Chinese Natural Medicine

10 inspirational quotes than can improve yourself

2008-08-10T22:35:00.000-07:00

It might take a little coffee or probably a few rounds of beer or any other booze you could get your hands on when it comes to relaxing after a hard day's work. Well, yeah I'm guilty about that one as well, unless I'm caught dead wearing a lampshade over my head after a few rounds of vodka… half-naked! Okay, bad example and I apologize to everyone reading this after getting nightmares about me in that state of drunken stupor.

Just don't ask how it happened, please.

But what's really interesting is that how do people go through the usual part of life when faced with vein-popping stress? I mean, the new age thing like Zen or yoga is one of the good things and it actually works. Is there room for the intellectual side of people who can actually smell the roses-in-a-can while on the move? It kind of had me thinking that there really must be something in this 'mind-over-matter' thing.

Humor is indeed the best medicine there is whenever you are. I mean anyone can pay good money to listen to a comedian just to make you wet your pants after laughing so hard. Despite of what's been happening, and to those who has gone though the ordeal, it's better to just laugh while facing the troubles with a clear mind than anger with a clouded vision. One of my favorite celebrities of all time may have to be Woody Allen. Now this is one guy who gives you the in-your-face bluntness that he pulls out with gusto, even without even trying. You can talk just about anything with a man, and he's bound to mock the subject and you'll end up laughing rather than being upset about it.

Woody Allen has this to say:

1. "Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons." It sounds good to me, I mean the practicality of all things does involve money but it doesn't have to take an arm and a leg to get it.

2. "I believe there is something out there watching us. Unfortunately, it's the government." 'Nuff said.

3. "There are worse things in life than death. Have you ever spent an evening with an insurance salesman?" This happens to be one of the classic ones. I mean the issue about life's little problems isn't all that bad, until 'he' shows up.

Sure, relationships can get complicated, or does have its complications that probably any author about relationships is bound to discover it soon. We follow what our heart desires, unless you're talking about the heart as in the heart that pump blood throughout your body.

4. "Love is the answer, but while you're waiting for the answer, sex raises some pretty interesting questions." And if you want more, just keep on asking!

5. "A fast word about oral contraception. I asked a girl to go to bed with me, she said 'no'." It sounds, 'practical', I think.

And when it comes to everyday life, he really knows how to make the best out of every possible scenario, and it doesn't involve a lawsuit if he strikes a nerve.

6. "Basically my wife was immature. I'd be at home in the bath and she'd come in and sink my boats." I never had a boat in my bathtub before. Just staring at it while soaking in hot water makes me seasick already.

7. "I am not afraid of death, I just don't want to be there when it happens." If it rains, it pours.

8. "I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose." It could get worse when you're guzzling on beer… or mouthwash, and it happened to me once!

9. "If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans." At least he doesn't smite us with lightning, and I'm thankful for that.

And despite of what may happen to all of us in the next ten, twenty, or even thirty years, I guess we all have to see things in a different kind of light and not just perspective. I can't seem to imagine life without any piece of wisdom that could guide us. Whether we're religious or not, it takes more courage to accept your fears and learn how to deal with them is all that matters when it comes to even just getting along.

And to sum things up, here is the last nugget of wisdom to go by… however, whenever, and wherever we may be.

10. "The talent for being happy is appreciating and liking what you have, instead of what you don't have."

What is Yoga?

2008-03-14T10:03:00.000-07:00

The word yoga is often interpreted as "union" or a method of discipline from the Sanskrit word "yuj" (to yoke or bind). A male practitioner is called a yogi, a female practitioner, a yogini. The Postures ....

The contemporary western approach to yoga is not based on any particular belief or religion, however Yoga does has its roots in Hinduism and Brahmanism. Yoga was developed by seers or ascetics living primarily in the southern parts of India. The seers observed nature and lived as close as they could to the earth, studying the many aspects of nature, the animals and themselves. By observing and emulating the different postures and habits of the animal kingdom they were able to develop grace, strength and wisdom.

It was through these very disciplined lives that the practice of the yoga postures were developed. It was necessary to develop a series of postures to keep the body lithe and able to endure long periods of stillness when in meditation. The Writings ....

Brahmanism dates back to containing sacred scriptures called "the Vedas". These scriptures contained instructions and incantations. It was in the oldest text "Rg-Veda" from the scriptures that the word Yoga first appeared, this was nearly 5000 years ago. The fourth text called "Atharva-Veda" contains mainly spells for magical rites and health cures many of which use medicinal plants. This text provided the average person with the spells and incantations to use in their everyday life and this practice of "Veda" can still be seen in the streets of India today. The Bhagavad-Gita, another ancient work on spiritual life describes itself as a yoga treatise, although it uses the word Yoga as a spiritual means. It was from this literature that Patanjali's "eight limbs of yoga" were developed. Yoga Sutra's are primarily concerned with developing the "nature of the mind" and I will explain more of this in the next section.

The Breadth ....

The vratyas, a group of fertility priests who worshipped Rudra, god of the wind would attempt to imitate the sound of the wind through their singing. They found that they could produce the sound through the control of their breath and through this practice of breath control was formed "Pranayama". Pranayama is the practice of breath control in yoga.

The Paths ....

The Upanishads, which are the sacred revelations of ancient Hinduism developed the two disciplines of karma yoga, the path of action and jnana yoga, the path of knowledge. The paths were developed to help the student liberate from suffering and eventually gain enlightenment. The teaching from the Upanishads differed from that of the Vedas. The Vedas demanded external offerings to the gods in order to have an abundant, happy life. The Upanishads through the practice of Karma yoga focused on the internal sacrifice of the ego in order to liberate from suffering. Instead of the sacrifice of crops and animals (external) it was the sacrifice of the inner ego that would become the basic philosophy, thus yoga became known as the path of renunciation.

Yoga shares some characteristics also with Buddhism that can be traced back through history. During the sixth century B.C., Buddhism also stresses the importance of Meditation and the practice of physical postures. Siddharta Gautama was the first Buddhist to actually study Yoga.

What is Yoga Sutra and how did the Philosophy of Yoga develop?

Yoga Sutra is a compilation of 195 statements which essentially provide an ethical guide for living a moral life and incorporating the science of yoga into it. An Indian sage called Patanjali was believed to have collated this over 2000 years ago and it has become the cornerstone for classical yoga philosophy.

The word sutra means literally "a thread" and is used to denote a particular form of written and oral communication. Because of the brusque style the sutras are written in the student must rely on a guru to interpret the philosophy contained within each one. The meaning within each of the sutras can be tailored to the student's particular needs.

