June 2008
I enjoy my food as much as, if not more than, the next man. And I find the way Chinese medicine views food and flavours particularly interesting.
Foods, like Chinese herbs, are categorised according to their flavour - bitter (like green tea), sweet (like Chinese dates), pungent (like onions), sour (like vinegar) and salty (like seafood).
All foods which fall into a flavour category have a traditional medicinal function associated with that category - for example bitter foods clear heat, sweet foods tonify (nourish) - but different foods within that category will also have an effect on different parts of the body - so tomatoes (sour and therefore slightly astringent) primarily affect the Liver, whereas pears (also sour) primarily affect the Lung.
By using these rules of Chinese medicine it can be possible to use foods to treat ill-health, or at least to support other more powerful treatments.
The flip side of food having these properties, according to Chinese medicine, is that a lack of balance of the five flavours in our diet thought to be a major cause of ill health, although it may take many years to manifest. For example, excessive consumption of sweet foods can put undue pressure on the Spleen which, over time, will weaken it leading to digestive problems.
So to my mind the key to a healthy diet is balance, and, unless you have been given professional advice to eliminate something, I would always recommend eating a sensible mix of the five flavour groups.
May 2008
I'm often asked about the holistic nature of Chinese medicine and how the theories of Chinese medicine impact on our mental, psychological and emotional life. The easiest way to explain this is to take an example that has intrigued me recently - why is it that some people seem to be able to make life-changing decisions at the drop of a hat and others have a talent for split second decisive thinking, while some can spend what seems like hours deliberating and agonising over something as simple as choosing a starter from a menu?
In Chinese medicine terms, the ability to take decisions is governed by the Gall Bladder. The idea that a small internal organ should control our decision making abilities may seem faintly ridiculous to those unfamiliar with Chinese medicine. The first point to note is that 'Gall Bladder' is just an English language term used as a translation for a much larger concept which refers to but is not limited to that small organ. The Chinese term (Dan) includes not only the concept of the organ, but also the system of which that organ is part.
The second idea to take on board is that, in line with the traditional theories of Chinese medicine, there is no real separation between an individual's mental and physiological states and processes. Different mental and emotional factors are associated with different concepts; so decision making is associated with the Gall Bladder, both the organ itself and the system of which it is part.
Consequently, a strong healthy Gall Bladder is key to the ability to make decisions well. Other emotional and mental factors are in turn governed by other organ systems, for example the ability to concentrate and study for long periods of time requires a healthy Spleen and our social abilities are strongly associated with the state of our Heart.
April 2008
Over the years, and especially when I lived in China, I've developed a great fondness for green tea.
Unfortunately most of the green tea available in this country tends to be of fairly poor quality and is frequently incorrectly brewed. This is probably why many people think of green tea as being an unpleasantly bitter drink, favoured by those of an overly ascetic nature. But if all you'd ever tasted was cheap white wine or third rate whisky, wouldn't you be tempted to think the same of those drinks?
To my mind green tea is wonderful stuff - crisp, clean, refreshing, revitalizing. And, according to an overwhelming amount of published research, there are countless health benefits to drinking green tea (see www.jingtea.com for examples). So I see it as a real shame that people are put off this natural marvel by bad initial experiences.
The problem is that in this country it's hard to find a decent choice of good quality teas. You won't find them in your supermarket; you need a specialist retailer, whether online or in the real world. A good tea will typically come with brewing instructions and will rarely come in teabags. The drawback is that, as with wines, in general the better quality the tea, the higher the price.
If I've swayed you and you want to give it another try, I can recommend Long Jing (dragon well tea) or, if you prefer oolong - which is semi oxidised green tea - try Tie Guan Yin (iron goddess of mercy tea).
March 2008
What would be the first thing you think of if I were to say "Chinese medicine" to you? I would guess that people in this country probably mostly associate Chinese medicine with acupuncture. But when you walk into a typical Chinese medicine hospital in China, its surprising as a westerner to see that the acupuncture departments tend to be very small compared to those dedicated to herbal medicine.
Acupuncture is an amazing therapy and has a wide range of uses. However in my opinion there are also times when acupuncture alone is not the most appropriate treatment.
As the predominant form of medicine in China, herbal medicine has developed over millennia to treat for everything from chronic conditions like gynaecological problems, skin conditions and chronic gastro-intestinal disorders to acute life-threatening problems like acute renal failure and stroke. Although there is some crossover between what can be treated by acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, in general herbal medicine has a much broader range of applications and can be used for more severe conditions.
In my opinion there is a time and a place for all forms of medicine - western and Chinese - and they all have their strengths and weaknesses. The key is in knowing when and, most importantly, how to use them. While acupuncture has started to become part of the furniture in this country, Chinese herbal medicine is still in its infancy. But I think its appeal will become more and more widespread through people's own experiences and as more knowledge is gained from ongoing clinical research.
