This is a great way for keeping track of your cycle! It sends you an email a few days before your period is due. Very handy. I am often asking patients about the pattern of their cycle and they often are unsure as to how long or regular it is. Wonder no more, ladies...

How to Make Tea – British Culture 101

March 5th, 2010

Nearly twenty years ago, when I first arrived in the UK, it was rare not to be offered a cuppa tea whenever you visited with someone. I did not drink tea. Never had.

At first when offered a cup of tea, I would try to explain that tea drinking was forbidden for faithful members of my church. “What is wrong with tea?” They would exclaim in disbelief.

Friends coming to my house were subjected to the awfulness that is something called ‘QT.’ For YEARS, I served friends this instant tea stuff. They never drank it all. I never noticed.

Until…I learned how to make a proper cuppa.

During a long evening shift manning a suicide hotline, I was taught the very strict rules on how to make a pot of tea by one of my fellow volunteers. It was what we did to pass the time, make and drink tea, as only the British can.

1. Pour fresh water into the kettle – boil
2. Rinse the pot with boiled water.
3. Put a teabag in for the pot and one for each cuppa, then add the water
4. Let steep according to taste
5. Add milk (not if it is Earl Grey, to do so is slightly common, apparently)
6. Add sugar (only if you are working class….posher friends seem to never even have sugar bowls – I love sugar in my tea)

The next time I had friends round, I made a ‘proper’ cup of tea. And my friends, now freed from the awfulness of the instant tea, heaped praise on my newly-minted, tea-making skill.

I was beside myself with disbelief. WHY could you not tell me it was awful, rather than be so polite? I begged an answer from my friends.

They just wanted to be polite. To criticize my awful tea would be rude.

I valued honesty above such a formal polite attitude, especially amongst my dear friends. But this was to be the first of many lessons in British culture.

I notice that my American clients seem more demanding in comparison to my British clients. And I realized that it is because they tell me in a very straight forward, no pussy-footing around way what they want from me – whether it be another pillow or that they are not warm enough.

None of the typically British… “Sorry, but would you mind awfully….” that I have gotten used to.
The Brits are much more polite and will hesitate, until they get to know me well, to ask for another blanket or a lighter pressure. Or perhaps they will not continue to come for treatment.

I value honest feedback from my clients. Ask for what you need from me as your therapist relevant to your treatment. I will not think you impolite. I’ll just think you are honest.

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Learning to be a Sage

July 6th, 2009

“Learning to be a Sage: Conversations of Master Chu, Arranged topically” by Master Chu, translated with a commentary by Daniel K Gardener.

The roots of Chinese medicine are inextricable intertwined with Chinese culture and philosophy. Understanding Chinese mores of behavior and history might help me as I study these ancient texts on health and disease. Master Chu’s conversations form the ground beliefs that most native Chinese medical practitioners understand innately as so much Confucian thought is contained in their culture. And as Master Chu focused his teachings on education and actually how to learn, I thought could be useful in my last year of university….

Who is Master Chu?

Chu Hsi’s prodigious scholarly output in his life (1130-1200) influenced Chinese culture for centuries. His commentaries on the Confucian classics made his brand of Confucianism the accepted interpretation from the early fourteenth century to the early twentieth century. He developed for his disciples a systematic, step-by-step program of self-perfection. He spent his life endlessly teaching and writing with a missionary zeal in the hope that the moral cultivation of the individual would lead to social and political harmony.

Master Chu believed that his highly elaborate program for the self-cultivation of the individual was the key to solving society’s ills. He felt that Chinese society and culture in the 12th century was in crisis and only if the proper values were transmitted could the crisis be resolved.

What was a sage according to Master Chu?

Learning to be a sage was to become fully moral. And while every man is born with the same good nature, the same principle, few are able to make that nature manifest in their lives. All are also born with a psychophysical endowment that determines whether an individual can make their highest nature manifest. Master Chu believed that even the most evil of people still had the same good nature, but that it was simply badly obscured. So the dilemma was how to refine and perfect one’s psychophysical qualities so they did not obscure one’s true nature.

For Master Chu, education held the power to reform, perfect and polish one’s true nature. But the nature of this type of education bears no resemblance to what we think of as schooling, no, he had a more comprehensive understanding of education, which included the transmission and absorption of cultural values, customs and modes of proper behavior.

He wrote a work called ‘Family Rituals” which functioned as a manual offering guidelines on how to behave with others in the community as well as the family. Ritual acts in the Chinese context were thought to breed in the individual an inner correctness.

