, but from visual observation alone it appeared that substantially all of the solvent evaporated.

The wafers 18 produced as indicated above were used for patients having the conditions for which the Chinese herbs were typically used to treat. The wafers were used by the patient placing the wafer on or underneath his/her tongue and allowing it to dissolve in a few seconds. While complete clinical testing was not performed, there was every indication that the wafers 18 delivered the desired material to the body's sensory receptors and activators, and into the bloodstream of the user more quickly than conventional delivery systems, and the users indicated satisfaction with the ease of use and speed of delivery of the Chinese herbs.

Tests were run using wafers produced according to the invention and test their efficiency. Some tests were only over a few days - others over a month or more. All were with conventional wheat communion wafers as the delivery system. Example I

A 63 year old female complaining of severe nerve-ending pain in the fourth toe of her left foot took three wafers a day impregnated pursuant to the technique described above with hypericum/calendula, a conventional homeopathic remedy used to treat injury to nerves, especially in fingers and toes. After the first two days there was no noticeable pain relief. On the third day the pain was relieved essentially completely, even though the woman participated in a dinner dance wearing high heels. The fourth day there was no pain, but on the fourth day treatment was stopped. On the fifth day some pain returned, and on the sixth day the pain was approximately the same as before treatment started. EXAMPLE II

A 57 year old female complained of toe/foot pain, which felt like socks bunched up under her toes. She took three wafers a day of the same construction/technique of production as in Example I. The very first day of treatment the pain was reduced, the second day the pain was reduced further, the fourth day there was only some numbness, and the fifth day there was some pain that didn't last long.

EXAMPLE III A 49 year old female complaining of pain in her left hip, buttocks, and lower leg, started taking three wafers a day produced by the techniques discussed above using a solution containing rhus toxicodendron, a conventional homeopathic remedy used to treat rheumatism. Treatment continued for seven days. Some days there was no significant pain, other days there was, but the subject felt the wafers worked and was anxious to try another round.

EXAMPLE IV A 38 year old female complained of an inability to relax, or settle down to sleep at night. She took one wafer (at night) produced as described above impregnated with "B-Quiet" formulation. The subject reported only positive results and felt the wafers were a success over the month she used them.

EXAMPLE V A 45 year old woman who weighed about 175 pounds took sugar tabs (conventional homeopathic delivery) impregnated with the "Herbal Slim" formulation. The dose was six tabs three times a day, or before meals. After two months the subject had lost about 20 pounds and had reduced cravings for food.

EXAMPLE VI A 55 year old female was complaining of lack of energy and libido. She took four sugar tabs of XY+ formulation three times a day for seven days. The first day there was an immediate significant change of energy, especially in the lower body, and that increase in energy continued in small increments for each of the next six days.

The same techniques as described above with respect to the Chinese herbal combinations or the like are equally applicable to homeopathic medicines from the HPUS, and mixtures of HPUS materials with Chinese herbs and other substances. Any conventional techniques as described in the HPUS "General Pharmacy" section (the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein) may be utilized.

The broad ranges provided in this application include any and all narrower ranges within the broad ranges. It will thus be seen that according to the present invention a new delivery system, in the form of a mouth-dissolvable (e.g. in less than about one minute) wafer, has been provided, as well as a method for delivering homeopathic medicines and/or Chinese herbs to a patient whose symptoms are responsive to homeopathic medicines or Chinese herbs, or medicinal treatments or food supplements in general. The invention allows the utilization of homeopathic techniques in the production of a delivery system for Chinese medicines, or medicinal treatments or food supplements. While the invention has been herein shown and described in what is presently conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment thereof it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications may be made within the scope of the invention, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all equivalent methods and products.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS

1 A method of delivering a medicinal treatment or food supplement by

(a) producing a grain-based or other non-sugar carbohydrate-based wafer that will readily dissolve in saliva,

(b) incorporating a medicinal treatment or food supplement in the wafer; and

(c) delivering the medicinal treatment or food supplement to a human's sensory receptors and activators and bloodstream by substantially dissolving the wafer in the human's mouth

2 A method as recited in claim 1 wherein (c) is practiced by the human placing the wafer on or under his or her tongue until substantially dissolved

3. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein (b) is practiced by making a homeopathic mother tincture with the medicinal treatment or food supplement, impregnating the wafer with the tincture, and evaporating the diluent.

