Fibroid is a common problem in women and the most common fibroid is uterine fibroids. Uterine fibroids are benign tumors composed of smooth uterine muscle and connective tissue. The uterus is the most common site for muscle tumors to occur. Conventional Western medicine believes that estrogen can trigger fibroids and make the fibroids grow more quickly. Estrogen triggers the myometrium (the smooth muscle coat of the uterus) to grow and thicken, which is where the fibroids are located. Depending on the location, fibroids are classified into "intramural fibroids" (located in the innermost layer of the uterus), "subserous fibroids" (protruding into the abdominal cavity), "submucous fibroids" (invading the endometrium) and "parasitic fibroids" (those which have migrated out of the uterus).
Statistics indicate that uterine fibroids develop most commonly in women who are in their 30s and 40s. About 30% of all women will develop fibroids by the time they reach 35. If the fibroids are surgically removed, there is a 10% chance they will grow back. This might be the reason that hysterectomies are so widely favored by doctors to treat uterine fibroids. Actually, uterine fibroids are the most common reason for hysterectomies in the United States. About 30% of all the hysterectomies performed in this country are for uterine fibroids. Some complications of hysterectomy include hemorrhaging, eventual ovarian failure, loss of bladder function, urinary incontinence, depression, and infections. Some studies estimate that up to 70% of all hysterectomies performed in this country are either unnecessary or can be avoided by using alternative approaches.
Deficiency of Kidney energy or chronic illness is the origin of this pattern. It is an advanced stage of Yin Deficiency. Symptoms include: early periods with heavy or scanty, long-lasting bleeding; a hot sensation in the chest or abdomen; a sensation of itching in the breast, or a feeling of sharp or distending pain in the breast; blood-streaked white discharge or yellow-white vaginal discharge after periods; a red tongue, dry or with a yellow coating; and a wiry-thin or thin-rapid pulse. Anemarrhena (Zhi Mu), and phellodendron (Huang Bai) are the leading herbs used to address this pattern. Water Fire Balance (Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan) is a widely-used herbal formula in China.
Deficiency of Spleen energy is the origin of this pattern. Symptoms include: regular or late periods with heavy bleeding; a pulling sensation of the lower abdomen; loose bowels; thin vaginal discharge after periods; a pale tongue or thin-white tongue coating; and a soggy-thin or thin-wiry pulse. The fibroid tumor is a soft mass. Buplerum (Chai Hu), and peony (Bai Shao) are widely- used herbs, and Liver Spleen Harmonizer (Xiao Yao San) is a leading formula to address this pattern.
As for specific qigong prctice, I would recommend "hip rotation" with proper visualisation might help to eliminate the fibroid to dissapear and gone forever.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Monday, October 8, 2007
Meditation Postures
The first step in the practice of Qigong is to maintain a correct posture. It is important that the posture is natural and relaxed so as to allow for smooth breathing and to help lead the mind into a relaxed and quiet state. Each posture naturally has different physiological characteristics and therefore will have a different healing effect on the body according to the needs of the practitioner.
The most common postures are:
Normal Sitting: Sit upright on a chair, feet flat on the ground, legs slightly apart and torso at right angles to the thighs. Let the eyes and mouth rest gently closed with the tongue lightly placed on the upper palate. Assume a slight, unforced smile.
Cross-Legged: Sit upright on a hard bed or platform. Legs should be crossed naturally with the hands resting in front of the lower abdomen.
Half-Lotus: Sit upright on a firm bed or platform. The left foot rests on the right thigh. The right foot is under the left knee. Rest the hands on the knees.
Supine: Lie on one's back on a firm bed, with a low pillow. The upper body and legs should be straight. Arms should rest comfortably at one's sides.
Sideways Lying: Lie on one's side on a firm bed, with a low pillow. The upper body is straight and the legs are slightly bent. Rest the upper hand on the hip and lower hand, palm up, on the pillow.
Standing: Stand erect, feet parallel and apart at about shoulder width with toes pointing slightly inward. Bend knees slightly, hold in the chest and with the arms hanging comfortably at the sides, raise the forearms so that they are parallel to the floor in front of you about one foot apart. Palms can face down, up or towards each other. Keep the fingers separated and curved as if lightly holding a ball. Eyes and mouth are lightly closed with the tongue touching the upper palate. Place a natural slight smile on the face.
Walking: Stand quietly for about two to three minutes. Take a pace forward with the left foot. The heel should touch first; the body and hands swaying to the right as you move forward. Breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. When the weight is fully on the left foot, take a step forward with the right foot (body swaying to the left this time). The palms should be parallel to the floor with the fingers facing forward. The palms "collect Qi" as the arms swing forward and "release Qi" as they swing backwards.
