“If everyone fought for their own convictions, there would be no war.” –Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace

Yin and yang (peace and war) infinitely coexist. For without war, peace lacks meaning. However, ‘war’ does not have to mean military conflict. In its broadest sense, it is simply the opposite of peace.

Actually, we can replace the concept of ‘War and Peace’ with ‘The Sentiment of War and the Feeling of Peace.’ From this perspective, one can equate the sentiment of war with stress. And rather than being a destructive force in our lives, we should try to view stress as something creative.

James O’Dea can articulate the idea of creative stress much better, but basically it is the use of life’s stressors as a tool for positive change. It is a transformative power rather than a destructive one.

The usual effects of stress vary widely, and can include anything from simple misunderstandings, to disease, to atrocity. Regardless of its effect, in most cases there is an opportunity for something positive, and maybe even evolutionary.

In terms of health, because of their pure toxicity, some chemical stressors can be hard to justify as creative forces. Examples include tobacco and environmental pollution. However, in a cultural context where these stressors can be used as a measure of human behavior, there is room for debate over their value. But for the sake of this post, let’s stick to the role of stress in aging.

In particular, I’m referring to mental-emotional stress and its penchant for siphoning our vitality. There are hundreds of studies linking stress to disease and premature aging. Factors involved in the effects of stress on aging include: our inherent strength and endurance, and how we handle stress. The exact stressor is less of a factor.

To explain the role of creative stress in aging, for a moment let’s revisit the idea of war. Even on the topic of health, there is no shortage of wars. Prime examples are the War on Cancer, and the War on Drugs. These wars have been waged since President Nixon officially started them in 1971. That’s 40 years ago. How long will the new war last?

What is the new war?

Even without a presidential edict, there seems to be a war on aging. Look around and you’ll notice a new brand in town: ACME Anti-Aging. There is even a medical specialty with a certification from the American Board of Anti-Aging. And then there’s the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, whose 2012 conference is being held–no surprise–in Sin City, Las Vegas.

The problem is that the concept of anti-aging is being sold to young people who are scared of getting old. And it has corrupted the marketplace with products and procedures designed to hide the reality of aging. Not only does it deny aging, but it also neglects the true factors that contribute to healthy aging: a wholesome diet, exercise, and rest. And anthropologically, in my opinion, the anti-aging movement is fostering a discrimination against seniors.

I’m still relatively young, but… what’s wrong with aging? And why should we be anti- it?

I guess ‘aging’ suggests a progression towards death. And not just physical death. It also implies the death of our sex appeal, our relationships, our jobs, and any other variable we use to define our youthful selves. Hence, the anti-aging movement which, in my opinion, is an extension of the Beauty-Industrial Complex (to rephrase Dwight D. Eisenhower) that capitalizes on the fear of getting old.

I get it. It’s scary getting old, especially when our self-worth is measured by the currency of youth. But let me share my (relatively youthful) views on aging:

Of course I believe in preventive medicine to ensure vitality as well as longevity. But I’m definitely not Anti-Aging. I am Pro-Graceful-Aging. Aging can not only be graceful, but it can also be a Second Ripening. For it is a period of blossoming wisdom.

The First Ripening is puberty. Puberty is characterized by physical changes. The second ripening (aging) is characterized by spiritual and philosophical changes wherein we add context to our multi-dimensional life experience.

Those life experiences will inevitably include challenges and setbacks. And this is where we return to the idea of creative stress. Those challenges and setbacks–the things that cause mental and emotional stress–can be opportunities for spiritual transformation and understanding.

With the exception of spontaneous enlightenment [good luck with that], spiritual transformation requires aging, most likely over a long period of time. So, aging is a process of discovery–one that I don’t want to skip.

Graceful aging will help us come to terms with death. For the philosophical outlook that comes from aging adds meaning to life. It offers beauty and the art of living to the aging eye. As our eyes cloud, our third eye gains clarity.

Graceful aging gives back to society–things like sage advice for those approaching the peak of their youth.

Finally, senior wisdom gives us saints like George Carlin, who–while not quite graceful–made us laugh and didn’t give a f**k about aging.

Creative stress is taking the inevitable stress of life, and using it as education. Stress is something to enrich our understanding of ourselves and our place in the world. Creative stress–in the aging process–becomes a production in which we unfold our souls as a work of art.

