Author Archives: Helen White

A Combined Treatment Of Qi Gong, T’ai Chi Acupuncture, And Chinese Nutritional Therapy Can Work Quite Well In The Treatment Of Fibromyalgia

In a recent study of patients suffering from fibromyalgia, it was discovered that compared with the control group who were given stretching exercises and wellness education, the group practicing T’ai Chi showed a significant improvement in their quality of life that included both significant physical and mental improvements.

While this was just a small scale study, it is additional proof of the health benefits of Qi Gong and T’ai Chi, especially for extremely painful conditions like fibromyalgia, which Chinese Medicine categorizes as ‘knotty issues’ that entail complex interconnections of various causes and symptoms. Several previous types of research have also demonstrated acupuncture’s ability to improve fibromyalgia symptoms significantly, especially in regard to anxiety, fatigue, and pain.

Fibromyalgia is a complex disease that involves symptoms such as pain, muscle spasms, depression, anxiety, sleeping problems, weakness of the limbs, heightened sensitivity to touch, and fatigue. Memory and concentration problems are typical – this is sometimes known as ‘fibro-fog’ or ‘brain fog’. The clinical perspective differs enormously from person to person, with each person manifesting his or her own unique symptoms.

Western conventional medicine has still not ascertained the real cause of fibromyalgia. Several theories have been proposed connected to stress, sleep disturbance, and abnormal amounts of serotonin and dopamine in the brain. Western medicine poorly understands this condition and so has little to offer by way of treatment – medications for treating fibromyalgia include anti-seizure drugs, anti-depressants, hormones, muscle relaxants, and painkillers. Obviously, most of these drugs come with adverse side-effects and the level of success is quite low.

Case to case treatment offered by Chinese Medicine for fibromyalgia and other ‘knotty problems’ can work quite well. This is particularly true when a combined plan of treatment that includes Tuina and acupuncture strengthen Chi and normalize the hormones to relieve anxiety and boost energy levels is considered. Tui Na therapy massage can be quite effective in easing muscle spasm and relieving tense muscles.

In Chinese medicine, the ‘brain fog’ associated with fibromyalgia is a common ‘Dampness’ symptom that can be effectively dealt with through the use of tuina and/or acupuncture therapy. Chinese nutritional therapy can also be used with extreme effectiveness to augment the benefits of the treatment, more so when it comes to increasing levels of energy and in eliminating ‘brain fog’. And as the recent study has demonstrated, getting Qi Gong or T’ai Chi practice on a regular basis can also significantly alleviate symptoms and improve overall health.

A combined treatment strategy involving more than one type of treatment can treat different symptoms at the same time since fibromyalgia symptoms tend to be interconnected. This results in a slow but sure improvement in all areas of a person’s well-being and health. Normally, this is significantly much better than just acupuncture alone or any stand-alone treatment, for that matter.

Bellabaci Massage Therapy For Treatment Of Fibromyalgia Symptoms

For fibromyalgia medications, common side effects would include nausea, dizziness, dry mouth, fatigue, concentration problems and hypertension. Side effects may also include suicidal ideations and the drugs can also have lethal interactions with other medications. Because of this, a growing number of people are seeking ways to avail themselves of natural fibromyalgia relief.

One way people suffering from fibromyalgia derive relief from some of its common symptoms is by trying Bellabaci massage therapy. This type of massage is a form of cupping treatment with more superior benefits over the more traditional and older cupping techniques.

What Is Cupping Therapy?

A form of alternative medicine dating back hundreds of years, cupping therapy is a procedure whereby cups are placed on certain parts of the body and a vacuum is used to generate suction. The effect of the suction goes about four inches deep into the tissues of the body causing the release of toxins from the tissues. The suction effect is likewise believed to stimulate the lymphatic system and helps eliminate blockages in the arteries and veins. For the therapist to generate a vacuum and a suction effect, the air is heated inside the cups, and the cups are then applied to the body. After the air cools inside the cup, pressure drops inside the cup producing a vacuum.

What Is Bellabaci Massage Therapy?

For fibromyalgia, Bellabaci massage cupping therapy uses a similar principle of generating suction to clear out blockages and toxins while the suction is generated in a safer and easier way. Instead of heating the cups up that actually could lead to burns in the patient, if one is not careful, Bellabaci cups are composed of silicone and all one needs to do is squeeze the cup gently with one hand and then release pressure as they apply the cups to the skin surface. One gets the same benefits as traditional cupping therapy with Bellabaci cups although these cups are simpler and safer to use.

