Team

Kindness is good for the health

by Team | 2020,Oct, 2022 | Harmony and health

Being kind and compassionate benefits the heart

At a time when materialism and self-centeredness have undermined humanity, it is high time to reconnect with the values that make us human. Among these, kindness and compassion are natural to humans; what’s more, practicing them has a positive impact on our health. So why deprive ourselves of them?

Before exploring this hypothesis in more detail, let us take the time to study our emotions and more particularly the one that emanates from the heart: joy.

According to Chinese Medicine (TCM) and its theory of the Five Elements, joy is the emotion associated with the heart. TCM has also identified the heart as the seat of Shen, “the transcendent light that shows itself to men”, which can be simply translated as spirit.

The heart is the mirror of our psychological and emotional state. A man whose heart is strong is serene, frank in his outlook. He is clear in his speech and fair in his judgment. His complexion is luminous because the complexion is the reflection of the heart. Conversely, if the Shen is deficient or disturbed, the heart will be directly affected. In this case, any emotion experienced in excess can hurt the heart and lead to confusion or difficulty in expressing oneself clearly.

Similarly, a person with a deficient Shen may not fulfil his or her potential due to lack of discernment and/or lack of joy.

“The Heart is the vital centre, it symbolises the self, the spiritual sun in man. This centre is transcendent to man. That by which this transcendent centre will make itself known to man, the soul or ray emanating from the sun” according to ancient texts of the Chinese masters.

The Heart is vulnerable to emotional excesses

In fact, emotions systematically call upon the Liver and the Heart. The Hun (entity or consciousness of the Liver) is the shield of the organism, it governs through the Liver the decongestion and the drainage. It is thus in the front line to receive external disturbing emotions. Through its drainage function, it is there to facilitate the elimination of disordered feelings. Indeed, emotions are a form of refined Qi. As Qi and Blood are interdependent, if Heart Blood is sufficient, mental activity will be sharp and clear. If the Blood of the Liver is abundant, then the Shen will be calm.

We therefore understand that the Shen, through the Heart, represents the synthesis of the psycho-affective life. It governs all the other organs in their spiritual dimension. Consequently, the heart is particularly vulnerable.

It is therefore important to learn to manage the flow of our emotions to avoid excesses in order to protect our heart. Indeed, the heart is considered by Chinese medicine as the Emperor of the organs. We can also preserve our heart by nurturing good feelings towards ourselves and others. For kindness and compassion nourish the heart. And a “good heart” is a source of good health.

“Be kind and compassionate” is therefore not a religious or philosophical precept, but a recommendation of the old Chinese masters to cultivate a quiet mind.

Research gives us its results

Alongside Chinese medicine, science has also regularly examined the links between altruistic feelings, generosity, or kindness, and human health. Here are some of the studies conducted on this topic.

In 2016, Dr. Katherine Nielson-Coffey demonstrated the impact of acts of kindness on our health. With her team, she studied the difference in effect between prosocial acts (picking up trash, offering coffee to a stranger, opening the door, etc.) and self-centered acts (taking a hot bath, doing something good for oneself). The first group, which practiced altruistic acts of kindness, experienced greater emotional well-being than the second group.

Another researcher, Dr. David Hamilton, who studies the effects of stress on cardiovascular health, observed that acts of kindness can cause an increase in oxytocin. This chemical, secreted in the hypothalamus, lowers blood pressure and reduces the impact of stress on the body.

Charles Darwin had already emphasized the importance of kindness in human beings. According to him, kindness is an instinct inherent in humans. Its function is to ensure the survival of all living beings. The human tendency toward sympathy is instinctive, not cultural, and even stronger than the instinct for self-preservation.

A link between generosity and gray matter

In another study, psychologist Nancy Eisenberg discovered that children with strong vagal tone are more cooperative and inclined to give.

Just recently, a study conducted by Zurich researchers demonstrated a correlation between generosity and gray matter. Indeed, the volume of a certain region of the brain influences people’s willingness to be altruistic, explains Professor Ernst Fehr of the University of Zurich in the journal Neuro.

By observing the brain activity of the study participants, the researchers observed that generous people had more gray matter than stingy ones.

