Inside I found an amazing exhibit called Sonabai, Another Way of Seeing. For a decade and a half, Sonabai Rajawar’s only contact was with her husband and child! In response to this isolation, she created an entirely new artistic expression of color, light, and fun.

How amazing that she had no instruction or guidance, but was able to create such joyous art! Years later, quite by chance, the Indian art world discovered her and later gave her Indiaâ€s highest honor, the prestigious Presidentâ€s Award.

Sonabaiâ€s story clearly expresses the capacity of human beings (including dragons) everywhere to meet their challenges head on and to draw from within themselves the strength and insight to change their lives.  Sonabai found ways to transform her oppression into expressions of courage, beauty, and joy in living. What an inspiration!

I love the way guest curator Stephen Huyler truly captured the feeling of Sonabaiâ€s environment in hi very creative exhibit of short videos of the artist at work and village scenes, projections of village dancers, and photomurals of Sonabaiâ€s studio.

How different life in this village is from life in America! I especially love the variety and brilliance of colors in the women’s clothing (even for picking rice). These truly amazed me, as I don’t think they go to their local K-Mart to buy their clothing and yet the colors seemed brighter than the average outfit around here. Also the looks of pure delight and playfulness on the faces of the women and children so expressed their pure pleasure in the simple things in life! (Dr. Huyler’s photomurals of Sonabaiâ€s studio made me want to fly right out to central India to see these sights for myself and join the villagers in their dance!)

Seeing the works of Sonabai, as well as the art of her four students in this exhibit, gave me hope and inspiration. Sonabai’s story reminded me of the story of holocaust survivor Victor Frankl. He concluded that life has potential meaning and that therefore even suffering is meaningful.

So true for Sonabai who emerged from her oppression to inspire artists, as well as others all over the world, with her art and story!

Whose story inspires you? Please share your inspiration here!

Purchase the jadedragon.com domain or own the entire collection of articles, plus social media accounts and mailing list.

Jade Dragon Online, a highly-ranked 16-year-old ezine on Asian culture, is now up for adoption.

Jade Dragon has grown into a popular dragon and is now ready to leave the nest to fly faster and further.  He has unlimited potential, as his hundreds of articles come up high in searches, having built up 16 years of search results.

With Jade Dragon Online, you can:

Along with the high search engine results, Jade Dragon also comes with a loyal and long-standing following, hundreds of articles, and much, much more. Articles appeal to martial artists, holistic health practitioners, overseas Asians, and lovers of Asian cuisine and culture.

You can obtain Jade Dragon for the highly desirable domain name and URL (www.jadedragon.com) or take over the the entire Jade Dragon entity, including 100s of articles, plus the following:

• DragonBytes blog: 81,000+ unique visitors to the site you are visiting now
• Twitter account with 469 followers
• Facebook account with 255 friends
• Mailing list of 201 subscribers

Though the website with all of its content has been valued at over $15,000,  all offers will be considered. (Click here for more on the website value.)

Peopleâ€s Climate March in New York City

As world leaders meet at the United Nations climate change summit, hundreds of thousands of marchers will demand the world we know is within our reach: a world with an economy that works for people and the planet; a world safe from the ravages of climate change; a world with good jobs, clean air and water, and healthy communities. Other marches will take place around the world as we collectively call on our leaders to act on climate change.

To change everything, we need everyone on board. Here’s how you can help:

• Take a pledge to reduce your carbon footprint and JOIN US at a march (marches happening all over the world)
• Help Spread the word on Facebook
• Get involved with promotion, constructing visuals, logistics, and more

For inspiration: Watch Bill McKibbenâ€s invitation to the PCM in Rolling Stone in the video below:

People’s Climate March

The Buddhist flags hung in honor of Buddha's birthday in Patan, Kathmandu

Buddhism is everywhere here in Nepal and itâ€s intermingled with Hinduism. It seems though that most people I come across are Buddhist. I have always had an interest in Buddhism; they say itâ€s a philosophy and not a religion. That may be true but here in Nepal it comes across as very religious to me.  The temples alone yell religion and then all the people performing different rituals also smacks of it. Religion isnâ€t so bad; it brings comforts to millions. Ritual is amazing; it creates energy like nothing else Iâ€ve ever seen. And yet, I find myself resistant to it.  Here in Nepal though I feel slightly less resistant. When I am asked if I am a Buddhist the next question is usually if I am a Christian. When I tell them Iâ€m nothing they donâ€t try and convert me, they just listen.

