Qigong ("chee gong") is a Chinese martial art, less well known than Tai Chi, but very effective for overall health and the cultivation of Qi (life force):

"Yoga may have the 'sexier' image as far fashionable health practices go, but according to Qigong teacher and author John Du Cane, the ancient Chinese art of Qigong offers baby boomers a wider and deeper range of techniques to fend off the ravages of aging.

The ancient Chinese art of Qigong has helped millions restore their energy, recover from illness and enhance their vitality. Like its Indian counterpart, Yoga, Qigong promotes flexibility, strength and general well being. But, according to Qigong expert John Du Cane, Qigong's greater breadth and depth of health techniques offers baby boomers a better chance to fend off the ravages of aging.

"In the United States right now, Yoga has become a "sexy" health practice -- with its eye-catching postures and emphasis on physical stretching. Qigong has less obvious "sex appeal", because its postures are generally less flamboyant and many of its practices more subtle in their applications" says Qigong author and teacher John Du Cane.

"Yet, after thirty years of personal experience and research, I have yet to find a practice that more completely offers me a way to protect and enhance my life systems, than qigong" Du Cane continues."

A good explanation of the effects of acupuncture:

"Research by the National Institute of Health has also found that several types of naturally occurring chemicals may be released into the central nervous system during acupuncture treatment, there-by reducing pain.

Studies have shown that acupuncture may alter brain chemistry by changing the release of neurotransmitters and hormones. Acupuncture also has been documented to affect the parts of the central nervous system related to sensation and involuntary body functions, such as immune reactions and processes whereby a person's blood pressure, blood flow, and body temperature are regulated. "

Feng shui is big in Israel:

"'Israel must have the largest number of Feng Shui students in the world, relative to its population - even more than China or Hong Kong. I cannot explain why this is,' says Joseph Yu, in deliberate, accented English. Yu, one of the world's foremost experts on Feng Shui, has included Tel Aviv in his 18-city world tour this year.

Feng Shui is best known for its theories about furniture placement, blurring the borders between psychology and decorating. According to Yu, when we sleep, we like to sleep undisturbed. A bed against a wall feels safe. A door must not open onto the bed, because the influx of energy disturbs sleep. "

Shanghai is an amazing city:

"'Shanghainese like everything new, they go crazy over that,' says attorney John Sun, one of the new generation of Shanghai movers and shakers. 'It is growing so fast because it's not China's Shanghai anymore. It's the world's Shanghai.' "

If you're unable to get a flu vaccine, there are still ways you can keep the flu away:

"Although the flu vaccines may be in short supply, there are plenty of needles and herbs to keep the virus at bay, according to Karen Dodson, licensed acupuncturet the Midwest Acupuncture and Pain Treatment Center at 3005 Riverside Drive.

Dodson combines acupuncture with the appropriate Western and Chinese herbs, which she claims keeps the immune system strong, treats pain and prevents allergic reactions."

A study in Great Britain suggests drinking tea may help protect against Alzheimers:

"Scientists at Newcastle University in England said their research shows that a regular "cuppa" could slow development of the affliction that fogs the memory of otherwise healthy people.

"Although there is no cure for Alzheimer's, tea could potentially be another weapon in the armoury which is used to treat this disease and slow down its development," lead researcher Ed Okello said.

They found that both green and black tea inhibited the activity of enzymes associated with the development of Alzheimer's disease, but that coffee had no significant effect."

DAAN has an excellent source of teas, including green tea, jasmine tea, Fujian black tea, and Oolong tea.

More information about teas here. See the entire list of DAAN teas.

Exciting research indicates Chinese herbal remedies may help with dementia:

"An herbal medicine used in Asia for 2,000 years can reduce the impact of dementia, a small study suggests.

After 16 people took the Chinese herbal preparation ba wei di huang wan (BDW) for 8 weeks, they showed a boost in mental functioning, and had less trouble doing their day-to-day activities. In contrast, people who took an inactive (placebo) pill experienced no improvements over the same time period."
...

"The reasons why BDW may improve dementia remain unclear, Iwasaki and his colleagues write. Some research suggests the treatment may boost the activity of important proteins in the brain, increase the amount of brain substances associated with learning and memory, or improve blood flow to the brain.

"A traditional Chinese medicine is not simply a purified substance but contains many ingredients, and the interaction of these ingredients is important," the authors write. "Eight herbs in BDW were carefully devised to interlock according to the traditional rules.""

Tips for dealing with the stress of the World Series:

"'The great thing about acupuncture is that people really relax,' said Kristin Whitfield of Innerweave Asian Healing in Orleans. A licensed acupuncturist, Whitfield said she would probably place four to 12 hair-thin needles into specific relaxation points of ragged Red Sox fans, probably, 'one in each hand, one in each foot, one in each ear, and one in the forehead"

Some people selling their houses are turning to feng shui to get an edge with buyers:

"'Feng shui is really not about investing a lot of money, because most of the time our clients have the proper things -- they're just in different spaces. They're in the wrong places, feng-shui-wise,' said Mengo, who with Kasliner runs a feng shui consulting business called Harmonious Living.
A growing number of real estate agents and people selling their own homes are turning to feng shui -- the ancient Chinese art of designing structures and arranging objects to create harmonious energy flow -- to help attract buyers.

