July 2006 Newsletter,

In this newsletter I begin a short series of articles on the season of summer and the associations that the summertime has with the heart in Chinese medicine.

But first a couple of items on tea and qigong.

Pu-erh Tea from China I regularly drink Pu-erh tea and have been wanting to offer it to clients in the office for its health benefits. While there are some good teas available in the Bay Area, high grade Pu-erh tea is generally not sold outside of China, where it has become extremely popular. I am excited to have found a reputable supplier in China that is willing to ship high grade Pu-erh to the U.S., so I will soon be offering a premium Pu-erh called Palace Pu-erh (Gongting Pu-erh, literally "Royal Court Pu-erh"). As the name suggests, this is the type of Pu-erh that was served to high ranking officials in the palaces of China. Pu-erh Tea is a type of tea that is fermented and aged - it is actually the only tea that improves with age. Many people are collecting this type of tea to age, just as they would with wine. The Palace Pu-erh has been aged 8 years and is suitable for storing and aging further. Within Chinese medicine, Pu-erh tea is said to benefit the digestion, transform dampness and promote the normal movements of the blood and body fluids. In modern China it is commonly recommended to improve the digestion, address high cholesterol and regulate the weight. And, perhaps most importantly, it has a wonderful and distinct taste that often brings me back to drink it twice a day! I will have more details on the tea in the next newsletter. You can also contact me for more information. Medical Qigong It looks like the next Foundations of Medical Qigong workshop will be in early September. For continuing students I am planning on having a 2 hour class in late September. I should have the specific dates and information within the next few weeks. Visit our Update Page Here.

Summer: Season of the Heart Summertime is characterized by the full development of qi, which radiates warmth and vitality. This expanded phase of energy is associated with the heat of the midday sun, the Southern quadrant, the full moon and the Fire Element, all being expressions of the yang movement of the Heavens. Within the body this movement is expressed through the heart. "The Heart holds the office of lord and master, the radiance of the spirits stems from it." -Neijing Suwen, chapter 8 In the imperial court of ancient China the Emperor sat facing the South, governing with an authority based on Tian Ming, the Mandate of Heaven. This mandate could only be preserved through inner cultivation and personal refinement. Within the metaphorical kingdom of the body, the heart is seen as the Sovereign or Emperor, housing the spirits and radiating the warmth and light of the fire of life. Within its role as Emperor, the heart has two aspects. The first aspect is internal; this is the spaciousness or clear emptiness of the heart that keeps the spirits calm and secure. This aspect of the heart is like the Emperor within the Forbidden City, where calm spaciousness is preserved to maintain the inspiration of the Heavens. The second aspect is that of an active ruler, governing all the movements of the Empire with skill. This is the more external aspect of the heart. It is called Xin Zhu in Chinese, the master or governor for the heart. It is through this outer aspect that the heart governs the activities and transformations throughout the body. The summer is a perfect time for nourishing these two aspects of the heart. In the next newsletter I'll have some specific recommendations for the summertime. In the meantime, enjoy the warmth and vitality of the summer and spend a little time in stillness, listening to the spaciousness of your heart. Visit our newsletter archive to see previous newsletters.

As always, feel free to contact me with any thoughts or questions.

With best wishes for a healthy summer,

Sean