Even Unto China

Mali: Gift Economy

2009-07-10T23:16:00.000-05:00

East Turkestan

2009-07-09T16:21:00.002-05:00

-pic: New Dominion

Rebuilding Redux

2009-05-13T00:47:00.002-05:00

Following up on the previous post, I found this link on Deenport to an animated view of the Prophet's house (salallahu alayhi wa salam).

Rebuilding

2009-05-09T23:10:00.005-05:00

I've been having so many conversations with students regarding Chinese Medicine as I see it, its function, and its potential. This invariably leads me to speak from an Islamic perspective. For if I am to speak with integrity, then I must position myself on truth.

The link here is about what would be called alternative construction around here. That is one of my interests. It reflects a quality of zuhd and simplicity, but take a look at the picture. The beauty of these construction methods is apparent. It just makes sense. I refer the reader to the Pattern Language by Christopher Alexander. I also just learned about a book called Cosmology and Architecture in Pre-Modern Islam by Samer Akkach.

What does this have to do with Chinese Medicine? I hope to make that clear in upcoming articles.

Malcolm X

2009-03-14T14:35:00.000-05:00

It Came From the Heart, and Has Entered the Hearts

2009-02-24T16:13:00.002-05:00

What follows is an excerpt from a chapter of Martin Lings' posthumous book A Return to the Spirit. Its message is one that I think we can take to heart, and one that is indeed guiding me as I consider the need for transparent integrity in all aspects of one's life. The whole excerpt is available at the Fons Vitae site.

By way of answering this question, let us recollect certain outer aspects of our civilization—I mean, the Islamic civilization— aspects whose function was, and can be again, to act as a protective shell for the kernel, that is, for the religion itself. The fabric of our civilization is woven out of the example set by our Prophet; and particularly significant in this connection is the fact that his house was a prolongation of his mosque. Thus for twelve hundred years—and more in many Islamic countries—the houses of his people were prolongations of the mosques. The Muslim would take off his shoes when he entered his house just as he would take them off when he entered the mosque; he would sit in his house in the same manner as he sat in the mosque; he would put such ornaments on the walls of his house as he saw on the walls of the mosque; nor would he put in his house any ornaments that would not be suitable for the mosque. Thus he was continually surrounded by reminders of the spiritual dignity and spiritual responsibilities of man, and he dressed himself according to the same principles. His clothes were in keeping with the dignity of man’s function as representative of God on earth, and at the same time they made it easy for him to perform the ablution, and they were in perfect conformity with the movements of the prayer. Moreover they were an ornament to the prayer, unlike modern European clothes which rob the movements of the prayer of all their beauty and impede them, just as they act as a barrier between the body and the ablution.

All that I have mentioned is outward, but the outward acts upon the inward, and a man’s clothes and his home are the nearest of all things to his soul, and their influence on it is perpetual and therefore incalculably powerful. There can be no doubt that these outward things were one of the secrets of the depth of piety among Muslims, for twelve hundred years; and this brings us back to the saying that Islam embraces the whole of life. Thanks to the outer aspects of the Islamic civilization, the whole of life was in fact penetrated by religion, and I see no other remedy for our present religious crisis but a return to that noble civilization whose function it is to create a worthy setting for the spirit of the religion, a setting that makes relatively easy the fulfillment of our ritual obligations. Nor can the community dispense with the help of anything that makes this spiritual life easier, for man was created weak. But this return can be accomplished only by the widespread setting of examples.

Housekeeping

2009-02-15T12:33:00.005-05:00

This morning I found a quote from Zhu Xi in the bottom of a box of books. I've thought of this quote often, and paraphrased it regularly. But, while I took the time to transcribe it over 10 years ago, it has floated in and out of my hands.

Responding to things, handling affairs, and so on, are similar to studying literature. If we drill and polish ourselves in the principles of things, and studies, our minds will naturally be penetrating. Take reading, for example. Often, even after a great deal of thought we cannot see through to the real meaning. But there must be a way to go through. In a case like this there are many difficulties and obstructions, but repeated effort will find a way to go through. To go through means that the mind penetrates.