The most common postures are:
Normal Sitting: Sit upright on a chair, feet flat on the ground, legs slightly apart and torso at right angles to the thighs. Let the eyes and mouth rest gently closed with the tongue lightly placed on the upper palate. Assume a slight, unforced smile.
Cross-Legged: Sit upright on a hard bed or platform. Legs should be crossed naturally with the hands resting in front of the lower abdomen.
Half-Lotus: Sit upright on a firm bed or platform. The left foot rests on the right thigh. The right foot is under the left knee. Rest the hands on the knees.
Supine: Lie on one's back on a firm bed, with a low pillow. The upper body and legs should be straight. Arms should rest comfortably at one's sides.
Sideways Lying: Lie on one's side on a firm bed, with a low pillow. The upper body is straight and the legs are slightly bent. Rest the upper hand on the hip and lower hand, palm up, on the pillow.
Standing: Stand erect, feet parallel and apart at about shoulder width with toes pointing slightly inward. Bend knees slightly, hold in the chest and with the arms hanging comfortably at the sides, raise the forearms so that they are parallel to the floor in front of you about one foot apart. Palms can face down, up or towards each other. Keep the fingers separated and curved as if lightly holding a ball. Eyes and mouth are lightly closed with the tongue touching the upper palate. Place a natural slight smile on the face.
Walking: Stand quietly for about two to three minutes. Take a pace forward with the left foot. The heel should touch first; the body and hands swaying to the right as you move forward. Breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. When the weight is fully on the left foot, take a step forward with the right foot (body swaying to the left this time). The palms should be parallel to the floor with the fingers facing forward. The palms "collect Qi" as the arms swing forward and "release Qi" as they swing backwards.
Qigong Meditation - Written by Master Wan Siu Jian
Quiet is the basis for all Qigong practice. Quiet water is crystal clear, quiet people have clarity of mind. In modern society, the seven conditions that cause disease are: Joy, Anger, Anxiety, Excessive Pensiveness, Sadness, Fear, and Shock. Too much anger can cause loss of Yin energy, too much joy can cause loss of Yang energy. Anger makes Qi rise and affects the liver. Joy slows Qi down and affects the heart. Anxiety and Pensiveness knot Qi and affect the spleen. Sadness dissolves Qi and affects the lungs. Fear makes Qi descend and affects the kidney. Shock scatters Qi and affects the kidneys and heart.
If any of these conditions persist for a long time, it causes stagnation of Qi and blood, creating malfunction of the body and disease such as cancer, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and so on.
Taoist and Buddhist meditations are used to preserve one’s health through movements developed over the long history of Chinese Qigong. Taoist meditation is the practice of breath control to get more energy to flow through the Xiao Zhou Tian (the yin and yang meridians) and Da Zhou Tian meridians (the twelve organ meridians), eventually to keep healthy and to have a long life. The Buddhist meditation is the practice of mind control to brighten people’s lives and to gain wisdom. So the practice of Taoist and Buddhist meditation together will result in improved physical and mental health, gaining new wisdom, and breaking off greed and foolish expectations; and finally, liberating one’s life from upset and sorrow.
In meditation, controlling the breath, the mind and the position of the body is important. Controlling the breath, practicing breathing is the way to save energy, which the ancients called "Tu Na". There are many types of controlled breathing practice: abdominal, counter abdominal, stop and close, and fetus breathing. In meditation practice, breathing will be slower, deeper, longer and more even; it seems to appear and disappear.
The highest level of breath control is fetus breathing, just like the baby in the mother’s belly. In old times, the Qigong Masters had these comments about breathing practice: "Breathing as a baby in mother’s belly, heart as sincere as a baby; the Yin and Yang are in balance; the heavens and earth are one. Breathing out gently, breathing in unbrokenly… by and by, energy manifestations will appear in the third eye (upper dantian). Fetus breathing restores to the original state – everything returns to the root, the universe." This is the ancient meditation procedure; the physical body is totally relaxed and peaceful, making the body and spirit completely harmonious.
Modern scientific researchers point out that breathing more deeply, slowly, more evenly and longer breaths can increase the oxygen intake of the body. In turn, the cells get enough oxygen and can improve the body’s metabolism, making the cells healthier. They found with x-ray machines that when doing meditation, the diaphragm and breathing system moves 3-4 times more than normal, thus improving lung function. Also, large blood vessels and heart have been moved more, thus enhancing heart function and helping prevent hardening of the arteries. The abdominal organs also were massaged internally, thus preventing problems of the stomach, intestines, liver and gall bladder.
