Determine how much water you need?

You've probably heard the "8 by 8" rule.

Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day (2 quarts, 1.8 liters) - but the amount of water a person needs varies depending on his or her weight and activity level.

Another way to determine your specific recommended water intake is to divide your weight (in pounds) by two. The resulting number is the number of ounces of water you need each day.
For example, if you weigh 150 lbs., 150/2 = 75
strive to drink 75 ounces of water daily.

For those who use the Metric system, divide your weight (in kilograms) by 30
For example, if you weigh 70 kg., 70/30 = 2.3
strive drink 2.3 liters per day.

Keep in mind that these recommended intake numbers are controversial and some experts believe they are a gross exaggeration.

Signs of Dehydration.

You lose water through urination, respiration, and by sweating. If you are very active, you lose more water than if you are sedentary. Diuretics such as caffeine pills and alcohol result in the need to drink more water because they trick your body into thinking you have more water than we need.

Symptoms of mild dehydration include chronic pains in joints and muscles,lower back pain, headaches and constipation. A strong odor to your urine, along with a yellow or amber color indicates that you may not be getting enough water.

Note that riboflavin, a Vitamin B , will make your urine bright yellow. Thirst is an obvious sign of dehydration and in fact, you need water long before you feel thirsty.

Dangers of Too Much Water

Don't start drinking an extra gallon of water a day - that can kill you, especially if you are fasting or eating very little. Water taken in must be in balance with body salt - electrolytes.

The body needs to maintain salt balance or risk hyponatremia with heart attack and even death. Drinking too much water dilutes the salt in your blood and tissues - and can kill you. Healthy athletes have died from drinking too much plain water and not replacing salt.

Dieters should not plunge into drinking gallons of water a day in hopes of burning a few more calories. Drink an extra few glasses, yes. But a gallon is too much.

How to Drink More Water Every Day

Water is the most needed chemical compound of our body. Without the daily necessary amount of water our body functions would be forced to shut down.

The human body is anywhere from 55% to 78% water depending on body size. To function properly, the body requires between one and seven liters of water per day to avoid dehydration; the precise amount depends on the level of activity, temperature, humidity, and other factors. Most of this is ingested through foods or beverages other than drinking straight water. It is not clear how much water intake is needed by healthy people, though most advocates agree that 6–7 glasses of water (approximately 2 litres) daily is the minimum to maintain proper hydration.

Medical literature favors a lower consumption, typically 1 liter of water for an average male, excluding extra requirements due to fluid loss from exercise or warm weather. For those who have healthy kidneys, it is rather difficult to drink too much water, but (especially in warm humid weather and while exercising) it is dangerous to drink too little.

People can drink far more water than necessary while exercising, however, putting them at risk of water intoxication (hyperhydration), which can be fatal.

The "fact" that a person should consume eight glasses of water per day cannot be traced back to a scientific source. There are other myths such as the effect of water on weight loss and constipation that have been dispelled.

Effects of Colour on Behaviour

Psychologists believes that colors has effect on behavior. According to Maria Simonson, Ph.D., Sc.D., a behaviorist, the color you pick for a room will have some sort of effect on its occupants.

1. Bright Coloured Rooms - Kids learn better in brightly colored rooms.
2. Off-white, tan, pale gold or beige color - If you feel you are staying in cool climates, want to have a relaxing dinning room then better paint your dining room with these colours.
3. Cool blue or green color - If you feel you were staying in a warmer climate, better paint it with cool blue or green color.
4. Warm colors like yellow, orange or red - But, if you want your family’s appetite especially kids’ appetite to be stimulated better paint it with warm colors like yellow, orange or red.
5. Pale pink, mauve and lavender colors - If you want to have a good night sleep or an optimal sleeping conditions, pale pink, mauve and lavender colors are great for cooler climates.
   
6. Pale blue, pale green and beige - Good relaxing colors for those with hot climates.

If you are suffering from lack of sleep, why not repaint your room? Color your rooms to make it more homely to the occupants than just an ordinary room because colors could greatly affect one’s behavior.

Keep Your Feet Fit

The stronger your feet the better is your chance to keep your feet away from health problems. Here are some great exercises to keep your feet fit. This is really good if your feet tires easily. These simple movements will strengthen your feet muscles. You can even teach small kids this of simple feet exercises on your bonding time. Definitely, they would love to execute this simple feet exercises.

