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Tai Chi Chi Kung / Qi Gong by definition refers to Tai Chi energy work. In this post I will try to shed some light on what is meant by the Chi Kung / Qi Gong energy work aspect of the practice?

Tai Chi Chi Kung / Qi Gong is often taught as a set of moves separate from the Tai Chi sets. I have found that the vast majority of the time these other moves do not come with much of an explanation of why and how they are any different from the Tai Chi in the Tai Chi sets and that the moves by themselves do not impart any kind of ability different than what is already available in the Tai Chi sets.

So, what is Tai Chi Chi Kung / Qi Gong? First of all the Tai Chi moves are just Tai Chi choreography or moves until you begin to actually to practice the energetic aspects of the art. The real practice of Tai Chi is Chi Kung / Qi Gong. As soon as you start practicing the energetic aspects the Tai Chi so to speak then you are really practicing Tai Chi (probably with the moves) and not just the moves. At that same moment you are now practicing and or applying the Chi Kung / Qi Gong.

An obvious question at this point might be so what makes Tai Chi Chi Kung / Qi Gong? That is a very big question because the answer could and does fill books. I will try to shed some light on it here.

First of all in Tai Chi Chi Kung / Qi Gong are the physical structural alignments which are a necessity for the proper flow of energy through and around the body including through the acupuncture meridians of the body. This is part of the reason that so much emphasis gets put on the moves at the beginning of a students training and why it stays an important issue in training as one progresses. Incorrect and bad posture impedes and blocks energy flow so it is important to get it right. While you are learning and working on this you are not really performing Tai Chi yet but are simply learning something you need to understand to perform real Tai Chi.

One of the first things you learn in Tai Chi and that is a necessity in Tai Chi Chi Kung / Qi Gong is known as Sung which translates as relaxation both inside and out. Any tension in the body will impede or stop the flow of energy through the body. This can be structural tension (bad or improper positioning), physical tension (like holding tension in your shoulders or neck simply because you do not allow them to relax) or mental or emotional tension that is manifested in the body such as jaws clenched and a tight face when someone is having a bad day.

So, for proper Tai Chi and Tai Chi Chi Kung / Qi Gong you first need Sung relaxation and proper posture. Once you have these you can really perform Tai Chi and Tai Chi Chi Kung / Qi Gong.

The next step in solo Tai Chi practice is all Tai Chi Chi Kung / Qi Gong. You begin to work different aspects of energy within your Tai Chi both for fighting and for self defense purposes. There are approximately 36 different primary expressions of energy in Tai Chi. You use your mind to direct the internal movement and chi into an expression. That expression is known as Jing. Jing is an expression of Chi or energy hence it is energy work. A few jing expressions are well known and some are quite obscure.

to be continued…

for more on Tai Chi and Combat Tai Chi visit Richard Clear’s Tai Chi Blog. www.ClearsTaiChi.comArticle Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/tai-chi-chi-kung-qi-gong-1389256.html

* What is it?

Organic skin care, as the name clearly suggests, is an effective yet simple way to take good care of your skin by using organic products.

* Is it good for my skin?

Yes, it is very good for your skin. In fact, several skin care experts say that it is a lot safer to use organic products as opposed to products that contain artificial chemicals.

* Why do they say so?

Organic skin care products are free of chemicals. They contain natural substances like natural oil extracts, plant extracts, and herbal extracts which are very good for your skin. Unlike products that contain artificial chemicals, they do not cause any side effects.

* I have sensitive skin. Can I use these products?

Yes, you can. In fact, if your skin is very sensitive, you should make sure that you only use organic skin care products. The skin care products that people normally use contain chemicals like triclosans, parabens, liquid paraffin, phenol carbolic acid, artificial fragrance and mineral oils. All these chemicals are harmful to your health and can cause serious health problems in the long term. Some of these chemicals can trigger severe allergic reactions if your skin is very sensitive. So, it is a lot safer to use organic products which do not contain these chemicals.

* I have wrinkles, lines, cracks, and dark circles. My skin is saggy. I look like a 45-year-old when I am actually only 30. How can organic skin care help me?

You can get rid of all these problems by using good skin care products. High quality organic products can boost the amount of hyaluronic acid in your skin, increase the collagen and elastin production in your skin, promote new cell growth to get rid of wrinkles, lines, and cracks, and rejuvenate your skin cells. They also fight the free radicals in your body and prevent cell damage. They moisturize your skin thoroughly and make it smooth and soft. In short, they can make your skin younger and healthier.

