HealthyQi

Dream sleep aid

2009-06-28T18:35:00.000-07:00

The points acupressurists recommend for sleep and relaxation are found not only on the wrist but other places as well. If you can get in the habit of adapting a easy to learn but effective routine every night before bed you may find that your sleep improves. The only investment you will need to make is the time it takes to learn the routine and then apply it.

There are several reasons why a person may have trouble sleeping. A major cause is the inability to stop thinking. Overthinking makes it difficult to get in the proper mood for sleep. Another cause is food stagnation resulting from overeating or eating inappropriately. We need to finish eating in a timely manner so that our stomach has time to digest the food before we begin our sleep ritual. Lack of a proper routine is another reason why we have difficulty falling asleep. We have to train our bodies when is the appropriate time to sleep and stick to the routine.

Oddly enough, lack of circulation can make it difficult to sleep peacefully through the night. So during the day it is important to get enough exercise to encourage good circulation on a daily basis. On the other hand a heavy workout at the end of the day may rev the body system so that sleep is unattainable. Obviously, balance is important; people who tend to move little need to move more to provide good circulation people who persue an active exercise program need to tailor their activities so that they can slow down enough to sleep.

Among the over- think category are people who engage in computer activities and gaming. The mind becomes agitated so that the person is no longer sleepy enough to fall asleep. Naturally it would be better to end such activities early enough so that the body has a chance to calm down enough to sleep.

Another condition that tends to accompany sleeplessness is anxiety especially among those who can’t fall asleep. An appropriate acupressure routine would include points that encourage the heart and mind to calm down so that it can get some rest and perhaps fall asleep.

A major point of relaxation is found at the center of the inner wrist 1.5 inches from the crease toward the elbow. It has been widely researched for nausea but is also an important point for calming and relaxing. It is called Neigun or pericardium 6. It is located between two tendons and it is a wise idea to soften the wrist by flexing it a bit so access the point.

Another point on the wrist is located pericardium Daling or pericardium 7. It has an effect of calming the heart. It is also found at the center of the inner wrist at the crease between the two tendons. Another point that forms a 2 dimensional triangle with the other two is Shen Men or Heart 7. It is located directly across from Daling pericardium 7 in a depression at the end of the writst on the ulnar side of the tendon that forms on beneath the webbing of the small finger.

A quick and cheap way to apply continuous pressure to those point is to take a seed pressed onto a piece of tape. Typically a vaccria seed is used but if you have stainless steel or gold beads they work as well. Place the bead on the tape. Take an eyeliner to mark the appropriate acu-points on the wrist and then take the taped bed and apply it firmly to the wrist on the marked spots. You can increase the stimulation by pressing or rubbing on the seeds. As your wrist are stimulated close your eyes and take deep breaths.

If you are experiencing insomnia try this cost effective treatment and see if it works for you. The thing about this and other acupressure routines is establish regularity. The thing about the Dreamate is that since it is an electronic product you'll probably need to add the cost of batteries to run it. Plus the investment of 89.00 plus tax and shipping.

What is Ki?

2008-03-21T16:36:00.001-07:00

To find out I went to an expert, Koichi Tohei the founder of Kiatsu, a therapeutic method based on Ki. In one of his earlier books he describes ki as a daily phenomenon that we experience everyday. There is personal Ki and a universal Ki which if combined means we are alive. We wouldn't exist without the support of universal ki. What is this ki? Can it be seen or felt? How can we be aware of it?

He goes on to say that we consume Ki, in the morning we have plenty but by nightfall we are depleted even if we did little but sit around all day. Ki is consumable. By this definition we, being the good little consumers we are consume our fair share of Ki without knowing that we are doing it. Since it can't be helped the least we can do is to consciously use it wisely.

There's probably no one who wouldn't agree that we all tend to be more vitalized in the a.m. than we are in the pm; unless we do something to replenish the energy we lose/use during the day. We need a way to replenish our personal ki from the vast source of universal ki if we are to be as vital in the p.m. as we are in the a.m.

So far a connection can be drawn between what we commonly refer to as energy to help define what ki is. Still the definition is not complete. If Ki is energy then why hasn't the discovery of 'Ki' been a universal phenomenon? Maybe there is more to it than just energy. In the next few post I hope to build on the definition of what ki is and how it manifests. In the meantime, I'm going to be checking what the masters and other writers have to say about ki to find a more balanced definition of it.

Capitalism in America

2008-02-10T06:06:00.000-08:00

In America, all you have to do is name it, claim it and then you can reap the benefit of ownership. This is especially true in the world of aesthetics and therapeutic body work. Look at all the trade marked names of techniques that have resulted from someones vacation in Asia.

They look at or experience what is offered locally and come up with some snappy name; and then call it their own original idea or invention. On the plane ride home they make preparations to trademark their borrowed "idea" so that no one else can steal it. These borrowed ideas may get obligatory mention of the place and the people where initially found but never enough information is given for others to discover the true origin of this "original" trademarked idea. The consumer who finds the "idea" novel...since they don't get out much and have no clue what women do in Asia for health and beauty, pay exorbitantly high prices for what in Asia is a simple thing. What a crock and a tribute to American ingenuity and sense of capitalism! See it, claim it and then capitalize on it has become the American way.

Now that I've gotten that out of my system. I have a new technique I'd like to share with you based on my travels of numerous web pages of the Orient...

