Category: Chinese Medicine

The concept of body constitution represents a starting point in coming to any answer for these questions. Every individual has his or her unique body, which reacts in a specific way to environmental influences. Therefore, an essential factor to prevent disease, leverage health and balance your body is to understand your own body, its characteristics and how your body constitution is related to your genes, your way of life, and your environment. See your body as your individual earth – these factors dictate what to seed and how to grow and feed it.

One Disease, Different Remedy
A common practice in traditional Chinese Medicine is roughly translated as “Different remedy for the same disease and same remedy for different disease”. Why a different remedy? One main reason lies in the body constitution. Individuals may have the same disease, but their unique body constitution necessitates the use of different remedies that not only work with the symptom but also deal with the root cause, the imbalance in the body constitution. This is why you will see so much variation in Chinese Medicine herbal remedies to treat the same common illnesses, such as flu.

Different Disease, One Remedy
When would it be appropriate to use the same remedy for different diseases then? You might have gotten the answer already. Under the circumstance that those afflicted with a particular disease are of the same body constitution. For example acne and athlete’s foot appear to be totally different ailments on the surface. In fact, the root cause is the same; having a hot and humid body constitution. So the herbal remedy of the China Pearl tea, which cools the body and dries internal dampness, will work effectively for both issues.

The 9 Chinese Medicine Body Constitutions
The concept of body constitution has existed in China for thousands of years. It originated from the famous Chinese Medicine book, Huang Di Nei Jing. The latest and most influential reference on Body Constitution in Chinese Medicine is based on government-funded research done by Wang Qi at the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine over the last 30 years. This research has since become the standard for diagnosis and treatment of Body Constitutions in Chinese Medicine. By integrating contemporary knowledge of genes, bodily shape and functions, the spirit and mind, as well as one’s mental profile, nine broad categories of body constitution have been derived. Among them one is balanced and the other eight have different imbalance in Yin, Yang, Qi and blood. Each of the body constitutions has specific characteristics which relate to one’s lifestyle, and each interacts differently with its environment. One can achieve a balanced constitution by adapting his or her lifestyle and dietary habits. For more information about the nine different body constitutions CLICK HERE.

How can I find out my own Body Constitution
First of all you have to find out which of the nine body constitutions you possess. You have three options:
1. Test yourself – try to find which characteristics your body has and compare them with those characteristics of the nine body constitutions.
2. Visit a clinic that provides body constitution diagnosis – hospitals such as Tung Hua Group of Hospitals in Hong Kong provide certain body constitution diagnosis services, but they are often time intensive and cost around a few hundreds of Hong Kong dollars.
3. You can complete the Oriental Balance online diagnosis test on our website – With the help of our questionnaire we will find out what your body constitution is. After you finish the test a report that provides useful tips will be made available to you! CLICK HERE to access the test!

How can I achieve a state of balance?
Once you know your own body constitution you can bring it in line with your environment and adapt your lifestyle accordingly. Hence, you can balance your body, prevent diseases, feel better and improve your overall health.
Due to the different body constitutions, different approaches may lead to improved health. In general you can adapt your lifestyle and your drinking and eating habits in order to balance your body. Moreover different types of sports are appropriate for different body constitutions. In some cases it might be useful to do very intensive sports, whereas less intensive and more calming activities support other body constitutions.

You can also leverage the natural healing power of herbs, or try acupuncture or moxibustion, which are the common practices that the Chinese use to remain balanced. Furthermore, you could take a look at our Oriental Balance Shop, which contains a variety of useful products which can help you to achieve your own state of balance.

At Oriental Balance we believe that a healthy life requires us to live in balance with nature. When it comes to seasons it’s important to understand the character of the season to leverage its force and minimize imbalances.

The Nature of Summer
• Element – Fire
• Color – Red
• Nature – Yang

• Direction – South
• Energy Flow – Spreading Outward
• Emotion – Joy
• Organs – Heart & Small Intestine
• Taste – Bitter

Summer – Season of Yang
Summer is a Yang season, a time for expansion, with the energy moving up and out with a lively brightness. Traditional Chinese Medicine recommends cultivating Yang energy in spring and summer, whilst protecting Yin energy in autumn and winter. Summer is characterized as a time when the body undergoes vigorous metabolic (body energy) processes.

According to the 5-Elements Theory of Chinese Medicine, summer belongs to fire, which is an element characterized by high levels of activity and Yang energy; a time of heat, outgoingness, and moving outward in nature and in our lives. In human anatomy, the heart, mind, and spirit are ruled by the fire element, so priority is given to nourishing these facets of one’s being for staying healthy in summer. It is to these that we will pay attention to in this post.

