diet/spiritual/environmental

[Guest guest]

Zev, I think much of the problem comes because we in the west like to separate

everything into boxes: spirit/emotions (whatever...) goes in this box, diet in

this one, chemistry in that one.

 

Here is a quote from my article on heavy metals, which largely focuses on how to

recognize correlates with TCM symptom patterns, materia medica and foods for use

with such, and biochemical mechanisms, because it is a very physical problem -

on the other hand:

 

Heavy metals have profoundly debilitating effects on the physical,

mental, emotional and social health of entire societies. According

to many historians, lead poisoning played a significant role in

the decline of the Roman empire; its wealthiest and most

influential citizens and politicians descended into a state of

madness and depravity, sprinkling lead chloride salt on their food

because they had acquired a taste for it. Is this any different

from the various addictions and cravings for poisonous substances

in modern times? Commercial tobacco, with its polonium

contamination, coffee, and chocolate, all high in cadmium,

combined with agricultural practices that include spreading

municipal and industrial sewage sludge [a1] on food crops have

brought us to point in history where we are poisoning ourselves on

a scale that far exceeds that of the ancient Romans.

 

When scientific and commercial interests cease to be the servants

of mankind, and, instead, become apprentices to sorcerers

conjuring up death and destruction, it is time for us to demand

accountability. A major component of the GNP (gross national

product) now includes health care costs required for the

increasing cancers, heart disease, and degenerative neurological

conditions like Alzheimer's disease. When economists laud the

expansion of the GNP, regardless of its implications for quality

of life, this is sickness of the mind on a massive scale.

 

Increasingly I find myself naturally seeing the physical, chemical, political,

and spiritual aspects of everything connecting to everything else. It is almost

painful to witness their separation into boxes. That's one reason I have

gradually evolved away from teaching " subjects " in my programs. If a political

or social or spiritual problem (how does " personal existential crisis " work as a

synonym?) arises in the midst of a discussion of why we have an epidemic of

diabetes, for example, and how to deal with it clinically, do I say to students,

" Sorry, that box is not on the agenda today " ? In some ways, my biomedical

engineering training in graduate school was more holistic than many

" alternative " health programs I see. The relevance of many different subjects

was constantly evident in the solving of specific technical problems.

 

---Roger Wicke, PhD, TCM Clinical Herbalist

contact: www.rmhiherbal.org/contact/

Rocky Mountain Herbal Institute, Hot Springs, Montana USA

Clinical herbology training programs - www.rmhiherbal.org

 

 

 

> " " <zrosenbe

>Re: Re: Dr. Cheung

>

>For me, this is the great weakness in the presentation of Chinese

>medicine in the West, is the inattention paid to dietary and

>environmental factors in health and disease. I think Li Dongyuan was

>correct in how he integrated dietary and emotional factors as causes of

>chronic diseases, so I do think emotional, and, yes, spiritual factors

>are important as well.

>

>By spiritual factors, I mean what Heiner Fruehauf spoke about at the

>CHA forum, namely that going against one's purpose in life (in choice

>of life partner, profession, place of residence, artistic expression,

>etc.) leads eventually to sickness. People who hate their jobs and

>lives cannot be healthy in any fashion.

 

---Roger Wicke, PhD, TCM Clinical Herbalist

contact: www.rmhiherbal.org/contact/

Rocky Mountain Herbal Institute, Hot Springs, Montana USA

Clinical herbology training programs - www.rmhiherbal.org