Decompression – Start From the Heart

The word “stress” sounds familiar to everyone, and it seems that everyone is more or less inextricably linked with it. When we hear its footsteps coming, our hearts beat faster and our breathing becomes tense as countless thoughts run through our minds.

Since the industrial revolution, people’s lives have undergone tremendous changes, and the world’s development has become faster and faster. However, since the emergence of fiber optics at the end of the last century, the whole world has entered another earth-shattering revolution that we call the “fiber-optic revolution.” It allows information to be transmitted rapidly around the world, and everything is changing rapidly. At this time, all the changes make people constantly chase time, compete with time, fear being caught up or being half a beat slower, as if they would lose opportunities and money. Sometimes we really need to stop and ask ourselves, what are we doing? And what am I doing? What we eagerly obtain through our efforts is not necessarily what we expected, but mostly it leads to fatigue and stress on body and mind.

In addition to chasing speed, in order to stand out in the crevices of time and find victory in the gaps, it is much more difficult now to find space than before. Besides finding space, constantly improving one’s abilities and constantly learning and training hard is the inevitable path for every urbanite. Under the constant pursuit, invisible or visible “competition” is created, and competition brings tremendous pressure. Some even stop at nothing to achieve their goals, as long as they can surpass their opponents. It can be affirmed that the “struggle” it brings to people is bound to be more stressful than “competition.”

I firmly believe that the tide of history and the big trend of society are irresistible. But we always have the right to take charge of our own hearts and behaviors. Undeniably, competition exists objectively, but what we must compete with is ourselves, not others. Compete and excel, keep improving, and go with the flow. Remember to avoid the emergence of “struggles” that greatly increase stress on body and mind. Vicious “struggles” not only cause stress, but more seriously lead to various physical and psychological illnesses, such as insomnia, loss of appetite, physical and mental fatigue, depression, neurasthenia, headaches, etc.

In this fiber-optic era, we are overwhelmed with information, both true and false, which has created another source of stress – “right and wrong.” The matter of “right and wrong” is like a piercing arrow that can lead to low morale or even mental collapse and loss of motivation and ability to work. People have a strong desire for knowledge, which leads to an even more rampant “gossip” culture. “Gossip” news, “gossip” magazines, Facebook and other social networks are prevalent, creating even more “right and wrong” flying everywhere. Everyone seems to enjoy it tirelessly, but also fears becoming the next protagonist in the drama! An invisible psychological pressure lingers in the mind, thinking and thinking… Who wouldn’t get tired? Just look at Hong Kong in particular. With its high population density, people often “bump into” others, naturally making people’s mood more “irritable,” and it is hard to avoid “rights and wrongs,” or even worse, verbal conflicts.

“Right and wrong” will also create another kind of pressure that comes from the space between “right” and “wrong.” People today are more knowledgeable and educated, but this is precisely what creates one strong self-centered viewpoint after another. The higher the knowledge, the stronger the self-centered concept. In the face of big or even small matters, everyone tends to insist on their own opinions and emphasize their own position, loudly affirming and being proud and confident. In fact, it doesn’t matter whether it is right or wrong in front of things, what is important is to complete the work and goals, solve problems. But people are only human after all, and always unable to let go of the thick, fake dignity on their faces. Only those who can hold heavy and light can eventually reach the peak.

Therefore, people today need a kind of spiritual cultivation and mental relaxation. Remember that rumors stop with the wise. To become wise, one must first cultivate morality. While spinning in the vast desert of information culture, we can find an oasis of clear springs and green woods to cultivate our minds. Take more walks into the suburbs to relax body and mind. Or do some exercises like swimming, playing basketball, tai chi, qigong, etc. that provide oxygen. Or browse some novels or spiritually beneficial readings at bookstores to increase some wisdom of the soul. 

Here I will teach everyone a good method of decompression and relaxation of body and mind; this method is called “Treasure Vase Qi” or “Bottle Breathing,” and it is a superior method of training the spirit and mind in qigong.

Method: 1. Close eyes slightly, relax the whole body, and sit on a chair.

2. At the same time, slightly lift the tip of the tongue to connect with the palate.

3. Turn the palms up, open and relaxed on the thighs, then lightly clasp the index fingers and thumbs of both hands together.

4. First take a deep breath inward.

5. Then exhale through the mouth, open eyes, snap fingers, and lower tongue down at the same time.

6. Relax the whole body.

7. Steps 1-6 complete one repetition. Do 9 repetitions or multiples of 9 each time.

In the hot summer days, the blazing heat often makes people irritable. Although many people do outdoor activities in summer, with hot weather making people sweat a lot more, even more people will hide indoors in air-conditioned rooms to feel cool, or walk into large shopping malls and shops, sit down and drink a glass of icy cold drink. This kind of life feels very intimate, right? This is the lifestyle habit of most people, but does everyone know that such habits are not very healthy in medical terms? In traditional Chinese medicine, it is believed that “spring generates, summer grows, autumn harvests, and winter stores.” In summer, the main themes are ascending, going outward, and ceaseless activity. Sweating to discharge impurities and keeping the vital energy and blood circulation thriving are normal. Cyclical and endless like the seasons.

Just look at staying in air-conditioned spaces, where temperatures are usually around 18 to 20 degrees Celsius. At this temperature, it is difficult for the human body to sweat, and the circulation of qi and blood slows down. The normal growth and development of the body’s qi is suppressed, and the functions of the internal organs undergo reverse physiology. Gradually, the body will show discomfort such as headaches, abdominal pain, fatigue, etc… These problems with the body lead to low morale and depression, with mental stress increasing day by day. Yet seeing doctors and getting checked reveals no major issues, only an indescribable discomfort throughout the body.

At this time, it is most suitable to appropriately consume small amounts of spicy foods, such as chili peppers, Sichuan peppers, black pepper, ginger, etc. These can invigorate blood, raise yang, induce sweating to dispel dampness and cold. But in Hong Kong’s sub-tropical climate surrounded by seas, with heat trapped dampness, consuming too much spicy food is not suitable. Unless in countries like Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, etc. where it is hot summer year-round, and people live under high temperatures for a long time, they get used to it and find it hard to sweat, so they eat more spicy food. But long-term and excessive consumption of spicy food will cause excessive irritation of the gastrointestinal tract, damaging the intestinal mucosa and leading to various different types of gastrointestinal diseases, such as constipation, gastrointestinal bleeding, gastric pain, indigestion, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, and so on.

Here I will introduce several good summer decompression formulas:

1) Dampness Clearing and Blood Invigorating Decompression Decoction

Notoginseng 12g Tangerine Peel 6g White Atractylodes Rhizome 15g Poria 15g Atractylodes Rhizome 12g Curcuma Root 10g Ligusticum Wallichii Rhizome 12g White Peony Root 9g Prepared Aconite Root 5g

(decoct first)

This decoction is only suitable for those who stay in air-conditioned spaces in summer, have difficulty sweating, and have depressed spirits.

2) Rose Depression Relieving Tea

Rose petals 5g Sweet Osmanthus petals 5g Jasmine tea 5g Wash all ingredients and place in a cup, then add boiling water to brew and drink. This tea can be used regularly regardless of season.