Prevention of Depression starts with Mums (Part2)

by Angela Tian Zhu | Apr 27, 2011 | Women's Health

Every parent wants to give their children the best education.  However, the behavioural education (children’s unconscious imitation of the behaviour and action of their parents) they are getting from the parents is the very first and most important education the children would get. The behavioural and action education affects the children much more than what the parents tell them to do.

One day near Easter when I was shopping in a supermarket in Europe, I saw a Mum holding a little baby with another 4 or 5 year-old child beside them. When I was paying for my stuff, I saw this kid stealing a chocolate Easter egg. Her Mum saw this and shouted out loudly: “Bastard! Do not steal! Shame on you! ” The kid put down the egg. After a while, she continued stealing and her Mum shouted again at her. I was thinking: “Does this little kid know what shame is? Does she know what stealing is? How did she get to know the meaning of the word “steal”? Why didn’t her Mum tell her: “If you want it, I will buy it for you?” While I was thinking and watching, this Mum grabbed an Easter egg after she paid the money for her shopping.

I couldn’t stop thinking:

1. The Mum teaches her child by her own behaviour and action.
2. The Mum teaches to lie.
3. The Mum teaches the child not to care about “shame” by shouting in a public place.
4. The Mum teaches the child to pretend.
5. Although the little baby that Mum was holding could not speak yet, what he saw might have a great impact on him.

I could not imagine what this baby would be like in the future or how he would be affected by what he saw and heard.

There is a saying: “As you sow, so will you reap.”

One day, I got a phone call from a friend’s son. He studies at Monash University in Melbourne. He said, “I cannot stand all this anymore, I feel like I want to die.” I asked “Why?” He answered, “I have just broken up with my girlfriend; also I failed one subject, so I have to do a supplementary exam.  I am running out of money, and my Mum said she’s not going to send me more money because I spent too much. She called from overseas a few times a day forcing me to write down all the spending items and how did I spend the money. She would only send me money if I list all the items in detail. If I cannot, she would not send me money anymore. I feel so depressed and desperate.” Actually, this friend of mine, she spend lots of money on unnecessary things herself. She buys things no matter if it is useable or not. After sending her son to university overseas, with the expensive tuition fees, her son called back and asked for money every now and then because he spent the money too quick. Only when her son failed his subjects, she started thinking of ways to limit her son’s spending in order to punish him. Whose fault is bigger? What will be the result of the punishment – Depression? Self harm?

What to do:

1. Behavioural and action education is better than oral teaching.
2. Early education is better than late education.
3. Judge yourself before criticizing other people.
4. “Save” people is better than “save” money.
5. Deal with things rationally and sensibly rather than being emotional.

Parents should:

1. Behaviour and action are stronger than what they say.
2. Give behavioural and action education to the children as well as teaching them to distinguish right from wrong.
3. Setting a good example by the parents should be first. Like the sun gives us unlimited warmth, it enables the growth of all living things and gives us power! It doesn’t say anything, but it has infinite power.
4. Educate a child as early as possible and the early education received by the child will affect all his or her life.

The above mentioned true stories are convincing examples.

Prevention and wisdom are the two principles of Traditional Qi.

Written by: Angela Zhu (TCM Practitioner, Qi Gong & Tai Chi Instructor)

Translated by: Alan Huang

© Copyright Angela Zhu 2011

Prevention of Uterine Cold

by Angela Tian Zhu | Apr 20, 2011 | Women's Health

A few years ago, a patient came to me, she told me she was not able to get pregnant for a few years, everything was fine after the checkups under the western medicine system. She told me that it could get very painful when dysmenorrhoea occurs. Her legs, hands and stomach area always felt cold. She was worried about not getting pregnant. She got depressed about that, but still nothing happened. I took a closer look at her; she was wearing as singlet, short pants and slippers. Her face looked pale; the coating of her tongue was grimy and white. When I was examining her pulse, I felt the pulse was deep and slow. I touched her abdomen, it was very cold, and she said it felt warm and comfortable when my hands were on her abdomen. From Traditional Chinese Medicine’s view, her symptoms were diagnosed as uterine cold, deficiency in Yang energy.  I applied treatments to warm up her uterus, clear the cold, replenish the energy for her, I also told her to make sure to keep her abdomen and feet warm, and eat warm food, avoid cold drinks and swimming during the menstrual period. A few months later she got pregnant.