Do not confuse ACME Anti-Aging with preventive medicine. Anti-Aging’s emphasis is not on the prevention of disease, but rather on beauty–the superficial kind. Of course, we all have our personal tastes as to what constitutes beauty. But if you take mainstream media as an indicator, it seems our tastes are converging onto a narrow concept of beauty. For women, the stereotype is young and skinny. For men, ask a woman.

So, I am anti-Anti-Aging. And I call aging beautiful. What do you call it? Since my views come from a vantage point of relative youth, I’m particularly interested in hearing from those who are a little further along the process…

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Stress can debilitate us. No matter its form–mental, emotional or physical–it can cause inertia and hinder our ability to thrive. Inertia is a resistance to activity or acceleration, sluggishness at its finest. Adding to sluggishness, the blinding of our options due to stress leads to indecision and loss of bearing.

But we are resilient creatures. We have an enormous capacity to process information and events, no matter how abundant the information or stressful the event. Processing these things simply requires navigation.

Some of us are more aware of our innate resilience than others. For others, when faced with a challenge or extreme stress, they may need to hit a breaking point before their mind and body “find a way.” But in the end, there is always a way.

For those blessed with resilience-awareness, they may hit road blocks and need detours, but they never quite fully lose their way. They maintain a general sense of direction, always moving. This is tai chi–to always move: up, down, outside, inside.

Up becomes down, then down becomes up again. We move in circles, but we are always heading somewhere new. We begin with yin, move through yang. And when we meet yin again, we find that it has transformed. It maintains its original yin essence, yet it is something new–an enriched resource to fuel our next cycle of outward (yang) activity.

The secret to managing stress is to know when to act and when to rest (or just let things happen). But even in rest, there is activity. “To act” means that yang energy is moving outward, blatantly expressing itself. In rest, yang energy still moves. But it moves inward to transform (e.g. experiences), build and restore yin energy.

Vice versa, during activity there is still a state of rest–or yin within yang. For there is always potential energy (yin) waiting to transform into kinetic energy (yang). This is the meaning of the Tai Ji Tu: yin and yang exist simultaneously, within one another, depend on each other, change places, and always move.

If you are on the path of yin and yang–living the life of tai chi–you will never lose your way. Because you are going in circles.

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I finally found a use for LinkedIn: culling news headlines related to my industry and other core interests. Yesterday, I came across an interesting one.

The headline read, “This popular nut slashed breast cancer risk in mice by 50%.” That wasn’t even the interesting part, though I would like to see the data (50%?). What interested me was the antagonist of the article.

The article describes actions taken by the FDA in response to a food label on packages of walnuts, in addition to health claims posted on the food company’s website.

What did the food label say?

It touted the health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids.

Why was that applicable?

Because walnuts are a good source of alpha-linolenic acid, an essential omega-3.

So, this is where the fun starts. >>>

Common Sense vs. the FDA

Common Sense:

• Based on clinical studies, omega-3 fatty acids benefit health.
• Walnuts are a good source of omega-3.
• Walnuts are healthy.
• Eat walnuts.

FDA-Think:

• Walnuts are a natural, healthy product.
• Because we are “responsible for protecting the public health,” let us label walnuts as a drug, and regulate its distribution in order to prevent Nature from harming its citizens. For when Mother Nature doesn’t care for you, the FDA’s got your back.
• If you maintain your health with nutrition, it will adversely affect the billion-dollar pharmaceutical industry and the health of our economy.
• Besides, why eat nuts when you can eat beta-blockers, statins, nitroglycerin, calcium channel blockers, and angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors? Which tastes better anyway? [We like the red ones.]

The Product of FDA Deliberations

The FDA gathered their thoughts and issued a warning letter to Diamond Food Inc, the evil distributor of walnuts. In summary, Diamond Food shall no longer educate the public on the health benefits of their nuts (see excerpt below, or the full letter here).

Reactionary, revolutionary, or simply a laughing matter?

My reaction upon reading the above article was vexation. It was maddening. For after all, what can we do? It’s the FDA. But then I was immediately reminded of the author of Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand–who had it right and was quite the visionary.

“Who is John Galt?” -Atlas Shrugged

We are John Galt. We are responsible for our own well-being. By exercising our freedom to choose our own healthy lifestyles, thereby upholding our vigor, we can build a heroic nation and accept the responsibility of caring for our dependents–the youth in need of mentors, the inheritors of what we leave behind, as well as the aging seniors who left us something to cherish.

