Script: https://tcmpodcast.me/episode-23-healing-with-mushrooms-shiitake/

Fungi have played an important role in Chinese culture for perhaps 7,000 years. Over the millennia, common mushrooms such as the wood ear and jelly fungus have been important food items. Various simple fungi were also utilized to make fermented food products such as  wine, vinegar, soy sauce, and pickled vegetables. Fungi were utilized for their healing properties in China and popularized over centuries in South-East Asia as well.  

The use of fungi such as hoelen, caterpillar fungus, and ergot in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was also recorded in the TCM literature. The oldest official Chinese list of medicinal substances comes from the Classic of the Materia Medica (Shennong Bencaojing 神農本草經) written between about 206 BC and 220 AD,  and the Mingyi bielu (Chin.名醫別錄). It contains 365 medicinal substances, and the list includes several mushroom species used for medicinal purposes.

Earlier mention of the use of fungi in medicine outside of the main classics occurred as early as 26 B.C. in the “Book of Songs,”(Chin. Shijing 诗经) a compilation of folk-songs and poems. Shitake was included in a work on herbal medicine first in 1209 in the Records of Longquan County.

Probably the most famous of all works on Chinese materia medica is the monumental Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao gangmu本草綱目), which was compiled by Li Shizhen (Chin. 李时珍) and published in 1578 in Nanjing three years after he died. This enormous endeavour took Li Shizhen 27 years and includes 1,892 species of animal, herbal, and mineral drugs, including 1,100 illustrations and 11,000 prescriptions...

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Script: https://tcmpodcast.me/episode-22-schumann-resonance-healing-waves/

The entire physical universe consists of pure energy and vibrations, which are mostly terra incognita for humans, therefore we can detect and use only a small fraction of it.

Everything vibrates at a certain frequency widely known as electromagnetic energies – with a certain effects on the planet Earth and all living beings.

An electromagnetic field is an area of space filled with magnetic and electric energy. Electromagnetic fields are everywhere. High-frequency electromagnetic radiation, like x-rays and gamma rays, is “ionizing” and might be harmful to people, while visible light which is low-frequency electromagnetic radiation, or “non-ionizing,” is considered safe to humans, or even a cure to some human diseases.

Electromagnetic fields are produced by any device that uses electricity, but are mostly produced naturally. A large, low-frequency electromagnetic field is produced by the Earth’s core, as a part of our atmosphere called the magnetosphere...

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Script: https://tcmpodcast.me/episode-21-the-great-wall-of-china/

The Great Wall stood as a wall of defense for many years, and It still stands today as a great wonder of the world. It is a man-made wonder, spanning thousands of kilometers. Much of it has stood for hundreds of years, with some portions over 2000 years old.

Thousands of years ago at the present territory of China existed a region of separate states, ruled by their own leaders, its own languages, cultures and currencies, permanently in war condition toward each other and neighboring areas.

Four states built fortification walls along the north of China around 700 BC. having aim to protect their territorial borders. They built side walls, circular walls and parallel walls, and in some areas, rivers or high mountains formed part of the wall.

The original walls were built of gravel and earth, packed between wooden frames, designed for defense against swords and spears. In 221 BC, Qin Shi Huang (Chinese 秦始皇) defeated the separate states of China and united them in one empire. He became the first emperor of China and the founder of Qin Dynasty (Chinese 秦朝). The north was the only open area where China could be easily invaded. Emperor Qin’s idea was to link the walls in the north to form a barrier from the invading Huns...

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Script: https://tcmpodcast.me/episode-20-bian-que-the-legendary-chinese-medicine-doctor/

As a rule, in the Traditional Chinese Medicine, doctor always treats the whole person, soul and body. It is, of utmost importance harmonization of internal balances of a body’s energy and personality traits, person’s eating habits, and what experiences gets during daily life.

In old China it is believed that medical ethics are directly related to supernatural capabilities such as clairvoyance. TCM doctor who obtained supernatural capabilities, will definitely lose abilities in case if his moral and ethics decline or got compromised.

In ancient China, supernatural capabilities were common to virtually all Chinese medical doctors, as great medical scientists, and were all documented in medical texts. What Chinese medicine has inherited are only those prescriptions or experiences from research. Ancient Chinese medicine was very advanced, and the extent of its progress was beyond present medical science.

