Chinese medicine has certain positive habits that will be useful for you. These habits can help you become a more effective student, a better partner and parent, help you perform more productive work with a better attitude and make you an overall happier person. These habits are as follows:
1. Activation of “cure-all” acupuncture points
According to Chinese medicine, the human body has certain acupoints that are generally regarded as preventative for a broad spectrum of conditions. When regularly stimulated, these acupoints can help keep energy free from blockages and increase the flow of Blood and Chi throughout the body. As most of us are unable to use acupuncture needles correctly and safely, we can instead rely on acupressure to activate the points. If you don’t know where the acupoints are located, feel around the affected part of the body until you find an area that feels tender to the touch. Exert pressure for about fifteen to thirty seconds at a time and repeat on each side nine more times. The area should feel quite tender as you do this. You can use also use indirect moxibustion to stimulate the points. These are the commonly used acupoints for self healing:
a) Bai Hui or Governing Vessel-20 (GV20): Not usually deemed a “cure-all,” but effective for students and bloggers who are too often trapped in their heads.
b) He Gu or Large Intestine-4 (LI4): Commonly used for treatment of headaches – but nonetheless, effective for a lot of conditions.
c) Zu San Li or Stomach-36 (St36): The most widely used “cure-all” and preventative point.
2. Regular Qigong
Most people don’t always have the desire, energy, or time to perform a full Qigong practice. Qigong is also called walking meditation, and it can also be a sitting meditation practice, and visualization with full body shaking. Whatever form of you choose, simply allow your body to be your guide. People can perform Qigong with any physical exercise they have been performing before. You can practice Qigong through Yoga or by meditating while walking in the style of Zen. Most importantly, Qigong is about constant practice. It will definitely have a positive effect in you.
3. Practice guidance and contemplation using Yijing
If you take your self-cultivation seriously, you can seek guidance and divination through the Yijing. Some people have found it extremely effective as a way to overcome mental muddiness. If you find yourself feeling confused or lost, simply sit down and use the Yijing to concentrate on your question and allow the process of meditation and the Yijing (some people use bamboo sticks for this) do the work for you. There’s no need to make implausible claims of communicating with the Spirits to let you know that you are able to overcome seemingly impossible problems. We very much recommend Stephen Karcher’s version of Yijing.
4. Repeated intake of herbal tea (angelica sinensis, lyceum, goji.wolfberry, and flower of chrysanthemum)
Students who frequently drink herbal tea will make their “eyes and ears extremely bright” which means dinking herbal teas will enhance their intellectual ability. These teas are available at your local Chinese drugstore and you don’t need a prescription to purchase them. They also can be bought at Chinese groceries and natural foods stores. If possible, buy organic products and see to it that the herbs look vital (they’re not too dry and have deep colors). Boil the tea in a teapot. You can use a teapot glass that’s used to brew coffee. The herbs can boil for a while and you can make a lot of cups. You can drink the tea many times each week and drink it daily in the winter.
5. Meditate and wonder on the vastness and mystery of the universe
If you know a little bit about Chinese medicine, you would know that its roots lie in Taoist philosophy. Chinese medicine can be a specific form of medicine mainly because of the complexity of the human body and the intricacy of the universe they live in. You will find yourself bowing your head in humility and awe of this time and place and always bear in mind that life is a never ending process of learning and advancing.
6. Study constantly and intently
School isn’t always easy for a lot of people. Many have probably struggled in high school and college. But when one goes to college, that’s where the real learning begins as this will determine what path of life a person will take. Studying to be a professional is perhaps the easiest way to achieve ones goals. Some people may be interested in studying Chinese medicine and others will take a different path. But whatever direction one chooses, they way they study and learn will determine the kind of professional they will be in the future.
7. Be respectful to others and yourself
People who have studied Chinese medicine have made them more respectful and compassionate to others. Studying medicine makes people better able to feel empathy for the suffering of other people and it definitely will have the same effect on you. The respect aspect you will learn through the study of Confucian literature and the medical classics. The more respect you show to your fellow students and teachers, the more richness in life you will feel flowing back to you.
Carrying out these habits can be quite an organic process – but some aspects (daily Qigong, intent study) may require some gentle encouragement on the part of your Will. Strict adherence to these habits will make you successful in school and in life.
Eastern Healing Solutions, LLC
10875 Grandview St #2200
Overland Park, KS 66210
(913) 549-4322