The "Tao De Ching", authored by Lau Tze some 2,500 years ago, said, "make the mind as sincere as a baby". This means the practice of meditation can help us achieve the highest level of anything, such as kindness, unselfishness, equality, generosity, and spiritual attainment. It can help the bad Qi to exit the body and keep good health. It can also help the essence of energy (Qi) enter the body to build up the organs. Proper breathing helps a person to avoid diseases, vexation, anxiety and weakness. If the energy increases and the bad energy leaves the body, we can expect long life and total health.
If any of these conditions persist for a long time, it causes stagnation of Qi and blood, creating malfunction of the body and disease such as cancer, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and so on.
Taoist and Buddhist meditations are used to preserve one’s health through movements developed over the long history of Chinese Qigong. Taoist meditation is the practice of breath control to get more energy to flow through the Xiao Zhou Tian (the yin and yang meridians) and Da Zhou Tian meridians (the twelve organ meridians), eventually to keep healthy and to have a long life. The Buddhist meditation is the practice of mind control to brighten people’s lives and to gain wisdom. So the practice of Taoist and Buddhist meditation together will result in improved physical and mental health, gaining new wisdom, and breaking off greed and foolish expectations; and finally, liberating one’s life from upset and sorrow.
In meditation, controlling the breath, the mind and the position of the body is important. Controlling the breath, practicing breathing is the way to save energy, which the ancients called "Tu Na". There are many types of controlled breathing practice: abdominal, counter abdominal, stop and close, and fetus breathing. In meditation practice, breathing will be slower, deeper, longer and more even; it seems to appear and disappear.
The highest level of breath control is fetus breathing, just like the baby in the mother’s belly. In old times, the Qigong Masters had these comments about breathing practice: "Breathing as a baby in mother’s belly, heart as sincere as a baby; the Yin and Yang are in balance; the heavens and earth are one. Breathing out gently, breathing in unbrokenly… by and by, energy manifestations will appear in the third eye (upper dantian). Fetus breathing restores to the original state – everything returns to the root, the universe." This is the ancient meditation procedure; the physical body is totally relaxed and peaceful, making the body and spirit completely harmonious.
Modern scientific researchers point out that breathing more deeply, slowly, more evenly and longer breaths can increase the oxygen intake of the body. In turn, the cells get enough oxygen and can improve the body’s metabolism, making the cells healthier. They found with x-ray machines that when doing meditation, the diaphragm and breathing system moves 3-4 times more than normal, thus improving lung function. Also, large blood vessels and heart have been moved more, thus enhancing heart function and helping prevent hardening of the arteries. The abdominal organs also were massaged internally, thus preventing problems of the stomach, intestines, liver and gall bladder.
The "Tao De Ching", authored by Lau Tze some 2,500 years ago, said, "make the mind as sincere as a baby". This means the practice of meditation can help us achieve the highest level of anything, such as kindness, unselfishness, equality, generosity, and spiritual attainment. It can help the bad Qi to exit the body and keep good health. It can also help the essence of energy (Qi) enter the body to build up the organs. Proper breathing helps a person to avoid diseases, vexation, anxiety and weakness. If the energy increases and the bad energy leaves the body, we can expect long life and total health.
Friday, October 5, 2007
Qigong Healing for Weight Loss
Qiqong is a form of self practice exercise, which requires the integration of posture/movement, some type of breathing technique and mental focus. It cultivates the qi (vital energy) and actively realigns all levels of the body together thus creating a new internal environment.
From a TCM viewpoint, the pathological changes in obesity are mainly spleen and kidney dysfunctions, sluggish qi (vital energy) flow, poor vaporization processing of body fluid and turbid phlegm obstruction. Qigong helps to regulate the qi (vital energy) and blood flow, promotes the metabolic functions and eliminates blockages caused by evils such as dampness and phlegm. Moreover, through the practice of qi-gong, the excitatory state of the spleen and stomach can be prohibited, which will relieve or clear the desire for food.
Sample of qi-gong exercise: The Jade Toad Practice
1. Posture: Sit up right on a chair with thighs and legs at a 90° angle, and the feet placed on the ground. The knees are separated shoulder-width apart; let the elbows rest on the knees separately. The right hand is made into a fist while the left hand wraps around it. The upper body leans forward slightly, with head lowered and the forehead is placed lightly onto the top part of the fist. The eyes are slightly closed; adjust the posture to the most comfortable degree.