I always think: as the combination of eggs and sperm gives rise to the next generation, the right temperature in the uterus needs to be ensured. It is just like chicken eggs and duck eggs. Little chickens and ducks will come out of the egg only some days after if they have been kept at the right temperature. The eggs would not become a chicken if the temperature is too cold, also the eggs would be cooked if temperature is too hot. Similarly, if temperature in the uterus is cold, the combination of eggs and sperm would not result in a foetus. Also, if the eggs or sperm itself is cold, it is hard for them to combine.

1. Why would the uterus be cold?

A. External cold factor.

There are many young girls who don’t care about the cold affecting their bodies. This affects puberty, menstrual period, and sometimes would cause difficulties for pregnancy.

For example:

1. Sitting on a cold floor too often (especially wet floor)

   The coldness comes through the bottom to the abdomen. It is easier for the abdomen to get affected by the coldness during menstrual period or when one is tired.

2. Not paying enough attention to keep warm in the stomach and back area

   Some young ladies often wear clothes that do not cover the navel and the waist at the back, they wear sandals and shorts no matter what the weather is like.  Wind, cold and dampness could attack the body from the navel, go through the waist and back to the uterus. The cold could go through the feet to the legs and finally reach the abdomen. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the channels which are located on the inside of the feet and legs will eventually lead to the abdominal area. Thus, lack of awareness to keep warm in the stomach, back and feet would cause cold in the uterus, sometimes resulting in difficulties in pregnancy.

3. Swimming during the menstrual period

   The body becomes sensitive, the endocrine system changes and the cervix opens during the menstrual period. The body is easily getting cold during this time. When people are swimming at this time, the cold would go into the uterus directly or indirectly. Thus, swimming is not a proper activity to participate in during the menstrual period.

4. Cold from the rain

   Wearing wet clothes after the rain is another possible cause for the uterine cold.

B. Internal cold factor.

1. Too much cold drink

   This is not only bad for the stomach energy, it also causes uterine cold. So does ice-cream and frozen food from the fridge. The accumulation of the cold in uterus will result in dysmenorrhoea, irregular menstrual period and it could lead to difficulties in pregnancy.

2. Deficiency in Yang energy causes cold.

   Coldness damages the Yang energy. Cold is Yin, heat is Yang. The cold Yin energy is constrained by Yang energy. When the cold has accumulated too much the Yang energy is not able to constrain it, the cold will damage the Yang energy. Thus, deficient Yang energy would lead to internal cold in the body. When the internal cold accumulates in the uterus, sometimes pregnancy will be difficult to occur.

C. Internal cold and external cold

Although there are differences between internal cold and external cold, they interact and affect each other. Deficient Yang energy indicates an internal cold in the body. When this happens, the body could be affected by external cold easily. When the external cold attacks the body and further damages the Yang energy the result is internal cold. Both factors would cause difficulties in pregnancy due to cold uterus.