What can we do about the FDA and its abuse of power? We can emasculate it through mockery. And have a whole lot of fun along the way.

From the FDA warning letter to Diamond Food Inc, dated 2/22/10:

“Based on claims made on your firm’s website [and product label], we have determined that your walnut products are promoted for conditions that cause them to be drugs because these products are intended for use in the prevention, mitigation, and treatment of disease.

…they may not be legally marketed with the above claims in the United States without an approved new drug application.”

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Image via flickr.com/epsos

I’m definitely spiritual. But I’m not… obviously spiritual. In fact, my metaphysical core bakes deep beneath a yummy layer of dry humorous frosting, with a sprinkle of cynicism. And it is wrapped in mischief.

That being said, I’ve never had any interest in talismans. [Except for that year Conan the Destroyer was finally released on Betamax. Remember that green, glow-y, spiky thing? Talisman.]

I typically chalked talismans up to childish imagination, along with stuffed unicorns and ouija boards. However…

There are these coins. And they are from the Tang (618-907 CE) and Song (960-1279 CE) dynasties.

I purchased them, and now anxiously await a knock on the door from a Canadian postman. Yes, global commerce is a beautiful thing. I wonder if the postman will be wearing a mountie hat?

I originally bought the coins for their direct link to a time when great Chinese medicine physicians roamed mountain tops, and I presume, fished in clear streams. But then, I got this bug.

I was feverish. Just the thought of holding the old coins, made my heart beat faster. Not yet even grasping the historical currency, I wanted to go back further in time. I now wanted Han dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE) coins, linked to the time when the Chinese medicine foundation was poured; when the classical medical texts were written: the Huang Di Nei Jing, the Nan Jing, the Shang Han Lun/Jing Gui Yao Lue, the Mai Jing.

Besides all that, the throwing of old Chinese coins is one of the traditional ways to draw sage advice from the I-Ching — another classical text and potential access point to Chinese medical thought.

[Incidentally, I may be getting my hands on some Han dynasty coins.]

Long Story Short

A picture of old Chinese coins triggered my historical fascination. After being pulled further in, it hit me. These coins, evidenced by my exhilaration and racing heart, are a source of inspiration for me and my work — because of their long, romantic journey through time and space (mountains, oceans and valleys), and their temporal connection to the birth and development of Chinese medicine.

And thus, a revelation: these old Chinese coins will be my talisman. Once I get them.

Run, Canadian postman. Run.

For — to clarify a non-woo woo definition — this is what a talisman means to me:

talisman [tal-is-muh'n] n.

1. a source of inspiration.
2. something to help us tap into our full potential.
3. an anchor to our life purpose.
4. in the case of my dynastic coins, an homage to my human ancestors who help clarify my healing path.

So, what are your thoughts on talismans? Am I just a kid at heart?

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Tanqueray image via flickr.com/vox_efx

You’re at a party, and you’re shy. Everyone is dancing or generally animated. You feel awkward because you are not yet uninhibited enough to socialize.

So you partake in an informal research study. You are both subject and observer, testing the effectiveness of gin and tonics for achieving sociability. Your study lacks randomization, control [it’s a party after all], and placebos – not the gold standard of scientific inquiry, but empirical nonetheless.

You count your gin and tonics, measure time, and observe effects.

You tabulate…

The morning after, you draw conclusions…

1 gin and tonic >> sustain awkwardness

2-3 gin and tonics >> dog gone it, people like you

4 gin and tonics >> risk embarrassment

> 4 gin and tonics >> overdose, and defy the rules of social etiquette

The ultimate conclusion: dosage matters.

In the study above, the therapeutic dose is 2 – 4 gin and tonics at a rate of 1.6 drinks/hour. This is the range you want to stick to in order to keep all your friends.

The principles of dosage applied to gin also apply to herbs. But the difference between alcohol and herbs is that if you take too many herbs, your friendships will not be compromised. So, grab a gin and tonic (just one) and let’s talk herbs…

From Gin, to Ginseng (and other herbs)

Chinese medicine treats people, not diseases. So, the uniqueness of each individual will dictate not only the therapeutic range of herb doses but also the herbs selected.

