Weaverville Joss House

There's a small museum that you enter before being able to take a tour of the temple that displays many interesting Chinese artifacts. One item that caught my eye is this bottle that contained a tonic wine with Wu Jia Pi (otherwise known as Siberian Ginseng). The characters for Wu Jia Pi are near the top of the label printed with smaller characters and written from right to left.

Weaverville, CA Joss House

Yun Lin Miao (Cloud Forest temple) is the oldest continuously used Chinese temple in California. Located in Weaverville, California, the temple was built in 1874 as a replacement for another that had burned. This is a small temple but filled with history.
I traveled there with my friends, Huang Li and daughter, Xin Yu, and Kang Shu Jin.
Inside the temple there is a main alter and behind that three smaller alters with dieties. Here is a picture of some of the dieties.
Because my friends are Chinese we were allowed to go up to the alters to view it more closely.









Pictured in front of the Temple (Left to right) are my friends Kang Shu Jin, Huang Li, and Xin Yu.

eastearthherb on twitter

You can now get daily herbal and health insights from East Earth Trade Winds on twitter. Go to twitter.com then search for and follow: eastearthherb

skin problems

Q: I have checked www.eastearthtrade.com for chronic ingrown hair condition on my legs only and I did not see anything listed that would meet that criterion. Can you please recommend what product may help with this condition? I've dealt with this for several years and it keeps getting worse. It seems as though since I have such coarse hair, it will curl back under the skin before exiting the upper dermis. I?m not sure if I just have very tough skin or what is causing this condition, but it's extremely embarrassing. Specialists are saying that they want to put me on steroids and/or growth inhibitors, but I DO NOT want to go this route, it's very harmful. I am desperate to find an all natural remedy for this condition. Any insights of recommendations for one of your products, would be greatly appreciated!

A: Here's a suggestion for two products that may help. One is a topical called Yin Care. I suggest making a 10% solution to start. You'll have to experiment a little to see what works best.
Here's the Link: http://eastearthtrade.com/yin-care.aspx

The other product is internal and works good for acne, blemishes and other skin problems. The dosage is 4 tablets twice a day.
Here's the link: http://eastearthtrade.com/lienchiaopaitupien.aspx

Hopefully you'll see results within 7-10 days or less.

Clostridium difficile and Chinese Herbs

Clostridium difficile (C-diff) is a hospital related diarrhea. Recent reports suggest that it is surpassing MRSA infections. Western medicine is having more trouble treating this problem. We know that:
• Clindamycin resistant outbreaks of C-diff were identified in U.S. 1989 through 1992
• Ciprofloxin and Levaquin resistance C-diff was reported in 2005
How can Chinese herbs help? We know from research that certain herbs can treat C-diff. These herbs* have been identified as:
• Anemone pulsatilla (Bai Tou Weng)
• Artemisia (Ai Ye)
• Camellia (Lu Cha)
• Cassia seed (Jue Ming Zi)
• Coptis (Huang Lian)
• Gingko leaf (Yin Xing Ye)
• Rhus chinensis (Wu Bei Zi)
It would be in the best interest of patients to integrate Chinese herb therapy when fighting problems such as C-diff or other antibiotic resistant organisms.

*The herbs with the exception of Rhus Chinensis, can be found by looking up the Chinese name at http://eastearthtrade.com/sanjiuherbalextracts.aspx

Wontons and Potstickers Recipe

An easy way to make wontons or potstickers is to buy the wrappers in the supermarket and make the filling.
Ingredients:
1/2 pound shrimp
1.5 pounds ground pork
green onions
celery
fresh ginger
sesame oil
soy sauce
salt
square wonton wrappers

1). It a small blender grind the ginger and green onions. Add to the ground pork.
2). clean the shrimp
3). boil water. cut two celery stalks in half. Add to the boiling water and cook for two minutes. Then remove and grind. Squeeze the water our and add to the meat
4). chop the shrimp and add to the meat
5). add sesame oil, salt and soy sauce. Mix with your hands.
6). wrap the mixed meat in the wonton wraps. Put a small amount in the center. fold the wrap in half then wet the edge and pinch closed. Any extra can be frozen.

For Wonton soup: add oil, soy sauce, salt, vinegar, and chopped green onions. Bring the water to a boil and add the wontons, boil for a few minutes and add more water. Bring to a boil again. do this four times. Serve as soup.

For Potstickers: Place potstickers in a shallow pan with some water in it and cook until all the water is gone.

Heartworm herbs

Q:

I recently bought from another company some Empirical Heartworm support herbal product. I decided to look up some of the ingredients on your web site and did not find a thing. So tell me, did I waste my money on this stuff> If it isn't to much of a bother, I will list some of the ingredients for you.....

Bing Lang ( Semen Arecae)

Wu Mei (Fructus Mume)

Shi Jun ( Fructus Quisqualis)

Fu Ling (Poria) etc

Please if it isn't too much trouble tell me if this stuff is real.

Thank you. -Virginia S.

A: Some of these herbs are used for parasites in Chinese medicine but not specifically heartworm. I don't know if it will work. You should ask the other company what research they have that supports their claim.