Can Fibromyalgia Pain be Alleviated with Bellabaci Therapy?

On the Mayo Clinic website, an article was posted showing studies suggesting that when combined with acupuncture, cupping therapy can actually lessen the symptoms of fibromyalgia more effectively than conventional drugs. The studies measured the cupping technique’s efficacy by comparing it with other forms of treatment. At the end of the study, the researchers concluded that while there is still a need to do additional studies and research but the article noted that “some feasible studies suggest a probable role for cupping in treating fibromyalgia“.

To know whether Bellabaci cupping therapy really works for you is to simply give it a try. Unlike conventional drugs, there’s no need to worry about any adverse side effects and there’s also no need to worry about the risk of being burned nor is there a need to have a lot of skill in order to use Bellabaci cups. In addition, Bellabaci cupping therapy is an inexpensive therapy which makes it accessible for people who can’t afford more expensive fibromyalgia treatments. So if you are experiencing painful symptoms from your fibromyalgia conditions, you may want to try Bellabaci Body Massage Therapy if you’re seeking a natural way to relieve its symptoms.

Five complementary and Alternative treatments For Gout

TCM or Traditional Chinese Medicine has a wide repertoire of therapies to choose from when it comes to treating gout. This includes acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, acupressure, Tuina and other lesser-known healing practices. For more than 25 centuries, Chinese medicine has been a globally successful alternative and complementary medical system to conventional Western allopathic medicine. TCM practitioner and acupuncturist Simon Becker When comparing the effectiveness of Chinese herbs to Western therapies for gout, Simon Becker mentioned a clinical study done in China that compared the effectiveness of Chinese herbs to Western treatments for gout. The control group in the study was administered with conventional Western medical care while the treatment group was treated with Chinese herbal medicine. At the end of the study, results showed that the group treated with herbal therapy slightly much better improvements in their symptoms compared to the control group treated with conventional Western medicine. Between the two groups, however, the only known difference groups was that the treatment group did not experience any side effects while the control group did. From the perspective of Becker, the use of Chinese herbs under the supervision a qualified alternative health care practitioner, are totally safe and have no risk of harmful side effects.

Ermiao wan

A 1994 study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology showed that Chinese herb Ermiao wan, helps reduce swelling and edema in the body. This Chinese herb has been for thousands of years to treat people with gout and toxic high levels of uric acid. Ermiao wan should only be used under the guidance of a qualified Oriental medicine practitioner.

Dandelion

This herb has been known to relieve gout pain in both Western and Chinese herbal medicine. Herbalists may also use dandelion due to its powerful anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties. It can serve as an herbal cataplasm for topical application or brewed into tea and drank to address gout. It can relieve swelling around the joints and edema. Dandelion increases the elimination of the cause of gout: uric acid.

Burdock root

Burdock root helps lessen inflammation and swelling in the tissues. It can be used as a natural diuretic and is recommended by practitioners to treat swollen tissues surrounding the joints and edema. The root can be taken as cataplasm that’s topically applied on the problem areas. It can also be brewed into tea and drank. Burdock root can also be cooked like parsnips or carrots or eaten raw. According to Urban Herbs, when the root is topically used, some people have reported negative reactions. In certain cases, it can result in contact dermatitis or a rash.

Meadow saffron

Meadow saffron contains the alkaloids colchicoside and colchicines, both of which possess diuretic and painkilling properties. This herb can help treat edema, water retention, gout pain, and inflammation around the joints. Standard pharmaceutical drugs for the treatment of gout treatment often contain colchicine. Patients who need to take the relatively toxic colchicine in any form should be closely supervised by a qualified health practitioner.

Blood-letting cupping

Blood-letting cupping is a type of Chinese medicine treatment that is rarely practiced in the West. According to the 2010 edition of the Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, blood-letting or cupping is once again used in China to treat gout. A clinical trial that involved 34 patients suffering from acute gout showed that along with blood-letting, Chinese herbal remedies improved the state of health of 21 of the 34 patients which is considered a success in the treatment of gouty arthritis. When you’re suffering from gout, never self treat yourself. Consult with a licensed or trained practitioner instead.

