Guest guest Posted April 7, 2000 Report Share Posted April 7, 2000 -- --------- Forwarded Message --------- DATE: Thu, 06 Apr 2000 21:23:43 Dagmar Riley <dagmar-riley Letter-from-China _____ LETTER FROM CHINA April '00 (1) A newsletter on and modern China by Dagmar Riley ______ In this issue: THE 5 ELEMENTS ....(A)Short Revision ....(B)Balancing Liver Disharmonies - 3: medical(self-) treatment BEIJING MEMOIRS OF MY CANADIAN FRIEND ROBIN .... Hung Chow and the Hard Rock Cafi 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 WOOD is associated with: Spring - Birth - Anger - Wind - Liver - Gallbladder - Eyes - sour. Balancing Liver (Wood) 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 or send an e-mail to gesund2000 B)BALANCING LIVER DISHARMONIES - 3: Medical (self-)treatment Recently, there have been a lot of warnings about the safety of Chinese herbs. Of course Chinese herbs are no killers. But there are some issues everybody should know about: For one, Chinese herbs are not " just herbs " . Yes, they are natural, and they generally don't cause any side-effects - if used correctly! Think about it: If they had no effect on your body, they couldn't function as medicine. If you have a fever, taking warm or hot tonics will make you suffer. Of course you wouldn't take such an herb in the above case if you know the very basics of , but what about Chinese ready-made formulas: Do you know the qualities of all the ingredients and how they work? Everything in Chinese culture is about balance: Yin and Yang is about balance - neither Yin nor Yang is good or bad, it is the balance or imbalance that matters. It is the same with Chinese medicine: More is NOT better. It is the correct amount that is good, less or more is bad. Don't overdose yourself because it's " just herbs " . What you need is balance, not accumulation. Finally, it is sad but true: Every product in China has its fakes, and medicines are no exception. Even the most reputable herbal product in Beijing can turn out a fake by the time it arrives on the overseas market. There are some foreign companies who have controlled production facilities in mainland China, and there are also a number of companies who buy bulk herbs and produce their own patent medicines abroad. There are reliable companies around. Spend the extra money and get safe products. 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. a) decoction Use a ceramics pot. Metal, especially aluminium, can chemically react with the herbs. Put the herbs in the pot and cover well with water (ca. 2 cm above the level of the herbs), bring to boil and simmer for 20 minutes (check on the herbs regularly to prevent burning). Pour the liquid out into a bowl add water to the herbs for a second time and simmer again for 20 minutes. Pour the water into the bowl, mixing the 2 decocts. If you still find the liquid to be too much to drink, boil until enough liquid evaporated. Split the remaining liquid into 2 parts, drink one part in the morning and one in the evening. b) tincture Alcohol is very effective in extracting the active ingredients out of herbs. Tinctures can also be used for years, in contrast to dried herbs which quickly lose their potency. Pour 0.15 litres of alcohol (pure alcohol, e.g. good Vodka) over about 30 grams of dried herbs (triple the amount of herbs if fresh). Keep the mixture in a sterile, airtight glass container. Protect from light. The tincture is ready to use after approx. 5 weeks. I am going to introduce a Chinese herb formula as an example for a formula treating the most common Liver imbalance: Liver Qi Stagnation. The formula " Xiao Yao San " harmonises the Liver, stimulates the free flow of Liver Qi, thus relieving stagnation. It also strengthens the spleen, thereby aiding digestion. It is used with symptoms of Liver Qi stagnation and Liver blood deficiency: Feeling of distension in the chest and hypochondrium, sighing-like breaths, moodiness, depression, dizziness, bitter taste in the mouth, loss of appetite, nausea, irregular or painful menstruation, distension of breasts before period, headaches. Main Ingredient: Chai Hu, Bupleurum: [slightly cold, pertaining to the Liver and Gallbladder channels]. One of the most important Chinese herbs for treating the Liver. Regulates Liver Qi. " Helping Ingredients " : Peony Root: [slightly cold, pertaining to the Liver and Spleen channels]. Blood and yin tonic, regulates menses. Angelica Sinensis (Dang Gui or Dong Quai): [warm, pertaining to the Lung, Heart, Spleen channels]. Builds blood, regulates menses, invigorates blood. Bai Zhu: [warm, pertaining to the Spleen and Stomach channels]. Strengthening the spleen and thus helping digestion. Gan Cao, Licorice: [neutral, pertaining to the Heart, Lung, Spleen and Stomach channels]. Qi Tonic for the Spleen. Sheng Jiang: fresh Ginger: [warm, pertaining to the Lung and Spleen channels]. Warming stimulant, aiding digestion. Bo He, Mint: [cool, pertaining to the Liver and Lung channels]. Expelling wind-heat, clearing the head and eyes. This formula is also available as a patent medicine (ready made medicine). The following are western herbs that are also highly beneficial for the liver (both the western anatomical liver and the Chinese Liver) that you can safely use as a tea or tincture. a) Milk Thistle, Silybum marianum The ingredient protecting the liver is Flavonol Silymarin (=Silbyn), which is free from side effects even in high dosages and very effective in the regeneration proccess of the liver. The qualities of this herb have been known since the middle ages. Take as a tea: 1 teaspoon of the fruits of Silybum marianum, add < litres boiling water, leave for 20 Minutes and strain. Drink while still hot, on an empty stomach in the morning, 1/2 hour before lunch and in the evening before going to bed, one cup each time. You can mix the tea with peppermint tea. b) Dandelion Root, Taraxacum officinale Used for all heated liver conditions, stomach disorders, constipation. Also used in the treatment of hepatitis. The roots are used to make a tea or tincture. To take as a tea: 1-2 teaspoons of the cut roots, add < litres of water, and boil for 1-2 minutes. Leave for 10 minutes and strain. Drink warm. c) Barberry, Berberis vulgaris Can be combined with Dandelion root in a tea. Treats Liver stagnation, stimulates digestion by stimulating the secretion of bile. To take as a tea: 1-2 teaspoons of the leaves or root, add < litres of boiling water, strain after 5 minutes. 