Breathe Freely: Natural Allergy Solutions
Are red, watery eyes and a swollen nose your trademark spring look? Many allergy sufferers dread the coming spring. Life becomes round after round of antihistamines and nasal sprays. Shanghai’s damp, dusty (and polluted) environment is a nightmare for many allergy and asthma sufferers. Ancient Chinese Wisdom: The Root Causes of Allergies TCM interprets allergies as a disharmony in the body. It is often diagnosed as a “wind” influence accompanied by another...
HPV: Awareness, Prevention and Treatment
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection. The American Social Health Association estimates that about 75–80% of sexually active Americans will be infected with HPV at some point in their lifetime. Over 170 types of HPV have been identified and many people have subclinical varieties (never show symptoms). Unfortunately, certain types of HPV are potentially cancer causing. Because this virus is so common and often asymptomatic, HPV has lead to...
Planning and Manifesting Your Best 2019
There are two important factors in accomplishing goals and having the kind of life we want. The first is intention, i.e. a plan/wish of what it is we want to do. The second is attention: where we put our focus. Both need to work together for us to move in the direction we want. Many times “new year’s resolutions” fail because we state an intention but then we don’t focus on...
Staying Healthy and Balanced in Autumn, A Yin Season
In autumn leaves begin to fall and farmers start harvesting their fields. The weather will start to get cooler and the sun will set earlier. The leaves will turn from a rich green color to a rainbow of yellow, orange and red.
Naturally Reducing the Dangers of High Cholesterol
The Chinese consider high cholesterol to be a modern disease that goes along with a wealthier lifestyle. Essentially, in our modern society we generally eat a higher fat, higher calorie diet. At the same time, we tend to have less physical work and daily movement. However, heredity can also be a reason for high cholesterol. The High Risks of High Cholesterol High cholesterol is one of the risk factors that can lead...
When the tongue speaks for your body
Along with pulse taking, tongue analysis is of the main pillars of Traditional Chinese Medicine and therefore an essential part of the diagnosis. The human tongue is seen as a “map” of the internal body, standing not only for the blood and Qi fluency, but also for the harmony of all organs. Each part of the tongue mirrors an organical system according to the five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water). But how can someone come up with a diagnosis just by looking at a person’s tongue?
Feeling Extra Sweaty?
Everybody knows that sticky feeling in hot or stressful situations. You start to sweat, your hands are wet, wet patches form under your arms, your forehead starts to glisten. This form of sweating is a normal and temporary bodily reaction to an extreme situation. Of course, physical exercise, high temperatures and overly warm clothes also lead to temporary perspiration. We’ve probably all been extra sweaty this summer!
Staying Healthy on the Road
If you travel, it can be especially tough to stay healthy. Many Shanghai expats travel a lot for work (and fun!) and keep busy schedules. Sometimes this leads to poor health and pain from an overly sedentary lifestyle. If you don’t make time to build in some movement and exercise, your body will pay for it in the long run. Here are some tips for staying healthy on the road...
Conversations with Doris: Dynamic China
China: Past, Present and Future In this series, we share conversations with Doris Rathgeber, founder of Body & Soul – Medical Clinics. Doris came to China more than 20 years ago. During her time here, she has completed her Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) training, started Body & Soul, and helped thousands of patients from all over the world. Meanwhile, she and her husband began their family here and have embraced life...
Pampering Your Body and Soul the TCM Way
Welcome to China, the birth place of Traditional Chinese Medicine, an ancient holistic approach for treatment and prevention of disease. Many westerners believe that TCM is specifically for the Chinese. Not so. In fact, TCM is increasingly becoming a popular approach in the west for children and adults due to its natural, safe and effective methods. Traditional Chinese Medicine is a comprehensive medical system which is extremely effective in healing acute...