So Lord Buddhaâ€s (as they call him) birthday is May 27^th and I happened to be in Nepal for it. Itâ€s actually a national holiday here as you can expect. Being next to the gumpa that contains all the mini monks Buddhaâ€s  birthday was an interesting experience for me. All the trumpet playing and horn blowing they have been practicing seemed to be for this day. It was a full moon and I went onto the roof to watch the boys playing their trumpets out towards the city.

I couldnâ€t get any good pictures from our roof so I decided to go up on theirs. I had my camera with me and as I went to go up on the roof many of the monks were outside the gumpa. They beckoned me and asked that I please, please come in.

Up to this point I had been afraid to go in. I canâ€t really tell you why. I guess I didnâ€t want to be disrespectful, this lame tourist poking around inside a religious structure. I think I was also waiting for an invitation. So I finally had it and I removed my shoes and followed the monks in.

Itâ€s so beautiful inside with large statues of Buddha and some other folks. I learned that you always walk clockwise around any religious site here and so I followed the path around inside. The energy inside the gumpa was astounding; I could feel it circulating clockwise through the building. I could feel the energy of everyone that had come that day to pray. It was positively vibrating. As I walked around I saw mini monks stashed away in corners repeating mantras out loud, sometimes in pairs, sometimes alone.

The gumpa next door

Doorway to the gumpa

As I came to the end again there was a local prostrating himself. Itâ€s quite something to see someone doing this. Itâ€s so humble, almost apologetic. He was doing this movement over and over across the floor as if to say “forgive me, I am so worthless, make me better.” It wasnâ€t in the direction of Buddhaâ€s statue and I wasnâ€t about to interrupt him to ask him to who or what he was doing this to. Perhaps it was just himself.

The mini monks asked if I wanted to learn how it was done and I hesitantly said yes. I have this fear of looking like an idiot because I donâ€t get something right the first time, but I know that itâ€s better to say yes and have a new experience.

One young monk showed me first. You stand up straight and put your hands in prayer position, then you bring them to your head, your heart, and then you get down on the ground and bow your head all the way down. Then you push yourself up without using your hands more than once for the push.

The first time I tried this I had to use my hands twice, I didnâ€t really trust my own strength on the hard marble floor and I was being watched. I could see on their faces that I had done it wrong even though they were obviously trying to hide it. I tried again and this time got smiles from the two monks. This is the kind of magical thing I hoped for, the sort of romantic idea that got into my head when I first heard the name Nepal. After this I felt uneasy, wondering what I should do now that I had made my rounds so I made my way out into the entranceway and watched all the young monks gathering at the lit candles. They were picking them up and bringing them inside for some purpose that I couldnâ€t gather, mostly because I didnâ€t ask. I kept having this sense like I was interrupting something, that I was an outsider. I felt myself shrinking back. I wanted to take a picture badly but was afraid to ask. I didnâ€t want to make a wrong impression or say something wrong but the photo opportunity was too good to let go.

I havenâ€t prostrated myself since then but I have this feeling like it would do me some good. I think it would do a lot of people some good. Do I have to prostrate myself to some religious god? Shouldnâ€t I prostrate myself in front of my own self judgment instead. I could learn to be easier and more care free…

Woman performing a ritual in honor of Buddha's birthday

When looking at thyroid hormones, or any hormones really, it is important to differentiate between the protein bound and free forms of the hormone. When a hormone is created by a gland it is immediately bound up with a carrier protein who’s job it is to get that hormone to where it needs to go without being destroyed or lost along the way. Once the hormone is where it needs to be that carrier protein is removed and the hormone is “free” to do its job. That is why these hormones are called “free fraction” or “free hormones.”

