The ancient doctors of the East viewed the human body not as something closed in itself and isolated from the surrounding world, but saw in the body a complex system, holistic and unified in itself, each of the elements of which is connected with all the others according to strict functional-hierarchical relationships. The ancients considered disease as a process that arose as a result of a disruption of normal relationships both in the body itself and between the body and the environment. The latter was recognized as the primary cause of the development of the disease, called a violation of the Laws of Life and Harmony. 1. Don’t forget to always smile sincerely with your eyes and fill your heart with love. This is the prevention of all diseases. When you are sad, angry, depressed, crying or nervous, your organs secrete poisons; but if you are happy and smiling, they produce a honey-like healing liquid. It's no secret that we live some kind of hectic life today. For many, it has become common to end the working day with a headache. Something needs to be done about the pressure that is building both around and within you. Oddly enough, all you have to do is do nothing. You just have to learn, when a difficult situation arises - whatever it is - not to let it suck you in. To do this you need to smile. Thanks to such a simple action, the world changes, and what threatened to turn out to be a big problem never becomes one. At first it can be very difficult to appreciate the results of the Inner Smile, let alone master its technique completely and correctly, but over time, if you practice it often enough, it will become an integral part of your life. Wherever you are, whether you are standing, walking or sitting, smile, relax, fill your heart with love and let the waves of love wash over your entire body. It's so simple and so useful. Just bring peace and love into your heart, smile more often - and all your troubles will melt like ice under the rays of the sun. 2. Talk less Talk less; choose carefully what to say and when and how to say it. A word spoken appropriately is the most valuable; Qi maintains silence. 3. Worry less and act more Think less about the future and the past, as they give rise to worry, and worry creates stress. Instead, try to concentrate whenever you can - remember that concentration comes naturally, without special techniques - while developing the ability to help and forgive. 4. Develop mental power Taoist techniques include the development of creative and mental power. In many Eastern languages, including Chinese, the concepts of “mind” and “heart” are expressed in one word. Once you reach the point where you are no longer bothered by personal ambitions, when you can forget about yourself and develop your heart, you receive the means of liberation from illness. When you are sick and meditate, do not think that you are doing this in order to get rid of the disease. Just focus on doing the exercise and everything else will fall away. 5. Control your sex drive and don't let it control you. Limit your sex life. Ejaculating too frequently will greatly reduce your Qi supply and impair your ability to concentrate. The mind is stimulated by what comes to it through the eyes, ears, mouth, nose - that is, feelings. When we read books in our youth that increase sexual desire, we are not yet ready to perceive it correctly, so that our energy is not wasted. Therefore, it is better to focus on daily activities and avoid “distractions” of this kind. 6. Respect your head and keep your feet warm Treat your head with the utmost respect. Consider it a temple of God and mind. Consider it as the temple of the soul, from where all the vital organs are controlled. There is a rule that is important to follow: “Keep your head cold and your feet warm.” This way you will certainly avoid the accumulation of too much energy in your head, which can cause you to feel discomfort or even get sick. If too much energy goes into the head, your blood pressure may rise. By diverting energy to your feet, you can lower your blood pressure, and by keeping your feet warm, you can prevent a heart attack. So rub your feet and warm them up. And after that, always collect energy in the navel, which should also be warm. 7. Keep Your Neck Warm The neck has many blood vessels and nerves running towards (or away from) a very important part of your body - your head. Therefore, you also need to pay a lot of attention to her: make sure that she is warm, that she is not tense, smile at her. Try not to use your senses too intensely. Don't look or listen too hard or for too long. If the senses are overactive, illness may occur. By indulging in consuming too much food and drink, you are destroying your health. To live longer and avoid illness, practice the saliva swallowing exercise many times a day. Do not go out into the wind after swimming or when you are sweating. Replace your body's unrefined Qi with pure energy by doing the Microcosmic Orbit meditation and opening all 32 channels. Develop divine qualities in yourself, and over time you will step on the path of immortality. 8. Wisdom in nutrition Do not overeat, so that you do not have to sit or lie down for too long after a meal, as this will certainly shorten your life. Get up from the table shortly before you are completely full and then take a light walk; never eat before bed. Eat less, but more often. This way you will ensure good digestion and will not overload the five important organs. When eating, eat hot foods first, then warm ones; If there are no cold dishes, drink some cold water. Before eating, you should always take a light breath and swallow some air. Eat more spicy foods in the spring, more sour foods in the summer, more bitter foods in the fall, and less salty foods in the winter, but don't overdo it. In general, food cooked on the stove is better than raw food, and eating a little is better than eating a lot. If you eat too much, don't drink too much water or swallow it quickly. Indigestion occurs when you eat until you are full after being hungry for a long time. Do not eat raw fruits on an empty stomach because they heat the organs above the diaphragm. Too many raw vegetables can damage your healthy skin color. 9. Maintain moderation Walking too long damages the ligaments; Sitting for too long harms your muscles; Standing for too long damages your bones; Lying down for too long harms vital energy; Too much contemplation harms the blood. Anger, sadness, regret and melancholy are harmful, as is too much joy or pleasure. Suffering is harmful; abstaining from sexual relations is harmful; Worrying is harmful. In short, it is harmful not to observe moderation. 10. Joy increases the amount of Qi Great joy means great Qi. Great sadness stops the flow of Qi. You can deplete your vital energy reserves by being too sexually active. Swallowing saliva means increasing its essential energy. If it is not swallowed, it loses its potency. When you are sick, do not lie with your head facing north. If immediately after waking up you start talking a lot, you will lose vital energy. 11. Seasons and health care In winter, make sure to keep your feet warm and your head cool. In spring and autumn, let both your head and feet feel cool. If you are sick and sweating, do not drink cold water, as it destroys the heart and stomach. In spring and summer, lie with your head to the east, and in autumn and winter - to the west. Sleep on your side with your knees bent. This will increase your supply of vital energy. In summer and autumn, go to bed early and get up early; in winter, go to bed early and get up late; In the spring, go to bed while it is light and get up early. At dawn, noon, afternoon, dusk and midnight, brush your teeth and rinse your mouth seven times; it will prolong your life and strengthen your bones, teeth, muscles, nails and hair.
