Hello again, Ecuador!

Ecuador feels like home to me, it is like time travel to the past. Here in the high Andes, it feels like Taiwan in the 70s. Life is simple and people tend to stay in the NOW. It took me one week just to wind down from the fast-paced US city life. Things are more real here. You got to breathe really good air, drink really clean water. The shower water feels like spring water with very high vibrations.

Meeting a cow or a donkey at the road is not uncommon. Here I am full of joy to touch this little cow.

Menopausal symptoms of hot flash, night sweat and irritation

I have been seeing quite a few women in their late 40's and early 50's with hot flash, night sweat and irritation. Some of them were put on HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) and some of them are just being miserable. When I share with them that Chinese medicine can address these issues quite effectively, they tend to open their eyes, and say "really?"

It's hard for us who have never experienced hot flash to imagine how it's like to be in the situation. When these women experience hot flash, it literally feels like they are on fire -- very uncomfortable, and naturally, irritable. So how could Chinese medicine address this sort of mysterious symptoms that tend to happen with women who are approaching their 50s? In my clinical practice, I often find these women's Kidney Yin and Yang are not in the right relationship. For example, if yang is not able to enter ying, people won't be able to fall asleep and the heat is be floating above. In addition, most of patients' Kidney Yin and Yang are not in their full potential by the time they reach 50s due to life. The most common treatment principal is to supplement the Kidney Yin and Yang and subdue the deficient fire if any. This is really easy to achieve in Chinese medicine, and any basic practitioners should be able to address. Of course, each individual is very different, and an office visit can give practitioners good ideas on how to fine tune their herbal prescriptions. For example, one menopausal patient may experience hot flash but have cold hands and feet, and another patient who also displays hot flash, night sweat and irritation may feel warm all the time. In this case, the pattern diagnosis would be quite different and herbal prescription will need to be adjusted accordingly.

For me, each patient is very unique and I truly enjoy listening to them telling me on how much Chinese medicine helped them. One of my patients came to see me for the 4th time today, and she has been off HRT (with her doctor's permission, of course) for 3 weeks now (she is currently taking an herbal formula prescribed by me). You know what, no mood swing, no hot flash, no night sweat, good sleep, good appetite and good eliminations. It's all good! I told her she only need to come back to see me if needed. It's the most exciting thing in the world for me to see how Chinese medicine performs miracles.

More later,

Interesting look on food...

Just received the following from a newsgroup that I belong to. Treat your body with these healing foods daily and you'll live till 100! Mmm...Yummy.... Mother nature really rocks!

A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye...and YES science now shows that carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.




A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart is red and has four chambers. All of the research shows tomatoes are indeed pure heart and blood food.






Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks
like a blood cell and all of the research today shows that grapes are also

profound heart and blood vitalizing food.

A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds are on the nut just like the neo-cortex. We now know that walnuts help develop over 3 dozen
neuron-transmitters for brain function.




Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they
look exactly like the human kidneys.






Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and more look just like bones. These foods
specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are
23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet the body pulls it
from the bones, making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of
the body.
Eggplant, Avocadoes and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats 1 avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? ... It takes exactly 9 months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).


Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the
motility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm to swell
to overcome male sterility.



Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.

Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries.



Grapefruits, Oranges, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary
glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the
movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.




Onions look like body cells. Today's research shows that onions help clear
waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears
which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes.

So your uterus dropped down....

I know this image wasn't pretty, but sometimes bladder or uterus slipped out of the body whether you like it or not. One patient of mine recently experiences just that. Her uterus dropped down from lifting some flower pots from her yard. She can touch the uterus every time she is in the shower.

In Chinese traditional medicine, body functions are governed by Yang qi. So when an organ is not staying in the right position, the yang function of the organ (which is lifting) is weak. As a Chinese medicine practitioner, my goal is to help patients regain their yang qi, specifically Spleen and Kidney.

Her MD wants to take out the uterus, so it won't sag down any longer (no kidding!), but the patient doesn't want to go through this procedure. I teach her Mayan Abdominal Massage (MAM) so she can do this at home on a daily basis. I also give her Chinese herbs: Yang Qi Shi, Bu Gu Zhi, Ba Ji Tian, Xu Duan...etc. Acupuncture points such as Bai Hui, Guan Yuan and San Yin Jiao were used every time she came to see me.

