Cause of Disease in Traditional Chinese Medicine

When you go and see your doctor it is mostly a very brief process. You tell your story, your symptoms - the doctor then considers all the evidence and creates a mental picture from the patterns that present - maybe a test or two - or more.....
Then the inevitable question: "What to take?"...
Traditional Chinese Medicine has a different approach and I want to tell you about that over the next few newsletters - little by little:

THE CAUSE OF DISEASE IN TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE
Chinese Medicine has a very particular view of the causation of illness:
Cause #1
There maybe a genetic, "prenatal" cause for disease. The prognosis of cure for such a prenatal cause for disease is cautionary because it is difficult to increase energy beyond the level that was present at the time of birth.
Where does the new energy come from? It is easier to move energy from one organ system to the other or to regulate energy - but create new energy where there is none or little is a harder task. Often Chinese Herbal Medicine is more appropriate or may be offered in conjunction with Acupuncture as the more nourishing
aspect when there is deficiency.

WELL-BEING ROOTED IN EMOTIONS
Cause # 2 :
The five emotions that injure the Qi; the life force:
ANGER and frustration make the Qi rise and injure the Liver,
OVER-EXCITABILITY and over joyousness (or excitability) injure the Heart,
WORRYING, Over Thinking and Ruminating injure the Spleen,
SADNESS and grief affect the Lungs
FEAR, panic and anxiety injure the life force and Shock scatters the precious Kidney energy.

All these main YIN organ systems, the LIVER, the HEART, the SPLEEN the LUNGS and the KIDNEY according to TCM (Traditional; Chinese Medicine) have complex, myriad and vital functions.

WE ARE THE WORLD AROUND US
Cause # 3: External pathogenic factor ; such as extreme Wind, Heat, Dampness, Dryness or Cold
and of course Food and Drink.
Chinese medicine always reminds us of the micro cosmos within the macro cosmos and the absolute inter-connectedness with the world around us; the times of day, month and year and the seasons...even the hour of day or night! See the Chinese Clock:
The times when THE ORGAN SYSTEMS ARE AT THEIR PEAK:

Gallbladder and Liver 11PM to 3AM
Lung Large Intestine 3AM to 7AM
Stomach and Spleen 7AM to 11AM
Heart and Small Intestine 11AM to 3PM
Urinary Bladder and Kidney 3PM to 7PM
Pericardium and Triple Heater 7PM to 11PM

Did you ever awaken in the night between 1AM and
3AM when things just don't feel good or right - maybe headache or nausea or that busy mind needing to figure things out? You got it: that is "Liver Time".
Often that's when we notice: we are toxic.


ENERGY VERSUS CHEMISTRY
Allopathic medicine defines health based on measurements of most chemical components of the body. Numbers, weight, and quantity are the values that define homeostasis, detailed, step by step uncovering of numeric veils translating as a state of Health.
In the Western world surgery has been applied for centuries to alleviate suffering; the dead body has been of fascination and not taboo for dissection as it has been throughout Chinese history. While incineration of the dead has been practiced throughout history in the East, the body of a person who died from disease was sacred to the knife. Dissection became unlawful within the Han Dynasty. (206 B.C.E. -220 C.E.)
In the West, with the invention of the microscope, the conceptual map of Western medicine was laid out. The human body represents a continuum of chemical substances forever regenerating and transforming themselves; the individual person can be more, often than not, appear irrelevant in the full assessment of a disease.
A litany of numeric values describe the state of health and as long as the patient is willing to accept surgery, and have bits and pieces taken from him/her, there will be a scientific, numeric, quantitative, and by that, qualitative diagnosis.
Chinese medicine is rooted in energy: QI, the life force, is at the base of any intervention through needles or herbal medicine.
The concept of health translates into the YIN and YANG being balanced, which means that adequate amounts of energy flow through respective meridians to and from the extremities and to and from the corresponding organs.
Health means no excess and no deficiency but harmony and balance of energy throughout the whole body/mind system.
Acupuncture is the one of the two main branches used in Chinese medicine. Chinese herbal medicine is the other. Two different aspects and practices and one philosophical foundation. Both branches can powerfully shift the direction of the energy that constitutes health. To assess, understand and take our directives as practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine we use our methods of investigation:

1) To Observe
2) To Listen & Smell
3) To Question
4) To Touch
Our major tools are:
Pulse Taking and Tongue Diagnosis

I shall be delighted to explain more in detail next time........


The World Health Organization has recognized and recommends acupuncture and moxibustion for the treatment of over 40 types of illness including:

* Internal illness: colds, asthma, bronchitis, hypertension, diabetes, hepatitis, digestive disorders, colitis

* Ear-eye-nose-throat disorders:deafness, tinnitus, poor eyesight, sinus infections, allergies

* Dermatological disorders: eczema, acne, herpes, psoriasis

* Neuro-muscular disorders: arthritis, neuralgias, bursitis, tendonitis, headaches, migraines, cerebral palsy, polio

* Reproductive issues:infertility, impotence, vaginitis, irregular menstruation, morning sickness

* Mental-emotional disorders: anxiety, depression, insomnia, stress




ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN LOVE YOURSELF BETTER !
"He who knows the world around him is smart
He who truly knows himself is wise"
Lao Tzu
app. 500 BC

MORE FEAR THAN HOPE - H1N1 -

MORE FEAR THAN HOPE - H1N1 -
WHAT ACTUALLY IS THIS VACCINE MADE FROM ? AND WHAT MIGHT IT DO TO YOU! AND BE EDUCATED AND INFORMED!

