Beginning of Autumn 立秋 Seasonal Node

After a very hot July, it’s nice to have August be a bit more seasonable. It hasn’t been cool here by any definition of that word, but the weather has cooled off compared to the last few weeks. This year again the slight cooling is on time as yesterday, Tuesday August 8th, was the the beginning of Autumn (and the seasonal node of that same name) in the traditional calendar.

Although in the modern western world August is a summer month, the Chinese calendar is concerned with the relative balance of Yin and Yang in the natural environment over temperature as a marker of the seasons; this is closely tied to day length. Summer Solstice in June was the longest day of the year. By now the days are getting gradually shorter, and we are only 6 weeks away from the Autumnal Equinox, a day of balanced light and dark. Therefore, even though August weather can still be hot we are in the time of growing Yin and contraction in the natural environment.

In the Lü Shi Chun Qiu (The Spring and Autumn Annals of Lü Bowei; 呂氏春秋), the classic text of Chinese philosophy from the 3rd century BCE, it is said that the Emperor Shao Hao (少昊), and his son Ru Shou (蓐收) are the sovereigns associated with the three months of Autumn. This obscure statement sheds tremendous light on the essence of Autumn, and eventually allows us to understand how to stay healthy this season.

According to some legends (since they do vary), Shao Hao was one of the Five Emperors (五帝) of ancient China. His mother was a weaver goddess who fell in love with the planet Venus, and the result of that union was Shao Hao. Together with his son Ru Shou, Shao Hao settled on Chang Liu Mountain where they ruled over the Western Heavens and controlled the setting of the sun. Remember, the west is associated with the Metal phase, and therefore Autumn. Certainly, Autumn is the time of year that corresponds to sunset during the day, and in Chinese astrology Venus is the planet of the Metal phase, and thus too corresponds with Autumn. Even the son’s name, Ru Shou, has the word “shou” (收) within – the word meaning “to harvest” or “to collect,” an attribute of Autumn. The Neijing says that when we move and behave in a way that allows us to resonate with Autumn, we are in the state of Nourishing the movement of Harvest (養收). 

In early Autumn (August is the first month of the season) we experience the ongoing but very gradual shift to shorter days and, eventually, cooler temperatures. In other words, we are shifting more and more to the Yin phase of the year. Yet, August in particular can still be damp and humid. It is also the time of tropical storms which bring moisture and wind – an external event. In Chinese medicine, weakness in the Spleen and Stomach leads to damp accumulation – an internal event. In early Autumn we therefore should avoid dampness externally and simultaneously strengthen the digestive organs internally. One way to accomplish this is to eat light and clear foods, increase the amount of seasonal vegetables, and eat a little less meat. Vegetables can be consumed lightly steamed or stir-fried, or in the case of light salad greens, raw. In general avoid overly hot, spicy foods. Congees are appropriate to help strengthen the digestive organs and one traditional congee recipe for this seasonal node is Euryale Seed and Discorea Congee (Qian Shi Shan Yao Zhou 芡實山藥粥).

Euryale Seed and Discorea Congee 芡實山藥粥

Ingredients:

• 1 cup rice (use glutinous rice if available)

• 200g Euryale seed (Qian Shi )

• 200g Discorea (Shan Yao )

• 200 g sugar

 Directions:

1. Grind rice, Euryale seed, and Discorea to a powder. Mix the three together with sugar and blend well so evenly mixed

2. In a pan, add 50 – 100g of blended powder to cold water, enough to make a thick soupy consistency

3. Put over medium flame and warm for several minutes, stirring occasionally

4. Enjoy in the morning on an empty stomach (consume warm)

This congee strengthens the Spleen, stops diarrhea. However it is contraindicated for patients with diarrhea due to infections, or with damp heat type diarrhea.

In addition to dietary recommendations we can perform acupressure on supplementing points such as Zu San Li (ST-36). If patients tend to cold and vacuous patterns of the Spleen and Stomach, gentle direct thread moxa at Zu San Li is also applicable. According to the noted moxibustion scholar Lorraine Wilcox, the time around the beginning of Autumn is also a special time for applying prophylactic moxibustion in an effort to strengthen the body for the cold season to come. Those familiar with Tung’s acupuncture can needle the Zu San Tong (足三通) Dao Ma group, consisting of Tong Guan 88.01, Tong Shan 88.02 and Tong Tian 88.03. These points are the main Dao Ma group for Heart, but really they function like Pericardium channel points, which is why they are indicated for Spleen and Stomach problems. Furthermore, in terms of Five Phase theory, supplementing Heart will strengthen Spleen because of the engendering cycle relationship between Fire and Soil-Earth.

Autumn is the season associated with the Lungs, and thus even though we should avoid very spicy foods, mildly acrid foods are good this time of year for Lung function. These foods include ginger, scallion, leek, and black pepper. Mildly sweet and slightly sour fruits also help moisten and benefit the Lungs, including the now in-season stone fruits (i.e., plums and peaches). This recommendation however should be based on individual patient characteristics. For example, if patients have Spleen vacuity with dampness they should avoid overly sour foods.

As August continues through the rest of August and into September and the weather does become cooler, we need to be cautious of sudden returns of very hot and humid weather, a common weather pattern here in New Jersey. In Chinese this is called “The Old Tiger of Autumn” (Qiu Lao Hu 秋老虎). When the old tiger rears its head again Summerheat pathogens are a risk – symptoms of this include headache, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, poor appetite, stuffy chest, heavy or fatigued limbs, and possibly diarrhea. If intense hot and damp weather returns, focus the diet on foods that are cooling and moistening. Foods to consider adding on a daily basis include all sorts of sprouts (e.g., mung bean or alfalfa), cucumbers, muskmelon, winter melon, tomato, and loofah. Mung beans are very cooling, and in hot weather they can be made into a sweet dessert soup. For more serious conditions consider giving patients formulas such as Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San.

Here’s a formula from the Zun Sheng Ba Jian (遵生八箋) – the Eight Treatises on Following the Principles of Life. Written by a scholar by the name of Gao Lian at the end of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the text is an almost encyclopedic collection of all manner of Nourishing Life (養生) recipes, techniques, theories, etc… One of the formulas specifically for Autumn is called Conserve the Spleen Pill (攝脾丸). It treats damage to the Spleen that happens during the Autumn months that leads to abdominal distension and diarrhea. The ingredients listed are Mu Xiang, He Zi, Hou Po (ginger fried), Wu Bei Zi (slightly toasted), and Bai Zhu (earth fried). These ingredients would be ground to a powder and made into pills the size of a Tung Tree seed, and 10 pills would be a daily dose.

I hope everyone is having a great end of Summer and start of Autumn!

Great Heat 大暑 Seasonal Node

We are in the hottest time of the year in the northern hemisphere according to the traditional calendar – the San Fu 三伏 period. Aside from the traditional calendar, most likely due to human driven climate change this past June was the hottest ever on record for the planet, and preliminary data suggests the first 2 weeks of July were also the hottest ever for planet Earth since records have been kept (for almost 200 years now).  Appropriately, the name of the seasonal node that starts today, Sunday July 23rd, is Great Heat (Da Shu 大暑). In some parts of the world this segment of the year is also one of the dampest.  Today as I write this blog, where I am located in NJ had a high temperature of 89 degrees with a high humidity of 88% - and it was actually one of the nicer feeling days we’ve had recently!

As we’ve discussed before, each of the 24 seasonal nodes (jie qi 節氣) can be further broken down into 3 five-day periods of time, known as the 72 Material Manifestations (wu hou 物候). The 3 periods within Great Heat are Decaying Grass Transforms into Fireflies (fucao hua wei ying 腐草化為螢), Earth Lies Wet Beneath Sweltering Heat (tu run ru shu 土潤溽暑), and Heavy Rains Fall Intermittently (da yu shi ying 大雨時行). The Japanese versions of the first of these is Paulownia Trees Produce Seeds (kiri hajimete hana o musubu桐始結花). In these rather poetic names we see the images of plant life coming to an end of growth (in particular, delicate plants such as grasses), and we also see references to the combination of both dampness and heat in nature.

The health maintenance guidelines for Great Heat are to focus on clearing heat, boosting qi, and treating winter diseases ahead of time (冬病夏治).  Clearing heat seems to be intuitive – too much heat in the body needs to be removed to keep us in balance. But why should we also boost the qi? The Yin Yang Ying Xiang Da Lun (Su Wen Chapter 5) says, “the qi of strong fire weakens” (壯火之氣衰), “strong fire feeds on qi” (壯火食氣), and “a strong fire disperses qi” (壯火散氣). The reason we need to boost qi this time of year is because too much heat in the environment drains and weakens the qi internally. Likewise, excessive sweating damages both the qi and the fluids. One potential general maintenance herbal formula this time of year is Sheng Mai San, the combination of Ren Shen, Mai Men Dong and Wu Wei Zi. When giving this formula during Great Heat, my suggestion to use either plain Chinese white ginseng, or American ginseng, as Korean red ginseng will be too hot. Sheng Mai San in small doses builds qi, clears heat, and nourishes the fluids with herbs that are not so cloying that they would worsen internal dampness.

As already mentioned, now is the San Fu period. This time of year we have a tradition of applying mustard plasters to acupuncture points on the back, a practice known as San Fu moxibustion. While called a type of moxibustion, the heat source for this treatment is not burning mugwort, but the heat derived from the mustard (and other herbs) plasters that are placed on the skin.

In addition to San Fu moxa, we can also start utilizing regular moxibustion as well for disease prevention. The Bian Que Heart Classic (扁鵲心書) suggests that every year at the transition between summer and fall we should moxa Guan Yuan REN-4. As part of the recommendation the text suggests the application of 300 cones every 3 years for people over the age of 30, every 2 years for people over the age of 50, and yearly once age 60 is reached.  While 300 seems like a lot of cones, we don’t have to do them all in one sitting. Break up application of moxa into smaller amounts of cones and proceed daily for several weeks; in other words, we are looking for a total of 300 over time, not 300 all at once. Additional points to consider for moxibustion include Zu San Li ST-36, Shen Que REN-8 and Qi Hai REN-6.

The caution for Great Heat is to be on guard against damp-heat and its ability to damage the Spleen-Stomach, thereby hampering appetite and digestion.  One way to do this is through diet, which we discuss below. Another traditional recommendation to accomplish this during the current seasonal node is herbal foot bathing.  One effective Great Heat footbath recipe includes Pu Gong Ying 30g, Su Mu 30g, Gou Teng 25g, Fu Ling 25g, Bai Fan 15g, Fang Feng 15g, and Han Fang Ji 15g.  Boil these herbs in about ½ gallon of water for 20-30 minutes. Then, cool until able to be used as a warm soak, and soak feet for about 30-40 minutes. These herbs are also effective for treating athlete’s foot, a common problem of this time of year, and a very obvious manifestation of excess damp-heat. For this condition use the same soak frequently, at least twice daily, with 3 days (of twice daily) being one course of treatment.

For practitioners of Tung’s (Dong’s) acupuncture, we can apply these same principles for general maintenance or preventive treatments. Consider using points that have a general qi supplementing function such as Ling Gu 22.05 and Si Hua Shang 77.08. We also can choose points that generally clear heat such as Zhong Kui or the Wu Ling and Shuang Feng points along the back. In my bloodletting book I also detail another Taiwanese method of treating excessive summerheat by bleeding. Click here for more information on the book. For patients who tend towards being deficient, after bloodletting in the clinic, administer one dose of Liu Wei Di Huang Wan in tablet form (this was Master Tung’s practice in his own practice).

Diet for Great Heat

Along with the guidelines described above, during Great Heat we should simultaneously clear heat and drain damp, while boosting the qi and protecting the Spleen and Stomach. Avoid overly spicy foods and foods that are overly heating. This is the time of year to eat in-season vegetables, especially those that clear heat and nourish fluids such as cucumber, raw tomato, and bitter melon. Gentle heat clearing herbs can be added to the diet such as mint and Huo Xiang (agastache), and this is the seasonal node when Huo Xiang congee is traditionally consumed.  In China people drink winter melon juice during Great Heat. I honestly don’t find this too appealing so I suggest in the west we drink watermelon juice instead.

