February 2012 Classical Medicine Health and Wellness Journal

 

  

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5 February 2012

Bet you thought the Chinese New Year began on January 23rd, didn't you? Chinese New Year is celebrated on the first new moon of the first month in the Chinese Lunar Calendar system (this year, 1/23). But in fact, the year of the Water Dragon began yesterday, because February 4th was the first day of 2012, or the first day of the 4,709th Chinese year, in the Chinese Astrological Calendar system. Called the Start of Spring, yesterday delineates the point where a new animal sign begins in Chinese astrology. In other words, that restaurant menu list you've been using all your life? If your birthday is right around now, you might be in for a surprise. To update your personal animal status, here's one of many sites that can waste 20 minutes of your life if you're not careful.

Given the weather lately, it really does feel like the start of spring -- or here in Florida, summer.

January brought a ton of new visitors to the Classical Medicine Journal thanks in part to our post on the 256-year old Qi Gong master being picked up by "discovery engine" StumbleUpon. And here's another inner-Internet-workings time-line: on January 4, CMJ posted a story on urban fish farming which originally ran in the Baltimore Sun on December 26; on January 28, the Los Angeles Times reprinted the same story. Ha! We do try to bring you stories of interest on varied topics and put a premium on information that might not otherwise be easy to find in regular media.

Speaking of, a story that is at once exciting and ludicrous got attention. Many readers were shocked -- shocked! -- to learn that acupuncture may relieve stress. In all seriousness, a study from Georgetown University Medical Center has shown molecular proof of acupuncture's ability to reduce a protein-like substance linked to chronic stress. So far, only rats have experienced the phenomenon. The millions of people for thousands of years who could also vouch for this finding? Purely anecdotal; but soon, perhaps, not written off as placebo.

Finally, readers continue to check the update on Vidatox, the Cuban “homeopathic” cancer drug made with the venom of the blue scorpion. While we're happy to provide a platform for sharing this information, isn't it a bit amazing you haven't heard of this anywhere else?

Until next month, be well and exercise your inner Water Dragon.

P.S.    Check out Martin Keane's very first venture into video on the Classical Medicine homepage (scroll down to lower right corner). We're working on a series of informational videos and will put them all together on a Classical Medicine YouTube channel. This first one is intended to introduce the practice. (Gulp) Tell us what you think?

 

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