Two reasons why people may hesitate with herbs:

1    The feeling that herbs lack effectiveness
2    Concerns of overdose or herb-drug interactions

Re: The feeling that herbs lack effectiveness

If you’re not getting results from an herbal formula, you may not have reached your therapeutic dose yet. A health practitioner can help you in finding your therapeutic range. This applies not only to individual dosage, but also to the total daily dose.

For example, a prescribed dosage may be 3g taken 3x/day = 9g daily, taken on an empty stomach to facilitate absorption. Or maybe, 10 pills 3x/day = 30 pills daily (they’re tiny pills).

Often, patients find it challenging to achieve the prescribed dosage. In which case, a lack of results may be more an issue of compliance rather than herbal effectiveness.

Another possibility is that the formula may be wrong. So rather than a deficiency in the herbs, this would indicate an inaccurate herb choice. This is where an experienced practitioner can review and possibly modify your formula.

Other factors that affect herbal effectiveness (highlighting the importance of a reputable source for herbs):

Identification – whether the herbs you have are the herbs you think you have. There are cheap substitutes for potent herbs out there.

Quality – whether the herbs are free of pesticides, heavy metals and micro-organisms; and are harvested at their appropriate time of maturity. Just like humans, with greater maturity comes wisdom. Yes, herbs are wise. In other words, they need time to develop the complexity of their healing properties.

Processing – The word processing, in Chinese medicine, has a different use than in the American food chain. Processing affects the therapeutic properties of an herb. A good example is rhubarb (da huang): Raw, it’s a laxative. Wine-fried, it invigorates blood. Charred, it stops bleeding.

Preparation – If you have a raw formula and plan on cooking it at home, the way you cook matters. But often these days, formulas are prepared for you prior to picking them up.

Herbs are effective with the proper dose, quality assurance, and appropriate processing… and an accurate diagnosis.

Re: Concerns of overdose or herb-drug interactions

Overdosing

Overdosing and herb-drug interactions are valid concerns. Most people think of overdosing in terms of pharmaceuticals or illicit drugs, which are toxic. In fact, it’s their toxicity that prompts such a rapid response from the body. The problem is that the response is uncontrolled, for the strength of the drugs brings some positive changes along with side effects.

Drugs also mostly treat symptoms. And often, side effects are seen as further symptoms leading to the addition of more toxic drugs.

Herbs are generally non-toxic. They are medicine that nature provides. They are fully intact like whole food, so that all of their chemicals work together to gently restore health. In contrast, drugs are isolated chemicals and lack the complexity of natural design.

Using whole herbs rather than isolated “active ingredients” means that all of the herbal chemicals can work synergistically to moderate toxicity, facilitate absorption, and accentuate the healing properties. Isolated chemicals – like drugs – offer unbalanced toxicity.

There are a few herbs that are toxic, which brings us back to the issue of processing mentioned above. Processing herbs helps reduce toxicity, rendering them safe for consumption. A good example is pinellia (ban xia), which is extremely toxic but made safe by deep-frying it with ginger, vinegar or alum.

To further reduce the risk of toxicity, herbs are often combined to achieve greater synergy. A good example is the use of licorice (gan cao) in many formulas, which helps protect the stomach.

There are also a few cathartic herbs, or harsh expellants. The harshness of these herbs are acknowledged and therefore used judiciously. At least in the U.S., where litigation and liability run high, most practitioners won’t even risk using cathartics.

If there are adverse reactions to an herb(s), they are typically mild. And because of the gentleness of herbs, adjusting dosage, modifying the formula, or stopping use will quickly allay any side effects.

Herb-drug interactions

The worry of herb-drug interactions is prevalent enough such that the study of interactions is slowly becoming a specialty in the field of medicine. However, keep in mind that most of the stated herb-drug interactions are theoretical. In reality, reports of herb-drug interactions in the FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS) are sparse.

Update, 11/17/11:

However, herb-drug interactions may be a concern if you are self-prescribing. For there is minimal risk of interactions only if a qualified health practitioner has prescribed herbs based on a proper diagnosis. For example, if you are on a blood thinner like Coumadin (warfarin), it would not make sense to take herbs that invigorate blood. A good practitioner would refrain from prescribing such herbs, essentially precluding an herb-drug interaction.

[end update]

Bottom Line

Herbs have been used for over 3,000 years (+/- 1 year) with detailed documentation on clinical effectiveness without serious side effects.

