Sep 30

Tai Chi: Traditional Chinese exercise for today’s common ailments

Culture, General, Health and fitness No Comments »


Tai Chi

Tai Chi

For centuries, traditional Chinese medicine has been used as a treatment for common ailments. In recent years, people in the West have embraced many Chinese medicines and techniques in an effort to live a healthier lifestyle. One such technique is the art of Tai Chi.

Tai Chi is a low impact exercise that involves implementing a number of movements and breathing techniques to bring life and vitality into one’s physical, mental, and emotional state. The foundation of traditional Chinese medicine and treatment is based on the concept of ‘Chi’ or ‘Qi’ (energy.) Qi flows through all living things. A disturbance in Qi caused by an imbalance of ‘ying,’ negative energy, and ‘yang,’ positive energy, is the source of health ailments. Researchers are now seeing the positive impact on a person’s health and well being.

The benefits of tai chi include: increased flexibility, reduced stiffness and soreness, alleviating conditions such as osteoarthritis and chronic arthritic conditions, reduced high blood pressure, helping to speed up healing from an injury, reducing stress, improving physical strength, improving balance for people with knee and hip problems, and more. It is also great treatment for back and joint pain.

Health insurance providers are recognizing the health benefits of many types of traditional Chinese treatments and many are now offering insurance coverage.

As alternative medicine becomes more popular and accepted, you can find cheap health insurance policies that include alternative medicines. Acupuncture is another treatment that often is covered by an insurance provider. For many centuries, acupuncture has been used by the Chinese to treat a wide range of diseases and for eliminating pain, such as lower back pain. There are specific acupuncture points that are used to treat precise areas of the pain. Many patients have seen a significant decrease in pain allowing them to return to their normal daily activities.

As we discover old ancient methods of treating common ailments, doctors and health insurance providers are now recognizing their benefits. More insurance providers are now seeing the benefits of including these treatments in their health insurance plans.

Aug 13

Qigong may help cancer patients

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Qigong, an internal Chinese martial art that emphasis breathing exercises and formal movements, can provide benefits for cancer patients:

THE meditative practice of qigong can help cancer patients live longer and give them a better quality of life, Chinese and American researchers said after releasing the results of a joint study in Shanghai yesterday.

With funding from the United States-based National Cancer Institute, experts from University of Illinois and Shanghai University of Sport studied 80 members of Shanghai Cancer Rehabilitation Club.

The researchers found those who regularly practice qigong are in better physical and mental health and have a lower rate of cancer reoccurrence than those who don’t. They did not provide numbers.

The 80 people, who have all survived cancer for more than 10 years, were divided into two groups of 40. One group was composed of qigong practitioners while the other group’s members did not do qigong. The two groups were of similar ages and had survived cancer for similar lengths of time.

Qigong uses slow movements and controlled breathing to promote the circulation of qi, or energy, inside the body to improve a practitioner’s overall health.

Jul 25

History of tea

Culture, East and West, Tea No Comments »

An interesting article about the history of tea in Western culture:

In 18th century England, tea, coffee and chocolate were expensive, exotic imports, and were first popular with wealthy aristocrats. Wealthy American colonists copied their English counterparts in the consumption of tea, which eventually became popular with the middle classes as well. According to the mercantile and shipping records from the period, the American colonists purchased and drank “common” green tea, Bohea, Hyson, Gunpowder, Souchong, Bloom, Congou, Pekoe, and Singlo; some of these blends are still available today. This tea was exclusively loose tea; tea bags were not invented until the late 19th century, and those pretty “tea bricks” (that some museums sell) were only available in Tibet and Central Asia.

Specialized tables, cups, bowls, pots, spoons, plates, and caddies were all part of the scene, and wealthy people could, and did, spend fortunes on the best things, which caused the King of England to think that the colonists were almost rolling in money. In 1767 the King levied taxes on all imports to the North American colonies to replenish his Treasury and to fund the East India Company. Tea provided the largest amount of tax revenue, and went from being a socially popular beverage to a politically incorrect one. The purchase of tea slowed, but never really stopped! A “black market” in tea appeared; most patriots refused to buy tea unless it had been smuggled. Along with coffee and chocolate, herbal tisanes like ginseng and chicory became popular tea substitutes. Some wealthy ladies resorted to deception in order to have their tea and keep their reputation as Patriots! A contemporary writer described them:

“The Ladies too were so zealous for the Good of their Country, that they agreed to drink no Tea, except the Stock of it which they had by them; or in Case of Sickness. Indeed, they were cautious enough to lay in large Stocks before they promised; & they could be sick just as suited their Convenience or Inclination. Chocolate & Coffee were to be substituted for Tea; & it was really diverting, to see a Circle of Ladies about a Tea Table, & a Chocolate or Coffee Pot in the midst of it filled with Tea … one of them, who was very warm in her Love to her Country & to Tea, declared that she would not drink any, after her present Stock was expended; being asked, ‘what Stock of it she possessed’? Replied, ‘She had but one Chest in all’; & doubtless, if she had outlived her Stock, she would have been admitted to into her Sexe’s Hospital of Invalids.”