Cloud Hands Seminar with Sifu Share K. Lew

Sifu Lew Cloud Hands Qi Gong Workshop taught by Master Share K. Lew
will take place Saturday and Sunday, June 5 and June 6, 2010 in Redding, CA

The exercises that Master Lew teaches are part of the "internal system" of the martial arts, known as Nui Kung or energy cultivation. These exercises strengthen the circulation of the Chi (vital energy), which increases vitality, health, and sensory perception. All of these exercises have traditionally been kept secret. Daily practice of the exercises will give the student a tangible experience of Chi energy.
The Cloud Hands set is the beginning set of Nui Kung (internal energy cultivation) which builds a foundation for both better health and further Nui Kung. The Cloud Hands consist of five relatively non-strenuous movements along with quiet seated meditation. These Taoist exercises help the body maintain good health and increase vitality. The time required for practice will fit into anyone’s schedule.
****

The Instructor
Share K. Lew, now in his nineties, is a Taoist priest with over 70 years experience in the traditional Taoist arts. Master Lew received part of his education at Wong Lung Kwan, a Taoist monastery on the Luo Fo mountains near Canton, China.
Master Lew studied at Wong Lung Kwan monastery for 13 years. During that time he trained in the full range of Taoist healing and martial arts. At the core of his training was the secret system of cultivation known as Qigong (Chi kung). Master Lew was the first person to openly teach authentic Taoist Qigong to non-Chinese, beginning in Los Angeles in 1970. Master Lew’s monastery style, the Tao Ahn Pai (Taoist Elixir Style), dates back over 1300 years to Lu Dung Bin, who was born during the Tang Dynasty, and became one of the Eight Immortals of Taoism.


For information and reservations call John Price at (530) 524-6942 or email: 6mmrem@gmail.com

*****
Date: Saturday and Sunday, June 5 and June 6, 2010
Time: 10:00 to 4:00 pm, with lunch break from 12-2:00 pm
Location: Tobacco and Brew on Hilltop Drive in Redding

Fee: $200

Reservations: Pre-registration is recommended. A deposit of $100 will reserve your space. Class size is limited to 35 people.
• Bring a small pillow to sit on

herpes virus

Q: I have the herpes virus. Based on my studies, I know you can not tell me that you have a cure for herpes, I know you can not use the word cure. However, I need t know what is your best product for my condition and has any of your customers told you that they feel better after taking your product for this type of virus. Also Do you have an herb called PRATAN. This herb comes from Thailand and suppose to be good for herpes. Can you assist me in making a connection to some body in that country.
A: The Long Dan Xie Gan Wan is the best formula for this problem. It is to be taken whenever you feel like you are having an outbreak. Don't take it all the time. This product is not a cure but helps control the outbreaks. You also need to have a good diet and reduce stress to prevent future outbreaks and above all don't have sexual intercourse when you are having an outbreak. Do not pass this on.
I am not familiar with the herb Pratan.

Tinnitus

Q: I was wondering which products you suggest for hearing loss and tinnitus.

A: Er Long Zuo Ci Wan, is according to Chinese medicine books, said to be helpful. It all depends on the cause of the tinnitus so I really don't know if it would help or not. You may have to try several weeks or longer.

Chrysanthemum Tea

Looking to make a pleasant tasting tea? Add 3-4 chrysanthemum flowers along with the juice from half a lemon and add a little bit of honey to make a surprisingly delicious tea! Chrysanthemi, Flos (Chinese: Ju hua)) is said to be good for the eyes and clears and calms the Liver.

You can buy Chrysanthemum at www.eastearthtrade.com

Translating Acupuncture Texts

The topic of Acupuncturist's translating Chinese medical texts came up in a discussion recently. Occasionally I'll run across articles where an American acupuncturist's states that he or she translated the original Chinese text for the article. For example, Bob Flaws, OMD, of Blue Poppy Press, is a prolific "translator" who, according to his biography, taught himself to read "medical Chinese". He has in the past offered courses on reading Medical Chinese. He has also published a book "Teach Yourself to Read Modern Medical Chinese: A Step-by-Step Workbook and Guide". The pitch for this books states: "Bob shares all the 'quick and dirty' methods he’s used to teach himself. You can begin translating modern medical Chinese within hours"
While I have never read the book, advertising the translation methods as "quick and dirty" or promising you can begin translating Chinese into English "within hours" makes it sound like a side-show carnival product.(1)
Don't be misled, Chinese is not an easy language to learn or translate. The US Government classifies Mandarin Chinese as a Category IV language - one of the most difficult languages for native English speakers to learn.
My concern is that Acupuncturists that read some of these "translated" articles or books take for granted that the translator is actually qualified to do that kind of work.
Those who want to translate and publish Chinese medical texts into English need to have a formal education in Chinese Language and translation from an institute of higher learning.
I propose passing Level 11 of the HSK exam as a minimum standard for translators of Chinese medical texts.
The HSK(2) is a standard test of Proficiency in Chinese language. The amount of words a person should know at the basic test level ranges from 400-3,000 Chinese words. In the advanced level HSK (Level 11) they should have knowledge of 5,000-8,000 words. According to the HSK website a person passing HSK Level 11 is proficient in Chinese at the advanced (high) level and can be regarded as qualified as an intermediate-level translator.