Just as Modern Medicine traces its foundations to Greek and Roman doctors such as Hippocrates and Galen, Traditional Chinese Medicine also has its significant early doctors. Bian Que is widely considered to be one of the most important figures in the history and development of Chinese Medicine and the earliest known Chinese physician. Bian Que lived in about the same period as Confucius during the Spring and Autumn Period (around 552–479 BC)...

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Script: https://tcmpodcast.me/episode-19-the-study-of-destiny/

From ancient times people were puzzled by the meaning of life, our purpose and destiny. Therefore Chinese ancestors invested much time in studying, researching and understanding the meaning of life by observing the chronology of man's destiny. During centuries ancient Chinese gained knowledge about destiny and created destiny studies (Chin. ming xue 命学) using two assessment methods: BaZi 八子 and Purple star astrological numerology (Chin. zǐ wēi dǒu shù 紫微斗數). Today we are going to learn more about BaZi.

Script: episode-18-the-story-of-rice-and-noodles

Rice and noodles have a great role in the Chinese diet. We can easily compare rice and noodles to potato and pasta in western cuisine. Pieces of meat and vegetables are served alongside the rice and noodles.  There are many types of rice, such as sweet rice, long grain rice, short grain rice, jasmine rice, brown rice, black rice or red yeast rice. We can prepare rice in different ways, e.g. steaming rice, rice soup, fried rice, or pot rice. Rice cultivation in China started between 8,000 years ago at Kuahuqiao in Zhejiang Province.  China has little water resources in the north, and historically Chinese people plant wheat instead of rice which is planted in the southern part of China. Consequently, for people in the south of China rice is the most important part of the meal, whereas Chinese from the north eat dominantly noodles.  The importance of rice in China can be comprehended from the Chinese character Qi (Chin. 氣) which means essence, vital energy, spirit, and represents one of the most important symbols in China. Character 米 (Chin. mǐ) rice, represents rice grains separated by leaves and is the foundation for character Qi.  For the Chinese, rice (Chin. 米饭) symbolizes a link between Heaven (Gods) and Earth (Men). Rice is the staple food for the Chinese people and a source of life for centuries with great popularity...

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Script: https://tcmpodcast.me/episode-17-wind-in-traditional-chinese-medicine/

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) believes that man is a reflection upon the universe, like the existence of a microcosm within the macrocosm. The term ‘climate’ in TCM, refers to agents that cause diseases.

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Script: https://tcmpodcast.me/episode-16-the-ancient-art-of-standing-like-a-tree/

Zhan Zhuang (Chin. 站桩) is considered to be the most powerful exercise of all the Taiji Quan (Chin. 太极拳) and qigong (Chin. 气功) postures, and is often used as a separate exercise to increase leg strength, concentration, deep breathing and qi flow.

Zhan Zhuang is very basic form of exercise, but very powerful exercise to enhance energy, mental clarity, and internal strength. It’s an excellent standing meditation for improving your productivity and bringing more aliveness to everything you do.

Zhan Zhuang means standing like a tree or standing like a post, where one stands still, in an upright posture, as if standing like a tree.

The tree metaphor is apt as your legs and torso form the trunk of the tree. Your head and limbs form the branches. And your feet, sinking and extending down beneath the ground, establish the roots. It offers many of the mental benefits of mindfulness training.

The most common Zhan Zhuang method is known as Chēng Bào (撑抱, "Tree Hugging stance”).

The idea behind standing still in static positions, for instance with our arms holding an energetic ball around our chest or other positions, is that in order to be able to hold these positions for more than a few minutes, we have to completely relax. So our body has to find harmony, and we need to use our bodies as a unit in order to be able to stand there. Then we are holding our arms in place with our dantien rather than the muscles in our arms and legs. 

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Script: https://tcmpodcast.me/episode-15-healing-with-alcohols/

High carbon dioxide levels cause acidosis and stimulate the respiratory center in the brain, triggering the newborn to take a breath. The first breath typically is taken within 10 seconds of birth, after mucus is aspirated from the infant's mouth and nose.

In order to make the first breath after the umbilical cord has been cut, it is the most important level of CO2.

If there’s too much carbon dioxide (CO2) in the baby’s bloodstream it can produce hypercapnia may upset acid-base balance and cause a range of problems.

On the contrary, a decrease in alveolar and blood carbon dioxide (CO2) levels below the normal reference range of 35 mm/Hg is known as hypocapnia.

Balance of CO2 level in bloodstream activates very first breath in newborn babies. Too much CO2 will cause permanent damage to the brain, while too little CO2 will not trigger breathing.