Note: Perform these movements very slowly and feel your feet muscles move.

Exercise your ankles:

• Sit on a chair and cross your left leg over the right
• Rotate the foot of your top leg (left leg).
• Point your toes down, towards the inside of your ankle, up, then towards the outside of your ankle.
• Rotate your foot on that direction for 12 to 15 times then do it on a reverse direction for 12 to 15 times as well.
• Switch legs (right leg this time). Do the same procedure.
• Strengthen your calf and heal muscles:
• Sit on the floor with your legs straight to the front.
• Bend your feet towards you as far as possible. Strengthen your toes and muscles on top of the foot:
• Sit on a chair with your bare feet on the floor.
• Try to pick up things like towels, pencils and, or other things that could be pick up by your toes. Do not forget to include walking as exercise to keep your feet in good shape.

It is not just good for your feet but to your health in general.

Lose weight just by drinking water

Make A Successful Weight Loss Just By Drinking Water - Maybe The Easiest Weight Loss Method

Drinking water is not only great for your weight loss. Just by drinking lots of water you will look better because and your skin will become more glowing. Your muscles will work more effective when you exercise which will lead to a better shaped body.

A few tips about how you should act when you decide to lose weight just by drinking water:

• Start every morning with a glass of water.
• Drink a glass of water before every meal.
• Drink lukewarm water, it may be easier to drink lots of water when it isn't cold.
• Add a slice of lemon if you don't like the taste of the water.
• Avoid drinking just before you go to bed.

Drinking water is a cheap and very effective way to lose weight, but often you need to add some diet and exercise to make your weight loss effective.

Hair Loss

If you are experiencing hair loss, here are some things I learned that helped me with my battle to stop from going bald and retake control of my life.

1. Check with your doctor.Sometimes hair loss can be a symptom of disease. Thyroid disease, Lupus and Diabetes are two examples of illnesses known to case balding. Check with your doctor and be sure there is not a more serious matter at hand.

2. Watch your diet.Eating correctly will affect not only the overall health of your body, it will also affect the health of your hair and scalp. Maintaining a proper diet is critical for keeping healthy locks.

3. Check your stress levels.Anxiety and stress are common causes of hair loss. Regardless of how hectic life may get, you should take every necessary step to reduce tension and limit its affect on your body. If you must, use yoga, meditation or some other form of stress reduction technique.

4. Careful what you use on your head.Many of todays' hair care products contain chemicals that are harsh and can actually be damaging. Check the ingredients of your shampoos, dyes, perms and conditioners. Choose products that substitute chemicals with natural substances that are milder and which stimulate the scalp and encourage growth.

How important is vitamin B6 to our body?

Our body needs vitamin B6 or pyridoxine for production of red blood cells in keeping our nervous system healthy for it to work properly and in helping our body to use the proteins, carbohydrates and fats we consume. Vitamin B6 or pyridoxine is essential in converting amino acid trytophan to niacin (another form of vitamin B). It also helps our body fight against diseases by strengthening our immune system.

Deficiency from vitamin B6 or pyridoxine may result to weakness, irritability, insomnia, anemia, nervousness, difficulty in walking or even convulsions. Alcoholics, those with genetic defect that prevent their body from using right amount of vitamin B6 and some elderly are the people who is at risk from vitamin B6 or pyridoxine deficiency.

What are the other health benefits of vitamin B6 or pyridoxine?

It has potential power in treating premenstrual syndrome or PMS and carpal tunnel syndrome. Taking vitamin B6 lessens the harmful effects of diabetes, and has promising effect of eliminating calcium oxalate crystals (one type of kidney stone) in the urine. Some suggests that it helps in preventing cardiovascular diseases. Vitamin B6 or pyridoxine also inhibits the growth of skin cancer cells.

You can find vitamin B6 or pyridoxine in meats, poultry, fish, nuts, whole grains, potatoes, avocados and bananas.

7 Reasons why sex is good for you

1. You’ll look younger
A good sex life is a key to youthful looks, according to a study of 3,500 people age 18 to 102 conducted by the Royal Edinburgh Hospital in Scotland. Researchers attributed this to reductions in stress, greater contentment and better sleep, all of which are also associated with sexual activity.