The Yoga Sutra is a system of yoga however there is not a single description of a posture or asana in it! Patanjali developed a guide for living the right life. The core of his teachings is the "eightfold path of yoga" or "the eight limbs of Patanjali" . These are Patanjali's suggestions for living a better life through yoga.

Posture and breath control, the two fundamental practices of yoga are described as the third and fourth limbs in Patanjali's eight-limbed path to self-realisation. The third practice of the postures make up today's modern yoga. When you join a yoga class you may find that is all you need to suit your lifestyle.

The eight limbs of yoga

1. The yamas (restraints),
These are like "Morals" you live your life by: Your social conduct:
• Nonviolence (ahimsa) - To not hurt a living creature
• Truth and honesty (satya) - To not lie
• Nonstealing (asteya) - To not steal
• Nonlust (brahmacharya) - avoid meaningless sexual encounters - moderation in sex and all things.
• Nonpossessiveness or non-greed (aparigraha) - don't hoard, free yourself from greed and material desires

2. niyamas (observances),
These are how we treat ourselves, our inner discipline:
• Purity (shauca). Achieving purity through the practice of the five Yamas. Treating your body as a temple and looking after it.
• Contentment (santosha). Find happiness in what you have and what you do. Take responsibility for where you are, seek happiness in the moment and choose to grow.
• Austerity (tapas): Develop self discipline. Show discipline in body, speech, and mind to aim for a higher spiritual purpose.
• Study of the sacred text (svadhyaya). Education. Study books relevant to you which inspire and teach you.
• Living with an awareness of the Divine (ishvara-pranidhana). Be devoted to whatever is your god or whatever you see as the divine.

3. asana (postures) -
These are the postures of yoga:
• To create a supple body in order to sit for a lengthy time and still the mind. If you can control the body you can also control the mind. Patanjali and other ancient yogis used asana to prepare the body for meditation.
Just the practice of the yoga postures can benefit one's health. It can be started at any time and any age. As we grow older we stiffen, do you remember the last time you may have squatted down to pick something up and how you felt? Imagine as you age into your fifties, sixties, seventies and on being able to still touch your toes or balance on one leg. Did you know that the majority of injuries sustained by the elderly are from falls? We tend to lose our balance as we grow older and to practice something that will help this is surely a benefit.
The fourth limb, breath control is a good vehicle to use if you are interested in learning meditation and relaxation.......

4. pranayama (breathing) - the control of breath:
inhalation, retention of breath, and exhalation
• The practice of breathing makes it easier to concentrate and meditate. Prana is the energy that exists everywhere, it is the life force that flows through each of us through our breath.
5. pratyahara (withdrawal of senses),
• Pratyahara is a withdrawal of the senses. It occurs during meditation, breathing exercises, or the practice of yoga postures. When you master Pratyahara you will be able to focus and concentrate and not be distracted by outward sensory.
6. dharana (concentration), - teaching the mind to focus.
• When concentrating there is no sense of time. The aim is to still the mind e.g. fixing the mind on one object and pushing any thoughts. True dharana is when the mind can concentrate effortlessly.
7. Dhyani (meditation), - the state of meditation
• Concentration (dharana) leads to the state of meditation. In meditation, one has a heightened sense of awareness and is one with the universe. It is being unaware of any distractions.
8. samadhi (absorption), - absolute bliss
• Absolute bliss is the ultimate goal of meditation. This is a state of union with yourself and your god or the devine, this is when you and the universe are one.

All eight limbs work together: The first five are about the body and brain- yama, niyama asana, pranayama, and pratyahara - these are the foundations of yoga and provide a platform for a spiritual life. The last three are about reconditioning the mind. They were developed to help the practitioner to attain enlightenment or oneness with Spirit.

How do you choose the type of yoga right for you?

The type of yoga you choose to practice is entirely an individual preference and thus why we are looking into here to help you start. Some types hold the postures longer, some move through them quicker. Some styles focus on body alignment, others differ in the rhythm and selection of postures, meditation and spiritual realization. All are adaptable to the student's physical situation. You therefore need to determine what Yoga style by your individual psychological and physical needs. You may just want a vigorous workout, want to focus on developing your flexibility or balance. Do you want more focus on meditation or just the health aspects? Some schools teach relaxation, some focus on strength and agility, and others are more aerobic.

I suggest you try a few different classes in your area. I have noticed that even between teachers within a certain style, there can be differences in how the student enjoys the class. It is important to find a teacher that you feel comfortable with to truly enjoy and therefore create longevity in what you practice.

Once you start learning the postures and adapting them for your body you may feel comfortable to do practice at home as well! All yoga types have sequences that can be practiced to work different parts of your body. To A fifteen minute practice in the morning may be your start to the day. Your body will feel strong and lithe within no time and with knowledge, the choice is there for you to develop your own routines.

The Major Systems of Yoga

The two major systems of yoga are Hatha and Yoga Raja Yoga. Raja yoga is based on the "Eight Limbs of Yoga" developed by Pananjali in the Yoga Sutras. Raja is part of the classical Indian System of Hindu Philosophy.

Hatha yoga, also Hatha vidya is a particular system of Yoga founded by Swatmarama, a yogic sage of the 15th centry in India. Swatmarama compiled the "Hatha Yoga Pradipika", which introduced the system of Hatha Yoga. Hatha yoga is derived from a number of different traditions. It comes from the traditions of Buddhism which include the Hinayana (narrow path) and Mahayana (great path). It also comes from the traditions of Tantra which include Sahajayana (spontaneous path) and Vajrayana (concerning matters of sexuality). Within Hatha yoga there are various branches or styles of yoga. This form of yoga works through the physical medium of the body using postures, breathing exercises and cleansing practices.

The Hatha Yoga of Swatmarama differs from the Raja Yoga of Patanjali in that it focuses on Shatkarma, "the purification of the physical" as a path leading to "purification of the mind" and "vital energy". Patanjali begins with "purification of the mind and spirit" and then "the body" through postures and breath.

The Major Schools of Yoga

There are approximately forty-four major schools of Yoga and many others which also lay claim to being Yogic. Some of the major schools are Raja Yoga and Hatha Yoga (as mentioned above). There are also Pranayama Yoga and Kundalini Yoga which stem from Hatha. Jnana, Karma, Bhakti, Astanga and Iyengar stem from Raja.

The Yoga Styles that stem from Hatha include:

Pranayama Yoga

The word pranayama means prana, energy and ayama, stretch. Breath regulation, prolongation, expansion, length, stretch and control describes the action of pranayama yoga. Some Pranayama breath controls are included in the Hatha Yoga practices of a general nature (to correct breathing difficulties).

