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Why Health Challenges
Occur
After 40 years of vigorous, well funded
research, anti-aging medicine has a simple lesson for us:
Aging is caused by cellular degeneration. This means, of course,
that the best way to slow the aging process is to protect
cellular integrity. Not surprisingly, this fits like a glove
into the message Traditional Chinese Medicine has taught for
over 4000 years.
At first, these concepts might not
sound similar, because modern science uses different terms
than ancient China. But, when we crack the lingual code, the
meaning is the same.
For example, modern science says the
body is comprised of 60 trillion cells, while Traditional
Chinese Medicine claims it consists of five organ systems
and the blood. Why the difference? Because the ancient Chinese
had no microscopes to reveal that organ systems are simply vast groupings of cells.
Modern science explains that cellular
function degrades because cells are damaged by free
radical oxidation, glycation, etc., while Chinese Medicine
says that the function of organ systems degrade because
of excess heat, dampness, etc. Seeing that free radical oxidation
and glycation are types of these excesses shows,
again, that the message is the same.
In short, health is simply the reflection
of how efficiently our cells are working at any point in time.
When they work exactly as Nature intends, we enjoy abundant,
radiant health. When they do not, we experience health challenges,
with the type of challenge depending on which types of cells
have lost their way. The first challenge most people experience
is a lack of energy, because energy is produced in every
cell.
Cells:
The Most Wondrous Works on Earth
Within the human body are muscles,
bones, ligaments, joints, tendons, teeth, organs, glands,
membranes, etc. There are several layers of what we call the
skin, and, of course, the tube we call the digestive tract,
which runs from the mouth to the rectum. There are nerves
and blood vessels and lymph vessels and lymph nodes and all kinds
of other things about which we never even think. And, they’re
all made up of cells.
Put simply, cells are the most basic
units of life. They are so small that what goes on within
them can be observed only with the world’s most powerful
electron microscopes. Yet, within every cell are
countless types of molecular machines performing highly specialized
tasks. Against even the simplest living cell, computers, spaceships
and nuclear technology and all other human creations pale in comparison.
Inside every cell is a nucleus that
contains a strand of DNA. If the DNA from all the cells
in the body were strung together in a single strand, that
strand would circle the Earth more than TWO MILLION, EIGHT
HUNDRED THOUSAND times.
The DNA in each cell can
store as much information as there is in one million pages of an average encyclopedia. That
information determines all your genetic traits, and tells
your cells how to construct more than five million different
types of proteins. All day, every day, little molecular “forklifts”
are loading RNA onto little molecular “trucks.”
These trucks carry the RNA into the nucleus so it
can copy little parts of the DNA’s information. Other
forklifts then put the copies on other little trucks, which
deliver them to ribosomes, which are the machines
that assemble the proteins. When the information arrives in
the ribosomes, still other little forklifts load other little
trucks with the amino acids that are the building blocks from
which the proteins are made.
After they are produced, these proteins
are loaded and shipped (yep, on still more little forklifts
and trucks) to a tiny packaging plant, where they’re
folded in upon themselves, loaded onto other little trucks
(there seems to be no end to them), and sent to their ultimate
destinations. These destinations may be in the same cell, or
in another cell far across the body.
All these trucks, of course, must
have roads on which to travel. But, there’s really no
room for them in the cell. So, like the cartoons you’ve
seen where staircases and hallways magically appear whenever
and wherever you need them, the filaments that give a cell
it’s structural strength refold and reposition themselves
to serve as highways to thousands of intracellular destinations.
While this remarkable dance of protein
production and transportation occurs, other cellular machines
are regulating the flow of electrical current through the
cell, capturing the energy from light, propelling the cell
from place to place, moving liquid across the surface to keep
the cell wall clean, soft and supple, protecting against pathogenic
invaders, and even manufacturing other cellular machines.
Some even empower the cell to reproduce its entire self, completely
and exactly, in only hours.
To put the majesty of all this into
perspective, it is useful to imagine an automobile, as it
rolls its last mile, recreating a perfect copy of itself;
a television making its own movies; a computer building
its own chips; or a spaceship folding space to reach destinations
millions of light years away at the same moment it leaves.
The point is, again, that while we
often marvel at our own human creations, the technology we
create is downright simplistic when stood against even the
simplest of cells that were used to create us. Seeing the
complexity of a cell, we can perhaps begin to understand why
it is so vital to keep them functioning as well as we can.
But, in the modern world, this is easier said than done.
How
Cells Lose Their Way – Lack of Energy
Cells are the epitome of the work
ethic. They never take a day off. But, they do not
always work efficiently. One of the reasons is that
they lack the energy they need.
To function at peak efficiency, cells
need two kinds of energy. One is the nutritional
energy they make from foods. The other is the vital energy
they absorb from the environment.