In his lifetime, Chu, in his capacity as an official, had many shrines and memorials built honoring men who in their lifetimes had displayed exemplary moral qualities. This was an extension of the Confucian belief that thru the power of moral example, a good person would through “magical charisma” transform those around him into morally superior individuals.

The Articles of the White Deer Hollow Academy
Chu was critical of the educational system. His system of education was practiced at the White Deer Hollow Academy. The following is the basis for its curriculum that is reverently referred to as ‘The Five Teachings’ which were a model for education throughout East Asia until recently.

Affection between parent and child;
Righteousness between ruler and subject;
Differentiation between husband and wife;
Precedence between elder and younger;
Trust between friends

In studying there is also a proper sequence of five items:

Study extensively
Inquire carefully
Ponder thoroughly
Sift clearly,
And practice earnestly

For self-cultivation the following is part of practicing earnestly:

Be loyal and true to your every word.
Be serious and careful in all you do
Curb your anger and restrain your lust
Move toward the good
Correct your errors

And in handling your affairs:

Accord with the righteous,
Do not seek profit
Illuminate the Way
Do not calculate the advantages

And in dealing with other people:

Do NOT do to others what you do NOT want done to you (sounds familiar?)
Whenever you fail to achieve your purpose, look into yourself

On reading:
Master Chu lived when books were only beginning to become available outside of the palaces and temples. Memorization of the classics was no longer necessary. Chu worried that this would lead to laziness in thinking. People would read indiscriminately and not really THINK. (What would he make of the internet?). He calls for limiting the scope of one’s reading and reading intensively the source material – the Confucian classic canon in this case.

Quotes from the conversations that I like:

“4-18 Your reading will be successful only if you understand the spot where everything interconnects-east and west meet at this pivotal point. Simply dedicate yourself to what you’re doing at the moment, don’t think about the past or the future, and you’ll naturally get to this point. But now you say that you’ve never been able to do it (i.e. read properly), that you fear you’re too slow, or fear that you’re not up to doing it, or fear that it is difficult or fear that you’re stupid or fear that you won’t remember what you’ve read – this is idle talk. Simply dedicate yourself to what you’re doing at the moment don’t be concerned whether you’re fast or slow and soon you will naturally get there because you have never done it before, exert the right effort now, and make up for past failures. Don’t look to your front or back don’t think about east or west or soon you’ll have wasted a lifetime without realizing that you‘ve grown old.”

4-23…keep the curriculum small, but the effort you make on it large….

4-24…don’t strive for quantity, instead become intimately familiar with what you read… only if you read for the meaning of the ancients will your reading be right.

4-28 I especially don’t want people to skip around as they read. It is essential to focus on each and every paragraph.

4-38 …students are fond of breadth but often lack detailed understanding. They spread themselves over a hundred different books, which isn’t as good as having a detailed understanding of one.

4-51 A man reading is like a man drinking wine. A man who loves drinking will finish one cup and want still another. A man who doesn’t love it will force his way through one cup and stop.

4-52 In reading you must set a limit beforehand. Managing your reading is like farm work: in farming there are boundary lines. Learning is the same. Beginning student today don’t appreciate this principle. At the outset they are extremely zealous, but gradually they become more and more indolent. And in the end they pay no attention at all. This is simply because they don’t set limits at the outset.

Holding On to It (once you’ve read it very carefully…)
Master Chu spoke extensively on how to cultivate mental attentiveness and that this skill was vital if one hoped to become a sage. Many of the quotes mention quiescence, and learning to have the quality of quiescence even amidst swift activity. Quiescence = inner peace or calm. Although he advocated quiet sitting he cautioned his students about exaggerating its importance like the Buddhists did.

6-3 If the mind is not preserved, your entire person will be without a master.

6-8 A man confused isn’t lucid: it’s only as he begins to acknowledge his confusion that lucidity sets in. !!!

Energetically Putting it into Practice
Master Chu spoke often about the civil service examinations that were required to advance in Chinese politics. He felt the emphasis on preparation for the exams often compromised true learning, yet he felt that this could be balanced with the right attitude – “It’s only if one first fills one’s mind with thoughts of success and failure that injury is done. – Just use the examinations as an instrument to straighten your own moral principle”

7-7 To engage in learning is like climbing a pagoda. If you climb one story after another, you’ll personally get to know the top story, without inquiring of anyone else. If you don’t actually walk up it, but just fantasize about it you’ll be incapable of understanding even the lowest story. JFDI?!