Really, I've reinstituted my bodywork practice and have decided to focus on the feet. The feet are the instrument of stability. Their orientation is the earth. Their position when a person is standing put them in direct contact with powerful forces emanating from the earth. Those who feet are planted firmly on the earth have few problems with the health of their incomes, relationships or other areas of the life. Those who are working with issues of stability have problems with dry crusted feet, sore achy feet, smelly feet, etc. indicating an imbalance of a very base order. When ones feet hurt, the whole body is out of sorts.

Many illnesses are reflected in the feet. This is not to say that you can cure those illnesses through the feet alone but when your feet feel good, you tend to feel better. A foot rub when you are stressed can be quite refreshing. A skillful practitioner can smooth out tense areas on the feet, thus making life more pleasant.

I have a higher regard for my feet as during a recent period of economic down turn I witnessed the changes which occurred in my own feet. My bare feet had been in such an embarrassing state that I refused to remove my shoes to go to the pool and wore my water aerobic shoes while at the health club at all times. Needless to say this put quite a bit of additional stress on me and made me uncomfortable. But as things began to pick up...(long story about how I used what I know about health and healing to change my life) my feet automatically began to look better. I was impressed to assist by rubbing them, bathing them and working my points.

I vowed to make the humble and often overused feet the subject of my current inquiry into heath and health modalities. I am looking into simple but effective methods of dealing with the feet from beauty techniques, to acupressure and point work and just about everything connected with feet.

I know, I started with a rant but have no fear, I'm looking for organic methods and not someones "borrowed" method they stole from Asia or any other place.

What will I do with the information I gather? Compile it giving credit where credit is due. I will capitalize on what I compile but not for profit but for health so that others may learn simple techniques that may help reduce their reliance on the medical profession and pharmaceutical industry.

E- Dao

2005-03-27T10:53:00.000-08:00

Interpretations of Chinese thought is difficult for one who does not speak or read Chinese. Most works important to ABT's are old, written in ancient dialects no longer spoken or taught in China or Chinese language classes.

Luckily, I can glean a reasonable understanding of various works from scholars like Cleary, Wilhelm and Dreher. TCM methods are derived from centuries of Chinese thought and research, some of which can be gleaned by reading the works of great Chinese Masters. Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching also known as: The book of meaning and life is a great book to read. Not only for it's relation to Asian bodywork but also because it offers good advice to modern day situations.

I just discovered that many of the thing I've purchased in the past could have been bought on Ebay saving me lots of money and time that I could have used elsewhere. Once I found a new word processor for a fraction of it's original cost. The next day I bought the same thing because it was much cheaper than the first one I bought. A big problem for me is that I'm often outbidded. So, I try to create strategies on bidding. One day it had become evident that bidding had become quite an obsession that keep me at my computer long hours. I had been on Ebay nearly all day watching or checking on my bids. One of which was a copy of the Tao de Ching.

My modest bid for the Tao was beaten by another bidder. It all seemed wrong to compete for the Tao so I stopped altogether but not with my other bids. I justified my behavior as the thrill of bidding and allowed an aggressive and anxious spirit to take over me. I reasoned that it was worth it when when I won. In later reflections on that day I pondered why didn't I try a little harder to win the Tao book? Was I observing some taboo that prevents the sale or barter of the Tao? The answer was more simple than that. I already owned two different translations of it. Why would I need another when I don't make use of the ones I have? I hadn't stopped bidding out of respect for the book, the other bidder or anything else. It was out of respect for myself.

My copy of the Dao is a translation by Wilhelm. Randomly I selected a passage to read. The line from passage #44:

Whosoever amasses things inevitabley loses the important things.

Stuck a chord with me. Ebaying, as I had been was a major source of negative expressions. Not only does ebaying bring up an agressive spirit in me but it also comes with anxiety. I could hardly wait to get in the fray and make my bids. Then I check and recheck to make sure I'm the highest bidder. I didn't need the stuff I bidded on that badly.

That passage was a reminder that I needed to make changes if I was to remain an Ebayer. As I said before I was obsessed. For the chance of acquiring merchandise on Ebay I was giving up my peace of mind in exchange for chaos. Now, I think about strategies to allow me to use restraint, and bid conscientiously. One way is to first reconsider the value and utility of what I'm bidding on and then decide the maximun price I'm willing to pay, make it and walk away. I accept that if I am outbidded maybe I didn't need the item as much as I thought and let it go. This way I conserve my power for more important things like finding a use for the Tao in my everyday life.

A New Belly Book

2005-03-10T16:34:00.000-08:00

I got a really good suggestion for a book on the belly. It is:
"Healing from Within With Chi Nei Tsang: Applied Chi Kung in Internal Organs Treatment by Gilles Marin". Gilles and company are students of Mantak Chia who is the originator of the Chi Nei Tsang method. As soon as I can get my hands on a copy I'm going to find out more.

I was looking on the internet for information on the abdomen and all I could find was excercises to strenghten stomach via sit-ups and curls, a la western style. There was no mention of internal strength nor did I see anything where people actually placed their hands on their abdomem. Why was there no mention of anything but physical strength in relation to the abdomen? What a myopic (new word for today) thought! That is why I love Asian bodywork, it is a complete wholistic system that considers inner and outer strength.