One fun recipe for Great Heat is stir fried lotus root…

Stir Fried Lotus Root

Ingredients:

• 1 lotus root (about ½ lb)

• 1” piece of ginger, chopped

• 1 cup roughly chopped scallion

• 2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped

• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

• white vinegar

• cooking oil (sesame)

• soy sauce or tamari

 Directions:

1. Peel lotus root and cut into slices about ¼ inch thick, submerge in water with a small amount of white vinegar to prevent discoloration

2. Heat some cooking oil in a large frying pan, add ginger and garlic and cook until fragrant

3. Drain lotus root and place the slices in pan in a single layer; cook until they start to change color and become slightly translucent and then turn over and cook a few minutes longer

4. Add in sesame seeds, a splash of soy sauce or tamari, and the scallions and fry a short while longer until the scallions start to wilt

5. Remove from heat and enjoy

This recipe stops thirst, expels heat, and clears heat to engender fluids. Furthermore, it also supplements the center and nourishes the shen-spirit. 

I hope everyone is staying cool and dry!

Preparing for the Seasons to Come – A Medicated Liquor

One of the maxims in Chinese medicine is that it is usually best to treat disease before it arises, and part of that is being well prepared ahead of time. The second chapter of the Su Wen says, “Thus, the Sages did not treat disease that were already manifest, they treated disease that had yet to arise. They did not treat what was already in a state of disorder, they treated before disorder arose” (是故聖人不治已病，治未病，不治已亂，治未亂). It goes on to explain that doing this was akin to digging a well after one is thirsty, or forging weapons after war has already broken out. Both are too late to do as much good as possible.

In this spirit we can use this time of year to start preparing formulas to use in a few months, once the weather becomes cold again. A very traditional format of herbal formulas that is particularly suited to the colder weather is medicated wines (also called medicated liquors since they are made with distilled spirits, not actual wines). Ethyl alcohol is warm, acrid and sweet. This combination means that it can warm and course the Qi and Blood, as well as supplement at the same time. When herbal formulas are prepared in alcohol (i.e., ethanol) the functions of the ingredients are amplified in this therapeutic direction.

One very useful formula that we can start preparing now for use in colder weather is Song Ling Tai Ping Chun Jiu (松齡太平春酒), a formula I will simply translate into English as Great Harmony Eternal Spring Wine. Here are the ingredients…

Great Harmony Eternal Spring Wine 

Ingredients:

• Shu Di Huang 250g

• Dang Gui 125g

• Hong Hua 15g

• Gou Qi Zi 125g

• Fo Shou 15g

• Gui Yan Rou (i.e., Long Yan Rou) 250g

• Song Ren (pine nuts) 125g

• Fu Shen 50g

• Chen Pi 25g

Directions:

• Choose as best quality possible for each of the above medicinals. Place in a clean wide-mouthed jar with about 2.5 liters of vodka, or another distilled spirit of similar alcohol content. Allow the medicinals to soak for at least a month (although up to three months is preferable). Periodically the mixture be stirred with a clean spoon, or simply shaken a little to agitate the liquid. Once ready, take one or two shots per day as a dosage (spread out if two).

This formula was a favorite of the Emperor Qianlong (1711 – 1799; r. 1735 – 1796), one of China’s most important Emperors and one of the longest reigning monarchs in world history. The formula, crafted by Imperial physicians, was one of the Emperor’s longevity tonics. While we find a few variations on the formula today, in general the major ingredients and thus therapeutic thrust of the formula is the same. Overall the formula strengthens the Spleen, benefits the Qi, and nourishes and quickens the Blood. It is contraindicated for patients with significant internal heat patterns, and for those who normally cannot consume alcohol.

The very interesting name of the formula is deserving of a short discussion. The first word Song (松) means a pine tree, and the second word Ling (齡) means years of age. At first glance this is an odd combination of words – age of a pine tree. Put together it is a reference though to long life. The pine, as an evergreen, is a symbol of enduring life and youth, which is why pine nuts are seen as a longevity food. These two words are also reminiscent of the Chinese phrase Song He Yan Ling (松鶴延齡) – “live as long as the pines and cranes.” Both of these are powerful symbols of longevity in Chinese culture. Finally, going back even to the works of Confucius, in the Analects there is a passage that says, “The Master said, "When the year becomes cold, then we know how the pine and the cypress are the last to lose their leaves” (子曰：歲寒，然後知松柏之後彫也). Thus, in old age (when the year becomes cold) it will be apparent who maintains youthful vigor. We know from history that Emperor Qianlong certainly did!

I hope everyone is staying cool and dry, and that we are all thinking of how we can start preparing for the colder months a little ways off in the future.

Minor Heat 小暑 Seasonal Node

This time of year seems to always be a mix of events. I just returned earlier this week from a trip to Ireland teaching part two of a course on the fundamentals of Tung’s acupuncture, and it’s just great getting back to in-person teaching. We calculated that it was 16 years ago when I started teaching in Ireland, and every time I’m there it’s always a great trip with great East Asian medicine practitioners.

The down side of course is yet once again our Supreme Court here in the US continuing to reverse years of precedent that protects the weak, protects minorities, and ensures a fairer system of law. We’re also already a year out already from the Court’s abomination that was the gutting of 50 years of legal precedent for personal privacy and legal access to essential women’s health services. So yet once again, this July 4th was a bit less celebratory for us here.

Despite our cool Spring and start of Summer, we are now experiencing weather that has been very hot, and quite humid. Even indoors with air conditioning there is an oppressive feeling. The heat of Summer has definitely arrived and it is right on time, as today July 7th, starts the next seasonal node of 2023 - Minor Heat (Xiao Shu 小暑).

The Minor Heat seasonal node marks an important change in the movement of Qi in the natural world. Summer Solstice (Xia Zhi 夏至) began the transition from Yang-expansion to Yin-contraction in the environment. Therefore, Minor Heat is the first seasonal node in the nascent Yin time of the year. However, although we are transitioning into the Yin time of the year, it is still hot and getting hotter. Weather change happens slowly. Think of it like a train barreling ahead at high speed. Once the conductor decides to stop the train and put it in reverse, she first puts on the breaks. Even though the breaks are applied, it takes several hundred feet before the train actually stops. Only then will it very slowly start moving in reverse. The movement of the seasons is just like this. Once we have flipped the switch from Yang to Yin, the weather still continues to warm for some time before the very slow movement in the opposite direction begins.

The smaller segments of the seasons for this Node are Warm Winds Arrive (温風至), First Lotuses Blossom (蓮始開), and Hawks Learn to Fly (鷹乃学習).  These three are the traditional Japanese version of the mini-seasons. The Chinese version is slightly different, with the second being called Crickets Take Up Residence in Walls (蟋蟀居壁).  Personally, I’d rather have lotuses rather than crickets invading my house!

The most important “to do” recommendation during this time is to nourish the Heart by maintaining an optimistic outlook – something I’m personally trying to do despite what I mentioned in the introduction above. Why is this? June and July are the months associated with the Fire phase. Also, if we overlay the 12 time periods of the day with the 12 months of the year (i.e., the 12 two-hour periods of the day that each correspond to one of the primary channels), June is the time of the Heart channel and July the Small Intestine channel - both are Fire. Since this is the Fire Phase time of year, it is the time of the Heart Zang. We nourish the Heart by keeping a calm mind and being optimistic. Pessimism or other negative emotional states can lead to patterns such as Liver stagnation, which in turn can transform into heat and harass the Heart. We can also nourish the Heart and regulate the Fire phases by doing some specific Qigong exercises (we are doing some of these in our online practice sessions).

As mentioned above, the first 5-day period of Minor Heat is known as Wen Feng Zhi (溫風至), - Warm Winds Arrive. This certainly describes what is happening in the weather right now, especially in the Northeastern United States! The weather has been hot and humid. Therefore, we need to be careful about environmental dampness damaging the body. As clinicians we should instruct patients who are prone to damp patterns on how to eat, dress, etc… In this light the main “to avoid” this time period is undue exposure to cold and excessive consumption of cold items (both cold temperature and cold thermal nature). While it may seem logical to be in cold places in cold weather, there is certainly a problem in the west with using air conditioners to cool rooms to temperatures lower than we’d feel comfortable with in winter! Furthermore, the overconsumption of cold (and especially cold and sweet) food and drink damages the Spleen leading to more damp accumulation. Instead, we should drink beverages that are cooling, as well as either bitter (to drain), or acrid (to move). This will cool the body without developing damp stagnation. Examples include green teas, or chrysanthemum and mint herbal teas. In China summer is the season to drink green teas such as the famous Dragon Well – Long Jing Cha 龍井茶.

Diet for Minor Heat

Because now is the time of significant dampness and heat, in general we should consume foods that are cooling and either bitter or acrid (which can drain damp). For example, this is the time of year to consume in-season fresh greens. In addition to chrysanthemum and mint we can also consume lotus leaf tea; lotus is a plant with a summerheat cooling nature that is also slightly bitter to drain heat and dampness. Advise patients to sip fluids throughout the day so they don’t dehydrate rather than drinking copious amounts of iced beverages all at once that may exacerbate damp conditions. If patients have damaged fluids, they can consume cooling and moist vegetables (such as cucumber) or fruits (such as watermelon).

One traditional recipe for this time of year is congee made from Yi Yi Ren (pearl barley) and adzuki beans. This basic combination is mild and neutral in temperature, and both the Yi Yi Ren and adzuki beans drain dampness. Yi Yi Ren strengthens the Spleen and adzuki beans clear heat as well.

This time of year it is also a great idea to start preparing herbal formulas that will be used in the colder weather. My next blog post coming soon will discuss making a medicated wine for the cold seasons to come.

Duan Wu Festival 端午節

The Duan Wu 端午 Festival, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month which this year is today, June 22nd. Unlike the Seasonal Nodes, which are based on a solar cycle, Duan Wu is tied to the lunar calendar. With a history that dates back over 2,000 years, this festival holds great significance in Chinese and greater East Asian culture.

At its core, the Duan Wu Festival commemorates the life and death of Qu Yuan, a renowned poet and statesman during the Warring States period. Qu Yuan was deeply devoted to his country and expressed his frustrations through his poetry. However, when his counsel was ignored and his state fell into turmoil, he was overcome with despair. In 278 BCE, he drowned himself as a final act of protest against the corruption and injustice rampant at that time.

Dragon Boat in Okinawa, Japan

Duan Wu's rituals and customs are partially rooted in the belief that Qu Yuan's spirit could be protected and honored. One of the most obvious customs during the Duan Wu Festival is dragon boat racing. These races involve teams of paddlers rowing in long, narrow boats decorated like dragons, a very Yang and auspicious creature. The act of racing dragon boats on rivers is not only fun to watch but also a way of warding off evil Yin and preventing bad luck, much in the same way that Lion dancing does.

Another Duan Wu custom is the consumption of zongzi, sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves. Legend has it that when Qu Yuan drowned himself, villagers threw rice balls into the river to prevent fish from devouring his body. To this day, people eat zongzi as a way of paying homage to Qu Yuan and as a symbol of warding off evil spirits and disease during the hot summer months. Aside from this practice, during Duan Wu people frequently hang aromatic herbs on the outside of their houses, such as Mugwort 艾草 or garlic. These Yang substances also serve to ward off Yin negativity and disease (such as dampness related conditions, or conditions caused by insects such as mosquitos).

Mugwort 艾草

Beyond the history and the customs associated with the festival, Duan Wu carries an inner meaning. This is the time of mid-summer as we discussed in the previous post on Summer Solstice from yesterday. It is the time when Yang has come to its apex and Yin starts the slow progress towards becoming the dominant movement in nature. Thus, it is an opportunity for cleansing and purification so that while we can embrace the movement of Yin, we can also avoid the negative aspects of that phasic movement. In the clinic this means watching our patients for patterns such as damp turbidity, especially in the digestive system. As the weather becomes more and more hot and humid this will be a commonly seen problem. We can treat this by supporting the Spleen and Stomach with acupuncture and gentle moxibustion, or by the consumption of slightly warm aromatic herbs when appropriate. An example of a seasonal formula along these lines is the Cardamom Powder in the Summer Solstice blog post.

Enjoy the day, hang some garlic, and eat some zongzi if you can. Happy Duan Wu, Dragon Boat Festival!

Summer Solstice 夏至

June just seems to be flying by.  This past weekend was Father’s Day in the United States (happy Father’s Day to all of you out there), and this week also marks the third year Juneteenth is a federal holiday in the Unites States! Aside from all this, June is Pride Month. My hope is that over time our societies continue to become more accepting of all the people and voices that comprise them, and that equality someday will truly be a reality instead of an ideal.

