Energising the heart
Art of Qi
By Dr Amir Farid Isahak
AHMAD is 39 years old and recently had a heart attack. Although he did not smoke and had been taking many health supplements, he did not take care of his weight, and did not exercise enough. At that age, he never expected to have a heart attack.
Statistically, at least 25% of all first heart attacks are fatal. Fortunately, he survived, and is determined to change his lifestyle and become a healthy man.
This should be a lesson to all that as far as heart disease is concerned, exercise is the most vital preventive measure. It is better to be fat but fit than thin and unfit. Although maintaining ideal weight is important, we have seen so many people getting heart attacks even though they are not fat.
Controlling cholesterol is also a must (to have high HDL or good cholesterol, and low LDL or bad cholesterol), but there are so many other factors that determine whether cholesterol will actually clog up your coronary arteries. Whilst the risk of atherosclerosis increases with the level of cholesterol, between individuals, there are people with high cholesterol who have clean coronary arteries, and others with lower cholesterol whose coronaries are clogged up.
Ahmad’s doctors put him on several drugs and advised him to limit his physical activity. I put him on several health supplements and advised him to lose weight. Although he had practised qigong before, I taught him a new set of exercises that included heart-energising exercises.
In the last six weeks, he lost about 5 kg, and looked and felt much healthier. He was also the best student in his group when it came to doing the qigong exercises correctly. He is determined to reverse his unhealthy state.
This week he underwent angioplasty to unclog two of his blocked coronary arteries. We do not know how bad his arteries were before he changed his diet and lifestyle. Also, six weeks is too short a time to expect significant reversal of damage that has accumulated over the years. However, if he continues to take care of his health, his risk of a repeat heart attack will be lowered.
Ramlan was 41 when he suffered his heart attack and underwent angioplasty to reopen his clogged heart arteries. That was 13 years ago. He had led a stressful life due to the nature of his work, and was not particular about his diet. He also hardly exercised. He did not smoke, but his cholesterol was high. He also has a strong family history of heart attacks, with several cousins and uncles afflicted in their 40s.
Since that episode, he changed his diet and exercised diligently. But he could not change his job. The doctors also put him on over 10 different drugs! His cholesterol was maintained at an ideal level for heart attack victims (which is lower than for the rest of us) and he was not overweight. Yet, over the years, his heart condition worsened in spite of all these measures. Now, at 54, all except one of his major coronary arteries are severely blocked again, and his heart is pumping at only 30% capacity. The cardiologists told him that it was too risky to attempt angioplasty or by-pass surgery, and his only hope would be a heart transplant. He was also cautioned not to exert himself.
Ramlan’s case illustrates that like many other medical problems, management is not that simple. Doing everything medically possible still did not help him enough. And there are other factors that are impossible (for example, genes/family history) or difficult (for example, career) to change. In his case, the family history and stress/work factors remained.
Obviously, there are other factors that we have to look into to try to help patients like Ramlan. Nutritional healing and qigong are two of these.
Mahogany fruit extract
When I was in Tawau several months ago, I met a 4-year-old boy who had severe heart disease and fainted three or four times every day despite being on medication. Then the mother gave him adult doses of the mahogany fruit extract (in capsules). Within one week he stopped having the fainting episodes, and was much better.
I also met another 55-year old gentleman who was scheduled for a heart operation. According to him, he cancelled the operation because he was much better after taking the mahogany fruit capsules.
These two cases show that there are surprising remedies in the plants that surround us. There have been many other unexpected healings from a variety of health problems attributed to this fruit extract. I would strongly encourage those with deteriorating heart conditions to consider nutritional healing in addition to their drugs, especially if the drugs do not seem to make them better.
Although there is insufficient data to generally recommend these supplements as therapy, those that have end-stage diseases have nothing to lose. These are foodstuff and are generally safe.
In the past we were excited by the noni fruit extract only after western scientific studies proved their nutritional contents, whereas our own grandmothers were using it to treat all sorts of health problems. The current rage in the US is the mangosteen extract, which has very high anti-oxidant levels, something that we have also largely ignored.
Apart from the health benefits from these local fruits, there is a whole health supplement industry that can be exploited using these natural resources. Even the durian is being researched for potential anti-cancer nutrients, but it is the seed and not the succulent flesh!
Qigong for the heart
There are several qigong exercises that help the heart. These are those that stimulate the heart acupoint in the palm of the hand, and also send qi through the heart meridien. One beautiful and enjoyable exercise is done by rotating a wooden rod (with rounded edges) in between the palms to stimulate the heart point as we go through the movements and breathing. This modification can be added to several of the usual exercises.
Those who like doing the qigong walk can also do brisk walking and get both the benefits of qigong and cardiovascular fitness.
Return to Lucky Valley
There was so much interest in Lucky Valley after I wrote about my first visit there, and many readers had requested to join me in my next trip there. Well, those who are keen can join me on the weekend of Sept 17-19. The activities there will include those that will enhance the body, mind and spirit. Qigong and meditative exercises will be held in the energy pyramid, in the wooden hut, and by the lake. The 7km hike will definitely be good for the heart, and the scenery good for the albums! If we are lucky, there may still be some ripe fruits for the picking.
Dr Amir Farid Isahak is a medical specialist who practises holistic medicine and has been teaching qi gong for more than 10 years. He is the former president of the Guolin Qi Gong Association, Malaysia. You can e-mail him at starhealth@thestar.com.my. The views expressed are those of the writer and readers are advised to always consult expert advice before undertaking any changes to their lifestyles. The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the content appearing in this column. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.