Jul 21

Tea in San Francisco Chinatown

Culture, Tea No Comments »

DAAN’s retail operation is located in San Francisco Chinatown. So is “Uncle Gee,” the owner of the Vital Tea Leaf tea house:

One of the best things about Chinatown is a teahouse called Vital Tea Leaf, which has about 300 teas, including white, green, yellow, red and black, and a “try before you buy” model. It also has a resident character who introduces himself to all as Uncle Gee, who is 77, was “born in the ghetto” of Chinatown, and loves telling people what to drink based on their age, gender and state of health.

Hungover or tired? Stanley “Uncle” Gee, a proprietor of Vital Tea, recommends Blue People oolong tea with ginseng.

Have diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol? Try a green tea called Angel Green.

Have insomnia? Try the rosebuds from Iran and Siberia.

For weight loss or heart problems? Try Puerh, a black tea.

From behind the counter, Uncle Gee orders customers to try certain teas, and curses anyone who would think of adding milk and sugar to his sacred stuff.

His advice flows like water: “Don’t pour boiling water over tea!” he exclaims. “You’ll shock it and hear the leaves scream.” (Let boiling water sit for a few minutes first. The perfect water temperature is between 175 and 180 degrees.) “Do not drink coffee. Ever. It dehydrates you and makes you old.”

When customers depart, he tells them: “When you came here, you were a stranger. When you leave, you are a part of my family.”

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/16/DDSF18KD2M.DTL#ixzz0LwuaJmM1

If you can’t make it to Chinatown, DAAN carries many different kinds of tea.

Jul 19

Feng shui for health

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How to use feng shui, the art of aligning oneself and one’s surroundings to promote good Qi flow, for everyday health:

Our homes are influenced by this fire energy in summer. In order to have a harmonious energy field in our homes, we need to adjust the balance among the Five Phases. Let’s use the bedroom as an example to see what we can do for adjusting the Qi field.

According to the theory of Five Phases, each phase has its respective shape, sound, quality and color. Feng Shui consultants like to use colors to adjust the energy field in our homes. Generally speaking, in order to balance the fire energy in summer, we can enhance the earth energy. Consequently, we can decorate bedrooms with yellow or brown blinds, bed sheets and lamp shades. Or choose some neutral colors such as white or golden. Herbaceous plants are better than woody ones since wood stimulates fire energy and upsets balance.

Fire energy controls summer, and it influences everything in the universe. Thus, this Qi energy influences health as well. The following are some suggestions from Health Science of Feng Shui:

§ Since fire energy is associated with the heart, we should pay particular attention to heart health in summer, particularly for people who have health problems with this organ.
§ In Feng Shui a bitter taste is associated with the heart, so people eat food that has bitter taste to protect the heart. For example, Chinese like to eat bitter gourd in summer. If you like Chinese food, you may know the dish of beef with bitter gourd in Chinese restaurants.
§ According to the Chinese Health Science, we should go to bed late and get up early in summer, and take some exercises such as yoga and Tai Ji because these exercises are not only good for our bodies but also help promote our emotional health to prevent angry, which may be injurious to healthy hearts.

According to the theory of the Five Phases, everyone has his/her personal “five energies”. If you know your own “Ming Gua” (one major energy in the five energies), then you can adjust your personal Feng Shui more efficiently. We will talk about personal Feng Shui in another article.

Jul 16

Chinese herbs in schools

Culture, Herbs No Comments »

Schools in Beijing will be planting Chinese herbs in order to help students understand and appreciate traditional Chinese medicine and herbs:

Chinese medicinal herbs are expected to be grown in primary and secondary schools in Beijing.

A pilot program introducing Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) into schools will be launched in primary schools in Dongcheng District, said Tu Zhitao, chief of the technology section at Beijing Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine at a recent forum entitled “sharing knowledge and explaining the culture of TCM.” The program is aimed at helping young people, understand the species, appearances and effects of TCM to get a better grasp of the culture by growing the plants themselves.

First batch of seeds to be distributed before summer vacation

On the afternoon of July 6, each of the 48 primary schools in Dongcheng District sent one teacher to Dongsijiutiao Primary school to receive training about the planting of Chinese medicinal herbs. They were also given the first batch of seeds by Professor Zhang Bengang from the Institute of Medicinal Plant Development under the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Before the summer vacation, these seeds will be distributed to the students whose classes are participating in the program. The children will be taught how to grow radix isatidis and henbane that can relieve fever and pain.