These studies demonstrate a link between altruistic acts, generosity, and kindness, and health and happiness. We’ve all experienced this at least once. So, even if we don’t do it out of altruism, why not practice kindness, generosity, or compassion more often? This practice of kindness will help us find our inner sunshine, joy, and improve our health.

Practicing Kindness for Well-being

Meditating while feeling compassion for others shifts resting brain activation to the left hemisphere, a region associated with happiness, and boosts immune function.

Giving to others, rather than indulging in narcissistic desires, brings lasting well-being.
Giving awakens the power of the heart and brings joy.

Laughing and playing in the face of trauma or difficult situations improves resilience and adaptation. More and more people are participating in laughter yoga groups.

The 7 keys to healing

by Team | 2121,Sep, 2022 | Harmony and health

Transforming to regain health

Healing a cold or indigestion is easy. The body heals itself. But how can you overcome chronic ailments you’ve been carrying around for years, or a serious illness? Healing can then become a true quest that requires commitment, courage, perseverance… and faith. Here are some keys to entering the virtuous circle of healing.

1. Understanding Illness

No one is immune to being affected by a serious illness or suffering from chronic disorders (allergies, migraines, diabetes, depression, etc.).

Yet, health is our natural state. According to Chinese medicine, it corresponds to a state of harmony. Illness is therefore the result of disharmony.

It is necessary to examine the source of this disharmony in order to resolve it. Illness is a warning signal, inviting us to clean up our lives and therefore make changes.

A major obstacle to healing is resistance to change. The patient will invent excuses to avoid pursuing what can be beneficial. Overcoming this type of self-sabotage requires real introspection. This work, however painful, plays a vital role in healing.

2. Be the actor of your healing

Healing cannot be bought. Because it is not the doctor who heals the patient, but the patient who heals themselves with the help of the therapist.

It is therefore ineffective to shift the burden onto the doctor by relying on them to perform miracles. Too many patients thus adopt a passive attitude, hoping that the doctor will cure them without them having to do anything.

This is pure illusion!

The therapist supports the patient in their healing, providing them with their energy and tools. But healing is first and foremost the patient’s responsibility.

Young man checking his bristle hair on face

3. Question Yourself

Human beings need security. They find it in familiar territory. Therefore, the sick person will naturally seek this security in their lifestyle… and therefore in what they know.

But if an unsuitable lifestyle has led to the illness, healing involves questioning it. It will therefore first be a matter of seeking the cause of the illness. Then we will make improvements to our lifestyle.

This includes our thoughts and emotions, which play a major role in our health. This can go as far as a concrete change: of job, living space, or even partner in some cases… And this is where the main challenge lies.

4. Think health

We will therefore need to be brave enough to explore uncharted territory. In clinical practice, we sometimes see people who prevent themselves from seeking treatment for reasons that seem trivial compared to the expected benefits.

Some will refuse to try acupuncture even once for fear of needles. Others will be so disgusted by the Chinese herbal potion that they refuse to swallow it. The ego has a thousand ways to prevent us from changing, and therefore from healing.

Allopathic medicine focuses on illness. It likes to name diseases, even going so far as to create names for syndromes that it admits it doesn’t know how to treat! Moreover, by focusing on the symptom, it fails to treat the cause.

Furthermore, the chemical treatments it offers generate side effects, and therefore new ailments. We thus enter a vicious circle that distances the patient from their health.

Conversely, traditional medicines use natural techniques (diet, plants, massage, acupuncture, etc.) to restore and then maintain health. These techniques restore harmony through a holistic approach.

As balance is restored, the patient regains their ability to self-heal.

Thinking “healthy” means avoiding obsessing over illness, whatever it may be. Worry and fear prevent one from regaining health. Many patients identify with their illness to the point that it becomes a part of themselves. Their illness thus becomes their thing; “my illness,” they will say.

It is by honoring life that we keep illness at bay! This requires maintaining a healthy lifestyle, which includes practices aimed at improving health and longevity.

5. Be resolutely positive

The body and mind are closely linked. Cultivating a positive mindset has a positive impact on healing and will lead to concrete actions such as:

Change your diet,
Take a significant break from work,
Go on a nature retreat,
Fasting,
Practicing a physical activity….

