Facial acupuncture
The growing popularity of facial acupuncture as a natural way to promote a youthful appearance:
"Interest in facial acupuncture might be connected to the rising popularity of alternative medicine, or to society's obsession with youth and beauty, or to the mass of aging baby boomers. Whatever the reason, acupuncturists report a wave of interest in the ancient Chinese practice.
"Interest in facial acupuncture might be connected to the rising popularity of alternative medicine, or to society's obsession with youth and beauty, or to the mass of aging baby boomers. Whatever the reason, acupuncturists report a wave of interest in the ancient Chinese practice.
"It's very hot," said Mary Elizabeth Wakefield, a New York City practitioner whose facial work now consumes about three-quarters of her practice."
Acupuncture and sports and work-related injuries
A discussion of acupuncture and its use to treat sports injuries (such as tennis elbow) and work-related injuries (such as neck pain and stress):
"Acupuncture can be used in two ways to treat injuries, either by treating the injured area only, or by following the principles of traditional Chinese medicine where the patient’s complete picture of health is taken into account.
"Acupuncture can be used in two ways to treat injuries, either by treating the injured area only, or by following the principles of traditional Chinese medicine where the patient’s complete picture of health is taken into account.
Acupuncture works at different levels to treat musculoskeletal injuries. It works on the whole body, as following an acupuncture treatment a variety of substances are released including endorphins, serotonin, and neuropeptides/neurotransmitters to aid pain relief and relaxation.
Acupuncture also has local effects. There is evidence that acupuncture can aid healing and resolution of injuries, including reducing pain, increasing local microcirculation and attracting white blood cells to the area, both of which speed the healing rate, and aid dispersal of swelling and bruising. Acupuncture releases chemicals which increase the healing rate of soft tissues, and speed nerve regeneration."
Yunnan
Interesting article about a trip to the Yunnan province in China:
"Fragrant smoke billows from the altar, a wizened monk beckons me into a tiny rock-hewn temple and thrusts a container of bamboo into my hand. I kneel before a row of gaudily-painted deities - Buddhist, Daoist and Confuscian - while the monk strikes a pottery gong and clangs a bell. Encouraged by nods from our guide, I shake the cone until one bamboo tumbles to the floor. Suddenly the cacophony of gong and bell stops. The monk eyes the hieroglyphs on my bamboo, peers at my palms, and foretells my future in rambling chants, which our guide translates into short soundbites: "Happy life. Good health. Next three days, very auspicious."
Guy and I are in the province of Yunnan - the "land beyond the clouds". In this wild, rugged corner of south-west China, Mao's edicts did little to dent the traditions of religion, language or dress of the region's minority groups, many of which straddle the borders with Tibet, Burma, Laos and Vietnam."
"Fragrant smoke billows from the altar, a wizened monk beckons me into a tiny rock-hewn temple and thrusts a container of bamboo into my hand. I kneel before a row of gaudily-painted deities - Buddhist, Daoist and Confuscian - while the monk strikes a pottery gong and clangs a bell. Encouraged by nods from our guide, I shake the cone until one bamboo tumbles to the floor. Suddenly the cacophony of gong and bell stops. The monk eyes the hieroglyphs on my bamboo, peers at my palms, and foretells my future in rambling chants, which our guide translates into short soundbites: "Happy life. Good health. Next three days, very auspicious."
Guy and I are in the province of Yunnan - the "land beyond the clouds". In this wild, rugged corner of south-west China, Mao's edicts did little to dent the traditions of religion, language or dress of the region's minority groups, many of which straddle the borders with Tibet, Burma, Laos and Vietnam."
Ancient wine
Exciting discovery of ancient wine in China:
"The Chinese were consuming fermented beverages — possibly wine — as long as 9,000 years ago, according to scientists who used modern techniques to peer back through the mists of time. Early evidence of beer and wine had been traced to the ancient Middle East. But the new discovery indicates that the Chinese may have been making their drinks even earlier."
"The Chinese were consuming fermented beverages — possibly wine — as long as 9,000 years ago, according to scientists who used modern techniques to peer back through the mists of time. Early evidence of beer and wine had been traced to the ancient Middle East. But the new discovery indicates that the Chinese may have been making their drinks even earlier."
Dealing with the cold weather
Some good ideas to keep yourself healthy during the cold winter months:
""According to traditional Chinese medical theory, each seasonal change challenges a different meridian. The change to fall, followed by winter, is considered the hardest time on the lung and kidney meridians. As the temperature drops outside, lung energy can be compromised by the dryness of our indoor heating. This affects the yin, or moisture, of the lungs as well as the defensive energy (immunity). We are also more exposed to airborne pathogens as windows and doors are closed. The cold can adversely affect the kidney meridian, too, which stores our vital force . Qigong can be helpful. Ginseng is also good. Tai chi (a form of qigong), while conferring these benefits, also tends to warm you up.""
""According to traditional Chinese medical theory, each seasonal change challenges a different meridian. The change to fall, followed by winter, is considered the hardest time on the lung and kidney meridians. As the temperature drops outside, lung energy can be compromised by the dryness of our indoor heating. This affects the yin, or moisture, of the lungs as well as the defensive energy (immunity). We are also more exposed to airborne pathogens as windows and doors are closed. The cold can adversely affect the kidney meridian, too, which stores our vital force . Qigong can be helpful. Ginseng is also good. Tai chi (a form of qigong), while conferring these benefits, also tends to warm you up.""
Record price for ginseng
A 1,000 year old ginseng root is on sale (for 2.22 million yuan (US$268,440) in a Shanghai shopping center:
"Found on Changbai Mountain, Jilin Province by a farmer, its root measured 1.6 metres. Tests show the plant had been growing for 1,000 years underground, reports the Shanghai's Morning Post."
"Found on Changbai Mountain, Jilin Province by a farmer, its root measured 1.6 metres. Tests show the plant had been growing for 1,000 years underground, reports the Shanghai's Morning Post."