I also believe that a translator in the field of acupuncture should have the translations reviewed for accuracy by a translation committee prior to publication.

The whole purpose of setting high standards is to elevate the profession of acupuncture and make sure that accurate information is disseminated to practitioners.

Notes:
(1) A reviewer on amazon.com said this about Bob Flaws book:
"...I would like to say though, I found the book not that helpful in two ways. 1) The terminology although has pinyin romanization, it lacks the intonation marks. While this book is for reading, tones added will make the book able to help those wanting to learn to speak or listen to Chinese. 2) The book is full of errors. The wrong characters are written and often the meaning is either too simple or in error...so many errors!

(2) For more information on Chinese Proficiency Tests see HSK

Texas Acupuncture Warning

Did you know that if you are a Chiropractor in Texas you can practice acupuncture with just 100 hours of training? As unbelievable as it may seem this is true.
To put this in perspective, to qualify for the NCCAOM (National Certification Commission on Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) which is accepted as the main certifying agency in most states you need almost 3,000 hours training from a formal education program that is accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (ACAOM).

So, do people in Texas seeking acupuncture treatment know this? They should. Chiropractors in Texas who portray themselves as trained acupuncturists are less than forthright. They have organizations they belong to but as far as I can tell they certify themselves.
Think about 100 hours of training. That's not much in any field, much less medicine. For comparison, in a typical Oriental Medical College that will produce a Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac.), a first year student will take 165 hours a semester and they won't even begin to touch a needle much less claim to know acupuncture.

My advice: If you live in Texas and seek acupuncture go to an acupuncturist with the credentials of "L.Ac." (Licensed Acupuncturist) These people have extensive and proper training and will be much more capable of treating you as a professional - and they won't have studied acupuncture by correspondence course either.

For more reading see: AAOM challenges 300-Hour "Chiropractice Acupucnture" Program.

Culing Pill

Q: Is there any wheat or any form of gluten in Culing Pill?
A: One ingredient, Massa Fermenta, or MASSA FERMENTATA (Chinese: Shen Qu) is in the formula. You probably don't want to use it.

Green Tea

Tea Power

Drinking green tea may not only prevent cancer - it may also shrink tumors. University of Mississippi medical Center researchers gave water mixed with a green tea anti-oxidant called EGCG to mice with breast cancer. After five weeks, their tumors were 66 percent smaller and 68 percent lighter than those in mice who drank just water.

As Reported by the Reader's Digest (October 2008, page 121).

Swallowing capsules

Q: Could I melt the capsules? I'm not very good at swallowing big pills.

Is this something I will have to take everyday to feel the effect? I am looking for something that's more "on the go" type or immediate relief.

A: You can open the capsules and pour the contents into tea. I'm not sure how well it would dissolve. One trick to swallowing any pill or capsule is to tuck your chin down as you swallow. The capsule will go down much easier this way. If you tilt your head back it is much harder to swallow anything.

You might take it daily for the 1st two weeks than use as needed. You'll have to see how it works for you. Herbs are not as strong as prescription drugs so you can't always expect "immediate" relief, especially if you are using it for panic attacks or anxiety. It may need to build up in your system.

Dog's Liver Enzymes

Q: my dog has high liver enyzmes vet doesn't know why with Diarrhea muccus can she take liu wei Di Huang wan if so she is 28 lbs how much can i give her and how many times aday are 2 pills enough? i want to make sure on the box it says something about liver problems i'm confused because it's for the liver

A: Use about five pills a day for a 28 pound dog. The liver warning on the box has to do with the product containing licorice. If you take about 1/3 of an ounce of licorice daily for months on end you may have blood pressure problems - hence, the warning. However, there is not even a gram of licorice in the whole box. The warning is just to protect the company in case of legal action. You should also know that this product has been around for over 200 years without a warning label and many other companies make the same product without a warning label. However, you need to make the choice whether to use it or not.

Hand and Leg Pain

Q: I suffer from inflammation in many parts of my body, especially along the meridian (gall bladder?) which runs down the outside of my thighs and on down, so much so that just touching anywhere along it causes extreme pain. The other issue is poor circulation, where my hands fall asleep at night. I don't know if these two things are related, but wondered if there were something you could suggest taking for either/both of these issues.
A: The pain down the side of your leg could be sciatic pain or sciatica. Du Huo Ji Sheng Wan may help.
The hands falling asleep at night may be carpal tunnel syndrome. China Tung Hsueh may help.
Both these products can be found at www.eastearthtrade.com

Lei Gong Teng Thunder God Vine

Q: Do you know where I can get thunder god vine, lei gong teng, Latin Name Tripterygium Wilfordii?

