by Dr. Talia Marcheggiani, ND | Feb 29, 2012 | Acupuncture, Asian Medicine, Digestion, Food, Nutrition, Recipes, Traditional Chinese Medicine
According to the Five Elements Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine, as taught to us in ASM 202 by Dr. Kassam, the Spleen and Stomach belong to the Earth element and are both responsible for digestion (the transportation and transformation of food into energy, or Qi).
According to our professor, The Spleen transports Gu Qi (the Qi, or energy, derived from food intake) to the rest of the body. It nourishes muscles, limbs and the intellect by allowing us to think, study, focus, memorize and concentrate (hello, exam time!).
When the Spleen is out of balance, Spleen Qi or Yang Deficiency or even Dampness can manifest. In the Western medical model, dampness is best explained as weight gain, or obesity: fluid retention, fat gain, abdominal distension, lethargy and difficulty concentrating.
The Spleen hates cold and damp foods and environments. Eating fat, cold, damp and sweet foods can aggravate the Spleen and lead to dampness or other spleen pathologies. Think dairy, refined sugars, fried foods, starchy foods and raw foods. (Eating to the bottom of a tub of Ben and Jerry’s while watching your favourite romantic comedy may be good for the soul, but it’s horrible for the Spleen!)
So, how can we tonify the Spleen and prevent or reverse dampness (read: lose weight)?
First, we need to help the Spleen digest food by making it easier to extract the necessary nutrients from the food we eat and letting what we don’t need go to waste rather than storing it as fat.
We need to focus on the foods that aid digestion and minimize the foods that the Spleen doesn’t like; foods that make it harder for the Spleen to digest and, thereby, contribute to dampness.
While working to tonify the Spleen it is important to avoid raw foods. Digesting raw foods takes a lot of work and can be damaging to an already compromised Spleen. It is important to cook foods, use warming spices, which help to prevent dampness by warming the body, and to avoid cold, sweet foods.
Eating in silence is important as it helps us focus our energies on digestion, allowing the Spleen to function optimally. Dr. Kassam, tells us that in Chinese cafeterias, rather than hearing the chatter you would expect to hear in a “Western” cafeteria all you hear is dense silence, interrupted by the occasional slurping noise or clattering of spoons against soup bowls. As far as the Spleen is concerned, it is important to eat for the sole purpose of eating. This means avoiding conversation, reading, checking email or studying while eating.
Avoid irregular eating habits and ensure that you eat a proper, protein-rich breakfast. Being hungry in the morning and at regular meal times is a good sign that the Spleen is working properly. According to TCM, hunger is the sensation of the Spleen “asking” for food.
Consider supplementing with a probiotic. Creating a healthy balance of gut flora aids the Spleen with digestion by improving the terrain in which digestion occurs.
OK, so what should I eat?
It is important to focus on foods that are slowly cooked and served warm, such as soups and stews. When preparing meals, use seasonal vegetables, moderate portions of meat and warming spices (ginger, garlic, turmeric, cardamom, etc.).
Congee is an excellent dish for tonifying the Spleen, aiding in digestion and reversing dampness or Spleen dysfunction. It is easy to digest, very warming and nutritive. To make Congee:
1 cup of rice (brown, long-grain or bismati, according to your preference)
9 cups of water
As many large chunks of fresh ginger (1/4 inch thick) as you desire
Any vegetables you have (preferably seasonal): mushrooms, kale, spinach, carrots, celery, etc.
Chopped green onions
Optional: chicken or turkey breast pieces
Bring pot to a boil over medium-high heat. Cook on low for 2-3 hours, or until the soup has a creamy consistency. Remove from heat and keep warm. Makes 6 servings.
*This post is not meant to diagnose or treat any medical condition and does not replace the advice of a licensed naturopathic doctor or doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
by Dr. Talia Marcheggiani, ND | Feb 27, 2012 | Art, Asian Medicine, Balance, Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, Clinic, Naturopathic Philosophy, Research, Robert Schad Naturopathic Clinic, Stress, Student
Another naturopathic exam session has come and gone. The end of our last midterm week tucked an uncomfortable 49 exams (in less than two years) under our already stuffed belts. Despite the over-stuffing of knowledge (taxing our Spleens, according to TCM, which is the equivalent of overeating at a buffet), I can’t help but feel empty at the end of these week-long ordeals.
