Archive for January, 2010

Preserve Shen = Preserve Strength And Spirit

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“Shen,” in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), represents “strength” and “spirit.”

While strength means the physical energy that one has or the quality of being physically strong, spirit means a person’s feelings or state of mind.  “So, when we talk about preserving health, we shall preserve ‘Shen’ as strength and spirit are interdependent,” TCM Practitioner said.

Preserve Shen = Preserve Strength And SpiritIn fact,  according to TCM, “Shen” governs the human body’s life activities, including controlling and regulating our limbs, facial organs, organ meridians (distinct channels that circulate “Qi” [essential energy] and blood throughout the body), physical and mental activities that are closely related to the heart and brain.

“Observation of Shen” is one of the most common practices of “Observation Diagnosis” in TCM.  Practitioners are able to get an initial diagnosis of the disease by observing the patient’s complexion, coating on the tongue, expression, speech, consciousness, etc.

“There are many factors that can influence one’s ‘Shen,’” TCM Practitioner said.  “If our heart is disturbed, our ‘Shen’ wouldn’t be stable neither.”  In fact, aside from illness that weakens “Qi” (essential energy), blood, and organs; unemployment, love failure, pressure from job, insomnia, and overwork also affect our “Shen.”

So, how on earth can we preserve our “Shen?”  “I think you pretty much have the idea,” TCM Practitioner said.  “Adopt a healthy diet, get enough sleep and exercise, avoid having excessive emotions, and maintain an optimistic attitude all help.”

Of course you can always do more to preserve your “Shen,”  such as to do Tai Chi or Yoga, and make yourself a cup of Ginseng Dried Longan (Dragon Eye) Tea.

Image by Kevin Labianco

Go Beyond Gingerbread: Utilize The Raw Side Of Ginger

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It really has been a bitter cold season since the beginning of 2010 for many regions in the Northern Hemisphere.  Not only the US and European countries face record low temperature, many cities in Asia from Beijing to Seoul have been enveloped in cold and windy weather with heavy snows.

While extreme weather events brought economic losses to many communities, sudden drop in temperature might also increase cold and flu risk.  In fact, being cold, particularly shivering, depresses the immune system as our body’s resources go toward raising our temperature instead of warding off bacteria.

Go Beyond Gingerbread: Utilize The Raw Side Of Ginger“That explains why focus on keeping warm is so important,” Traditional Chinese Practitioner (TCM) said.  “Also, make sure you have fresh ginger available at home throughout the cold season.”

Reasons? According to TCM, ginger is pungent in taste and relates to lungs, spleen, and stomach.  In general, it is able to promote circulation of blood, facilitate sweating, dispel cold, stop vomiting, disperse phlegm, and cease cough.  That’s why aside from delicacy and spice, ginger is commonly consumed by Chinese as a medicine in many forms.

“Following are three usages of ginger that can save you from a severe cold winter,” TCM Practitioner suggested.

DRINK to fight common cold/flu symptoms

Place a few ginger slices to a pot with water and bring it to a boil for a while, then drink it.  It can mitigate cold/flu symptoms, such as sneezing, sore throat, runny nose, nasal congestion, muscle aches, shivering, and coughing by facilitating sweating and dispelling cold.

SOAK IN to simulate the circulation of blood

Since our blood is shunted to the body’s core in cold weather, our extremities (especially the feet) get cold first.  For people who have a weak “Yang Qi” [the energy being expended in order to create a manifest action] or have a poor circulation of blood and “Qi,” their limbs not only get cold first, but also stay cold all the time.

“Soak the feet in warm-to-hot water can improve the flow of blood and promote metabolism,” TCM Practitioner said.  “But if you can add a few large slices of ginger into the water, the result will be even more obvious and lasting.”

RINSE to cease coughing

Due to dry air, common cold, or flu, winter is the time of year to produce more coughs than summertime.  “For relief of cough, make a rinse by mixing water with a few pieces of ginger, then rinse your mouth with your head upward,” TCM Practitioner said.  “Alternatively, you can peel a small piece of ginger and chew on it slowly; your impulse to cough should disappear in either way.”

Ginger, before being brought back from the Middle East to the Westerns that eventually became gingerbread cookies, was originally used as preservatives and medicine, like those in China.  Although gingerbread cookies evoke pleasant holiday feelings, we hardly gain the health benefits of ginger by munching on a few pieces of them.  So, let’s continue to enjoy the refined bites, and at the same time, appreciate and utilize the raw side of ginger.

Image by FotoosVanRobin

Numeric Diet: Get Healthy Bites From 1 to 8

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In Western countries, most people have already known that the Food Pyramid created by the US Department of Agriculture is a visual image illustrating the percentages of each food group that forms a healthy diet.

The Food Pyramid basically has four levels:

  • At the lowest and widest (4th) tier, it is the foundation of a healthy diet, or the largest percentage of what we should consume.  It comprises bread, grains, and cereals.
  • At the third tier of the Pyramid, we can find two food groups—vegetables and fruits—combined together.
  • There are also two food groups: milk and meat occupy the second tier.
  • At the top and the smallest tier of the Pyramid, there are fats, oils, and sugars.

In fact, the Food Pyramid represents what the nutritionists regard as the most certain and dependable healthy diet recommendation that has been gone through substantial researches and studies.

Over the years, the Food Pyramid has been adapted for ethnic preferences, such as Latin American diet, Mediterranean diet, and even Asian diet.  In China, based on the Food Pyramid, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Practitioners and nutritionists have designed a “Numeric Diet” as a healthy diet advice according to Chinese physique and eating customs.

Numeric Diet: Get Healthy Bites From 1 to 8

Here is what the numbers guide us:

1 Tablespoon of vegetable oil.  Its unsaturated fat has been shown to reduce cholesterol levels, which in turn may reduce risk of cardiovascular disease.

2 Pieces / portions of fruit that provide fiber and vitamin C.  Fiber not only helps reduce blood cholesterol levels and may lower risk of heart disease, it also is crucial for proper bowel function.  As for vitamin C, it is important for growth and repair of body tissues that helps heal cuts and wounds.

3 Bowls of grains including rice, noodles, and bread.  Grains provide many important nutrients, such as dietary fiber, vitamin B, and minerals like iron and magnesium.

4 Plates of vegetables.  The more variety they are, the more nutrients you will get.  Also, the darker green the leaves, the more nutritious.

5 Servings of proteins.  The best combination is 50 grams of lean meat, 50 grams of fish, 200 grams of tofu or bean products, 1 egg, and 1 cup of milk or yogurt.  Not only this mixture is more economical, but also is healthier with larger amount of proteins come from vegetables and smaller amount from animals.

6 Grams of salt (not to exceed six grams).  While a small amount of salt is crucial for health which helps to maintain the correct volume of circulating blood and tissue fluids in the body, too much of them can cause high blood pressure and many other health conditions.

7 Kinds of seasoning plants, such as green onion, ginger, garlic, pepper, anise, etc.  In addition to adding flavor to dishes that improves appetite, these plants can also detoxify and kill bacteria.

8 Cups of water to prevent dehydration, clean out the body, and promote metabolism.

Although this “Numeric Diet” is designed for Chinese according to their physique and eating customs, you may find the principle is similar to the Food Pyramid.  “Healthiness to a large degree is universal; what’s bad for me often would not be good for you,” TCM Practitioner said.  “So, feel free to follow this ‘Numeric Diet’ if you look for an alternative to the Food Pyramid; it is fun and so easy to remember.”

Image by n.zeissig

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