Chinese Traditions

We all know herbs are amazingly effective, but have you ever wondered how their secrets were discovered? Did Shen Nong really taste them all and watch their effects in his see-through belly? How did they get their names? What are their backstories? Dr. Skye Sturgeon reads an excerpt from the book Chinese Herbal Legends where we learn the legend of Dang Gui.

The hexagram associated with the fourth month of the Chinese lunar calendar or May on the solar/Gregorian calendar is Jiě 解/ Deliverance or Relief (#40). In the sequence of the gua, Jiě 解 follows Jiān 艱/ Difficulty or Hardship because things cannot remain in hardship without end. Many of us have been ill, many have lost friends or family, and nearly all of us have been frightened. Certainly, the isolation has engendered anxiety, depression, or feelings of loneliness. The I Ching promises Deliverance or Relief from these conditions.

Breathe your way to harmony, balance, health, and well-being. Practicing Qi Gong yourself and teaching it to your patients is one of the most beneficial aspects of Chinese medicine. It can be engaged anywhere and by anyone, including those who are bed-ridden or in a wheelchair. In Qi Gong breathing, the action is focused on the exhale by intentionally contracting the diaphragm and abdominal wall muscles, squeezing out the carbon dioxide until the lungs are empty.

The Lunar New Year in 2022 brings us the Year of the Water Tiger. Lunar New Year 2022 arrives on February 1st and brings us the Year of the Yang Water Tiger. You may also see it referred to as the Black Tiger, since black is the color of Water. What does the Tiger have in store for 2022? Last year was Yin Metal Ox, so we know 2022 must be a Yang year. In the production/ creation cycle of the flow of the elements (Wood -> Fire -> Earth -> Metal -> Water), we see that Water comes after Metal. That gives us a Yang Water Year...

This goji, red dates, angelica and lamb soup recipe is from Zhang Zhongjing’s "Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet". It has the therapeutic effects of nourishing Qi and Blood, warming the Heart and Kidney, strengthening the Spleen and Stomach, and strengthening the body, making it a very suitable tonic for winter.

A special dish for festive occasions, 8 Treasure Duck is a delicacy you can make at home. The “8” refers to there being 8 precious ingredients stuffed into a duck and braised. Fillings, marinades, and preparation methods may vary by region, so feel free to put your own spin on it.

The winter solstice has always been celebrated in China as the resting time of the year. In winter the life energy is still underground. The Return of Light is just beginning; therefore, it must be strengthened by rest so that it will not be dissipated by being used prematurely. This principle of allowing energy that is renewing itself to be reinforced by rest, applies to all similar situations. The return of health after illness, the return of understanding after an estrangement: everything must be treated tenderly and with care at the beginning, so that the return may lead to a flowering in its due course.

The Dragon Boat Festival 端午節 (for 2021, it falls on Monday, June 14th) is not only about boat races and delicious rice dumplings, but since ancient times was a time to focus on health.  The lunar date of the Festival, the 5th day of the 5th month, was considered a poisonous and evil day in the minds of the ancients. In fact, as this date signaled the beginning of hot, dry/muggy summer weather, people were prone to get sick, and plagues and epidemics were not uncommon. Various customs developed to ensure peace and avoid disaster, such as collecting herbs, hanging moxa, sprinkling realgar wine on walls, doors, and windows and drinking Pu huang wine. Read on to learn more about this ancient tradition!

For practitioners of Chinese medicine, the black interior and paradoxical white feathered exterior represent and mirror the consolidation of Yin and Yang. Thus, the black-skinned silkie chicken is considered especially valuable medicinally and nutritionally. In Chinese dietary therapy all black foods are considered to be very helpful for treating Kidney disharmonies and the Blood, because black is the color associated with water and with the Kidneys in the five phases/wu xing.

We're sharing a delicious and time-honored family recipe. It contains nutrients derived from pork and black chicken, as well as tonifying herbs to promote a woman’s optimal health during pregnancy.

During the last year, many have experienced weariness, loss of loved ones, or lingering effects from long-term illness depleting our Yin (our reserves). As we move into Spring with a renewed sense of optimism, we would like to share one of our favorite family recipes for health and healing. Check out the recipe, techniques, and suggested cookware!

The Chinese New Year begins on midnight on the day of the second (or third) new moon following the winter solstice. This year it is February 12th. The hexagram associated with the first month and the approach of Spring is 泰 Tài. As with the case with many Chinese words, tài is polysemous. Originally, it meant “more than” or “most” indicating a condition of more than great. Various translators render Tài as safety, security, peacefulness, and some suggest progression and advancement. I prefer “tranquility”.

The Lunar New Year in 2021 brings us the Year of the Metal Ox. After 2020, I’m sure we’re all glad to say goodbye to the pesky Rat! Let’s analyze what the Ox has in store. According to Chinese philosophy, we have the concepts of Yin and Yang, Heaven, Earth and Humanity. These are the building blocks of the universe. Every year, the energy of the year is determined by the energy of Heaven and Earth. Because we, as “Humanity” live in between Heaven and Earth, we are affected by their energies as well as by the energy of the specific year. The Heaven energy for 2021 is Metal. 2020 was also a Metal year, and because we have a Yin year and a Yang year for each element, 2020 was Yang Metal. 2021 is a Yin Metal year. Thus, we have the year of the Yin Metal Ox. You may also see 2021 referred to as the year of the White Ox, since the color of Metal is white, and some people refer to the energy of the Heavenly Qi by color...

For the last 3,000 years, Chinese people have celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival on the 15th day of the 8th month on the Lunar calendar (Thursday, October 1st this year). This important holiday gathers family and friends to give thanks for a good harvest and to celebrate the harmony between each other and in society. In these challenging times especially, it is also a time to pray for peace and a good future.

A phonetic play on He 荷 “lotus” and He 和 “harmony”, this is a delicious, calming, and nourishing dish; a perfect treat for these tumultuous times! Steaming rice in dried lotus leaves infuses the rice with a smoky, roasted tea fragrance.