Sit on a chair, spread your knees to the sides shoulder-width apart. Make a fist with one hand and clasp the clenched fist with the palm of the other hand. Leaning your elbows on your knees, place your head on your fist. Now close your eyes and relax as much as possible. Free your body, let it go limp, as if you were very tired.
Inhale through your nose and mentally draw the air down your belly, then exhale slowly and freely through your mouth. Inhale through your nose again, filling your lower abdomen, freeze for a couple of seconds and take a short additional breath, and then exhale long, freely through your mouth.
The chest remains motionless during the exercise, breathing is only abdominal, reminiscent of the movements of the belly of a frog. You need to devote 15 minutes to performing the exercise and repeat it three times a day. You can do it during regular meal times, before meals, or choose another time. Abdominal breathing plays the role of a kind of massage of internal organs, stimulates blood circulation, enhances metabolic processes, raises the tone of the whole body and makes it easier to follow a diet.
"Lotus"
Chinese breathing exercises “Jianfei” for weight loss are partly based on meditative techniques; the “Lotus” exercise implies complete relaxation and detachment.
Starting position - sitting on a chair, feet shoulder-width apart, hands on your knees, palms up, placed one on top of the other. Without leaning on the back of the chair, straighten your lower back, lower your shoulders, point your chin slightly down. Close your eyes and completely relax the muscles of your face and body, touch the roof of your mouth with the tip of your tongue at the level of your upper teeth, inhale and exhale. Sit like this for another minute, banishing scraps of stories and phrases that arise in your head, begin to perform a breathing exercise consisting of three parts.
- Breathing control for 5 minutes. Try to breathe deeply and calmly, as naturally as possible, being aware of each inhalation and exhalation, controlling their depth, frequency, listening to the sounds made and trying to achieve the most silent air movement.
- Controlled exhalation (5 minutes). Inhale casually, freely; as you exhale, try to relax as much as possible, trying to achieve silent, smooth air movement.
- Uncontrolled breathing (10 minutes), stop thinking about breathing, drive away extraneous thoughts and calm yourself as much as possible.
The “Lotus” exercise is performed three times a day, it can be done in combination with the “Frog”, or it can be done early in the morning after getting up and in the evening before going to bed.
“Lotus” and “Frog” will help get rid of fatigue, relieve tension, improve metabolism, relieve vegetative-vascular dystonia, help with many chronic diseases, they can be performed to improve health and tone the body.
Chinese medicine as a choice
The most famous methods of alternative therapy came to us from the Middle Kingdom. Traditional Chinese medicine originated in Ancient China, accumulated and systematized centuries-old observations of the functioning of organs and systems of the human body. Now it is a modern system of teachings and practices, united by a common view of illness as a consequence of a violation of the circulation of vital energy.
Acupuncture, which is more often understood as acupuncture, is one of the main areas in Chinese medicine, which involves influencing the human body through irritation of special points on the body, called acupuncture points. From the point of view of Chinese medicine, they are located on the meridians along which Qi energy circulates, which means that by acting on them you can achieve a redistribution of vital energy, remove blocks along its path and restore harmony in the body.
Acupuncture will relieve cough
Acupuncture has a long history of use in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to improve breathing, in addition to the use of traditional bronchodilators and inhaled steroids. Its goal is to open the bronchial passages, restore normal bronchopulmonary ventilation, relieve the patient from coughing and the accompanying feeling of lack of air. Acupuncture is designed to facilitate the cleansing of the bronchi from thick mucus that accumulates in them as a result of impaired pulmonary clearance, which contributes to atelectasis and the development of infection.