This week is also a tremendously important seasonal shift with Summer Solstice arriving today, June 21st, at 10:58am Eastern Daylight Time. At that moment, the Northern Hemisphere reached the astronomical Summer Solstice with the North Pole will at its maximum tilt (about 23.5 degrees) toward the Sun, resulting in the longest day and shortest night of the year. This means that tomorrow the days will slowly start getting shorter, heralding the cosmic transformation from Yang to Yin that has just been triggered.

In addition to being one very important moment in time, the Summer Solstice (Xia Zhi 夏至) is also the name of the seasonal node that starts today. This node marks the apex of Yang in the natural world as well as the rebirth of Yin that will eventually culminate with the longest night on the Winter Solstice in December. In relationship to the times of day, Summer Solstice corresponds to high noon, the Wu (午) hour, and is the time of the Heart channel. When we break down Summer Solstice into the smaller five-day periods of time, it includes the time periods know as Deer Shed Antlers (Lu Jiao Jie 鹿角解), Cicadas Begin Singing (Tiao Shi Ming 蜩始鳴), and Pinellia Grows (Ban Xia Sheng 半夏生) In Japan the names for the 72 Material Manifestations (七十二物候) differ slightly. The names of these three mini seasons for the Japanese are Prunella Dries (乃東枯), Irises Bloom (菖蒲華), and Pinellia Grows (半夏生 - this one is the same as the Chinese calendar). Notice that this time is when Ban Xia is growing, the king of drying damp and getting rid of phlegm turbidity (a Yang herb to treat a Yin pathology). Likewise, in China this is the time of year to harvest Aconite (Fu Zi 附子) to enhance its Yang nature.

In Yijing (I Ching) symbolism, this time period is represented by hexagram 44, made up of Qian-Heaven trigram (3 solid yang lines) over Xun-Wind trigram (1 broken yin line under 2 solid yang lines). Thus, the complete hexagram is 5 solid Yang lines over one broken Yin line at the bottom – Yin is being birthed once again. One of the translations for the name of Hexagram 44 is “The Queen,” also showing that this time of year begins the transition towards returning inward to the hidden, the Yin, the Blood, and the Dark Mother that is referred to in the first chapter of the Dao De Jing.

Practically speaking, although this is a time of transition to Yin, this is still a hot and damp season (although this year it seems to be a little less hot than usual in NJ). Thus, the first health recommendation for Summer Solstice is to focus on clearing summerheat and draining dampness. For example, various skin problems due to external contraction of summerheat damp are commonly seen now. It is also common to see other symptoms of summerheat strike such as malaise, fatigue, low-grade fever or heat effusion, low-grade headache, nausea, etc… There are several ways we can help ourselves as well as our patients when they present with summerheat damp symptoms. First, is to regulate diet, which we will discuss more below. We can also counsel basic lifestyle recommendations, such as dressing appropriately to the weather (such as wearing light clothes made of natural materials that breathe well), staying in shade in the midday when temperatures are highest, and drinking plenty of light and clear fluids. This is especially important for our older patients, since as we age we lose the normal ability to adapt to more extremes in temperature. Furthermore, seniors are more likely to be on prescription medications or may have chronic medical problems that inhibit perspiration or make extremes of temperature less tolerable. Some medications also increase sensitivity to sun raising risk of sunburns (examples include tetracyclines, quinolones such as Cipro, Celebrex, and some chemotherapeutic agents).

The next recommended “to do” during Summer Solstice is Shui Hao Zi Wu Jiao 睡好子午交. This means sleep well during both the Zi and Wu hours. Certainly, sleeping well is something we should be doing all year long. Zi and Wu refer to the time periods of midday and midnight, with Zi being the 11pm – 1am hour, and Wu being the 11am – 1pm hour (to be adjusted for standard time in locations that observe daylight savings time). In general it is important to get into bed before the Zi hour. Remember, the Zi hour is the time of transition from Yin to Yang, representative of the Winter Solstice. After this time period our bodies are already in a state of Yang expansion, the movement contrary to good sleep. Getting to bed and sleeping through this hour ensures that we really rest, that we really go into the state of storage that replenishes our vital substances.

The Wu hour is also a time of transition, and like the Summer Solstice, represents the change from Yang to Yin. The traditional recommendation is to take a short nap during this time to harmonize the body with this movement of Yang to Yin. That said, the recommendation is just a short nap of maybe only 30 minutes time (this is just the beginning of Yin after all). After that, don’t linger. Get up and back to normal activity.

Diet for Summer Solstice

As already mentioned, Summer Solstice is the time of transition from Yang to Yin in the natural world. That said, Summer Solstice is still a time of damp and heat in many places. Therefore, the basic strategy of clearing heat and draining dampness can help guide us in our diet strategy. It is important to keep in mind that during summer over-sweating and prolonged exposure to heat can deplete the Qi and fluids of the body. So, once we are clear of heat and damp, if there is vacuity we can focus on supplementation. However, since this is a hot time of year, cool supplementation is best.

In summary we can generalize this is the time to eat foods that clear heat (especially summerheat), drain dampness, nourish the Qi and boost fluids. Examples include cucumber, winter melon, luffa, tomato, honeydew melon, star fruit, peach, plumb, and mung beans. This is also a good time to eat bitter melon (ku gua 苦瓜). When I lived in Okinawa as a graduate student, bitter melon was a basic staple of food since Okinawa is a very hot and damp climate.

Here’s a formula from the Zun Sheng Ba Jian (遵生八箋) – the Eight Treatises on Following the Principles of Life. Written by a scholar by the name of Gao Lian at the end of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the text is an almost encyclopedic collection of all manner of Nourishing Life (養生) recipes, techniques, theories, etc… This is a seasonal formula for summer from this text.

 Cardamom Powder 豆蔻散

Ingredients:

• Cao Dou Kou 草豆蔻 120g (toast until yellow together with 120g of fresh ginger, then remove the peel for use)

• Mai Ya 麥芽 300g (dry fry until yellow)

• Shen Qu 神曲 120g (dry fry until yellow)

• Zhi Gan Cao 炙甘草 120g

• Pao Jiang 炮薑 30g 

Grind all ingredients to a fine powder. Take a small amount daily with water or tea. During summer as heat and dampness increases, occasionally this will negatively affect people’s digestive function and appetite. This formula opens the Stomach, increases appetite, treats abdominal distension and is particularly useful if weather is cooler or damper than usual.

I hope everyone is staying cool and dry. For those who would like to read more about Summer seasonal recommendations in general, please click here.

I also have a more comprehensive course on acupuncture and the seasons, including how to use diet, acupuncture (even Tung’s acupuncture) and other lifestyle recommendations to harmonize with all the seasonal nodes. For more information on that class, click here.

I hope everyone is having a great Summer and staying healthy!

Bearded Grain 芒種 Seasonal Node

Some of this year’s herbaceous peonies 芍藥

It’s hard to believe that June is already here as this year has practically flown by. One nice thing this year is that the last month or so has seen very mild and overall slightly cooler weather than usual for the Northeastern United States. That means the peony season – both tree peonies and herbaceous peonies – was particularly long. We actually still have blooms of herbaceous peonies that are continuing to hold on.

I also recently noticed that I haven’t posted the current seasonal node, Bearded Grain (Mang Zhong 芒種), since the early part of the pandemic in 2020. Looking back, it’s hard to really digest all the things that have happened over these last few years, and how many changes have happened since then.

Today, June 6th, is the beginning of Bearded Grain, the ninth of the year. Bearded Grain is also the last node just before Summer Solstice, the most expansive and Yang time of the year. The name, ‘Bearded Grain,’ is a reference to crops. The word Mang (芒) refers to the maturing crops, especially the winter wheat, which is harvested about this time of year, and the word Zhong (種) is a reference then to the new rice crops that are planted at this time. This gives us the image of one thing coming to maturity (as in the growing Yang of the season) so that it can eventually perish (i.e., be harvested), allowing a new crop to be started. The image of transfer and renewal is characteristic of the transition period of the solstice that fast approaches.

The three smaller 5-day material manifestations of this node are Tanglang sheng 螳螂生 (Praying Mantises Are Born), Ju shi ming 鵙始鳴(Shrikes Begin to Sing), Fanshe wusheng 反舌無聲 (Mocking Birds Cease to Vocalize). The first two are dramatically illustrative of the current node. Praying mantises are notorious for females killing males just after mating. And shrikes are about the creepiest birds I know! These birds are known for catching their prey, usually large insects or small mammals such as rodents, and then impaling them on some natural spike-like plant for them to come back later and consume after the creature has died. Both images are images of the death bringers. Eventually Summer Solstice is the time of Yin’s rebirth – days will get shorter again. It is the reminder that all life cycles back towards quiescence, towards winter, towards death, towards Yin.

But we must get back to more practical concerns… During this time of year there are several things traditionally recommended for healthy living. The first is taking a siesta – in other words an afternoon nap (in Chinese, Wu Shui 午睡). During this time of year damp and heat evils in the environment start to predominate. In Chinese medicine the Spleen is susceptible to dampness, the disease evil associated with the Soil-Earth phase. The Spleen governs the flesh and the four limbs. Damp evils encumber the flesh of the four limbs making them feel heavy and weary, leading our body feeling fatigued and without strength. Napping is a way to recuperate vitality, especially when done during the most Yang/hot time of day. Napping traditionally allowed people a rest from the summer heat and dampness, and offered a way to support the Latter Heaven (hou tian 後天) of the Spleen.

The second recommendation is to regularly clear toxins. Toxins in this case refers to both heat toxins and water toxins, since, again, this is a time of increasing dampness and heat in the environment. In much of Asia, this is the rainy season. Likewise, here in New Jersey, last week we saw rain and this week we will see more. During this time period it’s important for us all to be sure we stay cool and dry inside. Be cautious of overexposure to the heat, especially during the middle part of the day. Patients who are prone to internal damp conditions should reduce salt or other similar dietary intake that can lead to accumulation of fluids and swelling.

Our next admonition is both a “to do” and a “to avoid.” Mang Zhong is the time of the year to really keep our environment sanitary to avoid molds, as warm, humid, and rainy weather is the perfect combination for toxic molds to start growing. Keep houses clean and dry, and quickly patch up any areas of water leaks that may lead to mold growth. Natural products such as Tea Tree Oil and even plain white vinegar are effective anti-mold cleaning agents and people should be encouraged to make use of them! This is important for just about all our patients, but especially so for people with various environmental sensitivities, breathing difficulties, or damp patterns.

Remember, much of our treatment goes way beyond the time we spend putting in needles or writing formulas. Basic concepts of public health and hygiene are some of the most important things we can help teach our patients.

Diet for Bearded Grain

As already mentioned, the Bearded Grain seasonal node is characterized by dampness and summer’s heat, and this is especially so in parts of the world where this month is rainy season. In general, this time of year one should avoid eating too many sour foods, instead focusing on bitter flavors. For example, in China there is one type of famous tea called Qing Shan Lü Shui 青山綠水 – “Clear Mountain Green Water.” This wonderful tea from the Sichuan region is not an actual tea plant and has no caffeine.  Rather, it is the first flush of an herb called Ku Ding Cha 苦丁茶, “bitter spike tea.” The taste of the young plant is very mildly bitter at the beginning with a faint sweet aftertaste. It is the perfect damp draining and mildly cooling herb for this summer that replenishes Qi as well with a mildly sweet nature. The other side of this is that mild sour flavors are good for people who are dehydrated or who live in climates that are too dry this time of year. A simple refreshing and rehydrating drink is water with just a little lemon juice squeezed in.

Since this a hotter time of year, during the warmest days in have patients focus on mildly heat clearing and bland foods. Also eat foods that expel summerheat and nourish fluids to stop thirst. These foods include melons and fruits, leafy greens, rice, beans, and bean products (such as tofu). The foods that should be minimized in the diet include greasy foods and meats. This is the time eat more vegetarian for sure. Patients who are slightly cold or Qi deficient can eat more mildly warming fruits such as cherries, lychees, longans, coconut milk, and apricots. Patients with warm patterns can focus more on cooling fruits such as watermelon, bananas, pears, tomatoes, persimmons, and cucumbers. Balanced temperature fruits for just about everyone are pineapples, grapes, apples, peach, coconut flesh, oranges, and ginkgo nut.

