Traditional Chinese Medicine - TCM podcast

Igor Micunovic MD/Ph.D

Join Dr. Igor Micunovic to explore the history, healing, and combination of Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture, feng shui, food, diet, wellness and exercises, diseases prevention, spirituality, body-soul-mind transformation, natural treatments and holistic medicine.  Host Dr. Igor Micunovic, is an expert in Chinese Medicine and acupuncture, and personal transformation.  Dr Igor Micunovic is the president of Educational Committee of World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies - WFCMS. Igor Micunovic finished bachelor, Ph.D, and PostDoc at Tianjin University of TCM,P.R. China. read less
Health & FitnessHealth & Fitness

Episodes

Healing with Mushrooms - Shiitake
Mar 23 2023
Healing with Mushrooms - Shiitake
Script: https://tcmpodcast.me/episode-23-healing-with-mushrooms-shiitake/ Fungi have played an important role in Chinese culture for perhaps 7,000 years. Over the millennia, common mushrooms such as the wood ear and jelly fungus have been important food items. Various simple fungi were also utilized to make fermented food products such as  wine, vinegar, soy sauce, and pickled vegetables. Fungi were utilized for their healing properties in China and popularized over centuries in South-East Asia as well.   The use of fungi such as hoelen, caterpillar fungus, and ergot in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was also recorded in the TCM literature. The oldest official Chinese list of medicinal substances comes from the Classic of the Materia Medica (Shennong Bencaojing 神農本草經) written between about 206 BC and 220 AD,  and the Mingyi bielu (Chin.名醫別錄). It contains 365 medicinal substances, and the list includes several mushroom species used for medicinal purposes. Earlier mention of the use of fungi in medicine outside of the main classics occurred as early as 26 B.C. in the “Book of Songs,”(Chin. Shijing 诗经) a compilation of folk-songs and poems. Shitake was included in a work on herbal medicine first in 1209 in the Records of Longquan County. Probably the most famous of all works on Chinese materia medica is the monumental Compendium of Materia Medica (Bencao gangmu本草綱目), which was compiled by Li Shizhen (Chin. 李时珍) and published in 1578 in Nanjing three years after he died. This enormous endeavour took Li Shizhen 27 years and includes 1,892 species of animal, herbal, and mineral drugs, including 1,100 illustrations and 11,000 prescriptions... Info: www.tcmpodcast.me
Bian Que - the legendary Chinese medicine doctor
Dec 9 2022
Bian Que - the legendary Chinese medicine doctor
Script: https://tcmpodcast.me/episode-20-bian-que-the-legendary-chinese-medicine-doctor/ As a rule, in the Traditional Chinese Medicine, doctor always treats the whole person, soul and body. It is, of utmost importance harmonization of internal balances of a body’s energy and personality traits, person’s eating habits, and what experiences gets during daily life. In old China it is believed that medical ethics are directly related to supernatural capabilities such as clairvoyance. TCM doctor who obtained supernatural capabilities, will definitely lose abilities in case if his moral and ethics decline or got compromised. In ancient China, supernatural capabilities were common to virtually all Chinese medical doctors, as great medical scientists, and were all documented in medical texts. What Chinese medicine has inherited are only those prescriptions or experiences from research. Ancient Chinese medicine was very advanced, and the extent of its progress was beyond present medical science. Just as Modern Medicine traces its foundations to Greek and Roman doctors such as Hippocrates and Galen, Traditional Chinese Medicine also has its significant early doctors. Bian Que is widely considered to be one of the most important figures in the history and development of Chinese Medicine and the earliest known Chinese physician. Bian Que lived in about the same period as Confucius during the Spring and Autumn Period (around 552–479 BC)... Info: www.tcmpodcast.me
The study of destiny
Nov 25 2022
The study of destiny