A: Many people are interested in Lei Gong Teng because of reported positive effects in treating rheumatoid arthritis and tumors. However, lacking in the printed stories is the fact that Lei Gong Teng is a very toxic herb and should never be used in its raw form unless under the supervision of someone trained in its use. The product described in news stories is not the same as boiling up the bulk herb with no knowledge of its use. This herb is not discussed in American Acupuncture Colleges because it is so toxic. It's use is not very common and it is not available commercially for good reasons.
Properties and action: Bitter tasting, highly toxic. Reduces inflammation, detoxifies, kills maggots and larvae, poisons rats and birds (by baiting), destroys oncomelania snails.
Conditions most used for: Waistband ulcers and pruritus.
Preparation: Roots, leaves, flowers or fruits are used medicinally for EXTERNAL purposes in suitable amounts. DO NOT TAKE INTERNALLY.

Lei Gong Teng contains a strong neurotoxin. Intoxication symptoms such as burning pain in mouth and throat, excessive salivation, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, etc., usually appear with half an hour of taking this herb. Following this, dilated pupils or even blindness, drooping eyelids, dizziness, dysphasia, cold clammy hands and feet, muscular weakness or cramps, swallowing difficulties and coma, may be manifest. Finally, bradycardia followed by tachycardia and irregular respiration, if not treated immediately, may culminate in respiratory failure and death.
Prevention: Lei Gong Teng is used for EXTERNAL purposes to eliminate and eradicate pests. Do not take by mistake.

Other: Lei Gong Teng will cause infertility in women.

Note: Lei Gong Teng is also known as Lei-Kung T'eng

I suggest using Tung Shueh for muscle and joint pain. This product is good for arthritis and pain relief and is safe to use. It can be found at eastearthtrade.com

China Tung Hsueh

Q: I have seen China Tung Hsueh listed under pet remedies. Is it really safe for human beings to take these medicine? I am really worried as this will badly affect my health. Need your immediate reply on the matter.

A: China Tung Hsueh is not per se a "pet remedy" but many people have found that their pet will benefit from it. Many people use the Chinese formula's for pets. See the book Four Paws, Five Directions for example. This is also true of human prescription medicine. They are often used in animals.

Lajiao

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

I never thought about pickled peppers before but last night I was having dinner at the home of a Chinese friend when I came across an interesting looking vegetable. I took a taste and thought it was a pickle but moments later after chewing thoroughly and swallowing it I realized to late that it was not a pickle. I asked my friend what it was and she told me it was "La jiao" or in English a hot pepper. What I had eaten was a pickled pepper and it was way too hot for me. I didn't dare eat the rest of them though the noodles they were in were very good.

Run Chang Wan

Q: I have some pain in the lower left abdomen. A friend of mine suggested it might be constipation.

I am wondering if Run Chang Wan might be a short term help. Long term I am not sure what to do. Now I just need to figure out how to help the bowels run more smoothly.

We also have some 'phase two' cleansing tonic, with Cascara Sagarada. I suppose I could try a very small amount of that.

A. Run Chang Wan is a very gentle intestinal lubricant. It is safe for long-term use or for elderly people or those recovering from an illness. Cascara is a harsh laxative. I think the Run Chang Wan is better. You can buy it at East Earth Trade Winds.

Pearl Powder

Q: Do you know where to get pearl powder? Are there varying qualities of the stuff?

A: East Earth Trade Winds has mother-of-pearl (margaritifera) available. This is used as a substitute for pearl powder. Pearl powder itself is generally more expensive. The pearls used are not jewel quality so there aren't different grades.

Indigo

Q: I wanted to make up some Indigo ointment to use for my few patches of psoriasis, but I have been unable to find a recipe. Do you have such a recipe or sell a book which gives a recipe? Do you sell a ready-made ointment into which I could put the indigo, and how much would I stir in? Thanks. ----S.F.
A: Indigo can be mixed with shampoo or skin creams. Please see this link at eastearthtrade.com for more information.
Indigo

Chinese Pears for Cough

If you have ever read about using Chinese pears and sugar for coughs but don't know how to prepare it you've come to the right place.
First you need Chinese pears which you may find at a Chinese market or perhaps at your local grocer.
1). Imagine that you are going to make a little hat for the pear and cut the top off about 1/2 - 3/4 inch below the stem.
2). Remove the seeds by hollowing out the pear.
3). Fill with honey.
4). Put the top of the pear back on.
5). Put the pear in a bowl and fill about halfway up with water.
6). You will cook the pear in a double boiler, so put the bowl in another pan of water and heat the outer pan.
7). Turn the heat on low so that the water outside the bowl is warm and steamy.
8). Put a lid on it and cook for 60-90 minutes
9). Eat the pear.

Dit da jou or dit da chiu?

Q: Where can I get dit da jou or dit da chiu? Are these good for arthritis pain in the knee?

A: Dit ja jou or dit da chiu are different spellings of "dit da jow". Basicallythe name translates as "injury medicine" or "hit medicine". Here are several links to products in that are considered Dit Da Jow's.
While the formulas are generally used for a recent injury, many do help give relief for chronic pain like arthritis.

