From Jessica Chen
 The
beach, sun bathing, surfing, pool parties, vacations and sun, sun, sun -
summer has finally arrived! Thankfully, being a resident of Los Angeles,
we are blessed with warm weather almost every season. Unfortunately,
this blessing is also a curse. That means we Angelinos need to take
extra precautions to protect ourselves all year round, especially during
the radiant summer season. Summer may be a time for fun and games;
however, it also holds risks such as heat exhaustion, heat stroke, skin
cancer, food poisoning and even tetanus. Early signs of heat exhaustion
can creep up on us if we do not stay well hydrated.
Some symptoms of heat exhaustion may
include: Light headedness, dizziness, fatigue, weakness,
headache, nausea, sometimes vomiting, cool and clammy, pale skin.
While it is extremely important to drink plenty of fluids, to stay in
the shade, and reapply sunscreen throughout the day, these measures
alone are not enough. The intake of proper nutrients can aid in
optimizing your health during these hot summer days. However, how do you
know what foods are beneficial in the summer time?
It is well noted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that one should
eat in accordance with the seasons. This theory, derived from the
ancient healers in China who followed the Laws of Nature by observing
the patterns of the season, led them to eat and live accordingly.
Summer is perceived as the time when energy is abundant and the mood is
high. This season is about expansion, growth, activity and creativity.
Succulent fruits and brightly colored, leafy vegetables that are grown
during this time reflect this principle, and so should our daily
consumption of foods. Foods that are in season are usually displayed at
the local farmer’s market. Organic fruits and vegetables that are on
sale at the supermarket is also a good gauge as to what is currently in
season.
Another guideline to follow this season is to eat foods according to
their energetic qualities. Chinese Nutrition offers different dimensions
in food analysis than Western Nutrition. Chinese Nutrition does not
focus on counting calories, carbohydrates, fats, proteins and other
biochemical natures of food. Rather, it classifies food according to its
energetic temperature, taste, ability to moisten and strengthen, calm
the mind and reduce accumulations. There are five temperatures of food
to consider - hot, warm, neutral, cool and cold. The hot and warm
temperatures dispel cold and warm the body. It includes foods such as
ginger, garlic, chicken and lamb. The cool and cold properties clear
heat, reduce toxins and generate body fluids. Cooling foods include a
wide variety of vegetables, fresh fruits and juices. As you can
perceive, the types of foods that should be incorporated more into the
summer diets are cooling foods. For those salad lovers out there, this
is a good time to enjoy a light refreshing summer vegetable or fruit
salad. Have you ever noticed during those hot summer days, all you crave
is a light and cooling meal? Your body is trying to tell you something!
The following is a list of foods that can
help prevent dehydration and alleviate thirst:
• watermelon
• apricot
• cantaloupe
• grapefruit
• lemon
• orange
• tomato
• asparagus
• sprouts (alfalfa, mung bean)
• bamboo
• beets
• bok choy
• broccoli
• chinese cabbage
• corn
• cucumber
• white mushroom
• snow pea
• spinach
• summer squash, zucchini
• turnip
• watercress
• millet
• pearl barely
• mung bean
• lentil
Other helpful tips for the summer season:
• Keep a pitcher of water with slices of lemon and/or cucumber around
the house for you and your family to enjoy.
• Blend some watermelon with water to make a delicious watermelon juice
drink.
• Make some mung bean soup, keep it in the fridge and eat it as a snack
or dessert. (1cup of mung beans with 5 cups water, high heat for 1 hour,
then med-low for 2 hours. Add honey according to taste.)
• Make iced or hot tea with chrysanthemum flowers, mint or chamomile.
• When sautéing foods, use high heat for a very short time, and steam or
simmer foods as quickly as possible.
• Cook with small amounts of spicy or pungent spices to balance the
cooling properties of foods.
• Eat in moderation. Over consumption of any food, especially cooling
foods, can lead to food stagnation and phlegm accumulation, which leads
to sluggishness and possibly diarrhea.
• Do not leave your food out for too long. The hot weather tends to
increase food spoilage.
• Stay away from dairy, heavy, greasy, and fried foods.
Keep in mind that these are general summer nutrition tips for everyone.
It is important to acknowledge that you are your own unique individual.
Your diet should reflect this principle regardless of the season.
The strength of Chinese therapeutic nutrition focuses on the individual
person. The trendy “one size fits all” diets out there do not fit all.
Chinese nutrition takes into account what type of person you are and
what conditions you might posses. If you tend to run warm and are
thirsty all the time, you want to incorporate more cooling fruits and
vegetables in your diet. If you are the type who complains about being
cold all the time, it is a good idea to add some warming spices or foods
like ginger in your summer food preparation. For more information on the
type of foods that would best fit your constitution, please consult with
your Tao of Wellness practitioner.
Enjoy your fun and healthful summer!
