Iceland: The 2nd Happiest Country in the World

Yesterday I told you about Bhutan, and the fact that this small Himalayan country is the happiest nation in the world.

That is because they stress a concept called Gross National Happiness.

Instead of a Gross National Product, which is what most countries emphasize as a sign of their economic health, Bhutan is more interested in the well-being of its citizens, so all laws are enacted with the Gross National Happiness in mind.

In other words, if a law is unjust and causes unhappiness for the citizens of Bhutan, then it won’t go into effect.

Another country that has a long tradition of happiness is Iceland. Iceland doesn’t have a Gross National Happiness, but ingrained in the minds of the Icelandic people is a remarkable ability to weather storms while continuing to maintain their happiness.

And right now, Iceland is having a rough storm brewing over their heads – the global recession has hit them very hard, and the country has gone bankrupt.

In the above video, Eric Weiner, author of the book The Geography of Bliss, tells us why Icelanders are so happy, even as calamity has fallen upon them.

He even points out, fascinatingly enough, that Icelandic people get happy by being unhappy and embracing failure.

That’s an interesting concept – turning your unhappiness into happiness.

Call it a happiness jujitsu.

Can you turn your unhappiness into happiness?

The below video takes an inside look at Iceland, its majestic beauty, and its people, giving you a glimpse of what makes Iceland the second happiest nation in the world.

Bhutan: The Happiest Country in the World

I’ve been writing about Happiness for the last week, and discussing that happiness is something a Low Density Lifestyle can lead to.

Last week I discussed what happiness is, and I looked at the relationship between money and happiness.

Today I want to discuss the mountain country of Bhutan, which without a doubt is the happiest nation on the planet.

Bhutan, situated in the Himalayan mountains between India and China, doesn’t win this distinction because of the fact that they are a Buddhist nation.

Instead, they have achieved this honor because happiness is part of their economic and political system.

You see, where other countries measure their success by their Gross National Product, Bhutan measures their success by their Gross National Happiness.

Under the Bhutan Constitution, government programs – from agriculture to transportation to foreign trade — must be judged not by the economic benefits they may offer but by the happiness – the Gross National Happiness – they produce.

According to Prime Minister Jigme Thinley of Bhutan, the cause of the economic recession embracing the world right now is due to, “Greed, insatiable human greed.

“You see what a complete dedication to economic development ends up in,” he said, referring to the global economic crisis. “Industrialized societies have decided now that Gross National Product is a broken promise.”

“Happiness has usually been considered a utopian issue,” the Prime Minister states. “Individual’s quest for happiness and inner and outer freedom is the most precious endeavor, and society’s ideal of governance and polity should promote this endeavor.”

The goal of a Gross National Happiness is not happiness itself, the Prime Minister says, as happiness is a concept that each person must define for himself. Instead, the Bhutanese government aims to create the conditions for “the pursuit of Gross National Happiness, as happiness takes precedence over economic prosperity in our national development process.”

Karma Tshiteem is the secretary of the Gross National Happiness Commission, and his job is to quantify and measure the happiness quotient of the country.

To that end, the Bhutanese government produced an intricate model of well-being that features the four pillars, the nine domains and the 72 indicators of happiness.

Specifically, the government has determined that the four pillars of a happy society involve the economy, culture, the environment and good governance. It breaks these into nine domains: psychological well-being, ecology, health, education, culture, living standards, time use, community vitality and good governance, each with its own weighted and unweighted Gross National Happiness index.

All of this is to be analyzed using the 72 indicators. Under the domain of psychological well-being, for example, indicators include the frequencies of prayer and meditation and of feelings of selfishness, jealousy, calm, compassion, generosity and frustration as well as suicidal thoughts.

Granted, things are slower and much more easy going in Bhutan, so it’s no coincidence that they place a premium on quality of life.
700,000 people live in the kingdom, a country with one airport and two commercial planes, where the east can only be reached from the west after four days’ travel on mountain roads.

Cigarettes are banned and television was introduced just 10 years ago; traditional clothing and architecture are enforced by law and the capital city has no stoplight and just one traffic officer on duty.

But they prefer it that way. And they are interested in spreading their way of life to the rest of the world.

Imagine that. Imagine if the rest of the world measured their success by their Gross National Happiness.

Then my friends, we’d all be living in a Low Density Lifestyle world.

