1
What led you to research the medicinal secrets of the ancient Chinese?
As an acupuncturist and herbalist I know many patients who have improved their health enormously or now maintain good health through having changed some aspects of their lifestyle. This motivates me to let others know about this lifestyle advice and the profound effect it could have on their wellbeing. Many examples in the book come from talking to both patients and their practitioners and without their inspiration this book would not have been written. At this time, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is growing in importance. The older segment of the population has become larger and this is putting increasing demands on the whole medical care system. The strains on medical resources are likely to continue to increase, and the greater the pressure, the less likely we will be to get the service we would like. Maintaining our own health has become a high priority. My book teaches us how to gain control of our own health and enables us to participate in our own self-healing.
2
What are the differences between these and current Western practices?
There are many, many differences! For example: Chapter 2 - Constitution We all have a constitutional energy and need to conserve it (Secret 1), There are important transformation times that can change your life (Secret 4), We need to take a month and 'Do the month’ after pregnancy (Secret 5). Chapter 3 - diet Chinese medicine would suggest not to eat cold food (Secret 23), that foods have an innate temperature, (Secret 22), that certain foods cause Phlegm (Secret 15), in the body, that it is important to eat meat (Secret 17), as this is a ‘Blood nourishing food’. The taste of your food is important (Secret 24), raw food is not good for you (Secret 13). Chapter 4 - Emotions Chinese medicine has a lot to say on the emotions for instance it says Anger makes qi rise, Fear makes qi descend and worry knots the qi, Grief and sadness dissolve qi, Joy slows qi down These are Secrets 33 - 36. There are also many helpful ways to deal with emotions in the book. Chapter 5 - balancing work rest and exercise We need to balance yin and yang in your work and rest Secret 47 Convalescence is important and it’s a forgotten secret Secret 48 We need to rest after a miscarriage Secrets 49 There is a healthy posture we can sleep in Secret 56 There is a 70% principle for all activity Secret 62. Chapter 6 - Climate Cold can cause pain pain might be caused by cold! Secret 70. Cold can cause of infertility and other lower body symptoms Secret 71 Tired all the time? damp weather could be the cause Secret 74.
LUXURY LIVING
057