1-2 cups a day, DO NOT DRINK MORE. The leaves and roots of Barberry are slightly toxic when taken in big doses. Consult your doctor if in doubt. Acupuncture points of the Liver meridian 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) Point Taichong (Liver 3) Point Taichong is the so-called Source point of the Liver meridian. Source points have a strongly harmonising effect on the organ associated with the respective channel, in this case the Liver. Position: On the upper part of the foot, in the depression between the first and second metatarsal bones (the bones that lead up to your big toe and the second toe) Function: Supporting the free flow of Liver Qi and blood; expelling pathogenic wind. Therefore alleviating headaches, bad digestion, dizziness, red and swollen eyes, feeling of distension in the chest and hypochondrium, irregular menstruation, cramps, etc. b) Point Qimen (Liver 14) Position: Between the sixth and seventh rib, right below the nipples. Function: Supporting the free flow of Liver Qi, removes blockages, removes blood obstruction, therefore alleviating cysts in breasts/uterus, piercing pain in the head, feeling of distension in the chest and hypochondrium, bloatedness, etc. This is the last issue about the Wood element, so you kind of graduated in the first of the 5 Elements! And, as I gather from your comments, you are able to make good use of what you've learnt. Next time, then, it's all about the Fire type, fire-energy characteristics and the personality tendencies of the Fire type. *********************Ad 1******************************* Astronomy Digest is a Free Monthly On-Line Astronomy Magazine with Current Astronomy News, Product Reviews, and much more. http://astronomydigest.com *********************Ad 2******************************* Relieve physical & mental stress by improving your financial future! Get the most recent back issue of Probe Consultants' Free Household Money Saving Tips Newsletter. Send an email to autoresponder tips?Subject=LtrChina To free online or for more information, visit: http://www.go-probe.com/householdtips.shtml?LtrChina *********************End Ad***************************** ______ 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.] More in the Saga of Beijing. I have discovered another exciting place to do my shopping: It is called Hung Chow (phonetically speaking) and it is a building stocked with everything you can imagine. On the bottom (or basement) floor is a food market with meat, fish and every other smelly thing you might eat. Thank God its on the bottom floor-you can avoid it if you want. My personal favorite is the third floor. As you step off the elevator there are about fifty stalls with pearls, pearls and more pearls. Fresh water, seawater, perfect ones and aberrations, every hue under the sun - or should I say sea. They are semi strung and laying on satin sheets waiting for you to hesitate at the booth. Young sales people call you over to see their pearls - of course they will give you the " best deal " . Apparently Bill Clinton stopped here during a visit and bought 10 strings for $100.00 U.S. On the other side of the room are the stalls/booths that really made my urge to buy increase. The antiques! What wonderful things. Perfume bottles carved from agate, painted glass, painted porcelain and jade. Carvings in granite or some form of stone, vases and plates from the different dynasties, clothing, paintings. Such a dilemma, I want it all! Of course everyone gives you a price with the addition of the words " but I give you a discount, what do you want to pay " . This is going to be fun! On Friday night we went to the Hard Rock Cafi - yes they are everywhere! The food was good but I think I am starting to prefer the local cuisine - it seems much more interesting. While we were there Michael noticed some girls oohing and ahing over a magazine article. When he asked what caught their interest they showed him a page of pictures of a Chinese pop star. Michael was shocked to see a new friend of ours who we met at a restaurant his girlfriend owns, across the street from where we live. It is a Thai restaurant that we like not only for the food but they play reggae music. In fact we had given Gao (the pop star) our collection for him to tape since the selection here is limited. Little did we know that it was like taking " coal to Newcastle " . He is a real sweetie and his girlfriend May is beautiful and so gracious. We had a real chuckle over this incident. I am learning my way around Beijing and in fact, the other night, when both Michael and the driver got misplaced around the area where we live, I was able to direct them home using the Chinese words of turn right, left, go forward and STOP! Yeah for me! Michael now has a new respect for my directional ability. Believe me I won't let him forget it either. After getting bored with the selection of movies on TV we have bought some movies on CD. We play them on the computer but the Chinese characters at the bottom of the screen are a bit disconcerting. I find myself trying to match the words with the characters - something that really doesn't work. Oh well, it fills in the evening when the old re runs are the only thing on. That's all for now, stay tuned for the next episode. ______ 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 gesund2000 and write " back issues " in the subject line or visit http://www.topica.com/lists/Letter-from-China _______ Copyright ) 2000 by Dagmar Riley. All rights reserved worldwide. _______ Enlighten your in-box. http://www.topica.com/t/15 --------- End Forwarded Message --------- --== Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ ==-- Share what you know. 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