What To Expect In An Auricular Acupuncture Treatment

Stimulating auricular acupuncture points is one way to stimulate the body in order to overcome a disease.

Ear or auricular acupuncture is a specialized alternative treatment in which acupuncture points on the auricle or outer ear are activated with disposable, small and sterile needles to treat a wide range of chronic problems. In the therapy, the ear is viewed as a microcosm of the body with the auricle representing an inverted fetus in a woman’s uterus) with each acupoint relating to a specific anatomical area.

Theories as to how Auricular Acupuncture Works

The latest Western perspective about how Auricular Acupuncture works is explained when the outer ear, which contains a large amount of nerve endings is stimulated dispatching electrical signals to the nervous system, to the area of the body affected. Therefore, by inserting a needle in the neck acupoint, any pain in the body will be relieved.

In Traditional Chinese medicine, the life energy of the body known as Chi moves through channels in the body called meridians, and all these meridians gather at the ear. Illness arises when the Chi in our body becomes blocked or unbalanced. By sedating or tonifying these acupoints with acupuncture therapy, our health improves and we then obtain a healthy balance of Chi within our body.

How does a procedure of Auricular Acupuncture treatment go?

A session of auricular acupuncture treatment involves sticking five or six small sterile, small disposable needles in each ear. The needles are inserted into acupoints associated with the body part that is ailing, so when we apply a needle in the neck acupoint we may be relieving pain in body part connected to the needled area in the ear. A treatment plan may customized by your acupuncturist to suit your individual needs. Small press tacks or acupuncture magnets may be taped to your ears in between rounds of acupuncture treatments.

Is Auricular Acupuncture a Painful Treatment?

People who are treated with ear acupuncture should never feel pain. You may be required to perform a special breathing technique while the needles are being inserted. At first, you may feel a slight stinging sensation, but this will be felt for just an instant once the needles are in place. The needles remain in the ear for less than an hour. In-between treatments, small press needles or magnets may be taped to selected acupoints in your ears.

The “Healing Sounds” Of Chinese Medicine

These days, we’re far more aware of the ideas of sound frequencies, the continuous vibrating state of sounds, and the sounds of all matter in the universe. To peer inside the human body, eliminate kidney stones and gall stones, unlock and search for oil, or search other secret hidden deep inside the earth, we know use the technology of ultra sound waves.

It may seem that sound frequencies are totally unrelated to the healing of the body but in Chinese medicine, there are various very old fantastic ways to cure and heal the body that are rarely known today. One such healing method is called “The Six Syllable Secret” or the “The Six Healing sounds”.

The initially three of these sounds were “SHHHHH,” “WUUUUUU,” and “SSSSSS” for the liver, kidneys, and lungs respectively. Then, we need to discuss the last three sounds for the spleen, heart, and Triple B, which is a vital system for balancing energy.

The Six Sounds

1. The Spleen – When doing the sound of the spleen, you need inhale deeply, then breathe out and utter the sound WHOOOOOOOOOO. Deeply breathe in into the abdomen, pancreas, and spleen while visualizing a yellow and bright light with the aspects of musical creation, compassion, and fairness entering them. Perform this sound three to six times.

2. The Heart – When doing the sound for the heart, you need to first perform some few deep inhalations, then shut your eyes and become cognizant of your heart. You can start producing the sound for the heart after a few breaths by leaning your head back while looking up, then upon breathing out, you utter the sound HAWWWWWWWWWWWW.

Between each repetition, take a short rest and perform a few normal breaths. While your eyes are kept shut, visualize a bright red color along with the aspects of creativity, honor, sincerity, and joy with each inhalation entering your heart. Do omit this as this is a very important step.

Perform the sound for the heart for three to six 6 times. If you suffer from heart pains, heart disease, swelling in the tongue or gums, or have cold sores or a sore throat, or if you’re encountering jumpiness or moodiness, or to detoxify the heart, you need to perform this exercise nine to 36 times.

Make this sound nine to 36 times if you’re also desirous of detoxifying your spleen or have diarrhea, nausea, or indigestion. This sound is healthier and more effective than taking antacids. This is the sound that can be done right after eating.