In the case of thyroid hormones there is a specific carrier protein called Thyroid Binding Globulin. It just so happens that when there are elevated levels of estrogen the amount of Thyroid Binding Globulin in the blood also goes up. This increased number of binding proteins hold onto more of the thyroid hormone which works to hinder them from doing their job. Remember, protein bound hormones can’t bind to their receptor. They just float around in the blood. So if you were to do a basic thyroid screen you would usually be looking for the protein bound form (generally due to the lower cost of the test) and everything might look fine. The thyroid is producing plenty of hormone and the paperwork all looks great. But why then is this woman still having trouble losing weight, losing her hair, struggling with low energy, and not pooping very often? These are all low thyroid symptoms which exist even though the actual hormone levels are normal. “Go home, there is nothing wrong with you.” Right? Hmmm….

The reason that these symptoms persist is because the elevated estrogen induces a low thyroid state by stopping the free form of the hormone from binding to the receptor. For all intensive purposes this person is low thyroid. The unfortunate part is that the average blood work up won’t account for the interplay between estrogen and thyroid Binding Globulin.

A careful history looking for high estrogen conditions like breast cancer, breast cysts, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, or hormone replacement therapy for example should all come into play when considering complaints of low thyroid function. This is thinking outside the box of mainstream medicine. These cases are missed all the time which is unfortunate. It is also of course a great idea to have a look at estrogen levels and there is even a test for Thyroid Binding Globulin. These are tests that I can order if your primary physician is unable or unwilling to order them for you. Be prepared for such a response.

This is just another example of how hormone imbalance can have a negative affect on sexual function and health in general. Let’s face it… Someone who is experiencing low thyroid symptoms for any reason is generally low energy. And I think that we all know how great sex can be when one or more of the people involved is, “too tired!” Let’s be proactive here. Healthy sexual function can translate into great overall health and lend itself to a positive outlook on life. It is as natural as breathing, sleeping, and pooping! And when it comes to thyroid health all of the above can be involved. The solution may be as simple as just looking for the right thing.

One of the perks of being in this clinic is getting to treat the mini monks, whether it be rubbing Neem oil on their heads or dressing their many cuts and scrapes. (What the hell is Neem oil ? Why, itâ€s a wonderful Ayurvedic antimicrobial, antifungal, skin healing plant oil that has a gnarly funk to it.)

In my head, before I came here, I had thought how peaceful it would be to be next to a Buddhist monastery. I had pictured rolling green hills and monks chanting in unison at dusk. Monks in training are actually quite noisy; theyâ€re learning to play horns, they chant out of tune and tempo. Every morning at 9:30 and evening at 7:30 they come into the clinic using the little English they know, “hellloo, hello, helloo?” I massage the Neem onto their shaved, fungus-infected heads, not bothering to wash my hands in between. A few of them roll back their ears to show crusty spots where I apply a Chinese herbal balm to it. Another shows me the chunk of skin missing on the bottom of his foot and points to the Calendula.

I canâ€t describe how magical it is to be crowded by little monks that need my help. This process makes me feel like a healer in a totally different respect than Iâ€m used to (and in some ways I feel totally inadequate).  One of the monks communicated that he had a sore throat and wanted herbs. I was the only one around and felt so lame that I didnâ€t know which herbal formula to give him. Of course I donâ€t know; Iâ€ve only been in acupuncture school for two years and thatâ€s just long enough to know I donâ€t know anything.  I did, however, know to do some fire cupping to his back and chest. Itâ€s too bad they all look the same. I would like to have asked him if it helped.

A 9 year old monk named Pema Lodoe Rabsel sprained his ankle the other day and we were able to give him some homeopathy that took the swelling down. The volunteer acupuncturist, Christina, was out of town on a retreat so I was asked if I could do some acupuncture on the little guy to help his ankle. At this very moment I was actually happy for the injury I had suffered to my ankle in almost the same location. I knew from getting over 20 acupuncture treatments how to help it. (Normally we donâ€t do acupuncture on children in the States even though my school has an offsite location at Childrenâ€s Hospital. Instead we use magnets and acupressure.) I knew I had to use tiny needles and keep it very limited so I chose only four points. With an adult most people use at least 8 needles in a treatment, and maybe even 10 or 12.

I asked him if he was scared (through a translator) and he sheepishly nodded yes. I held up one of the needles and said “See, they are very tiny. I will tell you before I put it in, okay? If it hurts we can take it right out.” He nodded again and I chose the point that I knew would be the least reactive and gently tapped it in. He smiled and I said, “Itâ€s not so bad, huh?” and he nodded. The next point there was no reaction, but the last two he made a little noise. I again checked in with him “are any of them hurting you?” He nodded no.