More On Money and Happiness

In yesterday’s article, Does Money Buy You Happiness?, I discussed the relationship between money and happiness, and showed the happiness levels of different countries.

If you saw the table, you would have seen how the U.S., one of the richest countries in the world, is ranked 17th amongst countries in terms of the happiness quotient of its citizens.

It ranked behind a number of poorer countries, such as Columbia, Guatemala, and Mexico, and ranked even with El Salvador and Honduras.

The point of the article was not to say that money is bad. On the contrary, not having enough money can be stressful. And having a lot of money, or at least having enough, does have its benefits.

But, money can’t buy you true happiness. True happiness comes from a sense of fulfillment, of purpose, of following a dream, of feeding your soul, and of helping others.

Many times, when someone is materially successful, they say that what they did to achieve that success wasn’t done for the money, but instead was done for the love of their project, and that the money was secondary.

It is when the pursuit of money is the primary goal, at the exclusion of all other goals, that a person often loses their soul. Many a novel has been written and movie been made around that theme.

For instance, think of Charles Dickens “A Christmas Carol,” or the film “Citizen Kane.”

And so, for further evidence of this theme, I present 4 videos. At the top of the page is The Beatles, singing “Money Can’t Buy Me Love.”

And below are 3 more videos. First is the Talking Heads, singing “Once in a Lifetime.”

Then we have a video from ScienCentral News called “Money and Happiness,” in which researchers discuss new evidence that “American Dream” achievements like wealth, fame and image are not the keys to happiness.

And lastly, a video from MoneyWatch.com, entitled The Link Between Money and Happiness.

All of this is more fuel for the fire.

Again, having a lot of money isn’t an impediment to living a Low Density Lifestyle; it’s just if money consumes you to the point that it overtakes your thinking and undermines your ability to be truly happy, that’s when you’re deep in the High Density Lifestyle quagmire.

One last note: if you read our Summer Hours, you’ll know that for the summer we are publishing articles one less day a week, 4 days instead of our usual 5 days. So we’ll see you again with the next article on Tuesday.

Let others know about this article by posting it on Twitter! It’s easy – just click on the “tweet it” button below.

Does Money Buy You Happiness?

As I continue on with the series on Happiness, I give you a question that’s an easy one to answer.

Does money buy you happiness? We all know the answer to that: no.

Money and happiness really do not go hand in hand. There is even scientific proof of that.

The World Database of Happiness presents one of the most interesting examinations into whether or not money buys happiness. This database is an ongoing register of scientific research on the subjective enjoyment of life.

The scores are based on responses to a question about satisfaction with life and perceptions of personal well-being, the answers to which were rated on a numerical scale ranging from dissatisfied to satisfied. Rating scales ranged from 0 to 10.

As you can see from the following list, when you place each country’s GDP per capita (in current U.S. dollars), there is not very much correlation between how much money people make and how happy they feel. For example, Guatemalans have the same happiness score as Canadians, although their income is only one-eighth as much. What does tend to reliably correlate with happiness is the quality of relationships with family and friends and a personal sense of belonging to one’s community.