I'm working on organizing my notes on a Qi gong style I learned from Jeffrey Yuen. In preparation for the actual movements you warm up by doing abdominal breathing. The movements are powerful on their own, alone, that working the abdominal from the breathings is a total movement. If I continue my qi gong practice and never set foot in a gym again, I will be o.k. But I find the combination of Qi gong and excercise perfect companions for health and weightloss

Jeffrey Yuen Qigong

2005-03-02T05:02:00.000-08:00

Last year, I had the opportunity to take a qigong meditation course with Daoist Master Jeffrey Yuen. It was held at the classrooms at Daoist Healing Arts in Asheville, North Carolina. Parts of the state had been hit hard by hurricanes but things were pretty much back to normal while I was there. Perhaps, the weather had something to do with the packed class. But, there was space for all and it was a particularly learning time for me. I'm not new to qigong, several of my Asian bodywork teachers have taught me the various styles they have learned. My experience in Asheville was special, and one that I may not forget for a while. I learned about an amazingly simple yet complex method to stay balanced when all about may be confusion.

We often have these ideas about what we think qigong is, based on our practice of yoga, or other disciplines. Jeffrey stated out by telling us what Daoist Meditation was. Here are some things he had to say:

Daoist Meditation is different than other meditations; also involved is healing.

It focus's on the physical body. The body is the vehicle to redeem the spirit.

It is not about achieving a particular state. That becomes an obstacle of itself.

It is not necessarily exhilarating. There is difficulty looking at oneself; pain comes to term.

You relax, concentrate and if you are able to maintain concentration, you meditate.

In meditation you are doing nothing and becoming one with silence.

Anywhere you wait you are given the opportunity to meditate.

Meditation is a form of qigong. Qigong is not necessarily a form of meditation.

It was a day long session and the entire morning was filled with a detailed explanation of the basics: breathing, postures and awareness or the preliminaries in preparation to meditate. One discipline of meditation is perseverance, where if you faithfully practice you will "reach sensation". He says that pain in the body is its way of saying to give it more attention. Meditation is the arousal of yang qi to move obstacles. The best time to practice is the dawn when the suns energy is about to rise. It is a good time to develop psychic energies.

Focusing to the point of exhausting our sense organs we reach pure sound etc., where there is noting left to see, hear or feel. That is called the surrender to nothingness or Wu way or Tai Qi (not the Tai ji you do in the gym). He shared with us special breathing techniques and ways of sealing organs. He says it is important to discover the microcosmic and to relax the points associated with it. You can meditate sitting as it is the most popular but you could stand which strengthens the kidneys or lying down which affects the lungs or you could walk which affects the liver.

The experience of Qigong meditation with Jeffrey Yuen was most enlightening and refreshing. There is a set of preparation excercises that we did to prepare for meditation in the afternoon. I'm was impressed that just doing the preparation I saw immediate improvement in my health. I have a tendency toward lung problems and wheeze at times. but not as I walked the steep walkways of the city when I went to get my lunch. My lungs were as clear as if I'd gotten a shot of something to open them and No wheezing! This was an unexpected benefit which made me look forward to the afternoon session even more. I was not disappointed and would highly recommend Daoist Meditation to anyone who askes me which method I think is best. In terms of which is best depends on what the person is looking for. As complicated as life can be I prefer simplicity in all things. In Daoist Meditation I found a system that is as easy as breathing and sitting down. It can't get any more simple than that.

Belly Books

2005-02-08T08:22:00.000-08:00

I'm just hung up on my belly and want to unravel its' mysteries. I'm checking my personal library for all references to the belly that I can find. Doesn't matter whether it's TCM or not. My goal is to compile a reference list of books about the belly. Tops on my list is Mantak Chia's, Chi Nei Tsang.

Last night I reviewed the wind releasing technique from chapter 4 entitled: Opening the Gates and Chasing the Wind. It is amazing how my perspective on Asian Bodywork has changed since I bought that book over ten years ago. Then I wasn't too impressed, last night, it was the bomb! It really works! My result was very, very releasing. I supplemented my session by applying a warm pack over my navel as I rested. Mr. Chia teaches you the location of the pulses surrounding the navel and how to feel for them. Amazing to actually place you finger on the pulse to get a sense of the associated organ and how it is functioning.

I could not feel the femoral pulse at the inquinal groove, that bother's me a lot. It is located roughly on the medial side of the front of the thigh. To locate it measure halfway between the iliac crest and the pubic symphysys on the crease of the IG. I tried sitting, lying down. standing up and standing with my foot on a chair but could not feel the pulse. Actually, I did feel something but it was indistinct, then there was nothing. That point opens the pelvis and leg area. From reading a medical site on the internet, I learned that the femoral artery if blocked can affect the carotid, and be a factor in strokes. Gives me a clue that I have aa lot of work to do. To ABT's any blockage is a potential problem which we deal with accordingly.

A good thing about Chi Nei Tsang book one, is that you don't have to memorize names or characteristics of acu-points as you would with Jin Shin Do or acupuncture. That makes it look easy but make no mistake, it uses powerful points. The book is excellent for someone starting out because it gives you the preliminaries, 3 Chapters worth of Taoist tradition and TCM theory. Giving you a good grounding and it includes Taoist meditations. The meditations help prepare your mind and body to do this type of work. This is one of my favorite books. I don't understand it all but I like it for what it reveals about me and my body.