Vital energies are present in the
earth, the air and all living things. However, when an animal
dies, or a fruit or vegetable is harvested, most of the vital
energy dissipates within hours. Thus, modern foods, which
are not eaten for days or even weeks after harvest, provide
little of this energy.
Every holistic medical system that
has ever existed has seen the importance of these energies.
Hippocrates called them the four divisions of Pneuma.
Ayurveda knows them as the five divisions of Prana.
The Chinese refer to them as Qi, Jing, and Shen,
with subdivisions branching off from these major classifications.
While modern medicine does not officially acknowledge
these energies, it routinely refers patients for acupuncture,
which exists solely to regulate the flow of these energies
in the body. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, lacking any of
the three vital energies creates states of deficiency. In
these states, cells cannot work as Nature intends. Thus, to
maximize the length and quality of our lives, we must find
a way to replace the vital energies we miss in our foods.
Note: For more information on vital
energies, click here.
How Cells Lose
Their Way – Cellular Damage
Cellular function also suffers when
cells are damaged by free radical oxidation, glycation, and
so on. Free radical oxidation attacks the cell wall, the proteins
and machinery within cells, and the DNA that directs the cells’
actions. Glycation, which results from excess sugar in the
cells, causes cellular proteins to “stick together.”
This prevents proteins from doing the work for which they
were made.
In Chinese terms, free radical oxidation
could be referred to as excess heat or toxins, and glycation as excess
dampness. Other excesses, like coldness, dryness and phlegm can
also cause problems.
Every food on earth carries certain
qualities into our bodies. The Chinese consider red meats,
fried foods and chocolate to be quite "hot." In addition to being "hot," fried foods are
also damp, as are dairy products and foods laden with sugar.
Countless Americans, of course, live on cheeseburgers, french fries, pizza, candy, soda, milk shakes,
and so on. These foods literally lace the body with
excess heat and dampness, which prevent cells from being
able to function as they should.
While diet pushes most Americans toward
heat and dampness, a diet top heavy with foods that are cold
and dry would also cause problems. The problems would be different,
because cold or dryness disrupts cells in different ways than
dampness or heat. The point, however, is that any
excess creates health challenges by limiting cellular function
Renewing
Cellular Function With Superior Tonic Herbs
By now, we see that all health challenges
stem from cellular dysfunction. We see, as well, that cellular
dysfunction occurs because cells lack energy or have been
damaged. What remains is to learn how we can prevent these
issues from occurring. The answer is holistic nutrition.
Holistic nutrition is about much more
than vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbs and fats. It is about
more than co-nutrients, trace elements and enzymes. It is,
in short, about maintaining cellular function so that the
body can better resist the processes of aging and disease.
To maintain or restore strong cellular
function we must insure the presence of vital
energies, repair damaged cells, and prevent further damage
from being done. There is a small group of plants that are
indispensable if we wish to accomplish these goals. These
plants are called Superior Tonic Herbs.
Superior Tonic Herbs are the most
treasured plants on Earth. Of over 16,000 herbs that have
been used in Chinese Medicine, only 30 are considered true
Superior Tonics. This is because the criteria for being a
Superior Tonic is so rigorous in the first place.
A plant can qualify as a Superior
Tonic only if it demonstrates three distinct qualities.
1.) It must provide at least one of the three major types
of vital energies.
2.) It must improve the function of at least one of the body’s
five organ systems or the blood (this is the same as improving
the functions of cells within such systems).
3.) It must be absolutely safe for daily use by virtually
anyone.
Over 4000 years ago, masters of the great martial arts disciplines
of Asia noted that Superior Tonics enhanced their practice
as no other plants could. They determined the reason for this
is that these plants were the world’s richest sources
of vital energies.
By developing techniques for harvesting and concentrating
these plants for the specific purpose of preserving these
energies, the ancient Chinese left the world a gift for the
ages. Without these techniques, the vital
energies would dissipate from Superior Tonics just as
they do from common table foods.
As martial arts masters were discovering
the energies of Superior Tonics, early Chinese physicians
were seeing that they improved nearly every type of bodily
function. Since every such function occurs within
an organ system, it became easy to see which organ systems
each plant supported. Today, of course, we know that organ
systems are simply vast groups of cells, and that the Superior
Tonics improve the functions of systems by improving the functions
of cells. They can do this because they provide thousands
of phyto-nutrients that help repair damaged cells and prevent
further damage from being done. Many of these nutrients
are found in no other plants on Earth.
Both martial arts masters and
physicians documented that these herbs are safe to use on
a daily basis. This is because, unlike medicines, they do
not force the body to do anything. They simply renew energy
and enhance cellular function.
Naturally, each Superior Tonic provides
different phyto-nutrients, and different vital
energies. Thus, one may support the Liver System and rebuild
Qi, while another may benefit the Kidney System and provide
Jing (see vital
energies). This means that to derive their total
benefit, we must combine them correctly.
