© 2004 by Ron Teeguarden.All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form orby any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording,or by any information storage and retrieval system without permission inwriting from Ron Teeguarden.

Dragon Herbs315 Wilshire Blvd.Santa Monica, CA 90401888­55­TONICwww.dragonherbs.com

“Deepest thanks to my wife and partner, Yanlin, for personallyproject­managing this book’s publication, and for her ever­lasting

desire to take my ideas and creations to a higher level.”

IntroductionBack in the 1960’s, I read a book written by Alan Watts. Thename of the book was, well, “The Book.” In his introduction heexplained that he wanted to write something to give to his childrenthat would be their fundamental guidebook for their life. In TheBook, Watts delved into the inner secrets of life from a Taoist­Buddhist perspective. This book was pivotal in my life and I stilllive my life by many of the ideas expressed in it. I still have theoriginal copy of that book, and I recently loaned it to my teenageson and suggested he read it carefully.

Yet The Book did not tell everything fundamental to the attain­ment of real health, happiness and wisdom. So I decided to writedown some short tips that I have learned are essential to having agreat life. I too wrote them with my children in mind ­ this wouldbe my guidebook to them.

These thirty tips are purposely short and without deep instruc­tion. Each tip is probably worthy of a full chapter in a book, ormaybe even entire books. One can spend a lifetime, for example,studying the art of eating correctly or of meditating. The tips aresimply reminders, simple “attitude adjusters,” to help keep us ontrack. They may pop into mind at the appropriate times and save usgrief and help us to prosper, in more ways than one.

I hope you take these tips to heart, since they are all, in theirown ways, transformative. I wish you the best of luck, health,longevity and happiness in your life.

Peace and Love,

Ron Teeguarden

Table of ContentsTip 1: Respect Yourself . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Tip 2: Build & Protect the 3 Treasures (Jing, Qi & Shen) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2­3Tip 3: Develop Your Will Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4­5Tip 4: Develop Your Adaptability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6­7Tip 5: Take Tonic Herbs Consistently . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8­9Tip 6: Learn the Art of Moderation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Tip 7: Spend Some Time Studying the Human Body­Mind . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Tip 8: Eat Naturally (And Eat Plenty of Vegetables) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12­13Tip 9: Chew Your Food Very Well

& Leave the Table a Little Empty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Tip 10: Do Breathing Exercises Daily . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Tip 11: Exercise Daily . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Tip 12: Sleep Enough & Learn to Sleep Well . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Tip 13: Develop a Basic Life Routine that

You Can Maintain Most of the Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Tip 14: Avoid Toxins, Pollutants & Dangerous Microbes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Tip 15: Cleanliness is Next to Godliness (Inside & Out) . . . . . . . . . . . . 20­21Tip 16: Don’t Engage in Activities that You Know are Harmful . . . . . . . . . 22Tip 17: Study Nature From the Point of View that You are a Part of It . . . . 23Tip 18: Develop Beauty From Within . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24­25Tip 19: Pay Close Attention to Your Body . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26­27Tip 20: Pay Close Attention to the State of Your Mind & Emotions . . . . . . 28Tip 21: Develop Patience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29Tip 22: Develop Your Intuition & Follow It . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30­31Tip 23: Learn to Meditate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32­33Tip 24: Be Steady… Keep Your Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34­35Tip 25: Focus on the Positive But Take Note of the Negative . . . . . . . . 36­37Tip 26: Appreciate Everything . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38Tip 27: Learn to Let Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39Tip 28: Enjoy Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40­41Tip 29: Be a Giver, & Replenish the Energy Spent Doing It . . . . . . . . . . . . 42Tip 30: Open Your Heart to Love . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

RespecRespectYourselfYourselfSelf­respect is one of thegreat secrets to health andlongevity. If you respectyourself, you won’t polluteyour body­mind with drugs,junk food, and smoke, andyou won’t harm and abuseit with a poor lifestyle. Ifyou respect yourself, youwill treat your body like asuperior being and youwould treat your mind likea sage. Treat yourself withrespect – you may be apotential Buddha, or theperson with the potential tosave or positively changethe world. This single prac­tice of truly respectingyourself should be enoughto propel you on the path ofradiant health.

SHEN

1

Build and ProtectBuild and Protectthe 3 Treasuresthe 3 Treasures(Jing,Qi &Shen)(Jing,Qi &Shen)

Jingis the candle.It is our reserveof life force.

Qiis the flame. It is theenergy of life, acquiredthrough breathingand eating andmanifested as ourday­to­day vitality.

2

Shenis the light given off by the candle.It is the Spirit, the energy ofconsciousness and awareness.