Script: https://tcmpodcast.me/episode-19-the-study-of-destiny/ From ancient times people were puzzled by the meaning of life, our purpose and destiny. Therefore Chinese ancestors invested much time in studying, researching and understanding the meaning of life by observing the chronology of man's destiny. During centuries ancient Chinese gained knowledge about destiny and created destiny studies (Chin. ming xue 命学) using two assessment methods: BaZi 八子 and Purple star astrological numerology (Chin. zǐ wēi dǒu shù 紫微斗數). Today we are going to learn more about BaZi. The study of destiny (Ming Xue 命学) has the purpose to understand all aspects of human life in order to improve one’s fortune. From the very birth, we are affected and influenced by the universe and its energies. Observing for thousands of years the mutual relationship between nature and people, old Chinese found those very patterns of energies related to someone’s life destiny and coded by the time of birth, thus learning how to follow fine lines of future comings using the perfected method of BaZi. Before we go further about BaZi, we have to understand the concept of destiny studies. Chinese believe that the universe consists of the Cosmic Trinity of Heaven, Earth and Man, distributed in equal proportion of influence. First destiny, second luck, third feng shui – Chinese saying (Chin. yī mìng èr yùn sān fēng shui 一命,二运,三风水)... Info: www.tcmpodcast.me
Wind in traditional Chinese medicine
Nov 10 2022
Wind in traditional Chinese medicine
Script: https://tcmpodcast.me/episode-17-wind-in-traditional-chinese-medicine/ Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) believes that man is a reflection upon the universe, like the existence of a microcosm within the macrocosm. The term ‘climate’ in TCM, refers to agents that cause diseases. The theory of Chinese medicine uses the names of the organs to illustrate related patterns of physical, emotional, or psychological problems. ‘Wind’ or Feng Xie (Chin. 风邪) is one of the most difficult terms to understand. Chinese medicine as a holistic medicine system considers the human body as a whole and attributes diseases as imbalances between the different elements. TCM are not only important processes within the body but how pathological processes are manifested in response to external and environmental stimuli. TCM treatments, rather than being aimed at healing a particular symptom, focus on restoring the body’s balance. Wind is one of five climates that is manifested within the five seasons (Autumn, Winter, Spring, Early Summer, and late Summer). It produces and speeds up pathological movements in the body. Wind in TCM is considered to be the basic causative factor for many diseases. Wind is Yang in nature, and it’s associated with Spring. It penetrates the skin, and the pores through acupuncture meridians, especially through areas related to the neck and upper back. It is often accompanied by other external factors, such as cold and damp weather. When the Wind invades, the body's defensive capabilities are weakened, making pores in the skin lose their set, letting pathogens; e.g. bacteria and viruses move in the body... Info: www.tcmpodcast.me
The ancient art of standing like a tree
Sep 20 2022
The ancient art of standing like a tree
Script: https://tcmpodcast.me/episode-16-the-ancient-art-of-standing-like-a-tree/ Zhan Zhuang (Chin. 站桩) is considered to be the most powerful exercise of all the Taiji Quan (Chin. 太极拳) and qigong (Chin. 气功) postures, and is often used as a separate exercise to increase leg strength, concentration, deep breathing and qi flow. Zhan Zhuang is very basic form of exercise, but very powerful exercise to enhance energy, mental clarity, and internal strength. It’s an excellent standing meditation for improving your productivity and bringing more aliveness to everything you do. Zhan Zhuang means standing like a tree or standing like a post, where one stands still, in an upright posture, as if standing like a tree. The tree metaphor is apt as your legs and torso form the trunk of the tree. Your head and limbs form the branches. And your feet, sinking and extending down beneath the ground, establish the roots. It offers many of the mental benefits of mindfulness training. The most common Zhan Zhuang method is known as Chēng Bào (撑抱, "Tree Hugging stance”). The idea behind standing still in static positions, for instance with our arms holding an energetic ball around our chest or other positions, is that in order to be able to hold these positions for more than a few minutes, we have to completely relax. So our body has to find harmony, and we need to use our bodies as a unit in order to be able to stand there. Then we are holding our arms in place with our dantien rather than the muscles in our arms and legs.  Info: www.tcmpodcast.me
Healing with alcohols
Sep 9 2022
Healing with alcohols