This school of yoga is entirely built around the concept of Prana (life's energy). There are about 99 different postures of which a lot of these are based around or similar to physical breathing exercises.

Pranayama also denotes cosmic power, or the power of the entire universe which manifests itself as conscious living being in us through the phenomenon of breathing.

Kundalini Yoga

Kundalini yoga is in the tradition of Yogi Bhajan who brought the style to the west in 1969. It is a highly spiritual approach to hatha yoga involving chanting, meditation, breathing techniques all used to raise the kundalini energy which is located at the base of the spine.

The Yoga Styles that stem from Raja include:

Raja Yoga/Ashtanga Yoga

Raja means royal or kingly. It is based on directing one's life force to bring the mind and emotions into balance. By doing so the attention can then be focused on the object of the meditation, namely the Devine. Raja Yoga or Ashtanga Yoga is one of the four major Yogic paths of Hinduism. The others are Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga and Bhakti Yoga. Raja or Ashtanga are derived from the "eight limbs of Yoga" philosophy composed by Patanjali.

Power Yoga

Power Yoga has been devised through the teachings of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, a renowned Sanskrit scholar who inspired Western Yogis with his Ashtanga Yoga Style and philosophies. It is therefore often referred to as the western version of India's Ashtanga yoga. Power yoga is vigorous and athletic and is therefore very popular with men. It works with the student's mental attitude and perspective and incorporates the eight limbs of yoga into practice.

Jnana Yoga

Jnana (sometimes spelled "Gnana") means wisdom and a Jnani is a wise man. Sometimes referred to as the" yogi of discernment".

This form of yoga focuses on studying inner life and adhyatmic subjects, the practice of certain relaxations and contemplative, meditative kriyas. The main purpose of jnana meditation is to withdraw the mind and emotions from perceiving life and oneself in a deluded way so that one may behold and live in attunement with reality or spirit. This form of yoga focuses on meditation to work towards transformation and enlightenment.

Karma Yoga

Karma means "action". Karma yoga is based around the discipline of action based on the teachings of Bhagavad Gita, a holy scripture of Hinduism. This yoga of selfless service focuses on the adherence to duty (dharma) while remaining detached from the reward. Karma is the sum total of our acts, both in the present life and in the preceding births.

Bhakti Yoga

Bhaki yoga has many phases to it's practice. Bhaki means "devotion" and Guna Bhaki is to worship according to your nature. A practitioner of Bhakta Yoga is not limited to any one culture or religious denomination, the approach is more to the inner life rather than the wholly devotional. The self within worships the self of the universal nature.

Bhaki yoga is the state of being in contact with our existence and being and the existence and being of all things. It doesn't matter if you believe in something or you don't the only quality is the openness to the mind and heart, unexpected and unknown.

Those who have read about Quantum physics where each and every atom in the universe is connected to the underlying reality will be able to liken this to the philosophy behind Bhaki yoga.

Iyengar Yoga

Iyengar Yoga was developed in India by B.K.S Iyengar, born 14th December, 1918. At the age of 16, he was introduced to yoga by his Guru Sri T. Krishnamacharya. Iyengar Yoga is now one of the most popular styles practiced in the west.

Instructors are very knowledgeable about the anatomy and precise body place for each posture. There is less focus on pranayama or breathing techniques and mediation and thus why the practice is popular in the west.

Iyengar Yoga emphasizes more on the correct placement of the feet to ensure the spine and the hips are in alignment. Iyengar has developed many different props and techniques to cater for individuals in their practice.

Other Styles

Integral Yoga or Purna Yoga Integral yoga is a yoga of synthesis, harmonizing the paths of karma, jnana and bhakti yogas. It was developed by Swami Satchidananda.

It is also considered a synthesis between Vedanta (Indian system of philosophy) and Tantra (Asian beliefs and practices using the principle that the divine energy creates and maintains the universe, channelling the energy within the human microcosm). It also been explained as a synthesis between Eastern and Western approaches to spirituality.

Postures are gentler than other forms of yoga and classes normally end with extended periods of deep relaxation, breathing and meditation. Integral Yoga is an all round approach to hatha yoga.

Sivananda Yoga

Sivananda yoga offers a gentle approach. It includes meditation, chanting and deep relaxation in each session. Students are encouraged to be healthy which includes being vegetarian.

Bikrams Yoga

Bikrams yoga was founded by Bikram Choudhury who was taught by Bishni Ghosh the brother of Paramahansa Yogananda. Bikrams Yoga is taught generally in a room the temperature set between 95 and 105 degrees.

The heat helps soften the muscles and ligaments. There are approximately 26 postures and this yoga produces a real workout because of the heat is quite intense. This yoga therefore places more emphasis on the physical performance of the postures, not the sides of relaxation and meditation.

Some of the Great Teachers...

All styles share a common lineage. The founders of two of the major styles of yoga Raja/Ashtanga and Avenger were all students of the same great teacher named Krishnamacharya. Shri T. Krishnamacharya,was born in the village of Muchukunte, Karnataka State, in 1888. His formal Education, largely in Sanskrit, included Degrees from several universities in North India. He studied for seven years under a distinguished yogi in western Tibet: Rama Mohana Brahmachari who instructed him the therapeutic use of asanas & pranayama. Then he returned to South India and established a school of yoga in the palace of the Maharajah of Mysore. He passed away at the age of 101 years in 1988.

Integral Yoga and Sivananda Yoga were also founded by students of another great teacher named Sivananda. Swami Sivananda Saraswati was born Kuppuswamy in Pattamadai, Tamil Nadu, India. A Hindu by birth, he is a well-known proponent of yoga and vedanta (a principal branch of Hindu philosophy).

He is reputed to have written over 300 books, on these and related subjects, during his life. In 1936 he founded the new religious movement "The Divine Life Society" on the bank of the holy Ganges River. He died on the 14th July, 1963.

So which type is right for you?

These are not all the types of yoga available, however you can see from the short explanations of each that Yoga practice can differ dramatically. Each one makes use of the physical postures and breathing to strengthen the body for meditation, an inherent part of yoga practice. This is where it is important for the student to understand what they want out of their yoga practice and choose a style which will cater for this. If you try one and don't think it is physical enough, try another as it will be totally different. If you start one that is too demanding than again switch around until you find the practice for you.

Some of us want to just work on body and some want more focus on a method of searching for self realisation, whatever the reason I am sure there are enough styles out their and more developing each day to cater for our needs.