"When someone shares something of value with you and you benefit from it, you have a moral obligation to share it with others" Chinese Proverb

LIST OF INGREDIENTS IN THE H1N1 VACCINE:
aluminum hydroxide
aluminum phosphate
ammonium sulfate
amphotericin B
animal tissues: pig blood, horse blood, rabbit brain,
dog kidney, monkey kidney,
chick embryo, chicken egg, duck egg
calf (bovine) serum
betapropriolactone
fetal bovine serum
formaldehyde
formalin
gelatin
glycerol
human diploid cells (originating from human aborted fetal tissue)
hydrolized gelatin
monosodium glutamate (MSG)
neomycin
neomycin sulfate
phenol20red indicator
phenoxyethanol (antifreeze)
potassium diphosphate
potassium monophosphate
polymyxin B
polysorbate 20
polysorbate 80
porcine (pig) pancreatic hydrolysate of casein
residual MRC5 proteins
sorbitol
sucrose
thimerosal (mercury)
tri(n)butylphosphat e,
VERO cells, a continuous line of monkey kidney cells
washed sheep red blood cells

The Government has used millions of dollars to buy and produce a swine flu vaccine that some experts believe is potentially several times more dangerous than the swine flu itself. Please observe all the news about miscarriages that clearly appear to be have been induced by the vaccine.

Swine flu has killed between 2000 and 5000 people worldwide. The regular flu kills 40 000 people plus, every year, in North America alone. Is it appropriate to panic about the swine Flu?

Swine flu vaccines were created only a few months ago. They have not been thoroughly tested. Most medicines take about 6 years to develop and test. The way it goes is that a drug company finds a potentially useful drug, tries it in the lab for a few months, then tries it on a few animals for a few months, then tries it on lots of animals for a few months, then tries it on small groups of healthy humans for a year or 2, then tries it on small groups of sick humans for a year or 2, then finally tries it on large groups of healthy and unhealthy humans for a few years, and then, finally, it is released to the public. HOW CAN THAT HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED WITH A BRAND NEW STRAND OF FLU?

Swine flu vaccines were not tested in this way. They were
created in a lab, underwent very limited testing, and have now been mass produced, and purchased, by the government, without regular testing.

The drug companies that make swine flu vaccines are so unsure of human safety, that some have applied a special exemption from governments around the world, to sidestep the drug testing/drug responsibility protocols, so that in case it doesn't work, or makes people sick, people can't sue them. This certainly does not sound like a safe drug.

If you're a pregnant mother and about to take the vaccine being provided by government ask your doctor why you should take a vaccine that contains Neomycin and Polymyxin B Sulfate - both of which exhibit positive risk to unborn children - so as to avoid what? A mild flu, that kills 95% fewer people than the regular flu? Does that make sense? Is that an appropriate health decision, balancing out the needs of the mother and child?

If you read the label on the vaccine, it lets you know that a
possible side effect is Guillain-Barre syndrome. A very serious disease. There are approximately 9000 people in the US (so far, according to various reports) that have developed this condition as a result of vaccines. If you keep reading the label, it says that one of the ingredients is thimerosol - a preservative compound that is 50% mercury. When mercury reaches your brain, it attaches to your brain cells, and causes brain damage. According to Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt and his research, the synergy of Thimerosal and testosterone in baby boys can more easily result in boys developing Autism.
Brain damage? To avoid the flu? Another ingredient is squalene. When squalene enters your body, it tricks your immune system into attacking your own cells - which means you develop autoimmune diseases, like diabetes, multiple sclerosis, asthma, skin disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, and a bunch of diseases that we don't have a name for yet, because what we are doing is creating them, by using substances like squalene.

It appears that the vaccine seems a lot worse than
the disease, and not only that, the actual drug company that
made it is so unsure of their product that they want a legal
exemption in case it creates serious harm to human life.
Many people feel that they would rather take their chances with the swine flu, that kills 95% less people than the regular flu does, than risk getting brain damage, or an autoimmune disease like multiple sclerosis.
Ask the logical questions - why does the drug company want an exemption? Why were millions of doses ordered without doing a proper assessment? Is "fast tracking" a drug that might hurt millions of people a responsible decision? Why are we so upset about a flu that kills 95% less than regular flu? Does this make sense?
The more education the better!! Please read up!
www.mercola.com
I find this web site very educational (even though Dr. Mercola appears to be extremely fired up about this subject, judge for yourself!.....)