Ranking Country Score National GDP Per Capita
1 Denmark 8.2 $37,400
2 Colombia 8.1 $6,700
3 Switzerland 8.1 $41,100
4 Austria 8.0 $38,400
5 Iceland 7.8 $38,800
6 Australia 7.7 $36,300
7 Finland 7.7 $35,300
8 Sweden 7.7 $36,500
9 Canada 7.6 $38,400
10 Guatemala 7.6 $4,700
11 Ireland 7.6 $43,100
12 Luxembourg 7.6 $80,500
13 Mexico 7.6 $12,800
14 Norway 7.6 $53,000
15 Netherlands 7.5 $38,500
16 Malta 7.5 $22,900
17 United States 7.4 $45,800
18 Belgium 7.3 $35,300
19 El Salvador 7.2 $5,800
20 New Zealand 7.2 $26,400
21 Germany 7.2 $34,200
22 United Kingdom 7.1 $35,100
23 Honduras 7.1 $4,100
24 Kuwait 7.0 $39,300
25 Saudi Arabia 7.0 $23,200
26 Cyprus 6.9 $27,400
27 Italy 6.9 $30,400
28 Spain 6.9 $30,100
29 Argentina 6.8 $13,300
30 Brazil 6.8 $9,700
31 Dominican Republic 6.8 $7,000
32 Singapore 6.8 $49,700
33 Venezuela 6.8 $12,200
34 Chile 6.7 $13,900
35 Israel 6.7 $25,800
36 Slovenia 6.7 $27,200
37 Uruguay 6.7 $11,600
38 Indonesia 6.6 $3,700
39 France 6.5 $33,200
40 Czech Republic 6.4 $24,200
41 Greece 6.4 $29,200
42 Nigeria 6.4 $2,000
43 Philippines 6.4 $3,400
44 China 6.3 $5,300
45 India 6.2 $2,700
46 Japan 6.2 $33,600
47 Taiwan 6.2 $30,100
48 Uzbekistan 6.2 $2,300
49 Kyrgyzstan 6.1 $2,000
50 Vietnam 6.1 $2,600
51 Iran 6.0 $10,600
52 Peru 6.0 $7,800
53 Portugal 6.0 $21,700
54 Croatia 5.9 $15,500
55 Poland 5.9 $16,300
56 Bolivia 5.8 $4,000
57 Korea, South 5.8 $24,800
58 Bangladesh 5.7 $1,300
59 Senegal 5.7 $1,700
60 Hungary 5.6 $19,000
61 Morocco 5.6 $4,100
62 Montenegro 5.5 $3,800
63 Slovakia 5.5 $20,300
64 South Africa 5.5 $9,800
65 Lebanon 5.3 $11,300
66 Algeria 5.2 $6,500
67 Jordan 5.2 $4,900
68 Kenya 5.2 $1,700
69 Turkey 5.2 $12,900
70 Bosnia/Herzegovina 5.1 $7,000
71 Estonia 5.1 $21,100
72 Serbia 5.1 $10,400
73 Uganda 5.1 $900
74 Romania 5.0 $11,400
75 Azerbaijan 4.9 $7,700
76 Macedonia 4.9 $8,500
77 Mali 4.9 $1,000
78 Egypt 4.8 $5,500
79 Ghana 4.8 $1,400
80 Iraq 4.7 $3,600
81 Latvia 4.7 $17,400
82 Lithuania 4.6 $17,700
83 Albania 4.4 $6,300
84 Angola 4.4 $5,600
85 Russia 4.4 $14,700
86 Pakistan 4.3 $2,600
87 Bulgaria 4.2 $11,300
88 Georgia 4.1 $4,700
89 Belarus 4.0 $10,900
90 Armenia 3.7 $4,900
91 Ukraine 3.6 $6,900
92 Moldova 3.5 $2,900
93 Zimbabwe 3.3 $200
94 Tanzania 3.2 $1,300

So now, having looked over the table above, consider this:

In surveys such as this one, the impoverished people of Calcutta, India, living in crude shacks and with little access to clean water, register about even with Americans on the happiness scale — and well ahead of the Chinese, South Koreans, and Japanese. Meanwhile, relatively poor Guatemalans and Columbians, appear to be among the happiest people on the globe.

Underlying these thought-provoking results is the simple fact that more is not necessarily better when it comes to enjoying life and feeling satisfied. More may be more, but it is never enough. We’re caught up in the myth that by achieving and going up the ladder and having more stuff we’ll feel full inside. Yet it isn’t so.

As I said in yesterday’s article on the Art of Happiness, it’s not about the material things you can show the world, but about how you feel about the work you do, the relationships you have, and the love you share.

That’s what really matters.

Check out the video at the top of the page. It’s Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, from 1966, performing their song Richard Cory. The song, adapted from a poem by E.A. Robinson, tells the story of a man who had everything – riches, power, grace and style – yet something was lacking in his life, as the shocking end of the song tells us.

That thing Richard Cory was missing was Happiness. He was stuck in a High Density Lifestyle, and found his life lacking and empty.

There’s nothing wrong with having money. It’s just that it doesn’t buy happiness.

Happiness has to come from somewhere else – it has to come from within. And when it does, that’s when you’re living a Low Density Lifestyle.

Let others know about this article by posting it on Twitter! It’s easy – just click on the “tweet it” button below.

The Art of Happiness: Are You Happy?

Today, I begin a new series, all about Happiness.

Happiness is essential to our lives and helps us to feel more joyous and passionate about everything. The more happiness we bring into our lives, the lighter we feel of body, mind and spirit.

In other words, when you are happier you have the potential to live a Low Density Lifestyle.

