|
Joyous January!
Chinese Medicine Living has many new projects in the works in an attempt to make the site better for you, our readers. You can help us by doing a very short, 5 question survey and help us make Chinese Medicine Living more awesome! It takes less than a minute and we would so appreciate your input! This month, John Voigt shares The Most Important Qigong, we learn about the causes of disease in Chinese medicine and the concept of yin and yang in how to eat a balanced diet. We also feature a delicious congee recipe to help insomnia. Enjoy!
The beautiful featured image photo by kazuend on Unsplash
Chinese Medicine Living has finally joined Instagram!! Please follow us for some visual niceness!!
Love this? Please pass it on. :)
See our articles on Acupuncture.com, Chinese Medicine Digital Magazine, and Qi Encyclopedia.
Here Are This Month's Articles...
- The Most Important Qi Gong
- Causes of Disease in Chinese Medicine
- The Yin & Yang Concept in Chinese Eating
- Quote of the Month
- Inspiration - Chinese Buisiness Woman Donates 1.5 Billion to Conserve the Planets Wildlife
- Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture in the News
- Recipe of the Month - Calming & Balancing Congee for Insomnia
- About Chinese Medicine Living
The Most Important Qigong
By John Voigt
The most important qigong gymnastic is standing and doing nothing. Many masters of traditional Chinese martial arts, spiritual sciences, and healing practices have stated that this is the basis, the foundation, of all Asian inner and outer life-energy work.
It is called Zhan Zhuang (站桩), and pronounced Jhan Jwong. It means “Standing [like a wooden] Post.
"If I had to choose one qigong technique to practice, it would undoubtedly be this one. Many Chinese call standing meditation "the million dollar secret of qigong." Whether you are practicing qigong for self healing, for building healing ch'i, for massage or healing work on others, standing is an essential practice …. for ch'i gathering and flow." – Kenneth S. Cohen. The Way Of Qigong.
“Zhan zhuang, or stance training, is the most important single category of exercise for developing internal force. It can be safely said that all Taijiquan masters, all Xingyi masters, most Bagua masters, and many Shaolin masters obtained their internal force from zhan zhuang.” – Grandmaster Wong Kiew Kit. Stance Training And Becoming A Scholar-Warrior.
Although this practice can over time potentially open to those who do it a path to liberation, it may be summarized in only a few words:
Stand straight and relaxed. Raise your arms and hug an imaginary large tree (or large ball). Breathe slowly, deeply, and smoothly. Relax into any discomfort you experience. Hold the pose as long as possible. If there is any pain, or even a hint of pain, stop immediately.
Causes of Disease in Chinese Medicine
By Emma Suttie, D.Ac, AP
According to traditional Chinese medicine, we are healthy, happy beings because our bodies are in a state of harmony. This harmony is between yin and yang, the different organs in our bodies and our relationship with the external environment. And yet, this harmony is constantly in a state of flux because of the activities of our daily lives; the way we treat our physical bodies, how we deal with our emotions, the changing weather, the stresses of work and family and the constant uncertainty of life itself.
When a person is healthy and an imbalance is created, it is quickly restored. If a person is unhealthy and there is an imbalance, because the strength of the body is compromised, it takes longer for the body to return to that harmonious state. When the body is in a prolonged state of imbalance, disease will occur. In Chinese medicine, it is the factors that cause the body to lose its harmonious balance that are the causes of disease.
Human beings have always struggled with external and internal threats to their health. External factors such as the weather are not normally causes of disease. It is only when the body is in a weakened state, or the external factors occur too quickly for the body to adjust that the delicate balance is disrupted and illness can occur. Some diseases are also seen to be caused by internal factors, such as problems with the organs, emotional stress, and excess sexual activity.
External Causes
Wind
Symptoms of external wind manifest with fever, chills, and sweating. Wind particularly affects the lungs which leads to coughing, stuffy, runny nose and an itchy or dry throat. Wind is said to be the master of 100 illnesses.
Heat Fire
The difference between heat and fire is temperature. Fire is not only hotter than heat, but it always flares upwards which manifest in symptoms of the upper body. Symptoms of fire include a strong aversion to heat, restlessness, irritability and thirst. Someone with fire symptoms has little sweat, a flushed face and red eyes.
