Joint inflammation problems include:

• pain
• stiffness
• damage to joint cartilage (the tough, smooth tissue that covers the ends of the bones, enabling them to glide against one another) and surrounding structures.

Below you will find discusson on how Chinese medicine, pain herbs and food therapy are employed to bring these conditions back to balance.

UNDERSTANDING JOINT INFLAMMATION?

JOINT IMBALANCE doesn’t happen overnight and once understood, can resolve quicker than you realize. According to Chinese medicine, the primary problem underlying arthritis is obstruction with painful results. With varying degrees, there is an exhaustion of both the Liver and Kidneys and insufficiency of the physical energy (qi). The blood has become blocked by external cold or hot-damp or drying imbalancing influences. The condition includes:

• cold or hot and painful joints
• difficulty in flexing and extending the joints
• aversion to cold or hot with attraction to the opposite condition
• In some cases the limbs and joints will be aching, numb, painful
• overall physical body feels heavy.
• tongue is pale or the opposite

   

There are graduating arthritic conditions where the site of pain and deformity is more intense, with heat or cold predominating, however, the primary appraoch is to get the obstruction to move. This is arrived at by altering the inner environment by opposing the wind-cold/hot-damp/dry and varying any external surroundings aiding the blockage. Further consideration needs to be focused on the general emotional state that may ultimately support the obstruction.

HOW DO WE GET BETTER?

JOINT INFLAMMATION: FOOD THERAPY  & CHINESE MEDICINE

“We are what we eat.” The majority of us would concur that a good number of imbalances are caused by what we swallow. We unkowingly create imbalances by not being aware of how critical this area is, especially in the latter years. If we are choose foods and supplements which worsen our condition then it would serve us well to become very aware of our body type and foods which enhance balance. Below, you can begin to choose foods that deliver balance for this obstructive condition: 

Foods That Benefit & Foods To Avoid

Foods to Counter Joint Pain: Asparagus, Cabbage (poultice & ingestion), Celery, Cod, Cherry, Chives, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Garlic, Ginger, Goats milk, Grape, Kelp, Oranges, Papaya, Pineapple (Bromelain), Pumpkin Seeds, Royal Jelly, Scallions, Sesame oll, Spelt, Spirulina, Soy products, Strawberry, Sprouts (mung, red clover, radish, mustard, lentil, adzuki, garbanzo, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds), Tumeric, Water melon, Barley products, Wheat grass products, Alfalfa products (tablets, tea), Chlorophyll foods, Almonds (5-6 dy.),

Foods to Avoid: Excess meat (some fish is best), Excess protein, Intoxicants (alcohol, coffee, tobacco, marijuana, etc.), refined sugar and other sweets, Oxalic acid foods (rhubarb, cranberry, plum, chard, beet greens, spinach), Solanine foods (Nightshade family veggies: tomato, eggplant, bell pepper, potato, if sensitive), Dairy (cow’s milk & bi-products), Nuts, Nut butters, oil-rich seeds,

HERB FORMULAS FOR PAIN   Formulas are created and rendered, taking into consideration, a person’s constitution, environment, life energy (qi), lifestyle and emotional status to name a few concerns. Chinese medicine focuses on bringing all these areas into balance. The principal focal point requires a compound that purposely targets the site of pain, remedies the fundamental disequilibrium of the body without generating additional side effects.

Currently, experiments in India and Japan are being conducted with the emphasis on increasing the medicinal properties of the herbs. The key to herb medicine potency is in wide dispute. The GMO camp believes you can improve specific alkaloids in the overall herb composite. The anti-GMO herb camp holds that when you change the property ratio then you, in effect, change the medicinal value which stems from the original structure. The dispute that a particular alkaloid is the chief cause for the remedial effect as opposed to the entire or combined outcome of the herb is a continuing argument that deserves scrutiny.       

Besides the changes to the original plant structure, GM herbs are philosophically opposed to the premises of natural, alternative medicine. These moral issues warrant respect and watchful consideration prior to admit these foods into the gene pool. Input from the herb medicine & research community needs to be acquired before making these changes. Decisions by big corporate business are absent, by nature, conscience in this regard. Though many execs may intend well, it would be to their benefit to attract unbiased feedback as to whether to choose GM procedures in their development. What are the consequences versus the profit?