The Organs of Summer : Heart & Small Intestine
The heart’s main function is to pump oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. In Chinese medicine mental activity is associated with the heart, making this organ central to many psychological aspects of our being including our memory, thought processes, emotional well-being, and consciousness. This is a time to nourish and pacify our spirits, and to realize our life’s greatest potential as we find joy in our hot summer days and warm summer nights.

Managing Internal Heat
During the summer it is important to regulate heat in the body, not allowing the body to cool down excessively. We are often tempted to consume cooling drinks and foods (especially ice cream!), however such things can have a cooling effect on important organs such as the kidneys, which regulate the Yang energy, our crucial energy in summer, in the body. It is for these reasons that we should try to keep cool naturally by consuming seasonal cooling foods, resting during the hottest periods of the day and not exposing ourselves to the sun directly.

Balance Tips
When the fire element is in balance, the heart is strong and healthy, the mind is calm and sleep is sound.

When the fire element is imbalanced, we may either lack joy (depression) or have an excess of joy (mania). Indicators of an imbalance in the fire element include agitation, nervousness, heartburn, and insomnia.

Action Plan: In balance with summer
Awake earlier in the morning and go to bed later in the evening. Rest at midday to stay energised.

Exercise your heart: practice elevating your heart rate with exercise in order to strengthen it. Compliment vigorous exercise with meditation and/or deep breathing exercises to slow your heart rate in preparation for a good restful sleep.

Refrain from anger; keep calm and even-tempered during times of difficulty.

Feel the joy. When you experience the emotion of joy, you nourish the heart. Seek out people and things that bring you joy; give unconditionally, as this helps us to connect with others and bring more joy into our lives. Remember to practice compassion with yourself as well, and to allow yourself to receive.

Avoid too much exposure to the heat by resting during the middle of the day and saving rigorous activities for the morning or evening.

Summer is the season to feel hot and sweat a bit. In moderation sweating is good for you, helping to grow yang and remove toxins from the body. Let it be in a natural way; while you can use air conditioning, try not to expose yourself excessively to artificially regulated environments.

The predominant nature of Summer is Yang. Unlike the darker and calmer Yin, Yang is related to excitement, assertiveness, and exuberance, making summer a great time to take action to form positive change in your life.

[staffbio staffname=”Grace Yu” staffimage=”http://orientalbalance.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/dr-grace-yu.jpg” stafftitle=”Specialist in Chinese Medicine Gynecology” staffemail=”service@orientalbalance.com”]Grace Yu obtained her PhD at the Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Gynecology. Her adviser and mentor is Professor Luo Songping, an internationally renowned gynecologist. Grace also learned Craniosacral Resonance therapy from an internationally renowned teacher. Read more.[/staffbio]

What Is Menopause and What Are Its Main Symptoms?
Menopause occurs as a natural part of a woman’s life transition. As a woman ages, her ovaries slowly stop producing the estrogen hormone, leading to biological changes throughout the entire body, from the brain to the skin. Menopause is not a disease, but for many women these hormonal changes bring about many unwelcome side effects that require medical intervention by health care professionals. The main complaints associated with menopause are hot flushes, genital atrophy, insomnia, and psychosomatic complaints such as irritability, depression and mood swings. These symptoms will usually last for 2-3 years but in some serious cases they can last for 5-10 years.

Women experiencing such symptoms should not be alarmed. According to recent research, in the US 80% of women who go through menopause experience light to severe menopausal symptoms; in both cases there are many solutions available. If you do suffer from the physical or mental symptoms mentioned above, please seek support as those that neglect to do so risk subjecting themselves to hypertension, heart attack, arteriosclerosis, or bone fracture due to osteoporosis.

Treatment Through Western Medicine and Its Limitations
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is commonly used to treat menopause symptoms in Western medicine. The purpose of HRT is to supply the body with an external source of hormones, including estrogen and/or progesterone. Premarin (conjugated estrogen) and Provera (medroxyprogesterone) remain the most popular brands.

However, recent research has indicated that the beneficial effects of HRT might last only up to 16 weeks, after which no difference was observable between the placebo and the control group. Despite the possible benefits, there are numerous controversies surrounding estrogen replacement therapy due to the staggering number of side-effects, including (but not limited to) an increased risk of breast, uterine or ovarian cancer, gallbladder diseases, and liver diseases amongst others. Progesterone is prescribed with estrogen to minimize the risk of cancer, however, it can cause side-effects such as an increase in cholesterol levels, edema, weight gain and bleeding.

