During the communist revolution, many Chinese people abandoned (through force) their ancient culture and traditions in the name of embracing the Russian example of the ideal Socialist/Communist society. This led to a condition of organized and rampant failure resulting in widespread and catastrophic: famine, starvation and economic collapse. To name just a few of the horrific events that occurred during the so called “Mao years”.

After their own internal failures and the eventual collapse of the Soviet Union, the Chinese government began to look to the west in general and the United States in particular as a potential model for future growth. Once again refusing to look into their own ancient past for the answers they seek.

Over the last 20 + years the Chinese government has had an official policy of “westernizing” the country through the importation of all things American and European, mainly fashion and diet. Some have argued, through PR firms, that this increase in “material” wealth and the adoption of “proper” western clothing are clear signs that the western economic/cultural model is having a profoundly positive impact on the lives of hundreds of millions of people.

The evidence, however, shows this is not the case.

The once high ideal of being a scholar of Taoist classics, eating low calorie-balanced meals and beginning each day with Qigong or other Self Healing exercises, has been replaced by being seen in the highest rated Michelin restaurants and of course wearing the latest Western couture fashion.

Over the last two decades their has also been an explosion of American style fast food restaurants, in particular McDonalds, which is causing traditional meals (home cooked and restaurant) to be replaced with: manufactured, GMO, test tube meats and the accompanying artery clogging fat and preservatives.

According to an article from ChinaDaily:

Diabetes in China may have reached ‘an alert level’, with one in 10 adults having the disease…the researchers warned in the Journal of the American Medical Association that China could face a major epidemic of diabetes-related complications,’ including cardiovascular disease, stroke and chronic kidney disease in the near future without an effective national intervention.”

The article goes on to show that “the prevalence of diabetes in the Chinese adult population has surpassed that of India and is now close to that of the United States. As the country’s economy expanded quickly over the last three decades, the standards of living and lifestyles of ordinary Chinese have changed substantially…with increased high-calorie, high fat, high-sugar, and high-sodium diets, decreased physical activity and more sedentary lifestyles, all factors that could lead to weight gain, diabetes and other chronic diseases are now reaching epidemic proportions in China…”

One thing China has shown recently is how an entire country can be transformed from having the richest, oldest and healthiest civilization in the world; to following and aspiring to be like the youngest, most debt ridden and most unhealthy (by obesity standards) country and the resulting side effects of that change.

Perhaps, it is time for China to embrace their ancient history and reconnect with the root of their civilization, Taoism (and the accompanying Taoist sciences), which is their greatest achievement and their greatest gift to the world.

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If you watch the news frequently, you may have noticed reports of people dying from “brain-eating amoebas”. These reports naturally increase during the summer months when people are more active and participating in outdoor activities.

According to WebMD, since 2001 there have been 400 reported cases worldwide, 35 of which were in the U.S.. It is important to point out that these are the reported numbers, no-one is exactly sure how many cases go unreported or are misdiagnosed. For instance, researchers are beginning to re-examine the records of people who died of meningitis to determine if the cause of death was in fact brain-eating amoebas.

It is true that your odds of getting the brain-eating amoeba (Naegleria fowleri) are quite low, however, it is equally true that the odds of dying from the infection are extremely high. In fact, approximately 98% of those infected will die within 1-2 weeks of infection.

Brain eating amoebas are found in…

• Warm lakes and ponds
• Mud puddles
• Swimming pools and spas
• Well water and municipal water
• Warm, slow-flowing rivers, especially with low water levels
• Hot springs and other geothermal water sources
• Polluted runoff water from power plants

It appears that amoebas cannot survive in salt water, and many people think (experts included) they cannot survive “properly treated water” such as the municipal water supply or chlorinated swimming pools etc… According to Taoism, one of the purposes of life is to evolve, live and survive. For this reason, it should come as no surprise that amoebas, as one of the oldest forms of life on the planet, are able to adapt and evolve rather quickly; they even have the ability to change their form at will.