Not long ago, Japanese scientists conducted a three-month study involving 68 patients with chronic pulmonary obstruction. Based on its results, it was proven that the use of acupuncture significantly improves the condition and quality of life. It is assumed that its therapeutic effect is associated with the ability to relax and optimize the muscles involved in breathing, as well as cause a change in blood flow in the lungs and bronchi. The conclusion was that acupuncture will effectively complement any traditional methods of intervention, especially as a preventative measure.
Types of acupuncture for bronchitis and asthma
- Zhen, it's the same is a method of treating and preventing diseases using silver, gold or steel needles. The choice of points for injections is determined not only by the nature of the disease and the desired effect. It is influenced by gender, constitution, age, and even the geographic location and climatic conditions of the patient’s residence. The procedure lasts 20-40 minutes and is not accompanied by any unpleasant sensations. Only within 2-4 minutes after inserting the needle, a swelling is felt at the injection site, after which only the therapeutic effect appears.
- Tszyu or warming, cauterization- a painless method, despite the threatening name, it does not cause discomfort and does not cause burns. Tszyu involves applying temperature to acupuncture points using wormwood cigars or cones in order to warm them deeply. A pleasant feeling of warmth is all that the patient feels during the procedure.
Cauterization can also be carried out using hot needles, but even in this case it is easily tolerated even by children.
Only one type of cauterization leaves a mark on the skin - cauterization with wormwood cones, causing pinpoint, match-head-sized, superficial burns.
From the point of view of Chinese medicine, Zhen Ju is very suitable for the treatment of bronchitis caused by “invasion of the body by the pathogenic energy of cold and moisture.” - Vacuum magnetic puncture involves influencing acupuncture points with a magnetic field in combination with a local decrease in pressure. Such reflexology allows you to expand superficial blood vessels, stimulate blood circulation in the lungs, warm them deeply, eliminate congestion, and accelerate reparative processes in cells.
Acupuncture requires the patient to follow certain rules.
- Procedures are not performed on an empty stomach. Before the session you should have a snack, but do not overeat.
- After a reflexology session, you should not become overcooled, therefore, if it is not possible to “cool down” indoors, it is better to undergo treatment in the warm season.
- After the procedure, rest for 40-60 minutes is required.
- If water procedures are prescribed in reflexology, they should be done before the acupuncture session.
- Acupuncture is not combined with physiotherapy, but this does not mean that you have to completely abandon electrophoresis or ultrasound, just these methods of treatment should be used 2 hours before reflexology.
Effect of acupuncture, contraindications
During the first 5 sessions of acupuncture, an exacerbation of the disease, increased coughing, and an increase in the amount of sputum are possible. Despite the fact that this is subjectively unpleasant, it is nevertheless a good prognostic sign, evidence that the method works and mobilizes the body’s defenses to fight the disease. Subsequently, a rapid reversal of symptoms is expected.
The effect of treatment is felt within 3 months.
Despite its apparent harmlessness, acupuncture has strict contraindications.
- It should not be performed during menstruation to avoid increased bleeding.
- It is contraindicated for oncological diseases and the slightest suspicion of them.
- It can cause harm in cases of severe cardiac and pulmonary insufficiency.
- Its administration to patients over 75 years of age requires a thorough analysis of the situation.
Despite the lack of evidence, alternative treatment methods, in particular acupuncture, can significantly improve the condition and even relieve cough in chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. It is quite possible that in the initial stages of the development of the disease, it can even replace traditional remedies. But still, you should not give up medications on your own in favor of reflexology, and any change in treatment should be agreed upon with your doctor.
Medicine in the East develops on the basis of philosophical conclusions from the past. It is here, in the East, that such concepts as hygiene and diet appear. Eastern medicine views human health as a balance between the internal and external worlds.
In ancient times, Eastern medicine had a rather strange method of treatment. To be more precise, checking the patient to see what’s wrong with him. It was a determination of a person's health status just by his hand. It should be noted that the accuracy of this procedure was at a high level. There was a special doctor not only in palaces, but also in simple places, such as small settlements. The doctors who were given such an opportunity to cure the ladies never saw their patients, neither their faces, nor even their bodies. In medical offices there was a special purpose in the room, through this gap women would submit their hand, and the doctor would summarize only for this reason. This old method showed that conclusions could be drawn from one part of the body - the little finger on the left hand.
Thanks to this finger, the doctor concluded what influence this patient had on the external emotional climate. Due to the unpleasant influences of the environment, or to be more precise, there was no protective reaction of the body to adverse symptoms. And at the same time, the old doctors were characterized by the appearance of not very good diseases. There is also a vein on the little finger that leads to the heart and small intestine. Just the little finger of the left hand can show how well they function. To find out if everything was okay with the person, they pressed on certain points of the finger. If neurotic abnormalities were detected, then acupressure was prescribed and performed.