See:

Iron Hand Liniment

Zheng gu shui

Five Photo's

Tai Chi Demo

For our speaking class final exam Zhao Laoshi had us talk on a subject. Ten minutes before our exam we were given our topic. I drew sports. One of the questions we were to address in our topic was "What is your favorite sport?" so in the course of my final I told Zhao Laoshi that tai chi was my favorite sport and that I had practiced it for over 30 years.
At class the next day Zhao Laoshi started talking about the exam and how everyone did. I didn't realize it at the time of the test but she was taking notes on what everyone said. When she mentioned my exam she told the class I practiced tai chi and asked me to come to the front of the room to demonstrate.
I didn't realize it at the time but fellow student Xiang Siow made a video. He recently posted it on youtube. Click the link if you would like to see it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vyv1NjAu3yY

China's National Performing Arts Center

One evening Wang Leyan and Wu Ceng bought tickets for all of us so that we could attend a muscial performance at the National Performing Arts Center. The music was excellent (violins, Cello, piano) and we really enjoyed the performance. The building was also amazing. Later we went back to take pictures of it.

This is a view from the front. The walkway and water that you see in the picture is actually part of the roof over the entrance. The entryway is behind and below from where I stood to take this picture. Once inside, the pool of water (seen in the foreground here) becomes part of a transparent ceiling. You look up and have flowing patterns of water above you. It's quite an amazing building. Ultramodern and with excellent acoustics. I wish I was better at describing it. They also jam cellphone reception in the building which ensures that some thoughtless person doesn't disturb the performance.

May I have your picture?

Often when we travel people who don't encounter westerners very often like to have their picture taken with us. Hannah is especially in demand since she has light hair and fair skin. On this day at the Temple of Heaven I was taking a picture of Hannah when a Chinese girl moved in very close to her and Hannah looked over to see what was going on. Either they just happened to be in the same place at the same time or the Chinese girl may have wanted a picture with her and stepped in close to get it. Anyway, we laughed about it and ended up sharing some nice pictures with her!

Dragon Boats

Our first weekend in China was spent sightseeing. Close to the university is Yi He Yuan or The Summer Palace. There's a big lake and lots of interesting things to see. It is a very nice place to go to.

Here's a picture of some boats on the lake and the dragons on the front of the boats.

Shi Mao Tian Jie. The largest outdoor video screen

At Shi Mao Tian Jie, (in English, known as "The Place"), there is a huge courtyard between some large office buildings. In the center is a huge video screen. Do you remember watching the opening ceremonies of the Olympics and they rolled out the large video screen on the floor? This is very similar to that only it is suspended in the air and you look up to see it. My guess is that it is at least the length of a football field, maybe even longer. It is like a park underneath and people eat, have drinks or children rollerblade and play. When we arrived they had a listing of people's cell phone messages on the screen. Apparently you could call in and have them posted. After that there was a show about the solar system that was pretty amazing. Hannah said it was ironic that we'd sit outside on the ground and look at a video screen to see the stars.

The picture to right is from the front as you walki in off the street. The screen curves upward.

Video below is taken approximately from the second of the last two sections seen in the picture.

Dog Fashions

While we were at a large market we saw a man walking this lttle dog. I ran after him to get a picture and snapped this just before he picked him up and disappeared into the crowd.

The Bird's Nest and Water Cube

We visited the Olympic Park and saw The Bird's Nest stadium and Water Cube. The visibility that day wasn't very good as you can see from the pictures.

Simatai Chang Cheng (Great Wall)

My friends, Wang Leyan and Wu Ceng, escorted us to Simatai Chang Cheng (Great Wall). Of the three sections of the Great Wall you can see in the Beijing area, Simaitai is, in my opinion, the most spectacular. With the help of Leyan, I hired a car and driver and off we went for the day. The weather was cooler and slightly rainy that day which was ideal since the previous week had been very hot and humid. Simatai is on a mountain ridge and the general feeling, when you are at the top, is that you are in an airplane with the valley far below. After our hike we had a nice lunch and drove back to Beijing.

-Having Leyan and Ceng as friends in Beijing made the trip extra special. Leyan met Hannah and I at the airport when we arrived and helped us get settled in at the University and they took us to restaurants and places that we never would have know of ourselves. Their help was very much appreciated.

Top Left: Wang Leyan and Wu Ceng

Top Right: Picture of the Great Wall from inside a tower.

Note: The main picture on The Riverlands blog (at the top of the page) is from Simatai when I first went there 11 years ago with another friend, Dong Qiang. Tourists are not allowed to walk that section any more as it is too narrow and dangerous.

Temple of Heaven Musicians

Here's a video of some musicians playing classical instruments. As with the singers they are just another group of people who get together and have fun.

Temple of Heaven: singing

Here's a short video of some singers at the Temple of Heaven Park

Tian Tan: The Temple of Heaven

One of our first weekend excursions was to the Temple of Heaven (Tain Tan). The Temple is amazingly beautiful but also a lot of the fun was going through the side entrance and seeing people enjoying their weekend by dancing, singing, and playing musiic.

Top right: A lady playing with a ribbon in the park.

Top leftt: Man writing calligraphy with water and a giant brush on the sidewalk near East Entrance to Temple of Heaven Park.

Bottom: The Temple of Heaven (and lots of tourists)

The Bird's Nest and Water Cube

One of my classmates told me Beijing is a architect's dream. They can design and build world class projects in relatively short periods of time as compared to other countries. The Olympic stadium and Water Cube are two examples. The day we went there the air quality was poor and it was very hot but it was very interesting actually be there.