Most Master Herbalists, specializing in Chinese Medicine, focus on food as a therapy. Here are a few tips to think about the food nutrient (incl. herbal herbs) industry:

• In the U.S. alone, between 1997 and 1999, gene-modified (GM) ingredients suddenly appeared in 2/3rds of all processed foods.”
• Be sure to choose organic soy milk. Most soybeans in America are genetically modified. Unrefined (organic) soybeans are not genetically modified.
• If the proponents of GMO are so wise then why do we still have nutrient depletion in our food products?
• That carrot has about 57% less magnesium and 16% less calcium in it than the ones our parents ate, a banana 87% less folic acid, and spinach 59% less vitamin C!
• Whereas there is an increase in vitamin and mineral supplement sales to cover the our food nutrient deficiency, more city/county public works departments are transporting by the multiple truck loads, the remaining tablets to sanitation dumps. The only real working source of nutrition comes from food that our body absorbs or supplements based on whole food sources.

Genetically modified foods can have decidedly unhealthy effects. One solid conclusion found that:

1. More than half of the offspring of rats fed on transgenically modified soya died in the first three weeks of life, six times as many as those born to mothers with normal diets. Six times as many were also severely underweight.
2. Mothers who include GM foods in their diet during pregnancy may unwittingly endanger their unborn babies. A report by the corporate GM giant, Monsanto, revealed that rats fed a diet rich in GM corn had smaller kidneys and higher blood cell counts than those that ate a natural strain, suggesting possible damage to their immune systems.

The nutrient value of food has fallen drastically while the price is skyrocketing:

        Source: 1996 Geigy Pharmaceuticals, Foodstuffs laboratory, Karlsruhe / Obertal Sanatorium.

Boosting our immune systems, metabolic and vascular efficiency with suitable mineral and vitamin supplements compensates for some of these effects, acts preventatively, and assists us in countering deficiencies. But have you ever seen how emaciated our elderly become when maintained on ENSURE in nursing homes? The ignorance can only be rationalized and accepted for how long?   Reliance on healthy, nutrient rich foods and herbs are the essential foundation for sustaining life.

The bottom-line is this. Greed has, unconsciously and consciously, crept into the way we develop our food supply. Whenever the food supply is managed in an impersonal basis there is high risk for exploitation. Though this development is not everywhere, it is extensive enough now that balance in the industry is fargone. This condition, may be, beyond the ability of mankind to retrieve it unless radical changes are implemented.  

Mark Hammer, C.M.H., Master Herbalist, Longevity Mountain

1. India working on GM herbs, says Greenpeace, Joe C Mathew / Business Standard New Delhi (November 05, 2008)
2. “50 Harmful Effects of Genetically Modified Foods” By Nathan Batalion

Based on Traditional Chinese herbs and medicine and American nutrition the following foods were selected for their known enhancement of sports performance. Martial artists, monks and sages have perfected the longevity, spirituality and vitalizing practices over the many centuries.These strategies are very effective because I have added them in exercise regimen of martial arts.

SUPER FOODS FOR SUPERIOR ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE 

ENERGY & STAMINA FOODS
Whole grains (sprouted wheat – hard red winter wheat, Amaranth, Barley, pearled, Buckwheat (kasha), Bulgar, Oats, whole kernel, Rice, brown, Rice, wild, Rye, whole kernel, Quinoa, Wheat, whole kernel, All Bran with Extra Fiber, Bran Buds, Fiber One, Kashi, Go Lean, Shredded Wheat, Shredded Wheat and Bran, Buckwheat Groats, Oat Bran, Old Fashioned Oatmeal, Steel-Cut Oats), Acai berry, Bananas, Black sesame seeds, Black soybeans, Chestnuts, Citrus peel, Chia seed, chicken, herring, Mulberries, mussel, Raspberries, Strawbeeries, shrimp, lamb, sunflower seed, sweet potato, water cress, winter squash, almonds, Ghee, Nettle leaves, Micro algae, Goat milk, Placenta, Royal jelly, Salmon, Trout, Bee pollen, Doddler seeds, Walnuts, Wheat grass

STRENGTH FOODS
If you want to become strong, eat carbohydrates before your workout and eat plenty of protein afterwards. Normal amounts of insulin help muscles grow, and eating carbohydrates causes your blood sugar to rise, which, in turn, causes your pancreas to release insulin. Ingesting sizable quantities of protein following an exercise regimen assists muscles to recuperate quicker from a challenging work out, therefore you can do further hard work and develop bigger and stronger muscles (Journal of Physiology, Volume 573, 2006).

Bitter foods/herbs, Raw or lightly cooked Vegetables, sprouts, Vegetables (leafy greens, carrots, radishes, mushrooms), fruits, grains, legumes, fresh flax oil, stevia sweetener, Salmon, Spinach, Almonds, Cranberries, Wheat Germ, Beans, Extra Lean Ground Beef, Eggs, Tomatoes, Oatmeal, Bee Pollen, .

Natural steroid food: Asparagus, Avocado, Bananas, Celery, Raw Oysters, Pine Nuts (the edible seeds of pine trees), Figs, Almonds and nuts in general, Eggs, Basil (Sweet basil), Liver, Salmon & Other Fish, Damiana (or Turnera diffusa), Wild Yam.

