Just recently a study was published in the Frontiers in Human Neuroscience journal that looked at self-reported inattention and Taiji (T'ai Chi) practice. Taiji training involves mindful attention to the body, and researchers surmised this could help young adults with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Results were very positive, and according to study authors suggest that "[Taiji] training may help improve attention in healthy young adults." To read the original study please click here.
Rain Water 雨水 Seasonal Node
Wednesday February 19, 2014 marks the second seasonal node of the new-year and the new Spring – 雨水 Yu Shui, “Rain Water.” During Rain Water the birth of Yang in the natural environment continues. In addition to the 24 Seasonal Nodes that we have been mentioning, each of the 24 periods can be further broken down into 3 five-day periods (making up the 72 Manifestations of the year in total). The 3 periods of Rain Water are “Otters Sacrifice Fish” (tai ji yu), “Swan Geese Appear” (hong yan lai), and “Vegetation Sprouts” (caomu mengdong). 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. Interestingly, this past weekend, I saw a small flock of geese flying north again!
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” – “as Rain Water arrives damp qi is heavy, be careful not to damage the Spleen and Stomach.” Walking around outside (between the piles of white), I’m struck by this change in the environment. With all the heavy snow we’ve been having, there is a lot more dampness in the environment compared with earlier in January and December. One of the problems of early Winter is not only cold, but also the real dryness in the environment. And now, that is shifting.
This brings us to some of the basic “to do” recommendations for the Rain Water period of time. First is to supplement the Kidney and strengthen the Spleen. We do this because the weather is still cold. Along these lines the basic “avoid” during Rain Water is “don’t rush to put away winter clothes.” The northeast US is still really cold. Later this week may be promising with a mild warming trend. But, it looks like the cold is not completely over. So, the recommendation to not rush to put away winter clothes is spot on! Even though we will soon see some warming outside, and even though in the Chinese calendar we have passed the beginning of Spring, be cautious to protect yourself against the cold. Stay warm, and remember to use moxabustion as necessary.
The second “to do” for Rain Water is eat congee! Congee is basically rice porridge or soup (depending on how thickly you prepare it). Why eat congee? 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 natural 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.
For more information on congees, moxibustion, or simply staying healthy from season to season, contact us.
Henry McCann
Tai Chi/Qigong in Multiple Sclerosis
Tai Chi (Taijiquan 太極拳) is certainly popular these days. It is a form of internal martial arts that represents perhaps one of the pinnacles of Chinese martial sciences. Today however most of the time it is taught and practiced as a health promoting exercise. The good news is that not only is Taijiquan a practical martial art, it is also effective for a wide variety of health concerns. In 2000 a small pilot study was done to investigate how Taiji related Qigong exercises could help patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). In a relatively short period of time, practicing Taiji exercises helped MS patients with physical balance and depression. While this study is small, it is very encouraging. To find the original article click here.
Great Cold 大寒 Seasonal Node
While we have passed into a new year on the Gregorian (western) calendar, we are still in the tail end of the Chinese year. The next of the 24 Seasonal Nodes marks the very last segment of the Chinese year before the next lunar-solar year begins. This last node is called “Great Cold” (Da Han 大寒), and this year started on Monday, January 20.
Great Cold is the time of the year when obviously the temperature is still decreasing. Furthermore, it is usually characterized by dryness as evidenced by most of our drying hands this time of year. The first thing that Chinese medicine recommends at this time of the year is to eat clear and easily digested foods (qing dan shi wu). Why is this? The Spleen and Stomach are the root of post-heaven qi. During the end of winter even though the time of the year is still predominantly yin, yang qi is being birthed. Eating clear and easily digested foods allows for the Spleen and Stomach to move and transform appropriately, and to build post-heaven qi. If foods are too heavy, such as very greasy or sweet foods, then the ability of the Spleen and Stomach to move and transform will be impaired. Easy to digest foods ensures that we continue to build post-heaven yang qi to get ready for the upcoming spring.
The second recommendation this time of year is to stay warm but also be sure to not be too dry. Staying warm is important in the time of greatest cold in the year. But since certain organs are harmed by excessive dryness, such as the Lungs, we also need to be vigilant there.
With patients who are cold, or have Spleen or Kidney vacuity patterns, continue to warm and supplement. Moxibustion, especially at points like Zu San Li (ST-36), Qi Hai (Ren-6) or Guan Yuan (Ren-4) is still appropriate. Acupuncturists can include Tung’s point San Cha San 三叉三穴 frequently in point prescriptions (this point can be found in Dr. Ross’ and my new book on Tung's acupuncture). This point has the ability to warm yang and supplement the Kidney. Furthermore, since it pierces through Ye Men (SJ-2; “Fluids Gate”) it also benefits fluids.
Learning Authentic Qigong: Lineage Transmission in Studying Classical Sciences
Qigong is a term that refers to a wide range of practices that regulate the internal vitality, or Qi mechanism. Today in the west (as well as in Asia), the popularity of Qigong has engendered classes taught on every corner and even more books on the subject. Like Taijiquan (Tai Chi), most Qigong is taught as nothing more than low impact exercise and stretching. While low impact exercise and stretching are good and important for many people, strictly speaking, authentic Qigong and Taijiquan are much deeper and richer practices. Taijiquan was originally a powerful martial art, and most of the true Taijiquan masters I have met and studied with were powerful fighters. Qigong was originally exercises, either physical, mental or both, that circulate, refine and amplify the body’s vital force, or Qi. If Taijiquan is taught as just an exercise it is not Taijiquan, and likewise, if Qigong is nothing more than deep breathing and stretching, it is not true Qigong.
Transmission and Learning Qigong
For the vast majority of beginner students, it is impossible to really learn Qigong from a book or video. In Asia most classical sciences such as Qigong, medicine, and martial arts were taught in a master-disciple relationship. Teaching is predicated on the fact that an experienced practitioner imparts his knowledge directly to the student. However, teaching happens on many levels. This includes in non-verbal ways, something in Chinese called kou chuan xin shou – teaching through the mouth and giving with the heart. In learning Qigong in particular, this teaching through the heart is essential and in many authentic systems of Qigong this specifically refers to direct qi transmission.
When teaching, many Qigong masters do three things. They teach the student how do to the specific exercise. Next, they discuss the theories or philosophies that underpin the Qigong system. Third, and sometimes, most importantly, they actually transmit a higher frequency of qi to the student, possibly without the student knowing it, so that the form will actually work more effectively when the student practices. This last piece can save students years of training. As an analogy, we all already have the hardware to practice Qigong – our body and mind. Knowing how to do the physical movements or meditation is the software. When we put software into our computer (hardware) however, often times we need a special password or key code to get the software to start running. This is the qi transmission, the transmission of lineage, that happens in Qigong. Essentially, the Qigong teacher “downloads” the key code to the student so that the form (software) actually runs properly.
I feel lucky that many of my Qigong teachers have incorporated this multifold approach to teaching their systems. When they do, the Qigong form is an authentic one that works far more effectively, with less effort and less wasted time on the part of the student. Thus, as one can imagine, finding a true Qigong teacher is vital to a successful practice.