Erle Montaigue receives many questions by email mainly, but also by phone and letter. Those that are deemed to be of help also to others will be listed in these pages. Come back regularly as we are updating this section daily.
Q&A General Section One
Q&A General Section Two
Q&A General Section Three
Q&A General Section Four
Please note that your name will also be given as the questioner
unless you ask otherwise.
| 52: Balancing the body using food. | 51: Weight Loss and Cooling diet. | 50: Qigong & Diabetes | 49: Eczema & Skin Problems |
| 48: Diabetes | 47: Kidneys & High Blood Pressure | 46: Asthma | 45: Qigong & Insomnia |
| 44: Qigong & Meditation, High Blood Pressure | 43: Fasting | 42: Damage in Sparring | 41 Gall Bladder Removal? |
Q: -----Original Message----- From: Jeremy Date: Saturday, June 13, 1998 1:16 AM Subject: Dear Erle > >Dear Erle, > > > > What do some of these cryptic >Taiji saying mean!!! "Have a shoulder like soy bean milk" Does this an >have absolutely no muscle in your shoulder!!! > > > Is having big muscles a >detriment to Taiji, I can't see how, if someone was strength training as >they were practicing Taiji, the muscles shouldn't get un-coordinated or >stiff. In Taiji they say to have no tension but in low stances a >person's legs naturally tense to hold their body weight. > > > A lot of so-called masters >are dying young of heart attacks these days! All they do is a slow form >and they think that that's all they need, a person needs external as >well as internal cultivation to be truly healthy, a few of them even go >so far as to say that cardiovascular exercise is bad!!!!!!!!!!! > > > >Kind Regards, > Jer.
A: Dear Jer, In just the same way that Yang Cheng-fu died young of ill health, so too do those who believe that they can get by on only slow movements, the yin side! They usually beome ill from 'Yin Dullness' a disease state taken on from doing too much yin exercise or eating too much yin food etc. However, it is also said that if you change taiji in any way, then it will be to your detriment! Hence the detriment in health of many modern so-called masters! They have forgotten to include the 'hard' side of taiji! And only practice Cheng-fu's form and have left out the cannon fist forms that go with it and the good hard push hands workout in favour of the softly, softly push hands. Lu-ch'an's form gives you a good aerobic workout. Taijiquan has all you ever need in the way of heart exercise etc. and muscle tone, provided that you do ALL of taiji and not just a small part of it. My advice to people looking for a Taiji class is this. After you rfirst lesson, if you are able to walk out of there OK and have not felt that you have done a good workout, then leave that class! I can remember my first Taiji lesson and not being able to walk unaided down the ten or so steps after class! Kind Regards Erle.
Q: -----Original Message----- From: Pete To: montaigue@ozemail.com.au Date: Saturday, June 13, 1998 10:55 PM Subject: SINUSITIS >Dear Erle >My wife has suffered from Sinusitis for some years and has recently >undergone surgery for the removal of a nasal polyp and for the drainage >of her sinuses, she has been diagnosed as having severley infected nasal >tissue and as a result has little or no sense of taste or smell. Iwas >wondering if you could recommend any penetrative breathing or facial >massage techniques that might be employed to alleviate the condition. >Kind regards >Pete>
A: Dear Peter, I wish you had asked this question before the operation! The sinuses are affected by the general health of the lungs. Indeed the whole of the nose is. She should give up ALL dairy products NOW! As well as meat products. The condition will come back if she continues to eat these things. The green leafy vegetables and fruit should be taken in copious amounts as well as the following specifically for the sinuses. Radish is especially good for clearing the sinuses. Its regular use will prevent the common cold and viral infections as well as clearing thick mucus conditions and the sinuses. It is a utility food that does much. Sulfur is also good for sinus problems.
She could take a sulfur supplement such as MSM available from Brian Rees, POB 57878 Jax. PL 32241, USA (Ph: 904-731-2555). Sulfur is the fourth largest occurring mineral in the body. However, you could also simply eat TURNIPS. Turnips are used in China to treat lung imbalances and are high in supfur and hence treat sinus problems, it is a member of the mustard family. Garlic is also excellent. The sides of the nose should be gently massaged away from the nose to the sides. Gently because of the operation! Kind Regards Erle.
Q: From: Liv To: montaigue@ozemail.com.au Date: Thursday, June 18, 1998 2:54 AM Subject: hayfever > >Dear Erle > >I was wondering if you know of any remedies that would help hayfever >sufferers? I have had it since age 11 and as you can imagine at 25 I >have by now built up a resistance to all the available Pharmaceutical >remedies. >in recent years I haven't taken anything bar pollen tablets this year >which have not helped. > >Would any of the foods you advised the sinusitis sufferer to eat help? > >with thanks > >Liv >p.s Mark (England) says thank you for the advice and that he is >learning by the day. >p.p.s best of luck with your preparations to move to Wales.
A: Dear Liv, Thanks for your message and message from Mark. OK, you have to give up all dairy and possibly all meat products. It's not the amount of dairy you eat but the 'molecule'!! Many people say to me that they only take a small amount of dairy so that cannot be the problem! But it is not the amount that you eat but the switch that the molecule in dairy turns on in your body that counts, so it can be like 1/4 teaspoon of milk and that will turn on a switch that will cause much larger things to happen. Dairy prevents the body from getting rid of the residuals from meat eating and it takes at the least, 6 months of dairy-free to get rid of these. Garlic eliminates toxins from the body and is beneficial in treating hay fever. It must however be taken for several weeks. Citrus seed extract is also great for treating hay fever. It can be obtained in capsule form. Good luck with it, I hope this helps. Erle.
Q: From James, USA: Dear Sifu, can you please give a qigong or anything that will increase the 'libido'. Or any qigong for the sexual organs in general will do.
A: Dear James, it all depends upon why you want to increase your libido (sexual drive). To increase the sexual drive is also to increase the power of your kidney jing and this is good for health. So often, people will come to me with low libido but also have other symptoms like being lethargic and not able to get up and do anything etc. For these people I prescribe the 'sex qigong' which is not only to increase the libido but also to increase the kidney jing and to balance it out. By doing this, you will become healthier and have a more active and productive sex life.
You must also keep in mind that a healthy sex life does not mean simply doing it ten times per night! This is NOT a healthy sex life! A healthy sex life means making love and not just having sex! It means being aware of your partner's needs and not just your own. It means two people melting as one, yin and yang move together to form the whole. In this way sex can be used to gain good health. But if you are thinking of base thoughts while sexing, etc., in order to get a bigger and better hit, then this will only make you ill as in the case of diabetes caused from too much kidney jing being depleted. If you find that you MUST have sex each day, then you must change your ways or you will be in big trouble later in life. Sex is like food, if we do not eat much, then even the humble potato tastes like manner from heaven if we are really hungry. However if we are eating richer and more food each day, then the potato no longer satisfies. You are eating to satisfy your taste buds and not your body. Same with love making, if you are only doing it to satisfy your penis or clitoris, then you must change. You are not listening to your body as to when is the correct time for love making. And there are certain definite times when you MUST do it! At these times, sex is real love and it's the best sex you and your partner will ever have. But do it every day, and it becomes a chore and you have to find better and better sexual hits like using fruit!! And other so called 'marital aids'!
So on to the qigong to help with sexual problems. This works for men and women. Sit on a kitchen chair so that your feet can be flat on the floor and your back can be straight and vertical. Place both of your palms onto the insides of both knees as if trying to push the knees outward. Inhale deeply but not forced, right down to the tantien and make like you are breathing in through your Kidney 1 points. (K1 is the only point on the base of the foot between the big toe mount and the second toe mount). breathe in through K1 right up and into your tantien. Imagine that the qi is going through your sexual organs. At this stage some people can experience an erection of penis or clitoris. As you exhale, deeply, force both knees apart and insert one big banana! No just joking! Open both knees apart as you bend forward at your waist so that your head goes as far to your knees as possible. Imagine that the breath is now moving from the tantien point through your sexual organs and out of K1. Hold this position for a count of 7 if you can but any amount of time is OK. as you inhale again, breathe in through the K1 point through the sexual organs and into the tantien again as you sit back up.
Women must repeat this exercise 7 times while men must do it for 8 times. However, there is a warning. If you feel and sickly feeling at all, you must desist until a different time of the day! You will find that you will feel very 'horny' at first but as you get up to the 7th or 8th time, you will just feel good as this is the kidney jing beginning to balance out and cause a whole feeling of well-being.
Q: John wrote: (School of Science, Ireland) Erle, Thanks for the reply on that. You have now sat at computers writing for long hours I'm sure and feel that fatigue that comes with it., Any points to work on or chi kungs to re-charge. This is probably a very relevant question for today's warriors.
A: Dear John, There is a qigong for rejuvenation instantly. However, it is a bit difficult to teach by Email, but I will try. Stand in the normal standing qigong position. Feet parallel sinking the qi to tantien. take a breath not tense but full right down to the tantien and raise your arms up over your head at shoulder's width. As you explode your breath (exhale), you bend down into a squat as you violently throw your relaxed (sung) arms downwards making sure that your finger do not crash into the floor! Continuing, and flowingly, once you are down into the squat, lower your head (arse up) and the hands continue their movement so that they end up pointing upwards towards the ceiling. In other words, the arms are bent backwards like as if someone has you in the wrestling hold of 'the surfboard'! This should be in one flowing movement, you should not stop when you get to the squat position. Slowly and deliberately, inhale as you reverse this procedure but SLOWLY back up to the normal standing position. If I have enough room, I could put video on here couldn't I. I have this qigong on one of my "Moments of Magic" tapes, but do not know which one as I have so many! I lost count of my own tapes at No. 82! Kind Regards Erle
Q: From Darrin Coe, CO, USA: Greetings Erle, my wife and I are now at the point at which we want to start a family. My wife would like to know what you would recommend as far as herbs that would be beneficial during a pregnancy, any contraindictions, and any type of regimen you would recommend, herbal speaking of course. Kindest Regards Darrin F. Coe
A: Dear Darrin, I am of the school that pregnancy is not an illness and that it is the most miraculous thing that anyone can experience, both doing and on-looking! The most amazing experience for our first two children was to see their little sister born as we had all of ours at home. No problems with the 'birds and the bees' etc., there it si and out it comes, they have known about sex from a very early age as they have seen where babies come from, not under pumkin patches! Your family will now be whole as will yourself and your wife. I believe that if a woman is healthy and eating the correct food for humans, as given by 'God', then she doesn't need any other herbs. However, slippery elm is one traditional one that is beneficial to the birth. You will find though that if she is doing taijiquan and qigong that the baby will come early as ours have all done. My wife was infact doing her taijiquan and qigong right up until contractions began! In fact with Ben our eldest, we were at a Chinese cinema watching a Chinese martial arts film! She was doin the park two days later practicing again. It also helps at contractions to have her hold a comb of the hair variety and squeeze it into her palm with the teeth going straight across the middle of her palm as these points are traditionally used to help with the pain of contractions.
Mate, you have one hell of an experience coming up. YOU will be worst for wear though after having gone through it all with her.
Pregnancy There are several herbs which have been famous throughout history for preparing mothers for childbirth. Herbs can shorten labor and lessen the likelihood of complications both throughout pregnancy and in childbirth. The most used of these is in Europe is Raspberry (Rubus idaeus). A doctor writing in the Lancet (a British medical journal) said of raspberry leaf tea; Somewhat shamefacedly I have encouraged expectant mothers to drink this infusion. In a great many cases labor has been free and easy from muscular spasm. Rubus idaeus leaves have a mildly soothing, astringent and tonic action. They help to quell nausea and are slightly sedative. Most importantly, they have a particular affinity for the uterus, and act to strengthen the uterine and pelvic muscles and help to prevent miscarriages. In addition they tone the mucous membranes throughout the body, soothe the kidneys and urinary tract and help to prevent hemorrhage. They have been principally used to encourage a safe, easy and speedy childbirth, and afterwards to help milk production and speed recovery from the birth. In the uterus the action of raspberry leaves is both relaxant and astringent. The relaxant properties tend to predominate and bring about tonic relaxation of the smooth muscle of the uterus, which acts to reduce the pain of uterine contractions at labor.