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by Dr. Talia Marcheggiani, ND | Feb 7, 2012 | Asian Medicine, Meditation, Self-care, Sleep, Stress, Yoga
Cortisol, the stress hormone, is released as part of a the Fight or Flight response. You’ve probably heard the story: back when we were huntering and gathering, when faced with a wild, sabor-toothed tiger, adrenaline was released, our blood vessels dilated, our hearts beat faster, our breath became rapid, blood was directed from our digestive organs to our muscles and we prepared ourselves to either confront the hairy beast or head for the hills (or up a tree)!
Now, instead of sabor-toothed tigers, we have exams, deadlines, tension-filled family dinners, presentations to give and blog articles to write. Instead of experiencing the Stress Response for a fleeting moment, we experience it continuously throughout our professional lives.
During a normal, healthy day, cortisol is high in the morning, when we wake up. This enables us to feel awake and leap out of bed with the bright-faced vigor of the hated “morning person”. It enables us to start our daily activities. Cortisol should level off throughout the day and then peter off right before bed time, as we digest our dinners, cuddle with loved ones before the fire and prepare to settle down for a nice, long sleep.
Unfortunately, that’s the picture of a balanced individual living in a stress-free world. In today’s world, because we are continuously living in sabor-toothed tiger-mode, our normal cortisol cycle is out of whack. Cortisol is sluggish in the morning when we haul ourselves out of bed (after hitting the snooze as many times as you can remember) and groggily start our day (with the help of the beloved espresso machine). In the afternoon we crash; we feel tired and useless all day long. Then, right before bed (I’m sure many of you have experienced this), we feel an energy we never thought possible. At 11pm we experience a cortisol high, characterized by a flurry of mental and physical activity, and find it impossible to fall asleep. It is common to hear people who suffer from chronic fatigue lament: “I wish I was as energetic throughout the day as I am at bedtime!” Of course, the harder it is for us to get to sleep, the less we sleep and the worse we feel in the morning, worsening the cycle.
Here are some tips to attempt to break the cycle and prepare the body for bedtime:
1) Eliminate non-sleep activity in the bedroom. Reserve your bed and, preferably bedroom, for sleep and sex. Studying and doing work on your bed confuses the psyche. Only entering the bed when it’s time for sleep, signals to the brain that it’s time to rest.
2) Keep the bedroom dark. Even a minimal amount of light can lower melatonin levels, an important sleep hormone, and make it harder to fall asleep.
3) Limit the exposure to electronics (laptops, television, smart-phones, etc.) 1-2 hours before bedtime. Not only does the light from these devices interfere with melatonin secretion, they also contribute to the secretion of cortisol by stimulating mental activity and, if the activity is work-related, generating stressful thought.
4) Begin a pre-sleep routine. It can be a simple meditation or a series of calming yoga poses (try “legs up the wall pose”, pictured below). You may simply choose to sit quietly in the dark. When I have trouble falling asleep I access an audio podcast meditation on meditationoasis.com. This helps me turn off the Fight or Flight response by calming my mind.
5) Consider magnesium supplementation. Magnesium is a natural muscle relaxant. Taking a dose before bedtime helps reduce the muscle tension we have built-up over the course of our stressful day and helps relax the body and prepare for restful sleep. Talk to your naturopathic doctor about correct dosing and to find out whether supplementing with magnesium is suitable for you.
6) Sleep like Buddha. According to Ayurvedic medicine, as taught in my continuing education course with Matthew Remski, the right side of the body is the Solar Side, and the left side the Lunar side. Before bed the left nostril should be more open than the right, indicating that our left, or lunar, side is more active. Try lying on your right side and, with your right pinky, block your right nostril. Breath through the left nostril for 15 minutes. You may find that your left nostril feels “stuffy” at first. This tells you that your lunar side has not yet been activated. Continue breathing only through the left nostril and you will find that, after a small amount of time, it begins to unblock and becomes the more active nostril. In the East, all statues of sleeping Buddha show him lying on his right side with his right hand under his head, as he shuts down his solar side and prepares for sleep.