* Are all organic skin care products this good?

This is a very important question. You need to remember that not all organic products are equally good. In fact, some of them are not really ‘organic’, if you know what I mean. They usually contain a lot of artificial chemicals, including some of the harmful chemicals I have mentioned above, as preservatives. So, you must make sure the product you choose does not contain these chemicals.

* How can I choose the best organic skin care products?

First and foremost, you should make sure that the product does not contain any of the chemicals mentioned above. Second, you should look for the following substances – phytessence wakame, witch hazel, cynergy TK, babassu, coenzyme Q10, active manuka honey, natural vitamin E, and the extracts of essential oils like olive, macadamia, grapeseed, avocado, and jojoba. All these substances are completely natural and they are very effective at fighting aging skin problems.

* Are organic skin care products very expensive?

Some of these products could be a little costlier when compared to cheap knockoffs which contain nothing but artificial chemicals. However, they are certainly affordable. In fact, most people who use these products say that they are worth more than what they paid for, since they give amazing results in a relatively short period of time.

* What is the right way to use these products?

Organic skin care products are meant for long term use. After you start using these products, within a month or two, you will find a lot of improvements in your skin condition. However, you should not stop using these products once your skin condition improves. You should use them regularly to get the best results. By using them every day, you can keep your skin young and healthy for a long time.

If you’re looking for Organic Skin Care Products that you can trust, check out Kalpana’s website, http://www.naturalbeautyandskincare.com and see how it can change your perception about natural skin care products.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/organic-skin-care-products-why-these-are-a-must-for-a-healthy-glow-1382786.html

O.K. So what are they?

Uterine Fibroids (leiomyomas) are common noncancerous (benign) tumors that occur within the muscle walls of the uterus (womb). Uterind fibroids can be the size of a pinhead and show no signs or symptoms that they are there, or they can be very painful and grow to a 10 inch diameter.

There are four types of uterine fibroids:

Subserosal Fibroids, develop under the outside uterine covering. Intramural Fibroids, develop within the uterine wall. Submucosal Fibroids, develop under the uterus lining. Pedunculated Fibroids, develop on a “stalk” or stem-like structure attached to the inside or the outside of the uterus.

Fibroids may grow as a single nodule or in clusters. They may range in size from 1 mm to more than 20 cm (8 inches) in diameter. Fibroids in the uterus are a common cause of heavy menstrual bleeding and pelvic pain and pressure in women. During pregnancy, fibroids can greatly increase in size.

What are the Symptoms?

Some women with uterine fibroids experience no symptoms at all. Symptoms may include excessive and prolonged menstrual bleeding, pain, abdominal mass effect, frequent urination or urgency or constipation and many others.

When symptoms appear, they can vary greatly, depending on the size and exact location of the fibroid tumors. Women sometimes underestimate the impact of their symptoms because they have become accustomed to the excessive bleeding, pain and the pressure that fibroids can cause. Also, for some reason African-American women develop symptoms faster and with greater severity than other women.

What does one do about them?

Uterine fibroids often do not require treatment, but when they are problematic, they may be treated surgically, non-surgically, with medication or with alternative treatments. The very heavy menstrual bleeding, clotting and pelvic pain, that fibroids sometimes cause leads many women to seek treatment.

What about treatment?

There are several different types of treatments:

Hormonal: Uterine fibroid tumors require estrogen and progesterone to grow, and without these hormones, fibroid tumors usually shrink in size. Hormonal treatments (such as birth control pills) may help control excessive menstrual bleeding caused by fibroids in some patients.

Non-surgical: Uterine Fibroid Embolization, UFE – Known medically as uterine artery embolization, approaches the treatment of fibroids by blocking the arteries that supply blood to them causing them to shrink or disappear. Uterine fibroid embolization is a more permanent solution than hormone therapy. When hormonal treatment is stopped the fibroid tumors usually grow back. UFE (Uterine Fibroid Embolization) isn’t considered to be surgery, but it is generally done at a hospital or specialized clinic. This uterine fibroids treatment procedure usually takes between 1 and 3 hours, depending on how long it takes to position the catheter and how easily the catheter can be positioned in the arteries to the uterus.

Although uterine artery embolization has been in use for two decades to treat bleeding after childbirth, it wasn’t until early 1997 that the technique was introduced as a potential treatment for uterine fibroids.

