Tuesday, September 28, 2010

How over-thinking can make you sick

    There is a saying in TCM that "风雨寒热,不得虚,邪不能独伤人". Literally translated into "wind, rain, cold and heat, without inner weakness, can never harm the person alone". It explains the fact that when a person's energy and blood is at a very good level, even if the external condition is harmful, the person will not be affected. On the other hand we can conclude if a person is affected by external facts and get sick, his/her internal energy is low.
  
   Common sense. But how is over-thinking the important factor too?


   We have all experienced that when we keep thinking about something, our body feels tight and stiff. In the TCM point of view this is the sign of energy "inward stringing" . When this happen our "protective energy" at the skin level will be pulled inward as well, therefore leaves our outer body unprotected. In TCM the term is "exterior deficiency". This is how external factors can harm you easily.
    
    "Over-thinking" is a general term for many mental, emotional and psychological activities. To make it easy to understand, it means when you have something in your mind that bothers you, you will be weakened outside and lose your protective energy thus easy to get sick, especially catching the cold.


    So next time when you are sick, before take your medicine, do an inner inspection to see if there is anything in your mind that bothers you. Take that out of your mind, you will get healed much faster. This is also your preventive "medicine".  Be happy, be healthy.

P.S. For more information about how TCM views mind-body connection please read this article.  

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

A follow-up for people who were in the September 21st class

Thanks everyone who showed for the class on the 21st, it was good time as usual.


Anyway, as some of you may be still interested in the "prediction" we were talking about, here is a summary for the rest of the year:


In a bigger picture:
From now to January 19th 2011, we will be under the main influence of "Wind Wood", which indicates the Spring energy, the growing, the moving, the active and so on.

To be more detailed:

  • From now on, we will be entering the 5th section of the year, which will be starting on September 23rd, the first day of "Autumn Equinox", to November 21st, the last day of "Winter Start". During this period, we are under the influence of:
    1. "Wind Wood"
    2.  "Dry Metal": The Dry and cool, the balance 
    3.  "Cold Water": The wet, the cold
          Therefore we predict that for that time being, we will have a colder fall season, very clear temperature dropping, more rains, our pores will shut, we sweat less, hard trees will fade early. We need to prepare for the cold in advance, for both our body and our house. 



  • From November 22nd, 2010 to January 19th 2011, we will be under influence of:
    1. "Wind Wood"
    2. "Cold Water"
    3. "Wind Wood"
           Although the seasonal influence is "Cold Water", but we have 2 "Wind Wood" factors, therefore we predict the time being will be warmer and windy, feels almost like Spring (almost "counter-season" feeling), there will be more fog and dews. As the weather is warmer than usual, our pores will reopen, if we sweat too much it may cause heart related issues. Also, since it is warm and windy, our body will have hard time to store the "Yang" energy, this may lower the power of the immune system therefore causing problems such as catching cold and coughing. 


In conclusion, we will have colder fall, warmer winter, heavy wind and good amount of water (rain, snow... flood? ). And the "fragile" organs are Liver, Gall Bladder, Lungs and Large intestine.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

here is your way to the Ark

fun fact:

-copy "29.283844,94.349921", 

-open Google map, paste the number in, enter. 

-Click "satellite" tab at the upper right corner, zoom all the way in

and congratulation, you just found the gate of the place where the new Ark is at. make sure to reserve a ticket before 2012.

September 23rd, 2010, "Autumn Equinox", the 4th small Autumn season arrives

Compares to other small season, we are more familiar with "Autumn Equinox" as it is also a well known astrological term. In the Chinese season system, the name of the season can be literally translated into "Autumn Divider", which has a  broader meaning. Many consider "Autumn Equinox" as the end of summer and beginning of the fall.  The cold air that has been flowing towards south, and when it meets with the fading warm air, we get rain. As the famous saying "one time rain in the autumn, one time the temperature will drop lower; ten times rain in the autumn, prepare to wear heavy cotton (thick clothes)".