I recently asked Michael Givens, an outstanding student-scholar, if anyone had ever started a discussion group dedicated to reading some of the classic works of Chinese literature, as a complement to the outstanding and varied education that characterizes NCNM. So it is also a timely find. Literature is not a vain pursuit when it serves a purpose such as furthering one's understanding or developing one's writing. I hope that I can gather a small group of interested people to commit to reading and discussion. Perhaps we could start with poetry.

Last night I was listening to some recent lessons and thinking about two disciplines I might undertake. One is to finally get strict about using the internet only for buying, selling, finding information, and benefiting the Muslims. At any rate, I am recording this quote in case it benefits others. The other discipline, one that has never held for me before, is to read one book at a time, and then write a synopsis. God willing.

Bay Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant

2009-01-31T20:21:00.003-05:00

My good friend Eric Grey, of the Chinese Medicine blog Hall of Fame, introduced me to this wonderful restaurant on my first visit to Portland. Since I am very strict about what I eat, I have always avoided hot and sour soup since becoming Muslim. So the first tantalizing tastes of Bay Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant's exquisite soup was fantastic. It was so good that after I finished my cup of soup, I ordered a larger-sized bowl to go.

Since moving to Portland, I have passed the restaurant twice (wistfully salivating while thinking about the soup), while hurrying from one location to another. My haste is evidenced also by the fact that I by-passed Stumptown coffee as well, which is just down the street. But today, after our visit to THE Powell's, I ended up in the South East, on Division Street, hungry and sharing a hereditary low-blood sugar moment with my son.

I made a U-Turn for this restaurant.

My son noticed the enticing aroma of subtle spice as soon as we entered. I noted that there were a few other kids there. The staff is inviting and cheerful.

We ordered the Hot and Sour soup, Spring Rolls, Thai Papaya salad, Sizzling tofu and Tri-Colored rice. Everything was wonderful. I relished every drop of the hot and sour soup. We do not eat at restaurants often for a number of reasons, but I might make an exception for Bay Leaf. Although I am not even a fan of soy products, a little tofu on occasion is not harmful, and it's a lot better than putting anything haram into your body. We all enjoyed it, the food was delicious and filling, and the portions were adequate to take some home.

I am lucky to live in the area of Portland that has the highest concentration of halal shops, but for Hot and Sour soup that is certain to be free of haram contents, and is made with good intentions, I will make the trip to Bay Leaf.

Contemplating Classical Chinese Medicine

2009-01-09T13:10:00.003-05:00

This is a quote from the book Sikao Zhongyi by Liu Lihong. It was retrieved from the Classical Chinese Medicine website.

The structure of the corpus callosum, and the kind of integration of thought that is made possible by its existence, brings us back to the title of this section, “Opening One’s Wisdom through Studying the Classics.” Reading and studying these texts in an effective manner is helpful in unearthing the “hidden treasure” of the right brain. It enables the common wisdom of human civilization to flow continuously to the conscious mind of the individual. If the canonical texts are considered from this perspective, it is easier to appreciate their significance and learn them well. They provide a tool for tapping into the flow that comes from a distant source.

Thanks for all of the warm wishes regarding my move. This morning on my way to the office, I caught a sudden glimpse of Mt. Hood, masha Allah!, and my heart thrilled a little as I was reminded of the Majesty of my Lord. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is the best of Planners.

Confucius Solves the Auto Industry Problem

2008-12-12T10:12:00.002-05:00

I happened to be reading the Analects of Confucius today and given the news about the failure of the auto bailout, this seems very appropriate counsel:

"The teacher said: If you wish to rule a country of a thousand chariots, there must be reverent attention to business, and sincerity; economy in expenditure, and love for men; and the employment of the people at the proper seasons."

Bike-Friendly Portland

2008-11-03T14:21:00.002-05:00

Here's one reason that I am absolutely thrilled to be moving to Portland, Oregon:

More and more Portlanders are riding their bikes in Portland, and many of these people are commuters. The city of Portland estimates that more than 2,400 people cross the Hawthorne Bridge on bikes each day. Bicyclists are allowed on almost all of Portland's downtown bridges. Portland has more than 200 miles of bikeways that include both off-street paths and bike lanes along streets. Special blue zones warn motorists that bicyclists have the rightof way in these lanes and that cars must yield to bikes when cars are attempting to turn a corner. Such attention to bicycle riding has earned Portland a reputation across the country that is a huge bike friendly big city.