[A convenient segue]

I can’t talk about Chinese medicine without mentioning acupuncture, because acupuncture is so fun to practice.

Dosage applies to acupuncture as well. However, the word dosage is replaced with terms like frequency, duration, and strength of stimulation. And the same tenet applies – acupuncture treats people, not diseases.

p.s. I just bought the url, www.ginsengandtonic.com. I’m impulsive like that.

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I recently came across a great website at emptymindfilms.com. It offers quality documentaries on masters in the art of “faith, health and wellness, or the martial arts” that can be streamed online.

Of course, one of their videos truly piqued my interest. It’s called “A Natural Way,” featuring the traditional medicine of India, Tibet and China. Its main topic is Traditional Chinese Medicine (!), and you can watch the preview here:

[Update: The video doesn't appear to work on some smart phones, or for those who receive my blog posts via email or some RSS feed readers. But it seems to work fine on desktop/laptop browsers.]

For those of you with a website or blog, you can sign up with Empty Mind Films as an affiliate, which can be a way of making money by sharing their videos. However, I have chosen not to take this route. So, you won’t be buying me any pizza by watching this film.

I’ve chosen to forgo affiliation simply because… eh… I like to keep things simple.

Enjoy. And if you have any questions about acupuncture and Chinese medicine, feel free to connect with me on Twitter, Facebook or via carl@sandiegowell.com.

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Image via flickr.com/global-jet

I used to pride myself on my aptitude for balancing indulgence and responsibility. After a day of helping others and working hard towards my long-term goals, I would satisfy myself with happy-hour celebrations amongst gin, tonics and friends.

Don’t get the wrong idea. Health has always been a priority. And I’m neither an alcoholic nor a partier [by college standards], even if blessed with an exceptional tolerance for distilled juniper berries.

But over the past couple of years, I’ve noticed a shift. I’m in a new stage in life where ‘partying’ seems just plain unimaginative. So, I’ve chosen to redefine it.

The New Definition of Partying

To me, helping others and connecting with them in meaningful ways is The Party in that grand ballroom of life.

What drives this redefining moment is a dreaded party-filled weekend that encroaches upon me. It’s a 3-day Vegas-style bachelor party, no thanks to movies like, “The Hangover”. It’s not my bachelor party, but it is one of my best friend’s. So, I’m happy to partake in his last stand as a single man.

“Vegas style” means 2,000-dollar VIP booths, restroom fees, and sophisticated banter like, “Woooooooo!” and “That’s what I’m talkin’ about!”… all night long.

I admit that might be the old me, or better yet, the ancient me. But the current me can’t help but think: For $2,000 – rather than party in Vegas – I can volunteer in Uganda.

But I guess I’ll just have to suck it up. Cheers, my friend. Vegas it is. With its women. And its booze. And its sin that never sleeps, while Uganda waits. Let’s call it my transition stage.

Hmm. Don’t ask me later how the story ends.

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photo via Balingit Acupuncture

Inalienable rights aside, we are not born entirely equal. Some of us are granted greater vigor than others, making them more resistant to disease. However, we are equal in our freedom to choose what we do with what we’re given.

In terms of acupuncture and Chinese medicine, our constitutional strength comes from our prenatal qi. It is the qi we inherit from our parents before taking our first breath.

After we enter this world and our umbilical cord (lifeline) is cut, we must begin to breathe and feed on our own. This is when our postnatal qi starts ticking, which comes from the air and food we consume. The cleaner the air, the purer the food, the stronger we become.

Because we have limited control over our level of prenatal qi, but have almost complete control – at least after infancy – on the way we eat and breathe, many Chinese medicine practitioners focus on the strength of our postnatal qi.

Our spleen-stomach system is responsible for converting food into nourishment. So it is the major source of our postnatal qi. Of course, our lungs are also involved because our qi depends on oxygen. But there is a greater variability in food quality – versus air quality – which creates greater challenges for our spleen and stomach.

There are plenty of foods that help ensure the strength of our spleen-stomach system. This is just one postnatal qi tonic to consider: kombucha.

Kombucha is fermented tea, containing yeast and bacteria. It is a probiotic that helps balance the flora in our gut and aids digestion. So, it is considered a qi tonic because it helps in the production of postnatal qi.

Note: Those with candidiasis (e.g. chronic yeast infections) may be concerned about drinking kombucha because it’s fermented. However, candidiasis is an infection from a yeast called candida albicans, while kombucha contains a different species of yeast.

