A Quick Overview of Traditional Chinese Medicine
The Shang Dynasty, around the 16th century BC, was a time of shamanism, and this is when early Chinese medicine first emerged. It was essentially demonic, attributing ailments to the occult forces of deities and ancestors.
Chinese culture grew and developed during the Zhou dynasty's Spring and Autumn Periods (770–446 BC). Notable philosophers and poets of the time included Confucius, Lao-Tzu, Mo Ti, and Tao Chien. Philosophy and science combined at this time to explain the illness in terms of the world's natural occurrences. The "Hundred Schools of Thought" refers to the numerous philosophies and schools of thought that emerged during this period. Taoism and Confucianism are two of them.
During the Zhou dynasty, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) underwent modernization and systematization. During this period, the Yin and Yang Theory, the Five Element Theory, and other fundamental theories that form the basis of TCM were developed.
The Huáng Dè Nèi Jing, also known as The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, is the earliest Chinese medical text on the theoretical system of medicine of TCM. It was created in the first or second century B.C.
By the third century, other works were probably assembled and written, including the Shén Nóng Bn Co Jng (Divine Husbandman's Classic of Materia Medica), Shng Hán Lùn (Discussion of Cold Damage), and Jn Gu Yào Lüè (Essentials from the Golden Cabinet). These and other well-known classical Chinese medical texts are still taught in colleges around the world that teach TCM.
The eight branches of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutrition, bodywork (Tui Na, cupping, and moxibustion), meditation, Tai Qi/Qi Gong (exercise), Feng Shui, and cosmology. TCM is a comprehensive system of medicine. TCM observes how the laws of natural order govern human health and disease by looking at the natural world.
According to TCM, disease patterns can develop in the body, organs, and meridians in a variety of ways. The disease develops if the organs and meridians that carry the "energy" or "Qi" are stagnant, insufficient, or overactive. The TCM doctor uses different ways to diagnose to come up with a diagnosis, a prescription, and a treatment plan for the patient that includes all of TCM's branches.
Chinese herbal medicine is said to have originated with the Chinese farmer Shén Nóng. Shén Nóng created the plough and cart around 6000 years ago, and it appears that he accidentally discovered tea at the same time. The story goes that he put together a book called The Divine Husbandman's Classic of Materia Medica, or Shén Nóng Bn C Jng, which is now known as The Divine Husbandman's Classic of Materia Medica.
The benefits of Fo-Ti (Hé Shu W) include support for the immune system, healthy hair, and more.
Fo-Ti: What Is It?
Fo-ti, one of the most widely used traditional Chinese medicines, is found in a variety of formulations and prescriptions. It has been used in China for many years to treat a number of ailments frequently linked to aging. Many of the hundreds of prescription drugs that contain fo-ti are patented.
Polygonum multiflorum is the scientific name for this traditional Chinese herb. Additionally, it goes by the names fleece flower root, flowery knotweed root, and Hé Shu W in Chinese. It first appeared in the 10th-century book Materia Medica by R. Huá-Z.
Many regions of China and Japan cultivate this plant. Fo-ti is a plant that grows between 200 and 3000 meters above sea level in forests, valley shrubs, and rock crevices. It is a quick-growing vine that has only recently begun to spread throughout the West.
Fo-ti is typically consumed either raw or in its prepared (steamed or stewed) form. When used in these different forms, it has different reactions and indications.
Differences between Raw and Prepared Fo-Ti
Herbal flavors are connected to various qualities in TCM. Zhé Shu W, or prepared fo-ti, has a mildly warm, sweet, bitter, and astringent flavor. The liver and kidney organs and meridians are the primary targets of its therapeutic effects.
The herb fo-ti is regarded as nourishing. It preserves the essence and feeds the yin and blood. When there is a pattern of yin or blood deficiency and symptoms include vertigo, tinnitus, early greying of the hair, soreness in the back or knees, blurred vision, insomnia, and constipation, fo-ti is used. Bones, ligaments, and tendons are strengthened by fo-ti.
Fo-ti, also known as Shng Hé Shu W, is available in raw, unprocessed form and has a variety of flavors. It enters the channels of the liver, heart, and large intestine. In addition to treating malarial disorders, it moistens the intestines, eliminates toxicity, and lessens sores, boils, abscesses, goiter, and scrofula (a condition that causes tuberculosis). The stalk and leaves are used to treat itching and various skin conditions, as well as insomnia. The raw form of Fo-ti is used in TCM to treat toxicity and fire.
The benefits of prepared fo-ti, or Zh Hé Shu W, are the main topic of this article.
