>: steam (Jing). I practiced Tai Chi and experienced this vibration
>: myself but was  unable to proceed any further due to the
>: unavailability of experienced masters. I suppose all good things
>: come to an end.

I’ve practised Lee style T’ai Chi for a year now, and am beginning to feel
the stiring of energy when I practise the form. But as for the unavailability
 of experienced masters I can’t help.

But have youy considered trying different styles, you’d learn more that way,
perhaps. And having progressed as much as you say, something different might
help you (yoga or some kind of meditative technique other than TCC). But
mostly, I find that T’ai Chi is a personal experience. Guided by the
instructor, yes, but everything you learn you learn from yourself.
Experimentation may simply be the key.

Sorry if I sound patronising, you’ve probably tried it all. But I would say
that having developed your energy with T’ai Chi you can progress using a
different style/technique.

If all else fails, throw open your psychic centres and let the Tao
guide you

NEIL K

<chorn…@achilles.net> wrote:
> I am searching for detailed info about the homeopathic
> compound Cactus Grandiflorus. Esp. it’s benefical effects
> and potential side effects.
> I would also appreciate any links to WWW homeopathic
> databases

> Thanks in advance

> Dwight Chornook

Night-Blooming Cereus is a name applied to several genera of closely
related cacti.  The term was originally Cereus (Cactus) grandiflorus.  You
must undersand that the Cactaceae are undergoing CONSTANT revision (it
must smart like hell).  The current latin name is Selenicereus…and MOST
of these Caribbean cacti interbreed constantly…it is an amorphous genus
of long, spindly, hillside-growing ‘vine" cacti.  I have been able to
tincture and try at least six of them and they all work splendedly.

A close relative or two have adapted to desert circumstance by exchanging
the masses of stems for one or two (supported by the shrubs it grows
amongst…like Cleavers), and forming often MASSIVE tubers (up to 50
pounds).  This is Peniocereus greggii of Northern Mexico, Arizona and SW
New Mexico (with one subspecies endangered).  This plant TOO works well,
although at about half the potency.  Hylocereus from Hawaii has also been
used recently (it is VERY tough getting a good remedy)…I find it poor,
others like it fine.

The proper medicine is a tincture of the FRESH stems, made by slicing up,
say, 8 ounces of the stems, covering it with 16 ounces of 95% ethanol, and
letting it sit, bottled, for 10-14 days.  This makes a 1:2 fresh plant
tincture.  This is the ONLY bioactive preparation.  Although a SPLENDID
medicine, the form of this plant that was dispensed by bored
pharmaceuteucal manufacturers between 1920 and 1950 was the dried
inspissated sap…a virtually inert (but efficient) preparation.  This
bore as much resemblance to "Cereus" as powdered Aloe does to the Aloe
vera we all use for lesser burns…NONE.

To quote myself (Specific Indications in Clinical Practice):

CEREUS GRANDIFLORUS
  Tinnitus with nervous tachycardia.
  Functional dyspnea with pale face, palpitations, cardiopathies, neurosis,
      fear.
  Emphysema with poor pulmonary circulation.

CEREUS GREGGII
  Tobacco heart; functional neurocirculatory disorders with depression,
      hypochondriasis, necrophobia.
  Palpitations and arrhythmias with agitation, neurotic (with
Cypripedium/Epipactus).
  Mitral regurgitation.
  Nausea from motion sickness, excitation.
  Menopause, with cardiac arrhythmias.

and from my Materia Medica 5.0:

CEREUS GRANDIFLORUS  (Selenicereus, Peniocereus,  Night-Blooming Cereus)
  FRESH STEMS. Fresh Tincture [1:2], 5-15 drops (Selenicereus spp.);
  10-25 drops, (Peniocereus greggii).
  Either one to 4X a day.
  STATUS : W/LA

You will find photographs (as JPEGS) of BOTH plants on my web site, an
engraving of Selenicereus grandiflorus (c.1926) as well as the manuals I
quoted from on my web site (see below).

