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Entries Tagged as 'Immune system'

Excess fire energy

Fascinating article about the effects of “excess fire energy” on the body:

“An article released by a group of top scientists from around the world presents “convincing” evidence that excess body fat along with alcohol and red and processed meat consumption lead to an increased risk for many types of cancer, including those affecting the breast, bowel and pancreas.

The article also stated that a “diet’s relationship to cancer risk is complex and not well understood.” While that may be true from the western mechanistic view, the Chinese view, which is simpler but at the same time far more exact and clear, makes it plain that it’s an excess of “fire” energy in the body which leads to cancer, premature aging, fatigue, weakness, lack of concentration and many other symptoms and Illnesses as well.

While such terminology and language is very foreign to the average westerner, once these concepts are understood, many people are easily able to diagnose themselves with these simple yet powerful tools of understanding and can help themselves to rebalance their own internal energies. When this happens, symptoms simply disappear. This is often confusing and “not acceptable” to the western allopathic mindset which doesn’t accept anything as “valid” until it can be explained in very minute detail right down to the ‘how and why’ of every process in the healing stage. This is a mentality that stops learning and growth since, as the Chinese proverb states, “some things cannot be explained, only sensed”.

Red meat is known to keep you warmer than white meats, again that would be an increase in “fire” energy. Same for alcohol which is one reason that people in colder climates often drink more: such as people residing Russia, certain homeless people, and other groups. Excess body weight also causes the body to hold in more heat than people who are thinner. This is not only because of the fact that the excess body fat is holding in existing heat, but also because the person is physically working harder to simply have that weight on their bodies. Even if a person with excess body fat is at rest, the heart and other organs are working much harder than a person of normal body fat, so more heat is being generated. This, again, follows the same “Fire/Water” or “Kan/Li” principle of Chinese medicine.

I’ve taught acolytes and friends alike to use this basic understanding to help rid themselves of many ailments. Let’s take a simple headache for example. A headache is caused by “Fire chi (energy) ascending”, up to the head in particular. I teach this to all my acolytes when instructing them on health and basic Chi theory. Dizziness, nausea and vomiting are also all caused by the same “Fire chi ascending”. I taught one of my students who had a headache a simple visualization technique to use his mind to bring the “Fire” energy down to the abdomen area where Chi begins and resides in the human body. Within thirty seconds, his headache was gone and he was amazed that he could use his own mind to rid himself of a headache.

For years this person had simply put up with the headache or occasionally took an aspirin when the pain was too much. This is a simple example of how powerful the Chinese chi theories and yin/yang principles are. This is not some esoteric, metaphysical theory as many think, but a solid scientific principle dealing with the balance of universal energies that are at work in the human body, the earth and the universe itself.

This is why in Chinese medicine the Kidneys are considered a “water” organ, as they regulate water metabolism throughout the body. Most Chi-gung research has focused on dozens of ways to strengthen the kidney energies as it has subjective control over the heart (fire) and helps balance the liver and spleen as well. Any Chronic disease of sufficient acuity is going to involve the kidneys to some degree. In Chinese medicine, practitioners will almost always give herbs or prescribe exercise both physical and mental to strengthen these organs and help effect healing.

One reason why drinking sufficient amounts of water is so important is that the easier we make things on our kidneys, the easier they’ll make things on us. Avoiding polluted, toxic foods and foods that make our digestion work much harder: anything packaged and processed, red meat and “unclean” meats such as pork, most shellfish and such (bottom feeders) are keys to keeping the fire energies in the body down and in balance and preventing our cells from either mutating or not dying as they should. This helps us to avoid many types of cancer and scores of other illness and “dis-eases”.

