In this modern society of ours, dominated by the wealthy
pharmaceutical industry, we tend to forget ancient medicine and healing
practices, even though they worked for thousands of years… There is no profit
in home remedies, so commercial advertising only focuses on marketable chemical
solutions, and tends to ridicule the old ways. Worse, we now have to take secondary
medicines to counteract the side effects of primary medicines.
Then, once in a while, someone realizes that acupuncture, Yoga,
Chi Gong, Tai-Chi, chicken noodle soup, carrots, and other ancient medicine and
disciplines can still keep modern people healthy and happy. Unlike most
pharmaceuticals, these practices and remedies do not just treat the symptoms but promote general health.
In September 1991, a 5000-year-old frozen mummy later named
Otzi was discovered in the frozen Alps between Austria and Italy. He was very well
preserved and had 61 tattoos, corresponding to the traditional acupuncture
points.
Now, scientists are curious about acupuncture. We can
observe that it works. We just don’t understand how or why it works. As it
happens, recent university studies discovered connections between the acupuncture
points and the organs they are supposedly linked to, through what they call the
interstitium, a fluid matrix permeating and linking various parts of the body, undiscovered by science until
now.
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| 8 pieces of Brocade Chi-Gong exercises |
But the most important part of staying healthy is exercise.
Yoga, Tai-Chi, Chi-Gong types in particular, can keep your joints flexible, your legs strong, your
posture ideal. And when you have the right posture, all your organs work
better. You breathe better, you digest better, your heart is not compressed… your
lymphatic system (part of your immune system) is stimulated by movement.
As for food as medicine, here are a few ancient remedies
that still work today:
Honey: Ancient Egyptians and Sumerians used it to
dress wounds because its natural low pH and high sugar content kill bacteria. As
an ointment or ingested, it’s a natural antibiotic.
Turmeric: A staple in Ayurvedic and Traditional
Chinese Medicine for millennia, its active compound, curcumin, is clinically
shown to have powerful anti-inflammatory effects.
Aloe Vera: Historically used by the Egyptians,
Greeks, and Chinese to heal burns and skin ailments, it remains a frontline
natural treatment for sunburns.
Ginger: Used in ancient Ayurvedic and Chinese
medicine for nausea, modern clinical trials support its efficacy in treating
pregnancy-related and motion-induced nausea. It’s also good for your heart.
Chicken soup: Turns out, Grandma was right. Chicken
soup can be good for a cold. Studies show it can ease symptoms and help
you get rid of it sooner. It also curbs swelling and clears out nasal fluids.
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| My latest chicken soup creation |
Carrots: They are not just good for babies. Their
active compounds act as natural medicine by providing high levels of
beta-carotene, dietary fiber, and antioxidants. In traditional and integrative
health, they are used to support eye health, reduce inflammation, balance blood
sugar, and combat oxidative damage
Green tea: This comforting drink does more than keep
you awake and alert. It’s a great source of some powerful antioxidants that can
protect your cells from damage and help you fight disease. It may even lower
your odds of heart disease and certain kinds of cancers, like skin, breast,
lung, and colon.
Garlic: Some studies show that people who eat more
garlic are less likely to get certain types of cancer (garlic supplements don’t
seem to have the same effect). It also lowers blood cholesterol and blood
pressure levels.
Hot bath: It’s
good for all kinds of things that affect your muscles, bones, and tendons (the
tissues that connect your muscles to your bones), like arthritis, back pain,
and joint pain. And warm water can help get blood flow to areas that need it,
so gently stretch and work those areas while you’re in there. But don’t make it
too hot, especially if you have a skin condition. The ideal temperature is
between 92 and 100 F.
In my latest series, THE PROTECTORS, set on a feudal planet, I use ancient remedies when my characters need a healer's attention. My Celtic legends series, Curse of the Lost Isle, also uses ancient remedies.
Happy Reading.
Vijaya Schartz, award-winning author
Kick-butt Sci-fi Heroines, cats, romantic elements
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