I seem to end up spending a lot of time pointing out the faults in mainstream medicine. This I believe is understandable given the numerous targets of concern constantly being provided by the corporate infrastructure that has become healthcare.
In this article I would like to explore the philosophy I have come to embrace with regards to healing as opposed to treatment, after years of personal investigation and practice of alternative methodologies. There are also problems inherent with some alternative healthcare models, but I'll save that topic for a future post.
As a society we always tend to think of the application of our applied methodologies as being based on scientific fact. The reality is that so-called scientific fact tends to be a bit of a moving target as new understanding is developed from ongoing scientific investigations. We are taught after all that this is the primary purpose of the ongoing scientific method - to further our understanding. Unfortunately the social, economic and technological constructs we create with a contemporary understanding can later be found to be invalid or detrimental based on the new scientific evidence. This naturally becomes problematic when the new evidence indicates a need for social change and redirection. The bigger the beast you create, the harder it is to turn it around. So while scientists argue, politicians lie, lawyers obfuscate, and corporations do whatever the heck they please, we as individuals tend to suffer the consequences and usually pass them on to our children. Nowhere is this more clearly demonstrated than in the area of medicine and the structure of our modern agricultural system.
The more we learn and the more we become impressed with ourselves, the more we try to prove that we can do it better than nature. I can think of no example where this mentality has not led to the detriment of either the environment or our physical and mental well-being. The evidence speaks for itself.
To my mind the only successful designer of sustainable complex biological systems is nature itself, as clearly demonstrated by our formerly bio-diverse ecosystem to which we are all inextricably linked. Our hubristic attitudes regarding our scientific accomplishments simply pale in comparison to the magnificence that is nature from the micro to the macro. Instead of trying to emulate the success of nature, we have been focused on imposing our limited understanding for far too long and now we're paying the price with increasing systemic illness and emotional distress. As we continue to treat disease with intervention we have forgotten how to heal and in doing so ignore the wondrous capabilities resident in the makeup of the human body.
When setting out to heal osteoarthritis or almost any disease for that matter, there is one simple concept that, when embraced, changes the game dramatically and it is this; at the end of the day there is nothing that heals the body but the body. There is no doubt that you can support the healing process with many things like herbs, vitamins, acupuncture or any of a myriad of possibilities. However, without the set of instructions encoded in the DNA of each of your cells these things would be of little use.
Your DNA can be thought of as the bio-ware encoded in the system to provide for cellular regeneration and metabolic functioning for the biological machinery that forms your body. Like any biological entity, the production of energy is first and foremost in the continuation of its ability to function and thrive. It also only stands to reason that any biological entity will be an adapted reflection of the larger biosphere in which it exists. Evolution has demonstrated that biological entities will adapt over time to make use of the resources available to them in their particular environment. As with all life with which we share this planet, we have adapted to make use of the nutrients available - some in the form of organic elements and some as inorganic elements. As long as these things are available to us in the quantities needed to maintain the balance of the system, there is rarely a problem for maintaining the integrity of our biological forms. This is especially true when the biosphere providing sustenance is also pristine, balanced and diverse.
No matter what our philosophical leanings there is no denying that these bodies with their opposable thumbs and an ability to think in the abstract are marvellous pieces of engineering that offer the occupant a precious vehicle for exploring the full range of potential life experiences. All we have to do as occupants is to respect its needs. Unfortunately many of us have come to respect our cars and possessions more than the vehicle that provides the experience in the first place, let alone the biosphere that provides for all biological life.
Perhaps illness does not represent a failure of the body as much as it represents our conscious failures to provide it with what it needs to function. I have read that in a seven year period every cell in our body has been regenerated through cellular division and replication. It would seem to follow from this that we create our body's destiny with the fuel we provide in what we consume. If the building blocks of metabolism and cellular regeneration are not present in the food we eat, then the instructions for their distribution and use in the body become meaningless. Healing is simply a matter of providing the body with these raw materials so that it can get on with carrying out its programmed function.
Healing is about recognizing these fundamental biological truths. When you stop trying to work against nature and instead endeavour to learn from it; many things become possible, including the salvation of your joints. Achieving health and vitality requires only that you show some respect for the vehicle of your consciousness.