Q: From Giancarlo, Switzerland: My girlfriend thanks for the meridian balancing massage and she asked me if I could ask you if you have a Qi gong that can alleviate her menstrual problems. I would greatly appreciate it if you could answer the question in your q&a section! Thanks again for the great benefits I continue to gain by following your advices. Best regards Giancarlo Tomio Switzerland.
A: Dear Giancarlo. Try the qigong that I have given above for the genital organs, but tell her to desist if any sick feeling happens. You really have to look at the whole person where period pain is concerned. Dairy products are not good for this! You could also grab and press inwards onto KD 5 on the achilles tendon but be careful as this point is particularly tender at these times and you might find yourself with a kick to the groin! Also, by pressing inwards between the two vertebra that are just above the sacrum will help. I have seen miraacles as far as period pain just by changing the diet. Kind Regards Erle.
Q: From: Ray, Chicago Sent: Friday, June 19, 1998 9:26 AM To: Erle Montaigue Subject: Second try....On big toe question Hi Erle, I think somehow I messed up and my original message did not get sent. If it did please forgive the inconvenience!! My question was...Can raising your big toes off of the ground be beneficial? i.e. balance yin and yang or enhance Chi flow etc? I know of the exercise in MTG 10 in which we pull the big toes off of the ground to stimulate K-1. Would simply raising them while sitting or standing improve mental acuity etc? I have heard that it can. Thanks, hope you and yours are well ! Ray/Chicago
A: Dear Ray, Yes, however, you must also press K 1 into the ground when you do this to enhance the effect upon K 1. There is a whole Qigong method revolved around raising the big toe and pressing the ball of the foot down while walking. This Qigong was invented by at the request of the Chinese Government in about 1972 so that anyone could gain the benefits of some kind of Qigong easily. It involves walking on the spot. For instance, you have your left foot forward, then roll your weight onto it pressing the ball of the foot down while raising the big toe as the rear foot's heel is also raised and the K 1 of that foot is also pressed down. Then you roll the weight back to the rear foot and lift both balls of the foot so that both heels are pressed into the ground thus 'activating' K 1 as the heels are the activation point for K 1. You must however, never place weight onto K 1 for any length of time static. The arms also swing from side to side like and elephant's trunk, to the side that you front foot is on when moving forward and the opposite side, shoulder height each time, when you sit back. Kind Regards Erle
Q:Subject: Painful elbows Hi Erle, Good luck on your move to Wales. At least you will be closer to the U.S. as I intend to make a seminar whenever possible. I now have a problem with my elbows. Both hurt on the medial aspect; the tenderest point seems to be on the muscle insertion on the forearm. I've just finished Shiatsu clinic during my training so I'm thinking it may be some type of overuse syndrome. Also, my instructor has always told me to keep arms straight and use body weight during treatments. I'd like to bend my elbows slightly as I don't want to block qi flow. What do you think the problem is? Thanks, Randall.
A: Dear Randall, Yes, it's the old tennis elbow or R.S.I. or overuse! You must be sure that when punching that you do not hyper-extend your elbows! Tendons are related to the Liver. So you must work upon your liver. You must not over-eat. And that means having a feeling of hunger, still after just eating! You must not eat fatty foods, dairy and meat! Eat only whole foods with plenty of roughage. Drink dandelion tea or coffee. And eat plenty of apples, green varieties. Do not drink tea. Tea grown in soil that is rich in aluminium which is really bad for your tendons! Apart from all that, just rest the arms for a while, the body has amazing recuperative powers given the chance. Kind Regards Erle
Q: From: Jakub . Subject: health problem Dear Erle, I'm looking for your suggestion on a health problem. My granfather suffers from herpes zooster and often he can't even talk for the pain. I would appreciate anything that you could suggest that could help him. Thanks, Jakub
A: Dear Jakub, Herpes Zoster (shingles) mostly appears in those over 50 years. Usually, one bout will confer immunity with only 4% of all recipients getting it again! However, the pain associated with the disease can last for years in the elderly! To combat this, you father MUST change his whole lifestyle and that is always difficult for the elderly. All sugar (white processed) should be eliminated as well as fats of the animal kind. He should also take "Hypericum Perforatum" (St John's Wort) which is available in most health stores as a supplement. This herb deals with viral infections and pain associated with such infections. In other words, he has to get not only fit but also healthy! These diseases will attack anyone who has had chicken pox in childhood once their immune systems are not so healthy into older age. This should not be the case however as we should be healthy right up until the day we die! However, 20th century living depletes our qi as we grow older at a higher rate than nornally expected. Kind Regards Erle Montaigue
Q Subject: Diabetic Complications From Joshua: Good Day Erle! I am Joshua. I have a friend who has recently had to come to terms with her health. A diabetic of many years, she went blind, in her left eye, four weeks ago. This blindness was brought on by ruptured blood vessels. Until recently she has not tried any "alternative" approaches to her life, though I do believe that she is now ready. I am writing to you as you too are diabetic and I am hoping that you will be able to share some of your experience to help her help herself. She is at the point of accepting that she will have to make dietary changes and would be open to qigong as well. My own qigong practice is not yet at a place where I am able to teach her to do it well, and she is still coming to terms with being blind in one eye, avoiding going out as she processes this experience. Though her vision begins to return as the blood is absorbed by her system, blood vessels are continuing to break, with black splotches marring her view. I appreciate your time, and welcome all insights. Joshua
A: Dear Joshua, My own Mother died of Diabetes complications! And I am forever mad with my self for not being able to help her! At their age, it is very difficult for old people to change anything as they are so set in their ways. And you must also remember that parents know you as their baby, so how could you possibly know anything more than their doctor! That's the way it is and it is sad that it is this way.
The saddest thing of all is that diabetes is one of the easiest to treat deadly diseases of all, it just requires some great will power! So, if she is willing to listen, she could have her condition completely under control within 6 weeks. She has to give up all dairy, meat and fat products! Especially the fat! Sugar products bring up the BSL rapidy but it is fat, especially animal fats, but also vegetabloe fats that stop the body from metabolising sugar properly. So, for me, fat ist he worst thing. And of course she has to give up all sucrose and sugar cane products! All honey and the only sweetener she should take is either small amounts o fruit sugar or a herb called "Stevia Rabaudiana" which is native of Paraguay and is sold in the USA as a commercial product.
Supplements that she will also have to have are: Chromimum GTF (Glucose Tolerance Factor), Zinc, Taurine, Choline, Vanadium, and Lipoic Acid. All of these can be found however, in the product called "Optimum D" available from the company called "VRP (Vitamin Research Products) in the USA.
She will also have to get a product (herb) called Gymnema Sylvestre which means "Sugar Destroyer". It is also available commercially now from the USA in either tea form or tablet form. This herb has Gymnemic acid in it as its active ingredient and the molecule of which mimics the glucose molecule filling up the glucose receptors in your stomach and intestines so that any real glucose is passed through and does not lift the BSL. She has to have blood monitoring device which I guess she already has so that she can monitor her blood sugar level to keep it under 8 mmol. And preferable under 7. If her blood sugar level is over 8 then she has to do some exercise to bring it down. She has to eat lettuce, soy products but not the soy that has included in its recipe, matodextrin such as that which is in soy milk. She has to eat a few apricots as they are the lowest on the Glycemic index, which means that the sugar from things that are low on this scale take longer to assimilate into the blood so the BSL stays down.
Only small amounts of whole meal bread (I do not eat any bread at all, not any wheat products!). She has to eat fruit of the colder climate variety such as stone fruits and not take any tropical fruits such as mangoes or the herb called banana (Banana is not a fruit!). If she eats potatoes, she should only eat small amounts and of the 'Pontiac' variety (red in colour) as they are the lowest on the GI scale. Onions are good as is cabbage and any bitter foods such as garlic and grapefruit and lemoms as they bring the BSL down. Get her onto my "Power Breakfast" already listed in this site as this will give her the energy needed without bringing up the BSL. And if you can get to a Chinese herbalist and get her some "Wolf Berries" these are also wonderful for treating the disease and taste great as well. If she can do these things, then she will control her BSL so that the side effects will be greatly lessened. Remember also that fruit is the most beneficial complex carbohydrate food. You can live on apples forever if you eat the whole fruit including the seeds. There is a company in Australia that makes wonderful herbal products including a 4000 mg tablet of Gymnema Sylvestre! It's new technology as until now, we have only been able to get this in capsule form of up to 400 mg! I can supply these if you wish. Kind Regards Erle Montaigue
Q: Ray, Chicago: Subject: Atrial fibrillation Hi Erle, It has been awhile since I e-mailed you about anything. But now I have another health question for you. A very good friend of mine has had atrial fibrillation for quite awhile now. The doctors don't seem to know what to do about it. I wonder what kind of doctors we have now days, I have read of many things that can be done. In any case here is the situation. He is in his fifties, and smokes. He says that when he exerts himself or smokes the problem goes away. It only seems to occur when he is relaxed. His theory (and the so called doctor) is that the nicotine speeds up the heart rate and therefore suppresses the symptoms as well a psychologically relaxing him. I was with him the other day and I took his pulse, he told me exactly when his pulse skipped then doublebeat then returned to normal. He is thinking of using the nicotine patch to keep the symptom suppressed and at the same time quit smoking. I suggested that he exercise and that he might have a potassium deficiency and to have the doctor check his potassium levels etc. I also suggested vitamin supplements might be beneficial. He works long hours and does not necessarily eat healthy. He told me that one day he expended himself in doing some physical activity around the house for several hours and felt great, but as soon as he sat down and relaxed the fibrillation's returned. He also said that after chain smoking three cigarettes the symptoms go away for awhile. Can you offer any help here?
A: Dear Ray, Arterial Fibrillation (Arrhythmia) is often due to a lung ailment and is enhanced by alcohol and smoking etc. IT could be simply that he is so used to smoking and needs that nico hit, that he is stressed out when he does not smoke. This is usually the case in this situation. He has to treat his lungs and heart. So he should be taking Hawthorn Berry as a supplement in either capsule form or tablet form. He should also be taking the herb called "Convallaria or the common name is "Lilly of the Valley". It is widely distributed over Europe and the USA and is indigenous to Great Britain. The dried leaves are used to control Arrhythmia. HE should give up the smoking, however, this will have an adverse effect upon his heart for a short while while he gets over that craving and the tension caused by it! I am continually amazed at doctors who actually prescribe cigarettes! He should eat more fruit and vegetables and exercise. All the same old stuff. When will people learn? Kind Regards Erle. Therapeutic Applications: Action: Cardioactive Digitalis-like action. Indications: Arrhythmia. Congestive heart failure. Oedema of cardiac origin. Cardiac asthma. Specific Indications: Congestive heart failure with dropsy.
Subject: Question about Food for Spirit First of all I like a lot of your stuff. I have some questions about why stuff is not good for you. Why is peanuts are not good for you, and eggs? Thanks Michael
Dear Michael, Peanuts have high amounts of oxalic acid in them, and as such damage your liver! They are NOT nuts by the way, as all real nuts grow on trees and are good for you in small amounts. All nuts however, cause constipation with the only exception being walnuts. Peanuts cause great constipation! Eggs are OK if eaten raw! Eaten raw, eggs combat cholesterol , but cooked they are one of the highest in bad cholesterol! They are also just too high in protein for human beings! Kind Regards Erle.