The Three Treasures are the fundamental ener­gies of life within a human being. They are moreimportant to our health and happiness than any­thing else. The Three Treasures are known asJing, Qi and Shen in Chinese. Jing is our primalpower – it determines our fundamental life forceand how long we live. If you replenish Jing on adaily basis, you will be recharging your innerbattery before you run dry. You will slow downthe aging process and will always have the ener­gy reserves to handle everything that life canthrow at you. Qi is our day­to­day vitality andour protective energy – it determines how weadapt to the world around us and how well wefunction. With an abundance of Qi, your adapt­ability will be optimized, and since adaptabilityis the measure of your life, your life will beabundant. Shen is our Spirit – we know it as ourstate of psychological well being and our spiritu­al experience. It is the spark of divinity thatresides within your heart. With Shen fully open,you will experience the full joy of life. By fullynurturing and protecting our Three Treasures, wevirtually assure ourselves of health, happinessand a long life. Learn the art of cultivating theThree Treasures. Consume tonic herbs thatnurture the Three Treasures.

3 TREASURES

3

Develop YouDevelop YourWill PowerWill Power

4

Will power is an essential human characteristicnecessary for succeeding in life. If you lack willpower, you cannot remain healthy for long, andhappiness will elude you. With will power, youcan become highly successful, not only in life’swork, but in the effort to become and remainhealthy – and in your search for spiritual attain­ment. You need will power to rid yourself of, andavoid, bad habits and unhealthy activities. Youalso need will power to work on the things thatimprove health, such as exercising, eating prop­erly and regulating you life. Focus on buildingyour will power. You do this by focusing yourattention on what you are doing and on what youwant or need to accomplish, and by graduallylooking past temptation. Tonic herbs have tradi­tionally been used in China to help strengthenthe nervous system and to build will power. Anherbal formula called Will Power has been usedfor centuries and is highly effective at strength­ening human will power. It also connects thechakras, especially the lower sexual centers, withthe heart, thus linking sexual love with emotionaland spiritual love. Most people are not fullyconnected in this way. By developing your willpower, you will be developing the human charac­teristic most important for your growth to yourfull potential.

4TH TREASURE

5

DeveloDevelopYour AdaptabilityYour Adaptability

Adapt like

a chameleon.

These characters

mean Gynostemma,

the quintessential

adaptogenic herb.

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Adaptability is the measure ofyour life. If your body and yourmind are highly adaptable, youcan handle a great deal morestress before the body­mindgoes into stress­response mode,which causes the body to agemore quickly and the psyche tobecome imbalanced. You cando several things to improveyour adaptability. The adapto­genic tonic herbs such asGinseng, Gynostemma,Siberian Ginseng, Ant,Astragalus, Schizandra andothers have the ability toincrease adaptability. Besidestonic herbs, there are otherways to improve adaptability.Take hot and cold baths orshowers. Go from hot to coldseveral times. The bodybecomes more functionallyflexible – more adaptable.Also take "adaptability walks."Take walks during moderatelyadverse conditions to enhanceyour adaptability.

QI

7

TakeTonic HerbsTakeTonic HerbsConsistentlyConsistently

8

Though the concept of using tonic herbsis new in our society, it is universallyaccepted in Asian cultures. Tonic herbsshould be considered part of your overallnutritional program. These herbs nurturethe Three Treasures, increase adaptability,help you overcome stress, protect you,and help regulate all of your vital func­tions. You should be especially diligentabout taking tonic herbs that build yourimmune system because these herbsprotect you and support many otherfunctions in the body. Tonic herbs alsostrengthen our ability to rid the body ofwastes and toxins. Most of the tonicherbs, such as Gynostemma, Pearl, Reishiand Lycium – and many others – havepowerful antioxidant activity, which weall know protects us and keeps us healthyand young. It is a dangerous world andtonic herbs help to protect and supportus. Take Three Treasures­building, dou­ble­direction, adaptogenic (adaptability­enhancing), protective herbs regularly.Tonic herbs promote our psychologicaland spiritual growth. They help usachieve our full potential.

3 TREASURES

9

These characterssymbolize“I knowcontentment.”

JING

Learn theArtLearn theArtofModerationofModerationModeration is essential to becoming reallyhealthy – and really happy. You would do wellto learn the art of moderation so as to avoidexcessively stressing the body and mind. Thisdoes not mean that you have to live a boring life.To the contrary, you should lead an exciting,interesting, rich, satisfying life. By moderation,I mean that you must know where your limitsare at – when to stop, how much energy youhave to spare. If you go beyond your limits, youwill become ill or you will be injured or other­wise harmed. If you burn the candle at bothends for too long, you will shorten your life.Fortunately, you can expand your limits. Oneway to do this is by using tonic herbs. Jingtonics build reserves, and Qi tonics increaseadaptability. With an abundance of Jing and Qiyou can do much more, and still be "moderate"by your body­mind’s standard. Compared toyour old self, and to others, you will seem to bemore capable of taking on the wilder side of life,and yet you will have energy to spare and theability to maintain your balance.

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SpendSomSpendSomeTime StudyinTime StudyingtheHumantheHumanBody­MindBody­MindKnowing something about how the body works,how our mind works and what science knowsabout achieving health will help your efforts inattaining radiant health. It is also important toread books and articles about alternativeapproaches and cutting edge theories of healthand longevity. Try to find information that takesinto consideration regulatory processes and bio­logical rhythms. Primarily, you need to knowpractical matters, but knowing some of theprinciples of traditional forms of healthcare,such as those of Chinese healthcare, can bequite enlightening. I recommend reading bookson natural food diets, health­oriented exerciseslike Qi Gung and Yoga, breathing and medita­tion techniques. It is also helpful to listen towise and knowledgeable health practitionerswho apply their principles in their own life andwho are themselves fine examples of radianthealth.

