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Dear healthwellness82@gmail.com, Did you know that checking your pulse is one of the easiest ways to detect possible heart problems and other hidden diseases? Leon Hammer, MD, author of the book Chinese Pulse Diagnosis: A Contemporary Approach, describes the best way to check your own pulse and tells how to interpret what you find, including whether the result means you should see a doctor. Your heart will thank you if you eat more fish -- but what if fish is not something you tend to enjoy? Then have we got a recipe for you! It’s from Steven Raichlen, host of the PBS program Primal Grill and author of the book Planet Barbecue. His way of making grilled fish will send your taste buds soaring... and he throws in a grilling secret to keep your fish from flaking apart and falling into the fire. All the best,  Jessica Kent Editor BottomLineSecrets.com  America’s Fourth War! Coming right on the heels of opening combat against Libya, America is now engaging in yet another conflict. And the prospects for victory aren't looking good. The enemy is smart, mobile, and dead-set on destroying your way of life. As The Wall Street Journal puts it, this new enemy poses "a threat equal to that of weapons of mass destruction." To find out the full story, including how this war could affect your wealth, just go here. What Your Pulse Tells You About Your Health Leon Hammer, MD In modern medicine, the most important diagnostic tools are increasingly high-tech, such as computed tomography (CT) scans and sophisticated genetic testing. An underutilized method for diagnosing illness: In Chinese Medicine (CM), the 5,000-year-old system of natural healing, the most important diagnostic tool is taking the patient’s pulse. Healers in other ancient cultures -- India, Persia and Egypt, for example -- also use pulse diagnosis. THE NORMAL PULSE According to CM, a normal pulse has several detectable features including a consistent rhythm (regularity)... a rate (fast or slow) that is consistent with the person’s age (a child’s pulse is usually faster than an adult’s, for example)... and qualities (such as strength or intensity) that are stable over time. To a practitioner trained in pulse diagnosis, there are many possible deviations from a normal pulse.* The practitioner checks the pulse at 40 different positions on the radial (main) artery on the wrist. Each site represents the functioning of specific organs, such as the brain, heart, lungs, liver, stomach, kidneys and intestinal tract. Learning to take a pulse in CM involves far more than counting beats per minute. A comprehensive Chinese pulse examination typically takes 15 to 45 minutes longer than the pulse check done by a Western medicine practitioner. But even for a layperson, being aware of subtleties in your own pulse may reveal significant facts about your health. Important: The following pulse characteristics and associated health conditions are general guidelines and should not be used for self-diagnosis. A CM pulse diagnosis practitioner does not consider one pulse characteristic alone, but instead evaluates the findings for multiple pulse sites when assessing the health of a patient. Learning about YOUR PULSE To become familiar with your pulse, put three fingers (index, middle and ring) of the opposite hand along the radial artery in the wrist (where the most accessible and distinct pulse is located). For one minute, count the beats using a watch. For another minute or two, feel the quality of the pulse (see descriptions that follow). Important: Before taking your pulse, avoid factors that can affect it -- for example, take it at least 90 minutes after a large meal (especially one high in fat)... a few hours after drinking coffee or tea... and an hour or two after exercise. Also, avoid taking it when you are very tired, hungry or upset. Before beginning, sit quietly for five minutes. See a doctor if any of the following characteristics are present...
IS A SLOW PULSE HEALTHIER? Many health experts recommend regular, aerobic exercise such as running as a way to produce a resting pulse rate under 60 beats per minute -- believing that a slow pulse is a sign of a well-conditioned, healthy heart. Surprising: CM has a different perspective -- a "slow" pulse means a lack of force and is a sign of deficient circulation of heart qi, making the body more susceptible to disease, particularly arthritis, cancer, circulatory disorders, anxiety and panic, sleep disorders and chronic fatigue syndrome. The circulatory system is crucial to good health because it carries essential nutrients to every cell in the body and removes cellular waste products. The CM perspective: A runner or other intense exerciser may become addicted to a heightened feeling of aliveness from increased circulation but over time must run farther and farther (or exercise harder and harder) to achieve the same experience. Every time the person runs too far or exercises too hard, he depletes heart qi -- and becomes weaker and weaker. Gradually, he/she becomes easily fatigued and tired and has muscle and joint pain, insomnia and mood swings. Example: The tennis player Björn Borg reduced his pulse rate to 29 beats per minute -- then collapsed and quit tennis at age 26. Best: Walking generally is the safest aerobic activity. The CM Way The goal of Chinese Medicine (CM) is to balance "qi" (pronounced "chee," the universal energy or life force that flows throughout the body). A person with consistently balanced qi -- adequate amounts moving in predictable, rhythmic patterns -- is generally healthy and happy. If qi is insufficient or blocked, disease and sadness will likely result. An experienced practitioner of CM pays close attention to many features of the individual to determine his/her state of qi. In addition to touching the wrist and feeling the patient’s pulse, the