2. It can help your body fight disease
Engaging in sex once or twice a week produces 30 per cent higher levels of immunoglobulin A, which boosts your body’s immune system. Scientists have also found that having an active sex life may even lower your risk of developing cancer, heart disease and stroke. On top of all that, it’s a remedy for colds and flu.

3. It can burn calories
Like any exercise, sexual intercourse burns fat and calories — about 96 calories in 20 minutes for a 150-lb. person. That means it’ll burn off the calories from that extra glass of wine at dinner (which may have been what put you in the mood in the first place!).

4. It reduces pain
Studies show that vaginal stimulation results in increased pain tolerance, and pleasurable self-stimulation of the clitoris also has an analgesic effect. Researchers report that this type of stimulation can ease the pain of menstrual cramps, arthritis, migraine and other conditions.

5. It helps you to breathe easier
Sex is reputedly a natural antihistamine, helping to combat hay fever and asthma symptoms.

6. It helps you live longer — if you do it often enough
A Welsh longitudinal study examined the relationship between mortality and frequency of sexual activity. Researchers found that the risk of dying in any one year was 50 per cent lower among men who had sex twice or more a week than among men who had sex less than once a month. Even when controlling for such factors as age, social class and smoking status, the study concluded that the more sex, the better.

7. It promotes a feeling of well-being
Sexual activity fosters everything from sexual and reproductive health to happiness. And one U.S. study of more than 1,800 people found that surges in oxytocin and endorphins (which have an apparent sedative effect) occurred as a result of orgasm, explaining why sex often leads to falling asleep.

Mushrooms increase immunity?

Specific mushrooms have been used in the Orient for hundreds of years to support the immune system as an aid in fighting infection. Researchers have discovered that some of these mushrooms are better than others in building up immunity. But let the buyer beware, as you have to be careful about the type of mushrooms you purchase.

Investigation shows that some imported mushroom preparations from China contain only rice flour and nutmeg. Others produced in the United States were found to have few of the active ingredients required to increase immunity. What these preparations should have contained was a mushroom called Cordyceps sinensis.

A natural mushroom product called ImmuneAssist 24/7 has been developed by a U.S. Nutraceutical company. ImmuneAssist 24/7 is prepared by a method called “hybridization” and contains Cordyceps sinensis plus five other super mushrooms.

Hybridization isn’t the same as genetic modifications, such as cloning. Rather, it’s a traditional method of crossbreeding mushrooms to enhance their natural immune-stimulating powers.

Research shows that the Full Spectrum Cordyceps sinensis hybrid has five times the potency of wild harvested Cordyceps sinensis. The other five mushrooms are also highly purified, making them rich with 200 immune enhancing polysaccharides, which stimulate the human immune response.

This combination of powerful ingredients in ImmuneAssist 24/7 increases the activity of natural killer cells. And this super mushroom product also contains EGCG, the polyphenol compound found in green tea, which helps to keep viral particles from being able to multiply within cells and is effective against the H1N1 virus.

No one can predict what H1N1 will do in the coming weeks. Some researchers believe that the virus will become resistant to the antiviral drug Tamiflu. If that happens all the more reason to boost your own immunity as it may be your first and most reliable defense.

ImmuneAssist 24/7 is only available in the United States. It can be obtained by calling the toll-free number 800-877-2447.

Protecting urself from infection spreading

During an epidemic, never forget these basic precautions.

1. Bow like the Japanese rather than shaking hands.
   
2. Avoid Handshaking has always been an unhealthy habit, a prime way to spread infection whether or not there’s an epidemic of SFV.
   
3. Get further protection by washing your hands frequently with soap and water.
4. Keep your distance from those who are coughing or sneezing, particularly when they don’t cover their mouths. One single sneeze fires out 40,000 infectious droplets at the speed of 100 miles an hour!
5. Minimize stress as it increases cortisol and the adrenal hormones, which decrease resistance to infection. Be sure to get adequate sleep, as those who are tired are more susceptible to infection. Stop smoking. There’s overwhelming evidence that smokers are less resistant to viral and other infections.
6. Eat smart. This means a well-balanced diet including colorful fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes, carrots, spinach, broccoli, mushrooms, apples, berries, cherries, and plums. These are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and protective phytonutrients that bolster the body’s defenses against disease. And add protein from wholesome fish, meat, and poultry.