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By
Ban B. Wong
 There
are people who are seldom sick most of their lives, but then one stroke
can leave them devastated both physically and mentally. The problem is
that most people do not know the signs of an imminent stroke, especially
when they are young and healthy.
Unfortunately, strokes are an insidious disease. In the United States,
more than 700,000 people suffer from a stroke each year. Of the
two-thirds who survive, stroke survivors have to deal with varying
levels of disabilities in speech, vision and movement (usually
one-sided). Sometimes, stroke sufferers fall into comas because of the
resulting brain damage.
In China, many people also suffer from strokes, however studies prove
that they tend to regain mobility and normal neural function quicker.
You may wonder how this is possible. In addition to a combination of
physical, speech and occupational therapies, the standard protocol for
Chinese stroke patients is to have immediate acupuncture and Chinese
herbs as complementary treatments. As we now know, the longer you wait,
the less likely that the impaired part of the brain will recover and
regenerate.
Before we talk about the traditional treatments for stroke in China, let
us familiarize ourselves with the types of strokes known to this date.
One type of stroke is caused by a blood clot in the brain, which usually
affects the side of the body opposite from the side of the brain where
the clot occurred. When the blood clot occurs in the brain, it is called
an embolus. A clot that occurs in another part of our body and later
moves to the brain is called a thrombus. The clot blocks circulation to
that part of the brain and it is referred to as an “ischemic” stroke.
80% of strokes fall into this category. Symptoms include:
• Loss of balance or coordination: trouble
walking and dizziness
• Numbness, weakness or paralysis of the face, arm or leg, especially on
one side of the body
• Vision problems: trouble seeing in one or both eyes (including
dimness, blurring, double vision or loss of sight)
• Mental confusion, trouble speaking understanding
• Severe headaches: Cause unknown
Another type of stroke is caused by the rupture and subsequent
leakage of an artery (usually due to a head injury or aneurysm in the
brain artery). More deaths result from this type of stroke. There is
internal bleeding and it is known as a “hemorrhagic” stroke. The
symptoms include:
• Nausea and vomiting
• Neck stiffness
• Dizziness
• Possible seizure
• Changes in mental state: irritability and confusion
• Possible unconsciousness
• Severe headache: sometimes in a specific region
If we follow an ischemic stroke patient in China, we would see that the
patient might first receive anti-platelets and/or anti-coagulants from
doctors trained in Western medicine when he/she first arrives at the
hospital. In addition to Western modalities, doctors trained in
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), would perform head acupuncture above
the affected side of the patient’s brain and sometimes, acupuncture is
also applied to the paralyzed side of the body. After the patient
becomes stabilized, the TCM doctors collaborate with physical therapists
to discuss stroke rehabilitation. Studies in China have shown that
acupuncture coupled with physical therapy and herbal treatments greatly
enhance the efficacy in stroke recovery rates than just physical therapy
alone. Electro-acupuncture is also a common and effective means of
treatment in stroke rehabilitation.
Acupuncture works to enhance Qi and blood circulation in the brain and
on the affected side of the body. It helps to rebuild the brain’s
ability to communicate with the body. Strokes also debilitate patients
emotionally in addition to the physical trauma. Acupuncture can also
help calm the patient and help them deal with depression.
At the
Tao of Wellness, we treat numerous stroke patients. We strongly advise
patients to seek treatment as soon as possible after a stroke because
the results are much better. However, most stroke patients coming to the
Tao of Wellness have not received immediate acupuncture treatments right
after the onset of their strokes. Depending on the age and extent of the
stroke damage, it may take
several sessions of acupuncture treatments in combination with Western
physical therapy to see noticeable results. Therefore, it is important
to know that time is of the
essence, especially for senior citizens, to receive treatments at an
early stage. To decrease the chances of a stroke, please be aware of the
following risk factors recommended by the American Stroke Association:
• High blood pressure
• Tobacco use
• Diabetes mellitus
• Heart disease, carotid and other artery disease, peripheral artery
disease, a trial fibrillation
• Certain blood disorders: sickle cell disease, high blood cholesterol
• Physical inactivity and obesity
• Excessive alcohol and some illegal drugs
• Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs), symptoms include: problem with
vision, speech, behavior and thought processes; possible loss of
consciousness, seizure, dizziness (vertigo)
• Weakness or numbness on one side of the body
• Increasing age
• Sex (gender), pregnancy, birth control pills
• Heredity (family history) and race
• Prior stroke or heart attack
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By Dr. Maoshing Ni
 Looking
and feeling young for decades is not just the province of the wealthy
and surgically enhanced. Living to be 100 is simpler than most people
imagine. In his new book, Secrets of Longevity, Dr. Maoshing Ni shares
the secrets gleaned from generations of medical knowledge in his family,
and a 20-year study of centenarians in China. Living to be 100 is not
the product of an expensive supplement, brutal daily regimen, plastic
surgery or anything out of the average person’s reach. A few simple
changes in the most basic areas of our lives: diet, environment,
activity and relationships, can help us reap great rewards. Below are
excerpts from the book.