Following this logic, we can understand that all kinds of stimulation can have the very same effect on the human body. One cigarette a day is great stimulation for our metabolism and causes faster blood flow and brains functions, such as enhancement of motor learning, while more cigarettes cause brains and body decrease - hypofunction and cause a variety of damages to the health.

It is the same for alcohol. Moderate to little daily usage of alcohol even can have health benefits.

Alcohols

Alcohols, in various forms, are used within medicine as an antiseptic, disinfectant, and antidote. Alcohol is also one of the oldest beverages used by humans which preparation dates back to as far as 8,000 BC. Alcohol was used as a general anesthetic since 8thcentury BC, while has been used as an antiseptic as early as 1363.

Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant and can slow down brain activity, change mood, behavior, self-control, and can affect coordination and physical control.

Alcohol benefits

In order for alcohol to have curative effects, it has to be taken moderately. Alcohol itself can reduce cardiovascular diseases, can reduce the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, and can prevent stroke. Moderate consumption of alcohol can reduce the risk of developing diabetes, cancer, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Moderate alcohol consumption reduced the incidence of the common cold among nonsmokers but has no protective effect against the common cold in smokers.

Moderate consumption of alcohol may prolong life and promote health and well-being in general. We drink alcohol generally during various social events when people are connected when we feel further stimulated and sedated by alcohol. In general, alcohol can make people happier if consumed moderately.

Therefore, medium consumption of alcohol can be found to benefit our physiology, emotions, or even our social dimension.

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Script: episode-14-dreams-interpretations-in-traditional-chinese-medicine

A dream is one of three states that the soul experiences during its lifetime. The other two states are the waking state and the sleeping state.

Since the old times, people regard dreams as mysterious and meaningful. Many people believe that the dream world—with its own metaphoric language, can help us fully understand our life in sanity and lead us to greater knowledge and self-realization. Dream interpretation has been practiced throughout all time very likely by all civilizations.

Unconscious lies hidden beneath the conscious mind of every person. It is an area that has a very distinct effect on dreams and on all human thoughts and actions.

Consciousness and unconsciousness

Consciousness is not a simple state, but has many “layers.” Even when wide awake, we are not equally aware of everything around us or of our own actions. An experienced bus driver, for example, does not need to concentrate in order to change gear. In the same fashion, unconsciousness does not mean a lack of inactivity. During sleep, the brains are very active. Data from some unconscious layers can appear during sleep in the form of dreams. When we awaken that very unconscious data can trigger sudden inspirations or déjà vu itself.

What is sleep?

Sleep is an active process in which the body repairs and regenerates itself, as our brains process and analyze the days awaken state of action. We experience four or five sleep cycles, which are made up of various stages or kinds of sleep. Each has its own unique characteristics and is designed to maintain health and prepare us for a new day.

How much sleep?

The amount of sleep needed to maintain health varies from individual to individual. Most newborn babies spend 80% of their time asleep. By the age of three to five months, babies need less sleep, and the requirement continues to decrease throughout life. Someone needing eight hours in middle age is likely to need only seven when they reach old age.

The duration of sleep also changes as people grow older. By the age of 10, most people need between nine and 12 hours to sleep. The average for most adults is between seven and eight and a half hours.

Some adults need as little as six hours, while others require as much as nine. In general, a pattern of decreasing sleep needs continues until old age when a more interrupted, infant-like pattern may re-emerge.

The average person in the course of a lifetime will spend around 20 years asleep and experience at least 300,000 dreams. Sleeping and dreaming are active functions of the nervous system.

People die more quickly from lack of sleep than they do from lack of food. A person kept awake for long periods becomes increasingly disoriented, starts hallucinating, and after about 10 days of total sleep deprivation usually dies. Many people, however, have survived years with little sleep. It has been demonstrated that both dreaming sleep and non-dreaming sleep are necessary to maintain health and vitality.

Stages of Sleeping

Sleep involves four distinct stages that combine to form the sleep cycle. During the first stage, the individual relaxes and drifts between sleeping and waking. In the second stage, the person can be woken by even slight disturbances. The eyes roll from side to side. During stage three the body is greatly relaxed and only a loud disturbance could wake the person up. These three stages together take about 20 minutes. In stage four the body’s tissues are repaired with the aid of growth hormone. After stage four the cycle goes into reverse but instead of waking up after stage one the person enters REM sleep and begins to dream. The cycle from stage one to four and back takes between 90 and 100 minutes. In the course of a night’s sleep, this cycle repeats itself between four and five times.

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