Briefly, I use Cereus when someone has palpitations and rapid pulse
arising from recent relationship or job stress, for both adrenal-dominated
folks and for the "mesomorph" who has been drinking too much coffee,
smoking too many cigarettes, maybe with a history of coke or meth usage,
and is wondering why he/she has these odd moments of chest-clutching
terror.  I have also found it helpful for the palpitations of the
adolescent (usually early evening) and the menopausal women who is NOT
sweating as well.  

Cereus works quickly, often in a minute or two, and is best used in
CNS/CVS fugue states.  It doesn’t CHANGE shit…it stops the guitar-amp
feedback, and lets the person calm down.  A person in this anxietous state
will find that it is calming and "grounding"…it has no OTHER uses for
emotional distress.  The calming comes from its effect on sympathetic
ennervation of the SA/AV nodes.  It wont help OTHER causes of anxiety.  It
is also NOT appropriate for any organic cardiac dysfunction.

It is for functional cardiac agitation…it is an herb that effects the
Central Nervous System and Sympathetic Adrenergic functions…NOT,
directly, the heart.

Put it on the Pulsatilla, Sepia, Avena, Gelsemium, Rescue Remedy and
smelling salts shelf, away from the Crataegus, Lycopus…or Digitalis
shelf.

> I am also interested in hearing other folk’s suggestions on the BEST herb
> reference guide on the market.  Thanks.

I don’t know about the BEST, but my web site is the CHEAPEST source of
herb references…35 megabytes the last time I looked.

Michael Moore (hrbmo…@rt66.com)
http://www.rt66.com/hrbmoore/HOMEPAGE/HomePage.html
All the SWSBM teaching and clinical manuals, JPEGs of Medicinal Plant
photographs and class announcements can be obtained at my web site.

Johnston) writes:
>Lately I’ve been overcome by evening bouts of hunger which have been
>difficult to fight. Less than an hour after dinner I’m hungry and it
>continues into the evening. I’m in very good shape and have been
>cutting my fats way back over the last year. I eat a healthy vegetarian
>diet with the occassional meat fix. I exercise a lot, but not any more
>of late.

Two thoughts — one is that I sometimes find if I haven’t eaten enough in
the morning (or even the afternoon of the previous day), I feel hungry all
through the evening, even after eating dinner.  Second, too much in the
way of refined starches or sugar may kick up your blood sugar level which
then rebounds too low, but from what you say, that wouldn’t apply to you.

>>>I would like to hear about alternative approaches to controlling high
>>>blood pressure.

>–

Biofeedback has a clear record for hypertension control, alone or with
exercise and diet,  especially the Menninger protocol developed 10 or more
years ago.  Very careful program for 18 weeks of group treatment for economy.

>In article <486k0c$…@marin.k12.ca.us>, Melissa and Bruce Honig <MBHonig>
>writes:

>>I would like to hear about alternative approaches to controlling high
>>blood pressure.

–

You may be interested in reading "Reverse Aging" by Sang Whang.  Mr. Whang
lowered his blood pressure by drinking alkaline water.  The theory is
interesting.

All the best,
Jim
__________________________________________________________________________
Jim Clements                   |email: cleme…@xmission.com
Total Health Marketing         |ph. 801/553-8716   fax 801/553-1606
                               |http://www.xmission.com/~total/health.html

>I would like to hear about alternative approaches to controlling high
>blood pressure.

>I am now taking Adalat…don’t like side effects…need to find
>alternatives.

You might want to check out Adelle Davis’s book "Let’s Get Well."  It was
written over 20 years ago but is still in print, in libraries and sold at
health food stores.  She has an entire chapter on natural treatment of
high blood pressure.  (Adelle Davis was a nutritionist).

RED CLOVER FLOWERS}  (Nutrient, tonic, alterative, antispasmodic,
diuretic, anti-inflamatory,)      
Very high in trace minerals, helps treat cancer (external & indolent
ulcers), constipation, cough, mumps, (affections of) pancreas,  (sore,
mucous in) throat, (pain in) uvula, strong antiseptic, poultice
for burns and abscesses, possible estrogenic activity.      

Regards,
Rosemary, Healing Pages Bookstore, Seattle, WA
e-mail: healing…@aol.com