In the morning you may want to try blocking the left nostril and breathing only through the right in order to activate your solar side as you begin the day.
*This article is not meant to diagnose or treat. Please visit a trained naturopathic doctor for an individual consultation and treatment plan tailored to your individual needs.
by Dr. Talia Marcheggiani, ND | Feb 2, 2012 | Asian Medicine, Ayurvedic Medicine, Digestion, Food
According to Ayurveda, disease is a result of poor digestion and poor assimilation of food into the body. Therefore, when we take care to attend to our digestive health, we prevent the occurrence of disease.
Here are some tips from an excellent book a classmate lent me; The Path of Practice: A Woman’s Book of Ayurvedic Healing by Bri. Maya Tiwari, taken from page 355. These suggestions also happen to coincide with a talk that Erica gave to a group of colleagues at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine and so I have to give her credit as well!
1) Meal Sizing:
The largest meal of the day should be lunch. This is a very European method of eating and I practiced this tip while living in Colombia. It helped me feel balanced and nourished throughout the day. It also ensured I had a restful sleep in which I didn’t need to digest a large dinner. The size of the largest meal, according to Ayurvedic practice, should be the size of two anjali, two hands cupped together, or two cups (500 ml) of food. This is the maximum volume of food that the average human stomach can hold at a time.
The size of the other meals should be one anjali (one cup) or less. If you are a mentally and physically active person and eating this way over time results in hunger, then it is suggested that you increase the amount of meals in your day, limiting each one to the size of one anjali.
2) Food combining:
Fruits are best eaten alone, one hour before or after a meal. Fruit tends to ferment in the digestive tract and can interact with the digestion of other foods. Eating fruit and dairy products together should also be avoided (e.g.: fruit and yogurt or ice cream) because the acidity of the fruit can rot the milk in the stomach, leading to poor digestion and assimilation.
Avoid combining sweet and sour foods in the same meal. The two tastes counteract one another and irritate the digestive tract, which interferes with proper digestion. Also avoid complex combinations of food, which include dairy (basically every Standard American Diet food staple): tacos, lasagna, meat lover’s pizza, poutine, chili cheese fries and so on.
3) Preparing meals:
A nice tip from Matthew Remski, teacher of my “Everyday Nectar” Continuing Education Ayurvedic class (at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine) is that you should limit meals to no more than three different foods at a time. Making more complicated meals also complicates digestion. A great rule of thumb, especially as we move into Fall, is to try to cook all of your food in the same pot; think stews, soups, curries and rice dishes. This allows your stove to partially “digest” the food for you, making it easier on your body, which should conserve all the energy it can during this stressful season.
4) Stoking the digestive fires:
Drink 1/2 a cup (125 ml) of warm water before eating each meal. This helps to activate agni, the digestive fire that helps “burn” food and increase it’s absorption. Avoid drinking during or after a meal, especially cold water. This can affect the digestive fire in the stomach, prevent proper food breakdown and even lead to weight gain.
5) Eating mindfully:
Practice eating mindfully and chewing eat bite of food thoroughly. In naturopathic medicine it is common to hear people say “drink your food and chew your water”, meaning that food is chewed into a liquid before being swallowed. My family and I eat like wolves and this practice is extremely difficult for me to adhere to. However, I find that, when I try to chew properly, I experience less abdominal bloating after meals. I also feel more satisfied after eating and experience less food cravings. According to ayurveda, proper chewing ensures thorough digestion and assimilation, which also satisfies emotional cravings for food. This is especially helpful for people who crave unhealthy foods or who tend to binge eat.