2. Mental focusing: Focus on the happy things in your life and put on a smile on your face; that helps the body and mind to be relaxed and peaceful. Keep the mind focused and regulate mental activity to be calm in order to a enter qi-gong state. When entering the qi-gong state, the mind should completely follow the respiratory activities and not be disturbed by the outer influences.
3. Breathing: This is the stage where the real practice starts. Firstly inhale a breath freely, make the air go deep down to the abdomen, and then exhale by the mouth very slowly. Secondly, relax the whole body especially the abdomen to become totally loose and flabby. The third step is to inhale through the nose slowly until the abdomen is fully expanded; hold the breath for 2 seconds; take a short inhalation again and then immediately exhale slowly. Repeat the third step again and again. A practitioner should not have any chest movement at all; only abdominal expansion and contraction are performed during the whole process.
4. Closing the practice: After exercising for 15 minutes, raise the head, keep the eyes closed slightly, and then rub hands in front of the chest for over 10 times. Then comb the hair with fingers for several times and open the eyes. Lastly, raise up the hands while still holding the fist; inhale deeply and exhale slowly; release the hands and finish the practice.
For individuals who would like to practice, an experienced qi-gong practitioner should guide them. Doing this exercise improperly can lead to the occurrence of abnormal phenomena; which may be harmful. This exercise is contraindicated in people who are pregnant or have cardiovascular disease, cerebral vascular disease or liver and kidney dysfunctions. It is not advisable for those who feel unwell with symptoms of dizziness and weakness. Individuals should also maintain a healthy diet when applying this exercise.
From a TCM viewpoint, the pathological changes in obesity are mainly spleen and kidney dysfunctions, sluggish qi (vital energy) flow, poor vaporization processing of body fluid and turbid phlegm obstruction. Qigong helps to regulate the qi (vital energy) and blood flow, promotes the metabolic functions and eliminates blockages caused by evils such as dampness and phlegm. Moreover, through the practice of qi-gong, the excitatory state of the spleen and stomach can be prohibited, which will relieve or clear the desire for food.
Sample of qi-gong exercise: The Jade Toad Practice
1. Posture: Sit up right on a chair with thighs and legs at a 90° angle, and the feet placed on the ground. The knees are separated shoulder-width apart; let the elbows rest on the knees separately. The right hand is made into a fist while the left hand wraps around it. The upper body leans forward slightly, with head lowered and the forehead is placed lightly onto the top part of the fist. The eyes are slightly closed; adjust the posture to the most comfortable degree.
2. Mental focusing: Focus on the happy things in your life and put on a smile on your face; that helps the body and mind to be relaxed and peaceful. Keep the mind focused and regulate mental activity to be calm in order to a enter qi-gong state. When entering the qi-gong state, the mind should completely follow the respiratory activities and not be disturbed by the outer influences.
3. Breathing: This is the stage where the real practice starts. Firstly inhale a breath freely, make the air go deep down to the abdomen, and then exhale by the mouth very slowly. Secondly, relax the whole body especially the abdomen to become totally loose and flabby. The third step is to inhale through the nose slowly until the abdomen is fully expanded; hold the breath for 2 seconds; take a short inhalation again and then immediately exhale slowly. Repeat the third step again and again. A practitioner should not have any chest movement at all; only abdominal expansion and contraction are performed during the whole process.
4. Closing the practice: After exercising for 15 minutes, raise the head, keep the eyes closed slightly, and then rub hands in front of the chest for over 10 times. Then comb the hair with fingers for several times and open the eyes. Lastly, raise up the hands while still holding the fist; inhale deeply and exhale slowly; release the hands and finish the practice.
For individuals who would like to practice, an experienced qi-gong practitioner should guide them. Doing this exercise improperly can lead to the occurrence of abnormal phenomena; which may be harmful. This exercise is contraindicated in people who are pregnant or have cardiovascular disease, cerebral vascular disease or liver and kidney dysfunctions. It is not advisable for those who feel unwell with symptoms of dizziness and weakness. Individuals should also maintain a healthy diet when applying this exercise.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Qigong For Cancer: Self-Healing Practice
Qigong (pronounced Chee Gung) has been said to be 1 of the most powerful healing traditions ever highly-developed in human history. It is Chinaware's 3000-4000 year-old system of ego-healing, which integrates simple focused movements or Qigong allows I to cultivate this vigor for wellness maintenance, healing, and postures, breath, and mental intention to balance and unify consistency, head, and heart. Based on the concept of Chi--inner vigour--the life force--practicing increased vitality. By strengthening the brain-consistence connection, Qigong tin determine the course of chronic disease.