This is why more fruits and veggies, drinking more water, eating less red meats, getting extra sleep and keeping the mind calm and relaxed are all things that cancer patients must do to avoid relapse. It’s not coincidence many of these same basic guidelines also apply to heart patients as well, since heart troubles are often caused by the same excess of “fire” energy in the body. Autopsies of people who have died from heart disease often demonstrate that the heart appears as if it was “burned up from the inside/out”. This is very telling and gives strong validation to the Fire/Water understanding of Chinese Medicine.”

Fresh Fruits And Vegetables Retain Antioxidants Long After Purchase

Fresh fruits and vegetables retain antioxidant properties long after purchase
“The next time you think about throwing out those aging strawberries or very ripe grapes, consider this: Belgian scientists report that fruits and vegetables do not lose any antioxidant content in the days after purchase, even as tell-tale signs of spoilage appear. In some cases, antioxidant levels actually rise.”

Tai Chi may help alleviate shingles

An interesting study that suggests Tai Chi may be useful in strengthening the immune system and preventing shingles:

“Tai chi is already known as a good low-impact exercise for older people. Now a recent study suggests it offers benefits beyond improving fitness and balance: It may help prevent shingles, a painful skin condition.

Researchers found older people who performed the slow, graceful movements of tai chi had a better immune response against the virus that causes shingles than those who only got health education, according to the most rigorous test to date.

It’s unclear how tai chi, an ancient Chinese martial art that has become increasingly popular in the West, affects the immune system. But health experts were encouraged by the positive results.

“The message is that older people need to maintain healthy behavior,” said Andrew Monjan of the National Institute on Aging, which helped fund the research. “It’s nothing that our mothers haven’t told us, but we’re seeing it certainly holds up to scientific inquiry.”

The study appeared in the April issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society and was led by Dr. Michael Irwin of UCLA.

Shingles is a painful skin rash that can pop up in people who have had chickenpox. The chickenpox virus can remain dormant in the body and resurface as shingles years later. It usually starts with pain and itching on the skin that later turns into an irritating rash.

An estimated 1 million Americans are afflicted with shingles every year and it commonly occurs in people 50 years old and older.

The UCLA study involved 112 healthy adults, ages 59 to 86, who have had previous cases of chickenpox.

Half of them took tai chi classes three times a week for three months and the rest attended health education classes where they were taught good diet habits and stress management. Then both groups were vaccinated with a chickenpox vaccine. Researchers took periodic blood tests before and after vaccination to determine their level of immunity against shingles.

After six months, the tai chi group had nearly twice the level of immunity against shingles than the education group.”

Chinese herbs for asthma

Some good information on herbs for asthma treatment:

“There are many natural herbs and herbal supplements that can be used for asthma treatment. Natural Asthma treatment incorporates vitamins, minerals and herbs to relieve symptoms and prevent further attacks.

Asthma is a respiratory disease that affects both adults and children and asthma is today one of the most common chronic childhood ailments. There is no scientifically proven cure for asthma but it can be controlled and regulated.

Natural treatments for asthma are meant to complement, or as an addition, to your existing medication but never as a replacement. Before using an herbal asthma remedy keep in mind that medicinal herbs can be as powerful as pharmaceutical drugs and should be treated as such so it is important to seek the support of your health care provider as some natural herbs for asthma treatment may conflict with pharmaceuticals commonly prescribed for asthma.

Natural Herbs Used For Asthma Treatment

* Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)

The Licorice root has been used traditionally to restore breathing and calm the breathing passageways.

* Adhatoda (Adhatoda vasica)

This herb is a small evergreen shrub that is found at lower altitudes in India and South East Asia. The leaf has been used for centuries to treat asthma where it works as a bronchodilator and mild expectorant. Adhatoda also works by increasing the viscosity of mucous to assist with expectoration. Key constituents of Adhatoda leaf are the quinazoline alkaloids (0.5–2%). The major alkaloid is vasicine present at levels of 45–95% and is the original source of the drug bromhexine, which is often still used to assist expectoration.

