Guest guest Posted June 16, 2000 Report Share Posted June 16, 2000 >-- > >--------- Forwarded Message --------- > >DATE: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 17:12:34 >Dagmar Riley <dagmar-riley >Letter-from-China > >_____ > >LETTER FROM CHINA >June '00 (2) >A newsletter on and modern China > >by Dagmar Riley >______ > >In this issue: > >THE 5 ELEMENTS >...(A) Short Revision >...(B) the Fire type: medical(self-)treatment > >BEIJING MEMOIRS OF MY CANADIAN FRIEND ROBIN >... the Goose & Duck Farm > >DISCLAIMER >SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE information >______ > >Please feel free to FORWARD this newsletter to friends. >______ > >A)SHORT REVISION: >The 5 Elements are a symbol for the 5 basic energies of >the Universe. >The 5 Elements are: Wood - Fire - Earth - Metal - Water. >The Element FIRE is associated with: >Summer - Growth - Joy/Lust - Heat - Heart - Small Intestine >- Tongue - bitter. > >Balancing Heart (Fire) Disharmonies includes 3 aspects: >*your lifestyle >*nutrition >*medical (self-)treatment > >For BACK ISSUES of this series, please visit >http://www.topica.com/lists/Letter-from-China > >B) THE 5 ELEMENTS - FIRE > >Before we start, just a reminder about the safety of Chinese >herbs: >-make sure you understand what the herbs are used for and >whether they are suitable for your imbalance (if in doubt, >ask a qualified TCM practitioner) >-do NOT overdose yourself. Follow the recommendation on >the packaging or ask your TCM practitioner. >-beware of fakes and buy only from reputable dealers. > >FOOD DISPELLING SUMMER HEAT > >I don't know about where you are living, but it's been >getting quite hot here in Beijing: 37-40 degrees Celsius! >Remember that the Fire-type is especially prone to being >affected by summer-heat! However, at 400C not only the Fire >types are dreaming about cool beers and swimming pools. >As swimming pools are not always available and cold beer is >not healthy beyond a certain quantity, let's start this issue >with some summer-heat-dispelling food suitable for anyone >suffering under the summer-heat. > >Most hot countries, like India or Thailand, do not use ice- >cold foods to dispel summer-heat. Ice-cold drinks or foods >seriously damage your digestive system (your Spleen Qi, in > terms), which is not good news, especially >in countries whose food hygiene drops as the temperature >rises. > >Besides that, ice-cold foods are not really cooling: The >body has to produce heat to warm up the under-cooled stomach >and digestive tract. All in all not a healthy solution. > >People in China use foods that naturally have a cooling >property, a favourite for dispelling summer-heat is Mung >Beans. >By the way: The term summer-heat in TCM refers to humid heat, >thus most herbs/foods expelling summer-heat also have >diuretic properties. > >MUNG BEAN is the seed of Phaseolus Radiatus; Leguminosae. >Energetics: sweet, cold. >Channels: pertains to the heart and stomach channels. >Indications: Clears pathogenic heat and toxic materials, >removes summer heat, induces diuresis. Used in cases of >restlessness and thirst caused by summer-heat, oedema, >diarrhoea and hot-natured dysentery. >Preparation: >1. Boil a handful of Mung Beans, strain and drink the decoction. >Add sugar if preferred. Good taste! (I am >boiling some as I am writing this newsletter) >2. Prepare Mung beans as a gruel. > >WATERMELON >Energetics: sweet, cold. >Channels: pertains to the heart, stomach and urinary >bladder channels. >Parts used: juice of the watermelon-flesh, rind of the fruit >Indications: Clearing away summer-heat, relieving >restlessness and thirst, and inducing diuresis. Used in >cases of restlessness and thirst caused by summer-heat, >consumption of the body fluid due to excessive heat, >difficulty in passing urine. >Preparation: Flesh: Blend into juice, or eat raw. Rind of >the fruit: Eat raw, use in salads. >Dosage: Not more than one cup of the juice (otherwise >danger of loose stools) >Caution: People suffering from Spleen deficiency (possible >symptom: loose stools) use with care. > >CUCUMBER >Energetics: sweet, cold. >Channels: heart, stomach. >Parts used: fruit and seeds, raw or as juice. >Indications: Clears summer-heat, promotes diuresis, stops >thirst. Used in cases of restlessness and thirst caused by >summer-heat, sore throat, difficulty in passing urine. > > >HERBS USED IN TREATING HEART DISHARMONIES >Single Chinese herbs are rarely used, but look at these 2 >herbs to get a feel for how they work. Pay special attention >to the " Caution " paragraph to understand how Chinese herbs >can be harmful if contraindicated! >A) Tonifying the Heart: >Longan Aril, Arillus Longan, Longyan Rou >Energetics: sweet, warm. >Channels: heart, spleen. >Function: Nourish heart and spleen, benefiting Qi and >Blood. >Indication: Deficiency of heart and spleen. Possible >symptoms: Palpitations, sleeplessness, forgetfulness >AND typical deficiency patterns like pale face, pale >tongue, cold hands and feet, weak pulse, tiredness, >lack of vitality etc. >Caution: Do not use in cases of fluid retention, phlegm, >full