Once prevalent mainly in areas with large Asian-American populations, real estate agents and consultants with training in feng shui (pronounced fung-SHWAY) are becoming common."

Chinese translations of Bill Clinton's biography show him to be a fan of Chinese culture:

"Who knew that back in Bill Clinton's early days in Arkansas, the future president and his Uncle Buddy sat around and chewed the fat, ham fat to be precise, and talked about how China was one of the world's most ancient cultures and had produced Four Great Inventions, one of which was gunpowder?

Yet there it is, all that love of China and things Chinese, right in the latest bootlegged version of Mr. Clinton's autobiography, 'My Life,' sold on the cheap in mainland China and now retranslated back into English, most recently by Alex Beels in the latest issue of Harper's Magazine. The fake version reveals a Clinton family obsessed with China's strong points, with how Chinese science and technology 'left us in the dust.' Readers will learn that the future president, to impress Hillary's mother, had rhapsodized about such things as the Eight Trigrams, documented in 'The Book of Changes' several thousand years ago. Another retranslation of the pirated translation last summer has Mr. Clinton explaining to Hillary that his nickname is 'Big Watermelon.' "

Stress: is an everyday fact of modern life that can lead to health problems if not taken care of:

"The body responds to stress by eliciting the 'fight or flight' response, leading to an increased secretion of stress hormones, adrenaline and steroids such as cortisol. These hormones can produce many of the following physiological reactions. When our skeletal muscles begin to contract, metabolism speeds up. Blood pressure, heart and breathing rates increase. The digestive system begins to shut down, the pupils start to dilate, the urge to urinate and have a bowel movement increases and arteries to the arms and legs constrict. All these reactions help prepare the body to fight, or, to run away from danger. This was important for primitive man to survive in the face of danger.

Today, however, this fight or flight response may occur many times a day, caused by traffic jams, deadlines, finances, family problems, unpleasant relationships, etc. All these result in cardiovascular diseases and a weak immune system that leaves the individual susceptible to degenerative and infective diseases.

To reduce and combat stress, you have to be willing to change your mindset. Many services, products and opportunities are available today for just that.
Alternative medicine offers many beneficial strategies for reducing stress and its effects. Acupuncture, biofeedback, meditation, guided imagery and lifestyle counselling, as well as diet, exercise and nutritional programmes are highly recommended. "


In addition to offering acupuncture, acupressure, and health consultations, DAAN has a wide selection of supplements intended to help your body cope with stress.

Some common sense tips for coping with the flu, naturally:

"Another preventative approach is acupuncture and Chinese herbs. Elise Sachs, a licensed acupuncture and Chinese herbalist and Julie Jiayu Zhang, an Oriental medicine doctor, who own Inner Balance Acupuncture and Chinese Herbology in Boulder, say a combination of Chinese herbs and acupuncture can bolster a person's immune system to help prevent flu and other infections. "

DAAN has a number of helpful products for fighting the flu, including Gan Mao Ling, Xia Sang Ju, and Yinchiao Tablets.

Contact us for recommendations, or call 1-877-322-6168 (toll free).

Chinese herbs and acupuncture can help hay fever:

A group of German investigators found that hay fever sufferers who received weekly acupuncture treatments and took three doses of a Chinese herbal formula per day showed fewer symptoms and were less likely to say their allergy was infringing on their daily activities than people who received a placebo treatment.

DAAN has a number of hayfever remedies here.

Seems there's some competition brewing among drink makers to offer the most ginseng-iest beverage:

There's Coca Cola is launching a new drink that contains ginseng:

"The Coca-Cola Co. is hoping to get a lift from a new energy drink, Full Throttle, that it plans to launch in January."

And Anheuser-Busch:

"Anheuser-Busch, the maker of Budweiser, The King of... a new hybrid drink for "contemporary" adults?

No, the slogan doesn't have the same ring to it as the King of Beers, but that probably won't stop the company from trying to take its new product to the top. The brew, known as B-to-the-E, or B(E), will pair caffeine, guarana, and ginseng with beer. The company plans to roll out the beverage in a "sleek" 10-ounce can with "stylish" (of course) graphics."

Research shows that acupuncture treatments can be effective in treating arthritis pain:

"Acupuncture can help boost the power of drugs in reducing the pain suffered by patients with arthritis in their knees, researchers report.

Patients who got three-months worth of regular acupuncture treatments along with their normal arthritis care reported less pain and better ability to move than patients who got a sham acupuncture treatment, the researchers said."

Researchers at the University of Washington are studying the use of compounds derived from ancient Chinese medicine as a treatment for malaria:

"A group of promising cancer-fighting compounds derived from a substance used in ancient Chinese medicine will be developed for potential use in humans, the University of Washington announced today.

The UW TechTransfer Office has signed a licensing agreement with Chongqing Holley Holdings, a Chinese company, and Holley Pharmaceuticals, its U.S. subsidiary.