The belly is known by many names. I try not to say stomach because people seem to be so confused as to what it is and where it is. Another name for the belly is Hara. Today I say belly, next time I may be working with the hara, its all the same. Any difference is personal and subjective. If you know of a particular belly book that I might be interested in, email me. I'd love to hear about it.

Signs of the Times

2005-02-06T16:06:00.000-08:00

In spite of the weather report that cold will be returning to the Midwest, I feel that Spring is just around the corner. Besides the unseasonably warm weather I've awaken several mornings to the chatter of many birds. Throughout the day they make their appearance more often on my balcony (in spite of the fact nothing is there for them), than during the months of December and January. I hope that it will not be as some have said who remind me of a season when birds froze to death because they came out too early. In any case I'm taking this as a sign that the remaining wintery days will be mild.

I haven't settled on a particular date to start cleaning, but hear that March is an ideal time to start. I imagine that there are planetary, seasonal, lunar and other things to be considered but I don't know of anything specific so I will no doubt start an active cleanse before the end of February. Besides, I think it better to rely upon my own internal resource to determine the best time for me to start.

One book I've reading is "The Belly and it's Power" by Allan Saltzman. Mr Saltzman has incorporated various Asian traditions in his bodywork practice. As interested in anything dealing with the belly as I am I was especially interested in his book when I saw that he refers to the work of Al Huang the instructor of my own Tai Ji and Qigong teacher. Saltzman shows that western man is ungrounded because he thinks too much and is light in the belly, in contrast eastern man is solid in his mid section and therefore grounded which Al H. calls secure, and light in the head. Remember the old clown toy with the weighted bottom? No matter how you hit it, it would fall and return to an upright postition much like what Al H is refering to.

My teacher teaches us to tap the abdomen for grounding when we find that in the course of our Tai Ji practice we have become unbalanced. I've learned to consider the abdomen and related dan tien as a major source of grounding and power. However, if you read other authors you will find some people consider the entire lower body for grounding. All I need do is practice to see what works best for me. In any case I find his book highly informative and practical with regard to the abodomen and related systems. He goes on to demonstrate abdominal self massage, breathing techniques and tells which muscles to focus on to bring balance and vitality to our central power house. I think it will be a very useful book to ponder as I prepare for spring cleaning.

2005-02-02T11:08:00.000-08:00

Children are such interesting and fun people to excercise with. Last night my neice and nephew were visiting. I had promised my neice to listen to her new CD of USHER when I worked out later that night. At the specified time I was wrapped up as usual with my work on my computer when she came over boom box in hand to remind me of my promise. I had no excuse.

A few minutes later we were bopping to 'Yeah!' and 'Burn' while having so much fun! The whole album had interesting sections that corresponded to the various movements we did. They showed the new dances and I was able to direct things so that we could work all segments of the body. Mostly we did free style mimicing each other. More than fun was happening. As we danced we were raising our heart rate and geting some good excercise. When it was time to cool down I decided to use the movements I learned in Qigong which we did as we listened to 'Confessions'. It was easy to teach the children and they learned quickly.

The movements worked perfectly to slow our heart rates to normalcy and I believe that not only that but they also moved the lactic acid our of our muscles. I awoke the next day with very little pain or discomfort. One Qigong movement I think was especially useful for me was 'The Heart' from the pushing method. As I moved the sound Haw automatically flowed from my body. I felt a refreshment that travelled from my chest to my limbs. Usher and Qigong who would have thought it? I had a spontaneous moment with the children that I hope happens again.

Seasonal Cleansing

2005-01-24T01:07:00.000-08:00

Even though Winter is not yet over, I am already thinking of Spring Cleaning.
One of my Asian Bodywork teachers stressed the importance of Spring. It is the time of the Liver and the time you are most likely to see condtions of imbalanced Liver. So when I say Spring Cleaning I think time to care for my Liver to remove Winter sludge. Removing the sludge hastens the Livers smooth transition from Winter into Spring.

Spring is a peak time for Dandelions. They are tender and abundant. The Dandelion is an excellent tonic herb to use for the Liver. Whenever possible I use American herbs, because I was taught to use what herb was immediately available in my area because it most likely will have the best benefit and is easier to get. Just think...Dandelion soup or juice or dandelion added to salads...Yum-Yum can't wait til I get some! If you use them make sure you use the organic variety.

Now, in terms of cleansing have you considered Grapefruits? A simple cleanse would have you incorporate Grapefruit into your diet at least 3 times a day. Or you could use Grapefruit Juice mixed with a gallon distilled water and a bit of fresh squeezed Orange juice with cayenne pepper and a bit of maple syrup to sustain you in a day long cleanse. (Water only or air only fasts are not recommended for all people. Best to check with your Doctor or other health practitioner to know if fasting is recommended for you). Anyone can do a cleanse...it mainly consists of broth; raw, cooked or juiced fruits and vegetables, and plenty of clean fresh water.

In the next few weeks I will be reviewing my notes and books for sound dietary nutrition and health practices regarding Spring Cleaning. If you fast or cleanse annually you already know that a successful cleanse requires preparation and planning. If you don't know then seek the advice of a trained professional and above all talk to your Doctor or OMD! In these next few weeks I will be doing my planning.