By Dr Amir Farid Isahak
AHMAD is 39 years old and recently had a heart attack. Although he did not smoke and had been taking many health supplements, he did not take care of his weight, and did not exercise enough. At that age, he never expected to have a heart attack.
Statistically, at least 25% of all first heart attacks are fatal. Fortunately, he survived, and is determined to change his lifestyle and become a healthy man.
This should be a lesson to all that as far as heart disease is concerned, exercise is the most vital preventive measure. It is better to be fat but fit than thin and unfit. Although maintaining ideal weight is important, we have seen so many people getting heart attacks even though they are not fat.
Controlling cholesterol is also a must (to have high HDL or good cholesterol, and low LDL or bad cholesterol), but there are so many other factors that determine whether cholesterol will actually clog up your coronary arteries. Whilst the risk of atherosclerosis increases with the level of cholesterol, between individuals, there are people with high cholesterol who have clean coronary arteries, and others with lower cholesterol whose coronaries are clogged up.
Ahmad’s doctors put him on several drugs and advised him to limit his physical activity. I put him on several health supplements and advised him to lose weight. Although he had practised qigong before, I taught him a new set of exercises that included heart-energising exercises.
In the last six weeks, he lost about 5 kg, and looked and felt much healthier. He was also the best student in his group when it came to doing the qigong exercises correctly. He is determined to reverse his unhealthy state.
This week he underwent angioplasty to unclog two of his blocked coronary arteries. We do not know how bad his arteries were before he changed his diet and lifestyle. Also, six weeks is too short a time to expect significant reversal of damage that has accumulated over the years. However, if he continues to take care of his health, his risk of a repeat heart attack will be lowered.
Ramlan was 41 when he suffered his heart attack and underwent angioplasty to reopen his clogged heart arteries. That was 13 years ago. He had led a stressful life due to the nature of his work, and was not particular about his diet. He also hardly exercised. He did not smoke, but his cholesterol was high. He also has a strong family history of heart attacks, with several cousins and uncles afflicted in their 40s.
Since that episode, he changed his diet and exercised diligently. But he could not change his job. The doctors also put him on over 10 different drugs! His cholesterol was maintained at an ideal level for heart attack victims (which is lower than for the rest of us) and he was not overweight. Yet, over the years, his heart condition worsened in spite of all these measures. Now, at 54, all except one of his major coronary arteries are severely blocked again, and his heart is pumping at only 30% capacity. The cardiologists told him that it was too risky to attempt angioplasty or by-pass surgery, and his only hope would be a heart transplant. He was also cautioned not to exert himself.
Ramlan’s case illustrates that like many other medical problems, management is not that simple. Doing everything medically possible still did not help him enough. And there are other factors that are impossible (for example, genes/family history) or difficult (for example, career) to change. In his case, the family history and stress/work factors remained.
Obviously, there are other factors that we have to look into to try to help patients like Ramlan. Nutritional healing and qigong are two of these.
Mahogany fruit extract
When I was in Tawau several months ago, I met a 4-year-old boy who had severe heart disease and fainted three or four times every day despite being on medication. Then the mother gave him adult doses of the mahogany fruit extract (in capsules). Within one week he stopped having the fainting episodes, and was much better.
I also met another 55-year old gentleman who was scheduled for a heart operation. According to him, he cancelled the operation because he was much better after taking the mahogany fruit capsules.
These two cases show that there are surprising remedies in the plants that surround us. There have been many other unexpected healings from a variety of health problems attributed to this fruit extract. I would strongly encourage those with deteriorating heart conditions to consider nutritional healing in addition to their drugs, especially if the drugs do not seem to make them better.
Although there is insufficient data to generally recommend these supplements as therapy, those that have end-stage diseases have nothing to lose. These are foodstuff and are generally safe.
In the past we were excited by the noni fruit extract only after western scientific studies proved their nutritional contents, whereas our own grandmothers were using it to treat all sorts of health problems. The current rage in the US is the mangosteen extract, which has very high anti-oxidant levels, something that we have also largely ignored.
Apart from the health benefits from these local fruits, there is a whole health supplement industry that can be exploited using these natural resources. Even the durian is being researched for potential anti-cancer nutrients, but it is the seed and not the succulent flesh!
Qigong for the heart
There are several qigong exercises that help the heart. These are those that stimulate the heart acupoint in the palm of the hand, and also send qi through the heart meridien. One beautiful and enjoyable exercise is done by rotating a wooden rod (with rounded edges) in between the palms to stimulate the heart point as we go through the movements and breathing. This modification can be added to several of the usual exercises.
Those who like doing the qigong walk can also do brisk walking and get both the benefits of qigong and cardiovascular fitness.
Return to Lucky Valley
There was so much interest in Lucky Valley after I wrote about my first visit there, and many readers had requested to join me in my next trip there. Well, those who are keen can join me on the weekend of Sept 17-19. The activities there will include those that will enhance the body, mind and spirit. Qigong and meditative exercises will be held in the energy pyramid, in the wooden hut, and by the lake. The 7km hike will definitely be good for the heart, and the scenery good for the albums! If we are lucky, there may still be some ripe fruits for the picking.
Dr Amir Farid Isahak is a medical specialist who practises holistic medicine and has been teaching qi gong for more than 10 years. He is the former president of the Guolin Qi Gong Association, Malaysia. You can e-mail him at starhealth@thestar.com.my. The views expressed are those of the writer and readers are advised to always consult expert advice before undertaking any changes to their lifestyles. The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the content appearing in this column. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.
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