By Richard Heft

In traditional Chinese medicine, the shen (spirit, consciousness) resides in the brain and heart. During the day, the shen rises into the head, stimulating the brain. At night, it sinks down, into to the heart, where it sleeps, rejuvenating the body mind. Insomnia is the inability to fall or stay asleep. There are two types of insomnia, acute and chronic. Acute (sudden, recent) insomnia is relatively easy to cure via supplements, herbs, meditation, etc. Chronic insomnia is more difficult to cure as all chronic long-lasting diseases take months and years to not only develop but also cure.

Sleeping is a function of blood, energy, and the five major organ systems: (1) Spleen controls digestion, transformation of food into blood (2) Heart stores the spirit, circulates the blood (3) Lungs purify, oxygenate the blood (4) Liver purifies the blood and (5) Kidneys purify blood, store jing.

Blood, protein and fat enable the heart (blood, nutrient rich organ) to hold, anchor the spirit. Too much, especially animal, fried foods, in the extreme, tend to thicken the blood, which in turn, thickens clogs and weakens the liver (stores, cleanses, removes excess protein, fat, cholesterol, impurities, etc. and releases the blood). Less protein, fat, cholesterol, etc. are cleansed, removed more stays in the blood (clots, high cholesterol), arteries (plaque, atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure, etc.), skin, organs, etc. Clogged arteries reduce blood flow to the heart making it difficult to fall asleep. Excess fat hardens, tenses the body, liver, muscles making it difficult to stay asleep.

Too little protein and fat, in the extreme, tends to weaken, thin the blood, which in turn, weakens the heart’’s ability to anchor, hold the spirit during the night, allowing it to roam, rise up into the head stimulating thinking (hot), dreaming (hot) and or wakefulness (hot).

Too much cleansing (salads, tropical fruits, juices, cold drinks) and or too little building, in the extreme tends to weaken digestion. Digestion warms and dries the body, lungs. Weak digestion (see spleen, Chapter 7) cools and dampens (creates excess mucous) the lungs, nose, sinuses, which shortens and disrupts the breath (coughing, snoring, hacking, sleep apnea). This is one reason why spices (hot, aromatic) are added to the diet to not only dry excess fluids, mucous but also open the sinuses, allowing the breath to flow freely. For cold, conditions reduce cold, damp foods (milk, ice cream, salads, tropical fruits, juices, cold drinks).

The excessive consumption of chocolate, coffee, caffeine and alcohol overheats the body as does overeating and late dinners. It is hard to sleep when the body is overheated via stimulants, excessive digestion. and or impacted intestines (intestinal heat).

Jing (sexual essence) fuels all function. Excessive sex drains jing and does overwork, caffeine, etc. which in turn, weakens the heart’’s ability to store the shen. Jing is moistening, cooling, as is sleeping.

Poor posture, misalignment, injury, excessive emotions, thoughts and or environment (climate, electromagnetic radiation, noise, etc.) can also be a cause. Relaxing, sleeping is difficult if you are overheated, have too much energy: work all day long, in the sun, sleep in a room that is hot, damp, or eat drink too many building, hot foods, drinks. Regular exercise dissipates excess heat, energy, which relaxes, cools the body. Proper diet also relaxes the body.

Long-term, severe insomnia takes time (months, years), discipline, and patience to cure. .The middle diet, meal plan adjusted accordingly is recommended. Vegetarian meals (ideal for dinner) are less heating. Fruit is cooling, and makes an excellent nighttime snack, although not too late, as too many fruits, cold drinks increase the urge to urinate causing frequent risings, awakenings. Eat more building during the day and less heating, more cooling at night. Avoid coffee, caffeine, chocolate, etc. Sleeping on the right side generally opens the left nasal passage, which is more relaxing. Breathing through the right nostril is more stimulating For acute insomnia; the following herbs may be helpful: valerian root, passionflower, Sleepy time tea, etc. For severe, hot insomnia, try 1 TB Brewer’’s yeast (high in B vitamins, cools the liver) in a fruit juice and or magnesium (250 mg) 1-2 times per day. Magnesium relaxes the liver, and softens the stools. The need to sleep long hours, decreases as one gets older.

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By Richard Heft

Traditional Chinese medicine is based on the theory, observation that everything is a combination ongoing interaction of opposites: hot (ayng, building, male) and cold (yin, cleansing, female) many of which we control through diet, attitude, etc.

Arthritis is a generic term for inflammation of the joint (place where two or more bones join).and subsequent symptoms: pain, inflammation, swelling, redness, etc. The joint, spaces between the movable bones is composed of fluid sacs, in addition to cartilage (gelatinous substance that caps the end of the bones). Both act as shock absorbers. Ligaments hold bones together. Tendons attach muscles to ligaments. Muscles contract and expand via nerve, electrical stimulation, which in turn pulls and relaxes the tendons, ligaments, moving the bones.