Read the whole story here.

I will be in Portland beginning in mid-December, 2008 insha'llah.

Look for posts here or at Deepest Health with more thoughts on my soon-to-be hometown.

Alhamdulillah!

Facing Life

2008-10-20T20:29:00.002-05:00

I am engaged once again in teaching a course in the Psychology of Chinese Medicine based on the book by my mentor Dr. Leon Hammer: Dragon Rises, Red Bird Flies.

Every year I glean new insight from re-reading the book that set me on this path of learning. While driving home just now, I was questioning just how far I can go in assisting my patients, and to what lengths I am called. This is precisely where one's spiritual life informs one's practice, and where the degree to which one has tamed the nafs renders it possible to really be of service. At the same time I recall the counsel of the Sheikh, who advised: "just do your work."

One requires strength to face life, especially to change oneself and the condition of one's existence. For any form of deficit, including inherited ones, Chinese medicine has much to offer. Systems that have been destroyed beyond the person's own ability to heal them can be assisted to regain sufficient energy to enable the person to correct wrong living and sustain him or herself. The latter step is, of course, always the final and indispensable one. Nobody denies that assuming responsibility for oneself is the ultimate issue in growth and development. The physician must identify the energy leaks, and the patient must seal them by changing his lifestyle. It is however only one step and cannot be taken until the organism and person are strong enough. This strengthening is a collaborative process and must often begin with help from an outside source. Chinese medicine provides this outside source in many ways.

Murids

2008-10-04T08:56:00.002-05:00

In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

Can anyone tell me if there are murids of the Hashimi-Darqawi order of the Shadhili tariqa in the Portland, Oregon area, or the Pacific Northwest (Cascadia)? Please leave a message in the comments. Better yet, leave contact information.

Wa salam,

Abdallah

Eid Mubarak

2008-10-01T10:53:00.002-05:00

Eid Mubarak to everyone.

May Allah azzawajal accept our worship. May He fill our hearts with Remembrance. May he inspire us to uphold His fasts for the rest of the year. May He uplift His community. May He guide and protect our scholars and His friends amongst us. And may we all be blessed to see another Ramadan. May Allah Most Glorious, August, and Wise grant our Beloved Prophet Muhammad blessings and peace, and may peace be upon his kin, and companions, and all the believers, Amin.

The way to attain

2008-07-15T08:04:00.005-05:00

Do not delve too deeply into theology and do not discuss it too much with the aim of truly acquiring knowledge (ma'rifa), for it cannot be obtained through that science. If you want to acquire truly this knowledge you must travel its path, which is to adhere to taqwa outwardly and inwardly, meditate on verses and hadiths, reflect on the realm of the heaven and the earth with the aim of drawing a lesson, refine the soul's attributes, reduce its densities through discipline, polish the mirror of the heart by continuous remembrance (dhikr) and reflection (fikr) and by shunning everything that might distract you from devoting yourself entirely to this affair.

-Imam Abdallah ibn Alawi al-Haddad, The Book of Assistance

2008-07-09T07:07:00.002-05:00

Imam al-Shafi'i (may God's mercy be upon him) said, "The world is but a moment; so make it (a moment of) obedience."

PTSD, Heart Disease, and Acupuncture

2008-07-04T18:38:00.004-05:00

I discovered this abstract quite by accident. It outlines a few simple points. First, as I explained to a patient recently: the quickest path between two theoretical points is often found via Chinese medicine.

As I have noted, although the diagnosis PTSD is somewhat problematic, I estimate that almost 80% of my patients present with conditions, ranging from simple pains, to generalized anxiety and chronic depression, to more significant neurological disorders such as MS, with evidence of overwhelming traumatic events that I can eventually correlate to the chief complaint via pulse diagnosis and history.