* Ginkgo Biloba (Ginkgo biloba)

One of the oldest herbs in use today, ginkgo has a broad range of indications. For asthma sufferers, ginkgo works to inhibit PAF (platelet activating factor), a powerful inducer of platelet aggregator and anaphylactic reactions. Natural Herbs that stimulate anti-PAF activity are known to assist in the treatment of asthma, allergic reactions, thrombosis and shock. One study showed that a 600mg standardised dose of ginkgo reduced airway hypersensitivity in patients with asthma.

* Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)

It has been used medicinally as a cough suppressant. The plant has been used in historical times to treat lung ailments such as asthma as well as various coughs by way of smoking.

* Tumeric (Curcuma longa)

Tumeric is a member of the ginger family and has been used as a colouring agent, spice and medicine for thousands of years. The active constituents are the diarylhepanoids, including curcumin, which are found in the vividly yellow rhizome. In an uncontrolled trial in India, 60% of asthma patients given 6-12grams of tumeric powder that had been fried in ghee showed a relief in their symptoms. Curcumin is a powerful anti-inflammatory in both acute and chronic conditions, and it is believed to work in a variety of biological pathways to reduce inflammation. In some models studied, curcumin showed a similar efficacy to cortisone and phenylbutazone.

* Chinese Skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis )

The root of this plant has been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for a variety of conditions including asthma. Chinese skullcap contains flavone derivatives including baicalin, wogonin and baicalein which inhibit histamine release from mast cells in vitro. Baicalin showed antiasthmatic activity (antihistaminic and anticholinergic activity) in isolated tracheal muscle from asthmatic guinea pigs. Reducing hypesensitivity and inflammation in airways is vital to managing asthma.

* Grindelia (Grindelia spp.)

This is an expectorant herb with bronchospasmolytic activity. It is traditionally recommended for the treatment of spasmodic respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis. The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia 1983 lists the specific indication as bronchial asthma with tachycardia. Californian Native Americans used grindelia not only for skin infections but also for bronchial conditions where grindelia eventually gained the attention of the Catholic missionaries. The dried leaf and flowering tops of grindelia were official in the United States Pharmacopoeia 1882– 1926, and have been in the National Formulary, 1926–1960.

Some other natural herbs that have traditionally been used for asthma treatment.

Garlic, Red Clover, Coleus, Echinacea, Mullein, Skullcap, Pinellia, St. John’s Wort, Comfrey and Saw Palmetto.”

Chinese herbs may ease chemotherapy

Chinese herbal medicine could protect the immune systems of breast cancer patients from the side effects of chemotherapy, by reducing the immuno-suppressive side effects of powerful anti-cancer drugs, researchers claimed yesterday. Chinese scientists working for the Cochrane Collaboration, a United Kingdom-registered charity that specialises in reviewing scientific data, analysed data from seven studies involving 542 women with breast cancer treated with a number of Chinese medicinal herbal mixtures and compounds. Six were tested in controlled trials comparing treatment with and without Chinese herbal medicine (CHM). Three showed improvements in white blood cells in women given the herbal extracts. Two appeared have had a general positive effect on quality of life. The researchers noted that further trials were needed to confirm with any confidence the benefits of CHM in alleviating the effects of chemotherapy in breast cancer patients.”

Tai Chi is good for your immune system

Tai Chi is shown to improve your immune system and overall health and well-being:

“In 12th century China, a Taoist monk known as Chang San-Feng is said to have studied the physical movements of five animals and concluded that two — the snake and the crane — were best suited to overpower opponents who were fierce and tenacious. From that ancient observation, the slow, graceful movements of tai chi were born.

Today, with the art and exercise of tai chi growing in popularity across the United States, scientists have found that older adults who practice this martial art strengthen themselves against an opponent as stubborn as any — the tiny chickenpox virus, which can cause a painful and often persistent nerve inflammation called shingles.