The Fo-Ti Hair Health Legend
The literal translation of Fo-Chinese Ti's name, Hé Shu W, is "Hé's Black Hair." According to an ancient legend, General Hé was found guilty of a serious crime and sentenced to death in a solitary underground cell without access to food or water.
His executioners went back to his cell after a year of imprisonment to remove his remains for burial. They were shocked to discover that General Hé had not only survived but had also recovered. Even his hair had returned to its usual dark shade. Without access to food or water, General Hé was compelled to subsist solely on a vine-like herb that grew in the cracks of his cell. The herb was given the name "Hé Shu W" in honor of General Hé's resilience and physical renewal.
According to a survey on alcohol use during COVID-19, many American adults claim to have increased their consumption of alcohol since the pandemic started in March 2020. If you're one of them, you might want to start the new year off right by joining the millions of people who abstain from alcohol during Dry January, which starts in March 2020. If you're one of them, you might want to start the new year off right by joining the millions of people who abstain from alcohol during Dry January. Your memory, liver, heart, and other organs might all benefit from it.
What did this study discover?
Over the course of a typical 30-day period, the researchers questioned 832 people in the US about their alcohol consumption. The participants estimated that they drank alcohol for 12.2 days and had nearly 27 alcoholic beverages during that time. More than a third admitted to binge drinking (consuming five or more drinks for men and four or more drinks for women in about two hours).
Additionally, nearly two-thirds of the participants claimed that their drinking had increased from their pre-COVID consumption rates. their causes? greater stress, easier access to alcohol, and boredom
However, we cannot solely attribute an increase in alcohol consumption to COVID. Alcohol use among older adults had been on the rise even before the pandemic.
Why attempt a dry January?
Join the Dry January challenge by deciding not to consume any beer, wine, or spirits for one month if you recognize your own behavior in this survey, want to reduce your alcohol consumption, or simply want to start the new year off right. As a public health initiative, Dry January was launched in 2012 by the British charity Alcohol Change UK. Every year, millions of people now participate in this health challenge.
While moderate alcohol consumption has been linked to health benefits for some individuals in observational studies, heavier consumption and prolonged drinking can worsen physical and mental issues, particularly in older adults. Common problems include damage to the heart and liver, an increased risk of cancer, a weakened immune system, memory problems, and mood disorders.
However, abstaining from alcohol for even a month can improve your health significantly. According to a study published in BMJ Open, regular drinkers who abstained from alcohol for 30 days experienced improved sleep, increased energy, and weight loss. They also reduced the amount of cancer-related blood proteins in their blood, as well as their blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
A species of bulbous flowering plant in the genus Allium is garlic (Allium sativum). The onion, shallot, leek, chive, Welsh onion, and Chinese onion are among its close relatives. It is a common seasoning used all over the world and is native to Central Asia and north-eastern Iran.
Benefits
Allicin, which is found in garlic and may protect against cancer and heart disease, can help the immune system work better.
People with type 2 diabetes may benefit from garlic's ability to stabilize blood sugar levels, lower fasting blood sugar levels, and improve blood sugar control.
potential negative effects
Garlic consumption may cause heartburn in people with gastroesophageal reflux disease, so they should speak with medical professionals about this.
Garlic may interact with blood thinners, so people who are thinking about increasing their intake of it should seek advice first.
While many individuals may not be making formal New Year's resolutions this year, others may resolve to improve their eating habits. But this motivation is frequently focused on an overly ambitious or restrictive diet. Without a solid plan, it is possible to fail quickly. Consider a compromise: Begin by incorporating these three simple methods for a healthier diet.
Aim only for real food.
Note what is processed and what is unprocessed on your plate. Maybe it's the entire meal (like a frozen dinner), or perhaps it's just a portion (like the bottled dressing on your salad). Consider where you can replace processed foods with healthier alternatives. Ideas comprise
eating whole-grain pasta instead of enriched white-flour pasta, quinoa instead of white rice, and making homemade snacks like baked chickpeas instead of opening a bag of potato chips.
Chronic inflammation and other health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, are associated with the consumption of processed foods. A Mediterranean-style diet rich in vegetables, legumes, fruits, whole grains, nuts and seeds, fish, poultry, and low-fat dairy products is one of the healthiest diets you can consume (milk, yogurt, and small amounts of cheese).
Today we will be sharing a Nigerian male cake designer and baker who made a very symbolic cake, a cake that looked so real, and that’s what we're here for. In 2023, cake designs will be more exclusive, as you all know. The cartoon cake design is not trending on Instagram, and yes, I love it because it is simple yet so colourful and looks so yummy.
So, without further ado, here are the most unique cake designs in Nigeria, produced by none other than
tee.blac_yummies a Lagos-based cake designer.