You are never too old to start yoga, I have met people in their seventies starting for the first time and experiencing life changing affects. If you've ever sat and watched your cat or dog awake in the morning what is the first thing they do? stretch. If we stop for just a moment and watch what we can learn from nature and the animal kingdom we will realize that just the simple act of stretching has been lost somewhere through our evolution.

The table below shows the rating between 1 and 10 I have given to explain the degree of Physical and degree of Meditation/Relaxation in each Yoga practice (10 being the highest)

Name of Yoga Physical Rating Meditation & Relaxation Rating

Pranayama Yoga 4 8 Kundalini Yoga 6 8 Raja Yoga/Ashtanga Yoga 10 6 Power Yoga 10 2 Jnana Yoga 6 8 Karma Yoga 6 8 Bhakti Yoga 6 8 Iyengar Yoga 8 4 Integral Yoga or Purna Yoga 6 8 Sivananda Yoga 6 8 Bikrams Yoga 10 (due to the heat) 2

Lisa runs "Khata" supplies "gifts of significance" for those special people in your life that have an interest in Eastern Arts , philosophy and culture.

The Breadth ....

The Paths ....

What is Yoga Sutra and how did the Philosophy of Yoga develop?

The eight limbs of yoga

How do you choose the type of yoga right for you?

The Major Systems of Yoga

The Major Schools of Yoga

The Yoga Styles that stem from Hatha include:

Pranayama Yoga

Pranayama also denotes cosmic power, or the power of the entire universe which manifests itself as conscious living being in us through the phenomenon of breathing.

Kundalini Yoga

The Yoga Styles that stem from Raja include:

Raja Yoga/Ashtanga Yoga

Power Yoga

Jnana Yoga

Jnana (sometimes spelled "Gnana") means wisdom and a Jnani is a wise man. Sometimes referred to as the" yogi of discernment".

Karma Yoga

Bhakti Yoga

Those who have read about Quantum physics where each and every atom in the universe is connected to the underlying reality will be able to liken this to the philosophy behind Bhaki yoga.

Iyengar Yoga

Other Styles

Integral Yoga or Purna Yoga Integral yoga is a yoga of synthesis, harmonizing the paths of karma, jnana and bhakti yogas. It was developed by Swami Satchidananda.

Postures are gentler than other forms of yoga and classes normally end with extended periods of deep relaxation, breathing and meditation. Integral Yoga is an all round approach to hatha yoga.

Sivananda Yoga

Sivananda yoga offers a gentle approach. It includes meditation, chanting and deep relaxation in each session. Students are encouraged to be healthy which includes being vegetarian.

Bikrams Yoga

Some of the Great Teachers...

So which type is right for you?

The table below shows the rating between 1 and 10 I have given to explain the degree of Physical and degree of Meditation/Relaxation in each Yoga practice (10 being the highest)

Name of Yoga Physical Rating Meditation & Relaxation Rating

Lisa runs "Khata" supplies "gifts of significance" for those special people in your life that have an interest in Eastern Arts , philosophy and culture.

Herbs for Allergies - Chinese Herbs for Allergies Do Work

2008-02-04T23:13:00.000-08:00

There is a lot that can be said about alternative medicine. You will find many skeptics among you and you will find people that will laugh out loud when you tell them about it. But make no mistake about it. Chinese herbs for allergies do really work.

Chinese herbs have been around for several thousand years and are a part of traditional Chinese medicine. It is only in the western world we call it "alternative medicine." In Asia you will find Chinese herbs along side our modern medicine.

When it comes to allergies we (the west) often use medicine with side effects and usually only treat the symptoms when they arrive. But with herbs for allergies you can treat the underlying causes as well. So when the next allergic season or attack arrives you will be much better prepared for it and get through it with much more ease then before. Many will not have any symptoms at all. Only time will tell.

There have been several studies in to this kind of alternative medicine and the findings are all the same. It has a positive effect. There has not been any real study of the herbs it self but the results speaks loud enough.

When your allergies are at its worst, use the herbs to calm the symptoms. And when that is all over, you can use the herbs to treat the underlying causes. Re strengthen you body's Qi so you will be set up for next season.

The more you learn about traditional Chinese medicine the more it will make sense to you. If only the western world would get their eyes open for this way of treatment we would all live in a better world. Remember, you can use these treatments as a supplement to your own western medicine. Find out what herbs for allergies are right for you and go for it. What do you have to lose?

Traditional Chinese Medicine In Your Daily Life

2008-02-07T01:21:00.000-08:00

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) divides the year into five seasons—fall, winter, spring, summer and late summer. Summer and late summer offers a special time of abundance. The natural growth of green and growing things surrounds everything; fresh foods are readily available nearly everywhere.

During summer when the natural world bursts into full bloom the universal energy is at its highest point. A plant’s highest Qi or vital energy occurs when it flowers, according to TCM principles.

TCM views all foods from an energy perspective. Behind the food…beyond nutrition, beyond vitamins, beyond calories—is energy. Each food vibrates at a specific energy frequency that corresponds to a specific organ or meridian. Foods grow in variable weather, at diverse locations within distinct energy fields. A fruit or vegetable carries energy patterns relating to these various influences. In other words, the energy or ‘intelligence’ of a plant or ‘food’ knows how to thrive in a given situation. It is this energy (not caloriofunction) which relates to different organs. The essence and the organ or meridian have a matching energy frequency. One enhances the other—in fact, they seek each other out much like a magnet.

This understanding of Qi and essences is a result of thousands of years of observation of how vital energy works. These insights were usually achieved through deep meditation and experiencing Universal energy. The knowledge has been passed down through generations. Depending on how they are used, foods can act as herbs. They can help increase or decrease vital energy. For example, using the flower of a plant like the sunflower causes energy to rise, while using the root of a plant channels energy down through the body’s meridians or internal energy network. Each flower part can play a role in helping the knowledgeable TCM practitioner achieve the goal of balancing a person’s energy toward prevention and wellness.

TCM principles regard food as medicine; it is energy that is the real healing tool. If certain issues need herbs, the skillful use of a particular food’s Qi can help dramatically. While Western medicine focuses on calories or nutritional content, it is easy to see from the way foods and herbs are used in TCM that something is going on behind these things that can help restore health. For example, many food and herbs are often mixed together and cooked for hours—thus the nutritional value has long been processed out—the mixture can still be highly effective in treating various conditions. It is the essence or remaining energy that is of value.

TCM principles believe foods can influence something extraordinarily important in the body—and that is energy. With TCM, allergy sufferers are made to understand that the offending food is not the problem, it usually means that the food carries a special energy or is vibrating at a specific frequency that the body cannot handle. The solution:—bring the affected organ back into harmony or balance with the rest of the body. TCM offers very effective ways to accomplish this.

