Most people understand qi (chi) to be “oxygen creating life force energy,” or simply breath. But did you know there are many types of qi that help our body function properly? Knowing how they work helps traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners, and each of us, correlate symptoms with deficiencies. In traditional Chinese medicine, radiant health… Read more »
A circle is both an image and metaphor of wholeness and bondedness. The more we see circular patterns in the architecture of our lives, the more we realize that we are drawn to forms conveying round, soft-curving lines of connection. At first glance these symbols appear to be nothing more than circles; yet the shape… Read more »
In the spring of 2021, I went to the dentist for my annual checkup and cleaning. He identified two cavities that had formed, one on the lower right tooth and one on my upper right and performed a routine procedure to fix them. The next day my right cheek was swollen to the size of… Read more »
If you’ve ever eaten a rich or greasy meal, then wondered how get rid of that heavy, sluggish feeling, let me introduce you to the perfect after dinner beverage to aid digestion and cut through the fat: pu-erh tea, a fermented drink from Yunnan Province in southern China that alters your gut bacteria and lowers… Read more »
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is one of the original “wholistic” medicine practices and affirms that all our bodily functions are connected and work together – physiologically, neurologically and emotionally. The theory of acupuncture and acupressure, as used in TCM for thousands of years, is that our bodies contain 12 meridians through which energy, or qi… Read more »
This year has taken a toll on us all. Many feel out of balance, and anxiety, stress, fear and depression are on the rise. Amidst the chaos, more people than ever are turning to meditation, yoga and other calming practices to help restore balance while adding peace and tranquility to their day. When considering self-care… Read more »
While many look negatively at China and their cause and effect of COVID-19, there is much we can learn from their actions, insights and use of both Eastern and Western medicine. One of my teachers, John Chen PhD, OMD, is a pharmacist and fifth-generation Chinese medicine doctor who graduated from USC. He explained that China… Read more »
When it comes to competition, both professional and amateur athletes are always looking to gain an edge on their opponents. While strength, conditioning and core training are still essential in the daily regimen, recovery and injury prevention is now a primary focus. Over training can often lead to injury, and many pros are taking extra… Read more »
I just caught a cold – a perfect time to write about the Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) approach to treating the common cold. The Shan Han Lun, a treatise on cough/cold and viral/bacterial infectious diseases, is considered the groundwork for TCM theory. TCM categorizes cold and flu in two stages with the first being wind… Read more »
Acupuncture is one of the first scientifically proven eastern medicine modalities and is now commonly accepted by western medicine. As natural medicine practitioners, acupuncturists consider the whole person – mind, body and spirit – in treating a vast number of conditions from injuries to pain and disease management and prevention. The heart of the practice… Read more »
Symbols are images which provide a visual representation of a concept. Upon seeing the Yin and Yang symbol, many have said they see good/evil, peace/war, feminine/masculine. The meaning and significance of this symbol goes far beyond what we see as opposites or opposing sides of one subject or topic. This symbol represents Tai Ji or… Read more »
Everything in nature is made up of five basic building blocks that symbolize five different inherent qualities and states of natural phenomenon. This concept holds that all phenomena in the universe react and interact with each other and are always in a constant state of motion and change. These five indispensable materials are for the… Read more »
It’s been around for millennia, but not until a few decades ago has the American public become truly aware of the ancient healing art of qigong (pronounced “chee-gong”). So just what is qigong? Qigong is one of the four branches of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the other three being the more widely known acupuncture, herbal… Read more »
According to the American Stroke Association, 795,000 strokes occur in the U.S. each year. Every 40 seconds someone has a stroke and every 4 minutes someone dies of a stroke. On June 24, 2017, my life changed forever when I received a call from one of my younger brothers informing me that my vivacious mother… Read more »
Acupuncture, frequently combined with herbal medicine, has been used for centuries to treat infertility. Recently several studies from Scandinavia, the U.S. and Israel have confirmed the positive role acupuncture has in combating infertility. Stress is a recognized factor in reducing fertility. Because of the delicate balance between the hypothalamus, pituitary, and reproductive glands, stress can… Read more »
Acupuncture has been used for more than 3,000 years to treat eye disease. By inserting tiny needles into the skin (not in the eyes or eyeball), the therapy can help preserve vision for those with a wide range of eye conditions including dry eyes, eye floaters, cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. When the macular begins… Read more »
Sinusitis is an uncomfortable condition that can be caused by a bacterial, fungal, or viral infection, or can arise from an allergic reaction to pollen, grass cuttings and food allergies. Sinusitis is inflammation of the mucous membranes that line the sinus cavities which are located behind the nose and above the eyes. This inflammation causes… Read more »
Acupuncture has been used for centuries to help identify imbalances and guide patients towards more optimal health. It stimulates the natural healing process of the body and aids in restoring health and balance. As such, more and more studies are identifying acupuncture as a safe and effective therapy in the treatment of cancer for the… Read more »
Bell’s palsy, or idiopathic facial palsy, is a nerve disorder that affects muscles on one side of the face causing temporary facial paralysis. It is called idiopathic because it arises suddenly and the exact cause is unknown. It is the result of damage to certain facial nerves. Each facial nerve controls specific muscles on one… Read more »
It is important to remember that practitioners were successfully treating health conditions long before western medicine was developed. Fortunately, the medical community is now starting to recognize the value of many time-tested therapies including nutrition, body manipulation and acupuncture. Many of our forebears may have suffered from prostate issues and incontinence; Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)… Read more »
