Guest guest Posted October 27, 2000 Report Share Posted October 27, 2000 Past issues of Letter from China can be found in the archives of Chinese Traditional Medicine. Victoria >_____ > >LETTER FROM CHINA >October '00 >A newsletter on and modern China > >by Dagmar Riley >______ > >In this issue: >NOTE FROM THE EDITOR >...Next issue in December > >THE 5 ELEMENTS >...(A) Short Revision >...(B) Balancing Spleen disharmonies - 3: Medical treatment > >BEIJING MEMOIRS OF MY CANADIAN FRIEND ROBIN >...parks, " The Cool " and about renting trees > >DISCLAIMER >SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE information >______ > >Please feel free to FORWARD this newsletter to friends. >______ > >NOTE FROM THE EDITOR >Dear readers, >The next Letter from China will be published on the last >Friday of December (instead of November) because I will >be in India for a month, tying myself into knots in an >intensive Yoga retreat. >For patients and Qigong-students in Beijing: >I'll be back December 11th, and Qigong courses in the >Kempinski Hotel Health Club will resume the following week. >Stay well! >Dagmar > > >THE 5 ELEMENTS >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 EARTH is associated with: >Indian summer - Maturity - Brooding - Humidity - Spleen >- Stomach - Mouth - sweet. > >Balancing Spleen Disharmonies includes 3 aspects: >*your lifestyle >*nutrition >(nutrition is part of your lifestyle, but it's a large >enough issue to be treated separately) >*medical (self-)treatment >including herbal products, acupressure etc. > >In this issue, we will look at the second aspect: Medical >(self-)treatment. > >For BACK ISSUES of this series, please visit >http://www.topica.com/lists/Letter-from-China > >B) BALANCING SPLEEN DISHARMONIES - 3 > >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. > >Single Chinese herbs are rarely used. They are almost >always part of formulas: As a decoction, a tincture or a >ready-made medicine formula in e.g. pill or bolus form. >For instructions on how to prepare a decoction or tincture, >please read Letter from China April '00 (1). > >SINGLE HERBS: GINGER > >Indication: >Ginger is wonderful when it comes to warming the Spleen >and Stomach, relieving symptoms of indigestion such as >feeling bloated, gas, soft stools, feeling heavy and tired >after eating, nausea, vomiting, stomach pains relieved by >warmth (including other cold pains, like menstrual pain >relieved by warmth), etc. > >Function: >Ginger warms the Spleen and Stomach and helps the >transformation (assimilation) of food and liquids, thus >promoting digestion. >Fresh ginger: Dispersing cold, arresting vomiting, resolving sputum. Dried >ginger: Warming the center (the region including >the Spleen and Stomach), eliminating pathogenic cold, >recuperating depleted Yang and stimulating blood circulation. > >Energetics: >Fresh ginger is acrid in flavour and warm in nature while >dried ginger is hot in nature. > >Channels: >Both act on the channels of the Spleen, Stomach and Lung. > > >SINGLE HERBS: TANGERINE PEEL (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae) > >The peel is used dried, and when tangerine season starts >you can see many Chinese households drying the peels on >window-sills and balconies for self-medication. > >Indication: >Tangerine peel is especially good to use in cases abdominal >distension/bloatedness and gas, since it " rectifies qi " , >meaning that it moves stagnating qi. It is also used to >treat general indigestion. > >Function: >Rectifying qi (moving stagnating qi), harmonizing the center (Stomach and >Spleen) and drying dampness. > >Energetics: >Acrid, warm. > >Channels: >Spleen and Lung. > > >CHINESE HERBAL FORMULA, also as a patent medicine: >SHEN LING BAIZHU SAN Ginseng, Poria and Ovate Atractylodes Powder > >Function: >This formula nourishes qi and strengthens the Spleen, >regulates the Stomach and elminates dampness. In a " western >sense " , it thus regulates gastrointestinal functions, >promotes digestion and absorption and promotes water metabolism. > >Indication: >Lassitude, indigestion, epigastric distention/feeling bloated >and full after eating, soft stools, sallow complexion, whitish >and greasy coating on the tongue. These are symptoms of >stagnation and dampness due to Spleen deficiency. > >Contraindication: >Do not use or only carefully use in cases of yin deficiency: >Low fever, heat in the palms and soles, sweating at night, >dry mouth, red tongue. > >The formula contains the following herbs: >1. Lotus seed [semen Nelumbinis]: Helps No.9 in strengthening >the Spleen and eliminating dampness. > >2. Job's tears seed [semen Coicis]: Helps No.9 in strengthening the Spleen >and eliminating dampness. > >3. Amomum fruit [Fructus Amomi]: Acrid and warm, its aroma is used to >stimulate the Spleen. > >4. Platycodon root [Radix Platycodi]: Leads the other drugs to the upper >part of the body. > >5. White hyaciath bean [semen Dolichoris Album]: Helps No.9 in >strengthening >the Spleen and eliminating dampness. > >6. Poria [Poria]: Tonify qi of the Spleen and Stomach > >7. Ginseng [Radix Ginseng]: Tonify qi of the Spleen and Stomach > >8. Licorice root [Radix Glycyrrhizae]: Tonify qi of the Spleen and Stomach > >9. Bighead atractylodes rhizome [Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae]: >Tonify >qi of the Spleen and Stomach, eliminate dampness. > >10. Chinese Yam [Rhizoma Dioscoreae]: Helps No.9 in strengthening the >Spleen >and eliminating dampness. > > >ACUPRESSURE >The classic point for any symptoms related to Spleen/Stomach >disharmony is point 36 on the Stomach meridian [Zusanli]. >The location of the point is 4 fingers widths below the >kneecap and one finger width lateral of the shinbone. >Indications are e.g.: >Gastric pain, abdominal distension, vomiting, diarrhoea, >dysentery, constipation, oedema, depression, etc. > >Regularly