2. How to prevent uterine cold:

1. Do not sit too much or too often on cold and wet floors or chairs.
2. Keep warm in the feet, stomach and back area. Wear clothes that cover the navel and back. Wear socks or stockings and shoes in cold weather.
3. Do not swim during the menstrual period.
4. Change clothes after getting wet in the rain as soon as possible.
5. Dry your hair after showering before you are going out.
6. Try not to drink cold drinks, cold water or eat frozen food, especially during menstrual period. (Do not drink cold drinks on an empty stomach.)
7. Take proper treatment if you have a deficient Yang energy type of body with internal cold. (Symptoms of this type of body: likes warm and dislikes cold, cold feet and hands, aching in the knees because of cold, deficient energy, depressed, pale face)

3. How to treat uterine cold?

A. Self – treatment:

• The ways mentioned above to prevent uterine cold;
• Eat warm food and food that are hot/warm. (Please read article “Food’s attribute – cold or hot/warm” for more details)
• Soak your feet in hot water every day for 10 – 20 minutes. Keep the feet warm after the feet are dry.
• Hot bag method: Put a hot bag on the abdomen and another one at the back area to warm up the area every day or every second day.
• Put a few pieces of ginger and brown sugar in tea, boil it for a few minutes and drink it every day.
• Moxibustion. Put ginger on the navel for ten minutes.
• Physical exercise. Tai Chi and Qi Gong are one of the good ways.
• Self – massage at the two acupuncture points called “Sanyinjiao”
  Location: 3 cun ( around 3 inches) above the tip of the medial alveolus, on the posterior border of the medial side of the tibia.

B. Other treatments:

• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Acupuncture
• Moxibustion
• Qi Gong exercise
• Tai Chi exercise

Prevention and wisdom are the two principles of Traditional Qi.

Written by: Angela Zhu (TCM Practitioner, Qi Gong & Tai Chi Instructor)

Translated by: Alan Huang

© Copyright Angela Zhu 2011

Prevention of Depression starts with Mums (Part 1)

by Angela Tian Zhu | Mar 21, 2011 | Women's Health

All parents want their child to be healthy and happy. Mums always prepare for the health of the baby before pregnancy. They try to keep a healthy lifestyle to ensure a healthy baby comes into the world. Don’t forget it is also very important to ensure the happiness of the baby.  The first step of preventing depression starts with Mum!

Modern Medicine holds the view that depression could be inherited, especially from the mother’s side. If the mother is depressed during the pregnancy period or has postnatal depression after the pregnancy, it is possible for the baby to inherit or be affected by the depression. The family’s influences in children’s mental health and attitudes from the time they were born until they are 5 years old is so important that it could affect them all their life.

Example 1: A few years ago, there was a young depressed person, he was born into a well educated family, and he had a very nice family environment during his childhood. However, his mum had a depression problem. He was an A grade student and lived happily and healthy at his primary school. But during the puberty when the body mobilised the energy for blood and hormones to grow, the depression gradually affected his body. It does not matter if the depression is inherited, it could easily attack us at a certain time when our body is changing, especially when there’s a change in the hormones. The smartness, talent, kindness, confidence and happy life of this good child had been gradually and completely washed away by depression. He became autistic, and he lost contact with the outside world, he considered himself being ugly, unhappy and full of resentments every day. So he complains about things already passed by, distorts the things which supposed to be positive. The good things turn out to be immoral through his own mind processing, and  what’s more, he considered himself as the victim of everything, and  worthless. So he stayed inside every day, gave himself up to daydreams, sleeping during the day and staying up at night. Gradually he lost appetite, he didn’t eat on time, his body became thinner and weaker, he couldn’t concentrate his mind and stoped going to school. A few years passed by like this.

Example 2: There was a party; a kid started crying when he came because he’s late. He started crying a second time because the juice was not what he wanted. After a while, he cried again because he thought other kids didn’t like him. He was either crying or stayed in a corner at the party, he cried when he saw other children playing. I went over and asked: “Why are you crying and unhappy? Why don’t you go and play with other children?” He answered: “Mum always cries and unhappy, she doesn’t go out to see her friends too.”  I said: “Ah!”

Young people are the hope of society, and they are the hope and treasure of their parents. Their well-being is directly linked to this hope. The physical health and mental health interacts with each other and they are indivisible. Prevention of depression starts with parents, it starts before pregnancy, after birth and with the mental and attitude family education of the kids during the years from 0 – 5.

