Friends

My friend posing by a canal boat

I went for a walk by the canal with a friend of mine. We are both walk leaders for a meetup group called "Manchester Hiking." It was a sunny day and a pleasant stroll by the canal allowed us to have time to relax and unwind. Casual conversation with my friend allowed me to feel at ease. The pace of the walk changed with our mood. It started with a slow pace when we strolled through Dunham Park where there was wildlife to see and photograph. The deer are quite tame on the whole and they can come quite close to you. It increased as we moved onto the canal. We had a chance to sit by Lymm Damn and chat while we ate. Sharing problems allows us to feel heard. In Chinese Medicine the Fire element is what allows us to open up to other people and form relationships. We should open up appropriately. We shouldn't share the same personal information with the Postman as we would with a close friend.

Deer in Dunham Park

Damp

Chinese Medicine regards Damp as being like a soggy/muddy field. The sort of place that would be the perfect place to grow rice. In this country the moors are a similar environment. Heather grows and the moorlands and it suits grouse. One place I visit regularly that brings this to easily to mind is Derwent Edge in the Peak District (see pictures above).

Damp is characteristically sticky and difficult to get rid of. It is heavy and it slows thing down. It tends to settle in the lower parts of the body. It can refer to damp weather. Dampness can refer to living conditions, . such as a moldy bathroom or living on a canal boat or close to a river. Other factors that can cause damp include wearing damp clothes, sitting or working in damp conditions.

Grouse live on Moorland which is damp

Clothes can get damp when out walking

On Howden Edge

Fear and the Water Element

Fear is an emotion that is related to the Water Element in Chinese Medicine. The related channels are Kidney and Bladder. A normal amount of fear is good in that it stops us walking off cliffs or putting our hands in the fire. When fear is in excess we may feel anxiety and suffer from phobias. It can stop us from leading a normal productive life. We may see danger everywhere. It could be of an advantage in risk analysis. When fear is deficient we take crazy risks. These might involve driving at high speeds and being involved in extreme sports. It may manifest as adrenaline seeking behaviour and the failure to assess risks. We can overcome our fears by taking well thought out risks. This could involve scrambling in the mountains in fair weather.

Scrambling up Sharp Edge in the Lake District

Sharp Edge

Scrambling up to Crib Goch

Sleep

In order to get regular healthy restorative sleep it's important to get into a routine. Go to bed at the same time each night. Have no food or drink before bed time except water or some other relaxing bed time drink. Chamomile tea can be calming. Warm milk can help us get to sleep since it contains serotonin precursors. Seratonin is an inhibitory chemical in the Central Nervous System that helps us go to sleep.

In Chinese Medicine the Shen, the spirit of the Heart lives in the Hearts Blood. If we are properly nourished this will be strong and it will be easy for us to fall asleep. If it is weak then we will have difficulty falling asleep. It can be compared to a dog that is restless and wanders around rather than settling in it's basket. We can eat certain foods in order to strengthen the Blood. Meat, in particular red meat, fish and/or green leafy vegetables and pulses are indicated.

If we often wake during the night to urinate then that suggests there is a deficiency in the energy of the Kidney channel. Acupuncture can help to boost this energy but it's also important to rest. If we wake during the night around 1 to 3 am GMT or 2 to 4 am BST and can't get back to sleep it suggests that the energy of the Liver Meridian is too strong. Acupuncture can be used to smooth the flow of energy in the Liver Channel.

There are some acupuncture points that are particularly good for sleep. Yin Tang is particularly good for relaxing the mind as is Anmian (see pictures blow).

A needle in Yintang

Ying Tang

Anmian