Traditional Chinese Medicine

Posts Tagged ‘body’

Tuina (Tui Na) is an Oriental Bodywork Therapy that has been used in China for 2,000 years. Tuina (Tui Na) uses the traditional Chinese medical theory of the flow of Qi through the meridians as its basic therapeutic orientation. Through the application of massage and manipulation techniques Tuina (Tui Na) seeks to establish a more harmonious flow of Qi through the system of channels and collaterals, allowing the body the naturally heal itself.

Tuina (Tui Na) methods include the use of hand techniques to massage the soft tissue (muscles and tendons) of the body, acupressure techniques to directly affect the flow of Qi , and manipulation techniques to realign the musculoskeletal and ligamentous relationships (bone-setting). External herbal poultices, compresses, liniments, and salves are also used to enhance the other therapeutic methods.
Tuina (Tui Na) has a variety of different systems that emphasize particular aspects of these therapeutic principles. The main schools in China include the rolling method school which emphasizes soft tissue techniques and specializes in joint injuries and muscle sprains, the one finger pushing method school which emphasizes techniques for acupressure and the treatment of internal diseases, and Nei Gung method school which emphasizes the use of Nei Gong Qi energy generation exercises and specific massage methods for revitalizing depleted energy systems, and the bone setting method school which emphasizes manipulation methods to realign the musculoskeletal and ligamentous relationships and specializes in joint injuries and nerve pain.
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The Ginseng plant grows in rich woods throughout eastern and central North America, especially along the mountains from Quebec and Ontario, south to Georgia. It was used by the North American Indians. It is a smooth perennial herb, with a large, fleshy, very slow-growing root, 2 to 3 inches in length (occasionally twice this size) and from 1/2 to 1 inch in thickness. Its main portion is spindle-shaped and heavily annulated (ringed growth), with a roundish summit, often with a slight terminal, projecting point. more
At the lower end of this straight portion, there is a narrower continuation, turned obliquely outward in the opposite direction and a very small branch is occasionally borne in the fork between the two. Some small rootlets exist upon the lower portion. The color ranges from a pale yellow to a brownish color. It has a mucilaginous sweetness, approaching that of liquorice, accompanied with some degree of bitterness and a slight aromatic warmth, with little or no smell. The stem is simple and erect, about a foot high, bearing three leaves, each divided into five finely-toothed leaflets, and a single, terminal umbel, with a few small, yellowish flowers. The fruit is a cluster of bright red berries.
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China has made significant contributions in the field of medicine and cure. There are many remedies that originated in China and have proved to be of great help in healing people across the world. According to the people of China, there is a universal life force or energy called “chi kung” or “qi kung” that pervades the entire human body. The “chi” flows via unseen energy channels known as meridians. As long as the flow of chi is smooth and unobstructed, the individual remains fit and healthy. But the moment there are irregularities in the circulation of chi, health of the person receives a setback. So in order to remain healthy, consistency in the current of chi should be maintained.

To have a sustainable flow of chi, Chinese medical philosophers devised several ways. Some of the best and eminent techniques are listed in this article.
The flow of chi or chi kung can be systematized by pinching small needles in the human body at specific points. This treatment or technique was termed as acupuncture. The basic principle behind acupuncture is to open the blockages to have a constant flow of energy throughout the body. The acupuncture needles are meant to puncture or open the points known as acupuncture points. This treatment primarily affects the nervous system of the individual. It helps in secreting some crucial hormones and other chemicals that are not adequately produced but are required by the body. Many diseases like asthma, problems in vision, paralysis, alopecia etc. find acupuncture a satisfying and good remedy. The diseases might not be completely eliminated but they are definitely controlled through the Chinese developed acupuncture therapy. The best point of acupuncture is that it has no side-effects, its harmless to go for it.
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It is not by opportunity that garlic is indigenous to central Asia, the area where people live the longest, and the occurrence of cancer is the lowest known. The ancient Egyptians included garlic in the diet of the slaves who built the pyramids. They know the benefits of garlic.