Some amoeba are completely immune to chlorine and all of the other chemicals used to “treat” public water. Regarding the potential for chlorine and other chemicals to kill the amoeba, one would need to add such a large quantity to the water that it would also, in all likelihood, kill or harm the people as well. Amoebas also have a unique, self defense, feature of surrounding themselves in a protective membrane (similar to a cocoon) and going into a deep hibernation, further protecting them from harm.

Do not make the mistake of feeling protected if you live in a cooler climate, amoebas have been found “hibernating” in solid ice! For this reason, it is safer to assume that any body of water (natural or man made) has the potential of harboring these microscopic killers.

How to prevent or lessen the risk?

Of course the best method is to avoid swimming, or falling into, any of the common sources listed above. If that is not possible then: keep your head out of the water, do not disturb the sediment, avoid splashing or being splashed, do not jump into the water (no more cannon balls or diving), wear a nose clip, however, this will not protect entry through the eyes and ears.

Do not use a Neti pot or perform nasal irrigation!

Many people believe that cleaning the nose with a “Neti pot” or spraying water into the nose, is a good way to prevent colds and sinus problems. The problem here, is the person is also providing a superhighway for the potential brain eating amoeba to travel on. You are still at risk even if you use boiled water because you do not know how clean the Neti pot is or any other device you might use.

There may be a solution

As with anything in life, the natural laws must maintain balance and this balance is what had the ancient Taoists discover, through their science of Herbology, the specific herbs and herbal combinations that amoebas cannot live on or near. Since the energy and nutritional content is so high/strong in “true” herbs, the amoebas not only cannot survive near them, they also cannot evolve a defense mechanism against them.

In particular, #216 Vital Combination, has helped many people with amoebic problems and many similar problems as well.

Don’t miss another National Taoism Examiner article. Receive e-mail alerts when new articles are available. Just click on the “Subscribe” button below; also make sure you click all of those social network buttons and share the article with your friends and family as well. You can also follow the Qi Institutes Taoism blog.

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“Qigong – the ancient Chinese practice that combines movement and breathing to increase mental health and physical strength – will be celebrated from August 18 to 24, in NYC and New Jersey with a forum [featuring] new research in how Qigong helps with stress management, depression and illnesses such as lung disease. It’s the first time the International Health Qigong Tournament & Exchange is being held in the United States. (Logan Metzler)” Previous locations included: Vancouver, Canada (2011), Shanghai, China (2009), Beijing, China (2007 & 2006).

Sponsored by The International Health Qigong Federation (IHFQ), the week-long event will feature approx. 400 participants from 30 countries, including the United States, China, Germany, Belgium and South Korea. The event will offer discussions on how “Health Qigong” helps to deal with many ailments as well as discussing recent research into Qigong and health improvement/maintenance and disease prevention.

The event is designed for experienced practitioners and those who are brand new to Qigong. Several people are expected to share their personal testimonials of how Qigong has made a difference in their lives: “Francis Ho suffered from osteoporosis and arthritis for 10 years but no medication worked until she started studying Health Qigong. David Teitler has greatly reduced the effects of Parkinson’s Disease due to everyday practice. Cathy Anastasio attributes her good health with no medication to Health Qigong. Margaret Chin, New York City Councilmember for Lower Manhattan, uses Qigong to warm up for her exercises both at home and at work between meetings and campaign stops. (Logan Metzler)”

150 practitioners will demonstrate “Chinese Health Qigong” in Washington Square Park, including many children.

Sunday, August 18th

(NYU’s Skirball Center, 60 Washington Square Park South LaGuardia Place)

10a-5p—Speeches from an international panel of experts.

12:30p-1p—Photo op with 150 people demonstrating Health Qigong.

Schedule:

10a: Introduction from Wang Lan, Secretary General of the International Health Qigong Federation

10:15a: The Effects of Qigong Exercise on Mental Health for the Elderly” by Victor W. Henderson, MD, Professor at Epidemiology Department, Stanford University (U.S.)

The State of Health Qigong by Liu Tianjun MD, Chief Physician, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine

Health Qigong and Stress Management by Willi Neumann PhD, Professor at Hochschule Neubrandenburg University (Germany)

12:30pm – Health Qigong Demonstration in Washington Square Park

1:30p –A Study of German of Health Qigong by Professor Wolfgang Immanuel Schöllhorn from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (Germany)

The Effects of Qigong on Lung Disease by Dr. Bobby H.P. NG, Hong Kong Kowloon Hospital (Hong Kong)

The Effects of Health Qigong on managing Pain and Depression in Elderly Women by Professor Jae-Bum Lee from Myongji University.

