The Unique Method of Healing Through Chinese Herbs
Chinese Herbal Formulas have been found to ward off many ailments with long lasting effects. It is important to understand that a person must first desire to change from the inside... out. Disease can come from an imbalance of one's diet, emotions, and overall life-style, in return affecting the natural flow of energy and strength of their immune system. Nobody should ever endure the feeling of pain, sluggishness, low energy and the like. Chinese Herbs can be very useful in stimulating both the mind and body back into balance and one the way to a more elevated level of health, and if in a diseased state, to recovery. It has been said that Chinese Medicine is a form of alternative medicine, but being over 5,000 years in the creating, an alternative to what?It is important to understand that it may take time to peel off the onion layers that surround our bodies naturally ability to ward-off pathogens affecting how we feel, live, and enjoy our earthly existence. The Chinese Herbs approach this by 'working on' and ridding the last effected area of the body first, before moving on to the next are creating the overall imbalance. It may take two ore more 'unveilings' to get to the root of the problem (usually diet [Spleen and Stomach] or stagnant Blood and Qi [Liver]) based on a past or present unresolved emotional issues. This may sound strange, but upon further investigation and contemplation it becomes much more cerebrally valid.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture has been a major part of primary healthcare in China for over 5,000 years. It was, and is currently used extensively for a variety of medicinal purposes such as the prevention of treatment of disease, relieving pain and anesthetizing patients for surgery. As in many oriental medicine practices, the emphasis of acupuncture is highly trained on prevention. In traditional Chinese medicine, the highest form of acupuncture was given to enable you to live a long, healthy life.
The earliest written account of acupuncture is found in the Nei Jing (The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine). This document is believed to be written around 200 BC, and is one of the oldest comprehensive medical text books. Pien Chueh, a famous physician of the fourth century BC used stone acupuncture needles, moxibustion and herbs to bring a prince out of a coma. In the United States and China, Acupuncture is used frequently for the treatment of chronic pain conditions such as arthritis, headache, athletic injuries and post surgical pain. It is also used for treating chronic pain associated with immune dysfunction such as psoriasis (skin disorders), allergies, and asthma. Acupuncture is also found to be effective for the treatment of mind-body disorders such as anxiety, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, hypertension, insomnia, PMS, menopausal symptoms and depression. Some modern application of acupuncture is in the treatment of disorders such as alcoholism, addiction, smoking, and eating disorders.
Acupressure and Tui Na, Its About Moving the Qi
Acupressure, developed over 4,000 years ago, is an ancient way of accessing and releasing blocked or congested energy centers within the body. Treating patients with Acupressure is yet but another way to balance, strengthen, and tonify the patient's internal zang-fu (viscera, or organ) system, allowing the body to increase its immune response towards disease or disharmonies. The idea of using one's own life force to largely help in healing oneself appears to be a new way of approaching treatment to pain and disease in these modern times yet this basic concept has been studied, practiced and carried on by Chinese, Tibetan, Egyptian et cetera…traditional medical practitioners from well into our past.Acupressure originated from its overall predecessor Chinese massage, Tui Na which translates: push-grab. About 4,000 years ago Chinese practitioners, following the understanding of meridians and Qi flow, manipulated the human body in specific ways to affect and eliminate disease. Tui Na encompasses a wide range of energy moving techniques including the pressing of key Acupressure points on the body, the finer practice of Tui Na it self. One of the famous writings on Chinese Medicine, ‘The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine’ explores applications of twelve massage methods and their use for specific disease processes.
Specific Acupressure centers, or points, lie on energy pathways moving throughout the entire body called meridians. When these points become blocked or congested one may experience pain or discomfort on a physical, emotional, or spiritual level. On an emotional level one may become frustrated or irritable, and on a spiritual level one may experience a feeling of ungroundedness or may have difficulty knowing their purpose in life.
By using deep, but gentle finger pressure on specific points, the blocked energy starts to release, allowing one’s body and mind to relax, tonify, and start the healing process. It is important to recognize that putting pressure on these points may be painful due to the stagnation of Qi and Blood. This is not meant to deter the recipient of Acupressure, but to prepare oneself for the acupressure session.
During an Acupressure session one may enter into a mindful exploration, taking a deeper look at your one’s life and others as well. It is important to see one’s self from the inside out, recognizing locked away thoughts and emotions that may in fact be the leading causes to imbalancements and disharmonies. This line of thinking may be somewhat foreign, but lies deep within the Chinese philosophy known as the Tao [The Way] in reference to an overall approach to healing. It should be understood that the mind, body and spirit is inseparable. All must be in balance in order for the free flow of Qi (energy, life force) and the free flow of life itself.
Balancing the Channels or Meridians with Moxibustion: The Invisible Pathways of Qi
The Chinese use the term "jing luo" which means channels, conduit, or most commonly the meridian. These are the invisible channels through which Qi can circulate throughout the entire body. The acupuncture points (or holes as the Chinese term "xue" is translated) are the locations where the Qi moving within the channels rises closer to the surface of the body. There are twelve main meridians, six of which are yin and six are yang, with numerous minor pathways forming a network of energy channels throughout the body. Their pathways are very similar to the body’s own nervous system.When Qi flows freely through the meridians, the body is in balance and healthy, but if the energy becomes blocked, stagnated, or weakened, it can result in physical, mental or emotional disharmonies. An imbalance in a person's body can result from inappropriate emotional responses such as: excess anger, over-excitement, self-pity, grief and fear. Environmental factors such as cold, dampness, humidity, wind, dryness and heat can also cause the body to become out of balance including factors such as eating a rich and high sugar diet, excess sexual activity, excess work levels and physical exercise.