Six chosen from a range of thousands of medicinal herbs

Because it is not the best season to plant Chinese medicinal herbs and it is the first time for many teachers and students to grow plants, Zhang chose six specific herbs from thousands of species that survive well and have notable germination and growth. They are the widely familiar radix isatidis and plantains, as well as the lesser known semen vaccariae, henbane, silybum marianum and rumex patientia.

Reporters learned that Beijing’s program to introduce TCM culture into schools will be constantly revised based on the practice. Next semester, relevant authorities will also discuss the feasibility and specific processes of introducing TCM books and courses into schools.

Jul 14

Aging from a traditional Chinese medicine perspective

Culture, General, Traditional Chinese Medicine No Comments »

Traditional Chinese medicine has a different attitude toward aging, along with different strategies for coping with it:

To age healthfully, people need to protect their kidney qi and essence as early as possible. Things that will help include having a healthy lifestyle, such as regular and enough sleep, eating a balanced diet, regular physical activity, having a healthy sex life, and coping with life with less fear.

Foods that are thought to replenish kidney energy, such as grains, dark green leafy vegetables (cooked), black soybeans, black sesame seeds, black mushrooms, walnuts, chestnuts, fish, shrimp, seaweed, lamb, and duck. Herbs thought to support kidney energy are ginseng, Rehmannia root, and lychee nut.

One can learn to stimulate acupuncture points with self-acupressure. Many relaxation techniques and energy exercises can positively affect meridian balance. We particularly recommend mindfulness-based meditation, Tai Chi, and qigong. Chinese medicine-based cultivation systems like Falun Dafa go beyond anti-aging and aim for spiritual enlightenment and eternal life.

Aging is a natural process of life, and healthy aging is achievable, particularly through integrating that best of Eastern and Western medicine. Therefore, it is advisable that you have a consultation with a well-trained doctor of traditional Chinese medicine to discuss an individual plan that uses ancient Chinese wisdom. However, you should do so in addition to the care you already get from your doctors of conventional medicine.

May 16

Tai chi, good for your health

Culture, General No Comments »

Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese martial art, can be very good for your health, especially if you are older:

Tai chi is a mind-body exercise that was first used by Chinese monks to improve concentration and physical well-being. This low-impact aerobic exercise combines breathing exercises with slow and gentle movements. The graceful and precise body movements can enhance strength and coordination while helping you achieve better body awareness – and maybe even inner peace.

Tai chi won’t make you huff and puff. It is ideal for many people who are elderly or have disabilities. You can often do tai chi even when you use a wheelchair or walker. Many of the movements can be adapted and be done from a sitting position.

Benefits of tai chi

Tai chi may help to:

* Enhance your stamina
* Make you stronger
* Help you breathe easier
* Achieve better balance
* Improve your posture
* Lessen joint stiffness
* Increase flexibility
* Raise your energy level
* Relieve stress

Research shows that the most effective plan to prevent falls among older adults is activity that improves strength, movement and flexibility. Tai chi may help to achieve these goals. In one study, older people taking part in a 15-week tai chi program reduced their risk of falling by almost half. After the course, many were no longer afraid of falling.

Apr 14

A tutorial in Asian healing arts

Culture No Comments »

This is an interesting article in Chinese healing arts in Taiwan and Hong Kong.

In Hong Kong and Taiwan, foreigners can learn how Asian medicine uses herbs and other ingredients to fight illness.

Reporting from Hong Kong and Taipei, Taiwan, — The world is divided into two categories: those who get the flu, and those who don’t. Not only did I fall into the former, but it happened a week before my scheduled departure for Taiwan and Hong Kong. “Nobody goes to Hong Kong with the flu,” said my husband, Paul.

Achy and exhausted, I had feverish nightmares about the “C” word (cancel); I had never backed out of a trip in my life. It was touch-and-go until the last minute . . . and then it became go.

Jan 31

What the year of the Ox will bring

Culture No Comments »

The beginning of a new year is a time for hope and optimism.

With the Year of the Ox upon us, what can we expect in the new Lunar Year, and will the animal largely associated with dependability and calmness bring a halt to the economic recession both in Taiwan and the whole world?

Local fortune tellers predict that the financial and political rumblings of the nation will continue to dominate in the year ahead. But don’t lose faith: they also say that in the second half of the year of the ox, the economy will slowly but gradually start to improve.

“Pluto is entering Capricorn and financial markets around the world, already in a steady decline for several months, will continue to go down,” forecasts famous Taiwanese horoscope reader Jesse Tang.

But after the stock market hits bottom, it will start to rise, and it will soar again by the end of next year. That is when investors should return to the market, says Tang.

Chan Wei-chung, an expert in Chinese Zi Wei Dou Shu and master of Feng Shui or geomancy, also notes that “Wu Qu” or the “Star of War” will be strong in the year of the Ox. This means that the financial market should have good prospects, especially in July and August of 2009.

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