Script: https://tcmpodcast.me/episode-15-healing-with-alcohols/ High carbon dioxide levels cause acidosis and stimulate the respiratory center in the brain, triggering the newborn to take a breath. The first breath typically is taken within 10 seconds of birth, after mucus is aspirated from the infant's mouth and nose. In order to make the first breath after the umbilical cord has been cut, it is the most important level of CO2. If there’s too much carbon dioxide (CO2) in the baby’s bloodstream it can produce hypercapnia may upset acid-base balance and cause a range of problems. On the contrary, a decrease in alveolar and blood carbon dioxide (CO2) levels below the normal reference range of 35 mm/Hg is known as hypocapnia. Balance of CO2 level in bloodstream activates very first breath in newborn babies. Too much CO2 will cause permanent damage to the brain, while too little CO2 will not trigger breathing. Following this logic, we can understand that all kinds of stimulation can have the very same effect on the human body. One cigarette a day is great stimulation for our metabolism and causes faster blood flow and brains functions, such as enhancement of motor learning, while more cigarettes cause brains and body decrease - hypofunction and cause a variety of damages to the health. It is the same for alcohol. Moderate to little daily usage of alcohol even can have health benefits. Alcohols Alcohols, in various forms, are used within medicine as an antiseptic, disinfectant, and antidote. Alcohol is also one of the oldest beverages used by humans which preparation dates back to as far as 8,000 BC. Alcohol was used as a general anesthetic since 8thcentury BC, while has been used as an antiseptic as early as 1363. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant and can slow down brain activity, change mood, behavior, self-control, and can affect coordination and physical control. Alcohol benefits In order for alcohol to have curative effects, it has to be taken moderately. Alcohol itself can reduce cardiovascular diseases, can reduce the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, and can prevent stroke. Moderate consumption of alcohol can reduce the risk of developing diabetes, cancer, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. Moderate alcohol consumption reduced the incidence of the common cold among nonsmokers but has no protective effect against the common cold in smokers. Moderate consumption of alcohol may prolong life and promote health and well-being in general. We drink alcohol generally during various social events when people are connected when we feel further stimulated and sedated by alcohol. In general, alcohol can make people happier if consumed moderately. Therefore, medium consumption of alcohol can be found to benefit our physiology, emotions, or even our social dimension. Info: www.tcmpodcast.me
Dreams interpretations in traditional Chinese medicine
Aug 25 2022
Dreams interpretations in traditional Chinese medicine
Script: episode-14-dreams-interpretations-in-traditional-chinese-medicine A dream is one of three states that the soul experiences during its lifetime. The other two states are the waking state and the sleeping state. Since the old times, people regard dreams as mysterious and meaningful. Many people believe that the dream world—with its own metaphoric language, can help us fully understand our life in sanity and lead us to greater knowledge and self-realization. Dream interpretation has been practiced throughout all time very likely by all civilizations. Unconscious lies hidden beneath the conscious mind of every person. It is an area that has a very distinct effect on dreams and on all human thoughts and actions. Consciousness and unconsciousness Consciousness is not a simple state, but has many “layers.” Even when wide awake, we are not equally aware of everything around us or of our own actions. An experienced bus driver, for example, does not need to concentrate in order to change gear. In the same fashion, unconsciousness does not mean a lack of inactivity. During sleep, the brains are very active. Data from some unconscious layers can appear during sleep in the form of dreams. When we awaken that very unconscious data can trigger sudden inspirations or déjà vu itself. What is sleep? Sleep is an active process in which the body repairs and regenerates itself, as our brains process and analyze the days awaken state of action. We experience four or five sleep cycles, which are made up of various stages or kinds of sleep. Each has its own unique characteristics and is designed to maintain health and prepare us for a new day. How much sleep? The amount of sleep needed to maintain health varies from individual to individual. Most newborn babies spend 80% of their time asleep. By the age of three to five months, babies need less sleep, and the requirement continues to decrease throughout life. Someone needing eight hours in middle age is likely to need only seven when they reach old age. The duration of sleep also changes as people grow older. By the age of 10, most people need between nine and 12 hours to sleep. The average for most adults is between seven and eight and a half hours. Some adults need as little as six hours, while others require as much as nine. In general, a pattern of decreasing sleep needs continues until old age when a more interrupted, infant-like pattern may re-emerge. The average person in the course of a lifetime will spend around 20 years asleep and