The Philosophy of Dao

The laws of the Dao advocate moderation, living in harmony with nature and striving for balance.

Ancient Chinese believed that moderation in all areas of life is essential to a long and fruitful life. We are "fueled" by three treasures: Qi or Chi (pronounced chee), Shen, and Jing. Chi is energy or vital substance, Shen is the spirit, and Jing is our essence.

Qi is both the life force (or vital substance) and the organizing principle flowing through all things and establishing their interconnectedness. Chinese believe that every living thing (both human and non-human) has qi. In the body, qi is found in the heart and lungs in circulating blood and oxygen.

Shen is the treasure that gives brightness to life and is responsible for consciousness and mental abilities. Sometimes it is compared to soul. Within the individual shen is manifested in personality, thought, sensory perception, and the awareness of self.

Jing is responsible for growth, development and reproduction. Jing represents a person's potential for development. (comparable to western concept of genetical inheritance). Chinese believed that everyone is born with a finite amount of Jing. As we go through life, we lose or consume our Jing little by little. Once we lose Jing, it cannot be replaced. It is gone for ever. We lose Jing if we live a wrong or careless living. But Jing can be preserved if we live in moderation. Acupuncture can reduce the loss of Jing.

What is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture literally means "needle piercing," the practice of inserting very fine needles into the skin to stimulate specific anatomic points in the body (called acupoints or acupuncture points) for therapeutic purposes. Along with the usual method of puncturing the skin with the fine needles, the practitioners of acupuncture also use heat, pressure, friction, suction, or impulses of electromagnetic energy to stimulate the points. The acupoints (acupuncture points) are stimulated to balance the movement of energy (qi) in the body to restore health.

Acupuncture involves stimulating. In the past 40 years acupuncture has become a well-known, reasonably available treatment in developed and developing countries. Acupuncture is used to regulate or correct the flow of qi to restore health.

The five elements

Chinese philosophical model is the theory of the five elements. This theory states that all things in the cosmos are formed of the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, all of which interact with each other.

Since the human body in the gigantic universe was itself viewed as a “small universe,” these philosophical models were also applied to human beings. According to Chinese medical theory, all our bodily functions are controlled and maintained through a kind of vital energy called “qi.” This qi does not flow through our bodies aimlessly, but courses along certain channels—the so-called “meridians.” The forces of yin and yang also have an effect in the established energy flow.

Ginger

Ginger can be used not only as vegetable or spice, but also as medicine.

Ginger enters the energy channels of the lung, spleen, and stomach.

According to pharmacological researchers, ginger prevents aging and resists oxidation, it can stimulate the secretion of gastric juices, and it promotes digestion. It is excreted by the kidneys, so those who have kidney diseases should not use it.

Ginger tastes spicy and is used to get rid of colds, sputum, and coughs. It is used for treating “cold” diseases and is not supposed to be used for “warm” diseases.

In Chinese medicine, different foods have different “temperatures.” The temperature of the food partly determines its effect on the body.

Cooking ginger and brown sugar together and drinking while hot can be an effective way of combating a cold.

Chestnuts

Did you know that chestnuts contain up to 70 percent starch, 11 per cent protein, and around 7 percent fat? Chestnuts are also rich in vitamins, minerals, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and vitamins C, B1, and carotene—all of which it has more of than most foods.

Chinese medicine thinks that chestnuts are sweet in taste, warm in nature, nourishing to the stomach, and strengthening to the spleen and kidneys.

Chestnuts eaten raw can stop vomiting [of] blood, nose bleeding, blood in the stool, and other blood diseases.

According to the renowned Chinese medical doctor, Li Shizhen, from the Ming Dynasty, who made in-depth studies on chestnuts: “People who have cold inside and heavy diarrhea, let them eat 20 to 30 roasted chestnuts. The disease will be healed.” They are also good for a weak spleen, a weak stomach, or kidney deficiencies.

Modern medical research says chestnuts can prevent hypertension and hardening of the arteries.

Organs Have Their Own Circadian Clocks

Interestingly, scientists have discovered that the organs in our body are just like numerous independent beings with their own internal clocks.