February 2008
A research paper concerning the use of acupuncture alongside in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) was published recently in the British Medical Journal and widely reported in the mainstream media.
It was a literature review and meta-analysis (a thorough evaluation) of clinical studies into the effectiveness of using acupuncture alongside IVF. The paper's findings broadly indicate that acupuncture can be helpful in such cases.
According to the group conducting the survey, the literature reviewed suggested that acupuncture given with embryo transfer significantly improves rates of pregnancy and live birth among women undergoing IVF. The group also pointed out, however, that more randomised control trials are needed to quantify the results further. I, for one, would welcome as much well-conducted research as possible into the field of Chinese medicine and fertility.
All in all, this seems to be encouraging news for people engaged in the difficult process of IVF. Hopefully it was also lead to more inter-disciplinary communication and understanding between IVF experts and acupuncture professionals.
January 2008
While out for a walk just after Christmas I was joyed to notice new green shoots poking up through the cold, hard earth. It reminded me of how even in the coldest darkest time of year the beginnings of new life are to be found.
In Chinese thought this phenomenon is reflected in the yin-yang symbol, known in Chinese as the 'taijitu'. In the symbol a white and a black shape are juxtaposed, representing the male, brighter, 'yang' aspect of things and the female, darker 'yin' aspect of things respectively. The two shapes blend into each other, creating a sense of dynamism and representing transformation and movement from one state to the other. And within each shape, at its fullest part, is a small spot of the other colour. The spots represent yin within yang and yang within yin, and the idea that each thing contains within it the seed of its opposite.
So just as the white, yang, spot in the black, yin, shape represents yang within yin, so the new green shoots show that winter, the coldest deadest time of year, contains within it the essence of new life.
December 2007
Happy Christmas and best wishes for the New Year!
I hope you enjoy the festive period. It's at this time of the year that I have to remind myself of the importance of moderation when celebrating. That sounds like an oxymoron for westerners, but in Chinese thought generally an excess of anything is not a good idea.
When we eat, we should not overfill our stomachs; when we sleep, we should not sleep too much, and while a moderate amount of drink can be good for us, too much will do us harm.
So while it is important to celebrate with family and friends and bring light and joy to the darkest part of the year, perhaps we should remain mindful of our limits? That said, what's interesting about the Chinese view is that, unlike the puritanical belief systems, moderation is not given out as a moral imperative, the transgression of which would 'sinful'. Rather it is given as advice for a happier and healthier life.
And on that note - may you have a happy and healthy 2008!
November 2007
Patients, health care professionals and the general public are often curious about the principles underlying Chinese medicine. But there can be difficulties inherent in trying to communicate these ideas to a person whose mindset is rooted in the western tradition.
Some of these difficulties arise out of terminology and more specifically the way in which terminology is translated.
The main problem is that there are no words in English for the concepts of Chinese medicine, nor indeed do the concepts even exist in western culture. But when we translate the concepts from Chinese into English we have to use words which are already available to us in English. So the English words we choose will inevitably be inaccurate. Furthermore these English words come loaded with the concepts and associations of western culture.
This can mean, firstly, the spirit of the (Chinese) concept can be lost and, secondly, unintended (English) meaning can be introduced.
For example the Chinese 'Gan' is typically translated as 'Liver'. The 'Gan' is associated with concepts such as the emotions and the smooth flow of qi/energy and the 'Gan' has a close relationship with the eyes. However the English word 'Liver', despite being the closest approximation to 'Gan', has none of these connotations.
What's more, 'Liver' in English is commonly associated with diseases such as jaundice and alcohol poisoning and these concepts are not necessarily present in 'Gan'.
To compound the problem, some Chinese terms are translated differently by different translators, which means it can be crucial to be able to refer back to the original Chinese term.
It is partly for this reason that I see my Chinese language studies as fundamental to my practice, and I hope that, despite the difficulties I've highlighted above, I'm able successfully to communicate Chinese medicine concepts.
October 2007
The nights are drawing in, the trees are losing their leaves and around me people are starting to cough, splutter and sneeze. So let me share a simple tip on avoiding colds.
What a lot of people don't realise is that many colds are passed on not by being caught in the line of fire when someone coughs or sneezes; they can be passed on through touch.
The unpleasant truth is that the common cold virus essentially turns people into virus factories. Infected people produce enormous amounts of the virus which makes its way from their noses and mouths onto their hands. From there it can quickly pass directly or via a surface to another (previously uninfected) person's hands. From that person's hands it can pass to their eyes, nose and mouth and into their body.
