Chinese Natural Healing

Herbal medicine, Acupressure, Acupuncture, Qi Gong and more.

Posts Tagged nutrition

10 ways to fight against high blood pressure (Part 1)

Feb 22

Posted by conrad in Blood Pressure (see Hypertension), Diet / Nutrition, High Blood Pressure (see Hypertension), Hypertension | 1 Comment

1.  Take more foods that contain potassium. Foods such as sweet potato, orange juice, potato, banana, kidney beans, peas, cantaloupe, dried plums and raisins can help lower high blood pressure. Specialists suggest adults should take 2-4 grams potassium.

2. Understand the salt amount in food. Senior people are more allergic to sodium and taking even a little excess amount can cause high blood pressure. Even if it’s normal people, the amount of salt shouldn’t exceed 6 grams a day.

3. Eat dark chocolate. (a good news) Dark chocolate contains flavanols. Taking a few pieces a day can improve the health of heart and blood pressure.

4. Vitamin supplement. I personally don’t prefer taking any dietary supplement that’s not natural. However, coenzyme Q10 can lower blood pressure. Consult your doctor before taking these vitamins.

5. Drink a little wine. A lot of researches already prove that drinking appropriate amount of wine can help lower blood pressure. Of course, drinking excessively is definitely not suggested. In average, a normal healthy person can drink a can of beer or 100ml of red wine per day.

(to be cont’d)

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25 foods to keep women young (part 3)

Feb 19

Posted by conrad in Cancer (see specific entries), Diet / Nutrition | 1 Comment

(cont’d from Part 2)

18. Soybean

Soybean is one of the plants that contains more estrogen, which is very important to women’s health.

19. Yogurt

Yogurt helps digestion and effectively prevent defection of intestines, strengthen the immune system. Compared to major milk, yogurt has low fat and high calcium with vitamin B2, these are great for our body as well.

20. Coriander

Coriander contains rich iron, calcium, sodium, zinc, vitamin A and vitamin C etc. It also helps urination, maintain blood sugar level and prevent cancer

21. Chocolate

Chocolate has sedative function. Its taste and texture also stimulate the “happiness nerves” in the brain and makes one happy.   You may not believe it, but chocolate helps slow down the process of caries caused by de-mineralization.

22. Potato

Protects pancreas and stomach. Eating more potatoes can help relieve hot and thirst, and also constipation. Place a slice of potatoes on the bags under the eyes can help clear it.

23. Mushroom

Mushroom is definitely rich in nutrients. It helps our immune system and it’s a good food to lose weight because it has very low calories. It contains a lot of fiber to prevent constipation and lower cholesterol in blood. It contains more vitamin C than most fruits and help the metabolism.

24. Egg

Egg helps improve our memory and skin tone. Egg yolk can help synthesize vitamin H.

25. Walnut

Walnut improves the health of brain. Its nutrition value is 5 times of egg and 9 times of milk. The protein of walnut contains a very important element called lysine, which is very good for the brain.

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25 foods to keep women young (part 2)

Feb 15

Posted by conrad in Blood Pressure (see Hypertension), Cancer (see specific entries), Colon Cancer, Colon-Rectal Cancer, Diarrhea, Eczema (see Rash), Leukemia, Liver Disorders (Abscess/Infection/Inflammation/Hepatitis/Cancer/Autoimmune Disorders/Tumors/Failure/Fluke), Stroke | 2 Comments

(cont’d from Part 1)

9. Milk

As a lot of people know, milk contains vitamin D and calcium that keep our bone and teeth strong. One rumor I also heard about milk is that it helps soften our skin too.

10. Spring Water

Spring water is supposed to soften our skin and even whiten our skin. It also helps digestion and detoxification, increase the secretion of bile.

11. Shellfish

Shellfish that contains vitamin B12 produces healthy skin, keeps the luster of our skin and its elasticity.

12. Tomato

Tomato helps avoid formation of cancer, improve appetite and stamina. It also help whiten and brighten the skin.

13. Spinach

Spinach helps prevent anemia, improve stamina and skin, helps digestion, protect eye sights, stabilize emotions. Spinach has folate that is important to pregnant women. With enough folate during pregnancy can reduce the opportunities of leukemia and congenital heart diseases of the baby.