Here is a list of web sites and books which will be helpful in outlining the dangers of vaccinations:
1. http://www.republicbroadcasting.org
2. http://www.The Matrix and the US Constitution (Excellent Article)
3.http://www.davidicke.com (It's Not the Flu...It's the Vaccine Which is the Biggest Danger.)
4. http://www.naturalnews.com (Mike Adams)
5. http://www.educate-yourself.org The Great Poisoning of America Has Begun...Ken Adachi
6. http://www.shirleyswellnesscafe.com

AND THIS INTERESTING VIDEO:
7. http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/735.html

Book Titles
1. Murder By Injection...Eustace Mullins (worked for more than 40 years in The Library of Congress in the US)
2. The Poisoned Needle...Eleanor McBean (Available on the internet)
3. How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor...Dr. Robert Mendelsohn
4. Confessions of a Medical Heretic...Dr. Robert Mendelsohn
5. DPT: A Shot in the Dark...Coulter and Fisher
6. Immunization, The Reality Behind the Myth...Wallene Janes
7. The Medical Mafia...Ghislaine Lanctot, M.D.
People need to study and learn how to help themselves.
the web site offers a good amount of compelling articles and interviews - It is good to be educated!!

Very happy to be communicating with you
Any questions or comments - please contact me

OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM A REVISION

OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM - A REVISION
Wasn't it Louis Pasteur who said" it is not the microbes - bacteria - viruses - it is the Terrain!!"
I feel that this is where our truth lies - the 'Terrain' is our precious body.
What then defines the 'Terrain' ?


There we have a brand new Terrain. A new lovely little human being carrying his Genetic Predisposition - not a total predicament - just a predisposition.
So, if we start right; whatever the predisposition to Diabetes or Cancer may be, the course can be altered! That is my important message.
How? By offering the body what it truly needs to unfold and grow into its own optimal state.
Water - clean and pure
Whole food - all grown from rich good soil as close as possible to its source and original shape and form.
Movement - Use it or you loose it!
Air - good breathing practices - deep and frequent.
Optimal body hygiene - baths - saunas - sweating -

Some days one barely takes a break from eating - it can be pretty non-stop. Sounds familiar ? - it could be the 101st use of duck tape. Keep the fridge door shut!
The body needs a break - it gets to work too hard!
Everything becomes sluggish with too much food - feeling heavy - moving and walking becomes a chore.

The email that has been going around on the internet about
H1N1 prevention is actually very smart and simple : In my clinic I add supplements to it and some Chinese Herbal Medicine too boost the Immune System as well as certain prescriptions in Patent form (pills) to be taken at the very onset of any Cold or Flu symptoms. Traditional Chinese Medicine is very good at this! Here it goes:

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):

1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official
communications).

2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any
part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).

3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms.
Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method!
4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. *Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but *blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.*
5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.
6. *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, more tea, etc) as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.
In my office we offer Chinese herbal medicine in Pills that can be taken successfully at the very onset of and throughout any flu symptoms.
We also prepare a Chinese Vegetarian Chicken Soup that will boost your immunesystem and help recovery. It is very
powerful.
Also important are teas made with Astragalus and Power mushrooms. We also offer an immune system modulating herbal combination that comes from the native American tradition.
All together be practical! Protect you and yours.
Just common sense logic. Be well - Stay healthy
you can call about the Chinese Herbal Medicine

413 549 2830
verena@giftofhealth.com

The Shift in the Seasons (Autumn)

SHIFT AND TRANSITIONS INSIDE OUT IN THE SEASONS

It always amazes me how with the passing of late September into early October there is a somewhat melancholic shift in the emotional field of people. More sadness - fear of separation - expressions of grief. Just after the peak of harvest - this wonderful abundance of peaches, apples and the beginning of prevalence of yellow and orange root vegetables. All the "ornaments" flowers and leaves are at their peak of color and richness while making way for the "knowing" of how this abundance will too soon get blown away by the cooler winds and rains of autumn!
Chinese literature is full of descriptions of this process - and we know it in our hearts.

The organ systems that are particularly associated with the fall are the Lung organ system
and the Large Intestine.
The emotions that pertain to the these systems are sadness and grief - sense of loss and, depending of the balance in the person: the ability to let go and the understanding of boundaries.

So, there we have a clear explanation of why such feelings appear to be prevalent during this season as human being reflect their microcosmos within the macrocosmos of the Universe. In my many years of practicing acupuncture I have encountered this rythem and breath of life over and over again. People might be closer to tears - can't let go and forget of something they feel they did not want or deserve and any variation of this theme.

Maybe it stands to reason then why root vegetables help us ground in this vulnerability and greater emotional frailty.
Mother nature must have known because there are plenty of sweet potatoes, butternut squash, pumpkins and seeds as well as carrots and parsnips to help us ground and "be rooted".

Physical issues often pertain to the Lungs and the Large Intestine: so we have increase in allergies (beginning with golden rod)
asthma and breathing difficulties. Sometimes people will experience breathing difficulties right at the time on the Chinese Clock that pertains to the Lungs (from 3 to 5AM or possibly difficulties around Bowel Movements between 5 and 7AM.