ONENESS

11

Eat NaturallEat Naturally(andEat Plent(andEat Plentyof Vegetables)of Vegetables)

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You are a natural being. Eat naturally as much aspossible – if not all the time. Avoid syntheticfoods and nutrients – they are not safe. Avoidwhite­flour breads, pasta and pastries. Eat wholegrains. Eat plenty of a wide variety of vegetables(select a wide variety of colors and tastes). Everyday, consume a variety of fruits (especially darkcolored fruits and berries and high fiber fruitslike figs); soy products (unless you are allergicto them), some fermented foods such as miso,yogurt, sauerkraut or fermented grasses; andmineral salts such as sea salt. Use freshly pressedvegetable oils. You don’t have to eat them raw,but if you do, chew them very well. Don’t everovercook your vegetables. It is best to steam veg­etables until they are a bright color. Eat proteinsources like beans, nuts and legumes. These canbe sprouted for additional benefits. If you chooseto eat meat, eat mostly fish, especially cold­waterfish and fish collected from clean environments.If you must eat fowl and red meat, choose natu­rally grown meat. No matter what, don’t eat toomuch meat. The same goes for eggs – again,don’t eat too many. And again, the same goes fordairy – keep it light and low fat, or try goat’smilk, which is quite a healthy food. A poor diet isprobably a leading cause of cancer, and is surelythe root of much disease. Simply eating naturallycan have a profound influence on your health andlongevity. Don’t eat too much.

QI

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ChewYour FoodChewYour FoodVeryWell anVeryWell andLeave the Table aLeave the Table aLittle EmptyLittle EmptyDo you want to know a real trick to health andlongevity? Chew your food very, very well. At firstthis takes some training and practice. Chew until thefood in your mouth is liquid, then swallow. MahatmaGandhi said "drink your foods and chew your liq­uids." For a while, your jaws will get tired and youQIwon’t feel like chewing so much. But you will findthat you eat less while still getting more nutrition.Chewing is the first step in good digestion. Mostpeople with poor digestion eat too fast and chewpoorly. Also, chewing makes you consume your mealmore slowly. Your blood chemistry sends signals toyour brain when it has had enough nutrition. Manypeople who are overweight simply eat too muchbefore the brain has received a signal to stop. Makeit a practice to leave the table with the stomach justa little empty. Don’t eat to satiety (don’t eat untilyou’re stuffed). You will digest better, have moreenergy and protect your weight. Thorough chewinghas an influence on both your attitude and yourintuition. Good chewing strengthens both your mindand your will power.

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DoBreathinDoBreathingExercisesDailyExercisesDailyBreathing is essential to life. But most of us donot understand the true benefits of consciouslymastering our breathing. The lungs are themajor source of Qi for our body­mind.Breathing gives us energy. It also has a veryclose connection to our resistance to disease andto stress. Deep, slow, controlled breathing cansubstantially improve the condition of almostevery function of our body and mind. It helpsto rid the body of waste, to improve cardiovas­cular function, to sharpen the mind, to over­

QI

come stress, and can even improve our sex life.It can even help us to lose excess weight and tomaintain our optimum weight. Stress causes ourbreathing to become tight and shallow. This willlead to disease and premature aging. Deepbreathing is one of the great secrets to healthand longevity. Learn how to breathe properlyand deeply. Zen breathing is easy to master andvery effective. It involves breathing from deepwithin the belly – diaphragmatic breathing.Study an art like Qi Gung, Daoist Yoga or oneof the many forms of Indian Yoga. Open yourlungs consciously every morning by doing somedeep breathing, to live a long and healthy life.

15

ExerciseDailyExerciseDaily

QI

Exercise is required for health. You need to workevery muscle, joint, and organ of your body almostevery day to keep the body young, clean, strong andbalanced. You need to develop an exercise programthat works every muscle group, that makes youbreathe deeply, that makes you sweat and that reallypumps your heart. It is even better if the exercise hasbeen developed with deeper health interests beingconsidered. Exercise routines such as Tai Ji, Qi Gung,and Yoga take into consideration major energycenters, strengthening them where necessary and dis­persing blocks where necessary. They also requirecoordination and will power, which helps in otherways. Though they promote physical health, fitnessand beauty, they are exercises for the mind and spiritas well. It is also important to try to avoid exhaustionfrom exercising. Exhaustion causes the body to breakdown, resulting in injury and damage. Sometimes,this damage is difficult to reverse and can cause longterm problems and pain. Remember, exercising issupposed to be good for you. Don’t let it cause long­term misery. Certain tonic herbs are fantastic forathletes and for enhancing the benefits of exercise.These include Eleuthero (Siberian Ginseng),American and Asian Ginseng, Tibetan Rhodiola,Astragalus, Cordyceps, Gynostemma, Lycium,Morinda, Deer Antler and others.