"Spring Equinox" is called "the opening of the sky gate", means a start of the new Yang energy. In contrast, "Fall Equinox " is called "the close of the earth gate", which signifies the growth of Yin energy. We can tell from the disappearing of thunder. As thunder signifies the force of Yang in the sky. When we come to the season now, the Yang energy has already dropped to a very low level, therefore there will be few thunder. When "Autumn Equinox" arrives, there will be less daily or heavy long rain as we are moving more and more towards the dry season. But there may be more chance of short rains.


It is a season with the equal "day" and "night', when comes to human body it indicates the equal distribution of "Yin" and Yang" . Therefore,"carefully sense the being of Yin and Yang, and finding balance is the goal."


Mental and spiritual cultivation is the important part. As the fall season is the season of "dying","killing" and "seriousness", it will cause some mental or psychological issues, especially depression. Therefore, stay optimistic and calm to reach the balanced state. Don't over use the body in any sense. Hiking and climbing has been the seasonal popular activities for years. When you reach high and have a long and broad view of what you see, all negative feeling such as oppression and melancholy will vanish.And this is very good for you to stay calm and stable to balance the nature of the season.


As we're talking about Autumn being the season of "dry", the past season or 2 is considered "warm dry", and now we are looking at "cool dry". Besides the lungs, which is still the seasonal organ, stomach is next organ that needs special care, as it reacts to coolness sensitively.


For food, follow the rule of "warm, soft, light, simple and fresh". Eat at the right time and don't eat too much once. Since it is the season of "cool dry", eat food that are "clear, smooth and warm" to moistening the lungs,  nourish the Yin energy and blood, such as sesame, walnut, sticky rice, honey, pear or even sugarcane if you can get any.


Good sleep is the key,as mentioned earlier, this is the season for a lot of mental and psychological issues. It is closely connected with the quality of sleep. Therefore another task now is to adjust the sleep habit, try to go to bed early (to store the Yin), and get up early too(to stretch the Yang). Don' forget the Autumn is the season "collect and store", make sure your body energy  "in" is greater than "out".


By the way, right before this season arrives, on September 22nd, is the "Mid-Autumn festival", AKA "Mooncake festival". Enjoy the full moon!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Pollen, Allergy, Sneeze, Sex hormone,Kidney and Lungs...

How "Pollen, Allergy, Sneeze, Sex hormone,Kidney and Lungs" connected to each other?
Many people reacts to pollen. How can pollen cause sneezing and other breathing related issues? And what do these signify?


In general we call that "allergic" when pollen triggers these problems. In fact pollen is "sex hormone", in that sense, they are actually very good for human beings as sex hormone is the essential element for human growth and reproductives. 


For human beings, the organ that holds the "vitality" or "Primordial Qi" is the kidney. Kidney is also considered as the main sex organ, kidney energy level determines a person's sexual capability level. The "Primordial Qi" is also the root of the immune system. As the pollen enters the body it will make connection with the kidney, or it can be described as "readjust the primordial Qi". For people who are low in the primordial Qi (immune system), they will sneeze. On the other hand, those who do not react to the pollen,actually has good amount of the primordial Qi. 


However, even you are among those who do sneeze, that can be a good thing too. That means the kidney still have enough power to push the "cold" out. Therefore, sneezing is actually the process of the kidney pushing the harmful cold out of your body. That also explains why we sneeze a lot when we catch a cold. Yes, the kidney/primordial qi/immune system is doing the hard work.


So, sneeze may not always mean that you caught a cold or have lungs and nose related problem, it can also means your kidney/primordial qi/immune system is in good shape and it is protecting you.


Winter is coming, we will be talking about kidney more as it is the organ for the season.