Summer Heat
Symptoms of summer heat occur mostly in the summer season. Of all the external pathogenic factors, summer heat is the only one that is seasonal. It is also the only factor that is caused solely by heat from the external environment. There is no internal summer heat. Symptoms of summer heat include fever, excessive sweating, thirst, irritability, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Heatstroke is a common ailment in the summer season and its symptoms include dizziness, nausea, lack of energy. The best way to combat summer heat is to keep hydrated by drinking lots of water.
Dampness
External dampness includes the humidity in the air, and the water, rain and fog in the environment. Living in a damp environment, such as a basement in a damp climate, can cause dampness to invade the body and lead to disease. Symptoms of external dampness include chills, fever that does not improve with sweating, a heavy sensation in the body - especially the limbs and a cloudy, heavy feeling in the head. One of the main symptoms of dampness is a lack of thirst because the body is already inundated with moisture.
The Yin & Yang Concept in Chinese Eating
By freelance writer Sally Perkins
Chinese food and Chinese medicine is based on the yin and yang concept of balance. It is never about specific foods, whether good or bad, but relationships created out of these foods and the health benefits acquired from them. The traditional concept of Chinese diets has always taken a holistic approach rather than individual foods. It is a relationship of cold, hot, and warm foods served together. The thermal nature of foods is not necessarily based on their preparation methods. Different seasons call for different foods. It is out of this combination that both delicious and highly nutritious foods are created.
Understanding Chinese Eating Concepts
Foods and Organs
According to Chinese medicine, every body organ is attached to a specific taste and a specific element. For instance, the heart is associated with bitterness and fire, lungs are associated with spicy foods and the metal element, the liver with soreness and wood, kidneys with the salty taste and water. This means that when preparing meals, they must always incorporate all the five tastes for the purpose of serving all the body organs. The composition of all these tastes ensures the body is well balanced and is protected from different kinds of diseases.
Foods and Seasons
Foods are seasonal according to Chinese Eating. Summer is a period associated with yang: growth, light and energy. The heart is the organ symbol for summer. During this period, people are advised to eat cooling and hydrating foods. The cooking methods are also light, with most people preferring to sauté or steam food. The meals are light and servings small. Cool foods include lemons, cucumbers, watermelons, tofu, mung beans, sprouts, limes, apples, pumpkins and raw foods. Flower leaf teas, the likes of mint and chamomile are great for cooling the body. During Autumn, sour and neutral foods are popular. These include pineapples, sesame, white fungus and most fruits. The organ associated with winter mostly is the kidney. Foods taken during this season are warm, spicy, dark and less salty. They include red pepper, red meat, chive, shrimp, spring onions, black fungus, ginger, vinegar, mustard, wine, leeks and mushrooms. The spices and food tonics help to heal up the body. Raw or frozen foods are shunned as they require a lot of digestive energy to be broken down. Meals taken during winter are often heavy and cooked for long periods. During Spring, a season indicating new birth, people eat sweet and cold foods like dates, spinach and coriander.
Quote of the Month
Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.
~ Buddha
Photo by Mike Labrum on Unsplash
Inspiration
Madame He Qiaonv Makes World's Largest (1.5 billion) Wildlife Conservation Donation
This comes as the biggest projects of its kind. Madame He Qiaonv is one of the wealthiest women in the world (current estimates place her net worth at approximately $3.6 billion) and is also an ardent conservationist and philanthropist.
The announcement was made in Monaco on Saturday, Oct. 14 and highlighted one of the first partnerships as part of the programme, Panthera, who posted about their part in the project:
“Visionary Chinese philanthropist and entrepreneur Madame He Qiaonyu has joined Panthera’s Global Alliance for Wild Cats, committing $20 million over the next decade to fund conservation programs devoted to protecting big cats around the world. The Beijing Qiaonyu Foundation, Panthera, and WildCRU will join forces on initiatives to save imperiled species, starting with snow leopards in China and lions in Africa.
Madame He is Founder and Chairman of Beijing Oriental Landscape and Ecology Co. Ltd., the largest landscape architecture company in China. Since establishing Beijing Qiaonyu Foundation in 2012, Madame He has become a force in Chinese philanthropy, investing in such areas as female entrepreneurship, ecological education, and climate change, and is setting the standard in China for emerging philanthropists.