In an article published in the May 2002 issue of Nature, researchers from Harvard Medical School and other research institutes reported an interesting discovery. By studying tissues of the hearts and livers of mice, they discovered that the physiological activities of the body were controlled by the local circadian clocks of the organs.

The chiming of each organ clock triggers different waves of gene activities, which can be adjusted over time to accommodate new schedules and life paces. The different organ clocks appear to be strikingly idiosyncratic in appearance.

For example, the clock located in the liver and the clock in the heart use very different sets of genes to perform the functions that are basically the same.

In the article, Charles Weitz, Harvard Medical School professor of neurobiology, explained: “Different tissues have to be cycling for different reasons. This allows organs to reset their activities according to their own priorities, which makes a lot of sense.”

The discovery shows that the organs have their own relatively independent metabolic activities. Ancient Chinese science actually regards these organs as independent lives. For example, the Tao School believes that our human body is a universe with various kinds of lives in it.

TCM also treats each organ as an independent system, with each different organ possessing different attributes. They have their own independent life activities, while interacting with each other.

For example, in TCM, there is a theory of Five Elements - kidney belongs to water, liver belongs to wood, lung belongs to metal, pancreas belongs to soil and so on. Different organs interact with each other via the principle of mutual-generation and mutual-inhibition among the Five Elements.

Moreover, ancient Chinese science believes that all things in the world have their own spirits. Therefore, one would pay attention to the time and season for picking tealeaves. In addition, there are strict requirements on the virtue of the persons who pick the herbs and teas.

Circadian Clock

The word "circadian" is a 20th-century invention. It was coined in 1959 from the Latin "circa" (around) + "diem" (a day). However, circadian rhythms have long been known. For example, the 18th-century Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus designed a garden that told time. He planted flowers in the garden that opened or closed their blossoms an hour apart around the clock.

Circadian: Refers to events occurring within a 24-hour period, in the span of a full (24-hour) day, as in a circadian rhythm. Circadian rhythmicity is a fundamental property possessed by all organisms. These rhythms are driven by an internal time-keeping system: a clock. Changes in the external environment, particularly in the light-dark cycle, entrain this biologic clock. Under constant environmental conditions devoid of time cues, rhythms driven by the clock show a period near, but usually not exactly equal to, 24 hours.

Humans have an internal 24-hour clock which regulates our daily activities such as sleep and waking. Difficulties in readjusting our clock causes jet lag, work shift problems and some types of sleep disorders. Circadian clocks affect almost every level of our bodily functions.

A gene for the biological clock in a mouse was identified and cloned in 1997, the first such gene to be identified at the molecular level in a mammal. The identification of the "Clock" gene was proved by restoring a functioning biological clock to a line of mutant mice which had lost normal circadian rhythms. This was done by inserting DNA for the "Clock" gene into developing embryos that lacked it. They were born with a normal biological clock and passed the gene for it on to their descendants. The discovery of this gene regulating behavior was thus accompanied by simultaneous proof that the gene has been located by 'rescuing' the lost function of the gene.

Reasons for illnesses

According to traditional Chinese medicine, reasons for illnesses are attributed to factors like inner heat, cold, dampness, dryness, fear, anger, shock, or worry.

What suggestions does Chinese medicine have for skin conditions and allergies

Some can be attributed to foods, which the body is unable to tolerate.

Such foods lead to itching, redness, crusting, or scaling. Even people who are normally allergy-free complain about increased itching in various places, and when scratched these spots become red and inflamed.

Chinese medicine also views these symptoms as a failure to accord with the seasons. Such lack of seasonal adjustments is increasing, because people devise ever more ways to artificially change their surroundings. There is more to it: It begins with overheated housing and ends with air-conditioned rooms. The human organism cannot tolerate such sudden changes. Heating and air conditioning provide a certain amount of comfort, but the over-use or misuse of these technologies can stress the body, and show up as skin irritations.

Why does one frequently get a cold following a change in season

According to Chinese medicine, this is due to ignorance in acclimatizing to the new season.

Spring is the time when all things begin to sprout, blossom, and bloom.

Summer is the time for growth.

Fall presents us with harvests, and winter is the time for rest.

Winter is the time of year to avoid hard work and stress as much as possible, protect oneself from the cold, and sleep as much as needed.

