Simple Techniques from TCM for Weight Loss

The holiday season is ahead, and it is not easy to control our food intake during the holiday season with family get-togethers and parties. It is a good idea to be proactive. 

In my previous blog, I mentioned that gut health is critical for weight loss success. How do we reduce abdominal fat that is metabolically inflammatory? Let’s seek the wisdom in TCM. The Belt Meridian is considered a both Yin and Yang meridian, as the front part that wraps around the waist is considered Yin, and the Belt Meridian wraps around the back connecting to the front section is considered Yang. This meridian is vitally important for allowing a smooth flow of energy between the upper and lower body parts, which is essential for supporting detoxification and metabolism because it is around your gut area. The belt Meridian spreads all across the waist. It starts at the level of the third lumbar vertebrae, then circles the front of the body between the pubic bone and the navel.
 
Drumming the spots on your waistline on both sides of the belt meridian with your fists regularly can:

• Reduce waistline
• Improve digestion and prevent constipation
• Enhance detoxification and promote bile flow
• Improve energy and blood circulation in the body

Another way to shrink the waistline is to massage your ears. There are three important spots for weight management. To learn more, please check my recent video. 

As an appreciation for this upcoming Christmas season, all my natural health products are 30% off, please contact me if you want to order them, and I will make it fresh for you. These products include pain relief healing balm for rejuvenating the skin and relieving inflammation. Hair spray (4oz) prevents hair loss and detoxifies hair follicles with wildflowers, aloe, DMSO, essential oils, etc. Your hair is the extension of your nervous system, therefore what you put on your hair is crucial for your brain function and mental health. Have you checked the ingredients for the natural hair products in the stores? They are loaded with toxic chemicals. You may be fooled by a sound name, such as natural & organic. Navel patch powder is designed to reduce abdominal fat and promote sound sleep and lucid dreams based on the ancient wisdom of TCM. As a certified energy healer, all my products are charged with Theta healing energy and Reiki energy to enhance their potency for healing. These products can be a good option as gifts to your friends and family members. Please check the link for my products, these don't include other products from the 3rd party. 

By the way, I will be at the Metaphysical Psychic and Wellness Fair at Knox Church in Parksville next Sat. Let's support the local events because the future is based on our community. I will be offering readings and holistic health consultations at the fair. I am looking forward to meeting you there. 

Simple and Effective Remedies for Digestive Health

Did you know that 40 percent of the worldwide population suffers from chronic digestive issues? Common digestive problems can lead to chronic inflammation and weaken your immune system because 80 percent of your immune system is in your gut. This makes your gut health extremely important. If your gut is healthy, your immune system is also healthy. Common digestive problems are also related to the nervous system. We have all experienced butterflies in the stomach when we are emotionally stressed. Your gut produces the majority of the neurotransmitters in your brain. Some researchers indicated 3/4 of those neurotransmitters are produced in your gut. Many people start to experience mental health challenges such as depression or anxiety when they have chronic digestive problems. The gut-brain axis has been a popular topic these days and I have discussed it in my previous videos. A healthy diet and lifestyle is the first step when it comes to digestive health, let’s discuss some remedies.

Dragon’s Blood – A Sacred Gift from Mother Earth

Dragon’s blood is a dark red substance that is extracted from the Croton lechleri tree, which is a flowering tree prevalent in South America. Traditional medicine uses the red substance to treat diarrhea, wounds, stomach ulcers, and indigestion. Some people confuse the dragon’s blood with another natural marine product that is extracted from the sea and is mistakenly called the dragon’s blood. Dragon’s blood is also used in incense as it has a strong aroma. It has been used for thousands of years in paints and spiritual practices. This potent resin has been mentioned in history and across the earth - from the Ancient Greeks to the Ancient Romans, India, China, and the Middle East. It has been used in Wiccan for magic, protection, cleansing, and healing. You can usually find Dragon’s blood as an incense stick, incense cone, in resin forms, or as an essential oil. Dragon’s blood has a powerful energy to banish negative energy and promote healing. The sacred smoke of the Dragon's blood can also be paired with Palo Santo for powerful cleansing and protection. It can be used during your astral travel and as part of empowerment and healing.
 
Dragon’s blood has been used for treating stomach ulcers and strengthening the digestive system because it contains a large amount of tannins. There is another natural substance in the Dragon’s blood - astaxanthin, which is a potent antioxidant, especially for pain relief. Dragon’s blood also provides anti-inflammatory properties to relieve dermatitis, colitis, and arthritis. Flavonoids and terpenoids found in Dragon’s blood may increase its anti-inflammatory properties. Terpenoids and alkaloids contribute to its antibacterial properties.

How to enjoy this amazing gift from Mother Nature and what about other remedies? Please check my recent video. 

Here is a blog version too. 