massage the point with your thumb or the heels >of the other foot for a few minutes. > >**************** 1************************* >FREE Healing Herbs Newsletter~Original articles on natural >and alternative health, FREE online health analysis to target >exactly what is going on in YOUR body, and MUCH MORE! 6 Lucky >rs get a free ad each week! Join us today. You'll >feel better for it! >healingherbsnl- >*****************END ************************ > >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.] > >Well, since it has been such great weather I have been out >and about discovering the parks of Beijing. The first one I >went to was Ritan Park, conveniently situated across the road >from the Goose and Duck Bar. > >From the outside it didn't seem like it was going to be much. >What a surprise. Inside there are wonderful hills, paths and >pagodas everywhere. I strolled through seeing workers renewing >the landscaping. Replacing the grass by hand. It is tufted >grass so an army of workers was replacing each tuft. Instant >green. In one corner of the park is a pond stocked with about >8 different types of fish. Around the pond were people who >were fishing with rented rods and around the fishermen were a >multitude of " helpers " giving advice. > >After watching for about an hour I decided to stroll some more. >I came upon a lady standing, clapping her hands to a chant that >she repeated over and over again. Soon, I realized that as the >older people walked by they started clapping also. One man >slapped his back with one hand in rhythm as he walked. Within a >short time she had a whole group of people clapping and laughing. >I am not sure what was going on but it seemed to be a group >exercise session. Time was getting on so off I went with the >chant ringing in my head. > >Very near our apartment is a park that I have only been able >to get a glimpse of as I drive by on the way home. I decided >it was time to hunt it down. I am so glad that I did. There is >a huge lake with the required bridges to the islands in the >middle and platoons of boats tied up around the sides. The >cherry trees are all in bloom and the trees are that great >lime green colour of new leaves. In one corner of the lake >is a " forest " of rocks standing upright and a stepping stone > " bridge " for those who can't resist hopping from rock to rock. > >Two large boats with dragon head carvings were being repainted >for the new season and the workers were again getting >everything ready for use. I would never have believed that >this serene place was here waiting to be discovered. It is >one of the magical things of Beijing that I love - hidden >amongst the apartment buildings are oases of peace and >tranquility. > >Michael spent last week making ice. Finally! The lines were >painted and the name of the rink " The Cool " was added in both >English and Chinese. It looks wonderful. Thursday night we >had a private skating party for some of our friends. Michael >made a huge pot of chilli and we were able to find some hot >dogs. >Amy, and the staff from the Goose and Duck helped us tremendously >by arranging for hot dog buns to be baked fresh that day and >went out and about getting the plastic cups, plates and spoons >that we needed. Amy also donated the warming trays and her >staff ferried everything to the rink using her new bus. I don't >know what we would have done without them. They are truly >wonderful friends. > >We ended up with about 60 people, most of whom were trying >skating for the first time. Obviously, there were a few wet >bottoms and (I am sure) a few bruises the next day but we all >had a great time. Much to my surprise I had no problems skating >even though it has been more years than I care to remember. By >the end of the night everyone was getting much better with the >whole concept and I think that " The Cool " is going to be a huge >attraction. Especially in the summer when it apparently gets >very hot and incredibly humid. I can foresee them having problems >turfing people out. > >In China it is very important to have trees and flowers >everywhere. In fact, for Amy or anyone else, to be able to cut >down any trees they must apply to the government for permission. >A very enlightened attitude for sure. Everyone is very conscious >of the need for replanting and Amy supplies trees for anyone >who would like to plant one on her property. She also has a tree >rental program. That sounds weird doesn't it? What it means is >that families in Beijing and surrounding areas can rent a fruit >tree, take care of it throughout the year and reap the fruit >from that tree to sell or eat. That supplies families with >fresh fruit and a little extra money. Much like our " pick >your own fruit " farms except you have your own tree and no one >can pick from that tree. > >Well, I am off to enjoy the sunshine since it is beautiful >outside so I will close for now. Stay well and happy. Love Robin > >**************** 2************************* >Looking for Chinese herbs? >Go to www.1stchineseherbs for a wide selection of Chinese herbs. >*****************END ************************ > >_____ >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 last Friday of the >month. >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. > >for back issues visit >http://www.topica.com/lists/Letter-from-China >_______ > 2000 by Dagmar Riley. All rights reserved >worldwide. > > > > > > > > > > > >-- >Sent through GMX FreeMail - http://www.gmx.net > >_________ >T O P I C A The Email You Want. http://www.topica.com/t/16 >Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics > _______________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com. Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at http://profiles.msn.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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