4 A method as recited in claim 1 wherein (b) is practiced by incorporating a dry substance not listed in the Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States in a solvent, impregnating the wafer with the solvent containing the dry substance, and evaporating the solvent

5 A method as recited in claim 4 wherein (b) is further practiced using ethyl alcohol as at least 20% of the solvent

6 A method as recited in claim 5 wherein (b) is further practiced by making at least a centesimal attenuation before impregnating the wafer with the solvent containing the dry substance

7 A method as recited in claim 4 wherein (b) is further practiced using as the dry substance at least two of schisandra fruit mother of pearl powder, tangerine peel, acanthopanax root bark, angelica root, motherwort, curculigo rhizome epimedium, moπnda root, anemarrhena rhizome, phellodendron bark, spatholobus stem, astragalus root, cornus fruit, alisma rhizome, burdock fruit, lepidium seed, lotus leaf, and rhaponticum root, sapashinikovia root, licorice root, mume fruit, baical skullcap root, kudzu root, notopterygium root, clematis root, atractylodes rhizome, cinnamon twig, tumeric rhizome, achyranthes root, colla cornus cervi, colla plastri testudinis, cnidium seed, ginseng root, poπa, colla corn, asini, cordycepts, prepared rehmannia root, white peony root, lycium fruit; radix isatidis seu baphicacanthi, folium daqingye, radix pueranae, fructus forsythiae suspensae, flos lonicerae japonicae, flos chrysanthemi indici, sichuan lovage root, salivia root, polygala root, atractylodes root, cinnamon root, costus root, cape jasmine fruit, concha margaπtaferae, radix angelicae sinensis, gelatinum asini, rhizoma gusuibu, flos carthami tinctoni, radix paonia rubra, fructus psoraleae corylifoliae, radix puerana, radix panacis quinquefolii, concha margarita, and sclerotuum poπae cocos pararadicis succinum

8. A method as recited in claim 4 wherein (a) is practiced to make a wafer at least primarily of wheat, rice, or soy and having a generally disc shaped configuration between about 7/8 ιnch-1 1/2 inch in diameter and between about 1 -2 mm thick.

9. A method as recited in claim 4 further comprising administering the wafer to a patient in need of treatment for insomnia or allergies to relieve symptoms of insomnia or allergies

10 A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising administering the wafer to a patient in need of treatment for pain to relieve pain

1 1 A method as recited in claim 4 further comprising administering the wafer to a patient in need of treatment to control body weight

12 A method as recited in claim 4 further comprising administering the wafer to a patient in need of treatment for menopause to relieve symptoms of menopause

13 A method as recited in claim 1 wherein (b) is practiced by incorporating at least two dried Chinese herbs as the dry substance

14 A method as recited in claim 1 wherein (b) is practiced by incorporating a mixture of at least one dried Chinese herb not listed in the Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States, and at least one dry substance listed in the Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States, as the dry substance.

15. A grain-based, or other non-sugar carbohydrate-based, wafer and produced by (a) incorporating at least one dry substance in a solvent, (b) impregnating the wafer with the at least one solvent containing the dry substance, and (c) evaporating the solvent.

16. A wafer as recited in claim 15 wherein the wafer is generally disc-shaped having a diameter of between about 7/8 inch-1 1/2 inch and a thickness between about 1 -2 mm.

17. A method of making a homeopathic attenuation, comprising:

(a) mixing at least one dried substance listed in the Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States with at least one other dried plant material comprising a Chinese herb not listed in the Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States;

(b) making a tincture of the mixture from (a) with a solvent;

(c) making at least one attenuation from the tincture;

(d) incorporating the attenuation from (c) in a delivery system; and

(e) evaporating solvent from the delivery system.

18. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein (c) is practiced by making at least a centesimal attenuation.

19. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein (d) is practiced by incorporating the attenuation in an at least primarily grain-based or other non-sugar carbohydrate-based, delivery system.

20. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein (b) is practiced using a mixture of alcohol and distilled water as the solvent, and (d) is practiced using a conventional homeopathic delivery system.

21. A product, method, and apparatus substantially as shown and described.