Rara

And thank you for the warning But can we assume that extreme cortisol levels may be a cause of "liver qi stagnation"? I've cut caffeine and alcohol and am replacing more yang foods with yin, and also practicing not-working myself up. So far I'm still barely better at all, other than my heart rate doesn't raise as much these days. I'm realising that it will take some time, whether it's my lifestyle and how I react to things that needs to change, or me trialling TCM. I figure that at least if I make the attempt with the herbs over a few months, if I see no improvement then at least I can rule it out for myself. If I cure the problem on the journey, even better Win/win situation lol

I will certainly raise that with the TCM lady when I see her on Tuesday...I see your point. As for your latter paragraph...agreed!

They said that research shows that the powders were just as effective. Plus, preparing the herbs takes a while and my schedule won't really allow it.... About my friend that said about it not coming back... I think he may have been talking generally...foolishness aside, the medicine should be enough to fix a problem long term. We have been known to have communication breakdowns due to the language barrier though. And he is slightly dogmatic and biased!

As much as I am slowly learning...I seem to remember my acupuncture therapist mentioning something along the lines of liver...gallbladder...qi stagnation. Your post makes perfect sense to me though, thanks! Part 2 is me actually letting go as well. As they said to me, "there is only so much we can do". So I chilling more, caring less and am generally happier. Still not sleeping well but hey, I'm only a week and a half in.

I had similar advice yesterday from another cyber-friend of mine. A chinese fella who was bought up with Taoism, TCM, and much more. He says that unlike western medicine, chinese medicine can take 2-3 months to start making a difference and when the change does come, the "disease" won't come back. And yes, they took my pulse for ages. I was sceptical when I first researched what I was taking but then again, I'm not the expert am I? So yes, thank you, I will persist until I'm finally better

@Silent Answers Another cool read. Seems like you've had some similar experiences to myself although sometimes I wonder if it's my brain or whether it's reality....or if there is a difference at all?! (referring mainly to answers 1 and 3) Perhaps we should sit down with tea one day too

@Bearded Dragon ... nice answers. One day we should sit with tea

Am I too late? I'll answer anyway as I love talking about myself XD Q1) The word "Tao" kept appearing in media I was watching, reading and listening to. It resonated with me so I looked it up and eventually bought TTC (I had been practicing Kung Fu for a year at this point too and it was a text I was advised to read) Suddenly I realised that it was a philosophy I really followed already, and Taoism was merely an expansion and guidence for me. Q2) The transmutation of mental and physical (organ) health. We don't realise how sick we are until we meditate. Q3) Both haha. You can't escape the stresses but the solutions are always there. I have been stressed during practice but this was down to my training - for example, it's hard for me to not get angry, and if I struggle when training, I get angry! Funny that. But once the answer has been found, and there is no more anger, there is only peace Q4) When it's appropriate. I still live a fairly conventional life - job, fiancèe, car, socialising. Once upon a time, I meditated as a ritual but realised I was making myself unhappy because my natural preference is to have little-to-no strict schedule to my day. So now I meditate when needed. Don't forget that we can meditate whenever we want during the day, even when cooking and cleaning. Mindfulness when doing tasks is what I mean - so in that case, several times a day! Q5) I don't concern myself with enlightenment - anything "goal" orientated seems somewhat contradictory to the Tao. Yet we were born "enlightened"...we can breathe the air, enjoy a walk in the park, live heaven on earth So perhaps if I am to answer this question literally, enlightenment means working back to the simplicity of what life really is. Live in the present moment and don't take things so seriously...otherwise before you know it, life has flown by and you will wonder where it went.

Just an update, I have been prescribed Rhizoma Chuanxiong that I take in powder form mixed with hot water twice a day. It has also been recommended that I return to doing my kung fu forms before bed...some form of meditation that works for me. I'm only on day 3 so it is hard to tell but today I feel a lot better and also slept for 7 and 1/2 hours straight last night. Will see how I progress. I'm back at the herb clinic a week on Tuesday so they can monitor my progress.

I am currently having acupuncture treatment for stress and insomnia and I have an appointment with the herb clinic next month. After going back to the whole "eat more cooling foods, drink green and peppermint tea" foundation, prior to seeing the herb specialist, it makes me wonder... How solid is this advice if my diet currently has a lot of yang foods? I may be answering my own question here but I want to know what you all think. For example, if I eat meat and rice/pasta/potato daily, some chocolate and fried food a few times a week, how much impact would drinking peppermint tea and eating raw fruit, steamed vegetables etc really have? The therapist told me that I have lots of heat and that cooling foods will help but I wonder if the "yang" foods I'm currently eating will be cancelling out the small "yin" foods and herbs? Or whether it's more a case that the "yin" foods and herbs are actually softening the impact of the "yang" foods that I consume...

