Wendy

Dec

2013

Aging and the Elderly Patient

In aging, one must be so careful with everything lest it affect a host of health-related backlash. In treatment of our aging and elderly patients, emphasis of treatment pertains significantly to declining Kidney essence. However, the most serious diseases of aging are also caused by phlegm, blood stasis and internal wind. The pulse of the elderly patient read in Chinese medicine is frequently found to be hard, wiry and slippery. These three factors play a role in the pathologies of aging from which stroke, coronary heart disease, cancer, high cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension, as well as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases are commonly occurring conditions.

Dec

2013

Post-Menopause

A woman, post-menopause, has great potential to realize within herself the wise woman and the mother of her greater community. With her inherent embodiment of female wisdom, post-menopausally she may cultivate the spiritual power of the Sage.

From the progression of blood sent from the Heart down to the Bao Mai [uterus] in preparation for potential growth of a human addition to the world, in menopause, this direction of flow ceases. Rather than blood nourishing the uterus, blood instead remains focused in the Heart to nourish a woman’s own spirit.

Women routinely ask how one keeps their sanity during this transition?

My response is ever-the same:

Nature, Art, Diet, Meditation, Kindness, Chinese Medicine, Movement

Dec

2013

WATER INTAKE AND HEALTH

Turning to traditional Chinese medicine and a Taoist concept of health and long life, one is taught to be moderate in every action and attentive to the signals of the body, and to the prevailing influences of nature. Eating when hungry and drinking when thirsty, we should ingest only enough food and drink to satisfy actual needs, needs which match our level of activity. Advice regarding water intake is to drink only when thirsty or to drink a few sips regularly throughout the day. To consume more than what is essential is considered in defiance of natural balance.

There are obvious cases where higher fluid consumption is important, such as for people who are perspiring profusely [due to exercise, hot weather, or resulting from a feverish disease], those who are losing fluids due to diarrhea, as well as one who tends to form kidney stones. But by eating the suggested five servings of fruit per day, plentiful amounts of water are provided; many fruits and vegetables being more than 80% water in content.

Most yin quality foods in a healthy diet contain a significant quantity of water making it feasible to get the 2.5 liters a day without drinking copious amounts of water. However, the popular impression is that for good health one must drink 2.5 liters of water per day, when essentially, emphasis needs to be placed upon consuming fresh fruits and vegetables, not on high volume water-intake. Health advisories recommend that sedentary women consume approximately 2,000 calories per day, for which the suggested 1 ml/calorie translates to only 2.0 liters of total water needed. Adding 1.9 liters of water from drinking glass after glass of water simply doubles such suggested intake.

Drinking large volumes of water appears to be inconsistent with age-old advice regarding health maintenance.

Nov

2013

Poetry of Protracted Illness

Visit from a Friend Po Chu’i [772-846 CE]

I have been ill so long that I do not count the days; at the Southern window, evening – and again evening. Sadly chirping in the grasses under my eaves, the winter sparrows morning and evening sing. By an effort I rise and lean heavily on my bed; tottering I step toward the door of the courtyard. By chance I meet a friend who is coming to see me; just as if I had gone specially to meet him. They took my couch and placed it in the setting sun; they spread my rug and I leaned on the balcony-pillar. Tranquil talk was better than any medicine; gradually the feelings came back to my numbed heart.

Translation · Arthur Waley · 170 Chinese Poems

Nov

2013

‘The Three Friends of Winter’ 松竹梅 ☯

• For the purpose of visual clarity and enjoyment, I have modified and updated this artwork.

Pine, Bamboo and Plum are highly regarded

for their steadfastness, perseverance and

resilience, and known as The Three Friends of Winter.

Painting by Zhao Mengjian 趙孟堅 [1199-1264] Song Dynasty. • “Peach and plum of springtime, don’t flaunt your pretty blossoms; Consider rather the old pine and green bamboo at year’s end. What can change these noble stems and their flourishing evergreen?” Kim Yuki [1580-1658], Korean Sijo Poet.

Nov

2013

LONGEVITY PRACTICES FROM A 102 YEAR OLD ☯

Mr. Tsui

飯勿吃太飽，覺要睡得好，運動每天做，營養不可少，

盡量找快樂，切莫尋煩惱，赤子心常在，百年也不老，

不作虧心事，人格比天高，為人不貪墨，子孫也逍遙。

Sleep well, Exercise daily, Do not over-eat, but never be in want of adequate nutrition.

Always try to be happy; keep yourself free from worries and troubles, and always retain a good conscience.

Then, you may live in good health and youthfulness even when you have reached the age of 102.

102 year old Mr. Tsui says: “The normal human life span is about 125-150 years. Longevity lies in adequate sustenance, adequate sleep, adequate exercise, having a cheerful spirit and a good conscience.”

Before his retirement at age 66, Tsui, like people his age, was showing usual symptoms of aging. After retirement he began practicing a daily routine that he had learned as a young man in the army, taught to him by a Buddhist monk in a temple in Manchuria. Since retirement, Mr. Tsui has practiced this regimen without missing a day; rising at 4:30am, opening windows to let fresh air circulate through his house, then doing his exercises (analogous to Qigong) in bed. The results are evident and Mr. Tsui has not used his medical insurance nor been to a doctor since commencing his longevity practices.

☯ Mr. Tsui’s Life-Nurturing, Longevity Regimen ☯

• The primary key to longevity is always be happy and optimistic without quandary or drama. Living life naturally and exercising often, even when tired.