practitioner may look at the person’s tongue (shape, color and coating)…and inquire about his lifestyle, including diet and sleep. Primarily a preventive discipline, especially through pulse diagnosis, CM detects disturbances in the qi at the earliest possible stage -- ideally, before disease develops -- and restores balance through such methods as a whole-food diet, gentle exercise, acupuncture and herbal formulations. *To find a practitioner of pulse diagnosis, consult the American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, www.aaaomonline.org, 866-455-7999, or the Dragon Rises College of Oriental Medicine, www.dragonrises.org, 800-606-6685, and click on the link "Teachers Certified by DRS -- Dragon Rises Seminars." Bottom Line/Health interviewed Leon Hammer, MD, a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst who has studied, practiced and taught Chinese Medicine for 38 years. He is chairman of the governing board and teaches at the Gainesville, Florida–based Dragon Rises College of Oriental Medicine, www.dragonrises.edu, one of 49 accredited acupuncture colleges in the US. Dr. Hammer is the author of several books, including Chinese Pulse Diagnosis: A Contemporary Approach (Eastland).  Great Grilled Fish -- Every Time Steven Raichlen If you’ve ever tried to grill fish, you know that it can stick to the grill or flake apart and fall into the fire. Never fear -- solutions are here. One solution is a fish grilling basket -- be sure to oil the wire mesh inside even if it is nonstick. Grapeseed oil is best because of its high flash point, but canola oil is fine, too. Three other solutions... Wrap fish in a banana leaf. This holds in the moisture of the fish and keeps pieces of flaky, fragile fish fillets -- such as fresh sardines, snapper or halibut -- from falling into the fire. As a bonus, grilled banana leaf transfers a nice flavor to the fillet. Seasonings can be wrapped up in the leaf. Example: In Thailand, fish fillets are surrounded by ginger, garlic, chilies and lemongrass before they’re wrapped in banana leaves. Banana leaves usually are available at Asian, Indian and Hispanic markets. If the leaves you buy are not pliable, grill or heat them over a stove burner for 15 to 30 seconds per side. Place the fish fillet on the light side of the leaf, with the dark side on the outside. Fold the leaf around the fish as you would a burrito, then secure it with toothpicks or butcher’s string. Grill over high heat until the leaf is nicely browned, three to five minutes per side. Start with the seam-side down, then finish and serve seam-side up. (This also works with fish in grape leaves or aluminum foil.) Grill fish on a wood plank. Fillets can be placed on cedar or alder wood planks. The planks keep fish from sticking to the grill and add a woody flavor, particularly when cedar is used. Planks are available in cooking and grilling stores for about $5 apiece. Submerge planks in water for an hour before grilling, and preheat your grill to medium-to-high heat. Place the fish on the planks skin-side down, then position the planks on the grill so that they are not directly over the flames. Cover the grill, and cook until the top of the fillet is golden brown -- 20 to 30 minutes. Choose "steak" -- fish steak, that is -- which is less prone to falling apart. My favorite fish steak recipe... Grilled Fish Steak with Garlic Caper Butter 4 fish steaks (salmon, tuna, marlin or swordfish), 1 inch thick, 6 to 8 ounces Kosher or sea salt Freshly ground black pepper Rinse the fish. Blot dry with paper towels. Place in a glass baking dish, and gently season on both sides with salt and pepper. Drizzle olive oil over both sides, and rub the oil, salt and pepper into the fish with your fingers. Cut one lemon in half, and squeeze the juice over both sides of the fish. Place the dish in the refrigerator to marinate for 15 minutes. Preheat your grill to high. Brush and oil the grill grate. Drain the fish, and grill it for three to four minutes per side. The fish is ready when it breaks into firm flakes when pressed with a finger. Move it to a platter, and cover loosely with aluminum foil. Melt the butter in a saucepan, then add the garlic and capers. Cook over high heat until the garlic begins to brown and the capers are crisp -- about two minutes. Pour over the fish. Serves four. Bottom Line/Personal interviewed Steven Raichlen, "America’s Master Griller," host of the PBS program Primal Grill. Based in Edgartown, Massachusetts, he writes about grilling frequently for Food & Wine and Bon Appétit magazines. His latest book, Planet Barbecue (Workman), is a collection of grilling recipes from 60 countries.www.BarbecueBible.com. Important: Help your friends get much more out of life -- forward this E-letter to them. Better: Send it to many friends and your whole family. This is a free weekly e-mail service of BottomLineSecrets.com and Boardroom Inc. Boardroom Inc. 281 Tresser Boulevard Stamford, CT 06901-3229 ATTN: Web Team You received this e-mail because you have requested it. You are on the mailing list as healthwellness82@gmail.com. Or... a friend forwarded it to you. Disclaimer: Bottom Line Secrets publishes the opinions of expert authorities in many fields. But the use of these opinions is no substitute for legal, accounting, investment, medical and other professional services to suit your specific personal needs. Always consult a competent professional for answers to your specific questions. Bottom Line Secrets is a registered trademark of Boardroom Inc. Subscribe | Unsubscribe | Update My E-mail Preferences Change My E-mail Address | Contact Us | Privacy Policy Copyright (c) 2011 by Boardroom Inc. |
Irregular rhythm or rate. A pulse that misses beats or speeds up or slows down may signal a potentially serious illness, such as heart disease. 
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