From Chinese medicine, the main characteristic of the coronavirus is that there is vapor in combination with other pathogenic factors such as Cold and Toxins. The main two organs associated with this from Chinese medicine are the Spleen and the Lung, or the Tai Yin meridian. The Spleen produces Vapor and the Lung stores the Vapor. This means that people with weak Spleen and Lung energy are more susceptible to more serious manifestations of the coronavirus. That is why it is important to strengthen or keep strong the Spleen energy in addition to good Lung energy in order to minimize the effects of the coronavirus.
What’s the best recipe for staying healthy in a time of health crisis? What can we do in a time like this to optimize our resilience? Immediately in the first three chapters of the Su Wen (one of three classical source texts of Chinese medicine) it becomes clear that good health means living in harmony with the laws of nature. By adjusting our behavior and tuning in to the rhythms of nature, our chance of a long and happy life is greatest.
In Chinese medicine, the lung is the organ involved in the essential rhythms in our body. Not only does relaxed breathing follow a natural rhythm, in Chinese medicine the Lung also organizes the other vegetative functions/rhythms such as digestion and circulation. So the right way of breathing not only ensures that your Lung Qi or Lung energy remains healthy, but is good for your entire system and ensures that many physiological processes in your body continue to run smoothly.
Chi Kung exercises are often done to the rhythm of the breath and not only ensure healthy lungs, but also revitalize our entire system. It helps us tune in to the natural rhythm within us, the rhythm of our body and mind. If health is the rhythm in accordance with nature, then illness means not in accordance with the rhythm of nature. By taking good care of our lungs, we can realign and harmonize with the rhythm of nature.
What can we do ourselves to keep our Lung and Spleen energy healthy? Below I have collected a number of preventive measures that everyone can do themselves to keep or strengthen their Lung and Spleen energy.
Note: This information is intended to supplement the regular information about the coronavirus or Covid 19 by the WHO and RIVM. If you have respiratory complaints, have to sneeze or cough and have a fever above 38 degrees Celsius, you should contact your doctor.
Chi Kung Exercises
Here you will find a Chi Kung exercise for the Lung and an exercise to strengthen the Earth system (Stomach and Spleen). The videos are in English without subtitles, but if you understand a little English they are easy to follow. The exercises are simple and are done slowly. If you have no experience with Chi Kung, I suggest that you learn the exercises step by step. You can watch the videos every now and then to learn something new or to see if you can improve something. During the exercises it is important that you do not force yourself. Keep to the limit your body tells you and breathe naturally. Even if you can’t perform an exercise completely right right away, it often already has a positive effect on your system, so don’t despair 😊. By doing them regularly you will see that they get better quickly and that you notice the positive effects. Lots of fun.
Chi Kung Exercise to Strengthen the Lung by Peter Deadman (Not everyone can see the video: here the direct link to the You Tube video of Peter Deadman: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv7IvgwR6hk ):
Chi Kung Exercise to Strengthen the Earth (Milt) by Mimi Kuo-Deemer (Here’s the direct link to Mimi Kuo-Deemer’s video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qMEjVsVx8M&t= )
Strengthening the resistance and the Stomach / Spleen system with Moxa
Moxa is a therapy to stimulate the effect of acupuncture points with heat and to strengthen Qi and Yang. By heating the acupuncture points Stomach 36 and Ren Mai 6 with a moxa stick, the immune system and the energy of the stomach and spleen are strengthened. A moxa stick is made from the dried herb Artemisia Vulgaris, also called Mugwort herb, which burns slowly and very hot when ignited. Keep the moxa stick at a safe distance from bare skin so that you experience a pleasant warmth. Heat each point for 15 minutes, 1 to 2 times a day. Note: a moxa stick generates smoke and has a fairly strong odor. Moxa sticks are for sale at my practice. Further instruction will follow upon purchase.
Steam bath with essential oil for respiratory problems
There are various essential oils that support the immune system and soothe respiratory complaints. A selection of essential oils are available at most health and natural stores. For a good choice from the range, you can ask for the best advice.
Steaming especially helps to resolve the symptoms of a (starting) flu. Depending on the severity and duration of the cold or flu, you can steam once or twice a day over a period of one to five days. Every time you’ve steamed, the symptoms should noticeably improve. If people in your immediate vicinity have a cold, you can also use this treatment 1 or 2 times a week as a preventative measure.
Necessities
Procedure
Tips for a healthy diet
Breakfast
Breakfast between 7 and 9 in the morning. Your digestion is the engine of your energy and it must be activated. So don’t skip your breakfast. So don’t go intermittent fasting and breakfast now.
breakfast hot: for example oatmeal with vegetable milk, rice pudding, hot soup, an egg, baked apples with cinnamon and ginger, pancakes made with vegetable milk. Before breakfast, take a glass of warm water with a squeeze of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar (that clears up Vapor).
Do not eat dairy for breakfast, that is vapor-forming. Also no fruit juice in the morning. Fruit juice has a cold energetic value and thus cools down your digestive system.
Vapor Causing Products
To prevent vapor formation, it is recommended not to eat the following for the time being:
Fruit: bananas and other tropical fruits
Grains: white flour products (reduce bread and eat more vegetables)
Junk food: it contains a lot of sugars and unhealthy fats
Legumes: roasted peanuts, peanut butter
Sugar: max 8 teaspoons per day processed and unprocessed
Fat: fried foods, fatty meats, butter, oil (in moderation)
Meat: pork
Dairy: milk, cheese, butter, yogurt
Avoid salads and cold products because they also demand a lot of energy from your digestive system, which can create vapour. Moderate with meat, rather eat fish.
Vapor Clearing Products
The products below prevent vapor or counteract vapor. So you can eat these fine at the moment.
Fruit: apple, grapes, cherries, pears, fresh dates
Grains: amaranth, millet, pearl barley/pearl barley (or Hato Mugi), rye, rice
Vegetables: Rettich capers, kohlrabi, corn, bok choy, pumpkin, radish, watercress
Spices: anise, ginger, coriander, cloves, horseradish, oregano, parsley, rosemary, white pepper
Garlic: garlic, spring onion, onion
Nuts: almonds, walnuts
Legumes: adzuki beans, peas, lentils, mung beans
Fish: such as anchovies, shrimp, mussels, eel, tuna, salmon
Pearl barley has little taste, but clears vapor and you can boil a small pan, put it in the fridge and mix it with something else.
Drink
Nettle tea, grated ginger with fresh lemon, thyme, sage and boiled hot water
Recommendations to strengthen the immune system and vapour-clearing
Honey with grated garlic. From a Chinese perspective, garlic clears Vapor Cold. From a Western perspective, garlic has an antibacterial effect, but there is still insufficient research into its antiviral effect.
Long drawn chicken soup with herbs (sage, thyme, fennel, maggi herb) is good for digestion and nourishing
Finally
In the near future it will also be possible for people who do not have cold complaints to make an appointment for an acupuncture treatment to strengthen the Lung and Spleen. In addition to any complaints caused by the current situation such as anxiety, poor sleep, fear, frustration, you can also go for “regular” complaints. Keep an eye on the website for opening times or send me an email for an appointment.
Dear people, take care of yourself and the people around you.
Citation: WillMountain.com – Newsletter 14 – Top Viral protection (16 maart 2020), Chinese Herbal and Qi Gong Approaches on Covid-19 webinar with Joshua Park and Luriko Ozeki (16 maart 2020), https://www.vrouwengeneeskunde.nl/2020/03/17/verbeter-weerstand-corona-chinese-geneeskunde/ , youtube-kanaal Peter Deadman, youtube-kanaal Mimi Kuo-Deemer.