From Chris: London: Subject: Re: Tai Chi-What else! Dear Erle, I hope you are well. I do enjoy visting your site as there is just so much good information in there. May I first of all say that I was moved by your article, 'The Last K.O'. This is one of the wisest pieces of writing I have read in the martial arts in many years. If you continue in this vein you should live to be 100! There are a couple of questions I would like to ask you:- 1. Is there, anywhere in print, a good history of the internal arts and the masters thereof. From various books and articles, I have gleaned snippets of information on Yang Lu Chan, The Chens, Chang San Feng and others. But is there any comprehensive history available? 2. On a far more mundane note. You seem to have a vast store of knowledge on many aspects of health & healing, which is much appreciated. You also have a great deal of hair! My question is-do you know of any methods to reverse or slow hair loss. I know this is not a health issue as such, but I have become rather attached to my hair over the years and would rather keep some of it. I am not greedy. A light covering will do! Thank you for your valuable time. Chris
A: Dear Chris, Unfortunately, back in the days of Yang Lu-ch'an, they never thought that their arts would be world-famous. And indeed they did not wish to be hence the lack of definite information as to history. No-one ever wrote anything down due to the fact that most of the genius who invented these forms were illiterate. There were a few schooled people however, such as Wang T'sung-yeuh who wrote down everything,… except the history! I have written just about all that there is available from my conversations with the Hung Family in Hong Kong as they were always good friends with the Yang Family and Yang Lu-ch'an and this appears in my books on Dim-Mak. Many do not accept this history as they do not wish to accept that the arts that they teach are so deadly, nor so health giving. Most people lose hair, those who aren't on drugs that cause this, from a gene which causes it. There is a new tablet on the market in Australia that causes this gene not to do what it does! It is also beneficial in the treatment of prostate cancer! In 80% of cases hair grew back in 6 months to one year with one tablet per day. I'm sure that the tablet will be on the market in your country soon if not now? Kind Regards Erle.
Q: : Dear Erle, How can I give up smoking! Regards, Frank.
A: Dear Frank, Thanks for your message. Mate, I gave up smoking when I was about 19 as I was a rock singer and was told that I would have throat cancer by 30 if I kept smoking. So that was enough incentive fro me! So that should be enough for you too! Frank, you WILL die of a horrible disease if you keep smoking!! It's as sure as the nose on your face. The anti-smoking points are those that are on the ear lobe. You cold have a semi-permanent acupuncture stud put in there or just keep squeezing it when you have the urge. But the main thing is that YOU would be strong. Think of it this way. You are a martial artist, but you are allowing a chemical to control your life! You will not believe how GOOD you will feel both physically and mentally once you conquer it. DO IT. Kind Regards Erle.
Q: From: Andrew Subject: healing Dear Mr. Montaigue: I have been participating in the Martial Arts for a while, but have recently started taken up Tai Ch'i. I have demonstrations of people using their ch'i, and after I have read your work on the Internet I have some questions. I hope that they can be answered. 1. I had a toe infection for almost 9 months, and it just wont go away. The doctors gave me medicine that didn't work and my family doesn't have enough money (plus I don't want surgery) to afford surgery. I have been soaking it and it's getting better but it's taking forever. And I know after reading those FAQ that chi kung or different types of food help, and I hope that you can help. 2. My mother has been complaining that her chest/heart sometimes hurt. And I'm writing this because she is scared to death of doctors, and all havoc breaks loose when we try to take her to one. I hope that after reading these that you could give us some advice on what to do. I sorry to have bothered you with such a long letter. Many Thanks, Andy
A: Dear Andy, Thank you for your E-mail. For your toe, you should get some Tea Tree oil and bathe it in that every morning and evening. The infection is not going away because you must have a low immune system. You will have to give up all animal products including dairy. You will have to eat garlic. Eat plenty of 'C' vitamin fruits such as grapefruit and oranges etc. You will have to get a NON-Fluoride toothpaste and Drink only purified water that has had the fluoride taken out! Fluoride damages your immune system. You have too much 'heat' in your body so you must eat foods that are 'cooling' in nature like apples. Avoid all coffee, alcohol, red meat, cigarettes. If you must take animal products, then goat's milk is preferred. Sunflower seeds should be taken for their nutritional value and for the calcium. Apples, bananas, pears, watermelon, tomato and all citrus are to be eaten regularly. Your infection should clear up in no time using this method. For your Mother, well this is easy but difficult. Easy because it is a simple change of diet and life-style that will fix her, difficult because she is probably set in her ways by now! She too must take regular exercise like at least a 20 minute walk each day. She must also eat more fruit and green leafy vegetables and give up all animal products. She could take a supplement called, "Hawthorn Berry" as this is the king of all heart herbs. It will help to reduce cholesterol. Kind Regards Erle.
Q: Subject: cure migraine >Dear Erle > >I have a problem or I can say that the one with the problem is my mother. >She has now migrain as usual as she has every month. >But the migraine she gets is of the worst kind because >she is incapable of doing anything except moan, throwing up and have the >shivers. >I have asked you about other things and you have always answered my >questions, >but of all thing I want to ask and have an answer of are the above one the >most >important. Please help my mother as I hope that you know something that can >help her. >Please!!!! > >Kind Regards > >Conny >
A: Dear Conny, Research has been done on 'Omega-3 Oils and Migrain awith startling results. Plant type Omega-3 oils can be found in flax seed oil (linseed) which can be purchased from your health store. One tablespoon full each morning should help greatly. Of course she HAS to look at her diet! All milk products should be iliminated from the diet and if possible all meat products. She should eat only apples for at least one day to clean her whole system out especially the liver and gall bladder. Kind Regards Erle.
Q: From Tom: Subject: Tai Chi > Erle, > I keep wondering about something, and would like you to clear it up > for me. I imagine chi as the life force constantly circulating through > the body involutarily similar to the blood or the nerve impulses. > Maybe I'm wrong about that, and that's the problem. This is kind of a > digression, but I seem to remember reading somewhere in the Old > Testament about the prohibition of eating blood because it contained > the life force. That's not necessarily a contradiction, but I read > that you're a Christian and wanted your thoughts on this. What I'm > having trouble understanding is why chi is "activated" two hours at a > time in different parts of the body. Does this mean that there is no > chi flowing to the other parts when this is happening? If so, does > this mean that there isn't enough chi to go around? I can't imagine > this being the case. Maybe I have the wrong idea of what you mean by > activated. Do you mean more concentrated or that the chi is actually > only active in that meridian or organ or whatever at a certain time of > the day? I'm also wondering how the ancient Chinese actually conceived > this system of meridians when they are not visible. I heard once that > experiments were done on convicts. I'm sorry to be bombarding you with > all of this at once, but I'm trying to get this straight in my head. I > have no problem conceiving a life force and even a source of such > regardless of what one may call that. But the meridians and the > timetable of chi working in the body are messing with my mind. Please > enlighten me. > > Tom
A: Dear Tom, You have to distinguish between 'activation' and flow! The Qi never ceases to flow, if it did then death is near! It's just that every two hours a certain organ is activated into action by the Qi being active in that meridian at that time. For instance between 3 and 5 am the Lung meridian is activated causing us to wish to get up and do things. Then the colon is activated causing us to wish to go to the toilet. So it is not that the Qi is not flowing in the other eleven main meridians, it is just that it is less active until each meridian in succession receives its particular activation, like the heart is active between qq and 1 pm causing us to be most active at this time which is normal. Blood and Qi go hand in hand and where the blood goes, the Qi follows. Back in the days of writing of the Bible no-one knew of such things as Qi, only of blood, hence that saying. Although I am sure that Jesus k new all about Qi as it is my belief that he studied in India for many years, (the missing years). Electricity is the most basic of all energy and is basic to all life and indeed the whole Universe. So Qi is electricity.
Q: Dear Erle, >I've read your Q & A section on the internet and have noticed that a few >writers have referred to your advice on getting sleep. However, I have not >found that advice in Q & A. I have recently developed poor sleeping habits _ >either I have insomnia or I sleep 10 _ 12 hours or I sleep in intervals of 1 >to 2 hours throughout the day. your help would be greatly appreciated. >Also, have you produced any tapes or books on spinal qigong? >Also, I have recently ordered MTG 50 & MTG 81 on Dim Mak & am looking forward >to beginning training. I hope to eventually study the A to Z series. Will you >or do >you plan to produce a healing series A to Z? Sorry for all the questions at >once. >Thank you for your time . >Regards, >Brian >
Q: Dear Brian, Thanks for your E-mail, I do have something on insomnia and sleep disorders?? Somewhere? My site is so large now that I do not know where to search myself! However, there is a qigong for insomnia which works wonders for others who have tried it. You sit on a straight backed chair with for instance your left palm (the back of it Back of Laugung) over your kidney area. Lift up your left foot and place it across your right knee so that your leg is parallel and bent at theknee. Now, rub K 1 using your right Laugung point (PC8) of your right palm in clockwise circles around K1 about the size of a 20 Cent piece by 11 times. Then reverse the whole thing hwile breathing slowly and deeply. This has worked for chronic insomnia with many of our patients. My series, Medical Taijiquan is the best you will get to a healing Qigong series. Kind Regards Erle.
Q: DAVE: Subject: question about health problem >Dear Erle > >I hope you can help me since I have tried it all to no avail. >My problem is that my chi keeps getting stuck in my chest, and no matter how I >try to get it down it stays stuck there, and the symtoms I have are >breathlessness, etc, almost like someone is pressing down on my chest, so I >cannot breath properly.cannot take a full deep breath down to my tantien. > >I have been practicing the 3 circle chi kung, and tai chi, and taoist >meditaion regularly, including the healing sounds and other chi kungs, but the >problem still persists,nothing seems to work, - like I said, I have tried >everything,- reiki, ayurvedic medicine, etc - which have not really solved the >problem. > >This problem is particularly strange to me, because for a year now, I have >been doing taoist meditation, which includes the small heavenly cycle, and >using the sexual energy, which made the problem worse because the sexual >energy got stuck there, and wouldnt come down. So, I was hoping if you could >help me with this problem, for at the moment I am out of answers. > >thanks in advance >Dave > >
A: Dear Dave, The problem is tension!! You probably went into too soon, advanced qigongs! So you have to begin again with the 'lowering Qigong. Stand in the 3 circle position but just allow your hands to hang by your sides completely relaxed. On the inhalation, keep your tongue on your upper palate but as you exhale, drop your tongue to the lower palate. When you inhale try to relax your whole upper body as this is where the problem lies, the tension in your chest, you re probably lifting your chest when you inhale and this is not good! Stick out your lower abdomen when you inhale. Using this method of Qigong, you should inhale through the nose and out through the mouth. This should help you get back to where you should have been before you began Qigong. When it is back to normal, get back to me and I will then send you a tape free of charge to help you begin again. Kind Regards Erle Montaigue
Q: From John: Subject: QIGONG QUESTION??? >I recently went attended a Qigong Workshop given by Master F. >I've been practicing the exercises everyday since then, both morning and >evening. I recently brought a book on Qigong written by W.. >I added a few of the exercises to those that I learned from the workshop >and seemed to feel the energy more. A few days ago, I started feeling >like my head was full. Shortly after that feeling I got a cold. The >cold lasted for about 2-3 days. The full head feeling is still there? >Is it possible that energy has become stuck in my head?? Were the other >exercises to advanced?? I'm just starting with Qigong. Any advice >would be appreciated... >
A: Dear John, There are many shonks out there teaching so-called Qigong! However, there are some good ones. Yes, the Qi could be stuck so I will give you an exercise that will get the Qi out of your head and back to tantien. Not knowing what kind of Qigong you are doing, I will assume that it is the basic 3 circle standing Qigong as that is the one that you MUST begin with ! Stand in the 3 circle position making sure that you do not have any weight placed over Kidney One point on the balls of your feet and that your feet are parallel. Holding your arms in the holding the tree position Breathe in right down to tantien not raising your chest at all, this is most important. Hold the breath for 7 seconds with your tongue pressed gently to the hard palate as if saying the letter 'L'. Exhale through the mouth (inhale through the nose) (normal Qigong you breathe in and out through the nose), and as you do this, lower your tongue onto your lower palate as if saying "hah'. When you next inhale place your tongue back up onto hard palate and repeat the whole process by 8 times, the Yang number. I hope this helps, although it could be that you were simply getting a cold hence the full head feeling. Kind Regards Erle.