If we further listen to oriental medicine, we can take the Japanese as an example. Thanks to many studies, Japanese centenarians eat a couple of servings of raw vegetables and fruits per day. Fruits and vegetables with green and orange colors are considered very healthy and more recommended.
When it comes to fats, the Japanese recommend using sunflower and olive oil. Consuming one spoon of oil slows down the aging of cells, and this helps maintain youth.
And if you listen to the opinion of scientists, the aging process slows down walks in the fresh air, which you need to accustom yourself to. Also some breathing exercises. Here, which is clear to everyone, it is believed that one of the important elements that slow down aging is smoking. A large amount of positive emotions helps strengthen the immune system.
Stable and healthy sleep helps the body restore all working energy and normalizes the condition of internal organs.
It is considered natural for an ordinary doctor to prescribe the usual course of treatment, and then only if the symptoms are already too visible. In the West, this is all divided into two levels: the psyche and the level of the physical body.
In Eastern medicine, treatment begins with the diseased part of the body, and then everything else is looked at. But according to Eastern beliefs, all diseases begin in the mind. Eternal thoughts about bad things lead to disruption of the circulation of vital forces. And only after this do diseases begin to appear at the smallest level.
The issue of medicine is by far the most discussed. Everyone chooses for themselves which medicine to prefer: traditional Western or non-traditional Eastern. What is the essence of these areas of medicine? Is it possible to use only one direction and when is it necessary? What are their disadvantages and advantages? Today we will devote a conversation to this topic.
The most important difference between Western and Eastern medicine is that Western medicine, as a rule, divides the human body into separate organs and systems, treats the diseased organ, and fights the symptoms and consequences of any disease. Treatment of the human body is carried out for a specific problem; they do not direct their efforts to improve its condition as a whole. In traditional Western medicine, even for each symptom of a disease, there is a separate group of drugs that are created chemically, thereby affecting the body only on a physical level. Eastern medicine considers the human body as a single whole, taking into account the emotional, mental, and energetic state. Its essence is to restore the disturbed harmony (balance) of human energy with the energy of nature (wind, heat, fire, humidity, dryness and cold), that is, to eliminate the causes, not the consequences, of the disease. Medicines of alternative medicine, thanks to the correct combination of components, act not only on the physical, but also on the energetic level, due to the distribution of energy throughout the human body. Eastern medicine generally denies the use of any special or artificial means, since nature itself is the best healer. In addition, the same disease is treated differently in each patient, since Eastern medicine considers the human body to be unique.
In addition, Eastern medicine heals very slowly, unlike Western medicine, that is, it cannot instantly relieve a specific pain that suddenly arises. It aims to eliminate the root causes of disease through proper self-care. Western medicine in this regard is superior to Eastern medicine, since it is able to treat quite dangerous diseases and get a person back on his feet in a short time.
Also, it is necessary to note the fact that all medications that Eastern medicine uses also have side effects, since they are present in almost every plant and can occur with sufficiently long-term use or overdose.
The main disadvantage of Eastern medicine is that it cannot cope with diseases that occur in Western people due to environmental pollution, noise pollution, and the effects of various chemicals on the human body, since it is not well developed.
In addition, Eastern medicine has always paid significant attention to disease prevention. The first symptoms of the disease, that is, signs of energy imbalance, are easily noticed in Eastern medicine and the necessary measures are taken: changing the diet, teaching how to breathe correctly, etc.
What are the disadvantages of Western medicine?
Since all the drugs used by Western medicine have many side effects, we come to the conclusion that Western medicine can greatly worsen the condition of the body over a long period of time. All medicines are created synthetically and therefore cause harm to human organs. For example, aspirin, which we all know for its antipyretic properties, can cause stomach pain, nausea, heartburn, and even vomiting, and its regular use leads to disruption of the gastrointestinal tract, stomach ulcers and hemorrhagic stroke. This is the reason why Western medicine often turns to various drugs from Eastern medicine, making its own adjustments to them and using them to create other drugs.
Particular attention should be paid to such a phenomenon of Western medicine as iatrogenic, that is, harm or deterioration of the patient’s health, which is caused by the inaccurate action of the doctor. In Eastern practice, such cases almost never occur, whereas in Western medicine, iatrogenicity is a common phenomenon and a serious problem, since it is the most common reason why a sick patient dies. Cases of iatrogenicity are especially common in the United States.
To summarize, we can say that in reality we need both areas of medicine. Western medicine helps with most diseases and illnesses, including the newest ones. It instantly eliminates the symptoms of the disease and, if necessary, quickly gets a person back on his feet. But because of this approach to treatment, very often the price of recovery from any disease is deterioration in health in the future. However, it is indispensable in advanced cases, with irreversible damage, when emergency surgery is necessary. Eastern medicine focuses on slowly caring for the body, improving overall health and energy balance. This branch of medicine cannot quickly cure a specific disease, but it can strengthen the entire body and develop lasting immunity to various diseases. Eastern medicine is a combination of gentle treatment and healthy lifestyle. Both directions have positive aspects; it’s up to you to decide which one to choose for yourself. However, giving preference to one area of medicine does not mean prohibiting another.