Chinese medicine II

Chinese medicine describes human physiology and psychology in terms of qi, a vital energy that circulates through energy channels called meridians.

Chinese medicine uniquely relates specific mental and physical functioning to corresponding meridians.

Qi balance is described in terms of yin and yang, which represent opposing qualities of energy. Human beings are considered healthy when the qi circulating in each meridian is balanced regarding yin and yang, sufficient in amount, and moving freely in the correct direction.

Acupuncture, one of the major treatment modalities of Chinese medicine, is the oldest and most commonly used medical procedure in the world.

Acupuncture has been used alone or integrated with Western medicine to treat a variety of psychiatric conditions, such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, pain, and addiction. There is ample scientific literature to support the use of acupuncture.

What will happen to qi and our major organs - Pain

When a person appears to be in pain, appropriate medical screening is necessary, but do not forget to regulate the emotions. To be healthy, the most important point is to first cultivate the heart.

What will happen to qi and our major organs - Fear

With excessive fear, people will be pale, dizzy, or even collapse. Some will have urinary incontinence. That is called “Fear leads qi downward,” and “Fear hurts the kidneys.”

What will happen to qi and our major organs - Grief

With excessive grief, people will have a low voice and are unable to speak with strength, be depressed, have chest tightness, and have shortness of breath, which is called “Sadness leads to qi disappearance,” “Worry leads to gloomy qi,” and “Sadness hurts the lungs.”

What will happen to qi and our major organs - Angry

When people are angry they become impatient, have a headache, red face, and may even faint. This can affect the spleen and the stomach, giving rise to symptoms such as vomiting and loss of appetite. That is called “Anger leads the qi up,” and “Ager leads to liver injury.”

What will happen to qi and our major organs - Startled

When people are startled, the heart qi becomes disordered, resulting in panic, palpitations, insomnia, anxiety, and even by mental disorders, which is called “Panic leads to qi chaos.”

What will happen to qi and our major organs - Excessive Happiness

When people are excessively happy, their heart qi slackens, and their minds becomes disordered. “Excessive happiness leads to loss of qi,” and “Excessive happiness hurts the heart.”

Chinese Medicine’s View of Stress

An appropriate amount of stress is helpful, but extreme physical and mental stress leads to health problems. People have seven kinds of mood: happiness, anger, worry, loneliness, grief, fear, and panic. Under normal circumstances that would not cause illness. However, excess emotion causes bodily discomfort. In today’s society, people have to face stress.

Chinese medicine believes that the true aim of health is to keep the physiological and psychological balance all the time. A moderately pleasant mood will balance the qi and the blood. Excessive emotions will affect viscera, resulting in the chaos of visceral qi, which leads to diseases.

Getting appropriate exercise, having a proper diet, and maintaining an even temperament are the ideal ingredients for a healthy life.

Qi

Qi (also spelled “chi”) is the essential concept in Chinese medicine.

Qi is a form of energy that exists both inside and outside the human body. For example, common terms describing human physiology, such as blood qi, defending qi, organ qi, meridian qi, nutritional qi, and that describing pathogenic energy from outside, such as qi for wind, dampness, heat, cold, and dryness, reflect that qi is the energy behind every aspect or function of ourselves or the universe around us.

Chinese medicine

Chinese medicine deals with illnesses twofold: It abolishes the symptoms and heals the underlying reason illnesses. By merely dealing with the symptoms, one prevents a precise analysis of illnesses, thus preventing genuine healing. Chinese medicine is progressive, because it fights illnesses on two fronts.

Chinese Medicine's View of Acne

Chinese medicine thinks that each viscera-related disease will be present on the surface of the body. Humans skins problems are certainly related to the viscera. The appearance of acne is clearly related to lung, spleen, heart, and liver dysfunction.

Dysfunction of the spleen and stomach happen when people drink and eat without restraint, eat a lot of meat and fat, drink a lot of wine, ear raw and cold food, and eat fried food. in order to avoid acne, man must control his eating and drinking.

The lungs connect with skin. The waste of skin metabolism goes through the pores and goes out with sweat. if the pores are dysfunctional, waste deposits in the pores, and acne appears. the modern way of living in rooms with cool air will lead to disorder of lungs.