So, In the fall - more than ever, it becomes us to do breathing exercises - increase our Yoga practice for opening our ribcages and B R E A T H E. Try it this season and rejoice at the fruits of your efforts. Also Acupressure is useful - you can rub and "pummel" the point LI4 halfway in the web between the thumb and index finger; or at LU9 around the radial artery at the wrist crease. Lastly there is the point LU10, midway on the fleshy part of the pad of the thumb. (the latter point is helpful with sore throat - loss of voice, also fever, etc.)

Sense of humor is also very important in this time when everything seems to have to let go - even if we don't "want to"!
Smiling and laughing about our selves helps! - I have learned that and whenever I rediscover smiles and laughter - I feel happier and relieved! Life is so much easier and truly abundant with possibilities and even choice of how we want to feel.
Even in the fall when everything appears to be vanishing.......
only to make room for the next installment of our learning.

EXERCISE and GREAT PREVENTION here we go again...

So hard to get away from it. We just have to do it somehow!!!

As one instructor said so aptly "So What you don't like to exercise - DO IT ANYHOW!!"

I like alternating my endeavors. I own enough yoga, dance and exercise DVDs to start my own library. Whatever the mood of the day - I have something I can play with - unless I have no such mood!.......and then:
I use my Trampoline conveniently placed in my sitting room - so I cannot ignore it!!
and several times during the day I can get my heart rate UP!
I have my big exercise ball lolling around in my room around the table where my computer lives - so I have to make some effort to stay seated on it - and also so I keep my core toned.
There is also a skipping rope and stretch bands I can use.
Really I made it so I have no EXCUSE!


Phys Ed: DOES EXERCISE REDUCE YOUR CANCER RISK?

By Gretchen Reynolds NEW YORK TIMES

Aubrey Jonsson/Getty Images



Finnish researchers recently concluded that, if you wish to ward off lung or
gastrointestinal cancer, you might want to spend your leisure time jogging
instead of picking berries, mushroom gathering or fishing. In the study,
published in late July on the Web site of the British Journal of Sports
Medicine, scientists studied the health of a group of 2,560 middle-aged
Finns over the course of about 17 years. The subjects, all men living in
eastern Finland, kept diaries of their daily activities for a year and then
went about them.



At the start of the study, none had cancer. By the end, 181 had died of the
disease. Parsing the men's activity levels, the researchers determined that,
after controlling for cigarette smoking, fiber and fat intake, age, and
other variables, the most physically active men were the least likely to
develop cancer, particularly of the gastrointestinal tract or the lung. Even
more striking, the intensity of the exercise was key. The more arduous it
was, the more protective it proved. Jogging was the most strenuous activity
studied, fishing among the least. The men who jogged or otherwise exercised
fairly intensely for at least 30 minutes a day had "a 50 percent reduction
in the risk of dying prematurely from cancer," says Sudhir Kurl, medical
director of the School of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition at the
University of Kuopio in Finland and one of the study's authors.



It seems fair and just that conscientiously working out should confer
disease-fighting benefits, especially against cancer, and an accreting body
of research suggests that under certain conditions and against certain forms
of cancer, fitness may be remarkably protective. A major review article
published in February on the Web site of the British Journal of Cancer
synthesized the results of more than two decades' worth of studies and
concluded that the most active people are 24 percent less likely to develop
colon cancer than sedentary people are, regardless of their diets, smoking
habits or body weight. Another study, this one presented in May at the
annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine reported that
women over age 30 who defined themselves as "highly competitive" by
disposition and who exercised more than the average for the group had much
less risk of developing breast cancer than women who worked out for less
than 60 minutes per week.

Related



What these recent studies, including the one from Finland, share is the
suggestion that, in order to use exercise to reduce the risk of cancer, you
must make yourself sweat. In the Finnish study, the most beneficial exercise
was both frequent and demanding. The researchers used METs (an acronym for
metabolic equivalent of task, a numerical comparison of the oxygen or energy
used during an activity versus the amount used at rest) to characterize
their subjects' exercise habits. A MET of 1 is the equivalent of lolling
inertly on the couch. In his study, jogging steadily for 30 minutes or so
represented a MET of about 10. The men whose METs reached at least 5 almost
every day were the least likely to die of cancer, especially of the lung or
the gastrointestinal tract. Similarly, in one of the studies included in the
colon cancer review, women who walked briskly for five to six hours a week
were much less likely to develop colon cancer than those who strolled for 30
minutes per week. And in the bogglingly comprehensive 2008 national Physical
Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee report prepared for the secretary of
health and human services, which includes a chapter about exercise and
cancer, the authors concluded that when it comes to breast cancer, "one hour
per day of moderate or vigorous activity produces greater reduction in risk"
than the two and a half hours of moderate exercise per week that are
currently recommended by the surgeon general.



The Finnish researchers admit that, like other scientists studying activity
and cancer, they don't know just how or why brisk exercise affects risk or
why only some types of cancer are affected. Exercise long has been known to
speed the emptying of the colon, which may reduce the amount of time that
carcinogens linger in the organ, the Finnish scientists point out. Strenuous
exercise also affects the production of sex hormones in men and women, and -
particularly in the case of estrogen and breast cancer - may by that
mechanism reduce cancer formation. Other scientists have posited that the
panting involved in strenuous exercise might rapidly move carcinogens out of
the lungs. Still other researchers have written that alterations in how a
well-trained body handles insulin and some cellular growth factors could
lessen the chances of tumors developing.