In 2017, Beijing Qiaonyu Foundation introduced an ambitious vision for nature conservation, unveiling an accelerated seven-year plan to protect 28 critical habitat areas within China and conserve dozens of flagship animal and plant species. The Foundation plans to leverage its investments through high-profile partnerships within China and beyond, adopting and applying best practices to achieve its objectives and developing models for conservation worldwide.
Madame He stated, “I feel fortunate to have met Thomas and to be working with Panthera. This partnership enables us at Qiaonyu Foundation to utilize the most professional and experienced team in cat conservation as we begin to protect and preserve these beautiful but fragile species. It is an extraordinary undertaking, and to achieve the ambitious outcomes we seek, we are going to mobilize all the passion and intelligence we utilized when starting our businesses.”
She continued, “I would also add that there are a large number of entrepreneurs in China who are actively paying attention to environmental issues. They would love to share their wealth, knowledge, and vision to search for more and effective solutions for conserving nature. Qiaonyu Foundation is calling on potential partners in China and indeed across the globe to unite together to protect our only homeland and promise a better future for this planet!”
Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine in the News
Acupuncture: The Ultimate All Natural Pain Remedy?
Slow to heal? You may be too dry.
Forest Park with Chinese Medicine Characteristics
Eating Curry May Improve Memory & Happiness Study Says
Clinical observation of fast acupuncture for cervical type of cervical spondylosis
A Stroll Through the Garden: Reishi Mushroom - King of the Mushrooms
China Incourages TCM Innovation
Chinese Herbs & Allergens: Labeling with Caution
Yang Institute of Integrative Medicine Featured in 6ABC Interview
Acupuncture Reduces AI-Associated Joint Pain
Natural Living - Acupuncture in a Nutshell
Chinese Students, Admirers Mourn Ayurvedic Practitioner's Demise
Influence of Acupuncture on Senile Dementia Treatment
Simple Yet Effective Home Remedies for Treating Arthritis Pain
A Strategists Perspective on Health Care Innovation in China
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
If you would like to read about the latest scienntific studies involving Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, please see our "Current Research" page to find all the latest. :)
Recipe Of The Month with NourishU
Calming & Balancing Congee for Insomnia
Symptoms
Restless sleep due to anxiety and over worrying, pale looking, lack of energy, loose bowels or occasional palpitation of the heart.
Therapeutic Effects
Calms nerves, enriches blood, removes dampness and fire, improves spleen and kidney health, and promotes yang energy of the heart.
Ingredients
- Job's Tears / Coix Lacryma-Jobi (yi yi ren) 薏米 – 30gm
- Little red bean 赤小豆 – 30gm
- Longan Fruit (long yan rou) 桂圆 /龍眼肉 – 30gm
- Chinese Jujube / red dates (da zao) 大枣 – 4 to 6
- Lotus Seeds (lien zi) 莲子 – 30gm
- Dried lily bulb / Bulbus Lilii (bai he) 百合 – 30gm
- Rice – half cup
- Sugar - to taste
Directions
- Soak all herbal ingredients for about 15 minutes and rinse.
- Rinse rice and put all ingredients in a pot with about 6 to 8 cups of water. Bring to a boil and lower heat to medium to cook for about 45 minutes to about 3 cups of congee.
- Add some sugar if prefer. Eat as meal.
Usage
No restrictions. Most suitable for teens and seniors.
Read more about Chinese Medicine and Insomnia and see full recipe...
About Chinese Medicine Living
Chinese Medicine Living is a place where Chinese medicine principles are applied to the way we live our lives to improve health on every level. In our articles, interviews and information we strive to teach how the body and the world is seen through the eyes of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) so you can better understand its theories, and how to live a healthy balanced lifestyle according to its principles. How TCM views the body and its connections to emotions, living in harmony with the world around us, and how to achieve the balance synonymous with health are the ways in which we strive to impart the limitless wisdom of Chinese medicine. Welcome.
If you would like to contact us, please email info@chinesemedicineliving.com. We would love to hear from you.
You can visit the Chinese Medicine Living website to learn more about this wonderful medicine. <3