“Now weâ€re going to do some moxa on your leg to help it heal, okay?” I showed him the moxa pole and lit it on fire. I said “Donâ€t worry, Iâ€m not going to burn you, if itâ€s too hot you tell me.” As I drew the moxa up and down his leg I could see the fear in his eyes, but he eventually calmed down as he realized I wasnâ€t going to burn him. I kept explaining about the moxa, asking him if he knew what it was and then explaining about it being a plant called mugwort, known for itâ€s healing properties. I was scared too. He was the first child I ever needled. Point location on him was harder because of how tiny he was. I got the feeling I might break something if I was too rough or that he would run off screaming and forever be afraid of me. Kids are like dogs though; you canâ€t let them smell your fear.

So far this has really been the best part about working in the clinic here. The mini monks, or monk-eys as I have been calling them, are very cute and sweet. They are also classic little boys, wrestling, running, and playing soccer. They come with a myriad cuts and scrapes every day to be treated. They are also amazing little mantra chanters. You canâ€t help but love the kids here, the monks and others. They have the biggest, brightest smiles and are so friendly.

The monks had huddled onto the porch of the gumpa. As soon as they saw I was taking pictures they all started hamming it up

Follow earlier blogs of Metal Monkey’s adventures in Asia!

Volunteering in Nepal, A Personal Story
Teaching in Massage in Nepal

This is my second blog on being in Nepal as a volunteer for Mindful Medicine. (See my earlier blog for more details on how I ended up in Nepal.)

What I like about Mindful Medicine is that they want their work to be sustainable, to make a lasting difference. Instead of just bringing acupuncturists in for 2 to 4 month periods to treat, they have them teach as well. The Vajra Varahi clinic-paid interpreters have been learning basic acupuncture treatments so that they can help the acupuncturists that come here as well as treat in their absence.

Since I am a body worker and only halfway through my training as an acupuncturist I came to work here in a slightly different capacity. I was able to bring a massage table that was donated from Earthlight to do the work (30 pounds, by the way!). My job here is to teach the staff the basics of massage and anatomy so that they can continue to help the local population. A lot of people here have low-back, neck, and shoulder pain, often accompanied with arthritis. See the picture below (enough said).

Iâ€ve started teaching. The students are Satyamohan, Sonya, and Prajwal who are all 25 years old and Ramita who is 33 and the only one with a child. They all have other jobs in the clinic, such as interpreting and reception work. I designed my classes based on my 6 years of experience, what Jessica and Grainne of Mindful Medicine had talked to me about, and what I went over with the clinic director when I got here. The students are picking it up fast and Iâ€m actually envious of the way they get to learn massage, with one-on-one attention and none of the bullshit classes I had to take to satisfy state requirements. Iâ€m working really hard to make sure that they can apply what I am teaching them once I am gone.

Sonya in the clinic room with the donated massage table

A lot of people asked me, “Donâ€t they already have massage there?” I could almost hear the question, “Why the hell do they need you to come and teach them?”

Well, yeah, theyâ€ve had Ayurveda here for thousands of years (Ayurveda is Indian traditional medicine and it includes massage), but what they donâ€t have is a massage school . They also donâ€t have anyone local that will volunteer their time to teach.

Teaching is a lot of work but itâ€s also fun. I spent a considerable amount of time organizing the information and lesson plans.

Satyamohan practicing on Prajwal while Ramita watches

Thereâ€s no shortage of patients to work with and to train the staff on. I donâ€t know that more than one or two of the staff will like and want to pursue massage here in the clinic, but at least they now have the option. Itâ€s been nice sharing my passion for body work and my expertise in the field. Being in school for the past two years has really challenged my ego and itâ€s been great feeling like I know what Iâ€m doing again.

Satyamohan at the clinic desk

It has been an interesting lesson in culture so far. I have learned that students here are taught to learn without asking questions. I find myself asking the students if they have any questions and then having to wait for a long time or suggesting questions for them to ask.  I can now see when Iâ€m saying something in English that they donâ€t understand and have learned to ask if they do.