3. The Triple Burner. The triple burner sound is a very simple sound. It is similar to the word “He” but the “e” sound is prolonged for the rest of the breath. This is the sound HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE. The sound for the Triple Burner, as with the other sounds, needs to be uttered “sub vocally” or very softly which means you need only to exhale and open your mouth as if making the sound, but without vibrating the vocal chords or actually making a sound. The sound for the triple burner can help normalize heartbeat and Chinese martial artists often use it to help slow down their heartbeat during strenuous exercises or either after or during or a fight.

The triple burner sound may also be helpful in the treatment of insomnia. It can be performed for three to nine repetitions per set. For each set, repeat several times if you need to calm down your entire system or to help slow your heart.

Cooling Herbs To Reduce Hot Flashes And Relieve Menopause Symptoms

Menopause may not be a disease but its annoying symptoms can last several years. All treatments for menopause symptoms are currently focused on hormone treatments. Menopause experts after the WHI or Women’s Health Initiative study of 2002 have been constantly debating about the benefits of bio-identical hormones and the risks of synthetic hormones.

Today, women in menopause are searching for safer hormone therapies to address their menopausal symptoms without understanding the bottom-line: that hormonal therapies are merely ephemeral solutions and permanent cures for the symptoms of menopause.

Menopause is the result of a woman’s aging process when multiple systems in her body begin to degenerate. So, the mainstream approach of one-chemical therapy has its limits; it masks the symptoms without really getting into the root of the problem. The benefits of hormone therapy disappear once the patent stops taking the hormones. Therefore, the patient is required to take hormones for several years during her transition. This is similar to a roof that is leaking and every day you keep on wiping the wet floor when it rains without fixing the hole on the roof.

What menopausal treatments can give you lasting benefits?

Exercise and a healthy diet is essential, although sometimes they may not be adequate enough to relieve your hot flashes. If you prefer using fewer synthetics herbs and lots of natural ingredients you can avail of the true Chinese tradition of thousands of years: using cooling herbs to mitigate those hot flashes.

Hot flashes can be the result of hot body systems. Taking an herbal cooling remedy is the same as pouring cold water into your body to offset your hot temperature. This balanced body temperature can be long term if you lower your intake of sugar and fat. But if those hot flashes return after weeks or months, it may be because the systems of your body have accumulated heat; this herbal remedy can be repeated many times to help cool the hot systems in your body. To cool down your hot flashes related to your menopause, you may need several months of herbal treatments.

The Energetic Properties Of Alcohol In Chinese Medicine

Chinese medicine categorizes alcohol as having a hot and damping effect on the body. When there is Dampness in the body, the person’s body retains pockets of moisture or water or becomes boggy. Damp conditions include among others athletes’ foot, edema, and excess fat. Alcohol is considered a hot substance in that the energetic effect of drinking the substance leads to hotness in the body that can leave you dry, irritable, restless, and…hot. In Chinese medicine, the nature of alcohol is a little more nuanced than the general definition of damp heat.

Wine

Wine has an energetically warming quality, and white wine is considered less warm than red wine. This can be confirmed when after drinking a glass of red wine the ears of a person turn hot and red. As with all alcoholic drinks, wine tends to trigger the flow of Chi, moreover, its light nature can assist in digestion after a rich or heavy meal.

The resveratrol in red wine is known to be a potent antioxidant. But in order to extract the benefits of wine, one would need to drink lots of it. Instead, most people simply take resveratrol supplements in order to gain its health benefits. To include the bitter, sour, sweet, and/or warming properties of wine into the mix, some Chinese herbal formulas and herbs have been prepared with wine.

Beer

In terms of its energetic property beer has a cool quality. Its taste is deemed to be sweet and bitter, and since beer can be a potentially extremely dampening substance; the more bitter it is, the less dampening it becomes and too much of it can overwhelm your Chinese Kidney and Spleen. No matter how dark or light your beer is, it can disrupt your water metabolism and digestion causing you problems related to dampness. If what you’re really drinking is dark beer, these issues may take a little longer to occur. The dampness, over the course of time, can potentially transform into heat, regardless of the nature of the beer.

Fortunately, for beer lovers, here’s a bit of good news. Dark bitter beers in reality are deemed to be a bit nourishing to the body–but they could not be deemed as nutritional as say, a carrot. Beer can be a good choice when you’re living in a warm climate and during summer since it’s considered cool.