Recipe for Bearded Grain – Licorice and Mung Bean Congee (Gan Cao Lü Dou Zhou 甘草綠豆粥)

Ingredients:

• Rice 150g

• Mung Beans (lü dou 綠豆) – 50g

• Chinese licorice root (gan cao 甘草) – 50g

• Rock sugar to taste

 Directions:

1. Rinse the rice and mung beans, wrap gan cao in teabag to make removing easier (optional)

2. Place gan cao in about 1750 ml (about 7 cups) of water, bring to a boil and simmer until water is a yellow color

3. Add in mung beans, bring to boil again and then simmer on low for about 40 minutes until beans soften

4. Add in rice and continue cooking for about 30 minutes until the rice starts to beak apart and mixture is the consistency of congee

5. Remove from heat, add in rock sugar to taste (optional)

This recipe aromatically opens the Stomach, strengthens the Spleen and transforms damp, and clears heat and disinhibits damp. It should be used with caution in patients with Spleen and Stomach vacuity cold, or patients with chronic diarrhea. The source text for this recipe was the Ming Dynasty encyclopedic work, the Pu Ji Fang (Prescriptions for Universal Relief).

My best wishes for everyone’s health. Stay cool and dry!

Free Introduction to Clinical Qigong coming soon!

This September I am planning on running another cohort of my Clinical Qigong online course. To give everyone an idea of what we cover I will teach a free introductory course this summer. The best part is that if you are a licensed East Asian medicine provider in the United States, you’ll get 1.5 PDA/CEU hours (NCCAOM pending) free! Stay tuned for more information on the introduction course, and if you’d like to read more about the 30 hour class please go here.

The full 30 hour course is already NCCAOM approved. To be placed on the list of potential participants for September please email me.

Beginning of Summer 立夏 Seasonal Node

This years early tree peony 牡丹花 blooms

The last few weeks have been somewhat chilly and rainy here in New Jersey, but despite that we’re seeing some really great tree peony blooms – one of my favorite parts of early May. Today through is an absolutely beautiful day with sun and temperatures in the 60s.  And, despite the recent cold temperatures, today, May 6th is the beginning of Summer in the traditional Chinese calendar, and thus the start of the Beginning of Summer (立夏 lì xià) seasonal node. By now the days are getting significantly longer, and the bursting out of life in nature is incredibly palpable (evidenced by the aforementioned tree peonies). At this point in time, even though it’s a horrible thought, in only about 6 weeks the days will start getting shorter again. Right now the Yang of the natural world is close to its fullest, and correspondingly the hexagram that represents this time of year is Qian Gua (乾卦) – six solid-Yang lines.

Summer is associated with the Fire phase, although the 4th lunar month belongs to the Spleen (the 4th month in the Chinese calendar is May, since February is the first month). This is interesting as in ancient times the Heart was associated with both the Earth phase and the Fire phase. For example, in the Shuo Wen Jie Zi, the Han Dynasty dictionary that gives the etymology of ancient characters, the definition of Heart is 人心土藏 – “human Heart, the Earth zang-viscera.” The Spleen channel also has a direct connection to the Heart Zang. Many of you who practice Tung’s acupuncture will notice that the main Heart Dao Ma group is located in the space between the Spleen and Stomach Channels; this Dao Ma group is the Zu San Tong consisting of Tong Guan 88.01, Tong Shan 88.02 and Tong Tian 88.03. In Tung’s acupuncture all of the major Heart points have some relationship with Pericardium channel, the original Heart channel from the Neijing (e.g., the Source point of Heart in the Ling Shu is Da Ling PC-7, not Shen Men HT-7). One needling technique we can use during this time of year with otherwise healthy patients is to incorporate Pericardium channel points (such as Nei Guan PC-6) or the Zu San Tong Dao Ma group into point prescriptions. These points help the body harmonize with the movement of the season right now.

This year one thing to keep in mind (for those of you on the East Coast of the US) is that the weather has been chilly, and recently more wet. Normally this is the time of rising Yang in the natural world, although I can say that it seems to be lagging behind a bit. The second chapter of the Su Wen says that when we don’t follow the guidelines of Spring then there is change to cold in the season that follows. Zhang Zhicong interprets this as the development of cold diseases (i.e., cold patterns). This is also the case though when the weather doesn’t behave – not just we humans not behaving. The continued cold and damp (both Yin evils) effectively restrict the Yang movement in our bodies. Thus, clinically I’ve been seeing a lot more joint pain, general aching, fatigue, digestive weakness, and diarrhea. For these patients consider doing moxa on points such as Zu San Li ST-36, or needling points such as Zhong Jiu Li 88.25 for general joint pain. Encourage patients to dress adequately for the weather on days where cold lingers.

To remind everyone, each of the 24 Seasonal Nodes has a traditional set of health guidelines where we should focus on certain things and avoid others. For Beginning of Summer the traditional things we focus on are preserving a good mood, nourishing the Heart, and thereby entering stillness (保持良好情緒，養心入靜). The things to avoid are allowing Heart fire to become too exuberant and intemperance in food and drink (心火過旺，飲食沒有節制).

As we just mentioned, the Heart is the fire organ. This means that occasionally it is prone to excess heat, signs of which include insomnia, irritability, dry and hard stool, red eyes, and thirst for cold beverages. One way to avoid excess Heart Fire is to dress appropriately for the warmer weather as it starts to come. Avoid strenuous work in direct midday sun, instead taking advantage of the slightly cooler temperatures in the early morning or later afternoon. Be sure to consume plenty of clear fluids such as water or herbal teas. Mint tea and chrysanthemum tea are both gently cooling to the body, and additionally they help with allergies that are so prevalent right now in northern New Jersey. These days I’m drinking my daily Pu Er tea mixed with organic Ju Hua flowers.

Another way to avoid problems of Heart Fire is closely tied in with traditional meditation and body cultivation practices (such as Neidan, or in modern terms, Qigong). Early medical texts such as the Ma Wang Dui manuscripts taught the importance of sinking the Qi down to the lower part of the body, a place in cultivation literature known as the Dan Tian (丹田; Tanden たんでん in Japanese). This idea later became vitally important in meditation schools such as those of Internal Alchemy, and then was inherited by modern Qigong practitioners. The flaring up of fire is seen to be an extremely harmful problem, and one of the main ways to counteract this is by focusing on the space in the abdomen – the Dan Tian.  This can be done during standing meditations, such as standing post (站樁), or in seated meditations (坐禪). Doing these types of practices regularly is perhaps one of the best ways to deal with the upflaring of Heart Fire. For those in New Jersey or New York, we discuss these techniques frequently in our weekly Neigong/Qigong and Taijiquan classes (and we do the same in our online pandemic Qigong classes, which are still ongoing).

Diet for Beginning of Summer

With the new seasonal node come new dietary suggestions. One of the first is to avoid intemperance in food and drink. Overeating, especially of very heavy, sweet or greasy foods, places a burden on the Spleen. Overeating these foods, and overconsumption in general, also create internal heat that can worsen Heart Fire. If patients experience digestive upset, as a temporary measure we can needle points such as Ling Gu 22.05, Si Hua Shang 77.08 and Men Jin 66.05. If there is Heart Fire bleed the ear apex.

In terms of flavors, this time of year we should focus on eating slightly more sour, a little more bitter, and light or gently cooling foods. Eating sour foods helps build fluids and blood so as to nourish the Heart, and bitter can drain fire. As heat in the environment increases it is understandably important to eat more light / fresh vegetables and other foods that will gently cool the body. Specific foods to consider this Seasonal Node include bananas, peaches, plums, umeboshi (Japanese salted plums), asparagus, cucumber and corn. Since this time of year is associated with Fire and Heart, red foods are also good to incorporate – think of strawberries, tomatoes and hawthorn berries.

It is appropriate to increase slightly intake of water or herbal teas. Patients who tend towards excess heat can drink chrysanthemum tea. Even though the beginning of Summer means more heat, some patients still may be cold and vacuous internally. Since Summer in many places also has increased environmental dampness, these people can drink a very light ginger tea or fennel seed tea, sweetened if desired local honey. Allergy sufferers (right now in New Jersey we are in the middle of a allergy season) can take mint tea with local honey, as local honey is used as a traditional allergy remedy.

Two traditional Beginning of Summer recipes are Celery Congee (芹菜粥) and Suan Zao Ren Congee (酸棗仁粥). For Celery Congee take several stalks of celery, remove the leaves, clean and cut into small pieces. Take an appropriate amount of white rice and cook in water to make a porridge (i.e., congee), and then add celery for the last 10-15 minutes of cooking. Add salt and pepper to taste. This recipe clears heat and extinguishes fire, reduces blood pressure, and eliminates vexation. However, it should be avoided by those with Spleen-Stomach vacuity cold patterns. Celery Congee can be taken daily in the morning as a warm breakfast. This recipe originally comes from the Ben Cao Gang Mu.

For the second recipe, Suan Zao Ren Congee, use about 50g of Suan Zao Ren 酸棗仁 to about 100g of white rice. Add an appropriate amount of water and boil until you have congee. At the end, add a small amount of sugar or honey to taste. This recipe can be taken as an evening snack as it can treat Heart vacuity and vexation to help sleep.

And one last recipe for Beginning of Summer…

Pickled Cold Lotus Root

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. lotus root

• 3 cups rice vinegar (or white vinegar)

• ½ cup sugar

• ½ tsp salt

• 1 small red chili pepper

Directions:

1. Peel lotus root and then slice into VERY thin slices; soak for a few minutes in a bowl of cold water with a little white vinegar to keep from discoloring

2. Slice red chili pepper in to very thin slices, or julienne; if whole pepper is not available then substitute with red pepper flakes if desired

3. Combine vinegar, sugar and salt in a small saucepan, bring to a simmer for just one minute, and stir to be sure salt and sugar have completely dissolved

4. Bring another pot of water to boil and parboil lotus root for several minutes; then drain in colander and cool with cold running water

5. Put cool lotus root and sliced chili pepper in a clean bowl and cover with the vinegar solution; cover and then refrigerate at least overnight or up to a few days before eating; to eat, remove from liquid and serve chilled

This recipe nourishes yin, clears heat, supplements vacuity and awakens the Spleen. It is good for those with poor digestion as well as those with dryness symptoms.

I hope you are all enjoying the gradually improving weather. Happy Summer!

Grain Rain 穀雨 Seasonal Node

As is typical here in New Jersey the weather has been all over the place this time of year. Today, Thursday April 20th, is the beginning of the Grain Rain (Gu Yu 穀雨) seasonal node, and it is a beautiful Spring day with temperatures in the 60s. Just a week ago though the temperatures were closer to 90 degrees, and evening temperatures in the evenings the last few days were down in the 40s. Quite a difference!

The name of this seasonal node, Grain Rain, refers to precipitation that feeds the grains and other plants readying them for harvest, allowing them to grow to their fullest.  The three smaller segments of the node are Ping shi sheng 萍始生 (Duckweed Begins to Grow), Mingjiu fu qi yu 鳴鳩拂其羽 (Cockoos Flutter Their Wings), and Daisheng jiang yu sang 戴勝降于 (Hoopoes Land on Mulberry Trees) – all images of early plant growth or increased bird activity.  

Duckweed (from Wikipedia)

Grain Rain is actually the last seasonal node of Spring since early May marks the beginning of Summer in the Chinese calendar. In only about 2 months the days start getting shorter again – so get out and enjoy the sunshine! Grain Rain is also the 6th step of the 24 seasonal nodes thus corresponding roughly to the Chen (辰) watch of the day (7-9am). It is the time of transition from Spring to Summer correlating to the Soil (i.e., Earth) phase; the Soil phase represents the transition between seasons. Thus, Gu Yu is the time of year associated with the Stomach channel. The general movement of Spring is the movement of Liver-Wood, but the Soil phase is also in charge of movement and transformation. Because of this, during Grain Rain we need to ensure that Qi and Blood are moving smoothly. Watch for signs of Qi stagnation in yourself and in your patients. This is why a good basic recommendation for this time of year is performing regular self-massage to ensure smooth circulation of Qi and Blood in the body.

One of the easiest points to massage for the average person is the collection of points known as the Shi Xuan 十宣穴. These points are located one at the tip of every finger and every toe. The word “Shi” means 10 – there is a point on each finger and toe adding up to 10 total. The word “Xuan” means to spread or diffuse. Since all the channels of the body connect to the fingers and toes, these points together spread or move all the Qi in all the channels of the body, and can be massaged as a general way to prevent and treat stagnation in the channels. To massage simply squeeze and rub the tip of each finger and toe in succession. Repeat throughout the day, but preferably at least once each morning and once each evening.