Follow-up studies have shown that nearly 90 percent of women who have their fibroids treated by uterine fibroid embolization experience either significant or complete resolution of their fibroid-related symptoms.

Surgical: Surgery for uterine fibroids involves either removing the fibroids (myomectomy) or the entire womb (hysterectomy). Surgery has risks, including bleeding and infection. About a third of the more than 500,000 hysterectomies done in the U.S. each year are done because of fibroids. Most of the women having these operations are said to be unaware of the non-surgical options.

Alternative treatment: Alternative treatments for uterine fibroid tumors also abound. Naturopaths, homeopaths, acupuncturists, chiropractors, and other alternative health care providers have treatments to offer as well. While some of these are not as well supported by scientific studies that prove effectiveness, the treatments are usually safer and provide a less invasive alternative than surgery.

Remember that some medical treatments for uterine fibroid tumors can affect your fertility. For this and other reasons it is very important to seriously investigate and consider alternative treatments for uterine fibroids.

Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Jorge Chavez is a researcher, writer and student of natural health. For more information about dealing with uterine fibroids treatment and what to do about fibroids in uterus, follow the link in this sentence.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/uterine-fibroids-here-are-the-basics-1382852.html

All too often we ignore aches and pains and carry on as normal. Most of us have minor aches every now and again and most of us just carry on with life regardless. If we stopped work each time we had a pain the world would soon grind to a stop.

But don’t ignore a painful shoulder, especially if it is consistent. A Rotator Cuff Problem will|Rotator Cuff problems} often give us plenty of warning before they get bad and stop us in our tracks. If you notice weakness,stiffness, pain or swelling in your shoulder it may be time to take it easy and start the healing process.

There are someshoulder problems that begin as the result of a knock or fall, most begin because of simple |wear and tear on the joint, either as we age or caused by a repetitive stressful movement. Okay, You can’t always do anything to stop the accidental injury but we can take early measures to cut down the damage from wear and tear. As we age our rotator cuff gets weaker through lack of use. We hold ourselves differently to how we did as youngsters, our {posture|shape gradually changes over the years. I only need to look at my waist to confirm that.

As the rotator cuff gradually gets weaker we become more prone to shoulder injuries. The right sort of physical therapy done early on to strengthen the rotator cuff can go a long way towards stopping shoulder injuries. Although these are a small group of muscles {they are key to having strong shoulders and once we get past fifty we ignore them at our peril.

So prevention is definitely better than cure, but just in case you’ve left it too late, what are the rotator cuff symptoms? Firstly, weakness and pain in the damaged shoulder. This might only occur when you use your shoulder joint. The commonest causes of discomfort are reaching up, or reaching for an object. Whenever you reach up or out the rotator cuff starts to work at its hardest. If you are having problems getting to sleep because of a painful shoulder, this is yet another classic sign. Lying on your bad shoulder can be painful, but lying on the other side so that your painful arm drops in front of you can be equally uncomfortable.

If the pain is continuous, it might well be telling you that you have a badly torn rotator cuff.

Most rotator cuff problems can be treated with rest followed by physical therapy but don’t rush out and sign up for a gym. These are a small group of muscles that need very specific exercise to build them up using either no weights or very small weights and physical therapy that are designed specifically for group of muscles.

So whether it’s simply shoulder pain or a full blown rotator cuff injury, you will almost definitely end up exercising the rotator cuff as part of your therapy. Whether that is before or after surgery really depends on whether or not you listen to your body and heed the warning signs.

If you found this article interesting check out my full story at
www..myrotatorcuffcure.blogspot.com

My name is Nick Bryant and I tore my rotator cuff lifting something that was too heavy. Despite being told that I needed surgery I have fully recovered with just phyical therapy. Check out one of my other articles on rotator cuff injury

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/rotator-cuff-symptoms-recognise-them-early-and-you-can-avoid-suffering-a-great-deal-of-pain-1378689.html

H1N1 (swine flu) was initially detected in mid April of 2009 in people in the U.S. It was called swine flu because a number of the virus’ genes were similar to the virus which is normally found in pigs. As further studies progressed, it showed that it was, after all, very different from those found in pigs in North America. It is called a “quadruple reassortant virus” because it is linked to bird and human genes and its virus’ genes are similar to the virus which is found in pigs in Europe and Asia. As of October 11, 2009, the World Health Organization was able to record 4,735 deaths from different countries because of swine flu.