A good cleanse in Spring tones the body, rejuvenates the organs and refreshes the spirit.

What goes in must come out

2005-01-11T09:00:00.000-08:00

Hey, Guess what!
I'm making progress with the blood pressure. I've not totally let go of pharmaceuticals but I'm getting close. I believe that you can regain control of your pressure and eliminate the need for medicine.

One key to my current success is a competent and open minded physician. Her advise, knowledge and support have been an incredible assistance. I also worked with a competent Acupuncturist. I think it might have been possible to it with the Acupuncturist alone but since I was working on this long before I met my current Acupuncturist, I thought it better to keep both. The combination of treatments were a perfect complement. The MD served as overall support by documenting my progress, providing my regular check ups and doing tests. The LAc's provided the needlework, herbs and other treatments. But I have to give my own will and determination a lot of credit as well. It is not an easy task and it took me a long time to get here. That said.

A balanced diet is a good step. The digestive system plays a huge part in what goes on inside the body. Barring hereditary conditions, it is my belief that any condition of the body can be influenced by what a person eats, what s/he is exposed to and what he does. The first thing I did was cleanse my digestive tract. You wouldn't eat off a dirty plate would you? In the process of cleansing I discovered quite a bit about my personal health habits.

Taking a good hard look at ones self is the first place to start. If there is a need for pharmaceuticals or there is any kind of disease or discomfort, then there is a good indication that something is out of balance. You don't start exhibiting symptoms without having some underlying imbalance. I made it my business to make sure that I was doing my part to make sure that I was contributing to my own balance and well being. So I read and listened to what others had to say about digestion. I asked people who have been sucessful in lowering their pressure what did they do? Interesting enought I found that the best blood pressure lowering remedies were not well known or documented by the medical community. However I could not discount their opinion totally. I chose to listen to them as well and to abide as much as I could to what I was told. Hence, the pharmaceuticals.

Spelling Correction

2005-01-10T13:42:00.000-08:00

In a previous post, I ended a discussion of the digestion by mentioning Tai Qi and Gi Gong. Thanks to the careful observation of a friend, I found mistakes in my spelling. Both Tai Qi and Gi Gong are spelled wrong. In fact in they could be converted to the Chinese from where they're taken from they would be totally different words than what was intended. The correct spellings are Tai Ji and Qi Gong.

Happy 'Qi' days

2004-12-25T23:05:00.000-08:00

May your Qi be filled with blessed Peace and Joy and may the inside and outside about you be Harmony.

You get out of it what you put in. Part II

2004-12-12T16:41:00.000-08:00

A discussion on what goes into the body would not be complete without the discussion of Qi. Without it there would be no life. If it's path in the body is interrupted there is pain and discomfort. So, the presence and circulation of Qi represents health and life. There are many different kinds of Qi and each interacts with the body in it own way. Two basic forms of Qi are Da Qi and Gu Qi.

The Qi we breathe is called Da Qi or Qi of the air. It affects the Lung system (Capital L is the TCM model of the lung, small l is the western model of the lung). Pure sweet air gives us better results than foul polluted air. The ability of the Lung to take in Qi becomes affected when lungs fill up with stale stagnant air. We need to be able to push out the stagnant air to make room for fresh air. In TCM the Lung represents a system; it works as do all the other organ systems as part of a larger system. The lung system starts at the nose and includes the skin. When there are problems with the lung system there is asthma, allergies, shortness of breath on exertion, nose and throat disorders.

Another type of Qi is Qu Qi or Grain Qi this Qi is extracted from the food we eat. Good quality and nutritive food and drink produces similar quality of Qi for the body to use. Qu Qi is rotted by the Stomach, then the Spleen transmits Gu Qi to the Lung where it provides the energy used for various purposes. The quality of Grain Qi directly affects the our immediate energy output. Good digestion is the result of a good Spleen and Stomach system. Problems in this area include indigestion, nausea, diarrhea, regurgitation and anorexia or other eating disorders. Too many sweets and greasy fats produce a sticky goo or damp in the body which is difficult to eradicate. This system starts in the mouth.

The quality of what you eat, drink or inhale affects the quality of the Qi. Once inside the body these substances have to be transformed to their purest form so that the body can get the ultimate use from it. Fortunately, there is help to transform food, drink and air. It's called Tai Qi and Gi Gong, movements that involve postures, breath and at times meditation. Tai Qi/Gigong is not a magic bullet. It works as part of a system with good food, rest and common sense about health practices.

You get out of it what you put in. Part I

2004-12-12T15:57:00.000-08:00

I was telling a friend that I was busy writing articles to promote Asian Bodywork Therapy when she told me that for all my efforts to promote ABT it is a given that I will get out of it what I put in it.

You get back what you put in even the substances you inhale and ingest. These substances can be other than food and cigarettes. They can also be experiences, things you see, or any other interaction you may have with your six senses.

So if you eat good quality food and have pleasant experiences digestion will be a breeze. Your output will match the quality of what you put in. People should think of that when they become ill instead of rushing out to put pharmecueticals in. They should examine what they have put in their bodies and make adjustments as necessary.
I got a good look at what comes out of my body and it wasn't pretty. It was proof of what I had yet to learn and practice.