I think we all use a lot of phrases and colloquialisms that we donâ€t even notice. Itâ€s been a lesson in English and the meaning of words for me as I go along. One day I kept using the word subtle and then found myself having to describe it. Itâ€s the opposite of obvious, right? Other words I just stand there repeating over and over to define it. Well defensive, itâ€s like, well itâ€s just defensive. No, itâ€s like offensive… okay, well itâ€s more like when you are feeling the need to be defensive. (Yeah, Iâ€m getting better.)

The clinic is in Chapagaon, Lalitpur district of Kathmandu. It is called Vajra Varahi and shares the grounds with a Buddhist monastery. The clinic provides treatments to the locals for 5 rupees or free.

As you can imagine this trip wasnâ€t exactly cheap, flying across the world and taking two months off of work was daunting. If you find the work worth while and are interested in helping to pay for supplies, travel, and living expenses please use the PayPal Donate button below. (Click on the below Donate button, log into your PayPal account, go to the Send Money tab, enter my email address – Violet_dreamscape@yahoo.com, enter amount, click the Personal tab, and click Continue).

Energetic support is also appreciated!

I want to have a life! I want to experience things, people, and places as well as be in love with Chinese medicine. To become an acupuncturist you have to be passionate about it, you have to love people, and you have to be driven. Itâ€s not an easy path but itâ€s very rewarding. To be a Chinese medicine practitioner is to give your life to it, to live it, and to be an example. At least thatâ€s what they tell you. To become a traditional healer, you have to do hours of rote memorization, you have to study relentlessly, and you have to get to a point where you just donâ€t give a shit any more and then try to remember why youâ€re there. You have to half ass your way sometimes and choose your battles.

So, I needed a break. A good break, a real break—not just the measly two to three weeks you usually get in between trimesters. (Yes, school is year round.)

Iâ€ve never been to Asia before and here I am studying Chinese medicine. So much is lost on me because I donâ€t innately know the culture. Asia is huge; it encompasses places like Nepal, China, Tibet, both Koreas, and Japan. Iâ€m not a very experienced traveler; Iâ€ve been to some of the standard locations in the U.S. , as well as to Spain, Mexico, Jamaica, and Costa Rica. None of this could really prepare me for what itâ€s like to come to Nepal. I knew I had to get the hell out of dodge and take a break from school before I went crazy, stopped giving a shit, and stopped learning.

Why Nepal? Well, itâ€s where Mindful Medicine Worldwide has its two clinics. I became compelled to work with Mindful Medicine Worldwide after I met the founder, Grainne, at an acupuncturistâ€s convention. She was well-spoken, educated, and passionate about her work. Grainne told me about her organization and how they bring health care to Nepal and are also working on other locations in Thailand. I was impressed that an organization that had only been around a year had accomplished so much. Itâ€s in my nature to mistrust new organizations so the fact that I didnâ€t feel this way was something significant to me. Over the years I have learned to trust my instincts and intuition  (call it a perk of my career).

At the time I didnâ€t know this but Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world. After a long war there was no money left for health care and the people were left to deal with it on their own. A lack of education, health care, and hard work has made the people of Nepal deeply in need of free and inexpensive health care. As it turns out, a lot of people donâ€t know this about Nepal. In fact when I told people I was coming here half of them werenâ€t even sure it was a country.

“Whereâ€s Nepal? Is that a country?”

“Yes, yes it is and, by the way, itâ€s a landlocked country on the Indian subcontinent, it’s where Mt. Everest is.  Go ahead and Google it like I did.”

Please visit here again soon, as I share my adventures of being in Nepal.

Namaste

I hope to help you understand a bit better where we are coming from by talking today about wind invasions. After all, it is the time of year for them. By wind invasion I am really talking about colds and flus. So how does what we do for a cold differ from what you might otherwise accomplish at the drug store? Simply put, the methods, and herbs prescribed for these illnesses work to both address the symptom as well as fight off the infection. And it does this with specificity in mind as to the particular type of infection. A cold pill only gets you through it.

Now we all know the basic symptoms of a cold or flu, but not every infection will present the same. Take for example what we call a wind heat invasion. This is the type of cold that creates hot-type symptoms such as fever, cough, red/swollen throat, sweats and perhaps a thick green or yellow mucus. This is in sharp contrast to the type of cold that produces chills, headache, stiff neck, and a clear runny nose as seen in a wind cold invasion.