But it remains difficult to tease out the specific molecular effects of
regular, brisk exercise from the generally healthy habits of exercisers.
Although the Finnish study controlled for diet, the scientists write that
other, unspecified "lifestyle factors" and the luck (good and bad) of
genetics may well have affected their results. Still, their findings offer a
prescription for potentially reducing your risk of certain cancers that has
few obvious, undesirable side effects, except among the intractably lazy.
"At least moderately intense physical activity is more beneficial than low
intensity physical activity in the prevention of cancer," the authors
conclude. The takeaway, in other words, is that jogging trumps berry
picking.

FIRE ELEMENT the Transformational Phase of the Summer in Chinese Medicine

Summer Heat! the Fire Element - According to Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture

How does this particular season affect us both physically and emotionally?
What does this Chinese medical theory offer us to help us understand ourselves and the world around us.

According to Chinese Medicine the human body is a micro cosmos of the macro cosmos - the Earth the Universe.
From the Classic The Nei Jing from 200 B.C. The Inner Classic comes this description.

FIRE
"from the South there comes extreme heat. Heat produces fire and from the fire come the bitter flavors.
The bitter flavor strengthens the heart; the heart nourishes the blood and the blood enlivens the stomach. The heart rules over the tongue.
The supernatural powers of Summer create heat in Heaven and fire upon the earth. They create the pulse within the body and the heat within the viscera. Of the colors they create the red color and of the musical notes they create "chi" and they give the human voice the ability to express joy. Of the Orifices they create the mouth with its palate; of the flavors they create the bitter flavor and of the emotions they create happiness and joy"
The HEART organ system refers to the Heart organ itself and the Small Intestine is its associated "hollow" organ. The concept of hollow refers to all the organ systems that have the ability to store some substance such as the gallbladder stores bile and the bladder stores urine. There are five "hollow " organs. Gallbladder, small intestine, stomach, large intestine, bladder.
According to the "Nei Jing" the Heart is considered the "Supreme Ruler", like a King it is responsible for everything within its Kingdom; it "rules the blood and the blood vessels". The Heart organ itself has the function to move the blood throughout the body. It also has the function to "house the Spirit". It has the task of controlling the emotions with reference to excitability and thus keeping them even. This "Housing of the spirit" refers in particular to sleep. At night when the Yin is at it's peak, meaning its deepest time; the spirit should rest in the depth and safety of one's heart. When the (Chinese) heart is weak, it may be unable to "house" the Spirit and insomnia may occur

FIRE:
The HEART belongs to the summer and reflects the element FIRE According to the Chinese clock the peak time for the
HEART organ system is from 11AM to 1PM and the SMALL INTESTINE from 1PM to 3PM. Heart and Small Intestine meridians running to and from the tips of the pinky fingers on both hands belong to the Heart and Small Intestines respectively

The heart controls the spirit.
The HEART "opens" into the tongue
The color of the element fire is red.
The corresponding human sound is laughter
The taste that corresponds to the element fire is BITTER
The smell is SCORCHED
The weather condition or the climate associated with HEART is heat. The emotion is a sense of joy, excitability, happiness -
there is also the emotion of arrogance and vexedness when the heart is in disharmony
The psychological ability furthered by the heart is for grief and sadness
the Heart controls the SPIRIT

As with the other organ systems there seems to be preponderance of heart disharmony in the summer - in the heat, when
the heart has to work harder to keep internal body temperature even and when the pace of emotional involvement is so accelerated.


Does the summer - the Fire not blow by so very quickly? - Sometimes, both the heat and the speed leave us breathless!
It helps us to remember this element when we threaten to become impatient with fellow human beings who may not be able to deal so well with the heat, the internal Fire! - people who become too excited and maybe extremely vexed and irrationally disturbed by extreme heat. Of course imbalances in the circulatory system and the heart itself become more common place in the summer.
We can take cooling baths in room temperature water (Or cold)
We can eat cooling foods: cucumber, salads, steamed veggies made into salads (room temp) drink more water
We can develop more kindness toward others and ourselves - We can slow down and breathe more consciously
We can avoid pushing ourselves too hard in the heat!

Stay cool inside and out - take care !

THE JOY OF GRILLING

May 22, 2009, 11:58 am
Reducing the Risks of Holiday Grilling
By Tara Parker-Pope
The New York Times Smoking up the barbecue covers meat in risky chemical compounds.

Grilled meats have long been linked to health risks, but most backyard chefs don’t want to believe it. But a few simple tricks can help you avoid the health worries and still enjoy a holiday barbecue.

The problem with grilling is that it creates two types of risky chemical reactions. Fat drippings create smoke that is filled with carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs. When the smoke envelopes the food, it transfers the PAHs onto the surface of the meat. And when meat, chicken and fish are grilled at high temperatures for long periods of time, compounds inside the food react and create heterocyclic amines, or HCAs. HCAs are worrisome because in lab studies they’ve been shown to trigger breast, colon and prostate tumors in rats and mice.