Our Dorm

Here's a picture of our dorm. There's 10 stories. We were on the fourth floor and walked up the stairs 3-4 times a day. It was good exercise- and we needed to exercise to prepare for going to the Great Wall. Occassionally we were lazy and took the elevator.

BLCU Classes

We took an intensive class in Chinese language. Hannah was a beginner in Level A3. I started in a "C" level class but dropped to "B4" level the first day because it was too difficult for me. Two days later I dropped from B4 and ended up in B3 level which was just right. Class levels range from A-F and there are intermediate and advanced classes within those levels. We spent 30 hours a week in class and probably another 4-5 hours a day studying and preparing for the next day. We both learned more than 300 new words in Chinese (Average 25 new words a day. Many days we had to learn much more).

This was my second time at BLCU. Almost ten years to the day I was in the beginning level class there. It was fun to go back and see how the University has grown.

Top: Hannah at the entrance to our building, The College of Intensive Chinese Studies. (Making a "V" sign is very popular there when taking pictures. We have fun adopting that pose.)

Top left: My class. Zhao Laoshi (teacher) (blue shirt) is just right of me and Jiang Laoshi (teacher) (white & blue dress), our grammar instructor, is next to her. Both were excellent teachers. We also had two other teachers for listening and conversation classes. Students came from many countries including Sweden, England, Iran, Russia, Japan, Spain, South Korea, and Malaysia to mention a few.

Bottom: Speaking teacher Zhao Laoshi and student. She was very nice and very patient with us as we stumbled over the words and pronunciation in text we had to read outloud. The blackboard in the background is typical of our class work. Zhao Laoshi never spoke English and it was very rare for the other teachers to speak in English also.

China Studies

Yesterday, Hannah and I left Beijing at 12 noon, flew 11 hours, then arrived in San Francisco at 8:30 am the same day. We saw the sun rise and set twice this day. I had to wait at the San Francisco airport until 5:00pm until my plane left on my final leg to Redding.
It is now Sunday, 2:00am and I'm wide awake. There's a 15 hour time difference from Beijing and my body says I should be up - so I am.
What follows are some pictures and video clips from our Language Study trip at Beijing Language and Culture University.

China 2009

On Wednesday, my daughter Hannah and I will fly to China. We have enrolled in Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) for a one month intensive in Chinese language taking place in the month of August. Classes are five days a week, six hours a day. We are looking forward to living in Beijing as residents instead of as tourists.

THE USE OF JIANPILING IN TREATING ULCERATIVE COLITIS

Q: I am trying to find the formula Jianpiling which I read about online. The article is entitled " THE USE OF JIANPILING IN TREATING ULCERATIVE COLITIS"
by Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D., Director, Institute for Traditional Medicine, Portland, Oregon.
Can you help me find it?


A: I don't know when this article was written but the most recent reference in the bibliography is 12 years old (1997).

If you go to the Institute for Traditional Medicine website they say:
"The articles on the ITM website are reviews of literature and not descriptions of work done at ITM; that literature may include traditional Chinese medical reports as well as modern medical reports...."
Furthermore,
"The claimed results in Chinese medical journals are often attained through treatment strategies that are unacceptable or impractical here..."

It is my understanding that Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D., Director, ITM, has no formal training in Chinese medicine. His PH.D. is in biology. He is not licensed to practice medicine and is primarily a researcher.
His bio on the website reads "Subhuti Dharmananda received his Ph.D. in Biology from the University of California in 1980. He traveled to China several times, the first visit in 1977 and most recent in 2001, and has collected a large library of books and journals involved with traditional medicine."
Smart man with an interest in Chinese medicine, yes. A doctor, no.

So, the point is that many authors like to get people excited about something that is next to impossible to obtain and as I mentioned before, the information is very old.
The article does not give dosage for the herbs, only vague reference to the amounts of each one. It's possible that the herbs could be mixed up for you but you would have to boil them and drink as a tea. I think that's the best you will be able to do and the results the same as in the article.

Mystery Herb

Q: Can you identify this herb?

A: This herb is not commonly used and probably not found in most references on Chinese medicine. The herb is Tian Xian Zi or Hyoscyamus niger, or henbane (Stinking Nightshade) and is toxic. I do not believe it is commonly available and even if it was I would not recommend using it.

For more information, see this Wikipedia article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyoscyamus_niger

Natural Compounds Alleviate Insulin Resistance in Mice

Compounds increase production of an insulin-sensitizing hormone from fat cells

THURSDAY, Feb. 5 (HealthDay News) -- Two compounds isolated from herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine increase the production of an insulin-sensitizing hormone from fat cells and improve hyperglycemia, glucose tolerance and insulin resistance in obese mice, according to study findings published in the February issue of Endocrinology.
Aimin Xu, Ph.D., from the University of Hong Kong, and colleagues screened 50 herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine for compounds that enhance adiponectin production by adipocytes.
The investigators identified two structurally related compounds, astragaloside II and isoastragaloside I, from the medicinal herb Radix Astragali. Both compounds increased adiponectin production by adipocytes without affecting other adipokines and had an additive effect on adiponectin production when given with rosiglitazone, an insulin-sensitizing drug, they found. Chronic administration of either drug in obese mice was associated with higher serum adiponectin and improvements in hyperglycemia, glucose tolerance and insulin resistance, the researchers report.
"In conclusion, our results suggest that pharmacological elevation of circulating adiponectin alone is sufficient to ameliorate insulin resistance and diabetes and support the use of adiponectin as a biomarker for future drug discovery," Xu and colleagues write.