Spirits

Tequila, scotch, vodka, gin and other spirits are a different story from wine and beer. They can be very dispersing and extremely effective in eliminating stagnation. Since they have damp and hot qualities, spirits taken in excess can be quickly toxic to your body. Too much intake of spirits in Chinese medicine can generate an excess of heat and can stress the Liver.

Generally speaking, all alcoholic drinks tend to be dispersing and moving. They help you forget the frustrations of the day, give you a sense of well being, and relax you. But, as with everything in life, in general, and Chinese medicine, in particular, a little of it is okay, but too much can be overpowering.

Five Common Errors When Treating Epilepsy

These days, a lot people are suffering from epilepsy throughout the world. And because of poor medical equipment quality as well as a limited understanding of epilepsy in the past, it was impossible to treat this stubborn and persistent health condition. However, recent medical studies have proven that epilepsy can now be cured. Unfortunately, a number of medication errors still occur in the treatment of this problem.

Error one: Believe in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Like some unscrupulous Chinese medicine practitioners, a lot of private clinics defraud patients by changing pills into powder. Due to assuming TCM is omnipotent, a lot of patients fall prey to such sleazy tactics. Patients should always remember that in the treatment of epilepsy, Western and Chinese medicine ought to be combined with each other.

Error two: Epilepsy is neither frightening nor incurable. There is no need to be fearful of this disease. In order to get better results, patients are advised to work with their physicians. In the treatment of epilepsy, they need to stay away from medication errors. In addition, they need to follow the advice of their doctor always.

Error three: Overusing surgeries. Surgery is only required for patients suffering from severe epilepsy. Also, an extremely tight requirement is also required during surgery. Unfortunately, most hospitals these days that aren’t qualified to perform these kinds of operations and are motivated by profit, carry out these procedures under the pretext of “eliminating epilepsy”. Undoubtedly, the impacts of the surgeries will be reduced eventually but more importantly, patients have to bear a heavy monetary loss.

Error Four: Do not take medications for a side-effect. A lot of patients don’t rely on anti-epileptic medications for fear of the adverse side effects that can harm their kidney and liver and can even result in mental retardation. Current anti-epileptic medications can have certain degrees of side effects and fortunately, these effects can be resolved and well controlled so long as patients use correctly these medications supervised by their respective doctors. Conversely, patients treating their epilepsy without drugs can result in the loss of a life skill, mental decline and a deterioration of their overall health.

Error five: In controlling epilepsy, a greater dose is better. In a desperate bid to control their epilepsy, a lot of people take a large dose when they increase the doses during treatment period or when they start taking the medication. Eventually this can result in more side effects. Patients should begin with a small dose and slowly increase their intake of the drug. To guarantee the best effect, drugs such as lamotrigine, topiramate, arbamazepine, and phenytoin should be initially taken using a minimal dose.

What Is Chinese Acupuncture Moxibustion Technique?

There are actually two dynamic components to acupuncture – one is treatment using needles and the other is with heat therapy (fire). Both are complementary and indispensable for resolving illnesses.

Chinese Acupuncture moxibustion therapy concerns healing a condition with fire or heat; actually the Chinese term for acupuncture is Zhen Jiu which means “needle fire”.

Moxibustion and Acupuncture are both important inventions of the Chinese people. During ancient times, many legends referred to the roots of moxibustion and acupuncture such as the invention of the healing methods with stone needles by Fu Hsi and the invention of moxibustion and acupuncture by Huang Di.

The roots of Chinese Acupuncture moxibustion therapy can be dated back to the New Stone Age. During this time, a housewife who was cooking experienced a decrease of her ache while standing near a fire from the stove. Eventually, this evolved and later on, medicinal herbs were added to improve a person’s health and to fumigate the body.

The technique most commonly used in Chinese Acupuncture moxibustion therapy is moxibustion with cupping and moxa cone. This treatment entailed placing over the body a glass jar allowing it to “cup” the body by placing fire in the cup. The heat inside the cup expels the air from the jar causing a “suction effect” that causes the jar to stick to the skin. In turn, this causes the stimulation of stagnant blood and a massaging effect of the patient’s internal organs. A similar effect can be also produced by a moxa cone.

Chinese Acupuncture moxibustion therapy must of course be performed with accuracy. It should correctly target the important energy channels (meridians) and acupuncture points of the body so that the illness in question can be treated. When needed, added as medicinal herbs are mashed garlic and ginger.