heat (full heat symptoms include red face, thirst, >dark urine, etc). > >B) Clearing Heat of the Heart >Coptis Root, Rhizoma Coptidis, Huanglian >Energetics: bitter, cold. >Channels: heart, liver, stomach, large intestine. >Function: Clearing heat, drying dampness. >Indication: Amongst others, this herb clears full heat >in the Heart meridian. Symptoms may include: Palpitations, >red face, very red tip of the tongue with possible a >midline crack reaching to the tip, thirst, dark urine, >inappropriate too loud laughter, incessant talking, >hyperactivity,etc. >Caution: This herb is very cold and, if used >inappropriately or in too large a quantity, easily affects >the stomach. Do not use in cases of cold in the stomach or >spleen deficiency. > > >CHINESE PATENT MEDICINES >Single Chinese herbs are rarely used. They are almost always >part of formulas: As a decoction, a tincture (rare in China) >or a ready-made medicine formula in e.g. pill or bolus form. > >Below are 3 examples of heart disharmonies and suitable >Chinese Patent Medicines. I am going to give a full analysis >of the first Patent Medicine. >A good book to help you do an analysis of other Patent >Formulas yourself is " A Handbook of Chinese Healing Herbs " >by Daniel Reid, which lists common Chinese Herbs and their >properties. > >Heart Fire: >(key symptoms: tongue ulcers, thirst, palpitations, red >tongue) >Patent Medicine name: DAO CHI SAN >Ingredients: >1)Sheng Dihuang, dried Rehmannia Root, Radix Rehmanniae: > removing pathogenic heat, cooling blood and nourishing >Yin. >2)Mutong ,Fiveleaf Akebia Stem, Caulis Akebiea: > purging pathogenic fire from the Heart and promoting >urination. >3)Sheng Ganzao, Licorice Root, Radix, Glycyrrhizae: >clearing heat and toxins, coordinating the actions of >the various ingredients. >4)Dan Zhuye, Lophatherum, Herba Lophatheri: >removing pathogenic heat from the heart, relieving >restlessness, leading heat downward and out through >urination. >Function: >Removing pathogenic heat from the heart, nourishing Yin; >inducing diuresis. >Indications: >Heat in the Heart channel manifested as irritable feverish >sensation in the chest, thirst and strong desire for cold >drinks, flushed face, ulcers in the mouth; or transfer of >heart-heat from the heart channel to the small intestine, >resulting in scanty, dark urine and difficulty in passing >urine. > > >Heart Blood deficiency: >(key symptoms: palpitations, insomnia, poor memory, pale >tongue) >Patent Medicine name: SUAN ZAOREN TANG >Ingredients: >1)Suan Zaoren, Wild Jujuba Seed, Semen Ziziphi Spinosea >2)Chuan Xiong, Chuanxiong Rhizome, Rhizoma, Ligustici >Chuanxiong >3)Fuling, Tuckahoe, Poria >4)Zhimu, Rhizome of Wind-weed, Rhizoma Anemarrhenae >5)Ganzao, Licorice Root, Radix Glycyrrhizae > >Heart Yin deficiency (empty heat): >(key symptoms: palpitations, mental restlessness, feeling >of heat, malar flush, red-peeled tongue with deep midline >crack) >Patent Medicine name: TIANWANG BUXIN DAN >Ingredients: >1)Shengdi, dried Rehmannia Root, Radix Rehmanniae >2)Xuanshen, Figwort root, Radix Scrophulariae >3)Danshen, Red Sage Root, Radix Salviae Militiorrhizae >4)Danggui, Chinese Angelica Root, Radix Angelicae Sinensis >5)Renshen, Ginseng, Radix Ginseng >6)Fuling, Tuckahoe, Poria >7)Baizi Ren, Arborvitae Seed, Semen Biotae >8)Suan Zaoren, Wild Jujuba Seed, Semen Ziziphi Spinosea >9)Yuan Zhi, Polygala Root, Radix Polygalae >10)Tian Dong, Lucid Asparagus Root, Radix Asparagi >11)Mai Dong, Lilyturf Root, Radix Ophiopogonis >12)Wu Weizi, Magnolia Vine Fruit, Fructus Shisandrae >13)Jie Geng, Root of balloonflower, Radix Platycodi > > >ACUPUNCTURE POINTS >Acupuncture points can be easily located by following the >location description and feeling for a natural depression >in the skin or bone. Acupuncture points mostly feel more >tender to the touch than the surrounding area. When the >particular area of the meridian is blocked, pressing the >point may even be painful. Massage the point in small, >circular movements with your thumb (or other finger) for >a few minutes. > >a) Shenmen (Heart 7) >Location: >At the ulnar end of the transverse crease of the wrist, >in the depression on the radial side of the tendon. >Function: >Calming, relieving feelings of unreasonable fear, >nervousness, manic behaviour, restlessness. Used in >treatment of insomnia. >Stabilizes the Heart, relieves palpitation and arrhythmia. >Clears heat, relieving menopause symptoms like night >sweat and hot flashes. >Can help to lower blood pressure. > >b) Juque (Ren 14) >Location: >Directly 6 thumb-widths above the umbilicus (belly button). >Function: >Stabilizes the Heart, calms the Spirit (Shen), relieves >emotional or mental disturbances, relives stomach pains. > >Join us again next time when we start a new series on >the element Earth! > >______ > > >BEIJING MEMOIRS OF MY CANADIAN FRIEND ROBIN > >[i had the opportunity, over the past year, to visit China. >My husband is a refrigeration mechanic who was sent to >Beijing to build an ice rink in a shopping plaza so that >you can skate and shop. Since I love to travel, I quit my >job to