This is a fun video my husband (Daniel) made.
This was a very nice day…a boat ride across the Song Hua River and a day of tai chi on Sun Island.
This is ‘Episode 2′ of “The Adventures of Dr. Pauline Bao & George”. Stayed tuned for more…
When I was just a little girl, my father, a Traditional Chinese Medical doctor taught me the principles and practices of acupuncture so I could help him with his patients.
We grew up in rural China, and in those days, good medical care was scarce and expensive.
My father, who became a very famous doctor in China, would help the sick and diseased even if they didn’t have money. He would travel into the mountains, across rivers and through the valleys helping as many people as he could…and I was at his side every step of the way.
I remember doing my first acupuncture on a patient when I was 10 years old!
In acupuncture specific points on the surface of the skin are stimulated to prevent and treat diseases. In the video, you see me inserting acupuncture needles into some of these points.
Presence of a vital energy called ‘chi’, which moves through the body along twelve channels called ‘meridians’, is the theory which explains the efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
Acupuncture began in China thousands of years ago and recently has gained widespread acceptance and popularity in the West.
The World Health Organization (W.H.O.) actually recommends acupuncture for various health conditions, including common colds, headaches and migraines, asthma, tennis elbow and many others.
In addition, in recent scientific studies around the world, acupuncture has proven successful in:
1) Helping people quit smoking
2) Healing pets naturally
3) Clearing seasonal allergies
4) Preventing post surgery pain, nausea and vomiting
5) Treating insomnia
6) Easing radiation-caused symptoms in cancer patients
7) Working better than drugs for treating hot flashes
Alleviating breast cancer treatment side-effects
9) Boosting fertility by 65 percent in women
10) Reducing pain associated with head and neck cancer
11) Reducing back pain better than drugs or exercise
12) Treating arthritis
Needle acupuncture is the most common form of acupuncture…and contrary to how it may appear, most patients feel little to no pain during needle acupuncture treatment.
Have a look at the lady in the video with the needles in her head. She’s smiling!
I my upcoming blog posts, I plan to share with you the knowledge and experience I have gained about the ancient theory and practice of TCM.
I will also share up-to-date information about the benefits of TCM as they are ‘discovered’ and ‘revealed’.
I look forward to sharing, discussing and collaborating with all medical colleagues and those interested in health and alternative forms of disease prevention and treatment.
Please feel free to leave me your comments or questions.
Dr. Pauline Bao
I have been practicing Tai Chi since I was 4 years old.
Throughout the years I have enthusiastically tried to persuade my family members, friends and patients to take up this graceful ancient art. The multiple health benefits of Tai Chi are astounding.
A simple way to describe Tai Chi is to say that it involves ‘flowing’ through a series of movements (called forms) that are coordinated with deep breathing. In fact, Tai Chi is sometimes referred to as “meditation in motion”.
There are over 100 forms in Tai Chi. In this video I’m doing 24-Form Tai Chi. It’s what I like to call ‘beginner Tai Chi’.
In my opinion, all ‘newbie’ Tai Chi practicionners should start with these 24 forms. Experience has shown that trying to learn any more than this leads to confusion, frustration, and poor execution.
As you can see, in 24-Form Tai Chi, multiple joints and major muscle groups are exercised continuously…without the strain that can come from high-impact activities like jogging and aerobics.
Contrary to the commonly held belief that Tai Chi is for ‘old people’, Tai Chi is suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels.
Tai Chi is an excellent exercise for new mothers who want to win back their pre-baby body shape, beauty and health, for younger girls who wish to maintain a shapely, womanly figure…and yes, even for young and middle-aged males who wish to build strength, stamina and a fit body.
The numerous health benefits of Tai Chi include:
1) Decreased blood pressure
2) Improved immune function
3) Strengthens muscles while developing flexibility
4) Enhanced quality and duration of sleep
5) Improved posture, balance and coordination
6) Heightened mood and increased feeling of well-being
7) Increased range of motion
Reduced levels of stress hormones
9) Prevents or slows bone loss, especially in postmenopausal women
10) Decreased occurrence of injurious falls in elderly
While these are the most recently agreed upon health benefits of Tai Chi, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) expands this list into areas of health, longevity and wellness that Western medicine is now just beginning to investigate and understand (’Chi’ being the biggest one of these).
In upcoming blog posts, I will be sharing with you this TCM perspective on Tai Chi.
I look forward to discussing, sharing and collaborating with fellow TCM doctors and Tai Chi practicionners…as well as with Western doctors and anyone interested in health and wellness.
Please feel free to leave me your comments or questions.
Dr. Pauline Bao