In my e-book "Curing Osteoarthritis" I explore through my own experiences a different way of approaching so-called disease. Having been debilitated with the pain and discomfort of Osteoarthritis myself for some time, I am now symptom free and have been so for about five years now. The book not only explores the way in which we look at Osteoarthritis, but also the way we perceive disease in general as well as providing in handbook form the protocols I used to cure my own condition.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Soya in Chinese Cuisine: Milk, Beans, and Bean Curd
Soya is a key ingredient in Chinese cuisine and it has been so for thousands of years.
If you think that soya intake in China is limited to soya beans, soya milk and tofu, you are mistaken. Actually, there are hundreds of different kinds of soya-made food products that are part of the daily diet in China.
In this article, I will focus on soya milk, soya beans and bean curd. Tofu deserves special attention on its own and therefore has been discussed in a different article.
Soya Beans
Let us start with the original form in which soya presents itself in nature: soya beans. I have been looking for soya beans in UK supermarkets and shops for a while, but haven't been very successful so far. Fortunately, soya beans are sold in most Chinese supermarkets in the UK. The beans are sold dried and hard, so if you decide to cook them, you need to soak them in water at least overnight to get them softer and ready for cooking.
A popular way of cooking them is to stir fry them. I like to do it with little tofu pieces and carrots; or light frying them in oil, until they become crispy. They can then can be taken as snacks or side dish.
Soya Milk
In China, soya milk is slightly thicker than what is customary in Western countries, and it is never mixed with anything else. Nowadays, soya milk can be made at home by using a soya milk maker. If you remember to soak the beans the evening before, the next morning you can make pure soya milk in 10 minutes.
Once, I found a type of soya milk maker sold in the US which did not require you to soak the beans in advance, which is very convenient since I always forget.
Soya milk is an essential component of Chinese breakfast.
Dried Bean Curd
Two types of dried bean curd can be commonly found in Chinese supermarkets. The first one comes in the shape of a stick; the second one comes in a sheet.
They both need to be soaked in water first. You can soak it in warm water (never too hot) for a couple of hours, then make it into salad.
Vegetarian Chicken (Suji)
This is the literal translation from the Chinese name, so don't get confused with the ones sold in Vegetarian sections of supermarkets. It is another form of tofu or bean curd, which is not at all intended as a substitute for chicken.
It is typical from the Northern provinces of China and it is normally prepared in salad or stir fried.
Seasonings
There are many seasonings made from soy, like soy sauce, soy paste, soy oil. Most of them are essential in Chinese daily life and can be found in every kitchen in North China.
If you think that soya intake in China is limited to soya beans, soya milk and tofu, you are mistaken. Actually, there are hundreds of different kinds of soya-made food products that are part of the daily diet in China.
In this article, I will focus on soya milk, soya beans and bean curd. Tofu deserves special attention on its own and therefore has been discussed in a different article.
Soya Beans
Let us start with the original form in which soya presents itself in nature: soya beans. I have been looking for soya beans in UK supermarkets and shops for a while, but haven't been very successful so far. Fortunately, soya beans are sold in most Chinese supermarkets in the UK. The beans are sold dried and hard, so if you decide to cook them, you need to soak them in water at least overnight to get them softer and ready for cooking.
A popular way of cooking them is to stir fry them. I like to do it with little tofu pieces and carrots; or light frying them in oil, until they become crispy. They can then can be taken as snacks or side dish.
Soya Milk
In China, soya milk is slightly thicker than what is customary in Western countries, and it is never mixed with anything else. Nowadays, soya milk can be made at home by using a soya milk maker. If you remember to soak the beans the evening before, the next morning you can make pure soya milk in 10 minutes.
Once, I found a type of soya milk maker sold in the US which did not require you to soak the beans in advance, which is very convenient since I always forget.
Soya milk is an essential component of Chinese breakfast.
Dried Bean Curd
Two types of dried bean curd can be commonly found in Chinese supermarkets. The first one comes in the shape of a stick; the second one comes in a sheet.
They both need to be soaked in water first. You can soak it in warm water (never too hot) for a couple of hours, then make it into salad.
Vegetarian Chicken (Suji)
This is the literal translation from the Chinese name, so don't get confused with the ones sold in Vegetarian sections of supermarkets. It is another form of tofu or bean curd, which is not at all intended as a substitute for chicken.
It is typical from the Northern provinces of China and it is normally prepared in salad or stir fried.
Seasonings
There are many seasonings made from soy, like soy sauce, soy paste, soy oil. Most of them are essential in Chinese daily life and can be found in every kitchen in North China.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Effective Packing Advice For Moving Homes
Packing correctly achieves several things. It protects fragile & delicate items & it gathers multiple articles together to make one single object to transport.