And happiness and joy is one of the things that will happen more often for you when you live a Low Density Lifestyle.

But what is happiness? Why are some people more happier than others? Are they born that way?

Is there some magic formula to being happy? Is it related to how much money you have, the type of car you drive, the things you do for fun?

No, happiness runs much deeper than that.

A few years ago, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter was asked, “President Carter, have you come to any new perspectives about what matters in life, now that you’re older?”

His answer was to the point: “Earlier in my life I thought the things that mattered were the things that you could see, like your car, your house, your wealth, your property, your office. But as I’ve grown older I’ve become convinced that the things that matter most are the things that you can’t see – the love you share with others, your inner purpose, your comfort with who you are.”

This is what happiness is. It’s not about the material things you can show the world, but about how you feel about the work you do, the relationships you have, and the love you share.

And so, what are the secrets to happiness? How can you cultivate your ability to be happy, and in the process, live a Low Density Lifestyle?

Here are 12 ways:

1) Count Your Blessings
One way to practice this strategy is with a “gratitude journal” in which you write down the 3 to 5 things for which you are currently thankful. Do this once a week. Keep the strategy fresh by varying your entries and how you express them as much as possible. And if there’s a particular person who has been kind or influential in your life, don’t wait to express your appreciation. Write them a letter now, or, if possible, visit and thank them in person.

2) Practice Acts of Kindness
These should be both random and systematic. Being kind to others, whether friends or strangers, triggers a cascade of positive effects – it makes you feel compassionate and capable, gives you a greater sense of connection with others and earns you smiles, approval and reciprocated kindness. These are all happiness boosters.

3) Nurture Optimism
This involves such practices as looking at the bright side, finding the silver lining in a negative event, noticing what’s right (rather than what’s wrong), feeling good about one’s future and the future of the world, or simply feeling that you can get through the day. One way to practice this strategy is to sit in a quiet place and take 20 to 30 minutes to think about and write down what you expect your life to be 10 years from now. Imagine that everything has gone as well as it possibly could. You have worked hard and succeeded at accomplishing all of your life goals. Think of this as the realization of all of your life dreams. Then, write about what you imagined.

4) Learn to Forgive
Let go of anger, resentment, and feelings of vengeance by writing – but, not sending – a letter of forgiveness to a person who has hurt or wronged you. The inability to forgive is associated with persistent rumination or dwelling on revenge, while forgiving allows you to move on.

5) Increase “Flow” Experiences
When you’re so absorbed in what you’re doing that you don’t notice the passage of time, you are in the flow state. So, become fully engaged at work, at home, and at play. Try to increase the number of flow experiences in your life, whether it’s completing a project at the office, playing with your children, or enjoying a hobby. Seek work and leisure activities that engage your skills and expertise.

6) Invest in Relationships
One of the biggest factors in happiness appears to be strong personal relationships. Indeed, having the support of someone who deeply cares about you is one of the best remedies for unhappiness. Thus, this strategy involves putting effort into healing, cultivating, and enjoying your relationships with family and friends. Act with love, be as kind to the people close to you as you are to strangers, affirm them, share with them, and play together.

7) Avoiding Overthinking
Remember the book, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff? There’s a time to think about the bad stuff in your life, but dwelling on your problems excessively is unhealthy. Very happy people have the capacity – even during trying times like a parent’s chronic illness – to absorb themselves in an engaging activity, stay busy, and have fun. To practice this strategy, pick a distracting, attention-grabbing activity that has compelled you in the past and do it when you notice yourself dwelling.

Savor Life’s Joys
Pay close attention and take delight in momentary pleasures, wonders, and magical moments. Focus on the sweetness of a ripe mango, the aroma of a bakery, or the warmth of the sun when you step out from the shade. Some psychologists suggest taking “mental photographs” of pleasurable moments to review in less happy times.

9) Feed Your Soul
Studies show that religious and spiritual people are happier and healthier than others. Perhaps the social support of belonging to a close-knit religious group is valuable, as is the sense of meaning and purpose that comes from touching on the spiritual aspects of life.

10) Have Goals and Stay Committed to Them
People who strive for something significant are far happier than those who don’t have strong dreams or aspirations. Find a happy person and you will find a project. However, being dedicated to any pursuit won’t make you happy if you’re just doing it for superficial reasons such as making money, boosting your ego, or succumbing to peer pressure.