Lastly, Bri. Maya Tiwari tells us to “practice eating our meals in a spirit of harmony and gratitude.” When we engage in serious, stressful conversation at the dinner table or eat on the run we are essentially wasting our body’s digestive juices and preventing their secretion. Digestion is a very difficult, energy-consuming task for the body. It is essential that we acknowledge the effort our body is making to break down our food and absorb the nutrients. Food should be eaten slowly and mindfully, sitting down, and preferably in silence. In many cultures grace is given before a meal. It may help you to silently say your own grace, giving thanks for the opportunity to eat the food before you and to your body for the ability to digest and assimilate the nutritious food that you have prepared for it.
I’ll admit that these tips are not easy to incorporate into one’s busy lifestyle, especially if you love to inhale your food (like me) or if you tend to rush through meals on auto-pilot. At first, these tips can be daunting, however, giving each one thoughtful consideration and taking the time to mindfully assimilate each one into your daily routine can have profound effects on your health, preventing gut irritation, bloating, food cravings and weight gain.
This article was also featured on active.com, and received by many dissenting commenters! Feel free to check it out and become part of the debate.
*This article is not meant to diagnose or treat any disease. Please visit a naturopathic doctor or ayurvedic specialist for a complete assessment and treatment plan.
by Dr. Talia Marcheggiani, ND | Jan 31, 2012 | Asian Medicine, Ayurvedic Medicine, Family, Homeopathy, Law of attraction, Love, Spirituality
We’ve all heard the Golden Rule before: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”, and its many variations. But, how valid is this rule and it’s impact on leading a happy, healthy and morally sound life? I look at lessons in homeopathy and ayurvedic philosophy for insight.
Ayurvedic philosophy states that the reason for abstaining from morally unsound deeds (lying, stealing, killing, etc.) is because, once one begins to engage in these acts, one begins to create a world in which these acts become feasible. In essence, the ayurvedic philosophers claim that we create our own reality: once we begin to steal and lie, we create a reality in which stealing and lying becomes possible and we run the risk of other people beginning to steal and lie to us.
This concept of creating your own reality is inherent in homeopathic theory as well. In homeopathy, in order to understand the case that a patient presents with we must examine every minute detail about the patient. If someone expresses a frustration about something or someone that appears distinct from themself (“people are liars” or “you can’t trust anyone”) they are really expressing a statement about themselves. Our professor Dr. Nadia Bakir tells us that in order to recognize something about our environment we are really recognizing it from a point deep within ourself. If we didn’t already embody this characteristic then we wouldn’t be able to observe it in others – it wouldn’t be a part of our reality. In some ways it makes sense, those who embody the characteristic of cynicism tend to see the negative side of life, ignoring the positive and even managing to manifest negative outcomes in their own life situations.
This means that, in order to live in a world where people are honest, thoughtful and generally concerned about others we must first work to cultivate those characteristics in ourselves. As Gandhi says “Be the change you wish to see in the world”.
It must be said that these concepts can be dangerous if we take them a step further and claim that people who are the victims of unfortunate accidents or deadly diseases “brought it on themselves”. However, there is some evidence that suggests people who think positively about their cancer diagnoses, for example, experience greater quality of life and a better prognosis.
This philosophy is not meant to undermine those who have experienced loss or are going through a difficult time. It only serves as an inspiration for those who wish to cultivate a better world and take some responsibility for their outlook on life. It’s important to understand that we don’t each live in our glass bubble. Our personal views manifest as actions and our actions affect other people, which in turn affect how those people react to us. So, in a sense there is some truth to “doing unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
by Dr. Talia Marcheggiani, ND | Jan 26, 2012 | Asian Medicine, Ayurvedic Medicine, Balance, Diet, Digestion, Exercise, Finding yourself, Meditation, Preventive Medicine, Self-care, Yoga
This is the third part of the Ayurvedic Dosha Series. In Part 1 we discussed Vata Dosha and, in Part 2, Pitta Dosha.
While most people are predominant in one constitution, there are a number of people who represent a combination of two Doshas – I myself am Pitta-Kapha dosha – and even a very small number of people who identify as being Tridoshic (people who represent an equal proportion of the three constitutions). Each constitution has its own strengths and weaknesses. In balancing a person’s Doshas, the goal is to reduce any aggravations and tendencies towards imbalance so that we can experience the strengths that are present in our individual personalities.