By the way, I am giving a talk at the Metaphysical & Wellness Fair on Nov.25th, the topic is about how to heal emotional traumas and scars in a unique way, please check my poster below for more details and I am looking forward to seeing you there.

Which Food Should Be on Your Dinner Table More Often?

The fall season provides us with an abundant supply of food, it is also the best season to pick mushrooms in the forest and enjoy these delicious and nutritious foods, these medicinal foods are the champions when it comes to healing. Let's dive into one of them.

Shiitake mushroom is an edible and delicious fungus. Fungi are separated from plants, animals, and bacteria. They are similar to plants but they do not have chlorophyll to make their own food through photosynthesis like a plant does. They absorb nutrients from their surroundings. One major difference that separates fungi from others is that fungal cells have cell walls that contain chitin, a long-chain polymer of a derivative of glucose. Fungi are considered a special type of living organism that has no roots, leaves, flowers, or seeds. Shiitake mushrooms originally came from East Asia and are now cultivated worldwide. Fresh or dried shiitake mushrooms have been commonly used in Asian cuisines. Today, these exotic mushrooms can be found in many grocery stores all year round.

Extracts from shiitake mushrooms or dried forms have been used in herbal remedies for thousands of years in Eastern medicine. Like other fungi, shiitake mushrooms offer a variety of phytochemicals that have potent health benefits, such as lentinan and laminarin, which are polysaccharides that have anti-tumor effects and promote the death of cancer cells, as well as lentinacin or eritadenine that has cholesterol-lowering effects. Shiitake mushrooms also offer a wide variety of important nutrients such as Vitamin B groups, fiber, potassium, and amino acids.

Polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates containing two or more monosaccharide units linked by glycosidic bonds. The unique polysaccharides in shiitake mushrooms were first considered as primary anti-cancer compounds such as lentinan and beta-glucan. But now researchers have speculated that many non-polysaccharide compounds in shiitake mushrooms have anti-tumor effects and work together to achieve these amazing anti-cancer results. The polysaccharides in shiitake mushrooms such as beta-glucans are known to activate the immune system. These polymers can enhance the host's immune response by activating cell-mediated immunity, enhancing natural killer cell functions such as T cells, monocytes, macrophages, and polymorphonuclear lymphocytes.

It is time to grow our own mushrooms at home to enjoy them all year round.

You could also check my recent video on superfoods.

I also made a video on how to enjoy the amazing healing benefits of psychedelics.

Simple Remedies for Mental Health

Mental health challenges have been prevalent in the past few years due to the lockdowns and many people lost their homes and jobs with the suppression of this global agenda. These mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, and panic attacks have significantly impacted our overall health including sleep quality, immune health, heart health, etc. Let's dive into some simple remedies. 

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a neurotransmitter in your brain that helps relaxation and sleep. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that helps calm things down or stop movement. It also helps relieve painful sensations, such as nerve pain and muscle pain. It also plays a role in keeping your immune and endocrine systems balanced and controlling inflammation. GABA is also responsible for regulating your memory and mood and promoting sound sleep. According to studies, GABA levels are about 30% lower in people with insomnia. Deep sleep and REM sleep are critical for brain detox. Your body produces GABA naturally, but chronic stress, nutrient deficiencies, and certain medical conditions may inhibit GABA production.

Low levels of GABA can contribute to insomnia and other sleep disorders, mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders, muscle pain, headaches, substance abuse, especially alcohol, and food cravings. Magnesium has been shown to modulate GABA activity in the brain. It does this by acting on GABA receptors to help facilitate GABA neurotransmission and its effects on relaxation. Magnesium also helps relax the central nervous system and muscles. Magnesium-rich foods include dark chocolate, banana, potato, peanuts, fatty fish, cashews, almonds, kidney beans, tofu, etc.

What can GABA do to your health and what about other remedies? Please check my recent video. 

Why Should You Cleanse Your Nasal Passages Regularly?

Did you know that the highest amount of mycotoxins accumulate in your nasal mucosa? We inhale 3 gallons of air each day. The air we breathe is just as important as the food we eat. Many of us are aware of the toxicity of mold. But how could you know whether you had mold exposure? You can have mold exposure a decade ago and now it starts to impact your health. Mold exposure contributes to many chronic health challenges, such as a leaky gut, depression, Parkinson's, rheumatoid arthritis, autism, asthma, cancers, etc. There are many hidden factors that contribute to mold exposure, for example, did you use shampoo to clean your carpet in the past, what about the A/C in your home, mold can easily grow under the fan. If you walk into a building, how could you know that building didn’t have water leaks in the wall? The spores of mold are invisible, once you inhale mold, it can colonize in your nose, your mouth, your ear, and your gut. The spores of mold can also grow in your nails and hair. If the humidity is very high in your area or your home, mold can easily grow and multiply. It is important to check the humidity of your house and keep it around 50% to reduce mold colonization. Since the highest levels of mycotoxins from mold are in your nose, it is important to cleanse your nasal passages regularly. Mold is only one toxin, but it is a deadly toxin, what about other pollutants in the air from cars, and toxic chemicals from perfumes, laundry detergents, pesticides, etc.? Your nose is the gateway to your lungs.