Other studies have demonstrated that acupuncture is effective in treating PTSD. I am writing a book entitled Healing Trauma with Chinese Medicine that describes the most thorough-going approach to the effective treatment of syndromes related to traumatic stress. A significant portion of that discussion is devoted to describing the mechanisms, from a Chinese medicine perspective, by which initial traumas can develop into other medical conditions. Heart disease, the subject of the abstract below, is but one example. According to the physiology of Chinese medicine, this is quite obvious, because the Heart, as the seat of consciousness, bears the brunt of the injurious effects of trauma. It is most common for this to play out in terms of other aspects of circulatory function, such as pain syndromes. However, over time shouldering the burden of the initial traumatic insult to the heart, as well as the increased work necessary for the circulation to overcome the secondary circulatory condition quite simply exhausts the heart and this produces signs finally observable by the cruder methods of identification such as EKG. From my perspective it is both predictable, and reversible.

A Prospective Study of PTSD and Early-Age Heart Disease Mortality Among Vietnam Veterans: Implications for Surveillance and Prevention

Boscarino JA.

Objective: To examine prospectively early-age heart disease (HD) among a national random sample of 4328 male Vietnam veterans, who did not have HD at baseline in 1985. Studies have suggested that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may result in cardiovascular disease. However, many past studies had important methodological limitations to their designs.

Method: Using Cox regressions, we assessed PTSD, age, race, intelligence, family history, obesity, smoking, alcohol abuse, antisocial personality, and depression in predicting HD mortality at follow-up in December 31, 2000. The men were <65 class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">PTSD measures, a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 3rd Edition (DSM-III) measure (D-PTSD) and one developed by Keane (K-PTSD), we found that among Vietnam theater and era veterans combined (era veterans had no Vietnam service), having PTSD was associated with HD mortality for D-PTSD (hazard ratio (HR) = 2.25, p = .045) and approached significance for K-PTSD (HR = 2.16, p = .066). However, having higher PTSD symptoms on either scale was associated with mortality, with a 5-point increase associated with 20% increase in mortality risk (all p < .05). Controlling for lifetime depression only slightly altered the results. The effects for theater veterans alone were stronger (D-PTSD: HR = 2.58, p = .025; K-PTSD: HR = 2.73, p = .022). Among theater veterans, controlling for lifetime depression or combat exposure made little difference.

Conclusion: PTSD was prospectively associated with HD mortality among veterans free of HD at baseline. This study suggests that early-age HD may be an outcome after military service among PTSD-positive veterans.

Shadow Cities

2008-07-01T08:03:00.000-05:00

The majority of his looking was observation.

2008-06-30T11:25:00.007-05:00

There is a new translation of the Shama'il al Tirmidhi coming out tomorrow, insha'llah. And I can't wait to get a copy. The brief excerpt that I saw on Deenport was beautifully rendered, and the translator is held in high esteem.

It's so funny how one's perception can be sensitive to different things according to the timing. Today, this phrase struck me down, and made my eyes water:

"The majority of his looking was observation." Peace and blessings be upon him.

The text may be found here.

Another of my son's recent favorites

2008-06-20T11:08:00.000-05:00

My Son's Selection

2008-06-20T10:27:00.001-05:00

My son asked me to put this menzuma video on my blog.

Enjoy.

Outrageous Lies, Scare Tactics, and other status quo modern American media garbage

2008-06-18T18:03:00.001-05:00

PRESS RELEASE ON CDC REPORT

CDC REPORT ON CALIFORNIA ILLNESS
SHOWS CONTINUED GOVERNMENT BIAS AGAINST RAW MILK
Numerous Errors and Misstatements Demonstrate Agency's Rush to Judgment Against Nature's Perfect Food

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report [www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5723a2.htm] issued June 13, 2008 has been carefully crafted to implicate raw milk from Organic Pastures Dairy in California ("Dairy A," OPDC) with six cases of E. coli O157:H7 illness. The illnesses occurred at the height of the California E. coli outbreak associated with contaminated Dole brand baby spinach, which resulted in over 200 cases and three deaths.