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SleepEnough anSleepEnough andLearn to SleepWellLearn to SleepWellSleep is a critical function of living. Duringsleep, our body rejuvenates and our brain has achance to rearrange data that was stored at tem­porary sites during the day. We need to go intodeep sleep in order for our body and mind to bethoroughly renewed. It is not so much a matterof time, but more a matter of quality. It is wiseto learn the art of sleeping deeply. Meditate orotherwise truly relax before going to sleep –quiet the mind and relax the body. Clear yourmind of negative thoughts and emotions before

QI

going to sleep. Meditate on or visualize some­thing beautiful before going to sleep. If youhave difficulty sleeping, take a Shen tonic, espe­cially just before going to bed. Consume moreReishi mushroom extract and Pearl. There arewonderful Chinese tonic formulations that helpto regulate this function. Check them out.Women often have more trouble sleeping deeplybecause of blood deficiency (slight anemia).If that is a problem, take a good women’s tonicwith Dang Gui and other blood tonics. LightsOut, with the green tea amino acid L­Theaninequiets the mind and has been proven to improvethe quality of sleep.

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QI

Develop aBasiDevelop aBasicLife Routine thatLife Routine thatYouCanMaintainYouCanMaintainMost of the TimeMost of the TimeYour body and your mind will function better whenall of your multitude of biorhythms are synchronized.You will be healthier if you establish a daily routinewhere you perform most of your basic functions atthe same time of the day, most of the time. Go to bedand wake up at about the same time, most days. Eatyour meals at about the same times. Take your herbsand supplements at about the same times each day.Use the toilet at about the same times each day.Exercise at about the same time each day if possible.Meditate at about the same time(s) each day. If youat least keep this much of a routine in order, you willbe much less likely to become ill and radiant healthis much more likely. One caveat. It is also alrightto break the routine from time to time so that youmaintain adaptability. If you are too stuck on oneroutine and lose functional flexibility, you couldget into real trouble, especially when you travel andwhen life suddenly doesn’t allow you to live byyour normal routine.

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Avoid Toxins, Pollu­Avoid Toxins, Pollu­tants&Dangeroutants&DangerousMicrobesMicrobes

The body can handle a certain amount of pollution. In facta very small amount probably makes the body a littlestronger. But in general, toxins, pollutants and manymicrobes are the enemies of health. Avoid them. Don’t eatfood and don’t drink beverages that contain chemicals.Don’t smoke and don’t work or hang around places wheresmoking takes place. Avoid breathing fumes from gasolineand similar petrochemicals. Avoid excessive contact withpesticides, household chemicals and industrial pollutants.

PROTECTION

If you’re not sure about the cleanliness of a food, don’t eatit – go by your instincts. It is better to be safe than sorry.During the flu season, use crowded subways and busesonly as a last resort or if you have an invincible immunesystem. You don’t have to live in a sterile bubble, or wearrubber gloves everywhere, but avoid that which is obvious­ly dangerous. The effects of environmental chemicals, forexample, are cumulative. They cause all kinds of diseases,autoimmune disorders and cancer. In the United States, itis currently estimated that 49% of all men and 39% of allwomen will develop cancer during their lifetimes. Eatorganic foods whenever possible. Use natural body­careproducts. Drink pure, well­filtered or spring water. Don’tlive downwind from an oil refinery or chemical factory.

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Cleanliness isCleanliness isNext toGodlinessNext toGodliness(Inside&Out)(Inside&Out)We all know this, but it needs to be reiterated.Disease results when pathological forces over­whelm our body’s ability to resist them. If ourresistance is low due to the exposure to toxinsin the environment or due to stress, even alow level of exposure to a microbe can causeillness. If our resistance is very strong, we canget away with more dirt, but it is unwise totest our body too much when it comes togerms, worms, fungi and viruses. Wash everypart of your body daily. Take special care ofyour teeth – many problems result from toothor mouth infections, some of which can befatal. Keep you skin clean and wash after anypossible exposure to dangerous chemicals,

Bupleurum

Lycium

toxins or microbes. Don’t use chemical disin­fectants because they can kill helpful bacteriaand lower our resistance. They may be con­tributing to the development of "super­bugs" –bacteria and viruses that are resistant to cur­

20Dragon Herbsline of Rice Soaps

Schizandra

rent antibiotics. Use natural soap and water. Onanother level, keep your internal organs clean too.Drink plenty of water. Eating fresh vegetables, fruits,miso, and superfoods help cleanse the body as well.Foods rich in antioxidants cleanse the body at a dif­ferent level – they eliminate free radicals, moleculesthat are very harmful to your health and that lead topremature aging and degenerative conditions. Fruitssuch as lycium, cherries, cranberries and blueberries,vegetables, cereal grasses, soy bean products, andmany tonic herbs such as Gynostemma and Reishiare potent antioxidants. Natural foods and herbs thatbuild the immune system help keep the blood andcells free of debris. From time to time take someherbs that clean out the colon and liver. Bupleurumformulas are excellent because they cleanse the liver,blood and cells. Schizandra, a great adaptogenic tonicherb, is a perfect general cleansing herb because itdetoxifies our liver and helps to safely eliminate thetoxins from the body. You can also take herbal formu­las that clean out the lymph glands. This can havelife­changing benefits. Herbs like Agaricus,Astragalus and Reishi, and seaweeds like Laminariastimulate the immune cells to clean up heavy metals,microbe pieces, and all kinds of dirt. Gynostemmakeeps the intestines clean. Spring Dragon LongevityTea contains many of these herbs. Probiotics helpkeep the intestines clean too. Tonic Alchemysupplies the most powerful and harmoniousrange of probiotics.