CONCENTRATION & FOCUS
fish, fish oil, spirulina, whole grains (Brown rice, Maize, Oats, Buckwheat, Millet, Quinoa, Amaranth, Wheat, Sweet rice, Spelt), legumes and their sprouts (mung bean sprouts, soy bean sprouts, tofu, tempeh, peas, Adzuki Beans, Black Beans, Black-eyed peas, Broad Beans (Fava Beans), Butter Beans, Calico Beans, Cannellini Beans, Chickpeas (Garbanzo Beans), Edamame, Great Northern Beans, Italian Beans, Kidney Beans, Lentils, Lima Beans, Mung Beans, Navy Beans, Pinto Beans, Soy Beans, including black soy beans, Split Peas
White beans), seeds, fresh nuts, dark green veggies and microalgae. Flax seed, pumpkin seed, chia seed, borage seed, black currant seed and primrose seed oils

EMOTIONAL POWER FOODS
Whole grains (whole wheat, brown rice, oats), Ganoderm, Poria, lettuce, cucumber, barley gruel, oat groat tea, Fruit (apples, mullberries, lemons), dill, basil, rose hips, Ghee (clarified butter), cabbage, fresh wheat germ, wild blue greem algae, apple cider vinegar

FOODS TO AVOID
Sugar, or foods with contaminated sugars, Processed grains, or foods containing them (except the listed on the Grains List e.g. packaged cereals, even whole grain cereals, are usually processed, verify), Refined grains (which don’t say “whole” in front of each grain on the label) or foods containing them, “Wheat” or “wheat flour” without the word “whole” is usually a code word for “white” (includes white rice, “Flour” listed alone is always white flour), Potatoes, Cakes, cookies, muffins, etc. Crackers, except for whole grain, Cereals, but for whole grain and as a minimum 8 grams of fiber per portion, Chips, Ice cream, Jams and Jellies, Maple Syrup, Regular Soda and additional sweetened drinks, Juices, Oils not including extra virgin olive oil, nut oils, and canola oil, Mayonnaise, Creamy salad dressings, Butter, Margarine, Dairy products that are not fat-free, with cheese, cream cheese, milk, etc.Fatty meats such as suasage or bacon. Everything with hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated fats in it.

Traditional Chinese herbs & formulas have helped thousands of athletes through the centuries; try our formulas for top performance.

For training purposes, herbal herbs provide for strength, speed and emotional well-being, essential for superior performance.

TAM (Traditional Asian Medicine) CARE
(Four Tiers of Asian Medicine)

1. Food Therapy
2. Herbal Therapy
3. Exercise: Tai Chi & Qi Gong
4. Acupuncture & Cupping

I. FOOD THERAPY 

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.”
– Hippocrates circa 431 B.C.

Traditional Chinese Medicine first employs food as a therapeutic tool. Why? Because we are very pre-occupied with food. Our stomachs will let us know that we are hungry, so most of us, unless we are imbalanced, will eat 1-6 times per day unless food is not available. Since we eat, its important to consider what we are eating due to the fact food has a major influence on the health of our bodies. If we drink pop, alcohol, eat desserts, cheese, candy, red meat, bread, processed foods, etc. Subsequently, speculate what comes to pass with the the body? It clogs up and gains weight and we get sick. If we eat vegetables, fruit, water, fish, then what happens? We share our emotions, lose weight to balance and leanness and we can get well. The effective TAM practice will include food therapy with the knowledge of what food works best with a particular constitution. Ever heard of, “You are what you eat”? What that means, is that certain foods will absolutely conclude the cell quality in the tissues of your body. Food, ideally, provides substance to make energy from, benefitting the cells so they can do their job. The more energy, the more capacity your cells have to do their jobs. If they are obstructed with poor choices, that fit your wants, then the result will be illness. Foods that balance your ailing constitution, are essential to re-establishing your health. Master herbalists, sophisticated in this specialty, will recommend this strategy in order to form a foundation for other traditional Asian medicine. Regardless of whatever remedial strategy, allopathic or naturopathic, treatment can be disrupted, if food remedy does not consistently accompany the therapeutic course of action. Therefore, food therapy is critical to restoration of your health. • While food is a more gentle remedy, it has a graduating, nutritious effect, while having the power to regenerate, and overlooked, only because it takes more time. Thus, when we get sick, it is difficult, to connect the dots as to how we got in that condition.

This dialogue on the Four echelon of Chinese Medicine is additionally enclosed at Longevity Mountain. For those of you who desire to know the prioritized next 3 levels, Chinese herbs, Chinese medicine exercise and Accupuncture/Cupping.