The compounds, all developed through the research of UW scientists Henry Lai and Narendra Singh of the Department of Bioengineering and Tomikazu Sasaki of the Department of Chemistry, make use of a substance known as artemisinin, found in the wormwood plant and used throughout Asia since ancient times to treat malaria."

Interesting article about treating sports injuries with Chinese medicine techniques such as acupressure and acupuncture:

"...the Chinese developed ways to treat bruises, muscle strains, sprains, connective tissue damage, dislocations and broken bones. Although some of these techniques are not appropriate for use in Western societies in the modern day - because of the availability of X-ray, MRI, surgical correction of broken bones, etc. - there is still room for the utilization of these techniques in a complementary role.

The theory of Chinese medicine is based on the idea that the body is a unified whole; the organ systems interact with and support each other for the functioning of the entire organism. Each of the major organ systems is represented by an acupuncture meridian, or pathway. These pathways travel close to the surface of the person's skin and are accessible to treatment by acupuncture needles, massage and other techniques, as well as by topical application of herbal remedies. General organ function for a specific problem may be addressed by an herbal formula taken internally.

Chinese medicine is based on the idea of a 'wellness' model, as opposed to an 'illness' model. The practitioner and patient work together to maintain a state of optimal functioning, as opposed to treating a condition once it is in an acute condition. Other health practices such as tai chi, qi-gong (internal energy cultivation exercises) and taoist yoga exercises are also utilized to meet this goal."

The article mentions a number of herbal medications for injuries, many of which DAAN carries (Salon Pas, Tiger Balm, and Zheng Gui Shui). See all our products for relief of aches and pains.

Hong Kong Disneyland will open in about a year. Disney is taking into account Chinese sensibilities when designing the park:

"We know if we're too U.S.-centric, the products won't be too relevant to those markets," Mr. Iger said. "That's particularly true as it relates to Hong Kong Disneyland."

Esther Wong, a spokeswoman for Hong Kong Disneyland, said that the company had rotated the orientation of the entire park by several degrees in the early design phase after consulting a master of feng shui, a Chinese practice of seeking harmony with spiritual forces. "This is essentially an American product, but it's a question of how we tailor it to an audience in this part of the world," Ms. Wong said. "Disney is an American brand, and our guests, our potential guests, believe in this product.""

A British study shows Tai Chi can help people who suffer from heart failure:

""People with heart failure require less strenuous exercise and sustained but gentle exercise, which Tai Chi is, is ideal for them."

Gloria Yeh, of the Harvard Medical School, also said she thought the non-strenuous, low impact nature of Tai Chi was the key.

"We found that Tai Chi enhanced the quality of life and functional capacity in patients with chronic heart failure who were already undergoing standard cardiac care."

She said the Tai Chi, which has origins in Chinese marital and healing arts, had the potential to make vast improvements in the quality of life of people with heart failure. "

Article about the Algonquin to Adirondack Conservation Association (A2A) in Canada. This organization is trying to preserve old growth forests in part to protect wild ginseng in Canada, which requires particular environmental conditions:

"At one time, exports of wild ginseng from Ontario and Quebec rivalled the fur trade. But by the late 1800s, most of the wild colonies were gone and domestic plants were grown instead. Now, there are only 65 sites of wild ginseng that have been identified in Ontario, but only 15 of those sites have the minimum number of 172 plants needed to ensure a colony's survival. The average population of a colony is 10 to 20 plants.

Wild ginseng has demanding requirements: a closed canopy in an old forest, preferably on a slope under sugar maples; moist soils throughout the growing season; good drainage close to streams or wetlands; and undisturbed leaf litter.
Then it takes seven to 15 years for a plant to reach maturity. If it survives, it can live for 50 to 60 years. But cut the trees, and let the sun dry the soil, or disturb leaf litter, and it dies or never germinates from seed."

Interesting article discussing some of the many aphrodisiac used by cultures around the world:

"aphrodisiac of one kind or another have been sought after since Adam met Eve, so it's wrong to think that heavily marketed drugs of our day are the last word in sexual picker-uppers.

In virtually every traditional society, in every corner of the world, certain plants been esteemed for putting a little sizzle in the age-old tango of love. The search for an effective love potion is a universal quest with ancient roots. "

Drinking tea has always been relaxing and soothing. Now, scientists are finding evidence of its health benefits as well:

"Although tea drinking has been associated with health benefits for centuries, only in recent years have its medicinal properties been investigated scientifically. The October issue of Harvard Women's Health Watch recognizes the healthy power of tea while helping readers get the most out of their cups.

Tea's health benefits are largely due to its high content of flavonoids—plant-derived compounds that are antioxidants. Green tea is the best food source of a group called catechins. In test tubes, catechins are more powerful than vitamins C and E in halting oxidative damage to cells and appear to have other disease-fighting properties. Studies have found an association between consuming green tea and a reduced risk for several cancers, including, skin, breast, lung, colon, esophageal, and bladder."

DAAN offers a large selection of fine teas. Enjoy!