BodhiQi Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine
Kirk Forde L.Ac., Dipl.O.M., MS
Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo, CA
(805) 835-6929
- Chinese Herbs
- Food As Medicine
- Tui-Na
- Qi Gong
"Chinese herbs have been used for centuries. Among the earliest literature are lists of prescriptions for specific ailments, exemplified by the manuscript "Recipes for 52 Ailments", found in the Mawangdui tombs which were sealed in 168 BC."[1]
"Chinese herbal medicine,
is based on an individualized pattern diagnosis as well as a disease diagnosis. Your pattern is made up of your signs and symptoms, and the constitution your body ( weak, strong, hot, cold, young, old etc.) Herbal treatment is designed to treat your individual pattern as well as the symptom or disease. Western medicines are prescribed for their effectiveness on a group of people with a disease, such as bronchitis. In Chinese Herbology a condition such as bronchitis can be classified and treated as one of many diseases such as Lung dry heat, Lung Hot Phlegm, Lung Cold Phlegm, Liver attacking Lung etc. and each conformation is treated differently based on the symptoms and the patients constitution."[2]
"What are the advantages of Chinese herbal medicine?
The most significant advantages of the Chinese Herbal Medicine are:
Thousands of years in usage
Revitalizes the body's natural ability to heal
Treats the root (cause) not the symptom (branch)
Long-term results
Individualized treatment
Little or no side effects
Like western medications, Chinese herbal medicines can relieve symptoms. However, they also nourish and regulate the Qi, blood, and body fluids thereby aiding the function of internal organs to alleviate the root cause of the disease e.g. support the immune system to heal the bronchitis."[2]
"Ingredients of herbs
Chinese herbal medicine includes plants and mineral ingredients. The majority of ingredients are from natural plants which include roots, stems, twigs, tubers, rhizomes, bark, leaves, flowers. There are no chemical additives involved. Each kind of herbal formula normally contains about 12 herbs, selected for their synergistic qualities. It is the selection and combination process that enables each formula to be individually designed."[2]
"Do herbs have side effects?
Chinese herbal medicines are classified as food and they very seldom have unwanted side effects. They are a gentle treatment with gradually increasing results. However, as stated above, Chinese herbal medicines are designed for the patient's individual pattern. Even though herbs are foods the do possess strong medicinal properties, and when used incorrectly they may contribute to unwanted side effects and adverse reactions. So it is essential to get a consultation from a licensed acupuncturist or a Doctor of Oriental Medicine to make sure you can get an appropriate diagnosis and a formula of high quality that is free of additives."[2]
"In addition,
Chinese herbal medicines often have unexpected positive effects. For example, a patient who came in for lower back pain and received acupuncture and herbs came back a few weeks later and reported that her chronic asthma had "miraculously" disappeared. The reason for this is that, according to the diagnosis, the cause of the lower back pain was that her kidney Qi (energy) was deficient. This was also the cause of the patient's asthma. When the kidney was strengthened, not only the lower back pain was stopped but also the asthma naturally went away."[2]
"How are the herbs taken?
Chinese Herbs have been called the "bitter and sour medicine". The commonly seen forms for internal treatment are decoction (strong teas), syrup and pill. The concentrated pills are most commonly used since they eliminate the need for drinking bitter teas, are small in size and dosage, convenient to use."[2]
[1] Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_herbs
[2] Dr. Henry Fusco, http://www.acupuncturedoc.com/chinese1.htm
Think of all food a medicine.
Everything you eat has an affect on how you feel.
Allowing yourself to notice and appreciate how different kinds of food make you feel is the single most important thing you can do for you health and state of wellbeing.
Common question:
"Is there something I can do without completely changing everything I eat?"
Yes. Although each person must to decide for themselves how big a change they want or need to make, there are two simple things you can do to improve your health and how good you feel:
(1) Eat something GREEN every day,
even if it is one green bean, pea, or piece of spinach. Start small. Make it easy so you will do it.
"Why GREEN?"
From Oprah.com:
"Greens are a rich source of chlorophyll, which acts as a detoxifier in the body. Chlorophyll also helps the blood to deliver oxygen to all the cells of the body as well as helping to neutralize free radicals that cause damage to cells. If you suffer from bad breath or body odors, chlorophyll to the rescue—it is a natural deodorizer! Remember, the darker the greens, the higher the chlorophyll content, and to get the full benefit of the chlorophyll in greens, it's best to eat them raw or very lightly cooked.
-Greens are alkalizing. The modern diet tends to lean more toward acid-forming foods like meat and carbohydrates, but in order to maintain health and balance, it's important to keep your PH at a healthy level. Vegetables, particularly greens, help to do this.
-Greens are mineral-rich and supply the body with many vital nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and vitamins, including vitamins C, K, E and B.
-Greens contain a variety of phytonutrients, which extensive research has shown protect the body against free radical damage, stimulate detoxifying enzymes, support the immune system and act as antiviral and antibacterial agents.
-Dark, leafy greens contain essential omega-3 fatty acids, which are vital for all body functions and protect against heart disease by lowering bad cholesterol.
-Greens are powerful antioxidants, which are known to protect the body from damage from toxins in the environment and the foods we eat. Antioxidants neutralize these toxins and clear them from the body."[1]
(2) Eat something RAW every day.
Anything will do for a start, a banana, a strawberry, raw organic nuts, a stalk of celery.
Why eat raw living foods?
Most of the nutrients in food are destroyed when cooked.
"Phytonutrients ("phyto" means "plant"), which include antioxidants, give fruits and vegetables their radiant colors and are important in the prevention of chronic diseases, most notably cancer. These are literally nature's compounds that keep us well. Doctors Mark Hyman and Leo Galland say that phytonutrients help "turn-on" your body's metabolism at the cellular level and regulate hormones that help control appetite. These foods have high levels of antioxidants with health promoting and disease preventing compounds. Most vitamins and phytonutrients are destroyed or damaged when cooked or processed above 130 degrees"[2]
The Raw Food Revolution
I grew up on a lot of fast foods, candy, and ice cream. Later, I developed into a amateur gourmet chef. I had trouble eating raw foods at first, even though I knew they where good for me, because I found them boring and often with little flavor. The recent explosion of raw food enthusiasts has brought thousands of delicious, gourmet, easy to prepare recipes to the world. Now at least 50% of the food I eat is raw and I have never felt better in my life. Here are some link to some of my favorite raw food sites. -Kirk
http://matthewkenneycuisine.com/
[1] Oprah.com
[2] Kristen Suzanne, http://www.kristensraw.com/why_raw_details_benefits.php
"Tuina (pronounced "twee nah") is a form of Oriental bodywork that has been used in China for centuries. A combination of massage, acupressure and other forms of body manipulation, tuina works by applying pressure to acupoints, meridians and groups of muscles or nerves to remove blockages that prevent the free flow of qi. Removing these blockages restores the balance of qi in the body, leading to improved health and vitality."[1]