The heart is the master of blood. That means the heart pumps blood to bring nutrition to the body. With lack of circulation, man will become pale. When blood becomes stagnated, the face will become dark and spots will appear. Busy modern life and work pressure makes blood sluggish, and acne will appear.

If liver qi does not flow smoothly that will cause liver dysfunction, which impairs digestion, and the transport function of the spleen and stomach becomes disordered and acne appears

Acne and various skin manifestations are surface signals of vicera and meridian dysfunction. When acne appears, it is a warning that lung, spleen, liver, heart functions have become disordered.

One must adjust internal visceral function to fundamentally solve skin problems.

Yin and Yang

Ancient Chinese philosophers, through close observation of nature and the universe, recognized the existence of two opposing forces—yin and yang. These two forces operate in opposition, yet they are complementary and interdependent.

This original Chinese philosophy considered the Theory of Yin and Yang as the fundamental law of the universe. Yin and yang can be seen in all aspects of nature, including human society. Without the existence of bad, there would be no good; without hatred, there would be no love. Yin and yang were also recognized in the polarities of day and night, cold and hot, man and woman, victory and defeat, and so on.

Yin refers to the energy of the moon. It is quiet, passive, serene, gentle, and nurturing. Yin is needed to balance Yang. Yin meridians indirectly connect to the ear through their corresponding Yang meridian. Yin is the parasympathetic nervous system.

Yang refers to the energy of the sun/daylight, positive, energetic, forceful, powerful. Yang meridians have direct connections to ear acupuncture points. Yang is the sympathetic nervous system.

How acupuncture works

The body is a delicate balance of two opposing and inseparable forces: yin and yang. Disease states are caused by imbalances due to blockages in the meridians. It is believed that there are 12 main meridians and 8 secondary meridians and that there are more than 2000 acupuncture points on the body that connect with them. These acupuncture points are ways of depleting or replenishing the energies, and unplugging the blockages.

Does acupuncture work?

Promising results have emerged with research on acupuncture on postoperative and chemotherapy nausea and vomiting and in postoperative dental pain. There are other situations which have shown promise in studies involving addiction, stroke rehabilitation, headache, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, ibromyalgia, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, low-back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and asthma.

Acupuncture

The intent of acupuncture

Promote health and alleviate pain.

Acupuncture views of health and sickness

• Vital energy, energetic balance, energetic imbalance
  
• The pathway of flow of the body's energy is through Meridians or Channels
• Acupuncture points (acupoints) are stimulated by small thin needles (most acupuncturists use disposable needles). Today, many additional forms of stimulation are incorporated including herbs, electricity, magnets, and lasers. The aim is to adjust the "vital energy"

How old is acupuncture?

Acupuncture originated in China over 2000 years ago

Chinese medicine View of Pain

From the Chinese medicine perspective, pain is caused by two energy imbalances. One is the blockage of energy channels. Energy or qi needs to flow smoothly to maintain normal function of body and mind. Wherever there is blockage of energy channels, there will be pain existing in the area. In other words, when energy is stagnated in the area, it causes pain.

The factors that are involved in causing the blockage of energy channels (also called meridians) include physical trauma, emotional distress, and excessive pathogenic energy from the environment, such as heat, cold, and dampness. Insect bites and excessive alcohol intake contribute to the problem as well. This type of pain is usually acute, severe, or intermittent, and it is migrating or fixed.

The other type of pain is principally caused by a deficient amount of energy moving in the body or body aches due to lack of nutrition supplied through good circulation. This type of pain is normally dull, chronic, and consistent and is in a fixed location. Very often, people have pain caused by both of above conditions.

Acupuncture treatment is often used after the evaluation of energy channels and determining the types of energy imbalances that are present.

Non drug approaches to help relieve pain

People try non-drug approaches to help relieve their pain, including physical and occupational therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, self-care techniques, and complementary and alternative therapies, such as spinal manipulation or acupuncture.

Pain

Pain is a feeling triggered in the nervous system. It may be sharp or dull, off-and-on or steady, localized or all over. Although pain usually goes away once the underlying problem is removed, it can last for weeks, months, or even years.

To relieve their pain, many people take over-the-counter medications including aspirin, naproxen, and ibuprofen. Stronger medications, including NSAIDs in higher dosages and narcotics, are available only by prescription.