To learn more, please check my new video.

New Superfoods

New superfoods are merging daily, let's pick a few. Soursop fruit also known as graviola, is a tropical fruit native to the Americas. It is green in color, with spiky skin and soft and white flesh. It is often used in smoothies, desserts, and savory dishes. You can also eat the flesh directly as a fruit.  Soursop fruit has a unique flavor that is often described as a combination of pineapple and strawberry. It has been discovered as a cancer fighter food recently. Here are some amazing health benefits of soursop fruit.

• Graviola fruit is rich in Acetogenins that have anti-tumor effects
• Helps regulate blood sugar for diabetes
• Has antiviral and anti-parasitic properties and promotes digestive health
• Eases back pain and relieves gout by reducing uric acid
• Relieves nasal congestion and respiratory symptoms due to its anti-inflammatory properties
• Boosts your immunity and energy levels
• Helps relieve constipation and hemorrhoids

Barberries are long red berries that grow on trim barberry shrubs with yellow-flowering branches. Barberry is a traditional herb that has been used throughout the world. It has a tart, slightly sweet flavor and can be eaten raw, in jam, or as a component of your favorite dishes and salads. Berberine in barberries is the compound that makes this berry stand out of the crowd. Let’s dive into their amazing health benefits.

• Contain powerful antibacterial and antifungal agents that fight against infections.
• Relieve UTIs and bladder infections.
• Treat gastrointestinal infections and relieve diarrhea.
• Help stabilize blood sugar for diabetes.
• Cleanse the liver and gallbladder and detoxify the blood.
• Contain a powerful compound called berberine that promotes white blood cell production and boosts immunity.
• Improve anemia with a rich Vit. C content.
• Reduce high blood pressure and high cholesterol and promote heart function.

Aronia berries are known as chokeberries. Aronia Berry is a Manganese and Vitamin C-rich fruit that has antiviral, antibacterial, and Anti-diabetic properties. They are native to eastern North America and most commonly found in wet woods and swamps. Chokeberries have gained more and more popularity recently due to their rich antioxidant contents. Here are some amazing health benefits of these nutritious berries.

1. Prevent cancers due to a high content of antioxidants.
2. Aids digestion with high fiber.
3. Boost immunity with a variety of antioxidants and rich in Vit. C.
4. Improve vision with carotenes and other nutrients.
5. Reduce wrinkles and age spots, and heal wounds.
6. Improve blood circulation and help regulate blood pressure.
7. Help stabilize blood sugar levels and prevent diabetes.

Here is a video version that gives you a more visual presentation of these superfoods.

Are Lectins Bad for You?

One of the most relevant connections between lectins, the leaky gut, and irritable bowel syndrome is the fact that lectins are not properly processed by the body and the human metabolism system cannot digest most lectins properly. Lectins are plants’ natural defense system against insects, pests, and destructive microorganisms. They are so strong that they can pass through the human digestive system intact; they can enter the bloodstream with everything unchanged. Symptoms of excessive lectin consumption are similar to those who have irritable bowel syndrome or a leaky gut. Lectins are found in all plants, but raw legumes (beans, lentils, peas, soybeans, peanuts) and whole grains like wheat contain the highest amounts of lectins. 

Lentils and beans contain resistant starches that your gut bacteria can break down and produce short-chain fatty acids such as butyric acids to provide fuel for your colon cells. You see, we co-dependant on these good bacteria in our gut. How to reduce lectins in the food so you can still enjoy their amazing health benefits?

Soaking: If you are a legume lover, make sure that you soak beans and legumes overnight, and change the water often. Drain and rinse again before cooking. You can also add some baking soda to the soaking water to help neutralize the lectins further.
 
Fermentation: You can enjoy some fermented products from legumes and beans, such as tofu, tempeh, tamari, natto, and miso. Fermentation allows beneficial bacteria to digest and convert those harmful substances, and render them to harmless ones. However, keep in mind that not all lectins are completely destroyed by these methods; some still remain in these foods.

Cooking your beans and lentils in a high-pressure pot can also help break down lectins in them. You can also add some herbs such as bay leaves in the lentils during the cooking to help reduce lectin content.

By the way, I will be at the Alchemy of Gathering Event next Sat. This event is full of activities such as live music, interesting arts and a variety of healing modalities. Everyone is welcome. Please check my poster below for more details and I am looking forward to meeting you there.