7-24 In teaching and guiding the younger generation, you must be stern and untiring. But only if you’re able to inspire and enlighten them as well will you be successful. If you’re simply stern with them, restraining them and that is all; it’ll be of no help.

7-41 Discussion that sidesteps and avoids the issue is most harmful to matters.

This is just a recap of the book really, to keep after I have sent it back to the British Library where it lives. It is out of print and maybe I will have to find a copy as I just love the title….cause it seems to be what I have been trying to learn my whole life.

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2 Responses to “Learning to be a Sage”

1. Cheryl Says:
   July 6th, 2009 at 10:08 pm   edit

   Paige,
   I really enjoyed reading this. Found myself at fault in so so many ways. Keep the great info coming. So happy you have found your path!
   Love, Cheryl

2. Paige Says:
   July 7th, 2009 at 10:05 am   edit

   Thanks for reading Cheryl! Nice to hear from you and give my love to the family. x

Leave a Reply

JCO Early Release, published online ahead of print Dec 28 2009
Journal of Clinical Oncology, 10.1200/JCO.2009.23.5150

 

This Article Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Save to my personal folders Download to citation manager Rights & Permissions Google Scholar Articles by Walker, E. M. Articles by Levine, R. A. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Walker, E. M. Articles by Levine, R. A. Related Articles Related Article Social Bookmarking                            What's this?

Received April 27, 2009
Accepted August 31, 2009

Acupuncture Versus Drug Venlafaxine for Vasomotor symptoms: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Eleanor M. Walker,^* Alba I. Rodriguez, Beth Kohn, Ronald M. Ball, Jan Pegg, Jeffrey R. Pocock, Ramon Nunez, Ed Peterson, Susan Jakary, and Robert A. Levine

From the Department of Radiation Oncology, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit; Center for Integrative Wellness, Henry Ford Health System, Southfield; Center for Integrative Medicine, Henry Ford Health System, Northville; Waterford Center for Integrative Medicine, Waterford; Department of Biostatistics and Research Epidemiology, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit; and Michigan Acupuncture, Novi, MI.

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: ewalker1@hfhs.org

 

Purpose: Vasomotor symptoms are common adverse effects of antiestrogen hormone treatment in conventional breast cancer care. Hormone replacement therapy is contraindicated in patients with breast cancer. Venlafaxine (Effexor), the therapy of choice for these symptoms, has numerous adverse effects. Recent studies suggest acupuncture may be effective in reducing vasomotor symptoms in menopausal women. This randomized controlled trial tested whether acupuncture reduces vasomotor symptoms and produces fewer adverse effects than venlafaxine.

Patients and Methods: Fifty patients were randomly assigned to receive 12 weeks of acupuncture (n = 25) or venlafaxine (n = 25) treatment. Health outcomes were measured for up to 1 year post-treatment.

Results: Both groups exhibited significant decreases in hot flashes, depressive symptoms, and other quality-of-life symptoms, including significant improvements in mental health from pre- to post-treatment. These changes were similar in both groups, indicating that acupuncture was as effective as venlafaxine. By 2 weeks post-treatment, the venlafaxine group experienced significant increases in hot flashes, whereas hot flashes in the acupuncture group remained at low levels. The venlafaxine group experienced 18 incidences of adverse effects (eg, nausea, dry mouth, dizziness, anxiety), whereas the acupuncture group experienced no negative adverse effects. Acupuncture had the additional benefit of increased sex drive in some women, and most reported an improvement in their energy, clarity of thought, and sense of well-being.

Conclusion: Acupuncture appears to be equivalent to drug therapy in these patients. It is a safe, effective and durable treatment for vasomotor symptoms secondary to long-term antiestrogen hormone use in patients with breast cancer.

 

 

Yep, acupuncture is the bomb.

This month HuffPost Living has featured an abundance of great articles on the importance of sleep, with excellent tips on how to enhance your slumber from experts in a variety of fields.

An approach that can also aid in the quest for a good night's sleep is that of Chinese Medicine. This ancient healing system has offered relief to the sleep challenged for thousands of years. While new to many, Chinese Medicine is mainstream in China, and it is used today for a wide range of conditions by an estimated one-fourth of the world's population.

