In Sync with the Seasons: Winter Health TCM for Natural Winter Health
In wintertime the traditional Chinese Yin-Yang cycle reaches its Yin peak. It is the season of rest and passivity, during which nature reduces its activities. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) recommends living in harmony with nature, therefore people should reduce their activity level during winter. In TCM, winter is related to the water element and associated with the organs kidney and bladder. The kidneys are the source of the kidney Qi which...
A Chiropractor Talks about Relieving Back Pain
As part of our series about treating back pain in Shanghai, Body & Soul practitioners will share how they address back pain, answer some common questions and offer tips. Herman Szeto has more than 25 years of experience in chiropractic treatment. He’s treated hundreds of patients in Body & Soul’s clinics throughout Shanghai. What does a chiropractor do? Chiropractors deal with the joints and help them to work the way they should....
Everything Changes – How Do I Stay in Balance?
Nothing stays as it is and we and our lives are constantly changing - sometimes slower, sometimes faster. We deal with changing seasons, the usual ups and downs of our everyday lives, and occasional difficult times. Figuring out how to stay in our personal balance can be challenging at times, especially in the busy surroundings of Shanghai. The experience of imbalance is different for everyone. Some people get easily irritated or...
Acupuncture for Back Pain
As the final installment of our series on treating back pain in Shanghai, our TCM doctors share how acupuncture and cupping can aid in relieving back pain. Body & Soul’s holistic approach to health brings together the best of east and west to get you the best results. Many medical practitioners around the world now commonly employ acupuncture and TCM techniques for pain and other conditions. Fortunately, those of us...
Gaofang: Keep Your Body Strong This Winter
“If you get good Gaofang tonic in winter, you can kill a tiger in the spring.” TCM does a great job addressing winter health and treating seasonal illnesses, due to its focus on strengthening the body to live in harmony with nature. Common winter ailments like colds and coughing can be effectively treated with herbal decoctions and acupuncture. Today, we’ll share how an ancient Chinese tonic can improve your overall health...
Getting Help for Back Pain in Shanghai
Back Pain: The World’s Single Leading Cause of Disability Almost 80% of adults experience back pain at some point. In fact, it’s one of the most common medical conditions and the leading cause of missed work. Those of us in Shanghai are far from immune to this problem. Online chat groups seem to be filled with questions about back pain and Body & Soul gets daily inquiries. Actually, Shanghai expats may...
Medical Massage and Tuina for Back Pain
As part of our series about treating back pain in Shanghai, Body & Soul practitioners share how they can help you if you’re suffering from acute or chronic back pain. Medical massage, and specifically TCM’s tuina, offers back pain relief and complements other healing treatments. Learn more about how it differs from your standard spa massage and what you can expect from massage treatment. Medical Massage as Part of Back Pain...
Knee Pain: Causes, Treatment and Prevention
Knee pain is a common complaint that may arise from injury (trauma/acute injury or old injuries), wear and tear, arthritis, or mechanical problems. Knee pain is on the rise with people’s changing lifestyles. Prolonged office hours and immobility cause increased wear and tear on the joints, including the knee. Additionally, sitting leads to weak muscles, which means the body can’t function as intended. Some patients also come in with pain...
Meet the Doctor: Viviane Li, TCM/ Acupuncturist
Viviane is an accomplished doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, specializing in acupuncture. Viviane has expertise in treating gynecological, internal and endocrine disorders with acupuncture. She develops effective healing strategies for patients with pain, stress, insomnia, dermatological, and digestive problems.
Conversations with Doris: How We Can All Benefit from Ancient Chinese Wisdom
The Best of Both Worlds: Bringing the Knowledge of TCM to Improving Health Today. The first Body & Soul location opened in 2004. 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 mind and body? And, what has she learned that might help...