One of the yeast species in kombucha may be candida stellata, which is still different than albicans. The yeast in kombucha can help combat candida albicans, and thus benefit candidiasis.

Just in case you were wondering, the other yeasts that can be found in kombucha include brettanomyces bruxellensis, schizosaccharomyces pombe, torulaspora delbrueckii and zygosaccharomyces bailii,¹ i.e. all the letters of the alphabet except f, j, q, v, and w.

Kombucha is a raw food and can be found in the refrigerated section of the health food store.

¹ Teoh AL, Heard G, Cox J: Yeast Ecology of Kombucha Fermentation. International Journal of Food Microbiology 2004, 95 (2): 119-126.

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Photo via flickr.com/paleontour

A beautiful example of Chinese medicine in everyday life…

Background

Chinese medicine defines a much larger role for your kidneys than Western medicine does. Your kidney system is the source of your vitality, sexual vibrancy and reproductive health. It determines the strength of your bones and your resilience to the load that life places upon you. And in terms of mental health, it expresses itself as will power.

With a strong kidney system, you can accomplish much. And with abundant kidney energy, even things that are beyond your limits will seem attainable.

Like any other organ system, the strength of your kidneys fluctuates. Because your kidney system doesn’t act alone (it coordinates its activity with all your other organ systems), there is a constant shifting of influence within your body. So, maintaining internal balance is an on-going process.

Depending on circumstances, there may be times when your kidney qi is weak. This can be a relative weakness, compared to other days, while your overall kidney qi remains strong. Chronic health conditions aside, a kidney deficiency can just mean you’re having a bad day.

Yesterday was one of those days for me.

Yesterday I was taxed. I woke on the wrong side of the bed; I had much on my mind all day; and I was trying to do too much at once. My kidney qi was rebelling. For it refused to express itself further in order to prevent its own extinction. So, superficially, I looked like I was kidney deficient.

Again, it’s normal for kidney qi to fluctuate. Normally, a transient weakness won’t present a problem. It may mean that it’s just time to regroup. Often, it can even go unnoticed to the untrained eye.

In terms of “trained” eyes, there is a group of people other than Chinese medicine practitioners that can gauge your kidney qi instantly. They are street thugs. However, the street thug’s assessment is instinctual and subconscious.

When your kidney qi is weak, you basically have a target on your back with the word prey stamped in the center. Again, most people wouldn’t notice this, or even act on it if they did. But every so often, timing will place your kidney deficiency in a street thug’s line of sight.

Yesterday my kidneys met a street thug, so to speak. Though my kidney qi was rebelling, thankfully it was not gone. So here’s a little street psychology 101…

Heading to the grocery, I instantly noticed this guy from across the parking lot. I gave him a preliminary Chinese medicine diagnosis of Liver Fire – body tense, pacing, nervous tics, eyes wide open and shifting, dangerous… He targeted me. I knew it. But I still wanted my groceries. So, the encounter was inevitable.

Street Psych 101: The 3-Step Thug Approach

1. Shout.

He SHOUTED, “HEY” from a few feet away from me. But it was more of a pitbull bark than a shout. This was meant to startle me and push me off balance. The loud noise also called attention to me in hopes that I feared embarrassment and would want to end the encounter in the easiest (monetary) way possible.

2. Change your tone and speak words of familiarity.

In his best fake friendly voice he said, “How you doing? Hey, I need a favor.” The friendliness was to induce a sense of guilt, so that I would feel compelled to say sorry if I refused the favor. Making the prey say sorry makes him feel like he has to explain himself to a thug. Thus, further subjugating himself.

3. Quickly switch from a familiar tone to one of authority.

In a plain authoritative voice, the thug said, “Give me 3 dollars.” The rapid switch from familiar to authoritative was to confuse my mind and again throw me off balance. The amount a thug asks for has to be exact and small – a reasonable price to avoid pain. This is to get you to open your wallet, at which point he says, “Better yet, why don’t you give me all your money.”

The Rebuttal

Without breaking stride, I gave him a look that said two things: “I’m not in the mood;” and “your street psycho routine is stale.” I guess I snubbed him (because I hate bullies). And I walked away.

To see me dismiss a 6’2” 220-lb thug with a look should have been comic relief in itself. There was a hint of David and Goliath. But in the depths of my transient exhaustion, I failed to see the humor.