Due to these side effects, women who have a family history of hormone related cancer, liver and kidney disease or diabetes probably should avoid HRT.

TCM Solutions and Their Benefits
Chinese herbal medicine has been used to treat menopausal symptoms successfully for many years, and it is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy. The strengths of Chinese Medicine are:
• Chinese Medicine is a holistic treatment; treatment is based on syndrome differentiation. It analyzes the root cause of each individual’s symptoms and offers a specially tailored herbal therapy that not only addresses the symptoms but also corrects the fundamental imbalance inside the body. As a result, women can leverage this unique life transition period not only to replenish but also to strengthen the immunity system, prevent issues such as osteoporosis or cancer, and prepare the body for a healthy and long life in the years to come.
• Chinese Medicine effectively treats menopausal symptoms; it is safe and does not have the same side effects seen in the application of Western hormone therapies. The Chinese Medicine approach involves leveraging the natural healing power of herbs to slow down the aging process of the reproductive system, and increase its capacity to generate essential hormones during the process. If the change is slow and gradual, it makes it a lot easier for the body to adjust. This is very different from the HRT approach, wherein the injection of hormones into the body often decreases the body’s capacity to generate its own hormones. This is probably one of the reasons that the benefits of HRT wear-off after 16 weeks of usage.

How Chinese Medicine works
Chinese Medicine regards the root cause of menopause as being the result of; a weakening of the kidney, weakness in the reproductive organs, a lack of Yin (water, blood, body fluids) and hampered Qi and blood circulation. A lack of fluid inside the body leads to obstruction of the circulation to the liver and hence leads to an excess of heat accumulating inside the body. Internal humidity and restricted blood flow further exacerbate menopause. Even though a weakened kidney is often seen as the root cause of menopausal symptoms, the spleen, heart and liver can also be implicated. An excess of heat along with the production of phlegm in the heart & liver are often cited as major causes of symptoms. A given treatment should focus on the (1) kidney or (2) liver, spleen and kidney, or (3) heart, liver and kidney, or (4) the phlegm and slow blood inside the body. The practitioner will often offer treatment based on the combination of causes highlighted above.

Chinese Medicine can simultaneously target the symptoms and the root causes, making it very effective. In the case of menopause, Chinese medicine can replenish internal energy flows, whilst strengthening key internal organs including the kidney and liver. The body can be cleared of internal blockages & accumulations, which are often the source of common symptoms. Chinese medicine can help patients to reach new levels of balance in the body, improving the body’s overall health in the long-term.

Furthermore, herbal therapies can also be complimented with acupuncture, moxibustion, Tui Na, cupping and so forth to improve blood and energy circulation. Other elements of a patient’s lifestyle – particularly one’s diet and exercise regime – also need to be adjusted to maximize the benefits of Chinese medicine therapy, and to live a healthy life through the menopause period and beyond. We will share more information on such diet, exercise and lifestyle adjustments in our future blogs.

[staffbio staffname=”Grace Yu” staffimage=”http://orientalbalance.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/dr-grace-yu.jpg” stafftitle=”Specialist in Chinese Medicine Gynecology” staffemail=”service@orientalbalance.com”]Grace Yu obtained her PhD at the Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Gynecology. Her adviser and mentor is Professor Luo Songping, an internationally renowned gynecologist. Grace also learned Craniosacral Resonance therapy from an internationally renowned teacher. Read more.[/staffbio]

From Huangdi Neijing, the Chinese Medicine Classic:

“In the three months of autumn all things in nature reach their full maturity. The grains ripen and harvesting occurs. The heavenly energy cools, as does the weather. The wind begins to stir. This is the changing or pivoting point when the yang, or active, phase turns into its opposite, the yin, or passive, phase.
Just as the weather in autumn turns harsh, so does the emotional climate. This is the time to gather one’s spirit and energy, be more focused, and not allow desires to run wild.
One must keep the lung energy free full, clean, and quiet. Practicing breathing exercises and keeping the emotion in check will prevent kidney or digestive problems during the winter and help the body’s ability to store energy for the winter.”

 

In Balance with Nature

At Oriental Balance we believe that a healthy life requires us to live in balance with nature. When it comes to seasons it’s important to understand the character of the season to leverage it’s force and minimize imbalances.