A few dozen observational studies have shown a link between cancer and high consumption of grilled and well-done meats. One study of more than 3,000 women showed that for postmenopausal women, eating a lot of grilled, barbecued and smoked meats raised breast cancer risk by 47 percent compared to those who ate the least meat.

Here are four simple steps to make grilled meat safer.

1. Pre-cook in the microwave. By pre-cooking meat a little, you reduce the amount of time it sits on the grill. Microwaving also releases certain compounds so they won’t react on the grill. Just one minute of microwaving a burger before you put it on the grill virtually eliminates HCAs.

2. Go heavy on the marinades. Marinades don’t just make food taste good. Studies show using a marinade helps blunt the heat so fewer HCAs are formed.

3. Add broccoli. Consuming cruciferous vegetables like broccoli changes the way the body metabolizes certain chemicals associated with grilling.

4. Avoid well-done meats. Numerous studies have linked well-done meat with various health problems. Tell the chef you want it medium or rare.

In the past, when I’ve written about the health risks of grilling, readers have told me I’m a killjoy. But in my view, there are so few environmental and chemical risks we can control, why not take a few simple steps to reduce cancer-causing compounds in our food?

What do you think? Will you think about healthier grilling during your Memorial Day celebration? Or is this a health message you plan to ignore?

NEVER!!!!!!!........... BUT MAYBE WE CAN PRECOOK THE MEAT in a conventional oven and forgo the micro wave altogether.

BETTER BACK WITH ACUPUNCTURE - WITH OR WITHOUT....

WHEN I READ THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE I was amazed at the concept of "simulated acupuncture". Are we talking holding a pretend needle (but not really) or are we talking places on the body you would normally n o t treat with needles for back pain?
It is an interesting concept when you think about all the Japanese acupuncture that is being successfully practiced without ever
inserting a needle into the flesh......indeed, how much of the intention of "healing" actually manifests from the consciousness
of the "patient" as opposed to the consciousness of the practitioner? How much influence does that in turn have on the outcome. I am assuming that all 638 Patients wanted the acupuncture work "no matter what"!


Acupuncture-Like Treatments Improve Outcomes Compared to Usual Care for Low Back Pain

People suffering from chronic low back pain who received acupuncture or simulated acupuncture treatments fared better than those receiving only conventional care According to a recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.[1] The study highlights central questions about the mechanisms of benefit seen in acupuncture studies.

This trial, led by Daniel Cherkin, Ph.D., of Group Health Center for Health Studies in Seattle, was funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), a component of the National Institutes of Health.

"Because of the lack of highly effective medical treatments for chronic low back pain, we were pleased to find that acupuncture-like treatments were helpful for persons suffering from chronic back pain," said Dr. Cherkin. "However, the finding that real acupuncture produced no greater benefit than simulated acupuncture raises important questions about acupuncture's mechanisms of action."

This trial enrolled 638 adults with chronic low back pain who had never had acupuncture and who had rated the "bothersomeness" of their pain as at least a 3 on a 0-to-10 scale. The participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups: individualized acupuncture, involving a customized prescription for acupuncture points from a diagnostician; standardized acupuncture, using a single prescription for acupuncture points that experts consider generally effective for chronic low back pain; simulated acupuncture, which mimics needle acupuncture but does not involve actual penetration of the skin; or usual care, which is standard medical care.

The patients assigned to any of the three acupuncture groups (individualized, standardized, or simulated) were treated twice weekly for three weeks, and then weekly for four weeks. At 8, 26, and 52 weeks, researchers measured back-related dysfunction and how much symptoms bothered participants.

The researchers found that at eight weeks the individualized, standardized, and simulated acupuncture groups all improved their dysfunction scores significantly more than the group receiving usual care. These benefits persisted for one year, though diminished over time. However, there was no significant difference between the groups receiving the needle and simulated forms of acupuncture. Thus, while acupuncture was found effective in treating low back pain, neither tailoring acupuncture needle sites to an individual patient nor penetrating the skin appears to be important for receiving therapeutic benefit.

"The findings of this research show that acupuncture-like treatments, including simulated acupuncture, can elicit positive responses," said Josephine P. Briggs, M.D., director of NCCAM. "This adds to the growing body of evidence that there is something meaningful taking place during acupuncture treatments outside of actual needling. Future research is needed to delve deeper into what is evoking these responses."

The researchers believe that further research is needed to determine the roles of patient expectancy, practitioner reassurance and the physiological effects of non-insertive stimulation and other effects that may contribute to acupuncture-like benefits.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine's mission is to explore complementary and alternative medical practices in the context of rigorous science, train CAM researchers, and disseminate authoritative information to the public and professionals. For additional information, call NCCAM's Clearinghouse toll free at 1-888-644-6226, or visit the NCCAM Web site at nccam.nih.gov. NCCAM 1999–2009: Celebrating 10 years of rigorous research.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — The Nation's Medical Research Agency — includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov. Reference:
1 Cherkin DC, Sherman KJ, Avins AL, et al. A Randomized Trial Comparing Acupuncture, Simulated Acupuncture, and Usual Care for Chronic Low Back Pain. Archives of Internal Medicine. 2009;169[9]:858-866.