And now here's the tip. To minimise the risk of catching colds, firstly wash your hands regularly and thoroughly - the thoroughly is important as it's the mechanical action of hand washing that removes the viruses, not any special handwash - and secondly avoid touching your face, especially your eyes, nose and mouth. That's it. Simple and, let's hope, effective.
September 2007
The recent research into the effects of food additives on children once again highlights the importance of good nutrition.
Chinese medicine views our diet as absolutely fundamental to health. On the one hand, poor diet is considered to be one of the main causes of health problems. On the other hand, in Chinese medicine many seemingly ordinary foods have medicinal properties and there is no clear delineation between foods and medicines. In fact using food as medicine can be one of the most effective forms of treatment.
Unlike the Western view of nutrition, where what is a good food for me is usually also a good food for you, in Chinese medicine good nutrition can be a very individual matter. People's differing natures and constitutions can mean that certain foods are better or worse for particular individuals. This often depends on the properties of the food, for example whether it is "hot" or "cold" - although this has nothing to do with temperature. So while some types of food are fine for one person, the same foods may be quite detrimental to another person's health.
Some of the tenets of Western nutrition, however, are also true for Chinese medicine. In particular foods should be as fresh as possible, processed foods should generally be avoided, and a varied diet is key.
August 2007
I'm often asked why I got into Chinese medicine. One reason is that there's beauty in systems and in understanding how they operate and there's a sense of satisfaction to be found in returning a disorderly system to proper function. In the past I enjoyed studying systems in engineering; now it's getting the human system to run smoothly that gives me pleasure.
Chinese medicine has long viewed the individual as a whole. That whole is a system which naturally tends towards health and which is regulated by numerous checks and balances. If functioning correctly, this series of checks and balances maintain good health. Illness is typically caused by something going wrong with the checks and balances. Indeed Western medicine increasingly recognises the presence of this kind of regulatory system; it has identified certain continuously adjusting homeostatic mechanisms that keep the body functioning as it should.
In treatment, then, it is not enough only to look at the outward manifestation of the illness. The whole system needs to be taken into account to find the obstacles that are hindering these checks and balances. Without the natural checks and balances working correctly, the body will never be able to function properly. So while you may be able to get rid of one unwanted symptom, like squeezing a balloon, it'll just pop up somewhere else in a different shape.
By making an effort to understand the whole system and its powers of self-regulation, it's possible to help the body return itself to health. In this way a small intervention can have significant results.
July 2007
Stop. Let your shoulders drop. Use your stomach muscles to push the air out of your lungs. Then relax them and allow the air to flow freely back in.
Could something as seemingly simple as this help asthma sufferers? A recent clinically controlled trial published in the journal Thorax suggested it could. It showed that, when used alongside conventional asthma medication, a deep breathing technique known as the Papworth method significantly reduced asthma symptoms and relieved associated anxiety and depression when compared with medication alone.
The Papworth method became popular in the sixties for controlling asthma, but since drugs have improved it has fallen out of fashion. Perhaps now there may be a resurgence of this effective (and free) therapy and it will be used in tandem with those improved drugs. Moving the focus of treatment away from what a health professional can do to or prescribe for an individual, towards the individual themselves is, to my mind, no bad thing. We all need to recognise the power we each have over our own health, for good or ill.
June 2007
"I'm hearing that... Excuse me, I'm hearing that." So began the long drawn out argument to which I was privy on a train recently, unfolding between one irritated passenger and his iPod-engrossed neighbour. We've all had days like these when even a moderate amount of noise emanating from the direction of another human being has driven us to disproportionate anger. But listening to this exchange heating up brought home to me the futility of getting angry, getting annoyed, getting stressed.
Call it what you will, but the physiological changes which happen when we're feeling under attack are neither pleasant for us nor are the consequences pleasant for those around us. These changes, primarily hormonal and neurological, are natural mechanisms which human beings have developed to help respond to stressful situations, enabling us to protect ourselves in an aggressive manner if needs be. In evolutionary terms those stressful situations were life-threatening ones, so the stress response served a vital purpose in the true meaning of that word.
In the Western world, for the large majority of the population basic threats to our existence have for the most part been eliminated. Yet our bodies continue to initiate the stress response, perceiving threats to our lives where there are none. Perhaps this is because our idea of self has changed and now encompasses more than just our life and the lives of those close to us? Our lifestyle, our beliefs, our attitudes, our position, our desires, our social status, our possessions all seem to form part of our broader sense of self. So when we, like the irritated passenger, feel these are under threat, we feel our very selves are under threat and the age-old stress response is set in motion.