The Roots of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Chinese Medicine is considered the oldest, most continuously practiced, professional, literate medicine in the world. Written records date back over 2000 years, although the medicine is believed to go back even further. Some experts believe Chinese Medicine is at least 5000 years old.

Chinese Medicine employs acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutritional therapy, tuina (pronounced "twee nah") massage, acupressure, and qigong.

The Huangdi Neijing (The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) is considered the Bible of Chinese Medicine, emphasizing medical theory and acupuncture. Some scholars estimate that it dates back to the first century B.C. In addition, The Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing (The Divine Farmer's Materia Medica Classic) details the medicinal uses of 365 herbs and is believed to have been compiled around 200 A.D. Many of the protocols mentioned in these ancient texts are still used today.

Chinese Medicine and the West

The development of East-West relations has promoted the use and interest of Chinese Medicine in the United States. During the past 30 years, the practice of Chinese Medicine has dramatically increased here. The National Institutes of Health (N.I.H.) has reported that visits to Chinese Medicine practitioners in the U.S. tripled from 1997 to 2007.

At the same time, the United States is seeing an increase in the practice of integrative medicine. University centers and hospitals are offering Chinese Medicine. Integration has been common in China, where Chinese Medicine is often practiced side-by-side with Western Medicine.

The Chinese Medicine Approach to Sleep

Insomnia comes in various forms, such as trouble falling sleep, difficulty staying asleep, and having dream-disturbed sleep. When a Chinese Medicine practitioner is gathering information to put together a treatment plan, the pattern of the sleep disturbance as well as health and lifestyle issues will be taken into consideration.

A Chinese Medicine practitioner might use the term "calm the shen" when describing a treatment principle. "Shen" is best translated as the spirit of the person in a nonreligious sense. When evaluating Shen, the Chinese Medicine practitioner is looking for the emotional state and presence (or lack) of radiance, calm, and balance. Often with sleep disturbances, the patient will be experiencing patterns of stress, anxiety, or agitation. Chinese Medicine would call this "disturbed shen."

Treatment for insomnia from a Chinese Medicine practitioner could include one or more of the following therapies: acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutritional counseling, Chinese massage (acupressure/tuina), and qigong.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is the insertion of needles into specific points of the body to reduce pain, to promote relaxation, and to treat various health concerns. Insomnia and sleep disorders are common reasons why people visit an acupuncturist.

The World Health Organization (W.H.O.) lists insomnia as a condition for which the therapeutic effect of acupuncture has been shown. Continuous research is underway to evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture for sleep issues. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine published a review of randomized controlled trials of acupuncture treatment for insomnia. After looking at 46 randomized trials, the conclusion was that acupuncture appears to be effective in the treatment of insomnia, and larger, rigorously designed trials are warranted.

Chinese Herbal Medicine

There are many traditional Chinese herbal formulas to help regulate the sleep pattern. A formula is chosen for each person based on their symptoms, constitution, and medical history. It is best to have a licensed medical practitioner select the proper formula. Some herbs that are used in these formulas include Suan Zao Ren (Sour Date Seed), Bai Zi Ren (Arborvitae Seed), Fu Shen (Poria Paradicis), and Wu Wei Zi (Schizandra Fruit).

Hyla Cass, M.D., a board-certified psychiatrist and integrative medicine expert, has reported great results with her sleep-challenged patients using a Chinese herbal compound Wulinshen. You can read more about this herbal approach in her blog on natural solutions to sleep.

Chinese Nutritional Therapy

Chinese Nutritional Therapy includes basic advice on healthy eating as well specific food recommendations for each patient. Some points emphasized in Chinese Medicine for better sleep include not eating for at least two to three hours before bedtime, as well as the avoidance of greasy or sweet foods. Chinese Medicine also recommends staying away from cold drinks. While Americans are big on ice-cold beverages, this is a huge no-no in Chinese Medicine. Also, when a patient seeks help from a Chinese Medicine practitioner for insomnia, a very detailed review will be made regarding the quality of their digestion. Chinese Medicine places a strong emphasis on the connection between digestion and sleep.

Chinese Massage Therapy (Acupressure/Tuina)

Chinese massage therapy consists of applying pressure to specific points on the body (acupressure) and techniques such as kneading, rolling, and pressing (tuina). Acupressure and tuina have demonstrated effectiveness for improving the quality of sleep. Research from China reported the effectiveness of acupressure and tuina in the treatment of insomnia patients. An Italian study reported improved sleep quality after acupressure stimulation for those suffering from sleep disorders, particularly in cancer patients experiencing insomnia.