As the weather does get a bit sunnier and warmer it is good to increase outside activity – consider walking or gardening. However, since Spring is a time of temperature ups and downs (as this week attests to here!), be careful to dress appropriately as dictated by each day. This is also allergy season, for which I suggest using Tung’s Mu (木穴; 11.17) point. Located on the palmar surface of the proximal digit of the first finger, this point is also call the common cold point of the hand (手感冒穴). Since the pandemic is still here, be sure to continue hand washing and mask wearing.

Getting back to the idea of stagnation, it is vital that during Grain Rain we prevent stagnation in the Stomach (since this is the time of Stomach channel). With acupuncture treatment this means making frequent use of Men Jin (門金穴; 66.05), the Tung point overlapping the Shu-stream point of the Stomach channel. It is also important to avoid overeating or over drinking, and the overconsumption of oily and greasy foods.

During Grain Rain start eating lighter and easier to digest items and in-season vegetables such as asparagus. There are also a host of other early blooming plants that are just fantastic seasonal food. In Japan, this is the time for bamboo shoots. Known as Takenoko (竹の子) in Japanese, they are sweet and slightly bitter. Their temperature is cold and they enter the Lung, Stomach and Large Intestine. Thus, they can nourish fluids to treat dryness of the Lungs or intestines.

There are also plenty of lesser known seasonal foods local to the western world. In the Northeastern United States we are at the tail end of fiddlehead season. Fiddleheads are curled fern fronds that have a wonderful fresh flavor similar to asparagus. In Japan and China, bracken (Japanese: こごみ; Chinese: 蕨菜), another type of fern, are also eaten as local fiddleheads there. We cooked some last night in pesto with scallops and they were fantastic! Another seasonal food I’ve recently discovered is magnolia blossoms - the beautiful petals can be quick pickled (we are going to do this tonight). I’ll report back on their flavor later but I’ve heard they are gingery, meaning slightly acrid. Last are ramps, a tasty cousin of the leek, onion and garlic plants. Ramps are native to the Appalachian Mountains, north into Canada, west into Missouri and Minnesota and south to North Carolina and Tennessee. As an Allium, ramps are slightly warming, acrid and sweet – meaning they’re perfect for moving Qi in the Stomach and Liver.

Other foods to emphasize are those that boost Qi and Blood, and gently strengthen the Spleen and Stomach; the Yang of the Spleen/Stomach is still fragile now, especially since Liver-Wood can over-control Earth. These foods include rice or rice congee, Bian Dou, yams, nagaimo (i.e., Shan Yao), peanuts, and cherries (a slightly warming fruit). If you didn’t know, this is also egg season. Yes… Eggs have a season! Most chickens naturally lay eggs only when day length is about 10 hours or more (commercially grown eggs are available because farmers trick chickens with strong artificial lighting year round). One of my favorite early spring recipes is steamed asparagus with scrambled eggs – delicious and light, and good for you too!

I hope everyone is staying healthy and having a great Spring.

On the Dan Tian 丹田 (Repost)

This is a post that I originally wrote back in summer 2022.

Recently one of our new online Qigong class students posed a question about the Dan Tian. At the end of most all of our postures we do a maneuver called ‘collecting in the qi’ (my loose translation of 收功), in which, while moving the hands down in front of us and sinking, we visualize everything in the body returning down to the Dan Tian (丹田), the space in the abdomen between the navel and Ming Men (命門). As I frequently point out in class, our’s is the Neigong (i.e., Qigong) in the lineage/tradition of Hu Yaozhen (胡耀真), one of my great-grand teachers, and a key feature of this tradition is the almost constant focus on Dan Tian.

The Dan Tian, from a colorized version of the Diagram of the Inner Landscape 內經圖 found at the White Cloud Temple 白雲觀 in Beijing.

A common English translation for Dan Tian is the ‘elixir field.’ The word ‘tian’ (田) just means field. The word ‘dan’ (丹) is a bit more complicated. One meaning of the word is cinnabar, a scarlet-red mineral form of mercury sulfide (HgS) that is a common ore source used for refining pure liquid mercury. Since Daoists used mercury as one metaphor in their descriptions of the meditative processes used for transcendence or immortality (and in some unfortunately cases experimented with ingesting actual mercury while seeing the same), the term ‘dan’ became associated with the process of spiritual transformation. ‘Dan’ and the compound term ‘Dan Tian’ thus becomes a synecdoche - a stand in for the entire process of cultivation. It is the symbolic elixir that, when taken, confers a higher state. Hence, the translation of Dan Tian as ‘elixir field’ – the place that is used to create the elixir of immortality and transcendence.

In the body, the Dan Tian is conceived of as a physical location, although the physicality of Dan Tian is a topic of debate. For our purposes however, we will take it as a physical location. Properly speaking, there are three Dan Tian in the body: an upper (上丹田), middle (中丹田), and lower (下丹田). There are some slight variations on the locations of these three structures depending on the source. Most agree that the upper Dan Tian is located in the head. The middle Dan Tian is sometimes associated with the area of the chest, that location that in Chinese medicine is referred to as the Sea of Qi 氣之海 (not to be confused with the acupuncture point of the same name), or the Tan Zhong 壇中.  In Hu Yaozhen’s lineage, we located the middle Dan Tian not in the chest, but rather in the abdomen between the navel and Ming Men. Hu Yaozhen then places the lower Dan Tian at the base of the abdomen in the pelvic cavity, just above Hui Yin 會陰 – the perineum. While a large number of modern Qigong texts situate the middle Dan Tian in the chest, it is interesting to note that in some older texts it is located in the abdomen as Hu teaches. For example in the Yuji Qiqian (雲笈七籤), an anthology of the Daoist Canon written circa 1029, the middle Dan Tian is associated with the middle jiao, the abdomen, and the area ‘below the heart’ (心下).

Regardless of the variations, somewhere in the area of the abdomen seems to be the most important of the Dan Tian used in various schools of meditation, Qigong, martial arts, etc… But why is this? Why is it so important?

A large (about 4 inches from top to bottom) piece of Cinnabar ore 硃砂 in my private collection.

For Chinese medicine practitioners this is an interesting question. If we look at the earliest of Chinese medicine cannons, we can’t find the term ‘Dan Tian.’ For example, the only chapter of the Huangdi Neijing that mentions it is the Treatise on the Origin of Disease (本病論). Unfortunately, this is one of the two apocryphal chapters of the Su Wen. While it may have been in circulation for over 1000 years by now, it is most likely not original to the Han Dynasty version of the text and was not a chapter Wang Bing would have seen or worked with in writing his highly important and definitive edition of the Neijing. That said, the abdomen is an important location. Most of the Zang Fu are located there. Furthermore, highly important vessels originate in the abdomen. For example, according to the Treatise on Bone Hollows (SW60 骨空論), the Chong, Ren and Du all originate from a location in the abdomen. These are extremely important vessels, with the Ren and Du respectively being tied to the core Yin and Yang of the body. For example in the Song Dynasty text Xi Shang Fu Tan (席上腐談) the Ren and Du are called the Seas of Yin and Yang (陰陽之海). The Chong is associated with all the channels, and in the Treatise on the Seas (LS33 海倫) the Chong is said to be the Sea of the 12 Channels (衝脈者，為十二經之海) – i.e., all the channels. Clearly, even though the Dan Tian is not mentioned by name, the abdomen is tied to basically all the important structures of the body.

While the Nanjing (Classic of Difficulties) does not specifically mention the Dan Tian either, it does get a little closer in identifying the Kidneys and the Moving Qi between the Kidneys (i.e., the Ming Men) as being core aspects of our vitality. The idea of Ming Men the way we conceive of it today is absent from the Neijing, unless of course you are a creative reader in the way that Zhao Xianke was (there’s a good Chinese medicine inside reference for you!). This Moving Qi between the Kidneys, in addition to being associated with the Ming Men, have also been associated with the Dan Tian by some physicians. For example, the 66th Difficulty says that, “the Qi moving below the navel and between the Kidneys are a human’s life. They are the origin and root of the twelve channels, and thus are called source” (臍下腎間動氣者，人之生命也，十二經之根本也，故名曰原). Yang Xuancao, a commentator writing in the 7-8th c. CE said of this line that, “the Qi moving below the navel and between the Kidneys are the Dan Tian. The Dan Tian is a human’s origin and root” (臍下腎間動氣者，丹田也。丹田者，人之根本也). Yang continues with a beautiful description of the Dan Tian that is too long to quote in its entirety here, but, for example, he says that the Dan Tian is yellow in the center, green-blue on the left, white on the right, red on top, and black on the bottom. This of course is just metaphorical language that says the Dan Tian in the abdomen is connected to all of the Five Phases, and thus all the organs and all the channels.

It may very well be that this sort of medical theory that we see in the Nanjing, and not in the Neijing, arose because of the influence of people such as the inner alchemists and Daoists – an example of cultivational literature influencing medicine (we see many other examples of the opposite of course). Some of the more conservative medical commentators (i.e., the Neijing purists) have pointed this out as a criticism, and an example of adding theory to medicine that has no legitimate right being there. I’ll let my medical providing readers decide for themselves if they find these ideas relevant to their clinical practices.

Hua Tuo’s Chart of Neigong from the writings of Hu Yaozhen (who was probably the actual author of the chart). Notice the upper Dan Tian in the head, and the lower Dan Tian just above the perineum. The middle Dan Tian is located in the space level with the navel, although here called the ‘Entrance Hall’ - a Buddhist term.

Aside from our discussion of medicine, the Dan Tian is described extensively in the literature of internal alchemy and other aspects of Daoism (which in turn become some of the important sources from which Neigong/Qigong concepts of Dan Tian spring). For example, the Direct Pointers to the Great Elixir (大丹直指 DZ 244), a Quanzhen text attributed to the Daoist master Qiu Chuji (1148-1227 CE), discusses Dan Tian as a part of the process of cultivating transcendence. It says that the navel at the center of the body is the Central Palace (中宮), which it also identifies as an alternate name for the Dan Tian (但臍在人身之中，名曰中宮、命府、混沌、神室、黃庭、丹田). The Direct Pointers goes on to say that the Dan Tian stores essence and marrow, and connects the hundred channels and nourishes the entire body (此處包藏精髓，貫通百脈，滋養一身).

In Hu Yaozhen’s teaching, the meditative process of bringing attention down to the abdomen is called the Three Senses Return to the One (三性歸一). In reality the number three here is a symbol for all of the senses, not just literally three of them. By bringing the meditative focus to the interior we can induce a still calmness. I am not qualified to talk about this from a real internal alchemy or Daoist perspective, but certainly this inward focus can have a profound effect on centering the mind and pulling us back into a state of centered focus. In other words, it helps to tame the monkey mind that is our norm. Even in the clinic I will often ask patients undergoing acupuncture to simply bring their focus down to their abdomen and breathe deeply. In terms of Tung’s acupuncture this is another example of how we apply the Moving Qi (動氣) needling method that is a part of achieving De Qi (得氣 – for more on what De Qi really is please see my class on classical treatment strategies expressed in Tung’s acupuncture). But I digress…

Aside from inducing calm centeredness, the cultivation of Dan Tian, from both the alchemical and medical perspectives presented above, must also have a beneficial health effect on pretty much all the channels and organs. If the Dan Tian is connected to everything and nourishes the entire body, it means that a robust Dan Tian leads to robust health.

Hu Yaozhen may very well have focused heavily on the Dan Tian because one of his main teachers was a Daoist master and practitioner of inner alchemy by the name of Peng Tingjun (彭庭隽), and Peng in turn was a disciple of a Daoist hermit by the name of Huo Chengguang (霍成光). It is from Peng that most of Hu’s Neigong came down to us. To be honest, I think the better question is why don’t all schools of Neigong/Qigong focus more on the Dan Tian? It would seem natural to me that it be a major part of most every posture in one way or another.

I hope my short musings help stimulate more thought, as they have for me just sitting down, collecting my thoughts, and putting them to paper (or screen as the case may be). Whether you, the person reading this, are a physician, Qigong practitioner, or just someone interested in East Asian medicine or cultures, I hope thinking about the role of Dan Tian deepens your own practice.