The Universe has provided a powerful, yet natural way to maintain good health and help when good health fails. Experiencing TCM in your daily life is connected to an understanding of the critical role food plays in strengthening the house we have chosen for the spirit.

TCM uses the knowledge in its ancient organized system to examine the various factors that contribute to a condition of disharmony. The goal of TCM is to seek a permanent solution to the issue, rather than just treating the symptoms. That is why you won’t hear a TCM practitioner say, “Just take this prescription for ten days and call for another appointment if you need a refill.”

Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment Of Breast Cancer

2008-02-08T09:52:00.000-08:00

Today is the treatment of breast cancer with surgery or by radiotherapy and chemotherapy based integrated treatment, comprehensive treatment of Chinese medicine is an important means of adjuvant therapy, especially in the opponent's side effects and after radiotherapy and chemotherapy can be toxic reaction played an important role.

of this Act Fuzheng pui role:
1. Enhance the body's immune function, and enhance the activity of the immune system;
2. Role of hormones, can stimulate bone marrow and protection to prevent or mitigate radiotherapy and chemotherapy damage
3. Improved cancer patients in the Central immune phosphorus levels of adenosine may affect tumor cell growth, reproduction, thereby inhibiting tumor cell growth,
4. regulate body metabolism and improve the nutritional status of patients, patients can improve the quality of life.
the role of law Huoxue Huayu:
1. Reduce platelet cohesion, and can reduce blood flow in cancer cells stay, the opportunity to gather and grow, thereby reducing transfer;
2. To improve microcirculation, increased vascular permeability, the promotion of drug absorption;
3. improve the state of hypoxic tumor cells and improve radiotherapy and chemotherapy sensitivity
4. reduce soft tissue elastic fibers, thereby reducing radiotherapy and chemotherapy-induced fibrosis;
5. raise antibody levels, and enhance the body's resistance capacity. Some drugs have a direct inhibitory or anti-cancer effect.
the role of Qingrejiedu Act:
1. This therapy on tumor inhibited, it has anti-cancer function;
2. Qingre antidote have enhanced immune function;
3. Qingrejiedu with this therapy.
of phlegm Ruanjian role: a tumor suppressor role of this therapy, cancer cells will lose their normal shape, subsequent apoptosis, thereby enabling lump narrow. There are enhanced immune function in addition can be caused by treatment for the tumor swelling, pleural effusion, and ascites, and so on.
the greater the toxicity of therapy, the role of tackling tough challenges plot. The experiment shows that such drugs have direct anti-tumor cells, and can inhibit the body produce antibodies, the immune inhibit

Types of Chinese Herbal Products

2008-02-10T11:42:00.000-08:00

Chinese herbal products have been around and in use for centuries. According to ancient Chinese history, the first herbalist was Shennong. Shennong is considered to be a mythical person who supposedly tasted many herbs and passed his knowledge onto of both medicinal and poisonous plants onto the people of the land.

From Shennong, the first Chinese book on pharmacology, the Shennong Emperor's Classic of Materia Medica, lists over 365 medicines of which 252 are herbs. This book dates back all the way to the first century.

Needless to say, these products have been used for generations to help those who are afflicted with many ailments. If a person knows anything about these products, they can overcome almost anything.

One ailment that many people in today's world are trying every way possible to stop is premature aging. This can be seen in wrinkles that suddenly appear out of nowhere, or hair that begins to grey with the morning light.

Chinese herbs for hair can help to not only slow down the appearance of random grey hairs, but they can also help with the premature aging process. One Chinese herb that is known for just these properties is Fo-Ti.

Fo-Ti is believed to be able to help a person to increase their longevity, and this can only be seen as a positive step for anyone.

Other Chinese herbal products that are desired are those that promote weight loss. Weight loss herbal products are hot on the retail market today.

One of the best ways to help with weight loss by using herbs is to find a supplement that has the hawthorn root in it. Hawthorn or crataegus, has been used in Chinese medicine to help aid in digestion.

This can also help to shed those last few pounds that plague so many individuals. A person can buy herbal products at the local discount store that have the hawthorn root extract in them and this will help to promote weight loss.

A benefit that hawthorn also gives the individual is lowering blood pressure and it can also help to treat some heart ailments. A person should consult a practitioner before using the hawthorn root to help with their ailments.

Such products are a wonderful alternative to conventional medicine. With the use of Chinese herbs, a person is continuing an age old tradition that started in the first century.

With the advancement of technology today, a person can find all they need to know by doing a search on the internet for the right herbal product to help with their ailment

Weight Loss with Chinese Herbs

2008-02-12T02:12:00.000-08:00

Chinese herbs can be used to influence the body’s metabolism in different ways. Most people who need to lose weight would like to have their metabolism run more efficiently. There are a number of herbs that can help people in their quest for a healthier, more efficient metabolism in order to ensure that any efforts to lose weight are blessed with success. There are three types of herbs that can assist people trying to lose weight. The first type of herb is the type that “transforms phlegm” in Chinese medicine terminology. These herbs can help the body to process fats more efficiently and prevent the accumulation of unhealthy fats and fluids in the body. Some herbs in this class that may assist weight loss include citrus aurantium, immature citrus peel, and magnolia bark. Glechoma and hawthorn berry can also help by “transforming phlegm”.

Citrus Aurantium contains synephrine, which has been shown to have fat-burning properties in research done at McGill University in Montreal. It improves the thermogenesis of brown fatty tissue in the body, which is generally the fat that is the most difficult to burn off. Citrus Aurantium does not have any negative impact on the nervous system like ephedra does. Speaking of ephedra, I do not recommend its use for dieting. Chinese medicine has traditionally used it for severe and acute conditions, such as asthma attacks. It is not intended to be used as a dieting tool or to get a high. These uses can leave a person ultimately more fatigued and adrenal-depleted in the end. Citrus Aurantium is an infinitely safer option for those interested in weight loss.

Other herbs that can help boost metabolic function are herbs that increase the qi and yang energy of the body. This class of herbs includes ginseng, astragalus, and atractylodes. Other herbs in this category include ginger, cinnamon, epimedium and eucommia bark. These herbs can also give a person an energy boost. This can encourage the person to remain consistent with his or her exercise routine. These herbs also encourage healthy digestion and generally make a person’s metabolism run faster and more efficiently. This group of herbs can be particularly helpful for those people whose weight tends to accumulate around the abdomen.

Detoxifying, bitter herbs are another class of herbs that can assist with weight loss. These herbs tend to reduce inflammatory, acidic conditions in the body that often trigger the cravings people have for inordinate quantities of unhealthy food. These herbs are particularly useful in people who tend to have voracious appetites for spicy, oily, and sweet foods. They also may have a tendency towards acne or oily skin, and a slightly reddish, or ruddy complexion. These herbs include Chinese rhubarb, coptis, and scute.