(1) Millions of citizenry in People's Republic of China pattern Qigong every day to help relieve a range of maladies such as diabetes, asthma, Cancer, poor circulation, interior organ problems, arthritis, nerve painful sensation, bad backs, joint problems, hypertension, autoimmune disorders, and other tangible diseases. (2) I agree that this gentle form of exercise tin can be highly efficient in reducing stress and increasing vim, merely my question as a health care professional is whether there is any proof of its benefit for serious illnesses. For example, ace style called Guo Maya Lin's Genus Cancer Retrieval Qigong became so popular inside Mainland China that it was adopted in hospitals and centers across the country. To investigate this matter I decided to focus on studies examining the relationship between Qigong and genus Cancer and to interview prominent experts in this field.
Jahnke says Qigong activates natural home(a) healing mechanisms and encourages Cancer the Crab patients to start practicing now and be patient and consistent. "Use Qigong not only to activate biological and energetic healing, simply also to build a sense of inner calm and a trust for single's destiny," suggests Dr. "In other words, in addition to the touchable practices, explore and implement some of the philosophical aspects of Qigong as well." He shared a story with me about unity of his eight inquiry trips to Communist China. "I rich person visited with the Cancer the Crab Convalescence Society which uses the Walking Qigong by Guo with great success, along with "social oncology." I said to the group, 'Your method has apparently helped to save many lives, you must be doing enquiry.' Many multitude wanted to respond to this and after several had spoken, an elder just vital-looking woman said, 'I wealthy person Crab.
You see these other 60 masses here, they all give birth malignant neoplastic disease. We alive, that's our search. Yes, the scientific explore that is organism done is important. But, beingness with these mass and hearing their stories and practicing Qigong with them everyday--that is my .'" With a multitude of " cures" touted by certain individuals and companies out to make a fast dollar, a guiding principle would be to avoid those that discourage mainstream treatment.
Instead, doctors should encourage patients to try non-invasive and comforting complementary therapies such as Qigong. Since science doesn't deliver good means to measure subtle push, therapies such as Qigong ignored. Consequently, any positive personal effects attributed to placebo. Nevertheless, the benefits more than a psychological phenomenon because clinical observations and laboratory studies demonstrate improved immune function, increased microcirculation, and raised annoyance threshold.
(1) Millions of citizenry in People's Republic of China pattern Qigong every day to help relieve a range of maladies such as diabetes, asthma, Cancer, poor circulation, interior organ problems, arthritis, nerve painful sensation, bad backs, joint problems, hypertension, autoimmune disorders, and other tangible diseases. (2) I agree that this gentle form of exercise tin can be highly efficient in reducing stress and increasing vim, merely my question as a health care professional is whether there is any proof of its benefit for serious illnesses. For example, ace style called Guo Maya Lin's Genus Cancer Retrieval Qigong became so popular inside Mainland China that it was adopted in hospitals and centers across the country. To investigate this matter I decided to focus on studies examining the relationship between Qigong and genus Cancer and to interview prominent experts in this field.
Jahnke says Qigong activates natural home(a) healing mechanisms and encourages Cancer the Crab patients to start practicing now and be patient and consistent. "Use Qigong not only to activate biological and energetic healing, simply also to build a sense of inner calm and a trust for single's destiny," suggests Dr. "In other words, in addition to the touchable practices, explore and implement some of the philosophical aspects of Qigong as well." He shared a story with me about unity of his eight inquiry trips to Communist China. "I rich person visited with the Cancer the Crab Convalescence Society which uses the Walking Qigong by Guo with great success, along with "social oncology." I said to the group, 'Your method has apparently helped to save many lives, you must be doing enquiry.' Many multitude wanted to respond to this and after several had spoken, an elder just vital-looking woman said, 'I wealthy person Crab.
You see these other 60 masses here, they all give birth malignant neoplastic disease. We alive, that's our search. Yes, the scientific explore that is organism done is important. But, beingness with these mass and hearing their stories and practicing Qigong with them everyday--that is my .'" With a multitude of " cures" touted by certain individuals and companies out to make a fast dollar, a guiding principle would be to avoid those that discourage mainstream treatment.
Instead, doctors should encourage patients to try non-invasive and comforting complementary therapies such as Qigong. Since science doesn't deliver good means to measure subtle push, therapies such as Qigong ignored. Consequently, any positive personal effects attributed to placebo. Nevertheless, the benefits more than a psychological phenomenon because clinical observations and laboratory studies demonstrate improved immune function, increased microcirculation, and raised annoyance threshold.
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