For about 20 years, I have been a student of martial arts. As of 2014, I am an 8th generation Hebei style Xingyiquan practitioner, student of Jackie Yao Wu Hu. Xingyiquan, loosely translated as “form-intension fist,” is one of the three Taoist soft-style (what does this mean?—define), internal martial arts—the other two being Baguazhang and… Continue reading Shen Ming
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A Daily Workout Is A Daily Reward
Throughout my life, the reasons I’ve had for being physically active have evolved. Like most children, I was active to tame the little ball of energy within me. Play was a means of exploring the world around me and learning about it, so activities like climbing trees, soccer, tennis, or track and field came naturally.… Continue reading A Daily Workout Is A Daily Reward
Stress, the Extinction Agenda
I gave a talk to the Students for Integrative Medicine at UCLA—many years ago at this point—on Mental Health and Chinese Medicine, and, while I tried to cover a lot of material in the course of the hour that I had to present, there were a few things that I tried to address in the… Continue reading Stress, the Extinction Agenda
Eating Well for a Healthy Prostate
As men age, we become increasingly aware of health issues that are specific to us, stemming from that walnut-sized gland located under the bladder: the prostate. It can become infected and inflamed, causing prostatitis; increase in size, causing benign prostatic hyperplasia; and/or it can become cancerous. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer… Continue reading Eating Well for a Healthy Prostate
Heart Health
All aspects of health require a multi-pronged approach. The heart is truly at the center of it all, and in Chinese medicine is considered to be the monarch ruling over all other internal organs. But at the end of the day, it is a muscle, and as such need to be used and pushed to… Continue reading Heart Health
Perspective: Drop the Weight to Avoid Serious Disease
Having extra weight around your middle is much more than having an unpleasing “apple shape” — it has serious potential health consequences, including type 2 diabetes mellitus and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Losing that abdominal fat not only reduces your chances of life-threatening illness, but can also make you feel lighter, more agile, and ultimately… Continue reading Perspective: Drop the Weight to Avoid Serious Disease
A Role For TCM In Addiction Recovery
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, addiction is defined as “a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences. It is considered a brain disease because drugs change the brain—they change its structure and how it works.” The euphoria experienced when using certain drugs, including… Continue reading A Role For TCM In Addiction Recovery
Skin: Healthy From the Inside-Out
When we show our face, we are exposing a part of our innermost selves to the world. While the outermost layer of skin is composed entirely of dead cells, the condition of the epidermis is the result of not only what happens on its surface, but also what is happening inside the body. Our skin… Continue reading Skin: Healthy From the Inside-Out
Cool Off With Mung Beans
Your summer vacation may be over, but the heat from summer still lingers. Some of the internal heat may be from the barbecued food and alcohol you might have indulged in, perhaps leaving you with a few unwanted pounds (Don’t worry, we won’t tell anyone!). Even if you resisted temptations this summer the beginning of… Continue reading Cool Off With Mung Beans
IBS: A Complex Condition With Complex Causes
Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, affects an estimated 10 to 15 percent of the U.S. population, mostly women. Among the criteria used to diagnose IBS are recurrent abdominal pain for at least three days per month for at least three months; reduced pain after a bowel movement, associated with a change in the frequency of… Continue reading IBS: A Complex Condition With Complex Causes