follow him. This is the story as it unfolds.] > >Yesterday we had an opportunity to visit the Chinese >countryside. One of our friends owns a bar/restaurant called >the Goose and Duck and she has a farm about 1 hour outside of >Beijing. She is in the process of building a resort on her >property and already has about 15 log cabins, a restaurant >and a new bar there. You can do horse back riding, fishing, >swimming, and, since the farm is only 10 k away, go to the >Great Wall. > >Yesterday, we had to take up some supplies for a party so >we got a preview of the whole set up. It is nestled at the >foothills of the mountains, on a river and the reservoir, >which supplies Beijing with water. Next door is a resort >where all the governmental bigwigs go to relax. So it is in >a prime location. > >She has a stable of about 12 horses, cattle and the obvious >variety of geese, ducks and other farm animals. Her staff >was busy finishing the bar, which has two floors with a >balcony overlooking the first floor, and will be the >recreation centre for the village of log cabins that will >be our accommodation for the evening. She is also in the >process of building a hotel on her property, which will >provide a more refined place for vacation and business >meetings than the log cabins. > >At the moment, the schools send groups of students up >during the week to experience the countryside. The students >are able to fish, hike in the mountains and see that China >is more than the city in which they live. > >After unloading the car of supplies, and touring the >property we were provided with a country lunch. A propane >burner was set up on the " lazy Susan " in the middle of a >huge table. Placed around it were plates of chopped >vegetables - spinach, cabbage, potatoes, tofu, slices of >beef, noodles and various sauces. A huge pot of boiling >broth with duck and pork was placed on the burner to continue >cooking. The method of dining was to place some of vegetables >into the pot to cook and then to scoop them out (with >chopsticks) into your bowl. This is repeated over and over >again until the veggies are all used and the meat is cooked. > >Also brought to us were meat pancakes. Basically a huge >puff pastry filled with meat and cut up into portions. The >whole meal was delicious and a fun way to eat lunch. Amy >tells me that this is called a Mongolian Hot Pot and typical >fare for the country people. After lunch we met her dogs - >4 Great Danes, 2 boxer puppies called Sugar and Ali (for Sugar >Ray Leonard and Mohamed Ali of course) a St. Bernard puppy, >an Alsation and a black Lab. In the city you are only able to >own dogs whose height is below your knees so it was the first >time I had seen large dogs since we arrived. > >All to soon the sun was setting behind the mountain and we >had to get on our way. On the way home I understood why. >The main roadway has no streetlights and it was a real strain >to avoid the people on bikes and on foot who also used the >road. The smog descends and it is worse than driving in a >snow storm for visibility. Apparently people are killed >everyday by cars whose drivers can't see them. You would >think the government would provide streetlights, since this >is a main road, but so far they haven't clued in. > >We arrived back in the city about an hour later and met up >with some more friends to have a game of pool at the Goose >and Duck Bar. I am really improving my game and in fact beat >Michael twice on Saturday. Since the guys have a pool >tournament on Tuesdays, Amy has decided to start a women's >tournament on Wed. nights and has asked me to head the team. >Boy have I come a long way. This Wed is the first night so >we will see how it goes. At the least it will draw in the men >once the word gets around that a bunch of girls will be >playing pool. > >______ >DISCLAIMER >The material in this newsletter is intended for >informational purposes only. I do not prescribe and I >do not diagnose. If you use the information in this >newsletter without the approval of a health professional, >you prescribe for yourself, which remains your constitutional >right, but the author assumes no responsibility. >_______ >SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE > >The Letter from China is published every two weeks on Fridays. >New rs will be forwarded the current issue. > > >by sending a BLANK email to: >Letter-from-China- > > >by sending a BLANK email to: >Letter-from-China- > >submit your own personal stories >gesund2000 >and write " article submission " in the subject line. > >comments, suggestions or criticism >gesund2000 >and write " comment " in the subject line. > >for back issues visit >http://www.topica.com/lists/Letter-from-China >_______ >Copyright ) 2000 by Dagmar Riley. All rights reserved >worldwide. > > > > > > > > > >_________ >T O P I C A The Email You Want. http://www.topica.com/t/16 >Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics > >--------- End Forwarded Message --------- ______________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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