Kapha, the third and final dosha, is made up of earth and water element. Kapha is wet, grounded, slow and substantial. People who are predominant in Kapha dosha embody the following characteristics:
– Larger body size and tendency to gain weight easily
– Moist, oily skin and thick hair
– Rounded facial features: large, calm eyes, full lips and large, bright teeth
– Slow metabolism: little hunger, cold temperature, slow digestion and elimination
– Relaxed, calm and humorous demeanor
– Tendency towards laziness and lethargy
– Sentimental and loyal with a tendency towards attachement
– Slow and constant with excellent endurance
Kapha dosha tends to be slow, steady and constant. People of this dosha are relaxed and easy-going but have a tendency to be overly lazy. Kapha types do well working with people and are often loyal and nurturing friends and family members. People of this constitution have the tendency towards disorders of congestion: edema, weight gain and depression.
Kaphas can achieve balance by engaging in vigorous physical activity such as brisk walking, running or weight-lifting. When doing yoga, Kaphas benefit from the more sweat-inducing Ashtanga or Bikram yoga types. People of Kapha constitution should avoid sleeping in late and eating greasy, heavy foods. They should instead focus on eating pungent and astringent foods (think spicy rice crackers and salads). A good restorative yoga pose for relieving Kapha-like congestion in the lower body is to lie on the ground, with a pillow under the sacrum and the legs straight, at 90 degrees above the hips (or against a wall).
Balanced Kapha has a strong sense of well-being, steadiness and affection. Kapha types learn slowly but have a great ability to retain information and have a great memory.
For more information on Ayurveda and the 3 Doshas (and other Ayurvedic theories and lifestyle tips) click on the following resource:
http://www.ayurveda.com/
You can also check out the Continuing Education Ayurveda educator, Matthew Remski’s beautifully written blog at:
http://matthewremski.com/
by Dr. Talia Marcheggiani, ND | Jan 25, 2012 | Asian Medicine, Ayurvedic Medicine, Balance, Diet, Digestion, Exercise, Finding yourself, Mental Health, Yoga
This is the second part of a series I am writing on the ayurvedic Doshas: a combination of natural elements that characterize our unique physical, emotional and mental constitutions.
Click here to read Part 1 – Vata Dosha. Identifying your own constitution helps you learn more about your tendency towards imbalance so that you can develop lifestyle practices to bring yourself back into a balanced state of health.
Pitta Dosha is a mixture of fire and water elements. People who are dominantly of Pitta constitution exhibit some or all of the following characteristics:
– Muscular, average build
– Firey temperament: competitive, tendency towards anger and frustration
– Oily complexion that is sometimes reddish (red-tinged hair, rosy skin)
– Possession of a fast metabolism: the ability to digest food quickly, feeling ravenous if forced to skip a meal
– Aversion to heat
– Tendency towards inflammatory disorders
– Inspirational speaker, concerned with themes of justice and “sticking up for the little guy”
– Hard-working, ambitious, organized and achievement-oriented
Pitta types are firey in both personality and physical constitution. They are often leaders in society, hard-workers and can be competitive. They are very intelligent but have the tendency towards anger and frustration at others’ incompetence. Pitta types rarely suffer from digestive complaints because of their strong, firey digestion (unless they abuse spicey foods or alcohol). They mainly suffer from inflammatory complaints such as arthritis, acne or migraines. Pittas have the tendency to overextend themselves. They represent the constitution that is most susceptible to conditions of the over-stressed (stomach ulcers, high blood pressure, etc).
Balancing Pitta involves cooling down. As with Vata dosha, Pitta benefits from meditation and slow movement. Creamy, cooling foods such as fruits and smoothies help Pitta people lower their revved up body temperature. An exercise that is recommended for those who are feeling agitated and frustrated is to lie outside (preferably in decent weather) and gaze at the open sky. Performing this routine for 30 minutes greatly reduces Pitta agitation and helps re-balance an otherwise firey, overly stressed constitution.
I firmly believe that most students at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine are of predominantly Pitta constitution! This Dosha is predominant in high-profile business people and politicians (think Jack Layton). When balanced, Pitta people have the potential to become very successful leaders and make lasting changes to society.