Other herbs can be used to control and balance out the emotional conditions that trigger overeating. People who find themselves eating out of stress, sadness, depression, anxiety, or PMS can find that these herbs balance out their emotional life and reduce their cravings for food. These herbs include magnolia bark, bupleurum root, mint, zizyphus and biota seeds, and longan fruit.

Other supplements that can assist in a healthy weight loss program are kelp, apple cider vinegar, vitamin B6, and flaxseed oil. Drinking green tea regularly can also be quite helpful.

It is important to remember that all of these supplements are beneficial for promoting weight loss because they promote a healthy metabolism, a healthy energy level, a healthy digestion, and a healthy mental attitude, but that dietary and lifestyle changes are crucial in order to see the results that you want. Nevertheless, Chinese Medicine can be a great ally in the quest to shed pounds more efficiently.

Natural Remedies For Allergies - Facts You Should Know

2008-02-13T06:52:00.000-08:00

In line with the rising popularity of alternative medicine, those seeking natural remedies for allergies and allergy-induced diseases like asthma are also on the upswing.

The fact is, mainstream medication can produce adverse side effects that are not properly understood even after years of trials and actual use of drugs in clinical practice.

For instance, a 1995 study in New Zealand showed that prior to 1940, the death rate from asthma was very low. However, after that time, when bronchodilators were introduced, asthma deaths shot up significantly.

Here are several natural remedies for allergies that have been used by practitioners of alternative medicine.

Dietary therapies
* Dairy products are said to contribute to food allergies. They also tend to increase mucus secretions in the lungs which can be detrimental to asthma patients. Some practitioners recommend elimination of dairy products from the diet for allergy patients.

* Avoid processed food, refined sugars / starches, foods that contain sulfites and in general, anything that contains additives.

* Consider switching to a purely vegan diet. Meaning, a diet with zero animal foods. This cuts out arachidonic acid, which is a fatty acid linked to food allergies. Note that a vegan diet may not always work, since some allergies are triggered by vegetables rather than by meat.

* Onions and garlic contain a flavonoid that cuts down the release of histamine. That can help allergy sufferers.

* Drink plenty of water. This helps the body's elimination process and may assist in reducing allergic reactions.

Acupuncture / Acupressure
Acupuncture has been used as one of the natural remedies for allergies. Asthma patients have also used this form of treatment. Acupuncture relies on stimulating certain points on the body by inserting fine needles into them.

This is part of traditional Chinese medicine and restores health by balancing subtle energy flows in the body. Allergy and asthma patients will need to see a qualified acupuncturist for treatment.

Acupressure is similar to acupuncture, but instead of inserting needles into the body, it relies on stimulating those specific points using finger pressure. Under the guidance of an experienced therapist, the patient herself can learn to stimulate certain body spots to relieve symptoms.

Both acupuncture and acupressure are thought to strengthen the body's immune system and thereby prevent allergic reactions.

Herbal remedies
There are a number of herbs that have been used as natural remedies for allergies. Here is a sampling.

* An extract of grape seed has anti-inflammatory properties and is useful for treating allergies.

* Chinese medicine recommends using Ginkgo biloba seeds to control wheezing and other allergic symptoms.

* Stinging nettle helps control the body's responses to certain allergens.

* Licorice (biological name: Glycyrrhiza glabra) is a herbal produce that can be taken as a tea. It is said to have effects similar to cortisone and helps control inflammatory reactions.

* Both cramp (Viburnum opulus) bark as well as khellin (Ammi visnaga) have bronchodilator effects and help with allergies.

* Another herb called ephedra or ma huang (Ephedra sinicia) can be consumed as a tea. It helps to treat allergies because of its anti-inflammatory properties.

Some of the herbal remedies listed above produce adverse side effects if used over a period of time. Therefore they must be used only under qualified medical supervision.

Many natural remedies for allergies have been used as complements to traditional western medicine. They have a useful role in alleviating symptoms and helping the body function well even when allergens are present in the environment.

Chinese Medicine Treatments - Depression

2008-02-15T07:20:00.000-08:00

Western medicine has its own treatments for Depression. This is no less true of Eastern medicine, specifically TCM- Traditional Chinese Medicine. Their belief is that Depression and Anxiety are really heart problems. The cause is constriction of emotion in the chest. Brain chemistry issues are symptoms. There are causes or triggers just as there are in Western medicine.

Causes/Triggers

Causes or triggers include loss - fear of loss and/or memory of loss. Repressed expression and other life events also cause restriction of the flow of Qi and blood in the center/upper body. This is called Liver Q1 Stagnation. Heat in the heart is over stimulation that is marked by anxiety, insomnia, and other serious conditions. Panic attacks, heart arrhythmia, and some forms of anxiety are also triggered by Liver Q1 Stagnation. Treating Liver Q1 Stagnation is done by releasing the Q1 in the chest drugs can help but push-ups work as well as Prozac.

Chinese herbs

Chinese herbs are used to ease Depression Symptoms including Anxiety. Alone Chinese herbs have a mild affect on depressive symptoms. Together with other herbs specific to treating Depression are very powerful.

Some examples of Chinese herbs include Chai Hau- Bupleurum a surface relieving herb. It is used to treat colds. The effects are greater if a bit of mint is added to it. He Huan Pi- He Huan Hua is Mimosa bark/flower (albezzia) is a heart nourishing herb. When it is combined with Dun Shen (Salvia Miltorrhiza) a very powerful result occurs. Other Chinese herbs such as Poria-fu shen, red Dates (Hung Zao), and Wheat Berries are also herbs used in Chinese Medicine Treatments- Depression.

Anti-depressants

Borrowed from the West, the Chinese use anti-depressant medications in treating Depression. They use many of the same drugs that Western medicine uses. The results are likely similar as well.

Western Herbal Supplements

Herbal supplements include the herbs Chamomile, Milk Thistle and Valerian to name just a few. These herbs and others known to ease Depression are blended with vitamins, minerals, and other nutritive substances. They must be made to pharmaceutical standards.

They must also test the ingredients’ metabolism at the molecular level and test the interactions of the ingredients. This is to guarantee their potency, effectiveness, purity, and safety.

Conclusion

Chinese medicine treatments for Depression include specific herbs and anti-depressants. Depression is believed to be a heart problem because emotions can cause chest constriction. Anti-depressants are used in treating Depression.

We have found a pure natural depression supplement that can also help with anxiety and overall general well being.