The new study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society, is the first — and most rigorous — of a welter of rigorous new studies designed to probe the health effects of tai chi. Also in the works are five federally funded studies examining whether regular practice can help patients contending with heart disease, osteoarthritis and cancer fight off threats such as depression, infection and the pain of joint inflammation. Other studies are probing whether tai chi can improve balance and reduce falls among the elderly, and improve the well-being of patients with HIV.

“Tai chi is clearly an exercise program, but it has something more,” says Andrew Monjan, chief of the National Institute on Aging’s neurobiology of aging branch. “It seems to be somewhat more effective than simple exercise, and more effective than simple stress reduction.” And older adults enjoy it, he says, making it a therapy patients will stick to.

For healthy older adults, the study demonstrated a striking immunity-boosting effect. After 16 weeks of tai chi classes — even before they received chickenpox vaccine — subjects practicing tai chi showed immunity levels to chickenpox (and hence to shingles) that were comparable to those of 30- and 40-year-olds who got the vaccine. After the tai chi practitioners got the dose, their immune response surged by 40%.

Compared with a similar group of non-tai chi practicing older adults who received a shot of vaccine and a 16-week health-education program, those who practiced tai chi during the same period built stronger immunity to chickenpox and to shingles. They also showed significant improvements in measures of physical functioning, vitality and mental health.”

Tai chi improves the immunity system

Tai chi, an ancient Chinese martial art, can improve the immune system of older adults:

“Tai chi chih, the Westernized version of the 2,000-year-old Chinese martial art known for its slow movement and meditation, significantly boosts the immune system of older adults, according to a new UCLA study.

Tai chi specifically boosts the immune system against the virus known as shingles, which is a painful, blistery rash.

The 25-week study involved a group of 112 adults ranging in age from 59-86. The study showed that practicing tai chi chih by itself boosted the immune system to levels comparable to having received the standard varicella zoster virus which causes shingles.

When tai chi chih was combined with the vaccine, immunity reached a level normally seen for someone in middle age. The UCLA report currently appears online in the April issue of the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

According to lead author Michael Irwin, the Norman Cousins Professor of Psychiatry at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA, the results confirm a positive, virus-specific immune response to a behavioral intervention. It demonstrates that tai chi chih can produce a clinical boost in the immunity from shingles and increase the benefit of the shingles vaccine in older adults.

“These are exciting findings, because the positive results of this study also have implications for other infectious diseases, like influenza and pneumonia,” said Irwin, who is also director of the UCLA Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology. “Since older adults often show blunted protective responses to vaccines, this study suggests that tai chi is an approach that might complement and augment the efficacy of other vaccines, such as influenza.”

The study worked by dividing individuals into two groups. Half took tai chi chih classes three time a week for 16 weeks. The other half attended health education classes which included advice on stress management, diet, and sleep habits. They did not practice tai chi chih.

After 16 weeks both groups received a dose of the shingles vaccine Varivax. At the end of the 25-week period, the tai chi chih group achieved a level of immunity two times higher than the other group.

The research follows the success of an earlier study that showed a positive immune system boost from tai chi chih without being combined with the vaccine.”

Ginseng and the flu

Some advice on strengthening your system for the flu season:

“Q: I get sick every holiday season. This year, I don’t want to catch a cold and ruin my vacation. How can I prevent a cold from coming on? I already take echinacea and zinc.

A: We all know the basics for staying healthy during the cold and flu season:

• Maintain good hygiene.

• Wash hands frequently.

• Avoid contact with people who are ill.

• Manage your stress levels and optimize your sleep.

• Get a flu shot, especially if you are over 50 or if you have a medical condition that might affect your immune system, including heart/lung disease or diabetes.

Some alternative therapies that may offer benefits:

• Panax ginseng may improve the response you get from the flu vaccine; should you get the flu, the herb elderberry may reduce your symptoms.

• Echinacea has been shown to reduce the duration of cold symptoms; another herb, andrographis, as well as vitamin C and zinc lozenges or nasal spray, may do the same.”