Prevention and wisdom are the two principles of Traditional Qi.

Written by Angela Zhu (Chinese Medicine Practitioner)

Translated by Alan Huang.

© Copyright Angela Zhu 2011

Postnatal Depression

by Angela Tian Zhu | Oct 11, 2010 | Women's Health

The time after giving birth is very special time for women. Pregnancy, giving birth and breast feeding make the women’s body deficient of energy, blood and Qi. After all the stress the women’s organs become dry. Early detection is very important. Signs for arising postnatal depression in a woman can be grumpiness, being emotionally unstable and moody. A lot of women are also very tired and yawn very often.

One of my patients tried IVF for many years. After five years she finally had a gorgeous baby girl but felt very depressed and the baby meant nothing to her. In today’s society women have babies at a later stage of their life which can be problematic. Many women work very hard and long hours when they get pregnant and are very busy and stressed. Their body becomes deficient and postnatal depression is more likely to happen. Postnatal Depression has become a very common problem. Chinese Medicine believes that women who have had Depression or suffer from it during their pregnancy are most likely going to have postnatal Depression. Stressful life and overuse of the body can also be the cause. The pregnancy experience can play a big role in this. Stressful pregnancy and birth can cause those problems too.

How to prevent Postnatal Depression

Having a good pregnancy is an obviously important factor. Experiencing those nine months being healthy makes it easier to have more energy. A difficult long labour with lots of blood loss can make a woman lose a lot of energy which can be followed by Postnatal Depression. It is very important to watch your diet. In today’s society women very often try to lose weight very quickly after birth which is not advisable. After birth the body needs more energy for breastfeeding and recovering. When on a diet the body becomes more deficient and Postnatal Depression can appear. If you have experienced Postnatal Depression after your first baby it is very important to figure out why and what caused it before having your second baby. This way you can eliminate all factors and try to avoid having Postnatal Depression again. Kidney deficiency, spleen stomach deficiency, or blood deficiency are very likely causes. Try to look after yourself before becoming pregnant, during and after birth and especially the breastfeeding time to prevent Postnatal Depression. Exercise is a great help but should not be done straight after birth. Gentle exercise like Tai Chi and Qi Gong are recommended. Chinese herbs can also be a great help. Contact your Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner or Herbalist.

Prevention and wisdom are the two principles of Traditional Qi.

Written by Angela Zhu, Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, Qi Gong & Tai Chi instructor.

© Copyright Angela Zhu 2010

Womens Health

by Angela Tian Zhu | Jul 19, 2010 | Women's Health

There are four important stages of womanhood:

1. Puberty (around 13-14 years old)
2. Monthly periods (generally about 35 years long)
3. Pregnancy and giving birth (even post-miscarriage and termination)
4. Menopause (around 49 years old)

The main difference between men’s and women’s health is the cycle of blood in the body. In TCM the woman’s body is described as a ‘blood body’. The movement of Qi promotes blood circulation. Deficiency of Qi can causes depletion of blood or menorrhagia (excessive flow). So it makes sense that if our blood circulation is out of balance our health will be out of balance and we can suffer from:

• PMT
• Period pain
• Mood swings
• Depression
• Post-natal depression
• Low energy
• Hot flushes
• Bleeding problems (too little or too much)
• Acne
• Breast cancer
• Help infertility

Tips:

Take care when you menstruate. Don’t be too tired, don’t drink cold drinks and don’t catch the cold temperatures. Don’t get too hot either, don’t drink too much alcohol and don’t do drugs. Avoid spicy food and don’t go to emotional extremes. Don’t have sex during your period. This will help you maintain your uterus. It also balances the hormones.

Prevention and wisdom are the two principles of Traditional Qi.

Written by Angela Zhu, Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, Qi Gong & Tai Chi instructor.

© Copyright Angela Zhu 2010