1. Some people believe that H1N1 is worse than seasonal flu. It isn’t. In the U.S., only one percent from all those infected with the virus die. This is around 300 people. There are thirty six thousand Americans who die annually because of the seasonal flu. Authorities were only worried because H1N1 has a strain which was never seen before.
2. Healthy people need not worry about getting the swine flu. This is wrong. It is just like seasonal flu because it can affect anyone. It only happens that those people with underlying health conditions are more prone to get the virus compared to healthy people.
3. Some people believe that the swine flue vaccine will only give them the flu. This is not possible because the virus found on the flu shot was killed already. Some people mistakes the common fever experienced as the flu itself. Fever experienced after the vaccine is actually the result of the body’s immune system fighting off a foreign substance. Also, some people think that the common cold they have is already the flu. What many people aren’t aware of is that flu season happens at the same time as cold season.
4. Some people believe that vaccines are harmful. The best way get immunity to the virus is by direct contact. This isn’t the right way to get immunity. This is in fact very dangerous. While you believe that you can get immunity when you are in direct contact with the virus itself, you are actually most likely to get the disease yourself rather than being healed.
5. People should stop eating pork since the virus is linked to that of the pigs’. This is absolutely wrong. The spread of the virus is only between humans. It comes from a sick person to a host’s mucous membranes such as the eyes, mouth and nose. There have been no proof yet that the virus is passed from a pig to a person.

These are some of the myths being tossed around regarding the swine flu virus. One good way to avoid this is through getting oneself educated. There are agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, U.S. Food and Drug Administration and hospitals which are active in promoting information about the H1N1. In order to be better informed and protected, it is best that these health authorities are contacted.

Brent McNutt is actively involved in the subject of Landau Scrubs such as landau scrubs free shipping and landau nursing shoes and enjoys networking with healthcare professionals online.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/h1n1-myths-1374767.html

If a weight loss program seems too good to be true – for example, if it offers you incredibly fast weight loss, like a pound a day or more – you have very good reason to be suspicious. No legitimate weight loss program can rightly claim to help you lose incredible amounts of weight at this type of speed safely – it just wouldn’t be healthy, and would not normally occur in a a healthy body. However, there do exist natural methods of fast weight loss that may allow you to lose a substantial amount of weight in a short period of time. It’s all a matter of balancing how many calories you take in and how many you burn.

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If you want to stay at the same weight, you should ingest the same amount of calories as you burn. If you want to lost weight, you will need to burn more than you ingest. If you want your weight loss to be fast, you will need to burn a lot more than you ingest. For this to happen, you have to cut your food intake within reason and increase your exercise and activity levels all at the same time.

There are not secret or special tricks to weight loss, really. You just have to burn more calories than you take in – plain and simple. Programs such as Weight Watchers can help you keep track of what you eat, but so can various books that are on the market today. Then, enrolling for a membership at a gym is your first step to gauging how much you burn while exercising, and improving that figure slowly over time. A lot of gym equipment these days tell you how many calories you have burned while you use it. This is a good first step, though it is, of course, just a rough estimate based on your weight and how much energy you are putting out. A personal trainer though, (available at many gyms, even community center gyms) can also give you information like that but can be much more accurate.

If a weight loss program seems too good to be true – for example, if it offers you incredibly fast weight loss, like a pound a day or more

It doesn’t stop there, though. Fast weight loss requires you to increase your activity level at every chance you get – walking instead of driving to the store, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, and so on. Then, look at all the ways at decreasing your calorie intake – but don’t go under the levels recommended by the board of health, generally 1200 for a woman and 1500 for a man otherwise you will not lose much weight in the long run as your body will think you are starving and will stop burning as many calories each day. Some diets do take you below this calorie level, but at a risk to your health – it’s hard to meet your nutritional requirements when eating a very restrictive diet.

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What are they?

Blackheads are symptoms of the very ordinary skin problem known as acne. It is cause by over-active sebaceous glands of the skin. The excess oil concealed leads to clogged pores. The mixture of oil and dead skin cell hardens and is called plug. The plug stops sebum from attainment the outside of the skin and allows microorganisms Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) to grow.

Our skin is exposed to a lot of dirt and filth from the environment. These pollutants also gather in the pore with hardened oil. This causes the pore to be further clogged.

Blackheads occur when the attentive sebum and bacteria partially open to the surface. The clogged oil oxidizes with the air and turn black. The clogged inside may remain for very long as it takes a extended time to drain to the surface.