• Mr. Tsui exercises everyday in his bed, practicing 20 modalities such as fetal breathing, eye massage, ear massage, hair-combing, hip-swinging, and others.

• Turtle breathing is natural respiration, but with deep, long, smoothing breaths; completely relaxed, which stimulates the self-healing power inherent in the body.

• Always eat breakfast of hot porridge (congee).

• Walk in a nearby park or place of nature after breakfast.

• Walk everywhere that is in walking distance.

• Diet should be comprised mainly of vegetables. Picky eating is unuseful.

• No eating meat, or fried, frozen, overly-spicy or salty foods.

• Refrain from sweets.

• Soak vegetables in water for 20 minutes before rinsing and cooking them.

• Do not eat exotic foods such as abalone, shark’s fin, etc. Simply enjoy tea and simple foods.

• Never ingest anything other than drinking water after 7:00pm.

• Never smoke, drink or chew gum or betel nut.

• Health of the brain: “Comb” all ten fingers through your hair from front to back of the head 108 times.

• Health of the brain-also: Place one hand on the forehead and the other on the back of the head to massage the head horizontally 108 times.

• Health of the brain: Never play mahjong more than eight rounds, and never sacrifice sleep staying up late playing games.

• Teeth health: Concentrate energy in your teeth. Clench them together during bowel movement. This action helps to prevent tooth decay.

• Mouth hygiene: Do not use toothpaste. Only brush with salt to clean your teeth.

• Preserve eyesight: Press the tips of your thumbs on the inner aspects (canthi) of both eyes 180 times.

• Preserve eyesight-also: Use both the middle and ring fingers to massage the rims of eyes outward 108 times.

• Preserve eyesight: Use saliva secreted from your mouth to wipe your eyes.

• Preserve good hearing: Hold both earlobes between middle and ring fingers and massage up and down 108 times.

• Preserve good hearing-also: Use middle fingers to massage the areas in front of the upper earlobes 108 times.

• Preserve good hearing: Use both hands to massage the entire area of both earlobes 36 times.

• Digestive health: Place your index, middle and ring fingers on the navel area, massaging clockwise 81 times.

• Health of bladder: Place your hands one on the top of the other below your navel and rub 108 times.

• Alleviate waist pain and stiffness: Lie down with both legs drawn to the abdomen and kick out 108 times.

• Alleviate hemorrhoid pain: Lie down, bending the tips of both feet inwards while contracting your anus 10 times.

• Preserve leg strength: Lie down, bending the tips of both feet inward while stretching both legs straight out, lifting upward 30 times.

• Keep shoulders straight: Hold hands together in front and lifting them above head 36 times.

• Strengthen arms and waist: Do 36 pushups.

• Self-healing exercise: In lotus posture, breathe deeply 36 times with tongue lightly touching the upper palate of the mouth, while inhaling through the nose – exhaling through the mouth.

Photos of Mr Tsui’s Practices: ☯ http://www.nwdsy.com.cn/wenzhang/file.asp?id=399

Oct

2013

Sheng Mai

When there is difficulty contacting pulses, or sheng mai, tonifying treatment of these 5 acupoints engenders the QI of the pulse, summoning them:

ST25, CV12, CV17, LU1, BL12

Oct

2013

Luo Vessels

DIAGRAM:
Extraordinary Channel
Luo Vessels
Main Meridian
Luo Vessels
Extraordinary Channel

Points along Luo channels were the earliest treated points in acupuncture. Collaterals of the primary meridians, they are visible reservoirs for pathology. When the Wei level of the body has become incapable of releasing a pathogenic factor, the body holds it.

Luo vessels will then contain the pathological factor in a minor blood vessel network on the surface of the skin in such formations as spider veins, varicosities, swellings & nodules; thereby preventing deeper movement into the primary channels and organs.

Oct

2013

Orderly Progression and Concordant Treatment

The laws of applying all needling therapy require that one observe the influences of sun, moon, and stars, as well as the characteristics of the four seasons and eight seasonal returning points. If, in this manner, one has determined the condition of the influences, the needle treatment may be carried out.

When the Heavens are warm and the sun is shining, the blood is pliant and defensive Qi flows easily; all influences moving easily. If, however, the heavens are cold and the sun is dark, the blood clots and defense-influences sink deep [into the body]. During the new moon the blood and influences are, at first, pure and the dense influences begin their flow. During the full moon, then, blood and influences are in abundance; muscles and flesh are firm. As the moon wanes, muscles and flesh wither; depletion seizes and transportation channels and defensive influences withdraw and only outer form remains.

Let Yourself be guided by the orderly progression of these phenomena of the Heavens. In times of abundance as well as depletion, determine points with the change of light [sun and moon], and in the proper frame of mind. -Ch’i Po

☯ Translation by Paul Unschuld

Oct

2013

Rules and Judgement, Su Wen Ch.70

Judgment [lun cai] and mind [zhi yi] must be based upon laws and rules. If one follows the classics, observing the calculations and accordingly, practicing [medicine] with due reverence to these rules, will be of benefit and set an example for all humankind. If the way is carefully observed, myriad diseases can be cured. Qi and Blood will assume a proper balance, and the Mandate of Heaven will last long.

Pertaining to Rules and Judgements

• If one punishes where there is no transgression, this is a great error.

• If one rebels against the grand norms of nature, True Qi cannot be restored.

• If a practitioner treats a repletion as if it were a depletion, if s/he considers evil Qi as if it were true Qi, and if s/he [applies needles] disregarding what is right to do, plunders Qi, and in that, removes proper Qi [of the patient].

SuWen Ch.70, Based on Translations by Paul Unschuld