Clinical Qigong Course Fall Semester

This week I’m teaching the last of 15 classes in our new online Clinical Qigong course. I have to say, it’s been a really fantastic class to teach, and I’m so grateful to have had a cohort of excellent students who were interested in engaging with the material over the course of a few months.

Most CEU/CME courses for practitioners of East Asian Medicine are conducted over intensive weekends. I had originally considered this model for the Clinical Qigong course, but eventually decided to offer it as a semester style course over 15 weeks. I taught a similarly organized course on Tung’s acupuncture in New York City several years ago, and in both cases I believe it allowed for a deeper integration of these practices in students’ personal lives and clinical practices.

Small class size combined with a dedicated Facebook page only for students also created what really feels like a community of practitioners. The classes were also recorded so that everyone has had, and will continue to have going forward, access to the class material. It really is my longterm goal to create greater awareness of how Qigong can be used clinically beyond the most commonly seen “external” Qi healing modalities that are usually taught.

My plan is to start a new cohort of students this fall. If anyone is interested, please contact me to be added to the list of potential students. Again, to ensure quality of teaching and engagement, class size will be limited!

Mental Wellness Online Class at ToDo Institute

Our friends at the ToDo Institute are getting ready for another really excellent month-long online course starting April 17th, this time devoted to the topic of Mental Wellness.

I've known the folks at ToDo now for probably the last 15 years, and once again they are offering a generous discount to my students and friends. If interested in the course, please use the coupon code "mccann40" to get a 40% discount on the course fee!

Here’s a bit about the class from the ToDo website. Go here or click on the photo to get more information and to register.

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A Natural Approach to Mental Wellness
with Gregg Krech

April 17 – May 17, 2023

For 30 days during this experiential program, we will explore some of the basic concepts and practices from Japanese Psychology, including coexisting with our internal experience, working with our attention, living with purpose, developing acceptance and practicing self-reflection.  Every day you will receive a practice exercise to work with that is informed by the principles of Japanese Psychology and that will help you to explore and understand the nature of this work.  .

The program is taught by Gregg Krech, Director of the ToDo Institute.  Gregg is the author of numerous books, including A Natural Approach to Mental Wellness, which is used as a text for this program.

Clear and Bright 清明 Seasonal Node

It seems that I missed blogging on the current seasonal node last year so this year I decided we had to be sure this blog post went out on time. As of today, April 5th, we entered the first node after the Equinox - Clear and Bright (Qing Ming 清明). In much of Asia this seasonal node is also a traditional holiday, – the Qing Ming Festival. In Okinawa, where I lived as a graduate student, the day is called Shimi in the local Hogen (indigenous Okinawan language). Qing Ming Festival is a time for Asians to visit graves and pay respect to the ancestors. Thus it is a time to remember the past while at the same time starting the New Year and the new Spring, showing the beautiful integration and connection between Yin and Yang in all phenomena.

At this time of year, the Northeastern US often experiences wild fluctuations of weather. Last week when I walked to my office on Thursday and Friday mornings the temperature was only 27 or 28 degrees (about -2 C). Yet, the past Saturday we got up to about 70 (20 C)! Spring and Winter, hot and cold – all seem to be locked in a battle between Yin and Yang, although we know in the fluctuations happening now the Yang, expansive movement of nature will eventually win.

Rainbow (image from Wikipedia)

The three smaller segments of Clear and Bright are Tong shi hua 桐始華 (Tung Trees Begin to Blossom), Tianshu hua wei ru 田鼠化為鴽 (Field Voles Transform into Quails), Hong shi jian 虹始見 (Rainbows Begin to Appear). The first of these invokes the image of blossoming trees, as this is also the time for cherry and plum blossoms as early signs of plant life returning.  In Japan, the first two of these smaller segments are different and are called 玄鳥至 Tsubame kitaru (Swallows Return) and 鴻雁北 Kōgan kaeru (Geese Fly North).  Here of course we have the images of migratory birds returning, also signaling the change of season.

When looking at health and the season, the main idea of Clear and Bright starts with paying attention to the Liver Yang. Liver, the internal viscera of the Wood Phase, is associated with Spring. Yang means several things. First, it is the upward and outward expansion of Qi in the body. Yang is also internal Qi movement and coursing. Lastly Yang means internal heat. All of these aspects of Yang are important for understanding our health during Clear and Bright.

As I mentioned before, the last few weeks in New Jersey have seen dramatic ups and downs in temperatures and weather patterns. Every morning when I wake up I’m thinking the weather should be warmer, but early morning can still be quite chilly. Not surprisingly then, the first “to do” during Clear and Bright is to protect warmth in the body (bao nuan 保暖).  Spring is the time of growing Yang, and we don’t want to do anything that damages that internal warming Qi. The second chapter of the Su Wen admonishes us that if we don’t take care in Spring, then cold disease will arise in the Summer that follows. Since during the next few weeks temperatures will continue to fluctuate up and down, be sure to dress appropriately for the day, and not to think that just because it’s supposed to be Spring, that every day will be warm enough for light clothing.

The second “to do” during Clear and Bright is be active in outdoor activities or exercise. With the continued growth of Yang in the natural world, it is important to increase physical activity. Again, the second chapter of the Su Wen tells us that in Spring we should be sure to “move around throughout the courtyard with leisurely strides” (廣步於庭). The Wood phase and the Liver are responsible for the smooth circulation of Qi in the body, and similarly during Spring we should be sure to keep our bodies moving. Of course, exercise doesn’t have to be intense to be effective. Suggest to patients that just getting outside to do light yard work or gardening is a great idea. Practicing Taiji or Qigong outside is also appropriate.

One of the Nourishing Life exercises that is suitable during Clear and Bright is pressing and rotating Shen Que REN-8 (i.e., the navel). Shen Que is an important area on the body as the abdomen is the location of many important internal organs. Likewise, it is the location where some of the most important channels in the body originate – the Ren, the Du and the Chong. In Chinese these three extraordinary vessels are said to have “one origin and three branches.” For this exercise first rub hands together vigorously to warm them. Then place the warmed hands over the navel and slowly, with moderate pressure, rotate 50 times in a circle one direction, then 50 times in the other direction. Shen Que rotation helps warm the center and expel cold and is especially appropriate for patients who are cold and depleted, and for patients with clear nasal discharge such as seasonal allergies. Also, think of doing moxibusion at Shen Que for patients who are particularly or chronically depleted.

The flip side of this is to be cautious of patients with uprising Liver yang patterns, or patterns of internal wind, and thus Clear and Bright is the time to guard against hypertension in those prone to this condition. These patients should be counseled to get more exercise, and this is an effective adjunct therapy for hypertension.

The “avoids” for Clear and Bright are mainly related to diet. First, Chinese medicine recommends that we avoid very acrid and spicy foods. While somewhat acrid foods and herbs are appropriate to Spring (such as leeks or scallions), overly spicy foods may potentially either stir internal Yang or dissipate internal Qi. The second type of food to avoid is very sour or greasy foods. Both sour and greasy foods create stagnation, and thus inhibit the normal coursing of Qi. Since Spring is the time of Wood-Liver, it is important to keep Qi moving internally.

In general, the diet for Clear and Bright should reflect the name of the seasonal node. Light and clear foods that neither block the Qi mechanism nor overly stimulate it are appropriate. Gentle movement and easy to digest should be the focus. As more vegetables become available, patients should increase consumption of fresh produce. Traditionally this is the time for greens such as spinach and mustard greens. In the west certainly April is the season for fresh asparagus. All of these vegetables are beneficial to the Liver.

Another common issue for this time of year is the beginning of seasonal allergy symptoms. Nearly every day now in my clinic for the last week or so I hear people sneezing and blowing their noses.  Thus, for this seasonal node we can consider acupuncture that treats or prevents this. One of my most commonly used points for seasonal allergies that manifest with sinus congestion, itchy or irritated eyes, red eyes, etc… is Mu 11.17 (木穴). Located on the palmar surface of the first finger, this point is associated with the Lung and exterior, but in particular with external wind – hence the name Mu, which means “Wood” (wind corresponds to Wood phase). If necessary, people that suffer from vacuity patterns making them more susceptible to allergies can also be needled at Si Hua Shang 77.08 (i.e., Zu San Li ST-36).

In addition to acupuncture that treats allergies, this is the time of the year for basic formulas like Cang Er Zi San. Patients who are somewhat Qi deficient as well leading to being prone to allergies can try making Jade Screen Chicken at home.

Jade Screen Chicken – Yu Ping Ji 玉屏雞

Ingredients:

• 1 whole chicken (about 2 lbs.)

• Huang Qi 60g

• Bai Zhu 20g

• Fang Feng 20g

• Salt and pepper to taste

 Directions:

1. Rinse and clean chicken

2. Take herbs and stuff inside, close chicken to retain herbs inside the cavity

3. Place chicken in a slow cooker and cover with water, allow chicken to cook until done

This can take a long time to cook in a slow cooker, but I think it will yield the best results. I suggest this be set up overnight and put on the low temperature setting. By lunch the next day it should be done as cooking can take 8 hours or more. Other vegetables can be added to this soup as desired. Patients can both consume the meat as well as drink the resulting broth. Season with salt and pepper to taste. The recipe helps nourish Qi, secure the exterior and expel cold.

Herbal Formulas for Spring

Lately I’ve been spending time reading a text called the Zun Sheng Ba Jian (遵生八箋) – the Eight Treatises on Following the Principles of Life. Written by a scholar by the name of Gao Lian at the end of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the text is an almost encyclopedic collection of all manner of Nourishing Life (養生) recipes, techniques, theories, etc… One section discusses seasonal health, and includes commonly used seasonal recipes, such as this one for Spring:

Chrysanthemum Powder 菊花散

• Ingredients: Ju Hua, Qian Hu, Xuan Fu Hua, Bai Shao, Xuan Shen, Fang Feng; each 30g

• Instructions: Grind all ingredients to a fine powder. Take 6-9g of the powder as a dose, consumed with wine (i.e., alcohol). For those sensitive to alcohol take with thin congee, or hot water.

• Comments: The original text says this formula is good for elderly people to use in Spring, and can treat wind and heat patterns in the upper body, neck pain, headache, swollen face, and red and irritated eyes. Sure sounds like allergy symptoms to me! In this formula the Ju Hua, Qian Hu, and Fang Feng treat the exterior. Xuan Fu Hua directs Qi downwards as well as assists in treating the exterior. The last two medicinals, Bai Shao and Xuan Shen, nourish the Yin and Blood, and Xuan Shen also assists in treating red and swollen eyes. So, give this formula a try when it seems appropriate.

Happy Spring everyone! 

Vernal Equinox 春分 Seasonal Node

Today, Monday March 20th is the Vernal Equinox. At exactly 5:24pm Eastern Time the sun will be at an exact vertical angle to the equator. Over the next few months the sun will continue angling more and more towards the Tropic of Cancer meaning the days for us in the Northern Hemisphere will continue lengthening until reaching an apex at the Summer Solstice. Because of the time difference between China and the United States, tomorrow will be the beginning of the next Seasonal Node, also named Vernal Equinox.

At this point, in the Chinese calendar we are in the middle of Spring, but in the western calendar we celebrate Vernal Equinox as the beginning of Spring. In Persia this day was traditionally revered as the beginning of the year (called Nowruz), and Rosicrucian mystics count Vernal Equinox as the New Year as well. Why then does the Chinese calendar regard Vernal Equinox as the midpoint of Spring? Because we are now at the balance point of Yin and Yang. If the height of Yang is the longest day (Summer Solstice), and the height of Yin is the longest night (Winter Solstice), then the midpoints and thus points of balance are the Equinoxes. Even though the weather is still cold (this morning when I let my dog out there was till frost on the ground), the gradual awakening of all life in nature is clear.

 The three 5-day periods in this seasonal node are Swallows Arrive (xuanniao zhi 玄鳥至), Thunder Starts Resounding (lei nai fasheng 雷乃發聲), and Beginning of Lightning (shi dian 始電). In Yijing (I Ching) theory the Thunder Trigram (Zhen Gua 震掛) is a Wood trigram, linking thunder and lightning, yang activities of the heavens, with Spring. Zhen Gua is composed of one solid yang line on the bottom, with 2 yin (broken) lines above. This is the image of Yang emerging from underneath, continuing to grow up and out. Spring is exactly that time of year – the time when Yang of the natural world is slowly starting to push itself up and out of the Yin of Winter.