Now the over-the-counter treatment for all this would generally be the same. You might reach for a cold pill containing acetaminophen for a pain killer and fever reducer, a cough suppressant even though you may not even have a cough, an expectorant to clear out the mucus, and an antihistamine to help you sleep. Everything here is strictly symptom based, and often treats symptoms that you do not even have.

Now something like a flu shot is designed to build immunity to the influenza virus responsible for giving you the flu. But unless you want to inject mercury, aluminum, formaldehyde, and other nasty stuff into yourself when you are trying to stay healthy, I would advise against going that route. There is just too much evidence indicating that flu shots are more dangerous than they are worth. There may be a time for them, but not about 95% of the time. But that is really another blog.

From the Chinese Medical perspective we reach for herbs that address the particular condition of the patient. For example if there are the cold type symptoms we would prescribe warming herbs like ginger, cinnamon, and some other fun Chinese-named herbs that not only warm the system, but have anti-viral properties to address the infection. If there is a heat-type infection we would reach for herbs that are cooling in nature, like mint, for example. We can effectively treat the symptoms by balancing out heat and cold and address the infection by mixing in herbs that have anti-viral and/or bacterial properties.

Overall Chinese herbal formulas are a very well balanced and safe way to address many medical conditions. The beauty of such an approach is that it allows the practitioner to take into account not only the patient, but the environment in which the patient is living. The more we can relate to what is affecting us the better we can exist harmoniously with our environment and allow for a healthier experience. Now let me be the first to admit here that it is important to look specifically and scientifically into some issues, but let me also suggest that it is equally as important to be willing and able to take a step back and simplify things a bit. Sometimes it is just easier to call it a wind invasion and treat it with acupuncture points and herbs indicated for wind invasions. There is a lot of wisdom in the Traditional Chinese approach to medicine. The actual science is wrapped up in the symbolism. You would be surprised to know all the things we can treat effectively, even when we do call them something a little odd like “Phlegm Fire Misting the Orifices,” for example.

Allow yourself to have an open mind and the world becomes a much bigger place. Allow yourself to contact me and who knows how much better you may feel!

What’s your experience with acupuncture and Chinese herbs? Please share them with us!

Himin Group’s Sun-Moon Mansion

This rabbit recently hopped over to the city of Dezhou, in Shandong Province, to partake in some Earth Day festivities with a few friends. While there, I learned more about the greening of China and the significant role Dezhou plays in this cleantech movement. The future certainly looks bright for å¾·å·ž!

Did you know that Dezhou is one of the leading global players in solar technology today? The city boasts a thriving research and development, manufacturing, and tourism center and those in the renewable industry often refer to Dezhou as Chinaâ€s Solar Valley. The Chinese government has supported the cleantech movement in this region through preferential tax benefits and other various policies that helped attract top firms to Dezhou. In just a few short years, China has become the leading manufacturer of wind turbines and solar panels around the world. It appears China has really stepped up in a significant way to promote sustainable technology.

According to the Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association (CREIA), there were 1.12 million renewable energy jobs in China, as of 2008; the association believes more than 100,000 new jobs will be added each year in China going forward. The solar industry in China is very robust and is currently experiencing a growth rate of nearly 30 percent a year. It is Chinaâ€s stated goal to have 8 percent of their electricity generation come from solar, biomass, and wind by the year 2020. The government plans to subsidize renewables to the tune of $450 billion over the next five years to help meet this goal.

— China’s Solar Valley in Dezhou

The 4^th International Solar Cities Congress (ISCC) will take place in Dezhou this fall. Since the city is a world leader in solar panel manufacturing, it only seems appropriate that the worldâ€s largest solar building will be hosting the event. The Sun-Moon Mansion, headquarters of Himin Group, houses research and development facilities, exhibition space, offices, and even a luxury hotel. The solar panels meet 95 percent of the buildingâ€s energy needs. The iconic sundial structure is meant to symbolize the contribution the local citizens are making toward greening their country.

Do you think Chinaâ€s environment or economy benefits more from renewable energy? What is your city doing to position itself as a leader in renewable energy? It’s comforting to know that this rabbit’s hometown is striving to become a world leader in the clean technology economy.