The average diet based on fast and convenience foods doesn't proveide enough fiber. Fiber helps cleans the intestines. Even if you were to eat one apple a day depending on its size it would provide you with 3 grams of fiber. You need 25-30 grams of fiber daily. You can tell you need more fiber if the stuff you leave in the toilet is misshapen, hard, odd colored and sinks to the bottom of the bowl. Fast foods and microwaved foods fill you up with fluff and no fiber or nutrition. You need beans, flax seed, raw and cooked vegetables and fresh fruit. I make a nutritional shake that contains 1-2 tab of flax seed, 1-2 tab of raw nuts (sunflower and or almond) and maybe a 1/2 a pear. This provides me with 8-12 grams of fiber and tastes good too! Then, if I have beans and a couple of vegetables I've gotten just about all my fiber for the day.

Ingesting fiber and good nutrition alone may not be enough to begin the process of cleansing the instestines. Some people may require herbs or other assistance to clear out the stuff which accumulates on the digestive tract. Not only do you have to be concerned with the stuff that accumulates but years of waste can cause the intestines to lose their tone making it difficult to eliminate properly.

What you believe can kill you

2004-11-30T09:22:00.000-08:00

One thing I observed is the reluctance of people to adopt ideas that challenge their belief system. A big focus for me is what I eat because I realize that my health depends upon what I put in my mouth. Often I'll make changes regarding food that differs from what my family believe. I also focus on what others eat as a clue to their health too. If I can make a suggestion that might help someone I would, and I did.

My thanksgiving dinner was designed so that it would contain the nutritionally sound elements including fiber. Traditionally the foods my family eats are loaded with chemicals and fat and are stripped of most of its usuable fiber. I wanted this year to be different so I cooked and invited everyone to bring what they wanted. I cooked rice and lentils and served real juice and not sugar sweetened Kool-Aid. I researched wines for health and though my family doesn't drink I served wine in goblets at the meal. There were two live salads as well as the traditional stuff. There was plenty to get a decent amount of fiber and nutrition.

It sure was different. Everyone seemed pleased. I think that I went a bit overboard when I detailed the fiber count and nutritive value of the food on eveyones plate. Everything out of my mouth that day was a health oriented fact. But I meant well. They thought the day interesting but I'm not expecting any changes with food at the next family gathering. I'll bring my own and they will eat what they want.

Here is one of my tasty tidbits from that day:

Are you aware of the affect of cinnamon on insulin production? Drinking cinnamon tea regularly could help reduce bloated bellies that accompany diabetic conditions and a little clove added to the tea could serve as a tasty anti-viral to eliminate parasites. If you are certain you have parasites add to that a tasty clove of raw garlic daily and you have a cheap and easy remedy for parasite prevention and eradication and it just might help you with bloating if your bloating is caused by parasites.

Thanksgiving. Feast

2004-11-30T08:46:00.000-08:00

Now that the holiday is over, my time is my own once again. I cooked and cleaned and chaperoned the weekend for 15 relatives and was busy the whole time. Now, I can rest. I have always considered Thanksgiving the greatest holiday of the year and this year it was particularly special because my awareness has been sharpened so that I am more alert to the wonderful blessings I have been given that I once took for granted:

Being with my family and spending the whole day without dissagrement.
Having an oven that works
All of my children home for dinner
My body working well, I breathe, eliminate, my heart beats, circulation flows.

It is incredible when you sit down and look at the things you formerly took for granted. I could focus on the things I don't have but when I do I miss the opportunity to enjoy the things I do have. I am grateful for all the bounty I have been blessed with.

What brought on this new focus? I'm not sure but this year I was forced to throw out or give away most of the things I'd accumulated over the years when I moved from a house to an apartment. It hurt to see all the things I let go and hadn't done much with but carry them around. As I tallied up how much I spend on books, clothes, unfinished projects, sports equipment etc over the years I could see how wasteful I was. By getting rid of some stuff I stirred up Qi. Qi in this case acted as a breath of fresh air to a stale existence. I still have a lot of books but it is easier now to actually choose one and read it.

If I thought I was poor before even with all that stuff; I feel very wealthy now with less, by focusing on and doing something with the things I have. I was miserable before but now I'm happier than I can ever remember being.

My earth element was harmonized by the elimination of waste. In comparison, the same things happens within our bodies. If we eat too much and don't eliminate properly we become slow, sluggish, depressed and unable to live life fully because of all the waste we carry. Eveb water becomes overloaded with waste when it stands still. We just have to know how to let go and get that Qi moving.

Chemicals Filler and Fat

2004-11-20T08:51:00.000-08:00

Why do we prefer that over nutritious food?

Coming soon!

The Chinese Medical view of digestion

It might change what you think about the food you eat.

We are what we eat

2004-11-19T11:50:00.000-08:00

I seem to be in a earth phrase. Earth is the element that deals with among other things our digestive system. When it is balanced we are well grounded. Our legs support us and our limbs move easily. It's illness's are spleen and stomach related like hyper/hypo glycemia, diabetes, gastritous etc. It is also reflected in our emotions when we are worried or become obsessed about things. So bear with me while I obsess about food. I promise when things are balanced I will move on to another topic.

Searching through my books one day, stuck in one was an old Wendy's nutrition guide. My blood pressure was up at that time so I got the guide to research the sodium content of the food. Using the guide I was able to get an idea of which foods I could eat within my sodium range. I'd done the same for McDonald's, Kentucky Fried and other restaurants where nutrition information was available. I don't know how things got to the point where I considered Wendy's offerings food. My pressure never went down.