The main thing to focus on during this 15-day period is “Nourishing the Liver” (yang gan 養肝). One of the ways we nourish the Liver is to ensure normal Liver function. For example, this is the time of year to really ensure our patients' Qi is freely coursing (one of the main functions of Liver is to ensure normal coursing of Qi). The second “to do” during this time is to “both Clear and Supplement.” This means that when the Liver is hot or hyperactive, clear and sedate. When it is vacuous (e.g., has Blood vacuity), then supplement. Since any pattern of disharmony in Liver will impair some of its major functions, when we see Liver patterns during this seasonal node they must be treated. That said, this year, at least here where I am located, the weather is still chilly, especially in the mornings. As such we may have to protect the warm-Yang in the body at the same time we clear Liver or supplement the Yin-Blood. A beautiful example of this is harmonizing formulas such as Xiao Chai Hu Tang, or even Xiao Yao Wan. Both contain herbs that strengthen and supplement (e.g., Ren Shen, Bai Zhu) alongside herbs that course or clear Liver. We can also consider giving our vacuous patients pill-form warming and supplementing formulas together with powders or decoctions that have a more Liver coursing or clearing function.

As mentioned already, the Vernal Equinox is the time of balanced Yin and Yang. It is appropriate at this time to also have balanced mind states. Thus, one of the “avoids” during the Vernal Equinox is extremes of the Seven Affects. Chapter two of the Su Wen says that Spring is the time to not be angry. We should try to relax, and not allow our emotions to run too far in any direction. The second thing to avoid during this seasonal node is overdoing “bedroom activity.” Since sex stirs the Yang to mobilize Jing-essence, to keep an overall balance in health we need to seek a balance in sex. As this time of year is a time of balance, too much sex may deplete the Yin-Jing. That said, no sex at all can lead to stagnation in the circulation of Qi and Blood.

Diet for Vernal Equinox

Diet for the Vernal equinox should mimic the balance that is present in nature at this time. In general, the continued use of mildly acrid foods such as ginger and scallions help ensures normal coursing of Liver qi. This is especially useful for patients with Liver depression patterns. Patients who tend more towards vacuity patterns, especially Liver blood insufficiency, can increase consumption of sour foods such as pickles or vinegar. This year since the weather is cold though, we should continue to eat slightly warming foods. However, it is best to avoid very greasy or cloying warm foods (such as an overconsumption of very fatty meats), or very salty meals. While saltier and slightly greasier are ok in the cold of Winter, right now in Spring we need to be concerned with the normal and smooth movement of Qi and Blood in the body. The basic combination then is warming and acrid, such as the aforementioned ginger.

A simple tea most patients can consume during this time is rose bud tea. This tea is made by steeping Mei Gui Hua 玫瑰花 in hot water. Mei Gui Hua is warm and sweet and is found in the Qi regulating chapter of the Materia Medica. It courses Liver as well as gently quickens the blood. It is especially useful for our female patients who have menstrual irregularities due to Liver stagnation. In the Baijiquan 八極拳 system of Chinese marital arts, Mei Gui Hua tea is used as a general Qi and Blood moving tea for injury. For patients who suffer from more internal cold, Mei Gui Hua can be combined with Gui Zhi (cinnamon twig) or Sheng Jiang (fresh ginger).  

One traditional dish for Vernal Equinox is Stir Fried Pig Kidney with Eucommia (杜仲豬花). Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients:

• Organic pig kidney ¾ to 1 lb

• Eucommia bark (Du Zhong 杜仲) 6-9g

• 1 scallion, 1 piece of ginger (about the size of your thumb or a little larger), 1-2 cloves of garlic

• Cooking oil, salt, soy sauce

 Cooking Instructions:

1. Cook Du Zhong in about 1 cup of water by bringing to a boil and then simmering until only about ½ cup of liquid is left

2. Cut kidneys into thin slices and then score one side of each slice; peel and slice the ginger, slice the garlic, and slice the scallion

3. In a pan, add a small amount of cooling oil, and start by cooking the garlic and ginger just until fragrant and / or the garlic is transparent. Add in the kidney slices and cook for several minutes. Then add a small amount of salt and soy sauce.

4. Add in the Du Zhong liquid, and cook down in the pan with the kidney. Add scallions. Cook until kidneys are thoroughly cooked through.

5. Optionally can add Gou Qi Zi (i.e., Goji berries) at end as well before liquid has cooked down, cooking until slightly plump.

This recipe supplements the Kidney, boosts essence, and nourishes the Liver blood. It is good for lower back pain, knee pain, declining visual acuity, or other symptoms of Liver and Kidney vacuity. Because it is warming it is especially useful this year!

Acupuncture for Equinox

When considering acupuncture recommendations, first we should think about how Wood phase (for Spring) is functioning in our patients. Ideally, we should all be in a state of balance, neither in a state of insufficiency nor of repletion. Relative repletion, especially during the time of transition into warmer weather, frequently manifests as stasis. This is because the Qi of the body, as the time of year is becoming more Yang, wants to move. But since cold weather is still lingering, Qi has trouble moving and stagnation is the result. Another possible reason for stagnation is a failure to increase physical movement this time of year. If this is the case then points that course Qi and Blood throughout the body should be chosen. My recommendation is to consider the Metacarpal Three Needles (掌三針) consisting of Ling Gu 22.05, Da Bai 22.04 and Zhong Kui. On the lower extremities we can add Ren Huang 77.21. If the repletion also manifests with some internal heat, consider bleeding the apex of the ear. 

The opposite situation is having a patient with insufficiency of Wood, either in the case of Liver Vacuity (especially patterns of Liver Blood vacuity), or of general vacuity of the Yang. For Liver vacuity we can consider points such as the Upper Three Yellows (上三黃; 88.12, 13, 14). Alternately, we can choose the Lower Three Emperors (下三皇; 77.17, 19, 21), one main Dao Ma group for the Kidney. Why the Kidney Dao Ma group? Because strengthening Water-Kidney automatically strengthens Wood-Liver because of the Five Phase engendering cycle relationship.

I hope everyone will have a great Equinox!  

Awakening of Insects 驚蟄 Seasonal Node

I’ve just returned on the red-eye from a great teaching trip to Portland where we had a great weekend with the advanced practice doctoral students at my alma mater, the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine. It’s morning now on the East Coast and just outside my window as I write, I see buds on many of the plants. I also just got an email from one of the gardens I get seeds and seedlings for the Chinese herbs that I grow. Life is bursting out all over in the natural world, and rightly so since we are starting the next segment of Spring today, Monday March 6th – the Awakening of Insects seasonal node (jing zhe 驚蟄).

Awakening of Insects is the third node of Spring, and thus also of the year in the traditional Chinese calendar. In China the three 5-day periods in this seasonal node are Peach Trees Begin to Blossom (tao shi hua 桃始華), Orioles Sing (canggeng ming 倉庚鳴), and Hawks Transform into Cuckcoos (ying hua weijiu 鷹化爲鳩). The Japanese versions of these smaller segments are Hibernating Insects Come Out (蟄虫啓戸 sugomori mushito o hiraku), Peach Trees Begin to Blossom (桃始笑 momo hajimete saku), and Caterpillars Transform to Butterflies (菜虫化蝶 namushi chō to naru).

The first ‘to do’ for this period of time is to guard and protect the Yang qi. Even though we are in Spring, cold can linger this early part of the season and temperatures will continue to fluctuate from day to day. Be sure to dress appropriately for the weather, and perhaps travel with layers so as to neither overheat nor be chilled. As Yang qi continues to grow in the natural environment, now is the time to start doing more gentle exercise. This recommendation comes from the second chapter of the Neijing Su Wen, the The Great Treatise on Regulating the Spirit with the Four Seasons (Si Qi Tiao Shen Da Lun). There Qi Bo recommends that during Spring we should “upon waking take a walk in the courtyard, loosen the hair and relax the body, thus focusing the will on life.” Movement, especially in the morning, is a Yang activity. The Neijing recommends that “in Spring and Summer nourish Yang, and in Autumn and Winter nourish Yin (春夏養陽，秋冬養陰).”

The ‘to avoid’ during Awakening of Insects is undo stress and strain. As Chinese medicine practitioners we all know the mental pattern associated with Wood phase, and thus Spring, is anger. Patients who are prone to Liver depression or Liver repletion patterns should be monitored during this time period to be sure qi is circulating smoothly. This is the time when formulas in the Chai Hu family are appropriate for many people. For patients prone to resentment, frustration or anger, contemplative practices such as Japanese Naikan are appropriate.

Diet for this time of year should help protect the Yang qi as well. I generally recommend that people eat warming foods such as leeks, chives, and scallions. Likewise, it is appropriate to drink a little alcohol, provided the patient does not have specific sensitivities, morbidities, or medications that require abstinence. All of these foods, including alcohol, are warm and acrid, and thus course and warm the qi. I also suggest that everyone consume slightly more white noodles. In general, wheat husk (bran) is cooling, while the endosperm (inner white portion) is warming. White noodles, especially in soups, have the function of warming and supplementing the qi.

One traditional dish for Awakening of Insects is Schizonepeta and Mint Congee (荊芥薄荷粥). Congees are simply rice porridges. To make this congee start with 10g Jing Jie, 6g Bo He, and 10g Dan Dou Chi. First, place the Dan Dou Chi in about 5 cups of water, bring to a boil and simmer on low for 30 minutes. Then, add the Jing Jie and Bo He, simmering only for 5 minutes. After this, strain out the herbs and retain the liquid. Place the liquid back in the pot and bring to a simmer again. Lastly, add in about ½ cup of rice and cook until the rice breaks apart and becomes porridge-like (this can take 30-45 more minutes of cooking). Add in extra hot water as necessary if the congee becomes too thick. Schizonepeta and Mint Congee expels wind, resoles the surface, clears heat and eliminates toxins. It is useful for treating early stage colds, seasonal allergies, or just as a daily early Spring food.

The last recommendation I’ll offer for Awakening of Insects is the traditional Chinese practice of Pai Da – stimulating acupuncture points and channels by patting. As mentioned above, Spring is the time to increase movement. Liver (the organ of Spring) ensures the free coursing of Qi and Blood in the body. Thus, any exercise or practice that opens and circulates the channels of the body will have a beneficial effect on the Liver. One basic Pai Da technique is to use the hands held in loose fists to pat acupuncture points on the upper limbs. Start by patting the shoulders – the area of Jian Jing GB-21. Alternate right and left while patting. Then, continue with patting the sides of the elbows at Qu Chi LI-11. Finish with tapping the He Gu LI-4 area. For the lower extremities start with tapping at Huan Tiao GB-30, moving down then to Zu San Li ST-36, and finally Cheng Shan BL-57. For the lower extremities, both sides of the body can be tapped at the same time.

In the Hunyuan system of Qigong and Taiji I teach there is also a much more involved set of exercises that incorporate Paida. In this series we have a standing and moving posture for each of the 12 primary channels as well as some of the extraordinary vessels. Then, in addition to the postures, we use a special sack filled with rice and a Daoist lineage herbal formula that contains herbs to move Qi and soften the sinews (for example, the formula contains Ji Xue Teng and Shen Jin Cao); this sack is used to pat and tap along the channels. The combination of physical movement, breathing, visualization, and then mechanical stimulation of the channels is a very effective way of moving the Qi and Blood internally to balance the channel system. This is something we cover extensively in our newly created Clinical Qigong course for East Asian Medicine practitioners. Our current cohort is underway, but those interested in taking this class in the future can let me know and I’ll add you to our potential student list. The next cohort will most likely start in the Fall.

In just a few weeks we reach the Vernal Equinox, and I’ll be writing about that soon!

Rain Water 雨水 Seasonal Node

Today, Monday February 20th, is the beginning of the second seasonal node of the new-year and the new Spring – 雨水 Yu Shui, “Rain Water.”  Here in northern New Jersey we’ve been having a relatively mild February, and the weather today feels somewhat damp outside – right on time for the current node. We are also seeing some buds on trees and early blooming flowering bulbs.

As the next step of Spring, during Rain Water the expansion of Yang in the natural environment continues. So, while days can still be chilly, we are getting more and more light, and seeing plants budding and migratory birds on the wing. The three smaller periods of Rain Water are “Otters Sacrifice Fish” (ta ji yu 獺祭魚), “Swan Geese Appear” (hong yan lai 鴻雁來), and “Vegetation Sprouts” (caomu mengdong 草木萌動). The swan goose is a rare large goose native to northern China. While we don’t have them here in the US, we do have other species of geese, and here in New Jersey we are seeing flocks of geese flying north again heralding the warmer Spring weather to come. The Japanese versions of these smaller nodes are different: Rain Moistens the Soil (土脉潤起 tsuchi no shō uruoi okoru), Dew Begins Lingering (霞始靆 kasumi hajimete tanabiku), and Grass Sprouts, Trees Bud (草木萌動 sōmoku mebae izuru).