To learn

Health Benefits of Raw Garlic

2008-02-21T12:36:00.000-08:00

Chinese people have known of the health benefits of raw garlic for thousands of years. In China, apart from being used to flavor food, garlic is also traditionally used in teas and folk remedies. Why? Garlic is one of nature's strongest immune system boosters, and a powerful antibiotic, digestive aid and libido enhancer. As you'll see below, these are just some of the health benefits of raw garlic.

However, while the health and medicinal benefits of garlic are numerous, it can also overheat your system if you eat too much. According to Tradititional Chinese Dietary Therapy, garlic is warm in nature and a strong stimulant. Therefore, people who have excess heat in their body should first balance their system. Excessive internal heat comes from eating too many heating foods and drinks, e.g. meat, fried foods, coffee and alcohol. This causes symptoms like red eyes, bad breath, constipation, yellow urine, a yellow tongue moss and acne. If you have these kinds of symptoms, eliminate or greatly reduce the above items from your diet for a few weeks before you start eating garlic regularly, or it will just make your body hotter and your symptoms worse.

Below are some main health and medicinal benefits of garlic. Note: To get the full health benefits of raw garlic, you have to do just that - take it raw! Commercial garlic pills, tablets, oils and capsules, especially the odorless ones, are often devoid of the active enzymes that provide the benefits. Crushed, raw garlic may be mixed into virtually any meal, or put in gelatin capsules for easy swallowing, or drunk as a tea by simply crushing 1 or 2 cloves and adding hot water. These methods may not be very appealing, but do you want the benefits or not?

Health & Medicinal Benefits of Garlic

Powerful immune system enhancer
Antibacterial, antiviral
Antifungal - effective remedy for yeast infections & candida
Clears boils & infected sores
Improves appetite
Digestive aid - especially good if eaten with meat
Increases libido - take several raw cloves a day
Expells intestinal parasites & worms
Reduces high cholesterol

Health Remedies Using Garlic Cloves

Below are some Chinese health remedies using garlic cloves as the main ingredient. These are common, traditional ways that Chinese people make use of the health benefits of raw garlic.

Garlic Tea:

Put 1 or 2 cloves of crushed garlic and 1 or 2 grams of loose-leaf green tea in a teapot. Add a teaspoon or two of unrefined brown sugar if you wish. Pour in boiling water that has been left to cool slightly. Stir the mixture and let it steep for several minutes before drinking. Afterwards, leave the ingredients in the pot, as you can top it up with more water once or twice throughout the day. This is a common folk remedy for killing germs and resolving toxins in the body.

Garlic Nose Drops:

This is a preventative for the common cold and sinus problems. Crush several cloves of garlic to obtain the juice. Mix with warm water at a ratio of two parts water to one part garlic juice. Lie down and use an eye-dropper to place a couple of drops into each nostril as soon as you feel any symptoms coming on. Continue for as long as necessary. If the drops overly irritate your nostrils, stop, or reduce the number of drops.

Garlic Paste:

Crush 2 garlic cloves and mix with several drops of pure sesame oil to make a paste for external application to boils,carbuncles and infected sores. Cover then reapply when the paste becomes dry and falls off. If the skin becomes overly irritated discontinue use or wait for a day or two and try again.

Maximizing the Health Benefits of Raw Garlic

To get the full health benefits of raw garlic, whether in salads, as tea, or in capsules, it's important you eat less refined, processed and canned foods, and more foods in as close to their natural state as possible. Afterall, what's the point in taking fresh, raw garlic to improve your health while, for instance, continuing to eat nutritionally-dead, toxin-producing junk foods?

Acupuncture to Stop Smoking

2008-02-27T10:50:00.001-08:00

If you are looking into the myriad of methods available to get off the evil cancer sticks, it is no surprise that some time might be spent deciding whether acupuncture to stop smoking is worth a try. Let me explain why I think it probably isn't a very good idea.

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese approach to medicine. It is from a time where scientific method was not recognised. It was from a time when science itself didn't exist and if it did it would be considered evil. It is from a time when people believed dragons roamed the plains and mountains of China.

The evidence for using acupuncture to stop smoking has so far drawn a blank and it demonstrates no more effectiveness than placebo procedures. And why should you not be surprised at this?

Well, as a treatment it has no biological or anatomical or histological basis. Because of the time in which it was devised was a dark age, there was no way of verifying the approach or devising it with the stringency that could be said of modern treatments and drug therapies.

Medical approaches that are used today are subjected to stringent evidence based testing including blind and double blind tests. This means that the approaches for most modern medical treatments are successful and we don't spend our lives drinking bats blood and eating horse hair to cure our ailments.

Another reason why I think it would be foolish to consider acupuncture to quit smoking is precisely because it is an ancient approach. Smoking came about with the native American Indians some five or six thousand years ago. It was only in the 16th century that it reached Europe and the Far East.

The Cochrane Review studied the effectiveness of acupuncture to stop smoking (including related therapies such as laser treatment) and found that there was no evidence to suggest it had any effect greater than the placebo effect.

It is common for people to need some form of crutch to help them quit smoking. I believe that acupuncture to stop smoking is just such a crutch.

Anyone can learn how to easily quit smoking with the help of Tom Dainty's book The Quit Smoking Bible. 100% Guaranteed!

Acupuncture Treatments for Chronic and Severe Headaches and Migraines

2008-03-03T04:42:00.000-08:00

This is a broad term for headaches that have many different symptoms. In western medical terms these headaches would probably be classified together as migraines. Through a system of symptom-related diagnoses, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) provides the practitioner with a specific diagnosis, so the correct remedy and acupuncture points can be used from the beginning of treatment, offering a faster recovery time and a better focus on the cause.

There are three main categories within the TCM diagnostic structure. They are:

headaches from deficiency (not enough Qi or Blood) or,
headaches from excess (too much Qi, Blood, Wind or Phlegm) and,
headaches that are a combination of excess and deficiency.

The excess headaches are the most common type, because all of the Yang channels rise to the head. Yang is the more active form of Qi (pronounced chee,) and when too much of it gathers in the head, there is little way of escape. Congestion, stagnation and pain are the result.

Each pathology has different identifying symptoms. Deficiency-type headaches have an empty, spaced-out feeling. A Qi deficiency headache has a dull feeling and may be worse in the morning. A Blood deficiency headache may be worse in the afternoon or evening and the person may have difficulty thinking or remembering.