Begin well in advance of your move. Most people underestimate both the time they need to pack properly & the quantity of cardboard boxes required. Packing is not something that can be left to the last minute.
Packing & wrapping your items are the keys to a successful move. Don't skimp on packing supplies. They are much cheaper than broken or damaged belongings or an insurance claim. Spend some time considering how you are going to pack each item.
Make sure you have the right materials to begin with including; Sturdy removal boxes, wrapping paper, bubble wrap, strong parcel tape, plastic bin bags & furniture covers. Mark each box with a general description of its contents so that you will know where to find things. Mark on each box & bag the name & number of the room in which it is going.
Keep all boxes for each room together. This will save time unpacking later. Stack your boxes up as you finish to make more room.
Fill each box to its capacity, using wrapping paper or bubble wrap to eliminate empty spaces. Do not use newspaper as it will mark your items. Place weighty items in the bottom of the box & lighter items on the top. The top and sides of each box should not bulge. Nothing should protrude from the top of the box.
Pack heavy items, such as books, in smaller boxes. Keep the weight of each box down to a manageable level. The weight in each box should not be heavier than one person can lift, a maximum of 30kg is recommended.
Always stand glass, pictures & mirrors on their edge. Where possible pack electrical items such as TVs, stereos, amplifiers, CD players & turntables in their original cardboard boxes. Label the wires & cords of your equipment to enable reconnecting your system quick & easy.
Cardboard boxes must be closed & taped properly. Adhesive tape should be used along the full length of every seam of the box. Label each box "Fragile".
Leave lightweight linens & clothes in their drawers where possible. Items liable to leak or break should not be left in drawers but packed in boxes instead. It is a good idea to put soft items in strong plastic bin bags which should be tied at the top. Do not put heavy or sharp items in them.
Disassemble any items you can such as wardrobes & tables. Be aware of items with sharp corners or projections. Put all screws & fittings in plastic bags if possible & tie or tape them to each item.
Finally, pack important documents together, such as birth & marriage certificates & keep them in a safe place. Pack your valuables & essentials separately & plan on keeping these items on you on the day.
Following our advice should help to reduce what is, for the majority of people, one of the most stressful days of their lives!
Begin well in advance of your move. Most people underestimate both the time they need to pack properly & the quantity of cardboard boxes required. Packing is not something that can be left to the last minute.
Packing & wrapping your items are the keys to a successful move. Don't skimp on packing supplies. They are much cheaper than broken or damaged belongings or an insurance claim. Spend some time considering how you are going to pack each item.
Make sure you have the right materials to begin with including; Sturdy removal boxes, wrapping paper, bubble wrap, strong parcel tape, plastic bin bags & furniture covers. Mark each box with a general description of its contents so that you will know where to find things. Mark on each box & bag the name & number of the room in which it is going.
Keep all boxes for each room together. This will save time unpacking later. Stack your boxes up as you finish to make more room.
Fill each box to its capacity, using wrapping paper or bubble wrap to eliminate empty spaces. Do not use newspaper as it will mark your items. Place weighty items in the bottom of the box & lighter items on the top. The top and sides of each box should not bulge. Nothing should protrude from the top of the box.
Pack heavy items, such as books, in smaller boxes. Keep the weight of each box down to a manageable level. The weight in each box should not be heavier than one person can lift, a maximum of 30kg is recommended.
Always stand glass, pictures & mirrors on their edge. Where possible pack electrical items such as TVs, stereos, amplifiers, CD players & turntables in their original cardboard boxes. Label the wires & cords of your equipment to enable reconnecting your system quick & easy.
Cardboard boxes must be closed & taped properly. Adhesive tape should be used along the full length of every seam of the box. Label each box "Fragile".
Leave lightweight linens & clothes in their drawers where possible. Items liable to leak or break should not be left in drawers but packed in boxes instead. It is a good idea to put soft items in strong plastic bin bags which should be tied at the top. Do not put heavy or sharp items in them.
Disassemble any items you can such as wardrobes & tables. Be aware of items with sharp corners or projections. Put all screws & fittings in plastic bags if possible & tie or tape them to each item.
Finally, pack important documents together, such as birth & marriage certificates & keep them in a safe place. Pack your valuables & essentials separately & plan on keeping these items on you on the day.
Following our advice should help to reduce what is, for the majority of people, one of the most stressful days of their lives!
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