SWINE OR OTHERWISE FLU........

Prevention is always where my mind goes. As you, I have a healthy aversion to scare tactics - or even simple paranoia.
Certainly I do not like to close the barn after everybody has escaped (or rushed in!)
So, what now with this swine flu? We are still scared, kind of, not settled but do feel a little more assured (say than if we lived in China, right now, where fear spells with a capital F.)

We could certainly take the occasion and learn something from it. Maybe if we all were feeling stronger in our state of
health - we would also not be so panicky. What does make us strong?
Good food does - good rest does - fresh air does - movement/exercise does - and drinking enough (plenty of ) water does. Doing all these things we can at least 'remember' the state of "nothing can break us"!!!!: we are invincible!!!

Of course I love acupuncture and it has saved me and many others from an invasion of what the Chinese call the "Evil Qi"
some "wind cold" or "wind heat " that mysteriously penetrates our defensive shield and may land us in bed with a fever!

So I suggest - when you feel vulnerable and not so strong - have an acupuncture treatment !- have a knowledgeable practitioner balance your system, open and strengthen the appropriate meridians and protect the ones that feel vulnerable.

Also boosting the vulnerable Qi through herbal medicine is a good approach!
Several avenues are open. Different specific prescriptions for very specific circumstances or, more generically, I offer something called the Chinese Herbal Chicken Soup to my patients to boost their innate capacity to fight of any invasion(!)
And they love it! It can be used for prevention or to boost the system after the fact.

Following is a more detailed description and recipe

CHINESE HERBAL CHICKEN SOUP
One of the common ways to use tonic herbs in China is cooking them in the form of a soup along with chicken. This is because chicken is thought to bring out and enhance the tonifying and nourishing aspects of the herbs. Most of the tonic herbs have a pleasant taste that does not adversely affect the flavorful quality of mealtime soups made without the herbs. In fact, when properly selected, the additional herbs produce a highly desirable taste and texture for the soup. The following herb mixture for making chicken soup gets excellent reviews:
Lotus seed, Lycium, Dioscorea, Polygonatum, Black fungus, Codonopsis, Astragalus, Longan
The root herbs-astragalus, codonopsis, and dioscorea-are classified by Chinese herbalists as qi tonics. They benefit digestion, aid absorption of nutrients, improve cardiac function, and enhance energy. The two dried fruits, lycium and longan, are classified as blood tonics; they are frequently used to treat anemia, reduce fidgeting, and benefit sleep. Black fungus is reputed to alleviate dryness and benefit the circulation; it adds a satisfying texture to the soup. Polygonatum is classified as a yin tonic; it helps restore moisture to dried membranes. Lotus seed is a mild tonic and sedative useful for alleviating nervousness and irritability.
To make the soup, place about 2 pounds of chicken (best with bones included) with the skin removed in a medium sized pot and add enough water to cover. Bring to a boil and remove any residue that floats to the top at that time. Add in the whole package of herbs, 2 cloves of crushed or grated garlic, 2 thin slices of fresh ginger, and a teaspoon of salt (the amount of garlic, ginger, and salt can be adjusted to your taste; these amounts are for a mild flavoring). Bring back to a slow boil, cover, and simmer for about 50-60 minutes.
Add sliced fresh vegetables, such as carrots and celery (for a more warming effect, use green onions), and various greens and squashes at this time and simmer again for an additional 5-10 minutes to soften them. Then add 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, 1 teaspoon of sesame oil, and 1 teaspoon of wine (or mild vinegar). Remove from heat. All the herb materials are edible except the astragalus, which is too fibrous, and this item should be removed before serving (it is the flat herb that retains a woody appearance).
The package of herbs contains about 5.5 ounces. This recipe makes enough soup for four servings (a large bowl of soup each) providing about 40 grams of dried herbs. For individuals recovering from serious illness or other debilitating experience, the soup can be taken daily for about one week to help restore strength. Others may wish to enjoy this dish about once a week for nourishing the blood and getting a great energy boost. Serve with a side dish of rice to make a complete meal.


Vegetarian Alternative: Cook the herbs together as above but without chicken; when adding the vegetables, also add one pound of tofu as a protein source. If desired; just before removing from heat, blend in four tablespoons of miso paste (or more to taste) in place of the tablespoon of soy sauce.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE CONCEPTS OF SOUP INGREDIENTS (an unusual description of ingredients!.......)

