A few weeks ago, I came across a study in the UK whose findings suggest that the Covid destroys a significant amount of cortical gray matter, equivalent to that of approximately 10 years of ageing, and that this occurs even among those who are asymptomatic.
This comes as no surprise to me, since I have repeatedly stated in my newsletters over the past 2 years, that this pandemic will cause many long-term health issues.
But the aforementioned study does not offer any potential solutions for dealing with this issue, and billions will need to be spent on research over a period of many years before pharmaceutical companies are likely to develop a drug that may alleviate some of the symptoms associated with Covid-induced brain cell destruction.
Further, as with so many pharmaceutical products, the medication may well be prohibitively expensive for many, and new medicines always carry the risk of serious, even life-threatening side-effects.
So, in the spirit of my early newsletters, where I always describe remedies for the problems I highlight, I would now like to offer my students some simple, cost-free solutions for Covid-induced “brain fog”, that potentially may prove to be highly effective.
Below are two practices that are beneficial to the brain:
- Hua Shan Healing Qigong Exercise for Stroke, Dementia, Depression & Brain Disorders:
- Exercise to Prevent Altitude Sickness:
Both of the above exercises beneficially increase the flow of qi and blood within the brain, thereby accelerating the natural processes of repair and restoration that potentially can restore normal brain function.
The first exercise is easier for beginners as well as for those who are in a weakened physical condition.
The second exercise is far more intense, and the effort required is better adapted for those who are already physically fit.
Additionally, both of these exercises are recommended for anyone who has reached middle age or beyond, even if they have never contracted Covid. This is because the brain begins to atrophy from approximately the age 30, and once we reach forty years of age, we lose, annually, approximately 0.25% of our cortical grey matter.
Therefore, from this age and onwards, it is very beneficial to practice the above exercises to maintain healthy blood and qi circulation within the brain.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the kidneys, often referred to as the Root of Life contain an “Essence” and a form of Qi, that is primarily hereditary, but which can be enhanced or diminished by our diet, lifestyle and some other factors.
When this essence and Qi are in a weakened state, we experience an accelerated ageing process that manifests via a noticeable decline in our physical strength and cognitive functioning. For this energy and essence of the kidneys supports the construction and maintenance of our brain.
I have explained this role of the kidneys in detail in the newsletter “Using the Jing (sexual/kidney energy) to replenish the Brain”, so I am not going to repeat the same information here, but suffice it to say, that keeping your kidneys healthy and vibrant is essential for repairing many forms of damage to the brain. And here’s another free video for that.
Tai Chi Qigong for Charging & Cleansing the Kidneys:
If you find the above practice too advanced for your current level, there are many far easier techniques provided in the Tai Chi Qigong for Kidneys, Vitality & Longevity course.
While many foods are good for the brain, my top recommendation is walnuts. One theory in TCM states that if the physical structure of a natural food is similar to that of a particular organ, or part of the body, then this signifies that this particular food will help to strengthen that organ or part of the body, and will help to repair it if there is any damage. Walnuts closely resemble the structure of a human brain so according to the aforementioned theory; they will have a very beneficial effect on brain function.
Indeed, this belief is supported by research conducted by modern day nutritionists who assert that eating walnuts is good for the brain because they contain more polyphenolic compounds than any other type of nut, and additionally, they are very rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and both of these nutrients are critical for counteracting the negative effects of oxidative stress and inflammation which are believed to contribute to cognitive decline.
It is also interesting to note that since the shape of figs are similar to that of the testes, that TCM regards them as being highly beneficial to testicular health, a belief that is supported by recent research. I mention this correlation, because while I was writing this newsletter, I came across a study that suggests that the testes not only can be damaged by the spike protein of covid, but that they may actually serve as a sanctuary, or place of refuge for the virus.
Besides eating a few more figs, the Yi Jin Jing for Enhancing Sexual Potency for Men program offers traditional qigong exercise for the testes which should also be very helpful for this issue.
Four years ago, when I commenced my personal retreat, one of my goals was to write a book that shares some of my interesting and unusual experiences. After all, I have traveled to over 60 countries, taught more than ten thousand students in person, visited many not so typical touristic places, and have had many interesting encounters.
Furthermore, besides studying various forms of qigong, tai chi, neigong, mediation, feng shui, etc., I have also spent years practicing Tibetan tantra and Indian yoga, lived at different temples and ashrams. So, when I decided to write a book, I believed that my future readers would find my work both readable and entertaining and importantly that they would able to gain some useful knowledge from my experiences.
But instead of producing a book, three and a half years ago the forces of destiny guided me toward the creation of the Tai Chi Qigong for Health series, plus a few other study courses.
These courses are very practical for healing a variety of specific health problems, and they also cover nearly every health issue that this pandemic has caused. As you know, from head to toes, Covid affects almost every organ. So, I feel that the timing of these courses has been perfect. Also, I constantly update them whenever I recall techniques that I learned years ago, but which haven’t practiced for a long while.
For example, recently I recalled a very useful technique for extracting the essence of food and herbal medicine without actually consuming these substances. The method can therefore be helpful, potentially, to those who have a very weakened spleen function that prevents them from extracting the essence of food and medicine. So, I am going to add this technique to the Tai Chi Qigong for Spleen, Stomach and Digestion course soon. You can also use this technique to detect whether a particular food or herb is actually good for you, rather than simply choosing to follow the latest diet trend. Furthermore, if you know of some herbs that are good for you, but they taste really awful 😖, (as most Chinese medicine does!) then perhaps this technique will appeal to you. I will share more about it in the next newsletter.
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