6. Learning to manage emotions

Emotions play an important role in our overall balance. Chinese medicine associates each organ with an emotion, and therefore if the emotion is excessive, or repressed, it will attack the associated organ.

It is therefore essential to be aware of our emotions and to learn to distance ourselves from them.

Some will consult a traditional doctor (Chinese, Ayurvedic, naturopathic), or a psychotherapist. Others will start practicing meditation, qi gong, or a martial art. These disciplines allow people to learn to manage their emotions and to know themselves better.

7. Return to universal rules

Nature has its rules. Man, being part of this nature, must respect them to be healthy (see article Yǎngshēng).

Unfortunately, most people, especially city dwellers, live against these rules. Giving ourselves the means for a healthy life is therefore about getting closer to Nature and its rhythms… and thereby to our nature.

However, implementing these principles comes up against obstacles, one of which is time. Where can I find the time to cook my own vegetables, to prepare my fresh juices in the morning, to meditate, to practice qi gong, or simply to rest?

Choosing to take this time is already a step on the road to recovery.

Spirituality: an essential dimension of health

Largely inspired by the observation and contemplation of nature, Taoism invites humanity to be modest in the face of the universe, Nature, and its rules. Wise people therefore choose to live in harmony with the universe, understanding that it is in their best interest to respect the laws that constitute it.

Indeed, their health can only be complete if they accept this fundamentally spiritual dimension as they accept their material dimension. Balance is the foundation of Taoist philosophy. This balance is found in the complementary opposites of earth and sky, yin and yang, etc. Nothing in the universe is conceived as intrinsically evil. Good needs evil, and vice versa.

By fighting against nature or trying to dominate it, human beings find only unhappiness. However, humans who demonstrate humility can learn from their mistakes, correct them, and thus move closer to a state of harmony, and therefore health.

Impact of emotions

by Team | 2222,May, 2022 | Traditional chinese medicine

Taming our emotions

In a recent article, we explained how emotions can affect our health and be an obstacle to our full health. So, what can we do to avoid this? We will see how to tame our emotions so that they become our life partners and stop harming us.

How to regulate emotions

Ancient texts recommended regulating emotions by pursuing activities that soothe the mind. They also advised finding constructive outlets for emotions, especially anger. Finally, they emphasized the importance of developing a fulfilling life, one that allows for both contentment and compassion. This advice is still relevant today, and we will explore it in more detail.

Controlling and regulating emotions requires first being aware of them. This seems obvious, but experience shows that many people are not. This is particularly true with the emotion of anger, the expression of which is increasingly taboo in our society. It has long been taboo in Asia. So, instead of recognizing and expressing this emotion, we hold it back. It becomes then unconscious and is projected onto those around us. Therefore bringing emotions back to consciousness is a major step on the road to healing.

Maintaining Peace of Mind

According to ancient Chinese medicine texts, a healthy mind is considered the foundation of health and longevity. The mind acts as the rudder of life and therefore controls all physiological functions.

TCM identifies two types of mental activity: emotional and mental. Thus, caring for the mind means calming one’s thoughts and regulating one’s emotions.

A tranquil mind is believed to be peaceful, free from excessive desires and distracting thoughts. It is unaffected by external changes.

Taishang Laojun’s ancient book Health-Preservation Skills identifies “six harmful elements”, namely:

fame and profit, the desire for which should be suppressed;

sexual desire, which one should not allow oneself to be controlled by;

wealth, for which one should not be greedy;

rich food, which one should not eat in excess;

unrealistic fantasies, which must be eliminated because they distract thoughts from reality and are harmful to the mind;

jealousy, or envy, which should also be eliminated;

laziness, against which we must “wag war.”

A healthy lifestyle

The Canon of Medicine (Nei Jing), a major classic of TCM, advises: “Do not let yourself be weighed down by perplexed thoughts; strive to be calm and optimistic; be complacent (calm in the face of situations that may cause anger); and keep the sound in body and mind. In this way, one can live to the age of 100.” Let us recall here the basic principles of a healthy lifestyle:

Eat at the right time (regular mealtimes);
Eat appropriate foods (balanced diet, quality and quantity);
Drink regularly, enough but not too much;
Engage in regular intense exercise;
Retain a good balance between activity, leisure, and rest.