The body body builds up (hot, yang) and breaks down (cold, yin) largely according to food, nutrients: building and cleansing. The correct balance produces the correct amount of blood, structure and function where the body can thrive. Any amounts greater or less, in the extreme, tend to cause disease vai too much or too little blood, structure and functon.

Blood, nutrients build, fuel and cleanse the organs, muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, etc. Too little protein and fat vai via low protein, low fat (milk, yogurt, soft cheese, nuts, seeds and beans)in the extreme, thin, weaken the blood, which in turn, thins, dries, weakens, pains and inflames the joints, bones, tendons, ligaments, etc.

Too much protein and fat, especially animal (red meat, chicken, turkey, hard cheese, fried foods, etc.)in the extreme tends to thicken the blood (clots, high cholesterol) and arteries (plaque, atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, etc.) reducing circulation, blood flow to the extremities, arms, legs, which in turn, inflames, dries, thins and pains the joints: bones, ligaments, tendons, muscles, nerves, etc. especially in the extremities: head, arms and legs.

Poor posture, misalignment and or injury can also adversely affect the joints, cause arthritic symptoms.

All disease is defined by its collection of symptoms. All symptoms are defined, produced by biological functions. All biological functions are produced by biological structures (organs, bones, muscles, nerves, etc.), which in turn, are produced by blood, nutrients.

There are three types of arthritis: (1) Rheumatoid (autoimmune), (2) gout (uric acid) and (3) osteo (bone on bone). Rheumatoid Arthritis has the following symptoms: pain, swelling, inflammation and or subcutaneous nodules in, near two or more joints, fever, stiffness, especially in the morning, and is more common in women (middle aged) than men. The difference is diet, as many women tend to eat low protein, low fat and high carbohydrate diets. Menstruation is also a factor.
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Many women tend to eat anemic, low protein, low fat (milk, yogurt, soft cheeses, beans, nuts and seeds) and high carbohydrate (pasta, bread, salads, tropical fruits, juices, etc.)diets, which in turn, thin, dry, inflame, weaken and pain everything else, especially the bones, muscles, tendons, etc in the arms, legs, hands, feet?

Too many cold and damp foods, drinks (milk, yogurt, salads, fruit, juices, cold drinks, etc.), in excess and or at the beginning of a meal, tend to dilute, weaken and slow digestion (acid, enzymes, abdominal bloating, gas) reducing nutrient absorption, blood, circulation, energy, while increasing waste product.

Inappropriate diet (overbuilt or under built) is a major cause of rheumatoid arthritis. It is also tends to cause gout, uric acid accumulation in the blood and joints. Uric acid is a by-product of protein (especially animal) digestion. High protein, high fat diets, in the extreme, tend to cause too much uric acid in the blood and joints. Gout is more prevalent in western countries and or those eating high protein, high fat diets. It tends to attack men (high protein, high fat) more than women.

Diet and herbs cannot improve osteoarthritis (bone on bone). You cannot grow cartilage (separates and cushions the bones) where there is none. You can grow cartilage where there is some, via proper diet (leafy greens, cabbage) and supplements: Glucosamine sulfate (1500 mg/ day) and bovine cartilage. Check with your doctor first before using as some people have shellfish (source of GS) allergies.

Dietary cures for arthritis via blood deficiency and or stagnation are relatively simple. The middle diet, meal plan adjusted accordingly is recommended.

Hot salves (containing spices, camphor, capsicum/ cayenne pepper, etc.) used externally for reducing pain are also effective, especially when skin is wrapped, covered with plastic (contains, drives heat down, into the skin, muscles). Heat not only dries and warms but also moves. Spices, cooked foods move and warm the blood, and reduce pain via increased circulation, blood. They also help to thin the blood. Cumin, coriander and fennel are mild spices.

Medication, blood thinners can also cause arthritic symptoms. Blood thinners not only thin the blood of excess protein and fat (includes cholesterol), but also thin the bones, skin, hair, etc. which are all fed, thickened by the same blood, protein and fat. When you thin the blood, decrease protein and fat, you thin everything else.

The following diseases have already been cured by the middle diet meal (central theme plus two variations and herbs): Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Gastro Intestinal Reflux Disorder (GIRD), miscarriage, psoriasis, eczema, acne, obesity, anal fissure, anxiety, constipation, sinusitis, impotence, common cold, post nasal drip, arthritis, neuralgia and sore lower back, back pain so far.

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www.richardheft.org

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