Fast food used to be a once in a while treat. Now a days it is a way of life for million of Americans who often eat most of their meals in fast food restaurants where meals big enough to feed a family are served to one person. What many people haven't connected with is the idea that the food we eat has an effect on our health. We are a nation of people who have forgotten or never knew how to eat properly. The dietary problem is not limited to fast food restaurants. At school childrens lunches are filled with spongy white bread, sodium filled lunchabbles, Nitrate heavy lunchmeats, and they wash it down with a liquid libation of corn syrup and chemicals which the manufacturers label 'Juice Drink'. Some at home meals look no better. We've adopted the deficient American Diet as a way of life. It is no wonder we are sick and overweight.

The one thing missing from most of these new diets are the very things our digestive system needs to work properly. Most of these missing components can be found in fiber rich foods and mineral rich dark green vegetables. You may eat the parsley garnish from your plate and think that it satifies your daily requirement, it doesn't. The average person needs about 30 grams of fiber and the equivalent of 16 ounces of green leafy vegeables.

There are plenty of options to balance the inadequate American diet. Spinach, kale, mustard and collard grees, chinese cabbage, raw sauerkraut, and brocoli are just a few of the veggies that help provide the necessary nutrients our digestive system needs daily to remain healthy. Pineapples and papaya assist the digestive process and most fruits in season are tasty and help provide adequate fiber and nutrition. Lentils are easy to prepare, they require no soaking and are loaded with fiber. Most beans are fiber loaded powerhouses. Be careful of beans in the can. In spite of our technology, some canned foods contain high amounts of sodium as do foods processed for ease and long shelf life. 450 milligrams per 1 cup serving is the maximum you should allow.

If you have a healthy digestive system you have a better chance of having a healthy body. In Chinese Medicine Earth is the central element surrounded by Fire, Water, Metal and Wood all in balance. In the body, if our earth element which involves the digestive system is out of balance we can expect inharmony to affect all the other elements in the system. This in-harmony taxes our Heart (Fire), Kidneys (Water), Lungs (Metal) and Liver (Wood)organ systems.

It is no wonder that with diets deficient in proper nutrition that Americans are now among the most overweight on the planet. We have to eat more of nutrition deficient food to try to get the what we need to survive. The quality of the food we eat adds weight and sludge which clings to the intestines causing constipation bloating and gas.

What was I thinking? If my blood pressure is linked to what I eat, why am I eating at Wendy's and calling that food? The time I used to study that chart could have been used in juicing some kale or cabbage, that's the fast food I need. Besides fresh vegetables there is little about that menu or any other such menu that supports my Earth element or any other element. In moderation a little bit of Wendy's is fine, only as long as I faithfully supply my body with proper nutrition every day.

Health starts in the gut

2004-11-17T21:10:00.000-08:00

At least that is what I found out. Another aspect of Health is digestion. The digestive system is overlooked until we get constipated or have stomach upsets. Health begins in the gut and no amount of body work will make you healthy if you don't follow through with sound eating habits. Therapists need to hear this just as much as the clients they work on.

Recently, I had a conversation with Dorothy Chandler RN about my health habits. I had indigestion with the least bit of food, my allergies were out of control and I felt lethargic. While I was working on others I had begun to neglect myself. With Dorothy's help I could see that even though I made it a habit to drink water I wasn't drinking enough. She pointed out to me that my dry skin was a reflection of my intestinal state. I needed to hydrate more often. She also impressed on that I needed more greens because I wasn't getting enough of the enzymes they produce. She suggested 16 oz of a green drink, along with raw veggies, daily. I knew she she was right. So I made a conscious effort to change. I read a book on juicing greens to get some ideas and went grocery shopping.

Today I had 5 oz of raw Kale juice. I had been warned that it would be rough but actually it wasn't. It tasted mildly reminencent of wheatgrass. At this point I feel no juice could be as nasty as the medicine I take everyday. My plan is to juice one vegetable a day so that I get to know them all and then once I'm familiar with them combine them into exotic drinks. My goal it to work up to 16 oz of green juice a day.

Dr Chandler, Dorothy's partner and husband gave me a tip to keep me on aware of how much water I'm getting. Take 4oz's every 1/2 hour. Use a timer he suggests so that you don't forget. This is also handy for people who drink large amounts of water at a time and then don't drink any more. Drinking large amounts at one time can be undaunting. Breaking it up to a few oz's in short periods makes it a lot easier to be sure you are getting enough. At least it is that way for me.

While this is going on I'm gettng naprapathic adjustments and Asian bodywork. In Asian bodywork the system I'm working the most is the lung and the large instestine. They are brother and sister organs in Chinese medicine. They cover the area from the chest to the thumb on the red and white side of the skin. The lung affects the ability to generate energy by providing oxygen to the various organs. The large intestine is affected when removal of waste from the body is slowed or hampered. These waste make us sluggish and toxic. Another way to look at it is to also work the spleen which runs along the medial leg from the big to to the chest and the stomach meridians which from the toes along the lateral leg. Releasing points along those meridians can aide the process of healing. There are a couple of other meridians that would be useful in my case but I will discuss those later.