Indeed, this healthy lifestyle will help maintain good vitality and a smooth circulation of blood and therefore qi. This will thus promote the balanced functioning of our organs. Because of the relationship between organs and emotions, the more balanced our physical body is, the more stable our mind and emotions tend to be.

Healing tools

Emotional imbalance is not inevitable. As soon as we become aware of recurring emotional excess, we can take action to rebalance it. Here are some effective tools for treating emotional disorders and stabilizing the mind.

Medical help

- Chinese medicine: acupuncture, herbs, dietetics;
- Psychological help. When the roots of excessive emotion are deep or unconscious, psychological work may be necessary.

Healing activities

- Qi gong, taiji chuan, martial arts;
- meditation;
- yoga (becoming a yogi, not a yoga practitioner);

A healthy daily attitude

- These tools will be more effective if we take care of our behavior in our daily lives. This means developing awareness and cultivating a positive mindset. Indeed, it’s no coincidence that “positive thinking” and “law of attraction” techniques are fashionable these days. They adapt to our needs in this society.
- “Be kind and compassionate” is what the ancient Chinese masters recommended. Kindness and compassion nourish the heart, the emperor of organs. Thus, a “good heart” is a factor of stability and health.

Achieve a fulfilling life

Young woman covering eyes of her boyfriend in the kitchen

To have a peaceful mind, we must therefore find our path to a fulfilling life. This means nourishing all areas of our lives, through:

an activity we love (professional or not);

practicing activities that uplift the spirit and bring joy (music, dance, qigong, tai chi, yoga, or any other type of art), various games;

spending time in nature, gardening, or caring for animals;

developing harmonious relationships, including a fulfilling sexuality.

The challenges of our life

More and more of us are facing a major challenge: “I am frustrated in my work. I don’t feel good there. Is there any way I can improve my work environment to feel better? Or should I leave it as soon as possible, risking financial insecurity.” This challenge often comes down to this crucial choice: health or money?

There are others, related to our environment and lifestyle, that rob us of full fulfillment:

Frustration and dissatisfaction. These frustrations can be found not only in our work but also in our family life, in our relationship with our children. Excessive pressure & lack of time do not favor a harmonious life.
Urban life. Many of us live in big cities. Therefore we are disconnected from nature, which is however a major source of balance, resourcefulness and peace.
The rhythm of life. It is mainly based on work and the need to earn money. It ignores the biological and natural needs of the human being and thus goes against his blooming.
Lack of spirituality. The spiritual aspiration, which is part of our natural balance, is neglected nowadays.

To face these constraints sometimes subjects us to real emotional storms. It will then prove necessary to seriously question our way of life.

Martial art and life

by Team | 44,Oct, 2021 | Healing Arts

A path to full health

Martial arts are often associated only with fighting. However, a true martial art is much more than that. It is an art that involves the whole person: body and mind. The practice of a martial art is a real tool for personal development. Its ultimate goal is the plenitude of the being and serenity.

The martial artist seeks to develop a strength that allows him to face different types of trials experienced as aggressions. What is this strength? Does it come from an abundance of muscles and proven fighting techniques? Many combat sports falsely lead their students to believe that they are practising self-defence against external aggressors. But the ultimate goal of self-defence is to learn to face our own inner struggles and keep our ego at bay. This is where the martial artist will find this strength.

Our experience of practice, as well as numerous meetings with teachers and masters in martial arts have confirmed that the goal of martial arts is to build the individual to become a Warrior.

The warrior differs from the common mortal by the meaning he gives to his life. The warrior is in a permanent quest to connect with the forces of the universe. He seeks to live in harmony with himself and with his environment. What is a stress for everyone is a challenge for the warrior: “How to solve this test with wisdom?” Indeed, The Way of the Warrior asks us to live in harmony with our inner strength and the universal consciousness.

Why become a warrior?

Everyday life increasingly resembles a battle, with attacks often being insidious (frustration, illness, the death of a loved one, fear of losing, etc.).

Through martial arts, individuals methodically reprogram themselves. This gradually allows them to better cope with the aforementioned situations.