experience at least 300,000 dreams. Sleeping and dreaming are active functions of the nervous system. People die more quickly from lack of sleep than they do from lack of food. A person kept awake for long periods becomes increasingly disoriented, starts hallucinating, and after about 10 days of total sleep deprivation usually dies. Many people, however, have survived years with little sleep. It has been demonstrated that both dreaming sleep and non-dreaming sleep are necessary to maintain health and vitality. Stages of Sleeping Sleep involves four distinct stages that combine to form the sleep cycle. During the first stage, the individual relaxes and drifts between sleeping and waking. In the second stage, the person can be woken by even slight disturbances. The eyes roll from side to side. During stage three the body is greatly relaxed and only a loud disturbance could wake the person up. These three stages together take about 20 minutes. In stage four the body’s tissues are repaired with the aid of growth hormone. After stage four the cycle goes into reverse but instead of waking up after stage one the person enters REM sleep and begins to dream. The cycle from stage one to four and back takes between 90 and 100 minutes. In the course of a night’s sleep, this cycle repeats itself between four and five times. Info: www.tcmpodcast.me
Medical Qigong
Aug 15 2022
Medical Qigong
Script: https://tcmpodcast.me/episode-13-medical-qigong/ Imagine ability to control all aspects of your given life energy as you wish, using only the power of your mind. To use it in such way in order to restore and maintain health, slow down aging, or protect yourselves against injury. Such ability is simply explained as understanding and knowing transformational processes in nature. Chinese culture calls it Qigong 气功. It’s a rare and somehow mystique discipline known to few. Practicing Qigong activates development of abilities to sense and control life energy known as qi. “Qi” 气 has numerous translations such as: the life force, the spirit breath, air, or oxygen. “Gong” 功 translates as: work, skill or accomplishments. We might translate Qigong as life energy workout. How about qi? Chinese believe that qi is our life energy. Qi has its limits and when we consume it up, we simply die. Traditionally Qigong practice is used in order to prevent illnesses, promote better quality and extend life. Qigong practice correspond to three categories of people: mere people, soldiers/athletes and spiritual people (monks, priests), and therefore Qigong is broadly divided as: Medical qigong, Martial art qigong, and Spiritual qigong. The largest category is Medical Qigong. It consists of exercises with aim to slow aging, prevent disease, and cure illnesses. The qi circulates along the body throw very specific channels known in Chinese as jing luo 经络. By Chinese point of view, health is represented by continuous, free, balanced, and harmonious flow of qi, throughout all parts of the body. Qigong practice requires control, and it involves breathing exercises, body postures, and mental meditation in order for qi to go back into proper circulation. Qi is flowing through body just like a blood does inside specific channels. Qigong meditation is basic training in developing the mental control to move your qi. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) believes that diseases appear due to malfunction/imbalance of flow of qi, either a blockage, deficiency or an excess. Traditional Chinese Medicine rose from the empirical observation of nature. It began more than 5000 years ago. Chinese civilization understands that we are part of the nature by mutual interconnection of body and mind, space and time, with dynamic process of constant change between man and nature. For the whole to function harmoniously, every part must remain in balance. Traditional Chinese Medicine is divided into four main branches: Acupuncture, Herbs and Food therapy (Chinese pharmacology and Dietology), Tuina - massage therapy (Orthopedics, chiropractics), and Medical Qigong (Physical exercises and Physical therapy). Info: www.tcmpodcast.me
Six Healing Sounds
Aug 9 2022
Six Healing Sounds