Q: Question on TCM >Hi Erle - > >I hope you don't mind; I have a quick question for you on TCM. Are >there any exercises that can be done to try and improve poor vision? I >have had to wear glasses since I was 14, and I recently read that the >founder of Shiatsu was able to correct some forms of near and far >sitedness though TCM therapy. Any ideas on this? Given we are dealing >with the optic nerve area, are there specific meridians which influence >this area of the body? > >As always, your thoughts and opinions are greatly valued and >appreciated. > >Warm Regards, > >Your pal, > >Rick >
A: Dear Rick, Bilberries and Eyebright are the main herbs for the eyes, they are available in tablet form from your health store. There is much that can be done for the eyes. I have improved my own sight so that every time I go to the opt, he is amazed that I need a new lesser script! The exercises for enhancing the hypothalamus are great and they are all included on one's Taijiquan form training! You look as far as you can to the left without turning your head, then turn your head to catch up with your eyes. Then you turn your head back to the front leaving your eyes behind, then allow your eyes to slowly catch up with your eyes. Do it of course on the other side. Then you do it up and down. You need to do exercises and take things that will buck up your liver, so take dandelion tea of coffee. And you could even try cleansing the liver by only eating apples for a day. The other thing that I do, is to simply take something that I cannot read at first and just tell my eyes to see it! after some time, I can read the whole page perfectly. It's mind over matter. I heard an interesting story about a woman who was almost blind and had to wear the largest glasses. She went under hypnosis and regressed to a so-called former life. She could see perfectly! Kind Regards Erle.
Q: Subject: non-harmful fatloss >dear erle : >i have heard of the swimming dragon qigong for weight loss , but there are >a couple different videos out--one video is 22 mins long & the other is an >hour &45 mins long ! i am leary about sending for either. >i am 36 & trying to decide if it's wise to build into a rope-skipping >regimen for life or not . >my youthfull mind wants to lose some fat & get ripped. >my sensible mind knows that qigong is simple & will make me stronger as i >age. >if there were a qigong for fatloss , i would do IT & the 3 circle standing >, & forget about pounding the rope ! >any advice please ? thank you kindly ,t.j.
A: Dear TJ, Mate, there is only ONE way to lose weight! And that is to use up more glucose than that which you are taking in. Then the body must get its energy from somewhere, so it converts the fat into energy. This is the only way it works. Qigong will not cause you to lose weight, only gives you the incentive to lose weight! In one's fight against fat, the mind is your greatest tool! Even with all of my training, I still go for a 4 Klm walk up our mountain every day and back. It's amazing how well you will feel once you begin to lose weight as fat is a talent waster!! Go to it and stop eating! Kind Regards Erle
Q: Alzheimer's Disease >Dear Erle: > >It's estimated that 4 million people in the U.S. have Alzheimer's Disease, >that dreaded afflication that causes the brain to deteriorate, gradually robs >suffers of their memories, and ultimately leads to death. At present, Western >medicine offers neither a cure nor preventive measures. What I wonder is, are >any of the internal arts, such as Taiji, able to treat, mitigate, or even >perhaps prevent this disease and preserve a person's brain function? Have >there been any studies in this area? Thank you very much for your time. > >Sincerely, >Rick, USA >
A: Dear Rick, Alzheimer's it is my belief is caused from Western living! We do not feed the brain enough good stuff. Every organ in the body has a life-span such as the pancreas which gives up quickly when we eat sugar all of our lives and get diabetes! So the brain also is an organ and needs the energy that it requires. If we do not give that energy to it, then it too begins to die. A clean diet of fruit and vegetables especially green ones will prevent this disease. Sadly however, no-one believes that such a simple thing as food can help! Lecithin and Gingko have proven scientific Alzheimer's fighting ability along with a complete change in diet and exercise. In a recent scientific study, Gingko proved to be greatly effective in treating Alzheimer's. We have one patient who has early Alzheimer's but who has it under control using Gingko and Lecithin and a healthy lifestyle. A tablespoon of flaxseed oil per day would not go astray either. Prior, she was eating rubbish all of her life. Kind Regards Erle.
Q: From Chris: Stress Management. >Hi, >I'm doing my major at uni in stress management and was wondering what >benefits Tai Chi has on stress management. I would also like to know if >you would recommend Tai Chi as a stress management Technique, and why? >If you have any information in this area could you please send it to me. > >Regards >Chris. >
A:Dear Chris, Without writing you a book on the subject which is what it woudl take to do it properly, I will nutshell it for you here. Taijiquan is the supreme stress management tool!! I have been employed in the corporate sector for many years and they have found it to be most beneficial even at only one lesson per month! Stress comes from imbalance internally. We should not normally be stressed and those things that stress us happen from a total imbalance of yin and yang energy caused by what we eat, think, breathe and do in western living! So Taiji brings that balance between yin and yang energy back. We all need a balance of yin and yang in order to survive. Taiji literally opens up the energy channels so that a normal amount of qi (electricity) flows in the body's main channels. Stress comes from the internal organs being out of whack, like the liver and spleen which cause most stress. So if we can get the liver and spleen back to normal then we are miles ahead in stress management. This is what Taiji does. Kind Regards Erle.
From W: USA: Checking in... >Dear Erle, > >Up to the third palm change in the Classical Bagwa form, and at the Casting a >Silver Bottle in the Linear Form. On a very interesting health and healing >note, I am beginning to lose flab. Nothing to this point has produced the >kind of results the bagwa form has in terms of me losing my excess fat. >People at work were asking me what sort of diet I am on, and I thought it was >a fluke until looking at myself tonight at my taiji class and realizing that >they are right, but its the bagwa practice. The bagwa seems to be addressing >that straightaway. I would like to extend an invitation to you a few years >ahead of schedule to visit Eastern Pennsylvania if you come to the US again. >We are only about one hour from New Jersey and two hours from New York City, >so if you go to New Jersey or anywhere in the East, we will come to see you. >In the meantime, I would like to forward a tape to you for corrections >sometime after you are moved in to your new home, (me performing both the >circular and linear forms.) I cannot tell you how much good these forms are >doing for me already in terms of my health. Good luck with Camp 98...I will >be thinking of you all during the Camp. Sincerely, > >W.
Dear W, Well mate, that's the best news I've had this week! Good work. And, yes, I will take you up on your offer. Our travel plans have stalled for now though due to a terminal illness in my wife's family. So now we wait. Camp is looking good with around 70 from all over. We are doing Bagwa Linear form and the last 3 Disruptive Forms. Kind Regards Erle
PS, yes, Bagwa more than any other causes you to lose weight, mainly because of the work upon the waist. It's not just that you are exercising that area, but rather that area is the 'organ' that causes you to lose weight so when it is tweaked, you lose weight. And I look forward ot receiving the tape for corrections.
Q: Mike: The first has to do with chi and sex: after I ejaculate when I have sex >with my wife, I often have a very "weak" feeling in the throat and heart >area, sometimes giving me a cough. As far as colds go, when I get them >they are usually in the throat. I assume that my chi is weak or >deficient in that area. What could be the cause of this, how serious is >it, and how can I correct it? > >Second, I drink a lot of coffee and was told by someone who studies Tai >Chi that caffeine kills or destroys pre-natal chi. Is this true? If >so, do I have to give up coffee or can I compensate with herbs or >something else? > >And finally, the falun-gong questioner prompted this question: in >falun-gong they talk about developing and nuturing a "fetus" or >"spiritual fetus" inside of you. That sounds rather satanic to me -- >inviting something to come into you and grow -- what's up with that? > >Your advice is much appreciated, > >Mike >
A: Dear Mike, Ejaculation is great for those who should NATURALLY ejaculate. I.e., those who are still young and who need to have children! After all, that's the only reason we have that great feeling when having sex, to make us want to ejaculate to procreate! Ejaculation uses up kidney jing and if done to excess, we get things like diabetes and/or lung problems depending upon where that particular person's weakness lies, Qi wise. Every organ in our body has a life-span and obviously if we use that organ to excess, or mistreat it, it shortens its life-span. Women have no problem with their climax as they gain Qi from us, however, we lose it each time. My advise is to use what is called the "Heavenly Ejaculation" method. Your sex life will be greatly enhanced and quite normal sex will feel great. At the point of ejaculation, pull a really stupid face to yourself, this is usually enough to stop your ejaculation so that your wife is able to before you. Or you could think about your bank balance! Do this every time it just gets there and after, not having physically ejaculated, you will feel refreshed, ... frustrated, for a while, but refreshed and not drained. Your problem lies in your lungs and this is the way that kidney jing wastage affects you. Go and have a diabetes test also. Coffee is NOT good. IT does have some good things in it to help your heart, however, the bad far outweighs the good. This is what happens when you drink coffee. (Caffeine). We have a hormone called neuron inhibitors, it does have a proper scientific name but I do not remember it right now. These inhibitors keep the speed of your nerve impulses in check not allowing them to move too quickly as this could cause burn out in your nervous system! When we take the smallest amount of caffeine, it inhibits the production of this hormone thus speeding up your nerve impulses, hence people think that they can think more when on caffeine. However, there is a down side to this as your brain produces more and more of the inhibiting hormone to compensate for the caffeine. So when you go off caffeine, your nerve impulses slow down alarmingly! Hence the withdrawal symptoms from caffeine. Caffeine is a potent drug and NOT a nice drink, it changes the way your body works and should NOT be taken. The only 'devil' you can have inside of you is you! So do not worry about this Qigong. I would simply practice the normal standing Qigong as it cannot harm you in any way. Kind Regards Erle.
From Jason, USA: Hello Erle, > I finally made some contact with you through the net.I have seen alot >of your work over the last few years and to be honest you seem the most >genuine regarding pressure points and the Dimmak strikes.I have been >involved in martial arts for the last 15 years and I have only recently >founded an Organisation with another friend instructor of mine and we have >finally after trying really hard got it recognised in Japan.I have a black >belt in Karate and a Black belt in Jiu-Jitsu.I have been studying Kyusho >Jitsu for God only knows how long and it has taken over my complete life >regarding the Martial arts,this what has led me to the interest in you >.I put together a video of my knock outs.It is not a very >good video but you can see the effects and the techniques and recoveries >being applied. > Anyway theres some of my backround, now I would like to better myself and >get away from all of this knock outs and focus on the healing side of >things.This is what I would like to ask you.I have a friend and he is >suffering from Stress and is very tense,when he gets nervous his pulse >races and he feels like he can't breath.I asked him if had taken anything >but he has sworn that he hasn't,so I suspect that maybe he might be >suffering from anxiety.What kind of breathing >execises can I do with him and I want to be able to give him some point to >calm him down. >I was thinking for example of telling him to massage Ht 7(this which has a >sedative effect both on the Heart and the Anxious mind),what do you think? >also Gv 6(to help the mind again when the panic sets in)?St 36 for general >well being.Please let me know if I am on the right track or not.I would >like to help him if I can. > I am very happy to have been able to write to you finally I have a copy >of your book of dim mak the Encylopieadia and it is very useful,thank you >in advance for your help, > >
A: Dear Jason, Thank you for your message. It's a common ailment in the west through bad living habits in general and it doesn't have to be bad at all, just what we westerners do, like breathe! Those points are good ones, however the supreme calming point is Neigwan or PC 6. It should be rubbed deeply using the thumb over the point about one inch back towards the elbow, in that direction. However, you should also look at his diet and here lies the rub, most people are not willing to accept that something as simple as diet can have such a dramatic effect on one's whole life and outlook! So, sadly, the easiest things to fix become the hardest because the patient is not willing to take advice, or he or she will only change for a short time until they are feeling better, then go back to what it was they were doing before! You could also use 'Yangchi' or PC 4. use your index finger and apply pressure, not too heavy, in a direction that is towards the fingers. This will calm the 'yang'. Another good one for calming the yang is to gently rub GV 14 downwards. GV 14 is just under the 7th cervical vertebra. To add some energy to someone who is dull etc., you tap the point with your fingers, or place something warm onto it, or to calm, you place something cold onto the point. But the food is the most important area to look at. Meat products are not good, neither are dairy products but not many people are willing to make the sacrifice! He should get into some 3 circle Qigong as well, that will not only help with the immediate, but also help him to make sacrifices with food etc. I hope this has been of some help. Kind Regards Erle
Q: From Dave. Subject: help with vegetarian diet >Dear Erle >I am a student of your and have been learning fron your tapes, and >really appreciate all you have done and your advice. I wonder if you can >help me. > >I have been a vegetarian now for 8 months, and I am happy, yet when I >first became a vegetarian, no meat or diary, people thought I was crazy, >I also lost 9 kilos. > >I am 20 yrs old, and quite thin, I weigh 58 kilos, I have put on some >weight because I have started eating nuts(almonds,) and seeds( >sunflower, and linseed). >Yet I cannot seem to maintain my weight. What food advice can you give >me? >Can you suggest a protein source,how much protein do I need,? I practise >chi gung and tai chi, and yoga alot. what do you eat normally? and what >is your philosophy? I really need help as I think ones diet is so >important, yet I am not eating right. >thanks in advance >Dave > >
A: Dear Dave, everyone has a different metabolism but generally it is fast when we are young and slows when we get into lower middle age etc. So when you are 45 you will probably be asking me how to lose weight! However, 58 kgs is a little too thin as I guess you are of a normal height? I can survive on very little food because I eat only that food that gives me the most energy for my body type. I mainly eat fruit, green salads and a little tofu. You should not eat too much tofu as it can take a man into the yin area because of its estrogen content. However, a little is OK. Breakfast I begin with my "Power Breakfast", listed on my site. For lunch, I usually only have an apple, or if I am feeling really bad, I'll have a couple of Ryvita biscuits with some of that 'fruit only', no sugar apricot jam. Usually my evening meal at around 4 to 5 p.m. consists of a green salad with some baked tofu. If you are REALLY hungry, it is not boring! Food is only boring when you are NOT hungry and are only pleasing your taste buds! You are OK with the nuts as they contain good fats but too many will consitpate you. Only walnuts do not constipate and you should never eat peanuts! They are not even nuts as nuts grow on trees. You should tuck into the 'Pontiac' type of potato done is all different ways. The Pontiac (the pink variety) is low on the Glycemic index which causes it to release its sugar content slower than normal potatoes not causing your blood sugar level to be high and place an extra burden on your system. If you are NOT diabetic, eat bananas only ripe ones though. Once your metabolism has adjusted to your change in diet it will all come good as it takes some time to adjust. My advice is that if you feel well and fit, then you are OK. Make a porridge out of your flax seed (linseed), sunflower seeds, almonds and oats in the mornings, at least 1/4 cup of flax ground in a coffee grinder will give you all of your EFA's for the day. You lose weight either from an illness or from using more energy than you put in. So simply put more in! But you will find that about 25 years old, you will begin to fill out, but not too much hopefully. Kind Regards Erle.