I saw her last week, and she told me that she couldn't feel her uterus during showering anymore. This is good news because this means her uterus has been lifted. Considering the patient's age, I thought it would take more than 5 treatments to make any changes. Fortunately, we are able to make some shift within a fairly short period of time. More work still needs to be done to help the uterus stays lifted, but this is a good beginning! :-)

More later,

My study trip with Dr. Ni, a Shang Han Lun master

I had a great fortune in April to study with Dr. Ni, a Chinese medicine master from Taiwan for 3 weeks. Dr. Ni's clinic is based in Meritt Island, Florida. During the 3 weeks, I have witnessed Dr. Ni treating many patients with late-stage cancer that were sent home to die. A few of them were supposed to die a few years ago, well, guess what, they are still alive and well. So what the magic here?

Dr. Ni is a Shang Han Lun master. For those who are not familar with the book, this book was written by Dr. Zhang Zhong Jing a few thousand years back. The book teaches practitioners to treat people from a simple common cold to cancer. Modern practitioners often think that Shang Han Lun is just for common cold, little do they know it covers a wide range of imbalances that modern medicine still baffles. The applications of Shang Han Lun is based on what a patient presents. A patient may be averted to wind with slight fever/chill and sweat, we call it "Gui Zhi Tang" syndrome, and an herbal formula called Gui Zhi Tang is indicated. When a person presents tiredness all the time and couldn't get out of bed (Dan Yu Mei), and their pulse is very thin and forceless (Xi Wei), they may be presenting "Shao Yin" symptoms. Ma Huang Fu Zi Xi Xin tang may be indicated. Formulas are always modified to fit each individual's unique needs.

Whether you believe in Chinese medicine or not, a good advice from Dr. Ni can benefit you greatly: if you can eat, drink, eliminate and sleep normally, you will be OK. If you take your medicine and then you lose your sleep or become constipated, you really want to think twice about what you are doing. In addition, your hands and feet should be warm all the time. If you are currently taking medication or do any alternative modalities but your hands and feet are very cold, you may want to change whatever you are doing because they are not serving you well. Yang qi (yang energy) should be abundant to ensure health and longevity. When yang qi is abundant, hands and feet will be naturally warm. When body is cold all the time, that's when excess water idles within, tumors and cancer cells grow in this kind of environment.

Dr. Ni is approaching his retirement, and he is so generous to share his knowledge with people like myself. When I see him, he is like a reincarnated Dr. Zhang Zhong Jing to me. He is doing such a great service to the human race to hand down this ancient wisdom. I owe him a great debt.

More later,

Fertility patients get pregnant!

A few weeks ago, about the same time, two of my fertility patients contacted me and told me they are pregnant. I was in Ecuador and I was so excited for my pregnant to-be-moms. One of them come in regularly for acupuncture, herbal and MAM (Mayan Abdominal Treatment) treatments since October 07. Another woman came to see me once for MAM and got pregnant one month later. I am so happy for them!

Sometimes I would read online that some poor woman's uterus was taken out or was put on birth control pills because they suffer from painful periods. In Chinese medicine, painful period is a sign of imbalance. Depending on the types of pain, it could be due to qi/blood deficiency or blood/qi stasis. With proper pattern differentiation and treatment (both herbal and acupuncture treatments), it is possible to revert this. There are many after-effects after the uterus is gone: organs start falling, hormonal imbalances, depression, etc. If you are thinking about taking your uterus out to end the suffering, I suggest you think again. Don't give up your organ so easily, it's there for a reason.... Chinese medicine is very strong in OB/GYN. Check out my teacher, Sharon Weizenbaum's website (http://www.whitepinehealingarts.com); she has been practicing Chinese medicine for over 23 years.

There's always hope out there!

Speaking with Medcats at U of A

I was invited to speak at Medcats meeting at U of A earlier this week. Medcats is a club for premed students at University of Arizona. I was excited to share Chinese medicine with these future doctors. It's a small group and most of them still have a few years ahead of them towards being a doc. I am glad that they are interested in "alternative" modalities, and this will make them excellent doctors -- being open-minded. I also admire their enthusiasm, and hope they keep their humility even after they become doctors; the only way to be a good doctor is to keep learning and stay outside the box.

The legal structure for Chinese medicine in Arizona is much behind those states such as California, Washing or Oregon. For example, most insurance companies in Arizona do not cover acupuncture. So when people are sick, western prescription will be paid by the insurance companies, but acupuncture treatments need to come out of individual's pocket. This is quite odd because acupuncture treatments actually will save money for insurance companies in the long run because people won't be dependent on medications to "manage" their illnesses. I hope one day insurance will cover acupuncture in Arizona, so more people would be able to afford the treatments as a preventative medicine.

Working as a Chinese medicine practitioner is my passion. Everyday brings some freshness and insights for me. My patients are my best teachers. I see and feel their sufferings and in many cases, I can see the grouts they just can't seem to get out of. I hope that in addition to ease their suffering, a spark will be lit in their spirits via the treatment. We all need inspirations and hope, and that's what keep us going each day. Chinese medicine is more than "fixing the body" like some of my patients said, it works with mind and spirit. Body, mind and spirit are inseparable in Chinese medicine.