Script: https://tcmpodcast.me/episode-12-six-healing-sounds/ Music has one of the most prominent functions in Chinese culture for over 3000 years. Music has been used for all life and death situations. Confucius believed that music is the best way to teach people about social and moral ethics, such as showing appropriate social manners and being tolerant and respectful. Taoism believes that music promotes self-cultivation and self-realization, promoting people to achieve inner and outer balance. For over 2000 years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been using many non-traditional modalities of healing, such as music and sound therapy in order not only to diagnose and cure illnesses but also to treat soul-mind-body disorders. Traditional Chinese music therapy Music therapy has been widely used in China in dealing with mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, etc. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) the mental disorders are closely attached to emotional disorders. Music can influence emotions if the pitch, frequency, timbre, and volume are properly adjusted. Also, music can influence the flow of Qi – vital energy. In TCM, particular actions and emotions correspond and mutually affect different organs and body parts. In ancient China, one of music’s earliest purposes was for healing. It was believed that music has the power to heal the heart, enrich the mind, and harmonize a person’s soul. Hence the age-old saying: “Music before medicine”, (Chin. 樂先藥後, yuè xiān yào hòu). During the time of the Yellow Emperor (2698–2598 B.C.), people discovered the relationship between music, the five elements, and the human body’s five internal and five sensory organs. The Chinese character for “medicine” (藥 yào) even stems from the character for “music” (樂, yuè). TCM Music Therapy employs the theory of five phases and pentatonic musical scale in order to analyze and treat illnesses. The pentatonic music scale was firstly defined in Chapter of Music, from the Book of Rites (Chin. LI Ji 礼记) from 51 B.C. to 21 B.C. Chinese believe that the Pentatonic scale primary sounds are imprinted at the beginning of the universe, as that the humans and nature are the One. The music represents the bridge between the human body and the universe, and each human organ has its corresponding sound in nature. There are five scales and six characters in nature, and correspondingly in the human body exist five Zang-organs (yin in nature) and six Fu-organs (yang in nature). Chinese believe that elements in nature are made of five substances: earth, water, fire, wood, and metal. These five elements have various corresponding aspects, such as internal body organs, seasons, musical notes, color, etc. Chinese pentatonic music scale is composed from five notes or sounds — jiao, zhi, gong, shang, and yu — and is usually performed on classical Chinese musical instruments: - jiao note corresponds to the wood element and influences the liver; - zhi is linked to the fire element and is connected to heart and blood flow; - gong belongs to the earth element and has an influence on the spleen; - shang is linked to the metal element and nourishes the lung yin; - yu sound is linked to the water element and is connected to the kidney yin. In traditional Chinese medicine Shen (spirit) (Chin. 神) is the reflection of the vitality of the human body. Shen governs all psychological and physiological activities. Music is regarded as the best connection with Shen. In TCM, the psychological and physiological processes can be translated into Qi, blood, emotions and cognition. Info: www.tcmpodcast.me
Acupuncture anesthesia and Ping-Pong diplomacy
Jul 31 2022
Acupuncture anesthesia and Ping-Pong diplomacy
Script: https://tcmpodcast.me/episode-11-acupuncture-anaesthesia-and-ping-pong-diplomacy/ The availability and accurate application of existing information and therapeutic procedures are certainly the most important reasons for achieving tolerable perioperative analgesia, which means that it is now almost completely possible to eliminate unnecessary pain. Insufficient pain relief after surgery is described as morally and ethically unacceptable. Anesthesiology is a scientific discipline, a branch of clinical medicine, that studies the procedures of inducing insensitivity. The term anesthesia (Greek an estos - without feeling) means reduced sensitivity of the whole or individual parts of the body and is achieved by means that depress the nervous tissue locally or the CNS completely. Numerous terms have been used to denote nervous tissue depression (analgesia, hypnosis, anesthesia, sedation, etc.), which in fact represent the pharmacological basis of certain preparations. That is why it is accepted that we use the term anesthesia for any form of nervous tissue depression, distinguishing between general anesthesia and local anesthesia. General anesthesia should cause (but does not necessarily always cause) immobilization, relaxation. Local anesthesia is a procedure that causes insensitivity to pain in a particular part of the body by administering drugs that interrupt the conduction of impulses through nerves in that region. Mao Ze Dong initiated a plan for the development of Chinese medicine through the following phases: from 1945 to 1950. "Cooperation of Chinese and Western (modern) medicine", 1950 - 1953 "Teaching of modern medicine by Chinese doctors, 1954 - 1958" Teaching Chinese medicine from by doctors of modern medicine ”1950 - 1958 "Unification of Chinese