PROTECTION

Blueberries 21

PROTECTION

Don’t Engage iDon’t Engage inActivities that YouActivities that YouKnow areHarmfulKnow areHarmful

This may be one of the most important positive actionsyou can take to establish radiant health and to attainlongevity. There are many things we can do that are harm­ful to us in some way that we can avoid by choice. Don’tdo things that are highly likely to be injurious. Don’t dothings that are guaranteed to put you in the orthopedic sur­geon’s schedule. If you smoke, quit. If you don’t smoke,don’t start. Don’t do dangerous drugs. Avoid excessivedrinking of alcohol. Avoid high­risk sexual activity – thisis one of the leading causes of chronic and degenerativediseases and even of death. Learn to do things properlyso that safety is more likely. If you’re going to rock climbin Yosemite, take plenty of lessons first and practice onsmaller rocks first. If you’re skiing, take plenty of lessonsfirst before you take on the advanced slopes. If you’regoing to play a sport where injuries are common, learnthe fundamentals so that you are less likely to hurt your­self, do the appropriate stretching to prevent injuries, anduse the appropriate equipment. It is safe to say that it isbetter to avoid things like radioactive environments unlessabsolutely necessary, and if you must, take all the precau­tions possible to protect yourself. You don’t need to bea coward, but don’t be a careless fool either.

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Study NaturStudy Naturefrom the Point offrom the Point ofView that YouView that Youare a Part of Itare a Part of It

You are a natural being. For millions of years, ourancestors evolved in the heart of nature, fullyabsorbed in every subtle change of nature. Everygene was integrated with the outer environment.Our genetics are designed to adapt to nature, and tothrive in nature. You’re probably a lot hardier, bynature, than you realize. You are the end result of abillion years of evolution. It’s a good idea for you toknow a little bit about nature. The best way to knowabout nature is to experience it. Gardening is a greatteacher. Go camping from time to time – or at leastgo to the countryside once in a while. When you’rethere, spend time watching nature – and feeling,smelling and listening to it too. Notice that natureis incredibly complex and yet follows universalprinciples. Watch how nature is rhythmic. Noticehow nature works as a harmonious whole. If youcan’t get out to nature, read some good books aboutit. You’re part of nature. Use it and replenish it.Try to live naturally as much as possible. Do notlive a totally unnatural life.

ONENESS

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balance and vitality of our inner organs.

Schizandra

Lycium

DevelopBeautfromWithinDevelopBeautyfromWithin

Most of us are aware that if we expose ourselves to harsh exter­nal elements like excessive sunshine, excessive wind, dirt orpollution, our skin will age more quickly. But what goes oninternally may play an even more dramatic role in how we ageand how well we maintain or enhance our beauty. Our outerbeauty and youthful radiance is a reflection of the health,

A good diet is the first step in building beauty from within.Foods that result in free radical buildup dissolve the beauty ofour youth prematurely. A diet high in sugar and saturated fatproduces more wrinkles and expedites the aging process. Foodshigh in antioxidants, like berries, broccoli, bell peppers, greenvegetables, squash, and tomatoes can help reduce the amountof wrinkles on the skin.

Nurturing our lungs will help make the skin beautiful. And theorgans that cleanse the body have a profound influence uponour outer appearance. Our liver, kidneys, colon and lymphaticsystem all play key roles in eliminating toxins from our body,and also influence the repair mechanisms critical to maintainingour beauty. Poor kidney function will result in a dark sallowappearance and eye bags or dark rings under the eyes. Thekidneys also play a key role in the fullness and luster of ourhair, and the brightness of our eyes. Liver dysfunction will

24 Pearl

result in tension that leads to deep wrinkles, discolorationand blemishes. If the colon is polluted or imbalanced, theskin will age quickly. And of course, if our circulation ispoor, the skin will not receive the nourishment it needsand will age more quickly than necessary. And beauty isnot seen only in the face. Our posture is dependent on Qi,and if we lack Qi we will slump and our muscles willsag. Obesity and cellulite are caused by internal imbal­ances that are corrected by healthy living. Certain tonicherbs are amazingly effective at protecting your youthfulbeauty by enhancing inner health at profound levels.Pearl, Schizandra, Lycium, Snow Lotus and Longanare all very famous in the Orient for keeping the skinpure, radiant and soft. The orchid Dendrobium, whenconsumed as a tea, has the ability to make the skin moistand radiant. Ho Shou Wu, Gynostemma and Reishi allhave powerful and broad­spectrum antioxidant activities –and all have reputations in the Orient for promotingbeauty. Chronic stress also has a way of damaging yourbeauty. Try to eliminate or reduce stress by observingthe tips in this book. And reduce the effects of stress bytaking adaptogenic herbs such as Schizandra, SiberianGinseng, American Ginseng, and Astragalus. The greentea amino acid L­theanine has the ability to reduce stressreactions in the body while promoting clear thinking.