Note: In the following text, the mention of organs, such as spleen and kidney, are in reference to the traditional descriptions as translated from the Chinese and do not imply any effect on the organs as recognized by modern medicine. Thus, for example, herbs that benefit the "spleen" are usually used to promote digestive functions, which are not related to the spleen functions as recognized today, and herbs that tonify the "kidney" are thought to adjust metabolism and have a variety of beneficial effects that are not associated with the function of the kidney as understood in modern medical terms. The descriptions of the therapeutic nature and applications in the traditional Chinese system are not intended to imply that all such benefits are provided by the soup.
• Chicken: its taste is sweet, its nature is warm, and it benefits the spleen and stomach. Chicken meat nourishes the qi and blood, and tonifies the kidney and essence. It is used therapeutically for blood deficiency, emaciation, and persistent illness; and for heart palpitations and dizziness. The vegetarian alternative tofu is cooling, lubricating, and benefits the spleen and stomach; miso is sweet and salty, its nature is neutral, and it benefits the stomach, spleen, and kidney. Miso and tofu are used to treat disharmony of the stomach, with loss of appetite, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort.
• Garlic: its taste is pungent and sweet, its nature is warm, and it benefits the spleen, stomach, and lungs. It is used to promote digestion of foods, especially meats, to alleviate intestinal infections, and to treat coughing due to lung disorders.
• Carrot: its taste is sweet, its nature is neutral, and it benefits the spleen, liver, and lung. It is used for indigestion, weak vision, and cough with fever. Squashes, in general, are sweet, cooling in nature, and benefit the spleen, stomach, and lung. They are used for promoting urination and alleviating coughing.
• Celery: its taste is pungent and sweet, its nature is cool, and it benefits the liver, stomach, and bladder. It is used for feverish feeling, dizziness, agitation, loss of appetite, and difficult urination. Most green leafy vegetables are slightly astringent, cool, and benefit the spleen and liver.
• Green onion (scallion): its taste is pungent, its nature is warm, and it benefits the stomach and lungs. It is used for dispersing chill, relieving congestion, and relaxing muscle tension.
• Black fungus (wood ear): its taste is sweet, its nature is neutral, and it benefits the lung, stomach, and liver. It is used for dry cough, dry throat and mouth, and for other symptoms of dryness.
• Lotus seed: its taste is sweet and astringent, its nature is neutral, and it benefits the spleen, kidney, and heart. It is used for loss of appetite and diarrhea due to weak digestion, for frequent urination, and for restlessness.
• Lycium: its taste is sweet, its nature is neutral, and it benefits the liver and kidney. It is used for weakness due to overwork and aging, for weak vision, and for chronic cough.
• Longan: its taste is sweet, its nature is warm, and it benefits the heart and spleen. It is used for deficiency of blood, with poor memory, heart palpitations, and weakness.
• Astragalus: its taste is sweet, its nature is mildly warm, and it benefits the spleen and lung. It is used for all kinds of qi deficiency syndromes, especially when there is excessive sweating.
• Dioscorea: its taste is sweet, its nature is mildly warm, and it benefits the spleen, lung, and kidney. It is used for treatment of diarrhea and frequent urination.
• Codonopsis: its taste is sweet, its nature is mildly warm, and it benefits the lung and spleen. It is used for all types of qi deficiency syndromes, especially when there is weak digestion. It is commonly used by Chinese herbalists as a substitute for ginseng.
• Polygonatum: Its taste is sweet, its nature is mildly cold, and it benefits the lung and stomach. It is used for any kind of yin-deficiency syndrome, typically manifesting as fidgeting, dry mouth and throat, and dry cough.

So, as you see - a lot can go into a bowl of soup
and a lot of protection can come with it and through it.

we have "the Herbal Chinese Chicken Soup" in our office
call us
413 549 2830
or write to Verena@giftofhealth.com

DO NOT FOLLOW, I MAY NOT LEAD........

“Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.”
The Buddha

Such ancient good advice - apply it to everything; whether the media tells you to take Statins or an Aspirin a day or even "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" - or "stay out of the sun and cover your body with sun screen" or "Milk is good for you - look, it is fortified with Vitamins"......and so many more 'truths' - endless truths for someone else who wants you to follow theirs for a miriad of reasons! And not all reasons are in your interest.
Specially when it comes to what you eat and drink. Who could actually know better than you yourself? - it is your body; they are your senses.
Ask yourself with everything your eyes or your nose want to eat - will this be beneficial to my body and my mind/spirit. I trust there would be a few things we would just put back. No, thank you.

The whole issue of what is the right eating life style for me is based on experimentation. Ongoing and lots of it! Not so different from other experimentations in life.......Now I eat this piece of bread, chocolate, piece of carrot or chicken.
Then I listen to my body - how does it sit - feel and affect the state of my energy.
Somethings you have to repeat many times to get a clear idea; specially wheat, dairy
and sugar - raw versus cooked, macrobiotic, vegan, lacto-ovarian, ayurvedic, Atkins, Zone and anything else old and new - you must give it all a good try and observe.
Of course that's how the Buddha comes into the kitchen! Discriminating wisdom when it comes to our bodies and food.
Sometimes you try something just once and you know - "this feels right" or "this does not feel good" Please trust those feelings and heed them - somebody in that (your) body k n o w s it; it just takes a little while to figure it out. Trust that you can! - Log your experiences and then maintain some coherence with them. You'll be healthy wise and maybe even happy with a well fed body.