Chinese Medicine & Lifestyle Resources

Traditional Chinese Medicine is about being balanced and in harmony with Nature. Diet, exercise, and all aspects of lifestyle have an impact on our sense of well-being. There are separate Resource pages on diet (Asian Nutrition) and movement (Movement Practices). The resources on this page give an overview of this large subject.

Books include:

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The Complete Book of Chinese Health and Healing: Guarding the Three Treasures
by Daniel P. Reid

This book was written after The Tao of Health, Sex, & Longevity (see below). The two books can be read in any order, but I recommend reading this one first. Although it contains much practical information on food, Qigong, and meditation, just as the earlier book does, it provides more of the theoretical foundation for understanding the dynamics and function of energy considerations and practices. It’s a long book (484 pages) from which you can mine a few helpful suggestions at a time, gradually altering your lifestyle to increase your sense of well-being. Reid has made an effort to reduce any redundancy between the two books.

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The Complete Book of Chinese Health and Healing: Guarding the Three Treasures

The Tao of Health, Sex,  &  Longevity, A modern practical guide to the ancient way The Tao of Health, Sex, & Longevity, A modern practical guide to the ancient way
by Daniel P. Reid

A comprehensive source of information on the many health practices based on Chinese medicine. There’s a brief introduction to the underlying theory, followed by information on diet and nutrition, fasting and excretion, breathing, and exercise. There are 185 pages in the section on The Tao of Sex, mostly of interest to men (Chinese medicine believes that the loss of sexual essence during ejaculation can lead to a depletion of sexual potency, dissipation of vital energy, loss of immunity, and a shorter life). I find Reid to be a bit too dogmatic in this book. He recommends practices as if they were suitable for everyone, and that’s not the case. If you start by adopting just a few of the things you find appealing, you will experience a significant benefit.

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Staying Healthy with the Seasons
by Elton M. Haas

The author is both an MD and acupuncturist, and he offers a blend of eastern and western perspectives on health. The basic goal of Chinese medicine is to live in harmony with Nature. The author offers suggestions for modifying our diet, exercise, and lifestyle as we move through seasons of the year. There are five seasons in Chinese medicine, the additional one being late (Indian) summer. Since each season corresponds to one of the Five Elements, the book also serves as an introduction to Five Element theory. Although the book is over 20 years old, the information is still relevant and sound.

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Staying Healthy with the Seasons

 

What Are Asian Therapies?

An article on this website about Asian therapies. “We are affected by everything in our environment and lifestyle — the air we breathe, the food we eat, the movement of our bodies, the stillness of our minds. Asian therapies are based on an integrated understanding of how human beings relate to their environment.”

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Holistic-Online.com Holistic-Online.com

Under Alternative Therapies (scroll down), the Shiatsu and Acupuncture links take you to some useful information, including pages on diet, exercise, and the basics of traditional Chinese medicine.

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