History attributes many properties to garlic, and most of them are proven by scientific means. Conceivably garlic is the vegetal medicine with the most scientifically established properties. more

The complete plant, but especially the bulb contains alliin a (a sulphured glycoside), and enzyme (alliinase), vitamins A, B1, B2, C, and niacin (a vitamin of the B group). Alliin does not smell, but by the action of alliinase, which releases and acts when garlic is crushed, it is altered first into alliicine, and then into diallyl disulphide (the genine of the glycoside), which are the most important active principles which give garlic its typical smell.

Alliin and diallyl dysulphur are highly unstable substances, which melt quite easily into liquids and gases. When transported by the blood, they infuse all tissues and organs of the body. Thus they act on the whole body, though more powerfully on the organs through which they are eliminated: Bronchi and lungs, kidneys, and skin.

In high doses, garlic produces a decrease in blood pressure, both highest and lowest. It has vasodilating effects, and is recommend for people suffering from hypertension, arteriosclerosis, and heart dysfunctions (angina pectoris or heart attacks).

Benefits of garlic include helping with anticlotting of platelets (prevents an excessive tendency of platelets to group, forming clots), and fibrinolytic (disintegrates fibrin, the protein that forms blood clots). This makes garlic highly recommended for people suffering from thrombosis, embolism, or vascular accidents due to the lack of blood flow.

It decreases the level of LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) in the blood, because it makes its absorption by the intestine more difficult. It has been proven that in the hours following a breakfast of toast with butter, the level of cholesterol increases 20%, however when the bread is rubbed with garlic, even if it has butter, this increase does not take place.

Since it normalizes the level of sugar in blood, it is a must for people suffering from diabetes, and obesity.

Garlic is also an antibiotic and antiseptic. It is proven to be effective against the following micro-organisms:

- Escherichia coli, which causes intestinal dysbacteriosis and urinary infections.

- Salmonella typhi, which causes typhoid, and other Salmonella genus that cause severe intestinal afflictions.

- Shigella dysenteriae, which causes bacillus dysentery.

- Staphylococcus and streptococcus, which causes furuncles (infected blemishes) and other skin infections.

- Diverse types of fungi, yeasts, and some viruses, such as herpes. The active principles of garlic are supposed to interact with the nucleic acids of the virus, thus limiting its proliferation.

The bacteria-killing powers of garlic inside the intestine are vigilant with bad bacteria, respecting the normal bacteria, for which it is good. This makes garlic better than most known antibiotics, since it regulates good intestinal bacteria instead of destroying it all.

Its use is recommended:

- In diarrhea, gastroenteritis, and colitis.

- In salmonellosis (intestinal infections usually caused by spoiled food.

- In intestinal bacterial imbalance (alteration of microbial balance of the intestine) often caused by the use of antibiotics.

- In fermentative dyspepsia, which cause flatulence in the colon.

- In urinary infections (cystitis and pyelonephritis), often caused by Esterichia coli.

- In diverse bronchial affections (acute and chronic bronchitis), because when the dysulphur of allyl is liberated through the breath, it acts directly on the bronchial mucous membrane. It is also an expectorant and antiasthmatic.

Garlic stimulates the activity of the defensive cells of the body, both lymphocytes and macrophages. These cells, which flow with the blood, protect us from microorganisms, and furthermore they are able to destroy cancerous cells, at least in the initial phases of tumor formation. Garlic is now used with some success as a complement in the treatment of AIDS.

It is also active against ascarides and oxyuridae (little white worms that provokes anal itching in children). The most frequent types of intestinal parasites.

It also prevents malignant tumors especially digestive cancers. This is likely due to its regulating action on intestinal bacteria, and normalizing action on the digestive function, though this may be related to its effects on the set of chemical reactions of the body (metabolism). Remember we only recommend it as a preventative substance.

Garlic is also widely used as a corn remover. Applying a piece of garlic mashed onto a callus, covering it with a plaster (Band-Aid). Within two or three days, the corn will soften and its inflammation will reduce, thus allowing easier extirpation.