Since we're talking digestion which actually begins in the mouth, we should also talk about the Hara which is the area roughly btween the sternum and the pubic area surrounding the navel. Most people think of this entire area when they talk about digestion. An easy thing to do for overall for the body is to relax the Hara It is often affected by anxiety as well as digestive problems. Place your hands over the navel and close your eyes and just breathe. Take note of what you notice about your Hara but do nothing but breathe slowly and deeply. Do this for about 5 to 10 minutes a day or when every you feel like it. It is both a calming and refreshing thing to do. Another way to relax the Hara is to lie down on the floor and place a small sandbag, belly buddy or weighted pillow over the abdomen and and just breath. It encourages deep breathing from your core. Breathing this wasy your blood pressure lowers, anxiety lessens, and you become peaceful and at ease.

Asian Bodywork in Illinois

2004-10-27T14:00:00.000-07:00

If you are considering Asian Bodywork Therapy (ABT) and don't know your Yin from your Yang, here are some things to think about. While the jargon may reflect unfamiliar eastern concepts, the benefit need not be so mystifying. Asian bodywork is just as therapeutic and effective as other styles of bodywork. Another thing you should know is that studies have been undertaken to document the effect of Asian Bodywork for such things as relief of nausea and vomiting after surgery and during pregnancy, to improve quality of sleep and for weight loss. Research has shown increasing effectiveness when used as an adjunct to acupuncture or medical treatments.

Jin Shin Do (R) acupressure can help restore balance by releasing tension of painful or armoured acu-points. The neck release is a good way to begin a session or as a relaxing way to end it. Tui Na is useful to ease muscles that are sore and achy from overwork or sports, or joints affected by arthritis. The ABT expertise can be put to good use by working special areas on the feet to relieve congestion and help the client feel more rested and rejuvenated long after a session.

Asian Bodywork Therapy is an alternative for you to choose when making decisions about your complementary and integrative healthcare treatment. As of January 1, 2005, Illinois will require a state license for massage therapist. Asian Bodywork Therapist who are not massage therapists are exempt from that law.

Yoshinao, Dipl. ABT. (NCCAOM), CP

Healthy Heart Techno style

2004-10-24T14:31:00.000-07:00

A class mate of mine did a presentation on internet addiction. He listed 7 clues that a person could go by to recognise the addiction. If you had 4 or more you were considered addicted. I came up with 4. I thought of how wide my rear end had gotten from all that time in front of the computer.

Then, I was at my favorite electronic store and saw some kids playing Dance Dance Revolution in front of a giant screen. They seemed to be having so much fun. We can sit around and complain about how things are moving in the technology age or we can investigate what good we can find in it. So I decided to investigate. While my time at the computer has been productive; I have also gained weight and am out of shape. Health professionals all recommend walking.

I remember years ago I never walked more than I had to and was never more than a few pounds overweight. I could run and jump easily not like today where it is a struggle to make just one flight of stairs. While I was at that store I picked up the Basic DDR mat and software and an Eye Toy. My kids set it up for me on PS2...while I'm up to the technology age I'm no technician. We danced and jumped to the beats the most of the night. At the end of the evening I was sweating and blowing just as I would have had I taken an aerobics class at the gym. This was much better because I didn't have to wear special clothes or protective shoes. I didn't have to leave my house or hire a sitter. Inadvertently I solved quite a number of social problems while bridging the techno age gap. A lot of activities tend to separate families...this one brought us together and we had fun!

Just one word or warning...the routines may seem simple or easily master but take it slow...use one foot and do all the movements on one side if you get tired before the end of your turn. Have plenty of fresh water about...take some often or at least every 15 mins. Rest when you need. Before you begin take moment to warm and stretch your musches and then enjoy.

Here is a link to a different quiz to test for internet addiction:
http://www.addictions.org/internet.htm. Score 4 or more on the first 7 and consider that a good indicator of whether you have a problem or not. If you do seek help.

Healing Journal

2004-10-22T22:33:00.000-07:00

This is just the beginning. I've always wondered about blogs and now I will know. I got into bodywork to heal myself. My closet is full of notebooks from the various Asian Bodywork classes I"ve taken over the years. I'd like to use this space to revisit and organise some of those notes to reaffirm my practice and maybe find others who share my same interests.

The first thing I've learned as a practitioner of Asian Bodywork is that I'm going to have to do my Tai chi and Qigong every day. The combination of movement and breathwork allows me to stay balanced and feel really good. My teachers for this are Mantak Chia, Jamie Wu, Jeffery Yuen, Renee Ryan and their students. Yes...I have notes from these people. Their instruction was mostly doing simple moves but I had to draw little pictures and such so that I could remember the instruction.

Jamie Wu teaches 5 element Qigong, it is a pushing method and great for my heart. Oddly, the day I took instruction from him I was having discomfort around my heart. After completeing his class I felt better. No more chest pains! For a while I was doing it every day. It was the best when I'd go to the park. I'd find a secluded spot so. (Not everyone requires that much privacy...actually it could become dangerous should you lose focus of your surrounding.) I'd focus my gaze softly toward the trees/greenery in the distance, it was so refreshing. When I was done I'd find a big rock and lay down focusing on the blue sky and the clouds (when they were there). The experience was so other worldly. If I can, I'm going to post some of the diagrams I made of his class.

Heal*thy*Qi