Oriental, Tibetan and Chinese medicine - what are the differences?
For many people these concepts seem the same. Indeed, they are united by common principles, approaches to diseases and treatment, methods of prevention, but nevertheless there are differences. They are as follows:
Eastern medicine- this is the most capacious concept; it includes Japanese, Korean, Indian, Tibetan, Chinese and many other “Asian” types of medicine. It arose in the third millennium BC. e. On its basis, traditional Vietnamese, traditional Tibetan, traditional Korean and other national medicines emerged. In all these countries, oriental medicine has continuously developed on the basis of ancient traditions and reached a completely new level - it is based on the latest scientific research and uses the most modern technologies.
Now traditional oriental medicine has become available to all humanity, it has integrated with the West and complements it with unique methods of treating pain syndromes, neurological disorders, diseases of civilization (depression, neuroses, insomnia, chronic fatigue syndrome, most chronic diseases), as well as methods of rehabilitation after serious illnesses.
Eastern medicine is the most effective system of prevention and healing.
Tibetan medicine is an integral part of oriental medicine, including Chinese and Indian medicine. The legend of its origin is interesting. “Once upon a time, in the 7th century AD, there lived a brave and rich prince. He took two princesses as wives - a Chinese and a Nepalese. Each of them came to the court with their own doctor. And the prince had his own sage - from Persia. It was these three great aesculapians who wrote the universal work that founded Tibetan medicine. The great book was called “Weapons of Fearlessness.” The Weapons of Fearlessness has been a staple medical guide for centuries. Tibetan medicine, coming from these texts, was called the “old medical school”. After all, the Chinese set the tone.
India has become the birthplace of Ayurveda - (translated from Sanskrit as “knowledge of longevity”, or “science of life”), traditional Indian medicine based on the system of Vedic philosophical ideas about nature and man. The goal of Ayurveda is the balance of body, mind and soul, which is achieved by a certain nutritional system, meditation, and special procedures.
Chinese medicine is an integral part of Tibetan medicine and oriental medicine. Chinese medicine is based on ancient philosophy and is based on the doctrine of the circulation of vital energy “QI” through special channels inside a person (meridians) and biologically active points on the surface of his body (there are more than a thousand of them).
This theory has become the basis of all methods of treatment and healing of oriental medicine - acupuncture (acupuncture), massage, breathing exercises, proper nutrition and lifestyle. Chinese medicine, as the art of healing in Ancient China and other East Asian countries, included knowledge about a variety of medicines of plant and animal origin. These medicines contain biologically active substances that can regulate vital energy and restore inner harmony. One of the great achievements of the doctors of Ancient China was the idea of the circular movement of blood and the diagnosis of diseases by the pulse.
Chinese medicine methods
Chinese medicine considers the unhindered circulation of qi energy to be one of the signs of health. Any blockage or stagnation of energy contributes to the development of diseases. It is possible to restore impaired circulation using various methods. But the most dangerous thing for health is exhaustion, a deficiency of qi energy, which is much more difficult to replenish. Therefore, it is necessary to protect the original level of qi in every possible way and begin treatment as early as possible, until the protective and hereditary qi of the human body is depleted and the disease (pathological beginning) has not penetrated from the surface of the body into the internal organs.
Let's look at the main methods treatment Chinese medicine.
Ancient doctors believed that disease occurs as a result of disruption of normal relationships both in the body itself and between the human body and nature, because man has always been considered an integral part of nature. One of the most important connections between a person and the outside world is food. Since time immemorial, doctors have noticed that a person’s health depends on how balanced a person’s diet is.
Proper nutrition, or diet therapy, has become one of the oldest healing methods. This applies not only to Chinese or Oriental medicine, but also to European medicine, since the statement of its founder, the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, is known: “Medicine should be food, and food should be medicine.” A reasonable attitude to the choice of food, a favorable attitude in the processes of preparation and consumption is the key to the prevention of diseases and successful healing with the help of food.
Method treating diseases using active points on meridians is called acupuncture or acupuncture . It, as a non-drug treatment method, is an indispensable remedy for patients with manifestations of allergic reactions and drug intolerance. Acupuncture normalizes the functions of the nervous system (both central and autonomic): calms and normalizes the tone and functions of organs, metabolism (including normalization of body weight), increases the body's resistance to infectious and other diseases, and also normalizes the functions of other systems.
Traditional oriental reflexology is a symptomatic method in which treatment is aimed primarily at normalizing the impaired functions of the diseased organ. In this case, the main thing is to ensure the harmony of energy in the body and stimulate the defenses.