Though I was still somewhat detached, I felt the man was enraged. How dare I walk away from him! I heard no shouts of anger, but his rage was like static electricity. And that electrical charge carried a message: I’ll. Be. Waiting. Thugs are so predictable.

All I needed was garlic, two cans of fire roasted tomatoes, and one can of tomato sauce. I’d be out of there in 5 minutes – not much time to let his fiery rage cool. Why couldn’t there be more choices for garlic? Had I been looking for toothpaste, I could have spent hours deciding on my options (whitening, tartar control, cavity protection…).

And alas, the usual evening grocery line rush failed to show up. I found myself collecting my receipt from the cashier without even 5 minutes elapsing since I entered.

I’ve been known to procrastinate at times. But when it comes to immediate danger, my motto is: let’s get this over with. I consider it the plus side of my impatience. So I headed towards the lion’s den. No fear. Just plain curiosity and an abundant faith in my reflexes.

But the thug wasn’t so predictable. He wasn’t standing in front of the exit, or seated at the bench nearby.

… [Flashback:] On my way into the store, I had walked into the front bumper of a parked car. Though I kept walking, I looked back at the car wondering who had put it there. Shortly before then, the driver of an adjacent car had slammed his door shut. Given the timing, a last-minute observer would have deduced that I had just exited my car and was looking back to make sure it was secure…

…The thug was standing in front of the driver’s side door of that car. Arms crossed. Body tensed, with a single-minded (simple-minded?) focus on violence. He was waiting for me. He was either day-dreaming of ripping me to shreds and hadn’t noticed me exit; or he thought I found a corner of the parking lot to wait him out. Either way, he was anticipating conflict. And he was willing to wait next to “my car.”

So, I strolled to my real car. Shortly thereafter, I drove past him as he was still waiting at that driver’s side door. Sitting alone in my car, I laughed. I suddenly realized that life – even on bad days – is funny. And my Kidney Qi started flowing…

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Sleepy Time

Why doesn’t everyone nap? Maybe it’s for a lack of time. But really, napping makes us more productive. So doesn’t it make sense that it actually saves time?

Napping is healthy because it tailors our activity in accordance with our energy level, which tends to fluctuate throughout the day. This natural ebb and flow of energy defines what is called our circadian rhythm. And napping helps synchronize us with it.

In general, life flows at a certain rhythm. The Chinese understood this universal rhythm, and they memorialized it through the yin-yang symbol. The symbol is called Tai Ji.

Here are some examples of yin-yang cycles:

…

• day / night
• birth / growth / decay / death
• spring / summer / fall / winter
• crabbiness / pain / cuddliness, or the menstrual cycle

Our circadian rhythm is yet another cycle of yin-yang movements. And it is partly exemplified by the daily fluctuation of our hormones.

The Relationship between Yin/Yang, Circadian Rhythm and Napping

The Tai Ji symbolizes constant movement and change in which yang can represent action, and yin can represent rest. We function best when our yin and yang energies stay balanced as their influence varies throughout the day.

To help maintain energetic balance, we use biochemicals called hormones. Cortisol is a hormone that regulates energy production. It’s known as a stress hormone. That’s because its level rises in response to a greater demand for energy in times of stress. But even in times of peace, cortisol helps maintain blood glucose levels for a steady supply of energy.

In health, our cortisol level – and thus, the amount of glucose available – naturally declines in the late afternoon. That marks a good time for a short rest, after the hustle-and-bustle of a busy day. It helps rejuvenate our mind and body so we can sustain our energy into the evening.

An interesting parallel between Eastern and Western medicine is that the Chinese recognized the late afternoon (3 to 5 pm) as the time when our lung energy is weakest. In Chinese medicine, our lung system is partly responsible for energy production. For in addition to food and water, the air we breathe provides us with energy.

In terms of Chinese medicine, afternoon naps help secure our lung system when it’s least capable of producing energy. When we habitually ask our bodies to push forward instead of napping when our energy is naturally lower, we create a condition of chronic stress. And stress leads not only to disease but to poor efficiency as well.

The Doable Act

The good thing is that it only takes 10-20 minutes of napping to help reduce stress and prevent fatigue. And naps can reasonably be scheduled in the late afternoon.

So the next time you see a yin-yang symbol tattooed on some teenager’s ankle, take it as a reminder to nap each day.

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