Qigong

Qigong is a practice that uses movement, breathing, visualization, and meditation to reduce stress, improve flexibility, and enhance overall health. Like a physical therapist will prescribe specific exercises for the orthopedic patient, the Chinese Medicine/Qigong practitioner will often prescribe individualized qigong techniques for each patient. The regular practice of qigong is strongly associated with stress reduction and the encouragement of a deep, restful sleep.

Resources for Further Exploration

Understanding Chinese Medicine can be a bit daunting to the neophyte. Chinese Medicine has a different approach than Western Medicine, although some practitioners integrate both systems with a complementary approach. There is an explosion of interest in the West, and more is being written to bridge the gap between the Eastern and Western understanding.

If you are interested in Chinese Medicine, an excellent primer written for the layperson and novice is The Web That Has No Weaver by Dr. Ted J. Kaptchuk. Dr. Kaptchuk is a Doctor of Chinese Medicine and an Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School.

If you would like to further explore the Chinese Medicine approach to regulating sleep specifically, Curing Insomnia Naturally with Chinese Medicine by Dr. Bob Flaws is an excellent comprehensive guide.

For an even deeper look at Chinese herbal medicine, I'd recommend Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology by John and Tina Chen, experts in pharmacology and traditional Chinese Medicine. This 1,267 page guide details the traditional Chinese uses of herbs for insomnia and other conditions, the chemical composition, clinical studies and research, and herb-drug interaction information.

Books & More From Dr. Patricia Fitzgerald

www.twitter.com/drpatriciafitz

Great article on insomnia!

Acupuncture@Bodyworks

Experience acupuncture FREE! Yep, that is right your first consultation with treatment is FREE! Right now I am practising (along with my awesome classmates) at the University of Lincoln%u2019s Complementary Therapies Clinic (LN6 7TS %u2013 for google map directions) as the final part of my BSc in Acupuncture. I work under the supervision of native Chinese Doctors of Chinese medicine and together we can help you experience the healing benefits of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

I am available Tuesdays from 1:30pm to 8pm and Wednesdays from 5pm to 8pm which means I have six slots for new patients to come and try acupuncture for free! If I am not available, please book in with any of the third years as we are all well-trained and willing to help.

If you like your treatment, then you can sign up for a course of five treatments for 50. I don%u2019t need to tell you that is a small fraction of the price of acupuncture at most private clinics, yet I feel confident that you will find it very effective, just easier on your pocket. And regular treatments will allow you to really feel the benefits that acupuncture offers to your health and well-being.

Call and book on 01522 886113 and please leave a message as the phone is often unmanned. Or you can call me directly on 07788842820 and I will book you in personally.

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Good stuff

Way hey! How wonderful to see this in this mornings news. I've seen this so many times in clinic where women with period pain are helped enormously by treatment.

For an introduction to mindfulness meditation that you can practice on your own, click on the following links, turn on your speakers and click on the forward arrow "play" button.

To download an mp3 meditation, please right click 'download mp3' and select "Save Target As..." or it may do so automatically.
To play a .wma file on a Mac computer you may need to first download Windows Media Player (free).

5 minute Breathing Meditation (play) (mp3 download)

12 minute Breath, Sound, Body Meditation (play) (mp3 download)

19 minute Complete Meditation Instructions (play) (mp3 download)

7 minute Meditation for Working with Difficulties (play) (mp3 download)

9:30 minute Loving Kindness Meditation (play) (mp3 download)

3 minute short Body and Sound meditation. (play) -->this is an mp3 download

3 minute short Loving Kindness meditation. (play) 

All meditations by MARC's Director for Mindfulness Education, Diana Winston. 

Mindfulness Clock (for PC Users)

Mindfulness Clock (for Mac Users)

The Mindful Awareness Practices discussed and offered on this website do not constitute professional medical advice and should not be used as a substitute for medical diagnosis, advice or services.

Just hunting for some child friendly meditations and stumbled upon this. And feeling humbled at the thought that I am such a beginner trying to teach this stuff! But do I need a master's degree in paying attention. Possibly, but will resist that idea for the present and get back to finishing second degree - my acupuncture BSc.

Just downloaded this widget for my mac to help me manage my time more effectively...it chimes at any interval you like, so for say a task I want to limit to 15 minutes (like FB or Twitter!) I have a little reminder... to get back to my own muse.