14. Orange

As most people know orange provides a lot of vitamin C and helps avoid formation of cancer, increase the resistance against bacteria. Orange can also clear the elements that harm our body and restrain the growth of tumor cells.

15. Malt

Malt can reduce the opportunities of colon and rectum cancers. Malt itself doesn’t taste much, so we can sprinkle malt on oatmeal or yogurt.

16. Tuna

Tuna contains fatty acid that can lower blood pressure, prevent stroke, control migraine, heal and prevent eczema and relieve dry skin.

17. Strawberry

Strawberry is not only juicy and delicious, it helps improve the quality of the skin, relieve diarrhea, heal disorders of liver and urethral diseases. Strawberry can even strengthen our gums, improve our oral health and moisturize our throat.

(to be cont’d)

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25 foods to keep women young (part 1)

Feb 13

Posted by conrad in Aging, Common herbs/foods, Diet / Nutrition | 2 Comments

Well, I know this title is more like gimmick, and I’m not even sure if it’s correct, but since I’ve read that article from a Chinese medical site, why not share?

1. Carp

The meat of carp has a great variety of high quality proteins, those proteins help strength the elastic fiber of the skin. It especially helps reduce early wrinkles caused by stress and lack of sleep.

2. Broccoli

Broccoli itself contains rich antioxidant vitamin C and carotene. These kinds of vegetables with crosswise flowers are proven to be the best anti-aging and anti-cancer food by researchers.

3. Melon

Melon contains rich antioxidant vitamin C that moisturizes the collagen and elastic fiber of our skin. Always eat melon can help delay the formation of wrinkles and keep the skin smooth

4. Onion

Onion cleanses the blood, lowers cholesterol and helps anti-aging.

5. Tofu

Other than fish and shrimp, tofu is also a great sources for high quality protein. At the same time, these products of beans have a chemical called Isoflavones, which reduce the activity of estrogen. Always eat beans products can also reduce the opportunities of breast cancer.

6. Cabbage

Same as broccoli, it is also a vegetable with crosswise flowers with rich vitamin C and nice fiber.

7. Apple

I guess everyone would believe apple has a lot of vitamin C, fiber and sugar. It keeps the luster of skin. Its fiber helps the digestion as well.

8. Carrot

Carrot has rich vitamin A that helps keep the luster of hair and keeps skin fine and smooth.

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Foods that keeps you warm in winter (Part 3)

Feb 11

Posted by conrad in Common herbs/foods, Diet / Nutrition, Ginger, Menstruation Disorders / Pain (see Amenorrhea; Dysmenorrhea; Menorrhagia), Recipes | 1 Comment

(cont’d from part 2)

After lamb and beef in part 1 and some hardcore food in part 2, it’s time for some veggies. There are certainly foods that can keep our body warm for vegetarians other than meats.

6. Chestnut

Chestnut contains high sugar and lipase which are good for cold resistance. Take 15 chestnuts, peel off the shell and cook porridge with rice can help generate more heat for weaker people with “cold” and “empty” kidneys or who feel weak with the back and legs.

7. Leek

Leek contains a lot of nutrients like vitamin A, B, C and calcium, potassium and iron. It tastes bittersweet but helps supplement a weak body. Chop the leeks and cook porridge with rice can generate warmth and even helps menstruation disorders. Good for people who always feel cold with sore knees and back.

8. Spice food

Garlic, ginger, green onion, carrot, walnut, jujube and some “irritating” food such as pepper and coffee can help with cold resistances as well.

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Foods that keeps you warm in winter (Part 2)

Feb 9

Posted by conrad in Common herbs/foods, Diet / Nutrition | 2 Comments

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(cont’d from part 1)

Ok, last time we talk about lamb, lamb milk and beef can keep us warm because the nature of these food. There are more nasty food from Chinese point of view that can keep us warm during winter. However, in western culture, these are definitely either prohibited or hard to imagine. If you can’t bear with this list, jump to part 3 and we’ll talk about something for vegetarian.