Acupuncture has no direct contraindications. The art of acupuncture has been taught for years, and a doctor who possesses it perfectly was considered, and is still considered, a great doctor.
QI GONG - unique Chinese medicine method. This is Chinese therapeutic gymnastics, which allows a person to get rid of many diseases and achieve harmony of spirit and body, which is the key to longevity. Gymnastics qigong serves not only for healing, but allows you to activate all the internal resources of the human body. With the help of slow, smooth movements, concentration and certain breathing techniques, the external and internal energy of qi is regulated and transformed. As a result, a person’s bioenergetic potential is restored and his body’s energy resources increase.
Vacuum therapy - an ancient method of treatment, accessible to use, safe to use and effective in treatment. The principle of vacuum therapy is based on the impact of vacuum cans of various sizes and volumes on biologically active points and areas of the body. This improves immunity, normalizes capillary blood flow, tissue respiration and helps stimulate the excretory system. To tell the truth, when I watched a Chinese doctor insert jars of about three liters, I felt uneasy, but the patients felt great!
One of the effective healing methods used in Chinese medicine is a specific type of massage - Tuina , the most ancient method of healing with hands. It is used not only to prevent the disease, but mainly to provide resuscitation care to patients where medications are powerless. This massage method is a mechanical effect on the human body, which causes deformation of the skin and changes muscle tension. Oriental Tuina massage classes teach you to redistribute vital energy, bringing yin and yang into a balanced state, and increase a person’s physical and intellectual capabilities. This method goes well with other types of Chinese therapy.
Phytotherapy , like other ancient methods of treatment, is based on the basic theoretical principles of Chinese medicine. Interest in herbs and other herbal medicinal raw materials has increased especially recently due to the development of side effects and allergic reactions when using chemotherapy drugs. When choosing a specific recipe for the treatment of certain symptoms and syndromes of diseases, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics and characteristics of the plant (warmth, cold, taste, color), which are an expression of yin or yang character: yin diseases are treated with yang herbs, yang diseases are treated with yin -plants. As a rule, recipes are balanced according to the five primary elements: fire, earth, metal, water and wood
One of the ancient Chinese methods of treatment - metal therapy . If acupuncture has been known for a long time and is quite widely used in Russia and Europe, then this method is taking its first steps here. It leads to the restoration of the overall energy balance of the body and the disappearance of symptoms of the pathological process. The foot area is the most effective area for treating internal diseases and pathological conditions with metals.
The application of metals to the foot and other active areas of the body can serve as both an independent method of treatment and an excellent complement to other techniques of oriental medicine. Its important advantage is the reduction in the volume of drug therapy, which leads to a reduction in side effects. This is achieved through cheap and labor-intensive means of physical influence that do not require complex equipment.
The principles of ancient Eastern therapy also include treating the same disease with different methods or different diseases with one method; treatment taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient. A mandatory requirement is a strictly individual approach when prescribing treatment.
To complete the picture of the use of various methods of Chinese medicine, it should be added that direct contraindications for their use are: acute febrile diseases of unknown etiology; alcohol or drug intoxication; acute infectious diseases. Relative contraindications include the patient’s non-acceptance of the treatment procedure or a negative attitude towards the doctor’s personality, as well as infancy and old age.
Chinese medicine has always attached the main importance to the prevention of diseases. Based on thousands of years of experience, it has been established that every person has a tendency to certain diseases, determined depending on the time of his birth (diagnosis using the USIN, I will talk about this in the following articles).
The integrity of the approach of Chinese medicine is manifested in the desire to influence the human body in the most complex way, taking into account as many connections as possible.
The use of Chinese medicine treatment methods for several millennia has proven its undeniable effectiveness!
What is the essence of Chinese medicine?
Chinese medicine combines both natural scientific observations and philosophical ethical principles. Moral self-improvement of a person was considered a necessary component of maintaining health, both spiritual and physical, which, by the way, in the ideas of the Chinese did not have such a sharp contrast as among the Europeans.
An essential feature of Chinese thinking is the exceptional importance of symbols and symbolic actions not only in philosophy, science, culture, but also in everyday life. Therefore, when learning these ideas and concepts, one must take into account their more comprehensive nature in comparison with the ideas and concepts of European civilization.
In the first philosophical treatises (“I Ching” - “Book of Changes” and “Shu Jing” - “Book of History”) all the basic provisions about the opposing forces in unity were formulated YIN YANG, about energy CI, about the “great limit” TAI CHI, the doctrine of the five primary elements and five movements U XIN. Formed in the middle of the first millennium BC, they became the basis of Chinese medicine.
In all likelihood, the philosophical positions of Chinese thinkers developed as a result of observations not only of the surrounding nature, but also of the functions of the human body, its structure, which as a result led to the emergence of a very integral and harmonious philosophical concept connecting the macro- and microcosm. The success of treatments based on these ideas confirms its validity.