One of the statements in Chinese related to Rain Water says, “Yu shui lai lin shi qi zhong, dang xin pi wei shou shang hai” 雨水來臨濕氣重，當心脾胃受傷害 – “as Rain Water arrives damp qi is heavy, be careful not to damage the Spleen and Stomach.” When walking around outside, I’m struck by a palpable shift. On slightly warmer days, the ground is becoming moist with the release of water that was trapped in frozen form. This increased dampness outside in nature is attested to by my dog’s muddy paws as we come back in after evening walks. The point Xuan Shu DU-5 (懸樞穴) is located at L1, the vertebra associated with Rain Water. While this point treats the spine as a local or adjacent treatment, one of the other most important classical indications for Xuan Shu is undigested food in the stool. This point, located at the vertebra associated with Rain Water, thus treats manifestations of vacuity in the middle jiao, the very thing we need to be wary of this Seasonal Node. Thus, needling or applying moxa at this point is appropriate in the clinic during this time.

The basic “to do” recommendation for Rain Water is to supplement the Kidney and strengthen the Spleen. We do this because the weather is still chilly and can tax the Kidney as the viscera of cold and Winter. In addition we need to protect the Spleen because of increased environmental dampness. At the same time, the Spleen is the viscera associated with transformation and transition, and even though we are in Spring we are in a period of weather transition. Thus, another reason Xuan Shu is important this time of year is because, in addition to its ability to supplement the middle jiao, being a point on the lower portion of the Du Mai it also can strengthen the Kidney.

Other points to consider in the clinic are Si Hua Shang 77.08 (i.e., Zu San Li ST36) in combination with Ling Gu 22.05 and Da Bai 22.04. Ling Gu and Da Bai have the ability to course Qi and Blood, regulate the Kidney (because of the connection between the Large Intestine and Kidney channels mediated through relationships on the diurnal circulation of Qi through the channels), and expel external cold. Si Hua Shang supplements the middle burner, especially when treated with direct moxibustion.

The second “to do” for Rain Water is eat congee! Honestly, is there a season when congee is bad? For those not in the know, congee is a type of rice porridge or soup (depending on how thickly you prepare it). And why eat congee now? Because it dovetails with the other recommendations for Rain Water. First, congee is warming and supplements the Spleen. Furthermore, congee is mildly damp draining so it protects the body against the increase in dampness in the environment. Congee is incredibly easy to make, and in China it is a common breakfast or brunch food. People of all levels of health can benefit from being taught to make and eat congee.

The base recipe for congee is to add 1 part rice to 6 to 10 parts water. For example, we can cook ½ cup rice in 5 cups of water. This is cooked until the rice basically starts falling apart so that the resulting product is creamy white. Depending on the type of rice you use, this can take anywhere form 45 minutes to 2 hours of cooking. What I do at home and what I recommend to patients is that they put all the ingredients into a slow cooker overnight on low heat, and by morning perfect congee is done.

Just about any ingredient can be added into this basic congee. For patients with weak Spleens and damp accumulation, a basic congee starts with rice as described above. After that, add in several slices of fresh ginger, a handful of Yi Yi Ren 薏苡仁, and several Dang Shen 黨蔘 roots. Season with soy sauce to taste when finished. This basic Spleen-strengthening and damp-percolating dish can be eaten daily for breakfast.

During Rain Water, since it is a time period of early spring, we also need to stay warm and guard against Wind. As such, the basic “avoid” during Rain Water is “don’t rush to put away winter clothes.” The northeastern US is slowly starting to warm. But, we are early enough in the year that we will see more cold, and the increased dampness in the environment makes the temperature feel a little chillier than it actually may be. Stay warm, and remember to use moxabustion as necessary on yourself and on your patients.

Here is a basic tea recipe associated with the current seasonal node. Its function is to warm and resolve the exterior, strengthen the Spleen, and guard against Wind.

Five Sprits Tea (Wu Shen Tang 五神湯)

Jing Jie 荊芥

Ingredients:

• Jing Jie 荊芥 9g

• Zi Su Ye 紫蘇葉 9g

• Sheng Jiang (i.e., fresh ginger root) 生薑 9g

• Tealeaf (green or oolong) 6g

• Brown sugar 30g

 Directions:

1. Place the herbs in a pot with 3 cups of cold water. Let soak for several minutes.

2. Bring water and herbs to a rapid boil over a high flame. Then, reduce and simmer for 10 minutes uncovered.

3. Strain out herbs and add in the tealeaf, letting the tea steep in the hot liquid for several minutes.

4. Strain out the tea. Stir in brown sugar and drink warm throughout the day. Molasses or honey can be substituted for brown sugar (use to taste).

Here’s another recipe, this time a soup…

Job’s Tear and Lily Pork Soup (Yi Mi Bai He Shou Rou Tang)

薏米百合瘦肉湯

Ingredients:

• ½ lb. lean pork

• 1 large carrot

• 1 oz. Job’s Tear barley 薏苡仁

• 1 oz. Lily Bulb herb 百合

• ¼ cup (or a little more) of corn (or about ½ ear fresh corn)

• Ginger

• Salt

Directions:

1. Rinse Job’s Tear and Lily Bulb; place in a pan with about 4 cups of water and bring to a boil, then simmer for about 30 minutes on low heat

2. While cooking, prepare other ingredients by cutting up carrot and pork into bite-sized chunks; remove corn from cob if using fresh corn; peel and slice ginger (an appropriate amount to taste)

3. Add carrot, pork and ginger to the soup (add a little more water if necessary); simmer on very low heat for about 2 hours; add salt to taste

This recipe removes phlegm, strengthens the Lungs, expels dampness and opens the Spleen. Moreover, this is a light soup that won’t create internal dampness or damage the digestive function. It is also not overly warming.

Happy February!

Upcoming Taking Action Course with ToDo Institute

This month, starting February 18th, the ToDo Institute is running another excellent online course based on the principles of Japanese psychology. February’s focus will be on the Art of Taking Action, and again they’ve offered my readers, friends and colleagues 40% off the course tuition, which is already really low for a month-long course. As I mentioned before, I get no compensation for helping ToDo advertise, I just think they’re great! Consider joining in, and please use the discount code McCann when registering.

This is a link to go to their course website.

Last Day of Winter 節分 and Beginning of Spring 立春

Japanese Oni (鬼、おに)

Today, February 3, 2023, is a special day in the traditional Japanese calendar – Setsubun (節分　― せつぶん). The word “setsubun” literally means the seasonal division, and refers to the last day of Winter. On this day in Japan, many people engage in practices that had their origin in Chinese exorcistic rituals, purging negative entities in preparation for the beginning of Spring the day after. One of the most common rituals is known as mamemaki 豆撒き, or the scattering of toasted soybeans.

During this ritual, people will throw toasted soybeans out their front door while saying, Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi! 鬼は外! 福は内!, or, “demons out and luck in!” In essence, this is a method of purging the negative Yin of the Winter and the old year (since the beginning of Spring is the new year in East Asian calendars), while welcoming in the nascent Yang of the new season.  

If today is Setsubun, the last day of Winter, then tomorrow is the Beginning of Spring 立春, and the start of the Beginning of Spring Seasonal Node. Remember, while modern westerners are accustomed to placing the beginning of Spring in March, the Chinese calendar marks seasonal change by position of the sun and relative daylight. As the days are now getting longer, we are in the time of everything waking from Winter’s slumber. The darkest and longest nights are now 6 weeks behind us, and in only another 6 weeks we will be at the Equinox – halfway to when the days will get shorter again.

The Chinese use both a lunar and a solar calendar to mark time, and because of this there are two dates that are considered the beginning of Spring. One is called Li Chun (立春) – the “Beginning of Spring,” which is one of the twenty four seasonal nodes. The solar beginning of Spring happens every year in early February and this year it starts tomorrow (February 4th). The other beginning of Spring is the lunar, also known as Chun Jie (春節), the Spring Festival. This day is the Chinese Lunar New Year, and it falls on the second new moon following the Winter Solstice (with the rare possibility of it falling on the third new moon in some years with an intercalary month). The Lunar New Year is one of the most important traditional holidays in China, and is a time for people to visit with family and friends.  The lunar festivals traditionally last about 2 weeks until the full moon. This year the Lunar new year happened on January 22nd.

During the Beginning of Spring seasonal node the Yang influences are growing in the natural world. As mentioned already, we are only about 6 weeks away from the Vernal Equinox (Chun Fen 春分), one of the two times of year when the Yang and Yin are most balanced and we have more equal day and night. Even with cooler weather lingering the days are getting longer and in northern New Jersey where I am, in the morning I am hearing some songbirds starting to return.  The increased activity in the natural world is also reflected in the names of the shorter 5 day segments (the 72 Material Manifestations of the year) that make up Beginning of Spring – Dong Feng Jie Dong 東風解凍 (The East Wind Liberates From Icy Shackles), Zhe Chong Shi Zhen 蟄蟲始振 (Hibernating Insects Begin to Stir), and Yu Shang Bing 魚上冰 (Fish Rise Up to the Ice).

Spring is the time associated with the Wood phase and the Liver, and the Liver is a Yang viscera (with Heart being the other Yang viscera). A traditional saying for Beginning of Spring is “Li chun yang gan shun tian shi, qu chu ji bing bao jian kang” – “At the beginning of Spring nourishing the Liver means to following the timing of Heaven, expel and rid yourself of disease and protect your health.” Diet recommendations at the Beginning of Spring then are designed to help and nourish Liver.

As a general rule this is the time to consume foods that help maintain normal Liver function, especially the Yang of Liver. Since the Liver governs free coursing, eating mildly acrid and warm foods will support this function. For example, appropriate foods this time of year include scallions, leeks, chives, cilantro, and garlic.  Here is another phrase for this time of year: “Duo chi jiu cai chao rou si, yang hu gan yang zhu sheng fa” – “Eat a lot of leeks and pork to nourish and protect the Liver yang and develop the nature of birth.”  In the Huang Di Nei Jing the Spring is associated with the term sheng 生 or “birth.” This is the same sheng as in, for example, Sheng Jiang 生薑 – fresh (or living) ginger. Tung recommended eating beef stewed with garlic for the treatment of Liver Vacuity (Tung, 1973). While he didn’t mention it specifically for Beginning of Spring, we can say that this recipe is perfect for the warming and strengthening of the Liver Yang that is now appropriate.

Patients with chronic Liver fire should take care this seasonal node as Yang is on the rise everywhere. A traditional Beginning of Spring drink for these patients is Yin Chen Da Zao Tang. For this drink take 20g of Yin Chen Hao and 30g of Da Zao. Place in a pot with about 2 ½ cups water. Bring to a rapid boil then reduce and simmer for 30 minutes. Separate into 2 doses and drink in the morning and evening. This formula benefits qi, generates fluids, and protects the Liver. In the clinic we can mimic this basic formula with points such as Mu Yan 11.20 or Gan Men 33.11.

One more traditional dish for Beginning of Spring is Pork Bone Red Date Soup. Yes, even before bone broth became the latest health trend here in the US, it was considered an important food for health the world around. This dish can be taken daily; it builds blood, warms the interior without being too warming or drying, and can be taken both to prevent and treat colds.

Pork Bone Red Date Soup 豬骨紅棗湯

Ingredients:

• Pork bone, about 3 lbs

• Chinese dried red dates (Hong Zao, or Da Zao), about 6 pieces

• Ginger

• 1 Large scallion white

• Salt

Instructions:

1. Place washed pork bones into a slow cooker and add enough water to cover bones (about 2 quarts)

2. Cut ginger and scallion into large pieces, place in slow cooker with bones; add dates as well to slow cooker

3. Cook on low for 8 hours or more (the prep can be done in the evening and left to cook overnight)

4. Drink broth daily

Other vegetables or ingredients can be added to this soup as desired. To read more about general Spring health care please click here.

Happy Spring and happy year of the Water Rabbit!

Happy Year of the Water Rabbit!

I want to wish everyone a very happy, healthy and prosperous year of the Water Rabbit!