According to the CDC report, raw dairy products from the dairy were allegedly associated with two hospitalizations and four additional illnesses, yet the report itself contradicts this conclusion. To begin, the report noted that the alleged outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 that was found in the children was not found in any of OPDC's samples. Also, the report admits that no E. coli was found in any of the environmental samples collected at the milk plant. Moreover, the report states that samples from three heifers yielded a different strain of E.coli O157:H7 yet the report fails to state that those three heifers were not even producing milk at the time. Nevertheless, the CDC sought to place blame on the dairy products because some of the product samples contained somewhat elevated counts of beneficial bacteria, which are destroyed by pasteurization.

"This is another in a long line of examples of raw milk serving as the whipping boy for other foods known to cause disease," says Sally Fallon, President of the Weston A. Price Foundation, a non-profit nutrition education foundation that promotes the consumption of raw milk from pasture-fed cows. "There is no credible proof that raw milk caused illness in these children. Government officials should be focusing on the known vectors of the rare form of virulent E. coli, such as leafy greens and hamburger from cows kept in filthy confinement operations."

"The CDC official Report and the accompanying editorial were very carefully crafted to shed the worse possible light on raw milk," says Taaron Meikle, president of the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund. "CDC, either deliberately or out of ignorance, omitted several important facts and made a number of unsupported assumptions. For example, many of the samples were taken from products approaching their expiration dates on retail shelves and therefore would be expected to have higher bacteria results. Raw milk beneficial bacteria counts grow over time because raw milk is a live food containing bacteria similar to the bacteria in yoghurt. The CDC and HHS [US Department of Health and Human Services] say this is evidence of contamination. However, these agencies do not consider the presence of beneficial bacteria in yoghurt as evidence of contamination."

The CDC report noted that one of the children ill with the rare virulent strain of E. coli did not consume raw milk products. No information is given on other likely vectors of disease in the children, such as contaminated water or spinach. In fact, both children had consumed spinach prior to the illness. By omitting data on other possible vectors of infection, the CDC was able to impute cause and effect based on a mere association of raw milk with illness. As a California health official admitted at recent raw milk hearings, an association is not the same as a proven cause.

As an example of governmental rush-to-judgment mentality, the CDC report mis-identifies the gender of one of the hospitalized children. "Government anti-raw milk forces have an ideological preference for conclusions rather than facts," says Fallon.

The two children who became gravely ill with HUS (Hemolytic-uremic syndrome) and were subsequently hospitalized had been treated with antibiotics, even though they had armbands warning against such treatment, another fact omitted in the CDC report. Antibiotics are expressly contraindicated in cases of E. coli O157:H7 as they cause an overload of shiga toxin, which can result in kidney damage.

There were no other reports of illness in Organic Pasture's 40,000 raw milk customers. If raw milk from the dairy had contained the pathogen, many consumers would have become sick.

Shortly after the reported illnesses, the State of California quarantined Organic Pastures raw milk products. Recognizing their error, they lifted the quarantine one day later but waited another eight days to release the products. Organic Pastures subsequently received a settlement from the State of $11,700 for loss of product as the state had no proof that raw milk had caused the illnesses.

In 2007, the FDA posted similar claims about Organic Pastures raw milk causing this outbreak, but the agency later removed the statements after a representative of the dairy pointed out the false nature of the allegations.

The CDC report makes no mention of the many other foods that have caused over 30 serious outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 since 1982, including beef, sausage, orange juice, lettuce, spinach, tomatoes and water, outbreaks that sickened large numbers of people. The agency makes no categorical recommendation to avoid all such products for all time as it does with raw milk. "This double standard against raw milk has a long history," says Fallon. "We find this bias in virtually all the published reports of illness reputedly caused by raw milk." (For additional examples, see realmilk.com/documents/SheehanPowerPointResponse.pdf.)