Covering up your wrinkles and dark eye­rings withmakeup or using high­tech cosmetic procedures will beless effective in the long run than establishing radianthealth, and thus building your beauty from within.

QI, JING

True beautyis neverskin deep.

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PayClosPayCloseAttention toAttention toYour BodyYour Body

26

Self­awareness is a criticalaspect of maintaininghealth. Take note of howyou feel regularly. Don’tbecome obsessed, but payclose attention to earlysigns of pain and discom­fort. Letting things go toolong before taking themseriously can be lethal.Nip problems in the bud.Don’t let small problemsgrow. There is a rule inChinese philosophy that"when a problem is acute,treat the stem, when it ischronic, treat the root."Go to the source of theproblem as quickly aspossible. Remember thatprevention is always betterthan cure. And promotingradiant health is even betterthan specific prevention.

ONENESS

27

SHEN

Rise above all ofyour emotions.Let your Shen(Spirit) blossom.

PayClosPayCloseAttention to theAttention to theState of YourMindState of YourMindandEmotionsandEmotionsJust as self­awareness is critical to maintaining ahealthy body, it is equally important in main­taining mental health, which ultimately has aprofound influence on physical health andlongevity. Take note if you are happy most ofthe time. Take note if you are depressed. If youare angry, anxious or fearful too much of thetime, or if you are chronically worrying, youneed to find help. The help can come in the wayof self­balancing techniques or it may be neces­sary to have someone help you. A lot of emo­tional stuff is a matter of habits we form.Sometimes we need to get away from our rou­tine to take a look at ourselves from a biggerperspective. Don’t get stuck in negativity – itwill make you sick and shorten your life. Shentonic herbs and adaptogenic herbs can beextremely helpful. Reishi and Pearl have longhistories of stabilizing the emotions and liftingthe spirit. Tao in a Bottle is an herbal formulathat is almost miraculous for many people.

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Develop PatienceDevelop PatienceOur society places a big emphasison instant gratification. Drugs aredesigned to work instantly, or at leastvery quickly. The Internet is virtuallyinstant – and information aboutalmost anything is just momentsaway. Natural changes, though, aregenerally slower. But because theyare slower, they are deeper and morecomplete. If you want to becometruly healthy, you must be a littlepatient. Patience is very important.If you change your diet, a few things

SHEN

may change right away, but most ofthe real benefits take a little time,and some perhaps a long time. Thesame is true with exercise, medita­tion, the tonic herbs and all of thenatural means to radiant health –they all require patience because realpositive change generally takes time.Yet by applying all the variousmeans to radiant health, you arehastening the health process – andsecuring longevity and happiness.

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Develop YouDevelop YourIntuition andIntuition andFollow ItFollow It

Developingyour intuitionis the keyto yourlongevity.

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Your intuition is your sixth sense. The sixth sense isnot a myth. Some people have a powerful sixth sensethat they follow. Your intuition is something thatnature provided you with so as to guide you awayfrom danger and in the direction of that which is goodfor you. Most people have intuition, but they block it,don’t trust it, and certainly don’t follow it. We are asociety that emphasizes the importance of logic andthe power and sanctity of the intellect. But we did notevolve solely on the basis of the intellect. It is trulyimportant to develop the intellect and to use it fully –but not at the expense of natural intuition. Spend timedeveloping – or rather, getting in touch with – yourintuition. It is hard to be in touch with your intuitionwhen your stomach is too full. If you want to developyour intuition, stay a little hungry. How do you devel­op your intuition? At first, exercise your intuitionwith things that are not important. Practice gettingup in the morning without an alarm clock. Makesome simple decisions based on your intuition. Fromtime to time, trust it for more important matters.Eventually, you can get in touch with this sixth senseon a moment’s notice on matters large and small.Then your intuition will help you on your path ofradiant health. Strong intuitive judgment can saveyour life, make you rich and protect your health.If your intuition says, "don’t eat that piece of fish,"don’t eat it. Death by accident is still death.Longevity is attained by those who do not die anaccidental death, and intuition plays a large role inavoiding accidents.

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Learn toLearn toMeditateMeditate

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Meditation can definitely contribute to bothhealth and longevity. Meditation helps you let goof stress, and it vitalizes your energy centers.There are many techniques and many teachers ofmeditation, representing dozens of cultures anda multitude of traditions. It is not always easy tofind a technique or a teacher that suits you, soyou may want to try out different techniquesuntil you find a style that fits you like a glove.When you find a technique or teacher that suitsyou, that inspires you, that speaks to your innerself, stick with it for a while, preferably for along while. The more you practice a technique,the deeper you will go and the more you willget out of it. Usually, people who bounce from SHENtechnique to technique or from teacher to teacherdo so because they can’t get through some ofthe frustrating stages that sometimes causeuneasiness. These are the stages that stimulatetrue growth and spiritual awareness. Don’t giveup easily, and stay diligent. Use adaptogenicherbs such as wild Ginseng, Rhodiola sacra andReishi to enhance your meditation. Shen tonicsare perfect for meditation since they calm themind and heart while enhancing mental andpsychic clarity. I recommend you look at Zenmeditation, Daoist meditation (Nei Gung) orsome similar system.