To harmonize the body’s balance the acupuncturist stimulates the appropriate acupuncture points, releasing the stagnant Qi blockages, counteracting the imbalance(s) and allowing the Qi to flow properly throughout the body.
For instance, if you basically have stagnant digestive Qi [reflecting as a bloating, gas, low appetite, loose bowels and so on…] the acupuncturist may choose specific points that stimulate and tonify the digestive Qi progression. If the Qi is too cold the acupuncturist may choose to use moxibustion to warm the points. Moxibustion is either the burning of a special herb attached to the end of specific acupuncture needles to introduce the element of warmth or heat into the body through the points or the use of a moxibustion-stick [it looks like a cigar] burning one end and directing the heat, approx. 1”, from the specific points.
In this way the acupuncture can effectively rebalance the energy system and restore health. The points that the practitioner may choose to stimulate might not necessarily be at the exact sire of the symptoms (the further away, the more powerful), but very much related. It is imperative to understand that a "clogged" point may be very painful to open, especially after years of stagnation. It may take many treatments to reverse, and open the meridian, leading to a clear Qi flow and a harmonized existence!
QI GONG
Qi Gong literally means [Qi]-energy, vapor, or vital force and [Gong]-to work, and in Chinese Medicine it refers to internal breathing combined with physical movements which will increase personal health, longevity, and create a harmony with the world. All of the Qi Gong movements will contain a common thread linking the mind, eyes, body movement and breath. Another way to express this is through this concept: the mind is the presence of intention, the eyes are the focus of intention, the movement is the action of intention and the breath is the flow of intention. This is how truth and understanding is cultivated and permeates all of the training.
Qi Gong internal movements was said to have been the first introduced to priests at the Shaolin Temples becoming the predecessor to Kung Fu animal movements. An enlightened Buddha, named Bodiharma, was said to have traveled from India to teach the priests three sets of six movements each including marrow cleansing, brain washing, and sinew changing. These internal exercises changed the health of the Shaolin priests and allowed them to become physically, mentally and spiritually advanced.
Today, Qi Gong exercises are an integral part of Chinese Medicine enhancing herbal and Acupuncture therapy. The movements are reasonably easy to learn and appear to be simple in nature. Do not be fooled by appearances! These exercises are very powerful and sometimes what can not be seen...can be felt. It is in the discipline of the person maintaining the exercises on a daily regimen that proves to be challenging. If a river were stopped by a dam and not flowing, a lake would develop. The water in the lake would become stagnant and things would start to grow making it undrinkable. This may be a good place for fish or algae to thrive and grow, but not for the Qi to flow!
Diet Therapy
Chinese Medicine considers the proper metabolism of food and water paramount to true health and longevity. Choosing the right food is also considered an important element in the healing and balancing process. Each type of food we consume can be considered either Yin or Yang and can be categorized in the same way that Chinese herbs are. If you have a weak digestion [more common then not] it is important to regulate the digestion by taking an herbal preparation such as the Six Gentleman that works directly strengthening and warming [increasing metabolic activity] the digestion. There are many reasons your digestion may be ‘off’ and can be assessed by your local Chinese Medicine Practitioner or by using our Online Consultation services available at Heaven and Earth Chinese Medicine Healing Center.
When choosing food it is extremely important in first removing or lower the intake of ‘toxic-type’ foods that can, and may off-balance the natural requirements necessary for good health.
- Reduce concentrated protein [red meat, pork, chicken and fish] intake to less than 15% of calories.
- Reduce fat intake to less than 30% of calories (to less than 20% of calories in overweight individuals).
- Increase complex carbohydrates (broccoli, mushrooms, greens, etc.) to 55% of calories, eliminate refined carbohydrates (sugar, flour products) whenever possible and increase physical activity to at least 2200 calories per week for females and 2400 calories per week for males.
Feng Shui
Feng means "wind," and shui means "water" (pronounced fung-shway). In Chinese culture, gentle wind and smooth water have always been associated with a good harvest and good health, while harsh winds and stagnant water have been linked to famine and disease. Therefore, "good" feng-shui has come to mean good livelihood and fortune, and "bad" feng-shui has come to mean hardship and misfortune.Feng-shui is not a superstition or a set of dos and don'ts. It is the art and science of understanding the forces of nature in order to design houses and workplaces that blend with the environment instead of clashing with it. It aims to help us live in harmony with the world by promoting the flow of positive energy and neutralizing or avoiding negative or destructive energy.
Like traditional Chinese medicine, feng-shui has a rich and subtle tradition with a standardized body of knowledge that takes years of formal training to master. As the tradition becomes firmly planted in the West, training programs and professional standards will evolve here as they have in Asia.