What You Eat:
Diet and Nutrition
Sweet Potatoes and Yams: Not Just for the Holidays
These powerhouse foods contain higher amounts of beta-carotene and
vitamin C than carrots, more protein than wheat and rice, and more fiber
than oat bran. Sweet potatoes and yams also happen to be a rich source
of DHEA. This is a precursor hormone—a substance that remains latent
until it converts into a hormone that the body needs. DHEA can become
estrogen, progesterone, or testosterone, all essential for your body’s
anti-aging defenses to work. As one ages, however, the body’s levels of
precursor hormones like DHEA drop precipitously. Eat these vegetables
year-round and celebrate a long life!
How You Heal:
Herbs, Remedies, and Elixirs
Anti-Aging Herb with a 5,000-Year Track Record
In China, ginseng is more valuable than gold due to its seemingly
miraculous properties of restoring health. Scientists in the West have
confirmed ginseng’s efficacy in various traditional uses. Ginseng
enhances body functions and the immune system to help people adapt to
the negative effects of physical and environmental stress. It boosts
energy gently, rather than stimulating the central nervous system, as
coffee does. There is also strong evidence that ginseng can help the
body fight off infection, protect liver and heart health, normalize
cholesterol and blood sugar levels, regulate the function of hormones,
and improve memory and cognitive functions.
Where you are:
Environment, Ecology and Community
The Energy Points of the Compass
The principle of feng shui is based on the ancient Taoist concept of
energetic polarity. The terms yin and yang describe the opposite yet
complementary energy states in the universe. A balance between the two
polarities can help you stay in beneficial energy alignment and lead a
healthy life. The two yin directions are north (the negative pole) and
west, the sunset direction. Yang is associated with south (the positive
pole) and east, where the sun rises.
Activities in our lives can also be categorized as yin or yang.
Sleeping, relaxation, reading, and bathing are yin activities, while
exercise, cooking, engaging in hobbies, and studying are yang.
Therefore, your bedroom and bathroom are more appropriately located in
the northern and western parts of your home, and your office, kitchen,
living room and
dining room should be in the southern
and eastern locations
What You Do:
Exercise, Lifestyle & Rejuvenation
100 Million Tai Chi Practitioners Can’t Be Wrong
The fact that more than 100 million people practice tai chi around the
world is a testament to its widely acknowledged benefits. Studies have
concluded that practicing tai
chi for thirty minutes, three times a week for at least three months can
slow bone loss in osteoporosis, lower blood pressure, lessen anxiety,
improve sleep, increase functional mobility and balance, enhance
circulation, and improve one’s cholesterol profile. The best part is
that tai chi is a gentle exercise that can be performed by anyone at any
age. A majority of Chinese centenarians are practitioners.
 Who
You Are:
Genetics, Relationships, Love,
Sexuality and Faith
Travel Light, Forgive and Forget
My father taught me this: “Forgiveness is the power that
enlivens relationships. Forgiveness keeps life moving forward, creates
love and harmony, and makes you spiritually strong.” Once you forgive,
you should also forget. The benefit of this letting go is that you no
longer carry your unpleasant experience with you on life’s journey. One
unique characteristic of centenarians is that they are quick to forgive
and forget. They quickly move on from negative experiences and celebrate
the positive ones in their lives. By exercising your power to forgive
and forget, you will deepen your relationships, enriching and prolonging
your life in the process.
Secrets of Longevity is available in bookstores everywhere and
on amazon.com.
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Join Drs. Mao and Dao in the Redwoods of Santa Cruz mountains to
Detoxify Your Body, Purify Your Mind and Enliven Your Spirit!
Detox Spa (Space Limited)
SEPTEMBER 18-22
Experience the ultimate in detoxification in a beautiful setting of the
redwood forest. Participants will feel healthier, lighter and energized
from the Detox Spa program. All-inclusive Detoxification program
includes:
 •
Daily acupuncture (performed by Tao of Wellness practitioner)
• Daily tuina lymphatic massage
• Daily far-infrared sauna
• Daily tai chi and qigong movement instructions
• Daily healthy meals, cleansing juices and broth
• Daily Lodging in rustic cabins in the woods
• Proprietary Detox herbal formula
• InfiniChi energy healing session
• ATP spiritual healing session
For Questions please contact Donna Ahern at donna@chiencenter.com
or(408)623-4837. For general information, visit ourwebsite at
www.integralwaysociety.org
Weekend Seminar AND Retreat
SEPTEMBER 22-24
Participants will learn detoxification and purification techniques
including energy practices, invocations, meditations, nutrition, and
lifestyle suggestions that will aid in the removal of layers of physical
and emotional toxins, clear soul blockages and help restore harmony of
body, mind and spirit.
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By Dr.
Xiaomei Cai