Visit this blog tomorrow (Thursday) for Part 3 – Kapha Dosha.
by Dr. Talia Marcheggiani, ND | Jan 24, 2012 | Asian Medicine, Ayurvedic Medicine, Balance, Diet, Digestion, Exercise, Finding yourself, Meditation, Preventive Medicine, Self-care, Yoga
Ayurveda is the ancient Indian science of healing meaning “Science of Life” (maybe that’s why I was drawn to a degree in Life Sciences!). Similar to Traditional Chinese Medicine, ayurveda uses the elements as a means of understanding certain properties of nature.
Ayurveda’s 5 elements differ from those of The 5 Element Theory of TCM. They are: ether (space), air, water, fire and earth. Distinct combinations of these elements form to create 3 Doshas: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. These Doshas characterize various properties of nature and, in humans, combine to form a unique constitution. Achieving a perfect health balance has much to do with pacifying the dominant Dosha that characterizes your individual self and enhancing less dominant Doshas.
Vata Dosha is made up of the elements air and ether. A person who is predominantly Vata will have some of the following characteristics:
– Thin build, difficulty putting on weight
– Shorter or taller than average
– dryer hair that may break easily and is typically curly
– Tendency towards nervousness or anxiety
– Digestive problems (excess gas, bloating)
– Tendency to move or fidget
– Naturally creative and spontaneous
– Has a hard time staying on task
Vata is airy and like the wind. Therefore, people who are dominant in this dosha tend to have drier skin and hair, feel ungrounded and anxious at times, often get distracted and have a harder time staying on one task. When balanced, Vata types are very creative, sensitive individuals who are full of ideas and inspirational energy. They thrive as artists and working in creative think tanks, in a setting where they can generate a million ideas at once.
Balancing Vata dosha involves setting a routine. Vata should wake up, have meals and go to bed at the same time everyday. Sleeping in (if possible) to the later hours of the morning is beneficial. Vatas are balanced by eating lots of warm, cooked and oily foods (soups, stews and curries), which help combat their tendency towards dryness and flighty digestion. This constitution also benefits from slow, constant, repetitive exercise such as restorative or yin yoga and long, gentle walks. Lying in “corpse pose” with pillows across the thighs will help weigh a Vata aggravated person down. That, combined with meditation, can help balance a nervous Vata mind and help ground Vata’s airyness.
Visit my blog tomorrow (Wednesday) and Thursday for Part 2 – Pitta Dosha and Part 3 – Kapha Dosha!
by Dr. Talia Marcheggiani, ND | Jan 17, 2012 | Acupuncture, Anti-aging, Asian Medicine, Sex, Sexual Health, Traditional Chinese Medicine
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, sexual health is largely managed by the Kidney organ system.
Keep in mind, of course, that as with all organ systems of TCM, when we speak of the “Kidney” we are not talking about the actual, Western kidneys. TCM must be understood as its own paradigm, and students must try to refrain from drawing too many parallels with Western medicine, as it only serves to confuse and frustrate, rather than educate and enlighten.
That being said, In TCM the Kidneys are in charge of essence, an important yin energy. We are born with a set amount of essence, which, unlike Qi, can never be replenished. When we age, our essence is slowly depleted, causing our hair to turn grey and fall out, our face to show signs of aging and our teeth to loosen and fall. If that didn’t sound like fun already, there is also an increase in sexual dysfunction as energy levels and libido lower. Therefore, sexual dysfunction, which is everything from low libido to impotence, usually indicates a problem with Kidney energy.
Unfortunately, while Kidney essence garners sexual and reproductive health, it is also depleted by engaging in sexual intercourse. According to the book Behind the Jade Screen by Dr. Hong Zen Zhu, we can never replenish essence but there are ways in which we can conserve it, especially when it comes to sexually practices:
An exercise call Qi Gong can be used before sex to help regulate Qi. This exercise works by guiding Kidney Qi (or Kidney energy) to the sex organs to make them strong and therefore, preventing impotence from excessive loss of essence. This Qi Gong exercise involves mental concentration. It should be learned under the training of a professional Qi Gong instructor. Keep in mind that Qi Gong’s benefits extend greatly beyond sexual health and is an excellent way of preserving essence and encouraging the flow of Qi.