Health Qigong: Ancient Life Sciences – Modern Life Model by Pierre de Keukelaere, Chairman of Belgian Health Qigong Federation (Belgium)

Effects of Health Qigong Techniques by Professor Shi Aiqiao, Wuhan Sports University (China)

August 19

Training Seminar for International Referees of Health Qigong

Sheraton Parsippany Hotel in New Jersey

Senior experts will give a training seminar to over 100 Health Qigong professionals from all over the world. Experts will explain rules and systems, including skill and grading points of Qigong movements.

August 20-21

The Fifth International Health Qigong Tournament

Sheraton Parsippany Hotel in New Jersey

Highlight of the week-long event features: exhibitions, demonstrations as well as individual and team contests.

August 22 and 23

Health Qigong Training Seminar

Sheraton Parsippany Hotel in New Jersey

“A Health Qigong training seminar is held after the tournament. This year, professor Wang Yulin from Tsinghua University, Hu Xiao Fei from Beijing Sport University and Wang Zhen from Shanghai University of Sports will host the workshop for 150 participants to explain Qigong, Taichi Yangsheng Zhang, Daoyin Yangsheng Gong 12 Methods, and Wu Qin Xi (frolics of five animals). (Logan Metzler)”

For more details about the 5th International Health Qigong Tournament and Exchange visit: http://www.ihqf-healthqigong.org/en, Day of/onsite contact: Dan Fortune at 917-608-1309 or Keith Sherman at 917.680.1000

Don’t miss another National Taoism Examiner article. Receive e-mail alerts when new articles are available. Just click on the “Subscribe” button below; also make sure you click all of those social network buttons and share the article with your friends and family as well. You can also follow the Qi Institutes Taoism blog.

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Recently, Natural Awakenings Magazine featured an article “Banish Acid Reflux: Eating Alkaline Can Cure the Burn” by their senior staff writer Linda Sechrist.

The article uses a few interesting statistics and reports from current research on acid reflux, combined with some dietary suggestions that the author feels will help the condition. Acid reflux is increasing year to year at an alarming rate, and many people now suffer from some or all of its symptoms.

When it [acid reflux] occurs more than twice a week, reflux can progress from a minor irritation causing heartburn to gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. When the throat is most affected, it’s called laryngopharyngeal reflux, or LPR. Untreated, LPR can damage the throat, airway and lungs. If left untreated, GERD can damage the digestive system and cause precancerous Barrett’s esophagus or even esophageal cancer. (Banish Acid Reflux: Eating Alkaline Can Cure the Burn by Linda Sechrist)

According to Dr. Jamie Koufman, founding director of the Voice Institute of New York and author of Dropping Acid: The Reflux Diet Cookbook & Cure, “…In the United States, the prevalence of esophageal cancer has increased 850 percent since 1975… (Banish Acid Reflux: Eating Alkaline Can Cure the Burn)”

The articles basic premise that acidic foods are a leading contributor, if not the primary cause, of acid reflux disorders is correct and has been a point of emphasis for thousands of years in Taoism, in particular the Tao of Balanced Diet. The recommended foods, however, which the article lists as alkaline are in fact acidic and will further contribute to the problem.

With this in mind the National Taoism Examiner is going to share some Taoist tips and general principles to help prevent or correct this problem. The secret to preventing and correcting this problem is maintaining a proper balance between alkaline and acidic foods aka pH balance.

1) Most foods are acidic so to make things simple it is easier to remember which foods are alkaline:

• sprouts
• green vegetables (cooked)
• grains (cooked)
• cooked vegetables
• cooked potatoes/baked or boiled (white or sweet)
• white rice (cooked)

2) Safe to assume that all other food types are acidic

3) Make sure each meal contains some of the above alkaline foods. For example: if you are eating chicken (or any other meat) then make sure you also have white rice or potatoes and cooked vegetables.