3. Dog meat

Yeah I know that sounds crazy. But there are certain kinds dogs in China that are fed as pig or cow or chicken – they are supposed to be food. I don’t dare to try myself, but I heard it’s the best meat among all in terms of taste. Of course, western culture treats dogs as pet so it’s probably a gross thing to imagine. From medical point of view, dog meat can stabilize the functions of organs, produce heat especially for weak people who have back pain and cold feet. However, it’s easy to get thirsty afterwards and supposed to relieve the thirst by drinking rice soup. People with mucus and a lot of “heat” inside shouldn’t take it. (Actually, I don’t expect anyone reading this blog would even wanna try dog meat.)

4. Rabbit meat

Another meat that sounds gross to certain people. However, rabbit meat is pretty normal even in western culture. I had tried it myself but I didn’t like it as much as other. It’s opposite to dog meat, more like a “cold” meat that helps with flow of the “Qi” (Chi), dilute the blood and cleanse the poisonous elements. It is a high protein and low fat meat with the least cholesterol among all meat. Best for people with high blood pressure and heart attack, and also great for middle age and seniors.

5. Skin of shrimps

Ok, this doesn’t sound as “brutal” as the above two – when I think about it, all meats are the same unless you’re a vegetarian. Anyway, skin of shrimps usually can be eaten as dried shrimps. They’re very normal in Chinese cuisine and used pretty frequently. They help the function of kidneys and heal the coldness caused by weak kidneys.

(to be cont’d)

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Foods that keeps you warm in winter (Part 1)

Feb 7

Posted by conrad in Diet / Nutrition | 2 Comments

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In Chinese culture, other than dressing up with more clothing and eat something hot, eating particular food to help ourselves produce more eat is another way to keep ourselves warm in winter. In Western culture, it’s about calories. In Chinese medicine point of view, there are more than calories to heat up our bodies.

1. lamb meat and milk

Lamb meat has high protein but relatively low cholesterol and high calories. It helps with the heat and the “Qi” (or Chi) flow in our body. It’s a good meat that even weak body can enjoy.(like ladies right after pregnancy or people who always feel cold.)

Lamb milk is not easy to find, but it’s also a great food for winter and it’s easier to absorb than other milk. It moisturize our body and keep us warm as well.

2. beef

Beef is another meat that helps the flow of blood and Qi (Chi) which transports energy and heat around the body. It’s helps strengthen the kidneys, pancreas and stomach as well. It’s also a great food for weak people who always feel cold.

(to be cont’d)

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Fruits for curing Insomnia

Feb 5

Posted by conrad in Common herbs/foods, Diet / Nutrition, Insomnia | No Comments

Recently I met a friend who dreams a lot – literally – which means she never really sleep very well. Somehow I read a Chinese article about eating certain fruits can improve insomnia. Here I’d like to share it in English. I have no idea if these will work. But after all, they’re just FRUITS. It’s no harm no matter what.

Most people have to take pills for better sleep. Of course, in this blog we try to recommend every healing methods, not necessary Chinese, that are more natural or at least more “organic”. There are some specialists recommending certain fruits that helps sleep.

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1. Kiwifruit

The latest research says taking two kiwifruit everyday can improve sleeping quality for 40%. Sleeping problem usually caused by exciting nerve system or abnormal hormone secretion from stress. The calcium in kiwifruit, which rarely appears in fruit, helps to stabilize emotion and control sensory nerves. The calcium, magnesium and vitamin C helps the material transportation within the sensory nerve  system.

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2. Grapes

There is a research saying grapes helps healing insomnia because grapes contains an element that is called “Melatonin”. Melatonin is secreted from pineal in our brain and it helps adjust the sleeping time. Melatonin is mostly secreted at night to tell us it’s about time to sleep. So if we eat grapes, more melatonin will tell our brain to start sleeping. So grape wine would help even better because it contains alcohol as well.

Jujube

3. Jujube

Jujube is more like a Chinese fruit. It helps stabilize mental state. We can also boil jujube after dinner with some water and drink it or make jujube porridge with lily leaves to eat before sleeping. It’s going to help sleeping.