11) Use Your Body: Exercise, Meditation, and Rest
Getting plenty of sleep, exercising, stretching and meditating can all enhance your mood in the short term and promote energy and strong mental health. Practiced regularly, they can help make your daily life more satisfying and increase long-term happiness.

12) Laughter
If you read the series on laughter and humor a few weeks back, you’ll recall how I discussed the value of laughter and how it can brighten your day, improve your health, and make you happier. If you want to start your day on a laughter note, you can always join a Laughter Yoga club.

Let others know about this article by posting it on Twitter! It’s easy – just click on the “tweet it” button below.

The Swine Flu: For Better or Worse, the Vaccine Race is On

The last article, on Herbal Approaches to the Swine Flu, was to be the last article in this series on Herbal Medicine.

But before I end the series, I want to present you with one more article.

This article is actually not about herbal medicine, but about the swine flu and the push to get a vaccine for it.

One of the things I discussed in the last article on Herbal Approaches to the Swine Flu was the nature of viruses.

I said how because viruses can mutate, sometimes at whim, it’s not always the best thing to try and eradicate it with drugs, and that by trying to destroy it with potent medications, the virus strain can mutate into something stronger and uglier.

And yet, many countries are racing to create a swine flu vaccine, and hoping to inoculate as many people as possible.

There is so much fear tied into the swine flu, what with it being labeled a pandemic, that people will accept what they are told and be willing to be vaccinated, if a vaccine is found.

All we have to do is look back in history, to 1976. That was the last time a swine flu pandemic occurred, and fear over what it could do then was rampant.

Vaccines were pushed and 46 million people in the U.S. got inoculated.

A significant percentage of people who had shots had adverse reactions, and many of those reactions were neurologically severe.

Here’s the deal: when you try and manipulate viruses and try and contain them, you are playing with fire, because they have the intelligence to rise up and mutate into something toxic.

And a vaccine is an injection into the body of the virus that is being combated, in an attempt to get the person being inoculated to develop an immunity to it.

And that’s why I said, in the Herbal Approaches to Swine Flu article, that an herbal approach to the swine flu is the wise thing to do.

When an herbal remedy meets a virus, it doesn’t try to eradicate the virus as much as it tries to harmonize with it and help the virus to settle down, stop mutating, and ease off on its manifestation of symptoms.

And so, I present to you the above two-part video, from 1979. The videos are from the CBS news show Sixty Minutes, and is a look at the 1976 swine flu vaccination campaign, and the adverse reactions from it.

The point of showing the video is for us to learn from the lessons of recent history.

And to help guide us to a more gentle, healthier way of living, that of a Low Density Lifestyle.

Let others know about this article by posting it on Twitter! It’s easy – just click on the “tweet it” button below.

Herbal Approaches to the Swine Flu

I’ve been talking about herbal medicine for the last two weeks, and to close the series I want to take a look at if there could there be herbal remedies for the swine flu.

The swine flu, also known as the H1N1 virus has been getting a lot of press in 2009, ever since an outbreak began in Mexico in the wintertime.

This is not the first appearance of the H1N1 swine flu virus. Swine flu was first identified in the flu pandemic of 1918, and since then it has remained a strain that rears up from time to time.

There have been swine flu outbreaks in the U.S. in 1976 and 1998, and in 2007 there was an outbreak in the Phillipines.

The influenza virus is actually quite common in pigs.

So, in other words, the swine flu is nothing new. It’s just a different strain of the influenza virus.

And because viruses can mutate, sometimes at whim, it’s not always the best thing to try and eradicate it with drugs. Because by trying to destroy it with potent medications, the virus strain can mutate into something stronger and uglier.

That’s where the herbal approach could be the wise thing to do. When an herbal remedy meets a virus, it doesn’t try to eradicate the virus as much as it tries to harmonize with it and help the virus to settle down, stop mutating, and ease off on its manifestation of symptoms.

To that end, there have been a couple of herbal approaches in the works to deal with the swine flu.

One is occurring In Mexico, where the Mexican higher education body the National Polytechnic Institute

(IPN) has reached an agreement with the Beijing-based China Medical University to cooperate in medicinal plants research as part of the efforts to contain the H1N1 flu outbreak.

Guillermo Perez Ishiwara, the IPN’s head of postgraduate studies and research, said Monday that herbal therapy could work to fight the flu strain that has killed 83 and infected 4,541 people in Mexico.