When we are not grounded or connect with the higher power (some people call them God(s), universal power or higher-self), we tend to get lost in life. In fact, if the crown and the root chakras (energy centers) are fully charged and run well, nothing can sway us in the world. Meditation is a good way to keep our crown chakras opened. Exercises such as Tai-chi, on the other hand, can help us staying grounded. Being with natures can keep all our chakras purified, so spending more time in nature is essential.

More later,

Support Dalai Lama and Tibet!

My sister forwarded this letter to me earlier today, please give it a read and offer your support if you could. When I was in China last September, I couldn't visit any of the websites related to Taiwan such as www.chinatimes.com. Media access is very much controlled in China. On the surface, cities such as Shanghai offer modern infrastructure and active commerce, but deep down, freedom of speech is out of question. I pray for people in Tibet and Taiwan. I pray for peace, and only peace will prevail.

=================
Hi,

I just signed an urgent petition calling on the Chinese government to respect human rights in Tibet and engage in meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama. I have loved the Dalai Lama forever. This is really important, and I thought you might want to take action:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/tibet_end_the_violence/98.php/?cl_tf_sign=1

After nearly 50 years of Chinese rule, the Tibetans are sending out a global cry for change. But violence is spreading across Tibet and neighbouring regions, and the Chinese regime is right now considering a choice between increasing brutality or dialogue, that could determine the future of Tibet and China.

We can affect this historic choice. China does care about its international reputation. Its economy is totally dependent on "Made in China" exports that we all buy, and it is keen to make the Olympics in Beijing this summer a celebration of a new China that is a respected world power.

President Hu needs to hear that 'Brand China' and the Olympics can succeed only if he makes the right choice. But it will take an avalanche of global people power to get his attention. Click below to join me and sign a petition to President Hu calling for restraint in Tibet and dialogue with the Dalai Lama -- and tell absolutely everyone you can right away. The petition is organized by Avaaz, and they are urgently aiming to reach 1 million signatures to deliver directly to Chinese officials:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/tibet_end_the_violence/98.php/?cl_tf_sign=1

Thank you so much for your help!

Your Friend

edd samuelson
lalo el beloevedd en chapala
chapala, jalisco, mexico
www.thetransformationcenter.com

Slow living in Ecuador

It is nice to take a break from my daily routine - visiting Ecuador is always a pleasure. It reminds me of what my home country, Taiwan, used to be in the 70's. The life is so simple here; people are nice and there are no sophisticated electronics, bumpers to bumpers vehicles and modern distractions. You can hear crickets, birds, frogs and rain every night, and I see millions of stars in the galaxy and lightening bugs everywhere at night. What a magical place!

I was doing my yoga and qi gong right by a river yesterday, and was looking at the Podocarpus National Park in distance. This park predates the ice age and more than 550 species have been spotted here. For the first time, I truly feel the powerful vibrations of Mother Earth here.

I often tell my patients that Chinese medicine is a common sense medicine. To understand how the medicine or our body works, we shall turn to the nature. For example, when a river is clogged up, it could be too much debris in it or it could be not enough water in the river to move the debris through. A Chinese practitioner could decipher it via palpating, listening, looking and questioning. By changing the environment of the body (via acupuncture, acupressure or herbal medicine) and balancing yin and yang, sustained health is to be expected.

Nature is our only teacher. Quiet time in nature brings about much inspirations and guidance in life. Slow living in Ecuador teaches me to look inwards and connect with the light within.

Namaste.

Veteran Volunteer Event

A short note about the veteran event -- not many veterans showed up for the event. The event did not get endorsed by the VA Hospital in Tucson which is unfortunate. However, those veterans who received the treatment felt very grateful and experienced healing and calming benefits. I am glad that we were able to do something for them!

-Sheh

Traditional Buddhist Blessing and Healing Chant

Today is the 1st day of 2008. I am posting this Buddhist chant to celebrate the new year with all of you out there.

Just as the soft rains fill the streams,
pour into the rivers and join together in the oceans,
so may the power of every moment of your goodness flow forth to awaken and heal all beings, Those here now, those gone before, those yet to come.

By the power of every moment of your goodness
May your heart's wishes be soon fulfilled as completely shining as the bright full moon,
as magically as by a wish-fulfilling gem.

By the power of every moment of your goodness
May all dangers be averted and all disease be gone.
May no obstacle come across your way.
May you enjoy fulfillment and long life.
For all in whose heart dwells respect, who follow the wisdom and compassion, of the Way
May your life prosper in the four blessings of old age, beauty, happiness and strength.