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4. Apple

Well, apple seems to be good for health. Basically it’s supposed to be good for everything, like Kiwifruit, Calcium and Vitamin C and many elements helps our sensory nerves. However, another reason apple can help sleeping is its smell. It’s smell strongly stabilize our nerve system and help us sleep.

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Orange Vs. Cough

Jan 30

Posted by conrad in Common herbs/foods, Cough, Diet / Nutrition, Recipes | No Comments

Oranges

To stop coughing is always a hassle. I recently heard a special natural healing recipe that uses orange. It doesn’t matter how much vitamin C in an orange. Citrus in orange always triggers more coughs. So in traditional Chinese medical point of view, orange is always bad for coughing.  However, this easy recipe for healing cough is going the opposite – JUST use an orange, but BAKED in an oven first. Here are the steps:

The only ingredient is just a fresh orange. Peel off the skin of the top of the orange for about a size of a quarter coin. The purpose is to force the heat directly into the orange. Place the orange into the oven and bake for  10 minutes in high heat. There will be a nice, “moist” smell from the oven. After the top of the orange is shows a little burn, it’s time to pull it out. It’s very hot so be careful when you handle this round little thing. A baked or roasted orange is very easy to peel the skin off, and it’s sweeter than a fresh orange. Season with a little salt then it’s going to be even sweeter but also more effective to stop coughing. Especially if you just start coughing, usually just one baked orange will work. It doesn’t matter if it’s Sunkist or expensive Japanese orange, sea salt or kitchen salt, as long as they’re orange and salt then this formula should work.

A baked orange is very easy and inexpensive to prepare. The nice taste should keep the kids happy as well. At least there’s no side effects. It’s non-drowsy and it won’t ruin your appetite.

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Dr. Ni’s funny comments on certain patients he refuses to treat

Nov 6

Posted by conrad in Acupuncture, Inspiring Stories, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in general | No Comments

If you guys remember, I posted something about Chinese doctor Dr. Ni, like his view on alternative healing in America and his rules of thumb for patients. He’s very good at Chinese healing, but the way he presents in his articles are always controversial and emotional. I read a list about what kinds of patients he refuses to treat and made me giggle. Somehow I understand why he set the list, but it’s still quite funny and a little vigorous.

1. People who request that they can recover the next day taking Chinese medicine or acupuncture. These actually don’t believe in traditional Chinese healing at all.

2. Patients who have doubt and suspect the doctor.

3. Taking western medicine while taking Chinese medicine at the same time.

4. Patients who know about simple Chinese medicine and keep questioning about the prescriptions.

5. Patients who don’t take medicine in a timely manner.

6. Patients who listen to the Chinese pharmacists more than the Chinese doctor and let the comments from pharmacists intercept the prescriptions.

7. Patients who don’t listen to the suggestions from the doctor and think taking medicine can heal everything. For example, liver cirrhosis is caused by alcohol, but if the patient still drink even after taking medicine, how could he be healed?

8. Patients who repeat asking the same questions – which means they don’t trust the doctor.

9. When the patient got serious health problem, he/she just listens to whoever’s suggestions and take a lot of different medicine without any caution.

10. Patients who take a lot of unnecessary diet supplements and vitamins – they come to the doctor when they’re sick, but still ask the doctor what supplements and vitamins they can still take – these people are causing more unnecessary troubles to their health.

11. Patients who got so nervous coming to the Chinese doctor after seeing western doctor and found out their health problem, and consider that as an emergency. That actually means they still trust western doctor better.

12. Patients who tried chemotherapy or certain western treatments first before coming to Chinese doctor. Because if they don’t get cured, they just blame Chinese doctor and never blamed the western treatment.

Dr. Ni said he refuses to treat these 12 kinds of patients and he suggests that all traditional Chinese doctors should avoid these patients as well because these patients won’t thank the doctors at all even if they’re healed. If they don’t get cured, it’s the Chinese doctors fault. They never consider how they get the disease. However when they go to the western doctors, they’ll listen to whatever they say like a pet.

It sounds a bit harsh to a lot of people, but the conclusion here is all about trust and confidence with Chinese healing. I’d say if you really want to try Chinese healing methods, you just have to believe it and give full respect, or it’s better don’t bother trying at all.

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