Addressing the Different Types of Stress Common to Shanghai Expats
Stress, Time and Self-Management Most people associate “stress” with “too much”…too much to do and the heart-pumping sensation of pressure and deadlines. But “too little” can leave us mentally stressed as well. Small or large changes can also cause stress. We don’t always recognize the symptoms...
The Real Cause of Back Pain: It’s Not Back Strength
Often patients with back pain come in to see us and explain they’ve been working on strengthening their back with their trainer. Yet, their back pain isn’t getting better. The truth is that the back is usually the strongest part of the body. The abdominal, hamstring...
Physical Pain: The Emotional Connection
Any physical issue or pain you experience is a symptom of what is going on in the body and mind. It is all connected, so body and mind cannot be separated. TCM has long understood this wholeness. Focusing solely on symptom treatment has kept a...
New School Year, New You: Achieving Your Goals
As the school year starts and many of us return from summer holidays, we start to think of plans for the time ahead. Some will be starting a new job, or coming to Shanghai for the first time. And, many of us will be ready to settle back into a routine and think about things we’d like to change or accomplish. This is the perfect time to set goals, whether short-term improvements or long-term plans. Here are some key tips for setting and achieving your goals:
Shoulder Pain?
Shoulder Impingement Syndrome SIS (shoulder or subacromial impingement syndrome) is also sometimes called swimmer’s or thrower’s syndrome. The tendons of the rotator cuff muscles become irritated and inflamed as they pass through the subacromial space. Common symptoms are pain, weakness and reduced range of movement for...
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?
Keeping Your Feet Healthy This Summer
Certain foot issues tend to be worse during the hot, humid summers in Shanghai, including: Fissures (small cracks in the skin on the heels and toes), exacerbated by wearing open shoes in the dusty, polluted environment of Shanghai Fungus (toenail and “athlete’s foot”): nail fungus...
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...
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...
Celebrating 15 Years of TCM in Shanghai
The first Body & Soul location opened in 2003. So, how did an expat from Germany with a background in IT sales come to run one of the most successful healthcare organizations in Shanghai? How did Doris Rathgeber come to understand the Eastern approach to...
Improving Women’s Health and Lifestyle: Pelvic Floor Rehab
Perineology is a specialty dealing with the pelvic floor muscles and the three connected “axis” along the perineum (urinary tract/bladder, vagina/uterus, and rectum). The specialty understands this area of the body holistically, rather than looking at the organs separately. It effectively treats issues with urinary...
Shockwave Therapy: Effective Pain Relief and Healing
Shockwave therapy offers effective, long-lasting treatment for certain chronic soft tissue issues and pain. Shockwave is an acoustic wave which carries high energy to the affected spots. The energy promotes tissue regeneration and cell growth and helps reduce pain and increase mobility. It uses a...