and modern medicine", and finally in 1958, "Integration of Chinese and modern medicine" was initiated. Mao said: "In the future, there will be only one medicine guided by the principles and laws of dialectical materialism." When physicians decide on the best anesthesia technique for outpatient or day surgery, they must necessarily change their approach over traditional hospital general anesthesia. First, the patient must go home quickly and safely; secondly, the side effects that can be tolerated in our hospital settings, such as nausea, vomiting, and pain, are completely unacceptable in modern conditions and can potentially prolong discharge home and even result in unforeseen complications overnight. Acupuncture anesthesia is not a new concept in Chinese medicine. It is worth mentioning two doctors from the time of ancient China. In Chinese medicine, in the book Records of Great Historians (94 BC), Qin Yueren (407-310 BC) is mentioned as the first physician to use anesthesia in heart transplantation. The book states that Qin Yueren used acupuncture anesthesia. He is the most important physician of Chinese medicine and is considered the father of Chinese medicine and acupuncture. He is known in the literature under the nickname Bian Que. He lived at about the same time as Hippocrates (460-377 BC), the father of modern medicine. It is worth mentioning the doctor, surgeon Hua To (110-207 AD). He was the first Chinese doctor who found and perfected an anesthetic called Ma Fei San. This anesthetic is a combination of cannabis, wine and medicinal herbs. Dr. Hua It is usually compared in its virtuosity with the Indian doctor Jivaka who lived in the age of Buddha 500 BC and is considered the first surgeon in Chinese medicine to have valid surgical procedures in place. Until 1847, i.e. the arrival of Peter Parker in China, these two doctors did not have a worthy successor to mention. Info: www.tcmpodcast.me
The alchemy of poisons in Chinese medicine
Jul 24 2022
The alchemy of poisons in Chinese medicine
Script: https://tcmpodcast.me/epidose-10-the-alchemy-of-poisons-in-chinese-medicine/ At first glance, medicine and poisons seem to belong to opposite sides. However, in China’s pharmacology, poisons are widely used as healing properties. At some point, it emerged the idea that the usage of strong poisons can contribute to enhancing life or even regaining immortality. Chinese medicine doctors patented medical techniques in order to apply the right amount of poison for medical purposes. Chinese medicine classified poisons according to their healing power but not toxicity, which was second of importance. A traditional saying in China express their fundamental view of poisons: Use poison as an antidote.(Chin. yi du gong du以毒攻毒 ) In ancient China, it was popular using poison to cure poison. To accomplish that goal Chinese used to drink realgar wine which contains arsenic sulfide. A popular custom they practiced in order to protect themselves was wearing Five poisons amulets (Chin. wǔdú qián五毒錢), which contained pictures of the 5 poisonous animals (snakes, scorpions, centipedes, toads, and spiders). Greek physician Pedanius Dioscorides wrote De Materia Medica (50-70 CE) which is the foundation pharmacopeia of medicinal plants in Western pharmacology and contains more than sixty toxic drugs, such as opium poppy, mandrake, and hemlock, collected to treat diseases. Unlike Greek medicine which prescribed poisons regarding their toxicity, Chinese medicine, prescribed drugs because they contain poisons. Du (Chin.毒) – historically has two equally important meanings in China, a healing toxic and a poison. It exists different concepts of well-being in ancient China and contemporary times. Chinese pharmacology in its foundation sees a completely materialistic world as useful in the scope of healing. Chinese medicine incorporates mild procedures, e.g. food therapy, with the function to balance the body, mind and spirit, and connect it to the universe, and use toxic drugs that might brutally destroy or expel pathogenic agents. Throughout history, Chinese medicine doctors have often used herbal and mineral substances containing du. Aconite (Chin. Fuzi 附子), for instance, is a very toxic herb grown in southwestern China and is in fact one of the most frequently prescribed drugs in Chinese medicine. Chinese doctors in ancient times included many toxic substances in the drugs in order not only to cure but also to extend life. It was a popular belief that it's possible to shape the transformation of the body into higher states of being and achieve longevity. Such a process included purification of the body, and the highest goal to attain was immortality. Most of the drugs used for the higher purpose could be used regularly on a daily scale, such as minerals, cinnabar, arsenic, and sulfur. Info: www.tcmpodcast.me