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Here's a source of Astragali (astragalus):
http://eastearthtrade.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2

Tonic wine may pose health risk

From Viet Nam News:


HA NOI — Consumption of medicinal liquor is on the rise as an alternative to home-made wine, despite concerns over the quality and health benefits.
Medicinal liquor, which has origins in traditional Chinese medicine, is believed to treat disease and improve health. The wine is a mixture of alcohol fermented with herbs, including ginseng and jujube. Seahorses, snakes and termites are also used.
Because of the perceived health benefits, many consume more units than the daily limit recommended by doctors.
Vu Quoc Quan, 62, is a dedicated medicinal liquor drinker. He buys his booze from a shop on Ton That Tung Street. Today, he is washing down his lunch with bee wine.
"This wine is good for you and I can drink as much as I want without worrying about being poisoned," he says.
Shop owner Nguyen Thanh Huyen backs him up: "This wine is very tonic. I made it at least five years ago. The ingredients include rare herbs, gecko, deer horn and snake soaked in alcohol. The wine can help cure many diseases and is very cheap, only VND30,000 (US$1.8) – 60,000 ($3.6) per bottle."
She points behind her to six big glass jars full of snake wine, saying this is more expensive, but good for different diseases.
"I choose the ingredients very carefully and make it myself," she says. "The alcohol comes from a well-known distillery in Nam Dinh Province, so there’s nothing to worry about."
According to the statistics of the Ministry of Health, out of the approximately 20,000 distilleries nationwide, only 10 per cent meet quality standards.
The director of Bach Mai Hospital’s Detoxification Centre, Pham Due, says although the number of people suffering alcohol poisoning is small, patients usually arrive in a critical condition.
"The two most recent cases of alcohol poisoning were due to medicinal wine," Due says. "One drank bee wine, the other termite wine. They both recovered."
Hallucinogenic
Nguyen Dang Bao, owner of traditional medicine shop named Bao Thuan Duong on La Thanh Street, says tonic wine usually has a hallucinogenic effect.
"I myself don’t believe tonic wine is good for your health," he says. "Animal organs disintegrate after fermenting for three years. You would be lucky if the wine didn’t make your health worse."
According to traditional medicine practitioner Nguyen Van Duc, from Binh Duong Traditional Medicine Hospital, every animal or insect has different toxins which alcohol can kill but only over a certain length of time.
"In some cases tonic wine has health benefits. However, like any kind of medicine, users must choose the right wine to suit their ailment, or they could risk doing themselves harm," Duc says.
Only knowledgeable wine-makers should sell medicinal liquor, says the head of the Toxic Centre, Due. "It’s difficult to control the quality of medicinal liquor. A wine-maker who has little knowledge of herbs, could mix the wrong combination or make other mistakes in the wine-making process."
Can Tho City’s Market Management Department recently confiscated over 700 litres of medicinal wine produced by Long Giang Company after it was found contaminated with formaldehyde. Herbs and certain animals were also sold without a hygiene certificate. The company were fined VND4 million ($243). — VNS

Update on the Free China preservation effort

This is an update from Dione Chen who is spearheading the effort to save the Free China.
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Thank you for your interest in saving the Free China, a historic Chinese junk that will be lost forever unless preservation efforts succeed.
We appreciate—and need—your support. We'd like to provide you with a brief update on preservation efforts, and let you know about the areas of greatest need. Any assistance will be valuable. Please visit our website www.chinesejunkpreservation.com for more information.