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BeSteadyBeSteady…KeepYouKeep YourBalanceBalanceDon’t get too high or too low – you’ll livelonger. Humans have a wide range of emotions.But the emotions can become excessive, and ifthey fluctuate too wildly, the emotions maymake you ill, or can kill you. It is a basic tenetof Oriental philosophy and health practice thatit is best not to become overly excited becausethis invariably leads to depression. It is best totrain yourself to be steady in your emotions. Abalanced attitude and a balanced way of lifehelp to smooth out the rocky path of life. Thereare times when we must work very hard: thesetimes must be balanced with periodic withdraw­al, deep rest, relaxation, and recuperation. Thenthere are times when all is tranquil: these timesrequire recreation to make our time more bal­anced. If it is hot out, we seek the shade anddrink cool liquids to cool ourselves down. If itis cold out we find a warm fire and drink hotdrinks to warm up. It is our instinct to maintainbalance, but sometimes our instincts are ignored

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and we fall into the trap of excess and imbal­ance. In a sense, we can become addicted to anextreme position.

There is nothing in which balance is not a fac­tor. Even generally beneficial activities, andnon­activities, can be injurious if done inexcess. Breath is life, and insufficient, shallowbreathing is a primary cause of ill­health andpremature death; but breathing too deeply canlead to hyperventilation. We must not eat ordrink too much or too little. We must not sleepor work too much or too little. A little alcoholhas been generally found to relax the body andmind and to prevent hypertension, but we all SHENknow what comes of those who become exces­sive drinkers. Salt and sugar are necessary forlife, but too much can result in death. The list isendless. All problems arise out of imbalance.

Balance must be applied to every aspect of ourlife. When a mistake is made due to imbalancedbehavior, the wise avoid these same excessesthe next time, while the foolish repeat theirerrors over and over. Of course, it sometimestakes a few times around to see the truththrough something. Life is balance, and thosewho practice the art of balance succeed and arecalled wise.

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Focus on theFocus on thePositive butPositive butTake Note ofTake Note ofthe Negativethe Negative

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Focusing on the positive in life will contributesignificantly to your health and you’ll live longerfor it. Negative people are usually ill all the time,or they’re in pain and are generally miserable –what kind of life is that! Focus your attention onwhat can be done to make your life better, thelives of other people better, and the lives of theanimals and plants of the earth better. Only a fooldoes not take note of the negative in the world –it is all around us. But to dwell on that causessickness and war. Focus your attention on harmo­ny and it will occur. Focus your attention on thelight and you will see clearly. Visualize beautyand it will manifest. Be a peace broker, be ahappiness vendor, be a purveyor of love and SHENgoodness. Visualize radiant health and you willbe able to achieve it. It is important to observethe relationship of health and disease. The main­tenance of health, and the improvement or thecuring of illness, primarily depends on the abilityof a person to resist disease from within. Thebasic point of view that we must follow is knownas "assist the positive and eliminate the noxious."Positive represents the functions of regulation,defense and adaptability of the person. Noxiousrepresents all the disadvantage factors that hinderthe development of the normal person or thatlead to sickness. Generally, assisting the positiveis primary.

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AppreciatAppreciateEverythingEverythingLife is a blessing. Appreciate it everyday. At least once a day take specificnotice and express a thought or twoof gratitude. Gratitude makes us hum­ble, and humility helps us becomecloser to our own true nature, and toGod or Dao – however you perceivethe ultimate divinity. Learn to appre­ciate the bad as well as the good, the

SHEN low as well as the high, the bitter aswell as the sweet, the hard as well asthe easy. It’s all a part of life, and itall can contribute to our health, ourcharacter, our growth and our wis­dom. Appreciate the struggle as wellas the end result. Appreciate the fail­ures for the lessons they offer – butlearn from those lessons and grow.And don’t forget the good and thepositive. Give thanks for it every day.Appreciate the beauty of your family,your work, and your life. This kind ofappreciation will contribute to yourhealth in untold ways.

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Learn to Let GoLearn to Let GoA sure way to become prone to illness and toage quickly is to hold on to everything nega­tive that has happened in your life. Even hold­ing on to just one negative event will havenegative effects. Learn to let go. Letting go isan art. It is the art that leads to wisdom. Deepbreathing will help you let go, as will medita­tion. Certain tonic herbs can help too, includ­ing Shen tonics like Pearl and Albizzia flower.Reishi mushroom is the ultimate herb forhelping a person let go of old stuff that holdstheir life back like a trap. It is not even thatbeneficial to hold on to old "good stuff." It

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blocks you from finding new "good stuff."Let it all go. Extract the wisdom, the truth,the insight, from everything that has happenedin your life, and then let the events themselvesgo. That way you remain open to that whichis new, allowing you to grow. Holding ontoreally painful stuff causes stagnation andblockages within the body and mind, whichbecome targets of disease factors. By lettinggo, you become much more resistant to dis­ease and much more likely to live a long andhappy life. The ability to let go is one of theprimary psychological techniques of healthand longevity – and enlightenment.