Desire I say is damaging. Like my desire for achievement.... ...the stress I go through sometimes to reach said "desired result" has both mental and physical impact.

Sure. Comes full circle when I am naturally obsessed with building another business right now (100% behind a computer) and then waking my body up by doing my gym work (currently at home, like my new business is!) I get fresh air with my freelance work that I do about 2-3 times a week, outside on my feet at events. But it's still work (and unreliable for security hence the new business venture) So I guess I'm overworked due to the desire in itself to get financial security for myself, fiancee and future family (which is the long term plan) With such committments, I'm struggling for any other time or space to meditate. I found that 2011-2013 I was fine in this department. I became more placid, meditated daily, looked after some plants, survived on little money, only weighed 144 lbs and did less intense exercise and eating. But I lacked competitive nature and I made the decision to cultivate strength and to "man up" and move forward with my career so I could provide more for my relationship. Something about my calmer, carefree self felt selfish, even if I was less heated. But now I'm 168 lbs (training and eating) so that means I've pushed my body to gain 28 lbs in under a year along with adding to my workload. So I am hoping that I can carry on my current path and train myself to do all in a more cool, relaxed manner and to be able to get the right balance in my diet at the same time.

I will be getting prescribed herbs next month...I'll certainly see what they say I should cut out of my diet as and when that time comes!

Awesome post Orion I began strength training again last February so have been using the yang foods to fuel that. I felt such exercise helped channel my aggression built up from family conflict and the anxiety that comes with having my own business. Therefore, my therapist didn't want to interfere too much with my diet. But I have eliminated all caffiene and most alcohol (easier now Christmas is over) so I'm just working with introducing yin foods on top of my predominantly "bulking" diet with hope that it will pay off...

Wouldn't this be subject to the type of person though?

I'm full of yang haha.... Grab yourself a strength training program....and commit. That's one way to do it. You could also up your levels of caffiene and spices also.

I had this itch at the back of my head...I knew there was something to say but my mind drew a blank until that moment. I think your point about worrying about the mistakes is interesting. Whether we score that game winning goal or not, it's only really as important as you make it. This is what I keep being told when it comes to getting stressed. Remember, none of it really matters anyway.

Ok, yes I can. In Steve's example from Zhuangzi, he talks about the declining performance under pressure. This would be me. My point was that those who crumble under the pressure but excel in their own company should not try and compete with those that are in a "higher league" for this reason. So wu wei is subject to its context. For example, the world's greatest footballer could enter a state of wu wei when playing at his absolute best, from muscle memory to having an all round good day. You know, when you just wake up and everything just falls into place and all is done with little effort or concentration. I could enter the same state playing guitar in my bedroom or cooking in my own kitchen. Put me on a stage, and I cannot compete with Eric Clapton or Gordon Ramsay. Now, I'm talking about skills aquired more than anything as it is the easiest example of wu wei, I find. But as long as we stay within our realms of skill and interest, we can find wu wei regardless of what "league" we are in. I hope this makes sense.

It's lashing it down over here. Huge winds too.

Yeah ok...I can't add to that

@ion Unfortunately, I have no advice there as when it comes to children, I am certainly lacking one. Sounds like the usual case of people stamping their authority just because. I know the type well...quite bothersome. I guess there are limits, but within reason, we can do the bare minimum to keep "society" happy. There has to be some give, and part of my current training involves accepting the position that I am in and taking part in the things that are "necessary". I am often surprised how supportive some can be in the "real world" I hope my use of inverted commas speaks volumes of my eye-rolling nature. That's because it is tough for my ego to yield and conform in places but there are certainly benefits once I manage to put that all to one side.

Still speaking about competition? For even those without special abilities would still have some form of talent to participate... Please do elaborate

When I go out into the sun, I avoid the shade. Yes I love the sun I guess my fiancee shouldn't be afraid then.

As in...you won't tell me how? My first thought is that one who is "destined" to be the greatest football player ever, would bask in the enjoyment of the game and therefore not feel pressure when playing in a cup final anyway...

If you don't want to chase the dragon, you don't have to. Resenting those that do is only because you feel pressured into living that style of life. I'm still dealing with this conflict myself. There are some things that I feel I should be doing...but then I realise that I just don't wanna.