The glass cup is usually allowed to stay on the body for 15 – 20 minutes and treatment has to be done over a certain amount of time.

Aside from this ancient technique, modern day practitioners have made a few improvements on the procedures. These days, equipments such as magnetotherapy, acupoint therapy, acupoint injection, electronic needle moxibustion, and microwave needle moxibustion and other techniques can be used in combination or in lieu of Chinese Acupuncture moxibustion therapy.

Traditional Formulas Used In Tui Na Therapy

Traditional preparations/formulas can be utilized to the areas or pressure points using the proper techniques protect the skin, reduce friction, and boost the therapeutic effects of massage via their pharmacological processes. Herbal formulas are chosen based on the conditions of the disease. For example, in the treatment of blood stasis, an herbal formula that stimulates blood flow can be useful; when addressing an external syndrome, sweat inducing substances may be helpful.

Herbal preparations/ formulas of a hot nature may be ideal when treating cold syndromes; when treating heat syndromes, preparations of a cold nature might be required, etc. This type of healing system is based on logic.

The suitability of each formula and its other attributes, such as lubricant, concentration, dampness, and dryness should also be taken into consideration.

After a Tuina massage therapy, there is usually no need to wash these formulas away quickly because their efficacy lasts for a couple of hours or more. They may be sorted as formulas made with powder, honey, oil, vinegar, alcohol, water, juice etc. or as a pill, medicated plaster, decoction, etc. based on their forms of dosage.

Human Milk

While milk from a healthy woman is the best milk humans can drink or use, fresh cow’s milk can also be a proper substitute. However, people with allergies may be unable to tolerate milk (human or cow’s milk) well. The properties of milk are placid, salty, and sweet. It can be helpful in invigorating a weakened person, nourish blood, bolster the functions of the gastrointestinal tract, supplement the Five Yin Organs, clear heat, increase vital energy, etc.

Milk was widely used in ancient cultures to treat a variety of children’s diseases include tics, lachrymal excess, conjunctivitis, and other issues caused by invasion of external wind. It is generally applied to the area between the eyes, which is known as Yintang. When it’s used on the navel, lower stomach, or upper stomach, it can help treat enuresis, diarrhea, stomach pain, infantile malnutrition, and weak flatulence in children. When locally applied to the skin, it can help ameliorate itching and pain caused by dryness or chapping. Human milk as medium massage can expel heat from the blood and revitalize a weakened constitution.

Juice preparations

These are likely to be to be undiluted juices acquired from uncooked fresh substances. By adding a few amount of clean water, they can be turned into water preparations.

Swine bile (obsolete)

The reason fresh pig bile was used is because it was the best way of utilizing the energies of this substance. Now used in lieu of it is chicken bile dried preparation which is commonly used in some regions in China and is as equally effective. Swine bile posses the qualities of cold and bitterness and is used to eliminate stagnation, reduce swelling, relax the bowels, and dispel heat. When it’s used on Shenque, it can treat jaundice, stomach distention, and constipation. When used on Yongquan with kneading and rubbing action, it can treat hypertension, dizziness, etc.

Egg White (Albumen)

The egg is broken and the albumen is separated from the yolk. Albumen’s properties are placid, salty, and sweet. It is traditionally used to alleviate pain, reduce swelling, emolliate the skin, and fortify Stomach-Spleen. When applied to the sides of the neck and cheeks, it can help treat ailments such as sore throat, scrofula, parotitis, gingivitis, and toothache. Albumen combined with cactus pulp can augment the benefits. It can be applied on the stomach or chest to treat infantile malnutrition, fever and cough in children, etc. It can also help treat dry itch and pain in poxes and skin infections that produce pus.

Dandelion (Pu Gong Ying, Taraxacum mongolicum)

Clean the herb and then beat it to a pulp to extract the juice. Dandelion’s properties are cold, bitter, and sweet. It can be used to eliminate stagnations, reduce swelling, detoxify evils, and eliminate heat. It can help treat cellulitis, carbuncles, and scrofula when applied to the nape and neck. It treats or prevents pain and swelling of acute mastitis when applied to the breast and chest. When locally applied, it cures pus producing skin infections.

Lotus (Lian Fang Nelumbo, nucifera)

Choose tender and thick varieties and wring them out to extract the juice. The properties of lotus are cold and sweet. It can be utilized to resolve stasis, cool blood, clear heat, and encourage production of body fluids. Its juice is greasy and slippery and is often used to treat pediatric ailments such as infections which pus producing infections, poxes, and itching and dryness of the skin.