The Nature of Autumn

Element – Metal
Color – White
Nature – Yin
Direction – West
Energy Flow – Downward
Emotion – Grief
Organs – Lung and Stomach
Taste – Spicy

Autumn – The Seasons of Transition

Autumn is the transition season between the hot summer and cold winter. It is the time that the yang, the Warmth of summer gives into the growing yin (cooling) energy of the approaching winter. After summer, autumn is time to clear excess heat from the body, and then as temperatures drop, it is time to start warming the body against the extremes. 

The Organs of Autumn: Lungs and Stomach

The organ system for Autumn is the Lungs and Stomach. Corresponding to the temperament of autumn, the Lungs pull in and refine the Qi (energy) sending it downward to nourish our roots. Lungs Qi gather and maintains strength. The stomach ‘let’s go’ of what is no longer necessary. A healthy balance between the Lungs and the Stomach will allow people to focus on core tasks, aware of what is essential and then let go of things that no longer serve them.

In TCM the Lungs are also very closely associated with the immune system as the lungs control the circulation of the Wei-Qi, the defensive Qi that protects you from the invasion of diseases such as flu and colds. The Wei-Qi circulates on the surface between the skin and muscles and works to warm and protect the body from external attacks by viruses, colds and germs. If the Wei-Qi is weak, the skin and muscles will not be warmed properly. This is one of the reason people tend to feel cold when they’re sick. A weakness in the lungs can lead to a weakness in the Wei-Qi, making a person prone to frequent colds. Autumn is the time to take special care of the lung to strengthen it and protect it from potential harms such as cold, pollution and dryness.

Managing the Dryness

Dryness is common in autumn and usually causes an itchy throat, a dry nose, chapped lips, rough skin and dry stools. We need to eat the foods that promote the production of body fluids and have lubricating effects such as pear, tofu, lily bulb and so on to counteract the dry environment. In terms of flavor it is advisable to eat more food with sour flavors and reduce pungent flavors as such things like onion, ginger and peppers induce perspiration, while sour foods like pineapple, apple, grapefruit and lemon have astringent properties and thus prevent the loss of body fluids.

The Emotions of Autumn

The emotion of Autumn is grief which is housed in the Lungs. It is natural to feel sentimental when we see the leaves falling and the flowers wilt. If grief is repressed, it festers in the body and over time weakens the Lung’s capability to extract sufficient Qi from the air or distribute that Qi around the body. If the Qi stagnates and does not move smoothly it might lead to a slow blood circulation or blood stagnation which can lead to serious health issues. Also when the Wei-Qi is week, our ability to defend ourselves is compromised. So we need to manage our emotions through deep breathing, meditation or simply do things that make us happy and be around with happy people.

The Metal Element of Autumn

The corresponding element of Autumn is Metal. Metal reflects our core issues, the most refined part of ourselves; an analogy is that of ore found deep within a mountain. The metal season is a time to examine the core issues, essential structure and guiding principles of life. During the summer, which is ruled by the Fire element, we deal more with the external – traveling and playing outdoors. Fall, on the other hand, is a time of organizing your life for the winter season ahead and coming more inside your body and mind to reflect on your life.

Action Plan

1. Dress for the weather
   The Lungs are considered by Chinese medicine to be the “tender organ” since the lungs are the uppermost organ in the body and especially susceptible to wind and cold. During the change in temperature, be sure to dress for the weather. It’s good to dress slightly less to prepare the body to get used to cold winter weather but don’t over do it.

2. The Lungs like clean and fresh air
   Go into the nature for a hike or a picnic to enjoy the beautiful autumn. If you do live in a big city with bad pollution, it might not be a bad idea to put on a mask when the pollution index is high.
3. Breathing Exercises
   Practice breathing exercises which strengthen the Lungs, increase energy, still the mind, and lift the spirits. They  are particularly appropriate for this time of year.
4. Cleanse the stomach
   Look at your diet and eliminate unsupportive foods. If you plan to do a detox session Autumn is the season to do it.
5. Eat Right
   Eat foods that strengthen the lung and moisturize the body such as pears, tofu, lotus  root and so on. More detailed eating plan please stay tuned to the Part two, what to eat in Autumn.

Reaching a healthy balance also always depends on your individual body constitution. Diagnose your TCM Body Constitution.

