Introduction to Ginseng, part 2, therapeutic properties and uses
Since long time ago, both Chinese and American ginsengs have been widely used as medicine. They have often served in the treatment of many of the same bodily disorders. In China, the history of using ginseng has been recorded for more than 4000 years. The look of ginseng looks quite like human body, that's why all sorts of myths about ginsengs that are over thousand years old can become fairies. On the other hand, there are also many legends and stories saying that ginseng was a gift given to men by the fairies. That's why portrayals of fairies have been used traditionally as decorations on packages and advertisements of ginsengs, especially for Korean products.
The uses of ginseng are wide. Chinese doctors treat different health issues ranging from dysentery, malaria, cancer and diabetes, as well as to improve circulation of blood; to reduce high blood pressure, and to remedy almost all blood and skin diseases, from pimples and boils to anemia. Ginseng is known as "Herb of Eternal Life" and the "Elixir of Life" among people, and it's taken as a general tonic to enhance health and longevity.
The fundamental value of ginseng is its great ability to detoxify and normalize the entire system, or we can say to increase vital energy. It re-establishes the organ's functions, corrects disordered nutrition and metabolism, and purifies the blood and lymphatic systems. The effect of ginseng works slowly and gently, without much side effects.
After some research by Japanese, Chinese and Russian scientists since mid-1900s, some spectacular chemical properties were found in Ginseng. Many of ginseng's essentials are chemically unique and were given names derived from the genus name. "Panacene" is tranquilizer and pain reliever; "Panaxin" stimulates the brain, improves muscle tone and tunes up the cardiovascular system; "Panquilon" stimulates the endocrine secretions, such as pituitary, thyroid and adrenal glands) which in turn regulate different body processes from digestion to aging. Also, ginseng contains a range of B vitamins, significant amounts of minerals and enzymes. "Germanium" is also an essential element which has been shown clinically effective in treating anemia by stimulating the formation of red blood cells in bone marrow, and is being investigated as a cure for cancer.
In Hong Kong, Korean and American ginseng are used quite differently. American Ginseng is more for general purposes, for both acute and chronic diseases, because it nourishes in general as a whole and has fewer side effects. Korean ginseng is usually used in cases of "yang deficiency". So old man with "yang" diminishing along with age during winter (a "yin" season") specifically find it beneficial. If "yang" is too much, like if it's taken by young people or in summer, "hot" symptoms such as headache, mouth ulcers and insomnia can happen.
(sources: Streetwise Guide: Chinese Herbal Medicine by Wong Kang Ying and Martha Dahle)
Hand Acupressure for Overweight / Obesity
Overweight....this is probably the most popular "illness" that people are interested to treat. Many people, especially ladies, care more about how they look than their health. At the same time, there's a trend (or a myth) in the society that if you can't manage your health, that means you can't manage other things or people neither. That's why more people are going to gym now, which is not necessary a bad thing.
But what is called overweight? Usually if your weight exceeds [(body height in cm -100)x0.9]x20%, that is overweight. Overweight also means you have too much fat in your blood - the real fear of overweight should be the diseases caused directly or indirectly by it, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, stroke, myocardial infarction etc.
To reduce weight, the best way is to control the function of the stomach and reduce the appetite. The acupoint or acupressure point or reflexive area that help control the appetite would be the area along the edge of the "raised" part below the root of thumb on the palm side (see diagram), and the other supplementary reflexive area would be around the center of the back of the hands, between the middle finger bone and ringer finger bone (see diagram). That area affects the internal secretion, so it helps reducing the appetite as well.
To reduce the function of the stomach and hence reduce the appetite, STRONG stimulation is needed. Either pinch or massage hard on these areas 7-10 times or use a toothpick to stimulate 7-10 times until you feel painful. Do this every day and make sure the stimulation is so STRONG that you feel painful, or otherwise it's going to stimulate the function of your stomach and raise your appetite instead - because it's the same reflexive area to heal the lack of appetite with moderate stimulation. That's important to remember.
Introduction of Foot Acupressure – Reflexology
About a month ago I posted about 12+2 meridians or channels carrying Qi and Blood Flow, and the 365 major acupoints (or acupuncture points, or "xue dao" in Mandarin). About two weeks ago I talked about hand acupressure and some techniques for healing some common illness like toothache, diarrhea or motion sickness through massaging the reflexive area or the stimulating certain acupoints. Before I list more different illnesses that can be healed through the hands, I decided to introduce foot acupressure as well, so I have both to talk about later.
The therapy on feet are actually the same on the hands. The healing based on the stimulation of the reflexive areas (or reflecting areas, reflective areas....whatever they're called in English) is called reflexology. Usually stimulations include massage, acupuncture, acupressure, moxabustion etc. The purpose is to adjust the function of internal organs and enhance the flow of Qi and blood through the meridians. Basically I kinda talked about all these in the introduction of hand acupressure.
There are about 20% of major acupoints on our feet and legs. Massaging these areas and stimulating those points not only can cure common illness like headache or toothache, even high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes these serious diseases can be controlled and relieved. Foot or hand acupressure therapy doesn't have any side effects and always safe. Not just the hands, feet work as a forecast for our health as well.
When we're done with exercises, massaging our legs and feet not only help us to avoid the sore, we're actually helping the internal organs and Yin Yang balance as well. Foot acupressure can be done by ourselves without others help, anywhere and anytime we like.
I bought a "carpet with rocks" which is actually made for foot acupressure therapy. Walking on this carpet is painful, but it's also a nice therapy for our health. If you walk on some little stones and you find your feet really painful, that means your health is just so-so. If you feel ok, that means you're quite healthy. I'll try to post the photo of this thing I bought and talk about this later. Also I'll talk about the techniques of massage on foot as well.
(Sources: Diagram from tcmadvisory.com/Reflexology)
“Walking Qi Gong” introduced by film producer Raymond Wong
This is the continuation of the last article. Yesterday I posted the story of how the film producer Raymond Wong help fight against his wife's cancer with many different approaches including a Qi Gong called "Self-controlled Qi Gong, or "Walking Qi Gong". Raymond's wife started to practice "Self-controlled Qi Gong" after she found out the ovarian cancer in 1997. The doctor used a medicine called "TAXOL" for her chemotherapy. During that period, Raymond found some Ganoderma lucidum (LingZhi or Reishi) for her as supplements to reduce the side effects from the chemotherapy. He also accompanied her wife to study Qi Gong just in order to improve the internal strength to recover.
After 10 years, his wife is still healthy. She just finished a physical check and looked like the cancer didn't come back. She's been studying Qi Gong exercise for over 10 years and they consider this very helpful. When Raymond talked to his wife about readers showing strong interest in the Qi Gong she's practicing, she's decided to share an easy "Kidney protection" Qi Gong (one from the "Walking Qi Gong") that helps to defend cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, lung diseases, infertility, hydronephrosis, cardiovascular disease: (Click the diagram below to zoom)
"Kidney protection" Qi Gong Reminders:
Head, Waist: Take center line of the body and twist about 45 degrees to left and to right.
Hands, Arms: Draw an internal virtual line like writing the number "8"
Legs: Start walking naturally, step down with heel hitting the floor first, toes point upward
Mindset: Focus on one thought, or listen to own breaths
Speed: 50-60 steps per minute, keep it slow
Total time: 30 minutes for one session
Starting direction: facing south or east
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