Blackheads are very commonly found in the area crossways your forehead and down your nose and chin (also known as T-zone). Sebaceous glands on this region of the face are very, very active. However they can also happen on other areas of the face, neck, chest, back, shoulder, even arms any area that is wealthy in sebaceous glands.

A simple step on how to remove blackheads

One effective method concerning how to remove blackheads concerns a hot wash cloth. You can place a hot wash cloth over your face for 5 minutes and then go after up with a gentle face scrub. This should marsh away some of those nasty buggers without damaging your delicate mug. Some individuals prefer a expert blackhead remover, which can be purchased online for a little price. Remember to use quietly

Other ways on how to remove blackheads

Nose-Strip Method to remove blackheads

1. Wet your nose with a spotless face cloth and then dry your hands
2. Open the packet that the nose narrow piece is in, and rip the little tabs for a better fit on your nose
3. Put the sticky side on your snout and wait for around 10 minutes.
4. After 10 minutes, the nose narrow piece should be as hard as papier mache. Remove it.

Removing Tool Method to remove blackheads

1. Fill a go under or bathtub with hot (but not boiling) water.
2. Rest your head over the water, so that your face can take benefit of the steam.
3. Empty the sink or bathtub and clean the blackhead removing instrument with soap and water. Go on to use the removing tool, carefully next the instructions.

Facial Scrub Method to remove blackheads

1. Wash your face and clean with water do not bother to dry it.
2. Take a quarter-sized amount of facial scrub and lather from side to side clean hands.
3. Massage your face with the rub to exfoliate the skin.
4. Rinse and wash face again if essential.

Read more on How to Remove Blackheads and Makeup Tips and Women Health Problems

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/how-to-remove-blackheads-1363799.html

Most people have already heard all the hype about how great fish oil is, but how many people have asked themselves: is fish oil harmful? It seems like a counterintuitive question to ask––after all, if these were bad for anybody, you would have heard about it by now… right?

Well, although it is healthy and beneficial for most people, there are definitely some instances (and certain individuals) where it’s not only not helpful, but potentially deadly. This is not to say that all the people out there taking this oil are being harmed, but do you remember the expression about how too much of a good thing is no longer good? This applies to fish oil too.

The most dangerous aspect of fish is the potential for poisoning from mercury or other lethal toxins. Unfortunately, there is a lot of pollution and junk in our oceans and rivers, so there are a lot of fish full of contaminants and toxins. All that stuff that gets into the waters is absorbed by the fish, and then when people eat the fish or harvest these oils and consume them, those people also accumulate toxins in their bodies. You do want and need the Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids, but you do not want toxins, heavy metals, or contaminants of any sort.

Fortunately, for this problem, there is something called pharmaceutical-grade fish oil. The process for getting this is distillation, where the oil is stripped of all those toxins and contaminants, leaving just the Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids. However, not all this oil on the market is pharmaceutical-grade. It’s up to you to do your homework and make sure you’re getting the right kind. Otherwise, you might be doing yourself more harm than good––and you could be doing yourself harm for a lot cheaper without it.

The other chief risk of this oil is when it’s combined with another blood thinner. Fish oil is an anti-coagulant (or blood thinner), which means that it stops you from having blood clots form. This is great if you’re trying to prevent a heart attack or reduce the damage of one that you’re having. It’s not great if you need to have a blood clot after you’ve injured yourself, because then you’re in danger of bleeding out. Taking this oil with aspirins, for example, is dangerous.

So, is fish oil harmful? Aside from some people who might be allergic or less able to digest it, pharmaceutical-grade oil is a healthy supplement. However, if you get just any generic brand, you run the risk of consuming toxins and contaminants in addition to the good stuff. Having toxins in your body is another source of chronic inflammation, which is one of the leading causes of a number of chronic or lifestyle diseases. If you are suffering from toxins in your body, you’re actually increasing the likelihood of these diseases than if you didn’t take anything at all.

For that reason, make sure that if you decide to take fish oil, you get the pharmaceutical-grade variety, and be careful about when you take it. It might be a good idea to consult a doctor to make sure that you’re not allergic and that you can handle it.

Emile Jarreau, aka, Mr. Fat Loss is fascinated by health, nutrition and weight loss. For more great info about fish oil for losing weight and keeping it off visit http://www.MrFatLoss.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/is-fish-oil-harmful-to-our-health-1364244.html