The purpose of Superior Tonic nutrition,
of course, is to support the body as a whole. Thus, Superior
Tonic Multiples must balance the tonics to provide equal support
to all five organ systems and the blood, and to provide more
or less equal levels of all the vital
energies.
Superior Tonic Herbs, however, may also be used in products made to resolve specific conditions. In this case, the herbs would target specific systems (rather than the body as a whole) and focus much more on one energy than the others, because weaknesses in these systems and deficiencies of specific energies are causing the problem.
Make no mistake about it. Superior
Tonic Herbs are the key to maintaining the most efficient
cellular function your own genetic code and personal history
permits. Adding them to your daily regimen will make a difference
you will feel in just days. All Pure Essence multiples are
based in Superior Tonic Herbs, so that you don’t have
to take them separately.
Note: For a list of Superior
Tonic Herbs, the systems they support and the energies
they provide, please click here.
Vital
Energies
Anyone who studies biochemistry has
heard of the molecule called ATP (adenosine triphosphate).
This is the molecule that the body uses to store the energy
cells produce for themselves. There are, however, other energies
that are essential for cellular function and human metabolism.
These are identified in holistic medicine as vital
energies.
Vital energies exist in the air, the
soil, the water, and in all other things. Their largest concentrations,
however, are in living things. Thus, we are supposed to get
most of the vital energies we need from foods.
Modern foods, however, have been so
long off the vine when we eat them that most of the vital
energies they contain have drained out of them. This is the
biggest reason we lack them.
The importance of vital energies has
been acknowledged by every system of holistic health care
that has ever existed. Because the systems that are still
practiced today are Traditional Chinese Medicine,
Traditional Tibetan Medicine, Japanese Kampo
and the Ayurveda of India, most people relate to
these energies as purely Asian concepts. This, however, is
not the case.
While modern medicine claims Hippocrates
as its father, he is nothing of the sort. The medicine practiced
by Hippocrates practiced was 100% holistic, and had nothing
to do with the mechanistic theories of the modern West. And,
Hippocrates was a major proponent of vital energy. He called
it Pneuma, which he separated into four subdivisions. Ancient
Israel, ancient Persia, ancient Egypt, the Polynesian cultures
and the Cherokee Tribe of North America also know and see
the vast importance of vital energies.
While modern medicine does not officially
endorse vital energy, it routinely refers people for acupuncture.
Indeed, acupuncture is now a licensed and wholly approved
medical art in all 50 of the United States. Since this art
exists for the sole purpose of improving the flow of vital
energies through the body, it is clear that both modern science
and the government understand its importance.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, there
are three major types of vital energy. These are Qi, Jing
and Shen, which translate into English as Vitality, Essence
and Mind (or Spirit). There are many subsets of Qi, and two
major divisions of Jing.
Qi, as its translation into vitality
implies, is the energy we use to fuel our daily functions.
It helps us run our metabolic machine, and is the energy we
use to “kick start” the energy production process
in cells. It can be found, as mentioned above, in virtually
anything, but drains quickly from things when they die or
are removed from the plants on which they grow. It is the
lack of Qi that makes us feel listless and worn down.
Jing, or Essence, is an energy that
is stored deep within the Kidney System. It is the energy
that is used for reproduction, and is required for all sexual
function. It is also the energy we use to pull us through
times of extreme illness or injury. Those with the strongest
Essence are those who recover the most quickly and completely
from severe heart attacks, strokes, wounds, burns or surgeries,
and those who best tolerate the effects of chemotherapy and
radiation. Excess sexual activity, as well as alcohol, tobacco
and recreational drugs can drain huge amounts of Essence from
our systems.
Shen is the energy of the mind, which
is different than the brain. While the brain is just a mechanical
super computer network that processes enormous amounts of
information at speeds that no human made machine can match,
the mind is that which gives us consciousness. Thus,
it empowers our awareness of ourselves, the universe around
us, and the God that created us. While Shen has nothing to
do with any particular religion, it is the energy that makes
all religious or spiritual contemplation possible. It is,
in short, the gift God gave humanity so that humanity could
be aware of and seek Him.
When any of these energies are in
short supply, we have problems. A lack of Qi leaves us lethargic
and listless, and severely impacts cellular function. A lack
of Essence reduces libido, fertility and virility, and leaves
us more vulnerable to serious health problems. A lack of Shen
will leave us confused, angry, empty, irritable and overly susceptible
to stress. Thus, it is important to make sure we maintain
ample supplies of them all.
The only viable sources of these energies
in the modern world are Superior Tonic Herbs and highly specialized
exercise programs like Qi Gong or T'ai Chi. Since few people have access
to these programs, Superior Tonic Herbs are by far the easiest
way to insure their presence. Even those who practice Qi Gong
or T'ai Chi will benefit from using Superior Tonics along with it.
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