By materializing conflictual contexts of physical aggression, the practitioner experiments with defense techniques while learning to better understand themselves.

Thus, each difficulty encountered in their practice (effort, challenge, observation) prepares them for this confrontation with life. The apprentice warrior learns to observe and feel. Thus, they gradually develop their awareness of themselves and their environment.

Through physical combat, he learns to control his instinctive reactions. Thus, he adapts his response to a given situation as precisely as possible.

This is what will allow him, over time, to cope with the emotional attacks mentioned above without becoming overwhelmed.

Martial arts thus provide mental relaxation and the ability to withstand confrontation and develop effective strategies.

This result requires the practitioner’s diligence and humility. Among its many riches, martial arts therefore possess the ability to learn to withstand attacks without being overly affected by them.

This is particularly valuable nowadays, where fear is instilled in the media all day long.

There are, of course, different ways to cope with life’s challenges. But in my experience, the rigorous practice of a martial art is particularly effective. It is all the more interesting for women, who, due to their sociocultural heritage, find themselves or place themselves more in a victim situation. The self-confidence generated by practicing a martial art allows them to escape this status of eternal victim.

The virtues

Martial artists are introduced to a culture. They practice an art, developing virtues that will be integrated throughout their development. From the very first second, beginners pursue a path, even if they are not yet aware of it. It is the path of harmony. Thus, they cultivate a bodily aesthetic in each of their movements. In doing so, they develop physical and mental qualities through the more or less delicate situations in which they are placed. For harmony is the key to a healthy and fulfilling life.

Furthermore, martial arts teach mutual aid and solidarity. In training, the opponent is above all a partner. And each partner seeks just as much to help their partner progress as to progress themselves in the aforementioned virtues. Thus, martial arts teach altruism and respect for others. In daily life, aggression is rarely physical.

As a result, the individual has lost sight of an essential element: vigilance. The practice of a martial art, by physically materializing an aggression, obliges the practitioner to cultivate this vigilance. Indeed, the slightest lack of vigilance is dearly paid for. This vigilance gradually develops to become an extra-consciousness, which will persist outside the dojo.

Bushido: The Way of the Warrior

Bushido (literally the Way of the Warrior) is the code of honour of the samurai. It summarises the virtues to be developed through the practice of a martial art, and to be integrated into one’s life.

Here are the 7 essential virtues according to Bushido:

Loyalty,
Courage (the art of understanding what is right),
Honour (respecting an ethic in our actions),
Benevolence (it induces solidarity),
Rigour (the sense of duty),
Respect (mark of our greatness of soul),
Honesty and sincerity (being fair, speaking fairly).

These virtues are objectives to be developed through the practice of the martial art and to be integrated into daily life. With time they become an integral part of the individual and their application in everyday life is automatic.

The emotions

by Team | 1515,Sep, 2021 | Traditional chinese medicine

A major role in our health

The human being is a fundamentally emotional being. Our environment, our relationships, the difficulties we go through condition our mood. Our emotions, if they overwhelm us, can make life difficult for us. What is less known is that they have a direct impact on our health.

Chinese medicine has always included emotions in its diagnosis and therapy. Because our health also depends on our emotional balance. Therefore, any chronic emotional imbalance is a factor of disease. Today, there are countless disorders caused by emotional disorders.

We are sensitive beings. Through our five senses, we are connected to our environment and interact with it constantly. We are affected by what we see, hear, smell or touch… Scents, images, sounds are all vectors of information. This information will generate feelings, emotions. Hearing a car alarm breaking our ears will trigger irritation, while a melodious bird song will make us happy.

The way we react to these external factors depends on our own filters, which are themselves linked to our personality and our history. For example, a love song will stimulate joy in someone who has danced to it with a loved one. But it may awaken sadness in another person who listened to that song on the day a loved one left.

A perpetual bath of emotions

How we react to these external factors depends on our own filters, which are themselves linked to our personality and our history. For example, a love song will stimulate joy in someone who danced to it with a loved one. But it could awaken sadness in someone who was listening to the song the day a loved one left them.