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Enjoy LifeEnjoy Life

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Life is stunningly beautiful, but we often for­get. Stress and negative thoughts and feelingscan easily destroy our lives. Enjoy life! It is somagnificent. That is not to say that there willnot be hardship, danger, some misery and plen­ty of trouble. But learn to get over it, to get pastit, to overcome it. Enjoy life! Don’t get hungup in the little things that are ultimately unim­portant. Hang around with people you love, orat least really like. Read great literature andvisit inspiring places. Enjoy helping others andenjoy your work, even during the tough times.Life is cyclic and in a sense long. Don’t losesight of the big picture. Everything changesand the change is what makes life interesting SHENand enjoyable. If you just can’t enjoy your life,make some changes. Find a way to enjoy life.People who don’t get sick are people whoenjoy their lives. Look for the vicious cyclesthat are holding you down and break the chain.Form benevolent cycles that will start theprocess of creating a happy life. People wholive to be very old also know that enjoying life,or at least seeing the beauty in life, is one ofthe great secrets of their longevity. Tonic herbshave the ability to form benevolent cycles.Lycium fruit, Reishi and Ginseng are famous inthe Orient for creating a happy state of mind.

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Be aGiverBe aGiver,andReplenisandReplenishtheEnergtheEnergySpentDoing ItSpentDoing ItGiving develops Shen. Give and you willreceive. Giving within one’s means neverharmed anybody’s health. Therefore withinyour capacity, give to others. But givingexcessively, that is, beyond your means ener­getically, definitely will result in depletion.Caregivers, for example, often become severe­ly depleted due to the constant stress, loneli­ness, and workload of the situation. So it isvery important for those who give of them­selves to learn how to replenish the energythat they give up. The energies given up areJing, Qi and Shen – the Three Treasures. Ifyou are a chronic giver, you can find happi­ness, but in order to maintain your health, besure to give to yourself as well and to nourishthe Three Treasures by taking a well­roundedprogram of tonic herbs, and by nurturingyour body­mind by applying the other tipsdescribed in this book.

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OpeOpenYourHeartYourHeart

Guan Yin,the Goddessof Compassion.

to Loveto LoveLove is the supreme stateof mind. Love big. Love asmuch as you can. Lovepeople and love what youdo. Love the earth and lovelife. If you start lovingyoung enough, and don’tlose the ability, I don’tthink your thymus glandwill shrink. True lovedoes not turn to hate oranger when things gowrong. True love is uncon­ditional. Practice lovingunconditionally andabsolutely, without preju­dice and without the needfor immediate gratification.Loving is its own reward.

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Educational Tools from Dragon HerbsYour knowledge of your body empowers your health. If you understandyour body, your health and tonic herbalism, radiant health is well withinreach. Herbalism has an ocean of information. It also offers a whole newway of looking at health. So start diving in today.

www.dragonherbs.comFor detailed training in each of the 30 tips, go to:www.dragonherbs.com. On the home page you will finda link to the 30 Tips. You will find detailed lessons onsuch topics as “the art of eating,” “how to meditate,”“basic and advanced breathing exercises,” and so on.Everything you need to know to achieve radiant health.

The Ancient Wisdom of the Chinese Tonic HerbsAn in­depth introductory book to Chinese tonic herbalism.Written by Ron Teeguarden and published by Warner Books(A Time Warner Company). $19.95 retail.

CatalogDragon Herbs’ catalog with complete product informationas well as a brief introduction to Tonic Herbalism. Printedversion free upon request. PDF version available at:www.dragonherbs.com.

NewslettersFull color newsletters from Dragon Herbs. Keep yourselfposted on what is going on in the world of tonic herbs andnatural health. Free subscription to Dragon Herbs customers.PDF version available at: www.dragonherbs.com.

CD & DVDEducational CD and DVD collections.Call 888­55­TONICor visit www.dragonherbs.comfor the most up­to­date information.

About Ron TeeguardenRon Teeguarden is widely recognizedas the founding father of Tonic Herbalismin the United States. His approachtowards health is truthfully profound yetincredibly simple to apply: putting focuson proactive promotion of radiant healthversus curing of diseases. He has been a

powerful translator of Eastern philosophy and health care tech­niques to hundreds of thousands of Westerners for nearly threedecades. Ron’s books, Chinese Tonic Herbs, written in 1984(Japan Publications), and The Ancient Wisdom of the ChineseTonic Herbs, written in 1998 (Warner Books, a Time WarnerCompany), have become classics in the field, and are requiredreading for anyone interested in Chinese herbalism. Ron’s repu­tation as a leading pioneer in health care is based on his experi­ence as a practicing herbalist and on his passion for obtainingand producing the highest quality herbs and herbal products topromote Radiant Health. Ron has altered the lives of thousandsof people by providing them with a new set of amazing mental,spiritual and nutritional tools. Ron is the founder of DragonHerbs, a purveyor of fine tonic herbal products. He currentlylives in Santa Monica, California.

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