Excess-type headaches have more severe pain than deficiency types. Phlegm has a heavy or foggy-headed feeling. Wind (Thunder Head Wind) often results in twitches or spasms and the pain may move from one area to another. There may also be hypertension or numbness in the extremities. Excess Blood has a very sharp pain that stays in a fixed location. Excess Qi may be one-sided, throb or be accompanied by nausea.

Understanding these symptoms is critical for a practitioner to form an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. For the patient, it will help them give their practitioner the information they need.

Ginseng is Chinese for Man Root - Did You Know That?

2008-03-04T08:59:00.001-08:00

The word ginseng is Chinese for ‘man root’, probably because the plant itself looks so much like a pair of legs. Ginseng has long been a very important herb in traditional Chinese medicine, and with the rise of New Age treatments in the West, it has become more popular here too. It is also known as Panax, the plant’s Greek name, which literally means ‘cure-all’ (like ‘panacea’).

The Chinese are not the only ones who made use of ginseng historically, however: the plant also grows in America, and Native Americans have eaten it for centuries, also using it as a medicine. As there is no way that the two groups could have been communicating with each other, either this is a huge co-incidence, or there must be some health benefits to ginseng.

America and China are the world’s two largest producers of ginseng, but the Chinese believe that American ginseng is very different to their own. They say that their ginseng is Yang, while the Americans’ is Yin. As the Chinese traditionally believe that Yin and Yang must be balanced, there is a lot of demand for American ginseng.

Ginseng can be eaten raw or prepared in various ways, but one of the most popular varieties is red ginseng. This is ginseng that has been heated up in the sun until it has gone red, and is then marinated in herbs. All sorts of extra health benefits are claimed for red ginseng, and many people also find that it tastes better.

One thing you should be aware of if you’re thinking of buying some ginseng is that many non-ginseng products are often labelled as ginseng: ‘Siberian ginseng’, for example, is not actually ginseng at all – the same goes for Indian, Peruvian and Brazilian ginseng. Although they are labelled as ginseng in the hope that they will sell better, they are really completely different plants.

Chinese Acne Medicine

2008-02-19T11:16:00.000-08:00

All acne begins with one basic lesion: the comedo, an enlarged hair follicle plugged with oil, dead skin cells and bacteria. Chinese medicine looks upon acne generally as a result of the environmental force of heat. The typical name for acne in Chinese medicine is "fei feng fen ci", or "lesion of the lung wind."

In the theory of Chinese medicine, skin is closely related to the lung organ as it depends upon the lungs to supply the "essential substances of water and grains." The skin in turn can affect the normal process of respiration, as in the case when feng (evil wind) and cold gaining access into the body through the sweat-pores.

Chinese medicine generally categorizes acne into three types: the blood-heat type, the phlegm-accumulation type, and the toxic-heat type. The main symptoms and signs of the blood-heat-type are: There are red papules, tubercles, acnes and inflammatory infiltration around them, accompanied with burning sensation, red tip of the tongue with thin and yellow fur and slippery and rapid pulse. The main symptoms and signs of the phlegm type are: Skin lesion is mainly characterized by acne, indurative acne and cystic acne, accompanied with white and greasy fur on the tongue and slippery pulse. The main symptoms and signs of toxic heat type are: Malar flush, scattered inflammatory nodules, acne, abscesses and furuncles on the face, accompanied with red tongue with yellow fur and slippery and rapid pulse.

At the beginning, diseases were cured by individual herbs. As time progressed, formulas developed. The Acne Formula is an herbal formula. The formula of Chinese medicine consists of two parts: prescription of ingredients and preparation. Preparations refer to the forms of herbs prepared according to the prescription, such as soup, pills, powder, jelly, pillets, etc. Acne can be treated by the application of a well-prepared medicine.

Five elements

2008-02-04T02:30:00.000-08:00

( 5 elements, i.e. wood, fire, water, metal & earth : used in the Chinese natural medicine to explain various physiological and pathological phenomena)

Foreigners are always puzzled when they first heard about the 5-element theory. They find it too abstract and hard to understand. It is , in fact, quite plain and universally accepted as a series of natural laws in this country. Now we try to explain in an easy way by showing you some examples:

And the interactions among 5 elements:

	Fire evolved from wood, because wood can catch fire;
	Earth evolved from fire, as anything on fire becomes ashes afterwards;
	Metal evolved from earth, because metals are from the earth;
	Water evolved from metal, as all metals can melt into liquid;
	Wood evolved from water, because water is indispensable for plants.
	Wood prevails over earth, because trees grow out of the earth;
	Earth prevails over water, as earth stops the flood;
	Water prevails over fire, because it extinguishes fire;
	Fire prevails over metal, as heat melts metals;
	Metal prevails over wood, because wood can be cut or sawn by metals.

The above-mentioned, if understood, becomes first step towards a better understanding of this 5 -element theory which sounds mythical and profound. In face, with the development of this 5-element theory, they have been endowed with more meanings.

The followings are the analogy drawn by the Chinese scholars majoring in preserving health by comparing the nature of these elements:

	Liver associates with wood;
	Heart associates with fire;
	Spleen associates with earth;
	Lung associates with metal;
	Kidney associates with water.
	Circulation of Assimilation: liver-heart-spleen-lung-kidney;
	Circulation of Depression: liver-spleen-kidney-heart-lung.

These interactions have been tested and approved by human clinical experiments. For example, spleen turns food and water into nutrition and vigour to nourish lung, A bad functioned lung will impair the function of spleen.

Chinese Herbal Medicine

2008-02-03T11:50:00.000-08:00

Chinese Herbal medicine is a component of Traditional Chinese Medicine which also includes the practice of acupuncture and Tuina (massage). Herbal medicine has been used in China for centuries and is backed by a long and rich history of development, use and research.

Chinese herbal medicine is unique in that the diagnosis and treatments are based on the theories of traditional Chinese medicine. The common cold, for example, may be diagnosed as "wind-cold invasion" and herbs which dispel wind and warm cold may be prescribed. Herbs administered within Chinese herbal medicine are usually raw and cooked into a tea, in a powder form and taken with hot water or in a pill form.

While a Western doctor sees a cold as a cold, a CTM practitioner looks at his overall health and well-being. The latter finds out if his patient's Yin and Yang and his other vital forces are in balance, or if he is deficient in one or the other. In CTM theory, Yin and Yang are the two opposing principles in nature, the former female and negative, the latter male and positive.

The CTM doctor's prescription addresses the patient's particular deficiencies. To him, a cold is not just a cold, caused by an external virus. It is also contributed by his own body's deficiencies, which have left him vulnerable.

By comparison, the CTM language of Yin, Yang and the five elements is too simple and limiting. But the medicinal herbs work wonders, especially when used in combination. They are the best heritage in CTM.