The use of colors is well known in alternative medicine for healing purposes. In yoga traditions colors feed the energy of the chakras of the body. In Ayurveda practice colors can increase or reduce the three doshas, vata, pitta and kapha. The Five Element Theory in Traditional Chinese Medicine attributes a color to each of…
Read more →Music has been known throughout history to have a relaxing and healing effect on people. The Greek God of medicine Asclepius is said to have used songs and music to cure illnesses of the mind. Today, music therapy is used in many hospitals and health centers to treat depression and insomnia, for pain relief and…
Read more →Although western medicine states that the spleen is not a vital organ in the body and we can live without it (see), oriental medicine begs to differ. In TCM, the spleen (also recognized as spleen-pancreas) is one of the five vital yin organs according to The Five Element Theory. It represents the earth element and…
Read more →If you have ever tasted traditional Thai cuisine, you will have noticed how colorfully presented the meals are. Red chili peppers, fresh green kafir lime and basil leaves, snowy white rice, a riot of color exploding on your plate.....you know it's going to taste good before you even try it! According to Oriental medicine, nature…
Read more →In Oriental medicine it is often said that for every physical ailment, there is a natural remedy nearby. For example, dock leaves can be found growing near nettles to relieve the sting, and aloe plants grow in hot climates for the treatment of sunburn. In Buddhism, a similar belief exists for emotional/mental conditions, as many…
Read more →We are told that legumes are an excellent source of protein, particularly for vegetarians, and are a good replacement for a diet which is excessive in meat and animal products. In TCM legumes are considered as beneficial to the kidneys, promoting proper growth and development of body and brain, as well as sexual function. However,…
Read more →Throughout those parts of the world with a significant Chinese population this week is time to celebrate the most important traditional Chinese holiday: Spring festival or Chinese New Year, which revolves around the lunar calendar. The origins of this are believed to date back to the reign of the Yellow Emperor, Huang Di. This is…
Read more →