Friday, September 10, 2010

an Impressive Chen style basic 13 forms performance I found

This guy does it in a very extreme and pushy way, but it's actually very good.
Look twice, three times, four times and on, the more I look the more I fall into it.
You can tell this guy is very well trained and he follows the basic Tai Chi principles but had his own way to develop it into a unique style. 
This is exactly what I have been working on in my practice as well. I enjoyed it, and hope you will too:


Thursday, September 9, 2010

running nose and sinuses

These days, both running nose and stuffed nose can be a direct result of large intestine malfunctioning.
Make sure you eat and drink things that will help with your elimination. Avoid spicy and drink more water. Also balance your food structure (refers to the Atkins Pyramid).


Points to balance the elimination:
1. Tian Shu (3 finger width lateral to the bellybutton)




2. He Gu ( NOT FOR pregnant woman)(In the middle of the 2nd metacarpal bone on the radial side.)




Tuesday, September 7, 2010

"4-6-8-6-4" breathing exercise to sooth the body and mood

Here is one simple breathing exercise you do can pretty much anytime (but better before and after any kind of work out, also before you go to bed).

1.Sit comfortably (it's recommended to sit on your knees on the floor), with your spine straighten. Do all the following using abdominal breathing (belly breathing).
2.Close your eyes, relax. Take a deep and full abdominal inhale (belly breathe), and exhale slowly. Remember it as your 100% breath.
3. Now inhale only 40 out of your 100, then take twice the time of the inhaling time to exhale (if you spend 05. second inhaling, spend 1 second to exhale)
4.Next, inhale only 60 out of your 100, then take twice the time to exhale.
5.Next, inhale only 80 of out your 100, then take twice the time to exhale.
6.Next, inhale only 60 out of your 100, then take twice the time to exhale.
7.Next, inhale only 40 out of your 100, then take twice the time to exhale.
8.then slowly go back to your normal breathing and feel your body for several seconds or longer if your wish. Then open your eye to complete the exercise.

-Use abdominal breathing for the entire exercise
-Focus on your breathing and consciously control the amount of air you are inhaling
-Must relax the shoulder areas


This exercise is perfect to sooth the body and release temporary tension and stresses. It will create a good mood for you and make you feel comfortable.

September 8th, 2010, "White Dews", the 3rd small Autumn season arrives

    On September 8th(Wednesday) 2010, the 3rd small Autumn season "White Dews" arrives.


    "White Dews"  signifies the "official start" of the fall season, or say, cool season. migratory birds are heading south, other birds that stay here are getting started for their winter storage. As it being the season with the biggest temperature difference between day and night (10-15 Celsius), more people will start to have the change-of-season symptoms, such as cough, sinuses, cold, tearing, dry throat, and phlegm.


    Make sure to add more clothes on you when it's cooler, BUT, not too sudden (e.g from shorts and tees to triple-layer sweater). Your body need to feel and adjust to the coolness gradually to be ready for the colder coming season.


    After the "Final Heat" (the season before), summer has officially ended, the harmful "Heat" and "Wet" factors have lost their power and will not bother us too much anymore. What's coming next is the "Dry", AKA "Autumn Dryness". "Dry" attacks our healthy and necessary body fluid, therefore many of us may feel dry on skin, mouth, nose, lips, throat and have constipation. Make sure consume enough water and avoid Lungs related problems such as bronchopathy (bronchi disease), asthma and nasal disease by lowering your salt (sodium) usage. 


    Food is always better than medications. In this season, Lungs, Large Stomach and Spleen are the organs that need special care. Food that nourish these organs are recommended. Such as, lotus seed, sesame, large cranberry, yam, and corn. Recommended fruits are pears, apple, grape, citrus and any food in yellow (or like) color.


    And of course, it's always important to practice our seasonal Chi Kung exercise. I will be working on make video of Chi Kung exercises from our Tuesday night class and put them online so you can watch them on your own. 


   Have a healthy "White Dews"!

Monday, September 6, 2010

Cedric's new space for healing, health and exercise related materials

Fresh start for a brand new road. 


For my old friends, this is the new space to share and communicate as what we do usually. For new friends, welcome and come often.


Keep in mind, if the answer you are seeking is not already posted here, then it's in my head.---Just ask.