To prevent a loss of fluid and bodily dryness, and to prepare for intercourse, both males and females can guide their fluids by sending yin energy down to the organs. This can be done by swallowing saliva and contracting the anus. This benefit has to do with sending moisture in the right direction, which prevents the loss of moisture and important yin energy.
It is important for partners to stay mindfully in tune with their own bodies and gauge when each of their spiritual and physical energies is ready for sexual intercourse. Practicing proper timing not only keeps one aware of their body, it also helps to value the act of sexual intercourse and it’s potential to tax the body through essence depletion. It also helps and strengthens the sexual relationship with his or her partner. (In other words, according to the Chinese, if you’re not feelin’ it, don’t just do it because there’s nothing good on TV!)
According to TCM it is important not to rush sex (sorry to all you “quickie” fans out there!). In order to store or save Qi, people should try to release energy slowly by moving slowly and guiding Qi down to the lower part of the body during sex. It’s also important to practice peaceful movement during the act. Overly aggressive sexual activity (as well as excess anger) can result in energy stagnation.
There is another Qi Gong technique for men who are experiencing a loss of Qi and have a partner with adequate Qi. The exercise is called “Taking out the Qi“. In this exercise the man withdraws before ejaculation in order to try to “steal” some Qi from his partner. Again, it is important to consult a Qi Gong instructor before attempting these techniques.
After sex it is important to recover. Both partners need peaceful relaxation to give the physical Qi and life essence a chance to recuperate. Resting and relaxing after intercourse also gives the spiritual energy a chance to gather its forces.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, there are various ideas about how often an individual can “safely” engage in sex without damaging his or her essence and thereby contributing to premature aging and sexual dysfunction. Dr. Sun Si Miao, a physician and Taoist of the Tang Dynasty who lived from 580 to 682 (101 years), gives the following guidelines for a healthy amount of sexual activity. It is important to contrast these guidelines with what we are taught to expect is “normal” from our own North American culture. I think you will find that a healthy balance lies in the middle of your own experience and the TCM recommendations given over 2500 years ago.
Teens: Contrary to what the media pressures us to believe in today’s society, in Ancient China it was thought that teenagers didn’t have enough strong, mature energy to engage in sexual activity yet.
20’s: It is healthy to have sexual intercourse once every 4 days. Engaging in sex more frequently at this age runs the risk of prematurely depleting Kidney essence.
30’s: Once every 8 days
40’s: Once every 16 days
50’s: Once every 20 days
60’s: Once a month, if the individual is fairly healthy. If the individual had a history of health disorders or generalized weakness, then only occasional sexual activities was recommended.
70’s: Whether healthy or not, sex would use up too much energy therefore sex is not recommended at all.
For those who (and I imagine there are many of you!) feel that these guidelines are extremely conservative, don’t fear! One can improve sexual function by following some of the above tips and receiving regular acupuncture treatments, which treat the Kidney meridian. There are also some simple, at-home exercises that can be done to maintain Kidney essence, good sexual energy and general health. Here is one:
The Gushing spring K-1 massage:
This is a massage of the first point on the Kidney acupuncture channel, which can be found on the sole of the foot, one third of the way from the toes to the heel.
In order to perform this massage, sit on a cushion and use left hand to hold the toes of the left foot. Then use the heel of the right hand to massage the point briskly, in a circular motion 100 times. You should feel a pleasant warmth at this point.
The purpose of this exercise is to push the Kidney energy along this meridian to help improve the connection between the Heart and the Kidney. It helps in the treatment of Kidney problems such as low sexual energy, frequent urination and impotence, and Heart problems like spiritual disorders, insomnia and anxiety. It is beneficial to soak your feet in warm water for 5-7 minutes before the exercise, then perform the massage and go directly to bed.
Hey, it’s cheaper and less painful than a Botox injection!