Contemplation of continuously changing natural phenomena led the ancient Chinese thinkers to establish the basic principle of existence and movement in the world - the constant action of two opposing and at the same time inextricably linked properties, or principles - YIN and YANG. The original meaning of the hieroglyphs that denoted these concepts was the dark and light sides of the mountain. Darkness, cold, moisture, death, feminine - these are the properties of YIN. Light, warmth, fire, birth - YANG.
They arose as qualities of the originally unified energy QI (or CHI). This happened under the influence of the primordial matter TAI CHI (literally meaning “great limit”). As a result of the condensation of Qi, a division occurred into light, light and pure YANG QI, which rose up and formed the sky, and cloudy, heavy, dirty YIN QI, which fell down and formed the earth. The equilibrium interaction of YIN and YANG determines the order of the universe, nature, state, family, person, and so on.
The confrontation between YIN and YANG gives birth to all movement in the world and the five principles (or primary elements, primary elements): WATER, FIRE, WOOD, EARTH AND METAL. “Heaven created five principles, and the people use them all. If one thing is abolished, life will become impossible” (from the treatise “Zozhuan”). These five elements are the basis of all things and the successive states of nature. There are connections and interdependencies between all principles, and everything is related to the environment, the passage of time and cosmic influences.
The primary elements simultaneously mutually generate and mutually overcome (control) each other. Mutual creation is based on the natural properties of the first principles: water generates and nourishes the tree (water is necessary for the growth of a tree); a tree, when burned, generates and feeds fire; fire generates and nourishes the earth (ash); the earth gives birth to metal (since metal is obtained from the bowels of the earth); metal generates water (when melted it turns into liquid) and so on - all mutual generation is closed into infinity, into a ring (Fig. 1).
Each primary element is simultaneously both a “mother” and a “son”; it is born and nourished, and itself gives birth and nourishes. This is how direct and indirect connections of the universe are revealed. However, for the existing world to be balanced, there must also be feedback. These are mutual oppression, mutual control or management of the original. Water controls (extinguishes) fire, fire controls (melts) metal, metal controls (destroys) wood; the tree rules (destroys with its roots) the earth; the earth controls (absorbs) water.
Such relationships are called “grandfather” - “grandson” in Chinese treatises. The unity of the mutually opposite principles of yin-yang, the strict pattern of their alternation and change constitute the universal law of existence. At the same time, an important category of Chinese philosophy is complementarity. YIN and YANG not only oppose, but also complement each other. It is complementarity that is the source of being.
Yin must be complemented by yang and vice versa - to maintain existence. If you add yin to yin and add yang to yang, that is, add like to like, their harmony is disrupted, which leads to death. Complementarity is a universal category and the basis of the principle of treatment of Chinese medicine - the BU-SE rule (literal translation of “add-subtract”).
Yin-yang manifests itself in any substrate, thing, process, phenomenon: in the male and female principles, in light and darkness, in day and night, heat and cold, the sun and the moon, and so on. The alternation of yin and yang sets the cyclical nature of all processes in nature. If the sequence of qi in nature is disrupted, then disasters occur: volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, floods or droughts. If the sequence of qi in the human body is not observed, then diseases occur.
From such philosophical ideas comes the concept of a single whole, embracing the entire Universe and man. Man is considered as a world in miniature, a reflection of the macrocosm, the Universe, and consists of five primary elements that enter the body with food. A reflection of this organic integrity are the five hollow and five solid organs. They interact with each other and with the environment, and each organ corresponds to a specific origin. In this unified system, everything is interconnected and mutually dependent; all parts of the macrocosm (Universe) and microcosm (human) have a common functional structure.
The five principles became the basis for the teachings of Wu Xing (literally meaning “five elements, five movements”). Ancient Eastern doctors applied the teachings of Wu Xing to the manifestations of the vital functions of the human body and to streamline the relationship between man and nature. The book “Shangshu Da Quan” says: “Water and fire belong to the vital necessities, the food and drink that the people need. Metal and wood exist for entertainment and production. The earth is the source of all things and serves for the benefit of man.” The concept of U SIN is the basis for diagnosis and treatment, as well as for recommendations for the prevention of diseases.
The main practical conclusion from the teachings of Wu Xing is the recognition of the inextricable connection of all five primary elements, their constant mutual generation and mutual overcoming. The entire range of Eastern medical teachings is included in this philosophical concept. Connections of mutual generation and oppression are inherent in all objects and phenomena. The dynamic balance of constant physiological processes and reactions of the body can be disrupted by external influences. For example, damage to any organ or system related to the original earth leads to a weakening of control over the organs related to water, which strengthen and oppress the fire organs. This is how the disease spreads.
The goal set by Chinese medicine was initially a happy existence of a person, which had five manifestations: “The first manifestation of happiness is longevity, the second is wealth, the third is health of the body and peace of mind, the fourth is love of chastity, the fifth is a peaceful death, the final life” (“Shu Jing”).
Chinese thinkers answered the question “what?”, not “why?” or how?". To identify connections and dependencies between natural phenomena, the body, pathogenic and healing factors - this is what their efforts were aimed at. For them, it was important that wood gives birth to and maintains fire, and not why it burns, what its chemical composition is, or what reaction occurs.
Only awareness of these differences in the perception of the surrounding world, understanding of the features of the inductive method, that is, the construction of general provisions based on particular specific phenomena without breaking the connections between them, will help to understand and successfully use Eastern medicine.
Proper nutrition in the East
proper nutrition
An ancient wisdom says: “If you get sick, change your lifestyle. If this doesn't help, change your thoughts and thoughts. If this doesn't help, change your diet “.
The key to longevity is, in many ways, proper nutrition. Let's consider proper nutrition from the perspective of oriental medicine.
In the East, everything is important - the timing of meals, the quality of food, the relationship between meals and sleep and physical activity, and the emotional state in which you sat down at the table. .
1. In relation to the time of day:
The ancients believed that the qi energy, which moves inside the body, makes a full revolution in a day. Therefore, every two hours it moves from one meridian to another (). The stomach, for example, is active from 7 to 9 am. At this time, it is advisable to have breakfast, and not a cup of coffee and a sandwich, but something more substantial. From 13 to 15 the small intestine is active. Be sure to have lunch at this time. But from 19 to 21 hours is the time of minimal stomach activity, so this is an unfavorable time before dinner. It’s better to eat before this time, and if it doesn’t work out, then after.
2. In relation to classes physical exercises:
You can have a hearty lunch no later than 3 hours (light snack - no later than 1 - 1.5 hours) before the start of classes, and no earlier than 40 minutes after the end of physical exercise.
3. In relation to sleep time:
If you have a heavy dinner, then it is advisable to eat no later than 3 hours before bedtime, for a light dinner - no later than 2 - 1.5 hours before bedtime. It is also best not to sleep for the next 2 hours after any meal in the morning or afternoon, but rather take a walk (so that excess fat does not accumulate!)
4. In relation to the chosen place for eating and orientation to the cardinal points:
In the East, even the direction in which you sit when eating matters! It is recommended to sit facing east, and it is better not to eat while sitting facing south. Orientation facing east is the most effective because in this direction the human body and energy flows are oriented and coordinated with the energy flows of the Earth. It is also important that when eating you are in a place that you like and is energetically favorable for you.
5. In relation to water intake:
It is better to drink water before meals. In the East they say: “Liquid before a meal is gold, during a meal it is silver, and after a meal it is metal.” It is better to drink a glass of water no later than 20 minutes before a meal, and then no earlier than half an hour after a meal, even if you only ate fruit before that. If you drink during meals or immediately after, then the water that enters the digestive system significantly extinguishes the digestive fire, diluting the gastric juice, which has a bad effect on the digestion of food and its absorption. Thus, a large amount of undigested or poorly digested food may remain, which also leads to the formation of toxins in the body.
6. In relation to the process of bowel movement:
The ideal bowel function is to empty it every time 2-3 hours after you have eaten thoroughly. It is not advisable to go to the toilet immediately after eating. In the East they believe that this destroys the body.
7. In relation to the food products themselves:
If you have been to China, then you can imagine the specifics of their food. There is always a bowl of rice on the table, but no bread. There are a lot of all kinds of leaves, stems, in general, greenery, but not fresh, but boiled, poached, fried. Not enough meat. Lots of different seasonings and sauces.
When I went for treatment at a Chinese medicine center, I was told to eliminate 3 foods: chicken, beer and cola. True, I practically didn’t use the last two anyway. But the chicken surprised me. I think that this attitude towards chicken meat is due to what chickens are now fed in poultry farms: a large amount of antibiotics and growth hormones.
8. In relation to the Yin and Yang qualities of consumed products:
In Eastern medicine, the most important principle of health is the balance or harmony between the male Yang energy and the female Yin energy. The Chinese believe that if the diet is balanced, there will be no illness. They classify any product as Yin or Yang. I will talk more about this in a separate article. Knowing what energy is currently lacking allows you to adjust your diet and consume the necessary foods.
9. In relation to your emotional state:
In the East, the emotional state before eating is very important. Do not sit at the table if you are irritated, angry, sad. We love to “eat up” stress. This leads to you know what: illness and excess weight. By the way, there are practically no fat people in China.
So, let's start eating with a feeling of joy, peace and gratitude. Then food will be good for the body. In many religions, prayers are said before meals - this calms and prepares the body for eating. How are you in the mood after a good meal with friends? Make small holidays out of food: candlelit dinners with your loved ones, family lunches on weekends with children or parents
And then food will become a gift to your body and you will live a long time!
Loading...