[staffbio staffname=”Grace Yu” staffimage=”http://orientalbalance.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/dr-grace-yu.jpg” stafftitle=”Specialist in Chinese Medicine Gynecology” staffemail=”service@orientalbalance.com”]Grace Yu obtained her PhD at the Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Gynecology. Her adviser and mentor is Professor Luo Songping, an internationally renowned gynecologist. Grace also learned Craniosacral Resonance therapy from an internationally renowned teacher. Read more.[/staffbio]

Hua Tuo was an ancient Chinese physicians who lived from AD140-208 during the Han Dynasty. Hua Tuo’s claim to fame is being called the “Originator of Surgery” by later generations.

Mafeisan – Chinese Medicine Anaesthetic

The historical texts ‘Records of the Three Kingdoms’ and ‘Book of the Later Han’ record Hua as the first person in China to use anesthesia during surgery. He used a general anesthetic combining wine with a herbal mixture called mafeisan.

Besides being respected for expertise in surgery and anaesthesia, Hua Tuo was famous for his abilities in acupuncture, Moxibustion, and herbal medicine.

Chinese Medicine is based on the philosophy of Daoism (Taosim) where Nature originates from one ultimate substance which then generates two opposite but interdependent forces, Yin & Yang. A great video explains more.

The alternative to a flu shot?
While I started exploring various cold remedies to battle the common cold and flu symptoms of my boy, I stumbled over an ancient Chinese Medicine recipe that has been used for more than 1000 years for cold prevention.

As every child knows: A good doctor treats, the best doctor prevents! With that in mind I would like to share how to prevent a cold with <b>Jade Windscreen Tea</b> (or so-called Yu Ping Feng Chinese Medicine formula).

How it works from a Chinese Medicine perspective
The Jade Windscreen formula contains the roots of Huang Qi, Bai Zhu and Fang Feng that all strengthen the Wei-Qi in our body. In Chinese Medicine the Wei Qi is our primary mechanism within our immune system that helps us in our defense against illnesses.
Each one of the roots has its own special effect which ranges from decreasing spontaneous sweating, reducing our aversion to winds and cold weather, strengthening the digestive system and protecting the skin against attacks by viruses and germs. All of which contribute to a strengthened immune system, which makes it a perfect flu shot alternative for our kids.

How to get it? You can either buy the ready-made powder called Jade Windscreen or Yu Ping Feng San. Alternatively, buy the raw herbs to make the herbal tea yourself. Check out the Oriental Balance recipe.

Song Ci was a forensic medical expert active during the Southern Song Dynasty who wrote a groundbreaking book titled Collected Cases of Injustice Rectified (Xi Yuan Ji Lu). He is often considered to be the Founding Father of Forensic Science in China.

Song Ci was born into a bureaucratic family in Fujian Province and a Confucian learner when young. He served as a presiding judge in the Chinese high courts for many terms. During his post at a criminal court in Hunan Province, Song Ci would personally examine the crime scene each time he encountered a difficult case of homicide or physical assault.

In all his life he dealt with numerous cases. Two years before he passed away (1247), he composed and published the five-volume Xi Yuan Ji Lu, which was his lifetime experience and thoughts on forensic medicine and the first of its kind in the world. It was completed more than 350 years earlier than the first European forensic work written by the Italian Forturiatus Flaelis in 1602.

Zhang Zhongjing (张仲景) lived from AD150—219 and was a Han Dynasty physician. He is one of the most eminent Chinese physicians and is often referred to as the Chinese Hippocrates. Zhang Zhongjing established medication principles and summed up the medicinal experience up until that time, thus making a great contribution to the development of traditional Chinese Medicine.

Shang Han Za Bing Lun

He is best known for his book “Shang Han Za Bing Lun”. Not only did it contain over 100 effective formulas (many of them still used today), but the text implied a theoretical framework that led to hundreds of books analyzing, explaining, and reforming it. Today, the book is recognized as the originator of Chinese medical prescription books, as well as the most influential clinical classic.

 

Another section of “Shang Han Za Bing Lun” is best known for some of the formulas, such as the gynecological remedy Tang-kuei and Peony Formula [Danggui Shaoyao San] which is today applied to infertility, disorders during pregnancy, prevention of miscarriage, and post-partum weakness.

 His Life and Learning

During Zhang Zhongjing time warlords were fighting for their own territories, and many people were infected with fevers that often led to death. Very saddened by this Zhongjing decided to research and learn from earlier medical literature such as “Huangdi Neijing” and find a solution to the problem. After several decades Zhongjing finished his work “Shang Han Za Bing Lun” which became a corner stone in Chinese medicine history.
Zhang Zhongjing’s work spread to many Asian countries such as Japan, Korea, Vietnam and Mongolia