4) Do not drink during the meal as this dilutes and washes away the valuable saliva and prevents proper digestion.

5) Make sure the food is cooked, no raw food.

6) Eat until you are satisfied not full and definitely not stuffed.

7) Avoid antacid tablets (whether over the counter or prescription) as they neutralize the stomach acid which causes the body to produce more acid in order to digest food, causing a vicious cycle of always needing more antacids. The body will be stuck in the cycle of heartburn and indigestion.

Alkaline foods naturally balance the acid levels in the stomach so the body can digest food properly and in a timely manner. The next time you go to a restaurant, notice the pleasant aroma upon entering notice how great the food smells and appears when it is brought to the table…after eating walk around to the back of the restaurant and notice how terrible the trash smells and observe the rotting food, this is the waste or leftover food that was used the same day in the restaurant….only a few hours separating a wonderful meal and trash in the alley.

The same occurs in our bodies when food is not able to digest properly, fully and in a timely manner. This results in our body not only producing too much acid but also in gas, bloating and other symptoms of indigestion or in Taoist terms Self Poisoning.

With these general tips in mind you can rest assured that you are on your way to having meals that are more acid-alkaline balanced and will begin to see an improvement in acid reflux problems, or preventing the problem all together. Some people may, in addition to the above tips, find it beneficial to use Taoist teas/Forgotten Foods to assist the digestive system with recovery. In this case there are two formulas that have helped people for over 3,000 years called BD-216 Vital Combination or FP-604 Acidity Tea.

A few Taoist Internal Exercises have also helped many people, especially: Stomach rubbing exercise, liver/stomach massage, throat massage and the turtle exercise.

Don’t miss another National Taoism Examiner article. Receive e-mail alerts when new articles are available. Just click on the “Subscribe” button below; also make sure you click all of those social network buttons and share the article with your friends and family as well. You can also follow the Qi Institutes Taoism blog.

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People around the world are beginning to awaken to the reality that the biodiversity of native and natural foods are under increasing assault from “genetically modified organisms” (GMO). Many countries have seen anti GMO protests and calls for GMO labeling laws; others have seen an increase in organic food production and outright bans on GMO food production and importation.

It is well known that the most GMO “friendly” country in the world is the USA, in fact, the USA is both one of the worlds largest importers and exporters of GM seeds and GM food. Many of the “Food Aid” programs the US government offers other countries are contingent upon the recipient country “accepting” GM food in particular GM grains. If the country does not want or accept the GM food then they are often refused the “Aid”.

It was with great pleasure that the National Taoism Examiner (NTE), recently learned that Peru has officially banned GM food; importation and domestic use.

“Peru’s executive has approved the regulations for the law that prohibits the importation, production and use of GMO foods in the country. Violating the law can result in a maximum fine of 10,000 UIT tax units, which is about 36.5 million soles ($14 million). The goods can also be seized and destroyed, according to the norms. The law, which was approved by President Ollanta Humala … is aimed at preserving Peru’s biodiversity and supporting local farmers, Environment Minister Manuel Pulgar Vidal said. (Andean Air Mail & Peruvian Times)”

The transition will not be easy nor without its challenges, however, as some estimate that as much as 70% of the food on supermarket shelves contain GM ingredients. Peru does require GMO labeling, which will give the consumer a choice and a sense of moral purchasing power.

There is much at stake for the nations of the world and hopefully other nations will follow the excellent example being led and demonstrated by Peru with regards to banning or at the very least greatly restricting GMO production and use.

“Besides protecting an increasing export industry of organic and native products, the ban protects Peru’s exceptionally varied native plant species —the import and use of GM seeds for corn, for example, would eventually destroy the different and multicolored species grown in the Andean region. (Andean Air Mail & Peruvian Times)”

Don’t miss another National Taoism Examiner article. Receive e-mail alerts when new articles are available. Just click on the “Subscribe” button below; also make sure you click all of those social network buttons and share the article with your friends and family as well. You can also follow the Qi Institutes Taoism blog.

Do you have a story, photo or video from your area that would be of interest to Taoists? Feel free to email (TJ@theQiInstitute.com) and they may be included or featured in a National Taoism Examiner article.