The most serious unwarranted CDC allegation is the claim that stricter coliform limits could have prevented the outbreak. Such a claim is simply not true. There is no relationship between the presence of a coliform and the presence of a pathogen. In recent California courtroom testimony, highly qualified experts in microbiology and disease testified that low coliform standards are not an effective way to control pathogens in raw milk and that a much better standard of safety is direct testing for pathogens. Moreover, experts from the State of California even admitted that milk which is low in coliforms could be high in pathogens, or high in coliforms with no pathogens present. Finally, all the experts agreed that if coliforms are present in raw milk, they will double at room temperature in only 20 minutes. In fact, in raw milk, the absence of coliforms can make the product more vulnerable to pathogens. Thus, CDC findings do not support the conclusion "that if raw milk had been subject to the same coliform standard as pasteurized milk in California, milk from dairy A (OPDC) might have been excluded from sale and this outbreak might have been averted."

Even though pasteurized milk must meet the 10-coliform standard, there have been many outbreaks of illness caused by pasteurized milk, including an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes from pasteurized milk in 2007, resulting in three deaths in the state of Massachusetts. "A strict coliform limit does not guarantee protection against pathogens," says Meikle.

In 2007, without notice, hearings or debate, California passed AB 1735 mandating a 10-coliform limit for raw market milk, the same standard used in pasteurized milk as a test for successful pasteurization. This impossibly low standard will have the effect of putting California's two raw milk dairies out of business.

On June 9, California State Senator Dean Florez, together with Senator Perata and Assemblymember Berryhill introduced Senate Bill 201, "The Fresh Raw Milk Act of 2008," which would replace AB1735 with a more rational standard for raw milk safety. The emergency bill mandates a HAACP plan for raw milk dairies and frequent testing for pathogens. A hearing before the Assembly Health Committee is scheduled for June 24 at 1:30 pm in Room 4204 at the State Capitol.

The Weston A. Price Foundation is a 501c3 nutrition education non-profit, dedicated to fostering a return to nutrient dense foods and traditional farming methods, such as raising livestock on pasture. The Weston A. Price Foundation is based in Washington DC and has 400 chapters and 10,000 members worldwide. The state of California is its largest base of support with 25 chapters and 1185 members statewide.

CONTACTS:
Kimberly Hartke (703) 675-5557, kimberly@hartkeonline.com
California Real Milk Association, CREMA,

Doc Hay

2008-06-17T11:58:00.000-05:00

New Blog: Court of Lions

2008-06-07T21:43:00.002-05:00

I was informed of a new collaborative poetry venture, and I have enjoyed the work of the contributors previously. Please check it out: Court of Lions.

Review evidence for merely physical benefits of the Fast of Dawud (as)

2008-06-05T09:24:00.000-05:00

Alternate-day fasting and chronic disease prevention: a review of human and animal trials¹^,2^,3

Krista A Varady and Marc K Hellerstein

¹ From the Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA

Calorie restriction (CR) and alternate-day fasting (ADF) represent2 different forms of dietary restriction. Although the effectsof CR on chronic disease prevention were reviewed previously,the effects of ADF on chronic disease risk have yet to be summarized.Accordingly, we review here animal and human evidence concerningADF and the risk of certain chronic diseases, such as type 2diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. We also comparethe magnitude of risk reduction resulting from ADF with thatresulting from CR. In terms of diabetes risk, animal studiesof ADF find lower diabetes incidence and lower fasting glucoseand insulin concentrations, effects that are comparable to thoseof CR. Human trials to date have reported greater insulin-mediatedglucose uptake but no effect on fasting glucose or insulin concentrations.In terms of cardiovascular disease risk, animal ADF data showlower total cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations,a lower heart rate, improved cardiac response to myocardialinfarction, and lower blood pressure. The limited human evidencesuggests higher HDL-cholesterol concentrations and lower triacylglycerolconcentrations but no effect on blood pressure. In terms ofcancer risk, there is no human evidence to date, yet animalstudies found decreases in lymphoma incidence, longer survivalafter tumor inoculation, and lower rates of proliferation ofseveral cell types. The findings in animals suggest that ADFmay effectively modulate several risk factors, thereby preventingchronic disease, and that ADF may modulate disease risk to anextent similar to that of CR. More research is required to establishdefinitively the consequences of ADF.

Key Words: Alternate-day fasting • calorie restriction • type 2 diabetes • cardiovascular disease • cancer • animal models • humans