Moreover, we live in society and are also affected, whether we feel it or not, by the emotions of those around us. Let’s realize how contagious laughter is! This is true for joy, but it’s also true for fear, sadness, and of course, anger.

Chinese medicine identifies two main causes of illness: external and internal. The external cause includes social relationships, the weather, and the influence of pathogens, while the internal cause is attributed to emotions.

Emotional imbalances

In TCM, each emotion is linked to an organ. Therefore, an emotion experienced excessively or for too long can create an imbalance in the functioning of the associated organ, and vice versa. A weakened organ will generate an emotional imbalance.

The pathologies caused by an emotional imbalance will therefore depend on the emotion in question.

Of course, it is natural, and even healthy, to feel and express the full range of emotions. An emotion only becomes a source of imbalance if it is:

experienced over a prolonged period,
or with particular intensity,
repressed.

TCM identifies five main emotions, each associated with an element and an organ. They are briefly described below (you can explore them in more detail by clicking on the link).

Anger

Anger is related to the wood element, and to the liver. It is a rising energy, powerful and explosive.

By its nature, anger causes a rise in energy (qi), which manifests itself as a red face. It should be noted that many people do not admit that they are angry. However, those around them will sense the anger emanating from them. Psychopaths as another example are very good at projecting their anger onto their victims and making them explode. Chinese medicine calls this energy surge “liver fire”. This often leads to headaches.

Joy

Joy is related to the element of fire, and to the heart. It is an energy that radiates, like the sun.

Joy does not cause trouble, but over-stimulation or over-excitement is a sign of a malfunctioning heart. Thus a person who only seeks pleasures in life (partying, overeating) may develop heart imbalances with palpitations, anxiety and insomnia because the heart is the seat of the mind (Shen). This may manifest itself in excessive or inappropriate laughter.

Anxiety

Anxiety or worry is associated with the earth element, and the spleen. Mental rumination, excessive worries or thoughts are signs of an imbalance of the earth element.
This can result in digestive disorders, sleep disorders, difficulties in concentrating or remembering, menstrual cycle disorders, and even chronic fatigue. This is one of the most common emotional imbalances, especially in this day and age when the intellect is overstretched.

Sadness

Sadness is associated with the metal element, and the lungs. It will therefore primarily affect the lungs, causing fatigue, shortness of breath, crying or depression.

Fear

Fear is associated with the water element, and the kidneys. Chronic fear, which can be likened to anxiety, can eventually exhaust the kidneys. This leads to fatigue and back pain, two very common manifestations. Today, the media conveys fear en masse. As a result, many people are insecure about their professional or financial future.

Extreme fear can lead to uncontrolled urination. In children, this can also manifest itself as bedwetting, which is related to insecurity and anxiety.

Treatment

Chinese medicine will treat these imbalances by using one or more of its techniques: acupuncture, medicinal plants… This will have a beneficial impact on the patient’s emotional state.

However, if the patient is experiencing a situation that maintains the imbalance, it will be difficult to heal in the long term. He will then have to implement solutions to reduce the triggering factors and also learn to manage his emotions.

We will come back in detail on the solutions for a better emotional balance in a future article.

The emotional shock

Emotional shock results from a traumatic event that overwhelms the person affected. The person is directly affected emotionally. This trauma can cause significant after-effects in the more or less long term. It often encourages a slow slide into depression.

An emotional shock will be linked to an event: mourning, accident, family problem, disappointment in love… It will be expressed in different ways: either a psychic stupefaction, or a disordered agitation. The individual, under the shock, can also be subject to a psychic dissociation. He will then function in robot mode without any reflection.

Moreover, if the emotional shock can be forgotten in a few hours or days, it can be reactivated several months later, following a new triggering event. This is called post-traumatic stress disorder.

This shock, depending on the emotion generated, will profoundly affect the related organ.
In case of great fear, the kidneys will be affected. The kidneys are one of the most important organs because they are the basis of our vital energy. In case of sadness, the lungs will be affected first. As all the organs are interconnected, other organs will become unbalanced and pathologies may appear.

For example, there will be lower back pain, even herniated discs or sciatica. For others, the respiratory system will be affected. Some people will feel suffocated in certain situations. Introverts may experience digestive system dysfunctions.