But if we try to push down these natural feelings of stress and anger because we recognise they are inappropriate, from the Chinese medicine point of view we risk disrupting the natural flow of energy. Over time this disruption can result in stagnation of energy which can lead to underlying feelings of frustration, anger and resentment and, according to Chinese medicine, other more general health problems. On the other hand, if we give in to these feelings, not only may we do or say things we later regret, but we may also become habitually prone to anger and that too may damage our health.
So what to do? Well, to prevent the anger from arising in the first place we can try to separate our sense of self from our social position, our possessions and all the rest. Then, if the anger does come, we can just let it come, rather than try and suppress it. But, unlike the irritated passenger, we don't have to let it rule us. We can be aware that we are angry and try to recognise the roots of the anger, but we don't have to act on it, especially when all that's at stake is our desire for a slightly quieter journey home.
May 2007
Another piece of research caught my eye last month. Apparently an ayurvedic remedy has been shown to have anti-cancer properties. This was a western medical study into a traditional Indian medicine. It's good to see the western scientific community paying attention to traditional therapies, and this seems to be part of an increasing trend. For example, scientists have been researching the anti-malarial properties of qing hao (Artemisiae annuae Herba), a herb used in traditional Chinese medicine.
What was interesting in the ayurvedic case, was that the study involved a compound traditional remedy. Typically western research has been into individual herbs or even one specific active ingredient in an individual herb.
Research on isolated ingredients or isolated herbs does not really reflect the way they are used in traditional Chinese medical practice. One of the principles of Chinese herbal medicine is that herbs are generally best used in combination - and you don't ever break herbs down into their different ingredients. One particular concern I have is that the isolation process itself could lead to a loss of the safety which might be afforded by the combination of herbs in a traditional formula or the combination of ingredients within a herb. Not to mention whether the process affects the efficacy.
If we want to gain knowledge from traditional medicines using western scientific method, this should be welcomed. But there is no easy way of doing this. After all you're combining two very different systems of thought. But that's what you get with the hybridisation of two very different cultures.
April 2007
It's an old adage but it's true - you can have too much of a good thing. You may have read about the recent study into vitamins and other anti-oxidant supplements, since it certainly got a lot of coverage in the national press. This comprehensive review (published in the Journal of the American Medical Association) found that supplementing with certain vitamins and anti-oxidants may lead to increased mortality.
Not a pleasant conclusion, I know, particularly as most of us, I'm sure, have taken supplements at one time or another. But I was interested to read the scientists' paper, as I've long held the belief that extremes of behaviour don't do anyone any good. And taking large quantities of vitamins seems rather extreme when you consider the typical amounts of these substances found in food. All the more so, when you appreciate that we don't necessarily know all the long-term implications. As with most aspects of life, moderation is, I think, key.
It's not that I'm against vitamins and anti-oxidants per se. Rather I believe that taking them in their naturally occurring forms and dosages, that's to say in food, is infinitely preferable to supplements. And so we're back to the well-worn sayings, but eating a varied and balanced diet is crucial to well-being.
March 2007
Well the clocks are going forward this month and light is starting to pour in through the windows in the mornings. Already I'm starting to feel more alive again.
It sounds unfashionable in this day and age when we're all encouraged to fit as much into each day as possible regardless of the season, but the teachings of Chinese medicine say that we should adjust our sleeping patterns according to the time of year. From spending winter going to bed early and getting up late (if only), we're now supposed to be going to bed early and getting up early. Or at least that's the recommendation of the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, the seminal Chinese medicine text (said to date back to the third millennium BC).
And it also advises getting out in the spring air and going walking to absorb the fresh invigorating youthful energy. That seems to make perfect sense to me. So it's goodbye to hibernation for now, and time to get up and enjoy the ever-lightening mornings and the optimism of spring.
February 2007
Happy Chinese new year!
You've probably heard in the press that the celebrations are underway. All over China people are travelling thousands of miles, often over several days, eager to get home to enjoy the traditional festivities with their families. It's seen as a time for lifting the spirits in preparation for spring. All the negative energy that's built up in the home over the year is brushed away in a kind of spring-clean, and alongside that there's a concerted effort to get rid of those metaphorical cobwebs.
And, if you believe the hype, it may be worth doing this all the more so this year as it's the year of the pig, the most auspicious of the twelve Chinese astrological signs. So maximise your chances of good fortune, and start your internal and external spring clean today.
But, superstition aside, we should bear in mind the Chinese medicine maxim that we are all fundamentally linked to our environment. So to keep healthy, we need to keep our home surroundings healthy - but I'm not talking about an anti-bacterial spray kind of healthy. A calm, ordered and unencumbered environment is what's called for.
So last weekend I persuaded myself to clear out my own cupboards, finally get rid of those "might be useful one day" things, and continue my experiments with feng shui, the original de-cluttering tool. Those feng shui masters of old might not have been all wrong!