IPN is already seeking plant-based anti-viral medicine in a bid to tackle the H1N1 flu virus, Perez said.

“We are seeking to find in the two herbal traditions plants that serve as anti-virals. Some of the components of the herbal formulas may stimulate the immune response, which mean they could become an alternative in preventing any outbreak that may come in winter,” he said.

“This is a virus that will emerge in a recurring manner and not just in the next winter season,” Perez said, urging researchers and scientists from several institutions to work harder and join hands to fight the virus.

Javier Grandini Gonzalez, director of the IPN’s National Medicine and Homeopathy School, said both Mexico and China are excellent in herbal medicine study.

And the second development is from a pharmaceutical company, Vanguard Pharmaceutical Corporation, that has recently produced a naturally derived product formulated to aid against strains of influenza by strengthening the immune system.

Called Swine Guard, the formula combines traditional Chinese medicine with many extracts that have proven to boost the immune system as well as offer many other benefits in the fight against influenza.

Swine Guard is formulated with:

Shikimic Acid, a traditional Chinese medicine to treat influenza and colds by strengthening the immune system and by functioning as an anti- inflammatory.

Echinacea Extract, which stimulates the immune system, prevents upper respiratory tract infections, is a mild antibiotic that fights strep and staph infections, and produces interferon which increases antiviral activity by improving the migration of white blood cells to attack foreign microorganisms and toxins in the bloodstream.

Microcrystalline Cellulose, which fortifies blood vessels, aids in the repair and maintenance of vital lungs, and improves the lymphatic system.

Ascorbic Acid, which is an antioxidant that enhances the immune system, helps regenerate wounds, protects against effects of stress, and helps prevent certain cancers.

Goldenseal Root Extract, which enhances the immune function, relieves stress, and is an energy booster.

Burdock Root, which purifies the liver, neutralizes most poisons, and detoxifies the system.

Licorice Root Extract, which treats sore throats and rejuvenates cells of the digestive system and liver.

And Shaitake Mushroom, Astragulus Root Extract, and Pau D’Arce Extract, all of which work to enhance the immune function.

Let others know about this article by posting it on Twitter! It’s easy – just click on the “tweet it” button below.

Dang Gui – The Queen of all Herbs

For the last two days, I told you about ginseng, which is known as the King of all Herbs. I told you about how remarkable an herb it is in terms of its healthful benefits.

Today, I want to tell you about an herb that is second only to ginseng in popularity in Chinese Herbal Medicine. Because of this, I have crowned it the Queen of all Herbs.

This herb is Dang Gui, also known as Dong Quai and Tang Kuei. It’s Latin name is Angelica Sinensis.

It is also called the female ginseng, because of its prized value in women’s health, but it is an herb that is not just for women.

Like ginseng, Dang Gui has adaptogenic properties, which means that it helps you deal with stress and the effects stress has on the body. Like all adaptogens, it strengthens the immune system and balances the autonomic nervous system.

Dang gui has been used historically to treat women’s health disorders.
It contains phytoestrogens, which are chemicals found in plants that mimic the effects of estrogen in the body.

Dang gui is said to help balance women’s hormone levels, both restraining and supplementing the body’s production of estrogen as needed. It is used to treat menstrual and menopausal symptoms, including migraine, cramps, mood fluctuations, and hot flashes. It is also said to help speed a woman’s recovery from childbirth and symptoms of low energy/chronic fatigue.

Dang gui helps relax the smooth muscles throughout the body, which makes it a potential treatment for a variety of illnesses. Not only does dang gui relax the smooth muscles of the uterus, but it also keeps the smooth muscles in the arteries dilated, helping to maintain regular blood flow and heartbeat.

Dang gui has been used to treat angina, high blood pressure, and irregular heartbeat. Some studies have shown that the antispasmodic, dilating effects of dang gui may help treat chronic pulmonary hypertension in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Dang gui contains phytochemicals that help boost white blood cell production and fight inflammation, and may improve liver and kidney function. It is traditionally used to treat inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, and is currently being studied for its ability to prevent or treat cancer, liver and kidney disease.

Like ginseng, dang gui can also be used as an aphrodisiac.

Interestingly, dang gui possesses the distinction of being one of the few good non-animal sources of Vitamin B12.