Q: From Ross, UK:Subject: 3 circle qiqong and old Yang Style Dear Erle, I'd be grateful if you could help me, as I’ve a couple of questions around hard qigong/iron shirt. The method I’m currently practising works most of the torso, but does not cover the solar plexus. Therefore in addition to this I’ve just stared training in 3-circle qiqong etc. from your video. Q1. Is it wise to practice both of these at the same time? Q2. What sort of time gap (if any) should I leave between practising hard qigong and Taiji? Q3. With the previous hard qigong I’ve learnt, the positive effects were easy to identify within 100 days. How long before they kick in with 3 circle? The timescale is not important, it’s just that because I’m training in this by myself, it’s hard to tell if I’m training correctly. Q4. Also, I’m currently trying to learn the Yang Lu-Chan form from your video. Bearing in mind the phrase ‘start an inch out, miss by a mile’, can you recommend any teachers in southern England who teach this form? All the best. Ross
A: Dear Ross, Thank you for your message. I wouldn't be a teacher if I did not tell you the truth about hard Qigong! "Hard Qigong" is a contradiction in terms as any tension block the flow of Qi. Somewhere along the line some so-called hard stylist learnt Qigong and decided to do it in the style of his own system, hence we get "Hard Qigong" which does nothing but damage you! I have seen people who have given themselves hernia using this method. So my advice (and of course you do not have to take it) is that you should give up the hard Qigong as any good that you are gaining from Qigong is taken away to do Hard Qigong. Q. 2. Read the above, same answer, hard and soft are contradictory. Q. 3. Qigong should begin to work within 6 weeks. However, you MUST be certain that you are doing it correctly! Have a mirror to your side to be sure that you aren't leaning back even one hair's breadth, be sure that you do not slowly creep up and not know it, keep your knees in a vertical line with your toes. Your feet should be slightly concave thus activating KD 1. The weight is all important, it is placed over the front end of your heel otherwise you could do some mental damage! The breathing should be deep but natural. We have an excellent teacher in Kent if that is any good, in fact Peter Smith is my representative for the whole of England. And we have some wonderful teachers to the West and Wales. You could contact Peter via Christina Campbell: Lythcam@compuserve.com Kind Regards Erle
>Dear Erle, > >A while back I sent you an e-mail on a toe infection. I would just like >to say thanks, your instructions stopped the infection from spredding, >an cured it in time. Now my mom has been complaning about her stomach. >She said that after she eats she becoms a little ill, and when she goes >to the bathroom it comes out just as she ate it. Sometimes she feels >pretty good and it dosent bother her, but i've been getting worried. > >Thanks for reading > >Andy
A: Dear Andy, Your mother is obviously not eating correctly! Her digestive system is not good. She should take the herb, Fenugreek. You can get it in tea form or tablet form, or by getting the pure seeds and sprouting them. It often tastes better when mixed with Aniseed. She should also try Chamomile, Fennel, Gentian and Golden Seal as these are all excellent for poor digestion. She should stop eating things that are difficult to digest like meat!! Kind Regards Erle.
Subject: Recuperation from knee injury >Dear Sirs, >I have recently injured my knee while at a judo tournament and have to >arthroscopic surgery to remove trapped blood which is preventing me >currently from bending the joint. I have been practicing the Yang long >form for about a year and a half, and was curious if you were aware of >postures which might be of benefit to someone in my situation. There is >no tissue damage, but I did manage to bruise my femur. I would greatly >appreciate your correspondence, and thank you kindly for taking the time >to read my letter. >Respectfully, >Michael
Dear Michael, Yes the posture known as 'Single Whip' is the one that we hold in a Qigong static stance for 3 minutes on each side to heal anything to do with the joints especially the knees. However, with the bruising on the femur, it will just take time for it to heal. You will of course have to wait until you can bend the knee a little, meantime do it with the front leg being the one that isn't damaged. You must of course be doing the posture correctly to begin with. The stance is not a 'bow' stance, it is the width of your foot thinner and therefore a bit longer. The front knee should be in a vertical line with your front big toe. If you look back to your rear big toe, there should be a straight line from 'nose, knee, toe'. The rear foot should be turned out by 45 degrees while the front foot is the same as for any bow stance being turned in slightly so that your feet are not parallel, but almost. There is a straight line between your front forefinger and your nose. You just breathe deeply and naturally while holding this stance. We have had great success with this method for the knees. Kind Regards Erle
Dear Erle, > >I still suffer from bouts of acne now I'm in my 30's. This never used to >bother me particularly, as the doctors siad it would clear up when I got >older. That has not happened. > >In the past, the docs prescribed antibiotics, which did work, but became less >effective the more I took them. I now use no antibiotics, using Ti-tree oils >and some other essential oils to treat the problem. These are about as >effective as the antibiotics were. > >However, although they help to clear up an 'attack' after it has started, they >do nothing for the root cause, whatever that may be. I have an idea it may be >related to dietary factors but have not been able to isolate them. > >I eat relatively healthily by western standards, and do not smoke. I drink >moderately and do Tai Chi and Chi Gung every day. > >I wonder if you have any experience of this problem or advice? > >By the way, the acne is cystic, starting deep under the skin, and is unrelated >to pore blockage at the surface. > >Thanks for your time Chris.
Dear Chris, Yes, it IS diet related! You will have to change your diet completely. IF you are serious, and I guess you are, having contacted me on this, you will have to totally change. Meat products are out! Dairy is out! Sugar, ALL sugar including honey is out! You can get 'Stevia' which is 100 times sweeter than sugar and which does not affect your blood sugar level at all and in fact protects your teeth. It is available form a company in the USA called "Stevita", if you just do a net search on "Stevita" you should come up with the information for this. You should also do an apple fast for at least one whole day as this will also clean everything up. Unrefined sesame oil is the oil that is used internally in your case as I detect that you are not frail and ill? The skin is an organ and must be kept in good working order. Go to your health food store and get some chlorophyl as this is excellent for the skin. Foods rich in this are also good such as green leafy veg. The only fruits you should not eat are the citrus fruits. Herbs to take include: Sarsaparilla, Burdock seed, Yarrow leaves and flowers. Dandelion root (dandelion coffee or tea). Golden seal Poke root (tea). Kind Regards Erle
November 23, 1998 2:14 AM Subject: yin strengthen > Dear Erle, > I've been told that I'm a yang type, and that I have >too much yang. > How can I strengthen my yin, in qigong or nutrition, >to become more balance? > > > Thanks > > Adi
Dear Adi, Thank you for your message. I guess it depends upon who told you that!! I am also a Yang type as all men are! Men SHOULD be Yang types as women are Yin types. However, if you are ill and are feeling ill, perhaps too fat? Perhaps your skin in not good etc., then you should do something about it. However, if you are feeling well and happy then there is nothing wrong with being a Yang type! If you are TOO Yang then this will show in perhaps a red face, you get angry easily, are violent maybe? Your tongue is very red and your eyes glare, you talk too much etc. if you have none of the above symptoms then forget about it as you are worrying about nothing. You do not need to strengthen the Yin in particular. All you must do, if the above symptom exist is to balance out your yin and yang. You do this using the normal 3 circle standing Qigong which is the King of Qigongs. You can also perform the 'Triple Heater Qigong" which is specifically for balancing the Qi. Although if you are learning Taijiquan, then this should do the trick also, provided you are doing an original style and not some watered down version! Food, 'don't get me started'! You should eat balanced foods, the ones that we were MEANT to eat, like those that grow on things. Like fruit and green leafy vegetables, do not eat meat as this has an unbalancing effect. I have not gone into this in greater detail as your condition does not seem to be critical where a simple change in diet will re-balance your yin and yang. Kind Regards Erle.
Dear Erle, > >I got internal bleeding last weekend because of stomach ulcers. I was >confined in the Hospital for two days. Would qi gong or (continue) tai' chi >form help or enhance my healing? Do you have any suggestions? > >Be well, > >John > >P.S. I haven't been regularly practicing the form for three weeks. It >might also be the cause of my weakness. > >
Dear John, You must change your diet now! Yes, Qigong will help, but if you continue to do the things that caused the ulcers, then nothing will cure it. "Stomach Fire" is caused from wrong diet and this causes ulcers. You should avoid any fried food, heated or poor quality vegetable oils, red meat, coffe and all spices, alchohol, salt, vinegar, citrus fruit, plums. To heal the condition, you should eat mucilaginous foods such as soups, porridge (oatmeal), banana, avocado, tofu, soy milk, yoghurt, spinach, cucumber cabbage, potato (if you aren't diabetic!), lettuce and all of the chlorophyll foods such as cereal grass, micro-algae and liquid chlorophyll. Kind Regards Erle
From: Jeremy Date: Saturday, December 19, 1998 7:58 AM Subject: Broncitis (sp?) >Good Day to you Erle, >I have a question regarding the lung meridian and bronchitis. Every >year since the time I can remember I contract a bad case of bronchitis. >This also has the lovely affect of a strong cough that lasts about three >months. >My question is this: Is there anything that can be done through TCM or >pressure point (acupressure) therapy. I saw in the Dim Mak Encyclopedia >that points LU1 and ST30 could be used for bronchitis. >A follow up : Is there anything that I can do at the moment I begin >coughing. There have been times that I cough so hard that I throw up. >(not good in public). >Thank You for your Time, >Jeremy: Farmland, IN USA >
Dear Jeremy, How old are you? If over 40 or near, have a diabetes test! This kind of ailment is common for someone with diabetes or who is getting it! Diabetes can affect three areas of your body and the lungs is one particularly nasty area. Look at you tongue to see if it is a nice pink color or if it is blotchy red dots etc. If blotchy red dots, then you could have diabetes. Yes, those points are OK to use, however, you should really look after your own immune system which is much more important and this will help you to ward off the disease. Start taking one tablespoon of flax seed oil every morning and see how that goes. Sounds like your whole immune system is out of whack. You should give up ALL dairy products now! And if you are able, all meat products, at least to give your immune system time to recover. Eat fruit and cold foods such as watercress, apricots, apple, persimmon, peach, strawberry, pear, seaweeds, cabbage, cauliflower. Avoid all soy products and only use Stevia as sweetener. This should fix the whole problem given time. Kind Regards Erle.
Date: Monday, December 21, 1998 4:23 PM Subject: Questions for the master >Dear Erle: > Please answer my few questions. You mention that you should eat the seeds >from apples. I have heard, though I'm not sure from where, that the seeds >contain small amounts of Cyanide that is usually harmless. Harmless unless >the seeds are broken open. Could this be in the seeds of another fruit, of am >I just way off and no fruit contains this toxin? Also I began Practicing the >fa-jing punches shown on MTG34. The following day I had slightly sore >shoulders, and lats. Is this OK or should I use no muscles in the arm, only >the waste? In which case I usually don't get the good snap back. Perhaps I >need to twist more. Thank you for your time. > >Sincerely, >Dave.
Dear Dave, The only seeds that you should not eat are those from Stone fruit like peaches. However, if you are at all concerned, then you should simply not eat the seeds from apples and substitute flax seed each morning. Yes, it is OK to have sore lats and shoulders while practicing fa-jing. Although you are loose when you do fa-jing, your muscles must still stop your arm from throwing out too far, hence the exercise in the lats and shoulders. It's OK to have also some soreness in the triceps. I have been eating apple seeds for the past ten yeas or so and although they are bitter, they can only do your health some good. If you smoke (cigarettes), apples will also help to prevent the effects of cigarette smoke on the lungs. Better NOT to smoke ANYTHING of course. The Pectin in Apple seeds help to remove heavy metals and to alleviate the effects of radiation. It also removes cholesterol. Fruit IS medicine. Kind Regards Erle.
Date: Thursday, January 07, 1999 3:16 PM Subject: health Q/A Erle> Hello>My question is simply this is there anyway to help someone who has smoked twenty-six years then has stop for another twenty-one years>he has had an angioplastie(maybe misspelled it's a heart surgey) has diabetes>had high trigyglcrics>had high chorlestor>needs to wear nitro glycorin patch>and is sixty>not willing to do qigong or taiji...also has trouble walking long distances or anytype of physical labor>wondering if there is anything i could do for my dad? anything suggestion would be appreciated> Kind Regards Todd
Dear Todd, I am expert in Diabetes, in fact the doctors here listen to what I tell them. However, it is very difficult getting your father at 60 to change his lifelong habits! Unfortunately most doctors know NOTHING about diabetes or heart disease, only how to alleviate the symptoms using tables or injections or surgery! A very simple change in diet (often radical for most older people) will change your father's life dramatically. He will have greater stamina, no sharp pains in the legs or tingling in the feet etc. Please feel free to download my little book, "Food for Spirit" from my site. It's radical but will help him dramatically if he has the power to stick to it! Most people however, do not as they are so used to listening to what the doctor tells them and are 'tablet' generation! I too have diabetes but on my last visit the doctor said "are you sure you have diabetes"! My BSL was below that of a normal person! The first thing is to get him off ALL sugar. Then get him off all Dairy, then off ALL meat products! Then get him onto fruit of the colder climate variety such as apples, pears, plums, apricots (excellent), but not tropical fruits such as mango or banana (which is actually NOT a fruit but a herb!). He must not eat ANY fats others than "Good Fats" such as flax seed oil. He must eat plenty of green leafy vegetables and can have some tofu as a substitute for meat, but not too much! He must also go for at least a 30 minute walk (preferably 60 minutes) each day. If he can do the above he will not even know he is sick! And although most diabetes so-called experts tell you to eat wholemeal bread, any bread must not be eaten!! Fruit is the best and most pure source of complex carbohydrates. Kind Regards Erle.
>Hi Erle,
> My name is
Paul, I came across your site while checking
>out some other martial art sites. It would have to be one of the most
>informative sites that I have visited. When do you sleep? Over the
years I
>have read many of your articles in Terry O'neils and Aus Fighting Arts
but
>didn't realize that you had such depth of understanding when it comes
to
>the healing aspects. This leads me to my main reason for making
contact. My
>wife, Kim, was diagnosed with high blood pressure about 9 yrs ago.
During
>the first 5 yrs after diagnosis she found it extremely difficult to
find
>suitable western medication that didn't have negative side effects, eg.
>migraines, numbness, mood swings to name just a few, and suitable
T.C.M.
>that had any beneficial effect. Consequently during this time the
kidneys
>were put under great strain. 3yrs ago Kim was referred to a renal
>specialist who has managed to control the blood pressure with 3mgs of
>trandolapril p.d. but the kidneys have deteriorated to approx. 30%
function
>with dialysis expected to begin in 18-24 months. She is 40 yrs
old, not
>over weight and feels quite well although she is anemic. Her creatinine
>count is over 400.
> I am familiar with the meridian flows of the body This may be mission
>impossible but we still maintain a positive outlook. We would
appreciate
>any of your thoughts on this situation.
> Thank you for your time,
>
>Friendly regards,
>
Paul
Dear Paul,
Thank you, time for a complete change in diet for your wife mate!! it is rather difficult but she should really begin with an apple fast. Although that's not really a fast, it will help her kidneys and her blood pressure greatly!!
Mate, leave me your address so that I can send her my MTG10 tape free of charge as this will really help her. But she MUST change her diet NOW! All fats must be iliminated from her diet apart from flax seed oil (1 tablespoon each morning). All sugar and only whole foods must be takes from now onwards. Especially she must eact fruit of the cold climate variety like apples, not too many plums, apricots and peaches etc. She must also eat plenty of green leafy stuff.
Hang off on sex for a while as well!! Until the kidneys are repaired .. if possible. If it IS possible then this diet will do it for her. She must not eat late at night, preferably around 4 to 5 pm for her last meal. Drink plenty of pure water, no coffee or tea taken!
Pleas stay in touch and let me know how she gets on.
Kind Regards Erle.
This next answer is from Wally Simpson to a question regarding Cystic Fibrosis which I could not answer with any depth, so I asked Wal to help out.
40 Erle I sent a reply to this with some advise about herbs, but mainly to seek help from someone in person. I explained that this is a Kidney problem to start with and went into the connection between the Kidney, Lungs and Spleen in relation to her disease, recurrant respiratory infections and failure to put on weight. I suggested that exercises that open the chest are best for Children and also that Stork spreads wings and waving hands in the clouds might help the Lungs and Stomach /Spleen. Couldn't think of a movement for the Kidneys that also opens the chest, but if she builds the Earth and Lungs then this will take strain off the Kidney. I didn't go into how to do these moves cause i figure if they don't already know than they would be best to get a video from you on the Form and get them out of there (i didn't suggest this though). Enjoyed Sundays class. Bloody hot today!!! You don't need some one to carry bags in Norway do you, it will be a cool change for you. Love and Laughter from wally.
41 Erle, Chuck
here, Your number 1 fan in Tx. Question. If (for medical reasons)
a person has their gall bladder removed does it nullify the gall bladder
meridian in a tuite/kyusho situation?
Thanks Chuck
Dear Chuck,I can answer that is a healing manner. When someone has their gall bladder removed, the Qi is impeded. And although the meridian has been cut, you must remember that it is only an electrical current, so it will always (it has to) find an alternative route. The flow is not as strong ever again, but at leaast the recipient does not die! It is the same for the GB meridian. The effects of the GB strikes would be lessened if the GB was removed. But then why would someone want to strike a person who has had their GB removed! Kind Regards Erle.
42: JAMES from the USA Wrote:
Mr.. Simpson, Greetings. How are you? My name is James Tigrett, and I
have been a
martial artist for over 20years. At one time I was a fighter, in the
Muay Thai tradition. About 6 months ago, I began Internal training
methods, as it is a part of some of the Japanese arts I also study. 3
weeks ago I nearly killed my best friend. We were not sparring. His name
is Thomas and he studies Bagwa, Taji, etc.. He was wanting me to
demonstrate some Muay Thai, as he wanted me to teach him. At
demonstration speed (Very slow and NO intent), I had bent him over and
delivered a knee kick to his chest. Again, I barely tapped him. Somehow,
it was a direct hit to Liv 14, his heart stopped for a couple of beats,
he was completely drained of qi, his right lung collapsed, and he could
not even talk for 20 minutes. It did not leave a bruise, nor even a red
mark, yet in all his years of martial arts (18), he had never had
something like this happen to him. Or even seen it. He has great
difficulty sleeping, he cannot lay on his sides. It has been 3 weeks
since the injury occurred, and there is no real improvement. He
continues to teach classes, even though I told him to take a vacation.
He went to an acupuncturist a couple of days ago, who said he had never
seen anything like that before. He did some "rebalancing" (whatever that
is, I'm pretty ignorant of these things), and took some notes. I
personally think that guy doesn't take this seriously enough. Tom is a
big fan of yours, and told me " This guy is a good acupuncturist, but
doesn't have any experience with these types of injuries. I wish I could
see Wally, as he is one of the few people who could help me". I dont
know if it is what happened to him or who did it. I am really afraid
that I did permanent and serious damage to him. Each day goes by and
there is no improvement. He said there is like a tight band around his
chest, and he is extremely sore inside. I can get him to the computer,
so he can explain it directly to you.
I beseech you sir, please help. If there is a charge I will find a way
to pay you. By the way, I will never spar again. It is really funny, but
I have worked most of my life at being a martial artist and aspired to
this level, now that I am here I am not so sure I like it.
I had been in contact with Erle Montaique, and he gave me your email. I
almost killed a police officer at a seminar, he attacked me without
warning with a rubber knife, and I struck him in the temple with a knee
kick also, and he was down for almost a week. By the time I try to "put
the brakes on", it had already happened. I dont know why I am saying all
of this, except that I feel very guilty about it.
Anyway, if you could help, it would be greatly appreciated. We both have
yours and Erles Encyclopedias of Dim Mak, and we tried to find a remedy,
sadly Liv 14 doesn't really have one, at least to our knowledge. Finally
sir, we were NOT practicing Dim Mak, as that is very foolish, I was only
demonstrating a Muay Thai technique, I have shown hundreds of times.
Except that now perhaps it is all Dim Mak. Sorry about the length of
this email, but as a healer, I'm sure you understand the urgency of
this.
I asked our resident TCM doctor, Wally Simpson to help in the answer of the above question.
Dear James Sounds like you have caused quite a serious Qi and perhaps
blood stagnation. Where on the planet are you? Is the pain sharp or more
like a cramping sensation? There is a Patent Chinese herb formula (that
means that most shops that sell chinese herbs will have it in pill form
or something similar) called Chin Koo Tieh Shang Wan that works on
traumatic injuries and moves stuck Qi and Blood. You should double the
recommended dose, at least for a few days (That will mean taking 20
Pill's twice a day rather than 10 twice a day)
The muscles around the chest sound like they have spasmed and this will
have put tension on tendons and ligaments in the area, perhaps pulling
vertebra out of alignment. Liver is in charge of free flowing Qi and
therefore Blood (as the Qi leads the blood), Liver is also in charge of
tendons and ligaments, so by striking Liv 14 the Alarm Pt for the Liver
you have created a blockage in the
channel and perhaps the organ, of Qi and maybe blood. You have also
upset the flow of emotional energy, perhaps Anger emotion of the Liver
or Fear the emotion of the Kidney (more likely the later) and as a
result insulted the Kidney. This may have caused Kidney Qi weakness and
problems with the Kidneys ability to pull the Qi down. The results of Qi
failing to take Root in the Lower Jiao (Lower Abdomen) is Counter Flow
Qi. Here Qi is stuck in the upper Jiao (chest). Breathing into the Dan
Tien as in a standing Qi Gong or lying on the floor with something under
the back where the tight band is felt may help (I some times fold my
arms behind my back so the fists are just below the shoulder blades and
lie on the floor to relieve pressure through the mid back, a rolled up
towel can
>also work at times). Some work from an Osteopath or Chiropractor in
conjunction with Acupuncture may be worth a try. My suggestion for the
Acupuncture would be Liver 4 and Liv 8 on the side where the damage was
done but a practitioner who can assess the damage in person is in a
better position to decide which Points to use. Certainly the use of Moxa
over the region where the strike occurred and
to regions where the pain radiates to would very beneficial. It sounds
like you need to learn some more about self control when demonstrating
stuff, it is better to pull up a long way short of the target rather
than risk a strike unless your life is being threatened. Also need to be
careful who you
choose for demonstration, as the though of the damage can in some people
precipitate a shock that may stagnate or disrupt Qi. You will probable
find that there was some degree of Liver Qi stagnation before you
started and this made the results worse than were intended. Let me know
where you are as I may be able to suggest someone to see. Health and
happiness Wally
43 From Federico Italy:
Dear Erle
Thanks for the Chi Gong tape (very instructive) and the WTBA joining
form (on its way). A couple of questions regarding fasts, please. In
your on-line book Food for Spirit, you refer to a 4 to 15 day fast and
list several points on what to do before, during and after the fast, one
of which, if I haven't misunderstood, is to eventually give up breakfast
once and for all. On the other hand, in the second chapter of Internal
Gung-Fu, you advocate a 36 hour weekly fast. Maybe, one does not exclude
the other; however, I'd like to make sure, so my questions are:
1) At present I'm following your «power breakfast» regime (as well as
doing basic Chi Gong). I have also begun to do a 36 hour weekly fast.
How does/can this tie up with your advice about giving up breakfast?
2) Should one fast both ways, and if so, why? What is the difference
between both types of fasting as far as effects and benefits are
concerned? Do any of the points about the 4 t o 15 day fast apply to the
36 hour fast? Thanks for your help.
Dear Federico, Thank you.
The longer fasts are only to get you started! And would only be done at the most twice per year. the 36 hour fast can if you wish, be done weekly provided that you aren't a diabetic! If you do the 36 hour fast, you should not eat anything, even the power breakfast! however, you should take plenty of water. when I say "Power Breakfast" that can come at any time in the day! So even if you do give up breakfast, you can still have the power breakfast at lunch time for instance. And in any case, if you must have something for breakfast, have an apple or other cold climate fruit. The 36 hour fast is just a way of helping the INITIAL longer fast in its cleansing effect. Kind Regards Erle. TOP:
44 hello Mr.
Moontagu, thanks for the free-bees on your web site!!.......
I have a question or two about QI gong. first of all, after about ten
minutes of practicing a variety of "stand on stake" a temoring vibration
starts in my legs and goes up my back then down front to my legs again.
it does this in cycles. what exactly is this??? i have been meditating
for quite a few years in various ways and never experienced this before.
And, i experienced this tremor the very first time i started practicing
QI GONG and its happens every time. My blood pressure is a little
high and i heard QI GONG would help. is this correct??? THANKS FOR YOUR
TIME AND SHARING SPIRIT.RANDAL
Dear Randall, Meditation is only half of meditation. You must also light the fire! And this means working your legs. This is true meditation. What you are experiencing is true meditation. Most people only pretend to be meditating by sitting cross-legged and looking at a candle! This is not true meditation as meditation involves the movement and activation of Qi (energy). Everything must have the basic Qi (energy) source which is heat. we get this basic energy from standing in the basic 3 circle standing Qigong position with the legs slightly bent thus causing heat to rise into the tantien which in turn causes the Qi to be transformed into jing. Only then will we have the full use of our internal energy. The vibration happens because there is tension in your lower body. as this tension goes the vibration will become less until there is only a slight nice vibration.
Yes, Qigong, along with eating apples will help with high blood pressure and of course it goes without saying that you must give up all animal products, the cause of high blood pressure! Kind Regards Erle. TOP:
45 From Edward, USA:
Hi Erle, I am having a problem sleeping after I spend time doing Qigong
and practicing some forms. I sleep from about 3 or 4am to 7am for
3 to 4 days then crash for 12 hours and start over. Is this common
or am I doing something wrong? I work in ......... so I need to be
able to take calls from clients at all hours from many different
countries and when I crash from not enough sleep I am out of
service. Please advise if you have any suggestions. Many
thanks and I hope all is well with you and your family. Edward.
Dear Ed,
This is a common problem from people in your business. It's simply that
you are thinking too much mate! I know it's difficult but you just have
to stop! It is not the Qigong that is doing it , but rather what your
mind is thinking all the time. And if subconsciously, you have the
thought that someone will phone you at all hours, then your mind will be
ready for this and not wish to sleep. I leave my answer machine on all
the time for this very reason as I also receive calls at all hours when
people do not think of the time difference.
I guess it's basic fear of losing a client or job, but you will just
have to put your own health first and let em wait! Get some Melatonin as
this hormone should be produced in the brain to tell the body to go to
sleep. But often not enough of this in produced. You can get it most
places in the USA now.
Also you could try the Qigong that helps with insomnia. Sit on a chair
both feet able to touch the ground straight back. Place your right back
of your palm over your kidney region then lift your right foot and lay
it across your left knee. Now, you take your laugung point (PC 8) on the
centre of your palm and rub it around the K 1 point on that foot in a
counter clockwise direction looking at the foot by 11 times exactly. All
the time breathing naturally and deeply. then you do the same with the
other hand and foot only the direction is clockwise. This should help.
You could also simply take the 'fire' out of your head by thinking about
the soles of your feet just before you are trying to sleep. Think of the
soles of your feet getting hot. This will aid in taking some of the fire
and hence thinking out of your head.
Kind Regards Erle. TOP:
46: Mr. Montaigue-- I had a question about healing that I hoped you could answer or refer me to some one that does. No one in my area practices TCM or anything close, so I am forced to ask you. I get asthma which are really aggravated by allergies, particularly this time of the year when our grass, trees, and flowers are pollinating. So my question is, is there anything I can eat, or do which with help lessen these problems. Thanks!!!! Andrew
Dear Andrew, There is a hospital in Israel called the Central Emmek Hospital that specializes in treating asthma. I have many pages of information from them which back up my own ideas.
The first thing they do when someone comes in for treatment, and this is usually the only treatment they give, is to take the patient off ALL (and I mean ALL) dairy and meat products. Even a small piece of chocolate for instance can set of an attack as it has milk!
Everyone advises to do deep breathing so you cannot go past Taijiquan for this.
Asthma is caused from an imbalance in one or more organs especially the lungs, but t can also be the heart, Spleen/Pancreas, Stomach and intestines, heart. Chlorophyll is good as are all Vitamin A foods (spirulina etc.) Apricots (no more than 5 per day), pumpkin, carrot, mustard greens, and green vegetables in general. These protect the lungs in general and support renewal. GLA fatty acids are exceptional for alleviating the spasms. A good source for this is in Flax Seed oil.
If you are able to give up much of what you eat now, you can lick this. Kind Regards Erle. TOP:
47: From Roger, USA: Dear Erle, I
have a kidney disease that was brought on by fungus infection some 10
years ago. However in the last few months it has wrecked havoc on
me. I'm only 35 and now suffer mild hypertension as a result plus the
kidneys not working very well. My western trained doctors have admitted
that they have no remedy for my ailment. All they want to do is cut
about my kidneys to see what course the disease has taken. My question
to you is what course of action should I take to help restore my health.
P.S. All the tapes I've purchased from you I have found very useful and
informative. As progress permits I hope to purchase several more in the
near future. Kind regards, Roger
Dear Roger,
OK, you have to change your diet firstly. No bad fats like dairy and
animal etc. Only take some flax seed oil each morning. And
of course much green leafy veg and fruit is the way to help your kidneys
as well as apples. The apples will also help with the high blood
pressure. And it goes without saying that all artificial salt much be
taken out of your diet. Things that affect kidney jing in men are too
much semen loss! Stress, Alcohol marijuana, coffee, tobacco,
heavy metals, Aluminum usually from cookware (check it), Excessive sweet
flavored food, Too much dietary protein! Nettles are good (nettle tea,
or lightly cooked to remove the stingy parts), Millet, wheat, black
sesame seeds, black soy beans, chestnuts, mulberries, raspberries,
strawberries, walnuts. I hope this is of some help. Kind Regards
Erle. TOP:
48: From Ron in the USA: Dear Mr. Montaigue: In your book
"Food for Spirit" you make the statement "Diabetes is one of the easiest
conditions to manage, if you are told what to do." Where could I
find out that information on what to do? Sincerely, Ron.
Dear Ron,
I have researched Diabetes for the past 15 years as my Mother died
of it and I have had it for about 10 years. When I go to the doctor
(only to renew my script for my testing equipment as it's cheaper that
way) he always asks if I am sure I have diabetes! The first thing to do
is NOT to listen to so-called diabetic experts! Only take advice from
someone who has it and who has it under control. It's a simple matter
(using some will power) to balance food with exercise as that is what
you must do when you go into 'manual drive'. We are normally in auto
drive so that when we eat something and it is eventually turned into
glucose and that glucose goes into the blood, the pancreas pumps out
exactly the right amount of insulin whose job it is to carry that
glucose from the blood into the muscles so that they can work. Any
excess glucose is sent to the liver where it is stored (2000
calories in fact). Any excess from there is turned into fat and stored
as fat. So eating too much sugar DOES make you fat.
When you exercise, you firstly use up the glucose (energy) that is
circulating in your blood. After that, your liver begins to pump out its
stored glucose into the blood so that your muscles will not die. After
that, you begin to convert your stored fat cells back into glucose.
After that you begin to eat yourself! So the first thing a diabetic must
have is an electronic blood monitor so that you can see the amount of
glucose that is in your blood several times per day. before eating and
after eating (1hr to 1.5 hours after eating). If you find that your
blood sugar level is too high then you simply go for a brisk walk for at
least 30 minutes as this will bring the level down to normal again. If
you find that the level is too low, then you eat something.
What to eat.
OK this varies from person to person and you must experiment with it to
find your own way. However there are some foods that all diabetics must
avoid. In fact all people must avoid to maintain good health. There is
this ruler called the 'glycemic index' where some bright person has
listed many foods on a scale up to 100 where 100 is pure glucose. The
scale indicates the speed at which food is assimilated into the blood
and the
slower the better. So you would never eat something that had in index
rating of 100! Anything under 50 is usually good, like apricots (fresh)
which can be anything from 5 to 20. White flour products should be
avoided and even whole flour products should only be taken in
moderation. I can only take one slice of wholemeal bread for instance,
per day! All fruit barring tropical fruits like bananas (which are not
really fruit but the largest herb), mangoes, paw paw, etc. All cold
climate fruits such as apples, pears, berries and stone fruit are all
good. However, the diabetic and all people must eat only the right
amount of food for the work that they perform, after all, we should not
eat for the sake of pleasing our taste buds but to gain the necessary
energy for working. So the rule is, that if you still feel hungry after
a meal, then you are doing well. This also prolongs life and is
scientifically documented. Certain food will help to lower the blood
sugar level, like grapefruit, onions, wolf berries, (a Chinese herbal
remedy, also great for eyesight and the liver), guava, (especially the
skin), lemons. In fact most 'bitter to sour' food is good for this
purpose. Mulberries are also good as is the tea made from the leaves.
And dandelion is also good as it boost the liver function. They say 10
dandelion stalks each day will do wonders, however, dandelion stalks
taste like ......! So I take either the made up herb or in a tea format.
You will have to give up ejaculation! (You will not however, have to
give up making love!) As this is also part of why men in particular get
diabetes! Actually there are three types of diabetes (I am
not talking about the three main Western types of 'Insulin Dependent,
Non Insulin Dependent and pregnancy diabetes) but rather I am talking
about the three main Chinese Medicine types of, 'upper jiao, middle jiao
and lower jiao'. When you get 'Lower Jiao (heater)' diabetes it is
usually caused
through too much ejaculation (NOT SEX!) or a combination of all three.
The upper Jiao (heater) type affects the lungs. But usually it is a
combination of all three. It is my belief that diabetes is not a disease
caused by some pathogenic attack but rather simply that one part of the
body is used so much (from working too hard) that it comes to the end of
its life before the other organs as in the case of the pancreas. Or it
is caused by the muscles rejecting the insulin that your body already
makes. So you can be making huge amounts of insulin but the body is not
accepting it! Or the pancreas simply does not make enough. it is
important for you to find out which of these two you have.
If you have the type where you body does not accept the insulin being
produced, then you have to take foods that contain a natural type of
'metformin' or get a tablet from the doctor or metformin which is being
hailed as a life rejuvenating and elongation substance. Some doctors in
the
USA for instance recommend that all people take 500 mgs of this stuff
each day if they are over 40 whether or not they have diabetes. There
are other tables called 'Glyclazides which force your pancreas to make
more insulin but this is like having a steam roller go over your
pancreas each morning!
Some people survive well though on one or half a tablet each morning as
their case is not that serious. However, it is much better of course to
control diabetes using natural methods such as food and exercise. We
have come a long way from when the only help was that we would eat only
boiled spinach!
Herbs that are essential. You can get these in tablet or capsule form.
The first one is Gymnema Sylvestre, an Indian herb (also native to the
North of Australia) which mimics the glucose molecule, so it simply
takes up those receptacles reserved for glucose. So that when you eat,
much of that glucose is turned away! You can get this herb form many
locations in the USA in tea format, tablet and capsule. In Australia we
also have 4000 mg, tablet that takes some time to dissolve
so it does not dissolve in the stomach but in the intestines. When you
for instance drink some tea of this herb, you cannot taste sweet things
for some time after! It is called the Sugar Destroyer.
Another most wonderful herb is Stevia Rabaudiana Bertomi, which is a
small flowering herb native to Paraguay and mainly harvested in Brazil.
This leaf is often 100 times sweater than sugar and actually helps to
lower the blood sugar level and also protects your teeth from decay! You
can use it wherever you used sugar or honey,also in cooking. You can get
it now processed so that they 'Stevacides (the sweet part) are
taken out and processed into a white powder or into a very pleasant
tasting concentrated liquid where only one to two drops in your cup of
tea is sufficient. This is now quite cheap and is available in Australia
in all formats. If you have to pay more than for instance $6.50 Aust,
for a small bottle then you are paying too much! Many companies are now
using Stevia in things like toothpaste and even in Japan in Coca-Cola!
You also have to take Chromium GTS, Zinc, Vanadium, Taurine, and many
other things which are available in a capsule format from 'Vitamin
Research Products' (VRP) in the USA. I find it much better to get them
all at once rather than having a shelf full of tablets, it is called
'Optimum D'.
Another great product, also from VRP is called 'Glucontrol'. You can get
onto VRP in the net. Seeds (of any food plant) and fresh fruit and
vegetables (root vegetables aren't too good for diabetics especially
potatoes! If you must eat them, then the 'Pontiac' variety is the lowest
of the scale) are the best things to eat, nuts are seeds but peanuts are
NOT nuts and although they are very low on the index scale, they are not
good for humans as they cause chronic constipation and have a huge
amount of oxalic acid which is not good for the kidneys and liver! And
if you are over 40 you can get into some DHEA of the 'natural' variety,
NOT the synthetic variety! And most things that have 'DHEA' written on
them are synthetic. This is now being looked at with regard to some
hefty side-effects.l however if you get a good DHEA precursor then you
are Ok as the body will use that to make more of its own. A
company in Australia make a homeopathic version of DHEA which I am now
testing.
Given all of the above, the MOST IMPORTANT area for any diabetic is not
to eat much and to exercise regularly for at least 30 minutes each day
and apart from one's Taijiquan or Bagua practice, walking is the best
exercise. A good walk for 30 minutes or more can lower your B.S.L. by 2
to 3 points!
I now have an average B.S.L. of 6.2 mmol. (millimoles per litre)(it is
measured differently in the USA however, they use the older method, like
feet and inches!).
So you will need a Glycemic Index and some herbs and some exercise and
don't eat much and you will be OK for the rest of your life. Give up all
sugar and dairy products and especially these two combined! Honey
included. And take flax seed both whole and crushed each morning at
least 1/4 cup on your cereal.
I hope this has been of some help. Kind regards Erle. TOP:
Dear Erle, I wanted to just drop a line to ask you for
some advice concerning eczema. I have had the condition since I was very
young (I'm 20 now) my parents and I have tried EVERYTHING under the sun
over the years to control it. When I was about 5 years old I
caught a rare disease linked to eczema and almost died of it (quite a
stress on my energy system I would guess!). But I managed to live
with it and it has improved over the years to a controllable state.
My skin had always been very dry and rough in texture and the itching
was unbearable. That is until last year when I went to study at
the University and there I started Tai Chi lessons through one of your
students. My instructor told me to quit all diary products and
somewhere, inside a new determined part of my personality emerged.
I gave up all diary - a big thing for someone who lived on tea,
chocolate and cheese toasties - I honestly believe I was the sole reason
they produced the 500g bars of Diary Milk! Anyway, the effect was
unbelievable. My skin changed to a more soft, browner texture and
seemed to glow. Realizing this was good I started to make other
changes, such as increased water, fruit and Veg intake. I have
recently given up meat as well. I feel so much happier inside and
so much healthier.
But, on to my questions. The eczema, though improved dramatically,
is still a bother now and then. I seem to be effected by
weather changes - I can tell if there has been a change in weather
without looking out the window, just by my skin!
When it is bad it becomes so very dry, esp over night, though keeping up
the Tai Chi practice helps. But, I was wondering on links between
eczema and the energy system. I was told by an acupuncturist that
TCM says that eczema is where there is too much heat in the body.
Is this true? know if I get too warm (as in temperature) the
eczema gets worse and the itching is almost unbearable. I feel as
if the heat is bubbling out from within and all I can do is sit quietly
and cool down. I know that keeping up the Tai Chi and Qi Qong will help,
but I was wondering if there was anything else I could do to 'cool'
down, esp during an 'attack' of eczema? Sorry to go on. I love the
web site and thank you for making so much information available to
everyone. Peace and long life Marina
50 From
Ron, USA: Sent: Monday, July 12, 1999 10:47 PM
Subject: Questions
Dear Erle: I have just starting to read your book "Power Taiji",
and just a couple of questions. When practicing Qigong, how long do you
hold the position? I am referring to pages 5 thru 13 in the above
mentioned book. I then tested my blood sugar a half hour after I
finished and found that it was a little high as compared to most early
morning reading, any correlation? Sincerely, Ron
Dear Ron,
Thank you. You should hold the position for at least 15 minutes. There
are many factors that can cause the BSL to go up, even when you fast!
This is because the body will take 'glucose' from it's own stored
lot hence causing the BSL to rise even though you haven't eaten
anything! You might for instance go to bed with a nice low reading and
wake with a high one! I can only go on a fast for two days straight
before my body begins to take the stored energy from my fat cells and
that can be a little dangerous for diabetics as we get something called
ketoacidosis! So I tend to fast for only two days then only eat apples
for a couple of days. So if you haven't even eaten anything before
Qigong in the morning, it COULD go up a little as your body is taking
glucose form your stored fat cells for it's needs as Qigong causes you
to use energy. However, because of the Qigong, your BSL will lower
quicker. And that is the main thing with diabetics not so much how high
it is (provided of course that it is not too high) but rather how
quickly it lowers! Kind Regards Erle.
TOP:
51
----- Original Message
-----
From: Clark
To: <taiji@moontagu.com>
Sent: Sunday, 22 August 1999 5:37
Subject: diet and weight loss
Dear Erle, I am following a diet of foods with cooling properties (eg.
lettuce, cucumber, carrot, apple, etc) in order to clear excess heat. I
am losing weight by doing this. I am already thin and would like to
know what foods would be cooling and also maintain/put on weight.
Regards, Clark
Dear Clark,
When you eat to remove heat, you must also balance that out! You cannot
only eat cooling foods as the body's temperature internally is
controlled by an even balance of hot and cold! So all you must do to
balance out the heat and cool is to eat a balanced diet. however, a
balanced diet is NOT what dieticians recommend!! A balanced diet is
balanced by eating only that food that was put on this earth for us to
discover and then eat! Like fruit. Bananas are not actually fruit, they
are the largest herb! However, eating bananas is also cooling and will
help you to maintain and even put on weight. When you tape a balanced
diet, you will maintain your optimum weight. And always remember
slightly thinner is much better than slightly overweight! Complex
carbohydrates are the best way to put on or maintain weight. And what
not many know is that fruit is the best source of complex carbohydrates!
Even apples will help you to maintain a balanced weight. However, if you
have to eat something else to help you maintain your weight then take
some oats each morning and although they are warming thermal in nature,
they are cooling compared with the normal stuff that westerners eat! The
oats will help to balance out al of the cooling stuff you are eating.
But do not mix oats or any grains with fruit. Eat oats with perhaps a
little soy milk (no sugar) and some honey if you must. I take it only
with water and some Stevia for sweetener. Kind regards erle. TOP:
52
----- Original Message -----
From: Harry
To: erle montaigue <taiji@moontagu.com>
Sent: Friday, 20 August 1999 20:50
Subject: 1st Contact
Dear Erle This is my first message to you on E-mail so first of
all hello. My name is Harry and I have been studying Taiji
with Petrovich in England now for about 3 years. It has done wonders for
me and has now really become part of my life. It has changed the way I
look at many things and opened up a whole new world of a different way
of looking at life and things in general. I can only say thank you for
putting in all your effort that you've made over the years to enable
people like me to find that there are such great things as Taiji. I
still get a lot just from watching you on video, there always seems to
be something that I've missed. Sometimes it's as though I'm spellbound
just watching you. I've felt like this watching Petro doing parts of the
form as well.
Anyway enough of me. The main reason for contacting you is for my wife.
She has been suffering from a number of problems for sometime now and I
thought you maybe able to give more help from your knowledge of the
fighting and healing arts. The problems stem really from losing her Dad
about 5 years ago. She was very close to him, he being her mother and
father. She has found it very hard to cope with things without him. I do
the best I can to give her the love she needs, but obviously it isn't
the same that she had with her dad.
She has suffered from depression and has got though it, thank goodness,
but is still finding it hard to cope with what life throws at her.
The main problems really now are anxiety, panic attacks and a general
lack of self confidence. I have tried to give her some hands on healing
and most of the time it does help, but sometimes she isn't keen on
any different feeling she might get inside. I have tried get her to do
qi gong, 3 circle and other basic forms, but this tends to make her feel
anxious even if she doesn't before. She has sometimes cried or laughed
when she has done the qi gong .This is a sign that the body is out of
balance whether physically or emotionally isn't it? The problems also
tend to get more noticeable the week before her period. No doubt the
hormones aren't helping the situation either. I know she really does
want to beat this and be able to start enjoying life again instead of
going from one hurdle to the next. I don't know if you can offer any
help Erle, but any ideas would be really appreciated. Thanks again Harry
Dear Harry,
Yes, your wife has simply become out of whack over the years and if she
doesn't fix it now, it will be too late! It's so easy and yet very
difficult to fix. Easy in that she doesn't have to do much, difficult
because it will be one of the hardest mind things she has done! The
beginning is not Taiji or Qigong, they are should be the NEXT in the
healing process. The beginning is a 36 hour fast! Taking nothing at all,
only water or at the very most some herb tea. This will be the hardest
part in the re-balancing process. But if she can do this, it will save
her. The next part is also to do with food and re-balancing. I have
discovered that internal balance is inextricably linked with physical
balance and what we eat! So after fasting for 36 hours and it's really
not that long as you begin one evening after dinner then go for the
whole next day and eat again the following morning or lunch time.
She has to only eat fruit and a hand full of nuts (NOT PEANUTS as they
aren't nuts!) each day for the next week. By this time she will be
seeing a challenge and that is what she NEEDS to see! She needs a
challenge to keep her going. After that week, she can eat a green salad
NO DAIRY! In the evenings with a little dressing (NO SUGAR IN IT!). No
dairy, No Meat, No bread!! Only the food that God meant for us to eat,
that which comes from trees. Now, I now that it will probably be
too difficult for her to do this as it really IS hard, but if she is
able to, she will be re-balanced after about two weeks and then the
Taijiquan and Qigong will do their stuff.
Kind Regards
Erle. TOP:
General Questions 2