Emergency Short-Term Preservation Strategy:
With the Dec. 31 deadline for destruction fast-approaching, in mid-December, Chinese Junk Preservation was able to first "buy time" by negotiating to pay for a 3-month extension for continued temporary storage of the junk. The owner will not extend this new deadline, which is fast approaching.
We have developed a pragmatic, emergency preservation strategy to give the junk a chance at survival. The strategy includes these essential steps:
Pay for interim storage of the junk at another location in the San Francisco Bay Area, and transport the junk there (by sea/land), while efforts continue to secure a long-term home for the junk.
Commission a professional survey and documentation of the junk's construction and original and current (altered) condition.
Collect and save the rich array of documentation, photos, news clippings, and film that exist—but need to be preserved as they are currently vulnerable to deterioration.
Support Critical to Saving Junk
Chinese Junk Preservation is a small group of volunteers with a dream of saving this historic vessel. Here are the areas of greatest need:
* Help find a home for the Free China. Do you know of a potential long-term owner and/or home for the Free China? We are seeking a long-term home for the junk where it may have a secure, public life, that is, where the junk will be safe and be exhibited in a way that will generate public awareness and understanding about maritime, Chinese and American history and culture, as well as immigration. A critical short-term need is for an interim home while a long-term home is found and readied. The ideal interim home will be in the San Francisco Bay Area, on land immediately adjacent to the water.
* Volunteer. You can make a difference! Join our crew of supporters today. We are looking for volunteers to assist and/or take a leadership role in the following areas: outreach to prospective supporters, partners and donors, fundraising and grant writing, public relations, historic preservation and boat restoration, nonprofit management, Chinese-English translation and online communications.
* Donate. The Chinese Junk Preservation group operates on a shoestring budget and relies on volunteers. We need to raise $50,000 to implement the emergency short-term strategy that will give the junk a last chance at survival. This money will be dedicated to securing an interim home for the junk, preparing exhibition/educational materials, conducting outreach to current and potential supporters and partners, and obtaining a professional survey of the junk and documentation of its construction and history. Tax-deductible donations can be made to the group via its fiscal sponsor, the Chinese Historical Society of America (www.chsa.org), which is the largest and oldest Chinese American historical society in the U.S. Information on how to donate can be found at the group's website www.chinesejunkpreservation.com. We also seek an experienced fundraiser to lead fundraising efforts, and volunteers to assist with outreach.
* Spread the Word: Chinese Junk Preservation welcomes interest and support in this preservation project. The more people who know about the junk, the better our chances of finding a new home, potential sponsor or talented volunteer! Please tell people about this preservation effort. Invite them to visit this website and join our mailing list for future updates. We welcome everyone who would like to be added to our mailing list to send an email stating their interest and contact information to us at: chinesejunkpreservation@gmail.com To find out more, help spread the word about efforts, or to make a donation, please visit www.chinesejunkpreservation.com . Emails may be sent to: chinesejunkpreservation@gmail.com.

Keep in touch. We value your interest and support in this inspiring preservation project. Please join our mailing list to receive occasional email updates about our progress. To join, please send an email to chinesejunkpreservation@gmail.com, including your contact information and a brief note letting us know of your interest. Please be assured, we will not share your email address and you may unsubscribe at any time.

American publisher to issue Chinese Medical Science book by UMAC's professors

University of Macau (UMAC) revealed that Nova Science Publishers, Inc from USA, has recently published “Pharmacological Activity Based Quality Control of Chinese Herbs”, written by Associate Prof. Li Shaoping and Prof. Wang Yitao, from the Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences (ICMS) of UMAC. Following the growing trend of “Getting Back to Nature”, the Chinese herbs have become more and more popular because of its security and effectiveness characteristics. Associate Professor Li and Professor Wang's book was written based on the recent research results of the quality control of Chinese herbs conducted by UMAC, as well as invited experts from the Mainland, Hong Kong and Singapore to write and edit the book. Meanwhile, the concept of “Pharmacological Activity Based Quality Control of Chinese Herbs” not only represents the research direction of the quality control of modern Chinese medicine, but is also conducive to the international expansion of Chinese medicine. Nova Science Publishers, Inc (USA) is one of the most influential publishers of scientific and technical books in the world, and is well-known to publish the newest advancement in scientific areas. It publishes more than 500 types of book and 45 types of academic periodicals every year. The publication of the book has indicated that research on the quality control for Chinese medicine conducted by UMAC is international acknowledged.

For full article see:
http://www.macaudailytimesnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21824&Itemid=28

Colorpuncture

Question: What do you think of Colorpuncture?

Answer: Colorpuncture...Hmmm... I've heard of it but don't know much about it so I looked it up. After reviewing the colorpuncture website, here's what I think:

There's a lot of people who have unusual, non-traditional takes on acupuncture and this is one of them. One of the claims on their website is "Colorpuncture therapy uses precisely targeted light treatments to gently unlock and release emotional trauma and blocked soul information which often underlie our illnesses."
Personally I don't believe that someone can "unlock and release...blocked soul information". In fact, I don't think there is such a thing as "blocked soul information". The key though is can it make you well? A lot of things get better all by themselves so a good test, in my opinion, is getting rid of pain fast. My experience with acupuncture is that if you chose the right point you can have an instant change in the level of pain. I doubt colorpuncture can do this.
If you try it you'll have to tell me if it works but you might be better off going to someone who is good at using acupuncture needles.

Achyranthis "Niu xi" and Achyranthis "Tu niu xi"

Question: What is the difference between Achyranthis "Niu xi" and Achyranthis "Tu niu xi"?

Answer: There seems to be some confusion about this herb but the clearest explanation is found in Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica. See link below:
http://eastearthtrade.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=16

Basically, both herbs invigorate the blood and direct downward but Niu Xi tonifies the Kidneys, strengthens the lumbar area and knees. It does not drain fire or resolve toxicity. Tu niu xi has no ability to tonify deficiency, but does drain fire, resolve toxicity, clear heat toxin and unblock painful urinary dribbling.

As far as the prepared forms of niu xi are concerned, this is something you would do yourself by dry-frying, salt-frying, wine-frying, or charring. See Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica for full information.

You can buy Achyranthis (Niu Xi) at www.eastearthtrade.com, see:
http://eastearthtrade.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=370