Snakegourd (Gua Lou, Trichosanthes kirilowoo)

Select a fresh fruit and peel its skin. Throw away the seeds, and beat the fruit to a pulp to extract its juice. The properties of snakegourd are cold and sweet. It is used to eliminate stagnation, resolve phlegm, and moisten the skin, large intestine, and lungs. It can treat mastitis or swollen breasts, stiffness in the chest, choking pain, cough associated with Phlegm-Heat when it’s used on the Rugen, Tanshong, and/or Huagai. It helps relieve pain from boils and treat chapped feet and hands in local application.

Lotus Leaf (He Ye, Nelumbo nucifera)

Crush the lotus to a pulp to obtain the juice. The properties of lotus leaf are placid, astringent, and bitter. It can halt bleeding, resolve stasis, dispel Summer-Heat, raise and diffuse clear yang. It is usually applied to the back and stomach and is commonly used to treat purpura, pox, rubella, etc.

Patchouli (Huo Hsiang, Agastache rugosa)

Crush the stalks and leaves to extract the juice. Properties of patchouli are slightly warm and pungent. It can be used to harmonize the middle warmer, rectify vital energy, resolve dampness, and dispel summer-heat. When used on the Fengshi, Fengfu, Taiyang, Shenting, and Yintang, it can help treat dizziness caused by adhesion of dampness and headache caused by sunstroke. By kneading and rubbing the juice into the upper stomach it can treat heaviness in the chest, feelings of fullness, nausea, and vomiting. Locally applied, it can relieve itching caused by rubella or mosquito bites.

Water Chestnut (Bi Chi, Eleocharis tuberosa)

The chestnuts should be washed and cleaned first, then broken down into small pieces and then wrung to let the juice out. Water chestnut’s properties are slightly cold and sweet. It can be used to eliminate phlegm, resolve stasis, boost eyesight, and dispel heat. Its juice is greasy and slippery and commonly used in massage of children. It helps treat childhood diseases such as jaundice, mass in the abdomen, and fever associated deficient spleen when applied to the stomach and forearms coupled with point massage.

Garlic (Da Suan, Allium sativum)

Remove the garlic cloves from the skin and crush them to obtain the juice. The properties of garlic extract are warm and pungent. It can be used to invigorate the stomach, heat the middle warmer, and kill pathogenic microorganisms. When used on the Feishu and Tanshong, it can help treat convulsive coughing and the common colds. When locally kneaded and rubbed on rach or tinea, garlic extract can be used to stop itching and reduce swelling.

Peppermint (Bo He Mentha haplocalyx)

Crush the stalks and leaves to extract the juice. The properties of peppermint are cool and pungent. It is used to remove pathogenic factors from the External, alleviate depressed energy, dispel heat, and clear wind. When used on the forehead at Tiantu, Jiache, Yingsiang, and Taiyang it can treat toothache and sore throat associated with Wind-Fire, stuffy nose, headache, invasion of Wind-Heat, etc.

Chinese Scallion (Cong Bai, Allium fistulosum)

Wash the stalks of the scallions then beat them to a pulp to obtain their essence or juice. The properties of scallion are warm and pungent. It can be used to promote normal urination, communicate Yang and induce sweating. Kneading and grasping the nose, Dashui, and Fengchi, with scallion juice on the fingers can resolve stuffy nose, headaches, the common cold, etc. Applying scallion juice on the lower stomach and Shenque can help alleviate dysuria, stomach pain, and other symptoms. For adults, thick scallion juice is recommended while for children slightly diluted scallion juice is more appropriate.

Ginger (Sheng Jiang, Zingiber officinale)

Crush the ginger till the juice has been extracted. The properties of ginger juice are slightly warm and pungent. It can be used to halt vomiting, heat the middle warmer, dispel cold, and alleviate the external. When applied to the nape and neck, and pressure points Fengmen, Diashui, Fengchi, and others it can help treat cough due to retention of fluids and phlegm, and resolve dsypnea, headaches, stiff neck, and the common cold. When ginger juice is applied on the Hsiawan, Shongwan, Shangwan, Jiuweo, and other points, it can help treat stomach distention, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain.