From: hylton@rucs2.sunlab.cs.runet.edu (Core Dump ;))
Subject: Real Chinese Medicine
Organization: Radford University
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 14:45:42 GMT


Hello,

	First off let me say I am very happy to see this newsgroup.  My 
  Mother was diagnosed with CFS about two years ago.  I subscribed to possibly
  get more information for her.  I think she's read just about all there
  is on this subject and the subject of chemicals and drugs.  Anyway, that's
  not what I plan to write.  What I do plan to write is going to be lengthy
  but it IS in your best interests especially if you don't believe in the
  use of chinese medicine. ( or even if you're just curious)

	I am a martial artist, especially of the styles of china.  I have
  studied anything I can get my hands on.  I've had many different Instructors.
  I also have come across some things in martial arts that go hand in hand 
  with chinese medicine.  I feel it my duty to set some things straight since
  some people are putting this wonderful type of medicine down.

	I would like to first talk about accupuncture.  I read in a book
  of a man (the author) who went to taiwan, for some reason or another
  during his trip he needed surgery.  They used accupuncture as the 
  anasthegic (sp?)  He said he didn't feel a thing during the operation. He
  couldn't believe it, but since he experienced it he did.  I trust his 
  account because I`ve read/heard it time and time again throughout the 
  seven to eight years I've been interested in chinese martial arts (and
  medicine).  The book also tells of a story which the early chinese physicians
  could predict when one would have an illness and what the symptoms would be,
  they were never wrong.  Including a time when a doctor tried to tell one
  of the emperors that his concubine, or daughter ( I don't remember exactly)
  was going to die in the spring if she didn't rest and take something. 
  ( I think this is exact, it's been along time since I read the book. )
  The emperor laughed at him, said she's as healthy as can be, continued to
  make her work like normal and in the spring she died exactly like the doctor
  said she would, with the exact same symptoms.

	If you would like to read this book, email me and I'll try to get 
  the name and author to you.

	Also chinese medicine also talks about the cultivation of chi.
  Chi is spelled many ways , ie, qi ,ch'i, ji.  I will use chi since in
  most of my martial arts experience this is how it is spelled.  (However,
  qi seems to becoming more and more popular each passing day)

	To my humble understanding, chi flows through the body in channels
  very similar to the cardiovascular system.  It has a central "place" in
  the body called the "dan tien".  This is where everyones chi is stored and
  retrieved from.  Also I think when the chi storage is low you can retrieve
  it from "the universe" or basically from the air (but I'm not 100% sure)
  Anyway, to be a healthy individual one needs to cultivate and store as 
  much as possible.  This helps the internal organs to work proficiently and
  helps clear the mind, make one alert, energized, just plain feel great.
  When one has an illness one of the channels is "blocked" or stagnant.  The
  chi flow is not what it should be, and to correct it one can use chi kung
  exercises and accupuncture.  I practice chi kung ( however I only know very
  few exercises)  and I have seen improvement.  Normally, I have allergies in
  the summer.  Even the medicines/drugs that I would take sometimes didn't work.
  But if I practiced the chi kung ( I used to  alot back in high school, 
  because I had alot of time, but now with college and married life, it's not
  as easy.) I wouldn't even have the first signs.  Used to even my mother
  wouldn't believe me, but now she's starting to pay attention and asking me
  questions.  

	One of the best martial arts to help with cultivation and getting the
  flow going strong is tai chi.  Some others are hsing-I,tai-ji,and the third
  "sister" art which name I can't remember.  These are considered 
  internal/soft arts.  These are perfect for CFS patients because you use 
  little to none muscle energy and use mostly chi energy.  Tai chi is slow
  and rythmic and tends to be a favorite.  Plus you are probably most likely
  to see a QUALIFIED instructor in Tai-chi, (in the states). ( This is my 
  opinion.)

	Chi cultivation and usage requires you to eat properly.  Alot of 
  chi and chinese medicine is based upon the yin-yang theory.  Yin-yang
  describes the balances of nature, hot-cold, man-woman, light-dark, etc.
  Chinese meals consist of a balance of these in their foods.  Some foods
  are yang, some are yin.  I cannot tell you which is which, however, I
  agree if you eat with alittle meat and a varity of vegetables and fruits
  with some breads and grains, you'll probably hit the right balance.  The
  foods must be like this because your body needs "alittle of everything"
  the one food I find I keep from my body is the bitter ones. (Because their
  bitter) However, your body needs it. I think the bitter ones are cabbages,
  turnips, greens, you know the stuff that tastes horrible.  The reason why you   need this balance is because it is "nature's rule".  If you eat mostly yang
  foods and little yin then your body goes into a yang state.  I think this
  makes your body cold.  And if more yin than yang, then the body becomes hot
  ( hotter than normal, like a fever , sort of)  This theory makes sense,
  however I'm not sure this is a good explanation. Anyway I hope you could
  make sense of this last paragraph.

	Chi cultivation and the normal flow needs you to exercise.  I realize
  that CFS patients need to rest and sometimes have no energy to exercise.
  Tai-chi , or an art like it, once again is a prime candidate for exercise.
  If you can't do that, having someone massage you entire body can be very
  beneficial, it will relax you yes, but it also increases the chi flow; helps
  it to get moving along.  Massage also helps the body to burn fat cells, so
  it has many benefits.

	Now all of this sounds great, and this is just some of what I've
  read/seen/heard/experienced over and over.  It really does work with one
  exception....

  The person has to be QUALIFIED.  In other words they have to know the 
  true stuff. How to tell if one is qualified is not easy at all.  You kind
  of have to know alot about the subject.  Which is hard when you don't
  right?  Here is one thing I've found out.  If you read/heard the same things
  over and over, chances are it's true.  Example, if you read ten books on 
  chinese medicine and 6 or 7 (possibly even 5) basically say the same thing,
  and the authors are not the same, weren't taugh/or got their information from
  the same place, then I'd put money down on it.

  As far as someone dropping their price so you can continue... that's a tuffy
  because they could be taking you for a ride, or they seriously want to help
  you, that's something that's hard to know.  But no matter how bad what you 
  have experienced or will experience in the chinese medicine, qualified or
  experienced instructors/physicians can tell/show/give you the right info.
  This includes all areas... herbs,chi,accupuncture,message.

  One last personal experience before I go :

  I used to normally have very cold hands and feet.  The reason for this
  is that when chi channels are restricted little or no flow reaches these
  extremities.  How ever when I practice chi kung, my hands and feet sweat 
  very little but noticeable, even in below freezing temperatures.  Like 
  last week when it snowed here alot and the wind chill factors were even 
  further down.  I noticed my hands sweated.  Yes, it shocked me to.
  Anyway, who ever you are, wherever you hail from, you can comment to me
  at hylton@rucs2.sunlab.cs.runet.edu  .

  P.S.  If you would like more info or questions answered about chi, chi kung
  and tai-chi... subscribe to rec.martial-arts.  There are alot of people on
  there who know more about these subjects, and probably could correct some
  bad information that I might have unintentionally published in this article.

  This article printed by the knowledge of what I have heard/seen/experienced.
  Your milage may vary.

  michael
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