In Chinese Herbal Medicine, dang gui is in the category of blood tonic. It is believed to strengthen the yin and blood, and is a core ingredient in many women’s health herbal formulas.

It can help to regulate the menstrual cycle, relieve menstrual pains and cramps, and is an ideal tonic for women with heavy menstrual bleeding who risk becoming anemic.

One of the most famous formulas in Chinese Herbal Medicine is Si Wu Tang, which is Four Substance Decoction. It contains dang gui; bai shao, which is white peony; chuan xiong, which is ligusticum; and shu di huang, which is Chinese Rehmannia.

This is a time-honored formula that tonifies the blood, and is used for many women’s health issues.

This formula is the base formula, and can either be used by itself or in some variation.

One of the most famous variations is a formula that strengthens both the qi and blood. This formula’s name is Ba Zhen Tang, or Eight-Treasure Decoction. It consists of dang gui and all the ingredients of Si Wu Tang listed above.

It also contains ginseng; licorice; fu ling; which is poria; and bai zhu, which is atractylodis.

This formula is another famous formula in the annals of Chinese Herbal Medicine.

Dang gui is also often used in China as an ingredient in cooking, which is an excellent way to take it in and use it as a blood tonic.

And so, if you include dang gui in your herbal arsenal, it will help enhance your health and wellness, let you experience healthy living, and allow you to live a Low Density Lifestyle.

It doesn’t get any better than that.

Let others know about this article by posting it on Twitter! It’s easy – just click on the “tweet it” button below.

Ginseng – King of the Herbs, Part 2

In yesterday’s article I told you about ginseng, which is known as the King of the Herbs.

Today I will continue with my discussion about this prized herb, which although native to Chinese Herbal Medicine, is really valued all over the world.

I told you about the different types of ginseng, but one thing I didn’t tell you is the root of the name Panax ginseng, which is the botanical name for Asian Ginseng.

The botanical/genus name Panax means “all-heal” in Greek, and shares the same origin as “panacea.” So even to the ancient Greeks, ginseng was an herb that was seen having strong restorative powers.

Ginseng has been studied extensively for the last 20-30 years in China, Japan, Korea and Russia and has been found to have many beneficial qualities.

First and foremost it is an adaptogen, which means it increases the body’s resistance to stress and strengthens the immune system. Studies show that it significantly improves the body’s capacity to cope with hunger, extremes of temperature, and mental and emotional stress.

Furthermore, ginseng produces a sedative effect when the body requires sleep.

Ginseng has also been found to have anti-inflammatory effects. A recent study by a team of researchers at the University of Hong Kong isolated 7 constituents in ginseng, called ginsenosides, which showed immune-suppressive effects.

They found that these ginsenosides were able to inhibit the expression of genes that caused inflammatory actions in the body.

Ginseng has also been found to have anti-cancer properties, and a recent study found it can improve survival outcomes for breast cancer patients.

One study of ginseng’s effects on cancer was done with lab rats. It showed that while both white ginseng and red ginseng reduce the incidence of cancer, the effects appear to be greater with red ginseng.

Ginseng is also known as an aphrodisiac, and to help men who suffer from sexual dysfunction.

A 2002 study by the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine (published in the annals of the New York Academy of Sciences) found that in laboratory animals, both Asian and American forms of ginseng enhance libido and copulatory performance.

And In 2002, a double-blind, crossover study of Korean red ginseng’s effects on impotence reported that it can be an effective alternative for treating male erectile dysfunction.

Ginseng can also be used for Type II diabetes, as it has been found to lower blood glucose.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, ginseng is seen as having tonic, restorative, and sedative properties. In the Chinese Herbal materia medica, it is placed in the category of Qi Tonic, and its abilities range far and wide.

Even the elderly prize ginseng as a tonic that helps increase longevity, but for that matter, in China and other Asian countries, ginseng is taken by people of all ages because of its health-giving capabilities.

In Chinese Herbal Medicine, single herbs are never taken – people take herbal formulas, which are usually many herbs compounded together.

But ginseng is the exception to the rule, and is the only Chinese herb that people take by itself. Again, that is because of its prized abilities.

So there you have it about ginseng, the king of the herbs. If you want to stay healthy, live a long life, and live a Low Density Lifestyle, I suggest integrating ginseng into your life.

Let others know about this article by posting it on Twitter! It’s easy – just click on the “tweet it” button below.

« Previous Page