Some people live to 100 smoking cigars and eating platefuls of high fats meals. They are probably blessed with the sort of protoplasm that can withstand more than a few indiscretions along the way. Yet even the hardiest DNA can succumb to repeated environmental assaults. To put it more bluntly, unhealthy habits can foul up even the greatest genes.

On the other hand, someone with a family history of early heart attacks before age 50 could consider it a victory to reach retirement. For these patients living long will require a consistently healthy lifestyle as well as a bit of good luck. No one really understand the precise role heredity plays in the aging process. Certain disorders such as heart disease, diabetics, hypertension and cancer can run in families and cause premature death. But Family members generally share many environmental exposures, habits and lifestyles. What is certain is that heredity is not as strong an influence on health as many believe. Research tells us that environment and life style have a significant impact on the risk for all but the most strongly genetic illnesses. Such as Huntington's disease. Exercise, diet and some medications can all delay or reduce the likelihood of developing a disorder. So it's probably wise to align ourselves with the ancient Greeks who opted for "moderation in all things." Unless startling scientific studies reveal otherwise, maintaining a balance, healthy lifestyle sprinkled with a few special treats is key to a healthy old age.

To be continued...

Cancer and Detoxification Part 2 of 3

Common promoters: high fat diet, low fiber diet, high protein diet, high salt diet, deficiencies of vitamin A, C, E and selenium, food additives and preservatives, stress, etc.

By Identifying initiators and promoters and then eliminating or reducing exposure to them, the incidence of cancer can be decreased. Likewise, by identifying anti-promoters and increasing exposure to them, the lesion will remain in the latent phase or will progress to a tumor at much slower rate.

Orthodox approach: Remove, reduce, poison burn out tumors because the "generally accepted view" is that shrinking the tumor equals a cure. The success of the "cure" is determined by a five-year survival rate. This rate does not take into consideration from the treatments, which are associated with the disease. The five year survival rate has been virtually abandoned for breast cancer. Studies show that in women under 30 years of age, who had a microscopic foci of breast cancer removed, 25 years later, 80% died of the original disease despite the fact that the tumor was tiny and had been completely removed. 

Wholistic Approach: Cancer is seeing as a chronic systemic breakdown of the body's natural functions and the buildup of toxic materials, as a result of deficiency or dysfunction not related to pathogens. A breakdown of basic body chemistry and the weakening of the immune system must exist before cancer can develop. Therefore, tumors are symptoms of this disease state and NOT the disease itself.

In Oriental Medicine a tumor or growth is seen as an area of stagnant energy or QI. This would indicate some type of imbalance or disharmony in the flow of Qi in the individual. Again, tumor is an indicator of a problem, NOT the problem itself.

The development of a tumor is seen as body's attempt to detoxify other bodily functions and organs by localizing the body's overall toxic burden. It is not a disease, but a means of self-protection for entire diseased adaptation organism. By removing the growth, we allow the toxins to scatter again throughout the body, crating conditions for another form of sickness or another localization of toxins to occur (recurrence of the cancer). By positively influencing the physiological quality of our blood, cells, lymph and other bodily fluids and by balancing the flow of Qi in the body, through proper nutrition and lifestyle habits, the toxic quality and localization of the tumor can reversed and potential cancers can be avoided.

What is toxicity? Toxicity can be defined as the accumulation of any substance in the body that is normally not present or present in very low concentrations, The toxin can build up as a result of the individual's own metabolism (bacteria in the colon) or from some external source (food, infection, parasite, pollution, chemical exposure, etc). This accumulation of toxins results in an increase in acidity of the tissues and changes in enzymes function and cellular metabolism, oxygen transport and utilization, and electrolyte (salt) concentrations.

To be continued...

Qi and Blood are very closely related. It is said that wherever the qi goes, the blood will follow. They are integrated connected like yin and yang: one cannot exist without the other.

Shepp

Blood in Traditional Chinese Medicine is the same as we know it in Western Medicine: the red fluid that spurts from a cut, and travels in our arteries and veins. It is also closely associated with the heart that pumps it through the body. In Traditional Chinese Medicine the heart is known as the "prince of circulation". In TCM, the blood is formed from the essence of the food that is digested and absorbed by the spleen and stomach. The Chinese believe that the spleen/pancreas plays two roles with the blood. First it takes the substance from the food we eat and transforms it into useable energy (qi) and blood cells. Then it keeps the blood within the vessels, that is, it prevents hemorrhage.

Remember that the spleen/pancreas is part of the earth element, which keeps everything in nature in its place, like tree roots, flowing rivers and mountains. The blood essence derived from food is then mixed with the bone marrow is part of the system of inherited jing that the kidney oversees. Blood is then circulated and directed by the heart, or the prince of circulation. The last organ related to the blood is the liver, which acts as the "general," giving orders to all the body functions. It directs the blood that the heart is circulating, keeping it flowing and un-clotted. The liver has a special role to play when the body is at rest. While asleep or when the body is lying still, the liver bathes the internal organs and tissues in blood using very little energy. It's like taking a relaxing, hot bath - our body is still functioning as it is being bathed in warm fluid, but its functioning is relaxed and passive. In the same way, the liver allows the blood to be in a passive relaxed state while the body is at rest. Therefore, problems with the blood can be correlated to the heart, spleen/pancreas, kidney or liver.

Examples for some cases for a dog with severe allergic skin problems. With irregular and low blood cells counts, and condition worsened developing small hemorrhages under the skin that appeared as purple blotches. They become restless and exhausted, trying to move around, scabs on the skin. Check with your vet to strengthen the blood Qi, the kidney, spleen/pancreas and heart with specific food herbs.