Taoist Longevity Tonics and Elixirs

Learn how to Make Medicinal Wines and Herbal Remedies

A practical workshop in New York City with Nam Singh   
April  24th Friday  7-10 pm
April  25th Saturday 9.30-5.30

Learn how to make Chinese Medicinal Wines, Tonic herbal remedies and The Elixirs of Longevity. Take home your own herbal tonics made especially for your body type and condition.

Discover Internal Alchemy and Medicine based on the Taoist way of taking responsibility for your own health and wellbeing.

Within Chinese Medicine, there is a long history of using medicinal wines and liqueurs something rarely taught in the west. Nam Singh grew up in a Taoist Temple in Taiwan and from an early age, he learnt the ancient formulas of these very special tonic wines (Jiu) for deep healing, rejuvenation and long life.

Many chronic conditions require the taking of medicine over a long time- so the daily taking of a nip of medicinal wine is quick, easy and enjoyable. Also these preparations can be much more effective and easier to digest than pills and powders, and are considered more potent.

BENEFITS:

  • excellent for strengthening the spleen, liver and kidney's
  • Nam Singhenergizes the muscles, nourishes deeply the bones, spine and brain
  • treats many gynecological problems, menstrual irregularities
  • very good for post-stroke patients, asthma, prostrate, eye problems
  • can be effective for treating trauma and injuries
  • ideal tonics for keeping your immune system strong and resilient
  • can assist in weight loss, water retention, and feelings of sluggishment

Tonic wines are easy to make at home using a large jar filled with the tonic herbs usually roots such as Dang Gui (Chinese Angelica), He Shou Wu or Ren Shen which is then covered with red, yellow or clear wine. In this workshop- you will not only learn the theory of long life and good radiant health, but also the practical applications of the herbs and wines- you will walk home with your own elixir supply!

Elixir:  a sweetened, aromatic solution of alcohol and water containing or used as a vehicle for medicinal substances.  Also an alchemic preparation believed to prolong life.

Tonic:  Medicine that invigorates or strengthens: pertaining to, maintaining, increasing or restoring the tone or health of the body or an organ.       
Nam Singh will demonstrate the traditional health examination  (Si-Jian) called the four examinations or inspections of the patient, which are looking, listening, asking and touching.

Each person will get a basic idea of their body type and condition- and what specific wines and tonic elixir recipes to use and make.

There are 7 major types of tonic remedies we will be teaching the students: Energy Tonics, Yang Tonics, Blood Tonics, Yin Tonics, Organ Meridian Tonics, Herbs which regulate the energy and herbs which regulate the blood.

Tonic wines (Jiu) were popular with the ancient Daoists and are still made in China today.  According to one legend, the sage Li Ch'ing died in 1930 at the age of 252 years.  His long life was helped by a small glass of mixed (He Shou Wu) flowery knotweed and (Ren Shen) Korean ginseng tonic wine taken each evening before bed.  Tonic wines are easy to make at home using a large jar filled with the tonic herbs usually roots such as Dang Gui (Chinese Angelica), He Shou Wu or Ren Shen which is then covered with red, yellow or clear wine

The special class of herbs, known as the Elixir Tonics, are easy to use.  Tens of millions of people in China use them regularly to maintain or build their health.  A large and rapidly growing number of Westerners have discovered these incredible herbs and are now using them with great benefit.
  
To apply the system, one need know only a few herbs, understand the basic principles and use common sense.  Different herbs suit different people and are used at different times and under different circumstances.

The ultimate goal of Chinese tonic herbalism is to generate “radiant health” through the regulation of energy, so that the body may be the suitable vehicle for achieving enlightenment, or “immortality” as the Taoists call it.  Not everyone uses the tonics for this lofty goal, but nonetheless, the tonics can aid in achieving any state of health desired.  According to the Taoists, “radiant health” cannot be achieved through bodily efforts alone.  It is necessary to overcome the illusion of “apartness” through direct intuitive perception of one’s unity with nature, and to live harmoniously with all beings, contentedly and peacefully.  The Chinese called this “cultivating the Way.”  Chinese tonic herbalism cannot be separated from this grand way.  Though anyone can benefit significantly from the tonics, their ultimate benefit can only be attained through their integration into a path of true physical and spiritual growth.  The Chinese developed the system of the “superior herbalism,” that is, of the tonics, as a tool to be used wisely on the spiritual path.

According to the basic principle of oneness, it is emphasized that not only must each organ function properly, but all organs must function in concert.  Timing and intensity of action and rest must be harmonious.  And the organic functioning must be directly and accurately responsive to innumerable environmental changes.  The Chinese tonic herbs are used to enhance the adaptive, regulatory powers within the human body-mind which results in “radiant health.”  The herbs are believed by the Chinese people to build the vitality of the body-mind as a whole.  Not just the energy of the flesh and muscle need vitalizing, but also the deep tissues and the mind.  And not only need the body-mind be energized, but also harmonized.  Especially important is the vitalizing of those functions that have a primary regulatory capacity, those functions that are centrally responsible for the control of our adaptive responses.  In this way, all the functions of the body-mind are integrated in the task of maintaining a harmonious relationship among themselves and with nature.

Tonic wines (Jiu) were popular with the ancient Daoists and are still made in China today.  According to one legend, the sage Li Ch’ing died in 1930 at the age of 252 years.  His long life was helped by a small glass of mixed (He Shou Wu) flowery knotweed and (Ren Shen) Korean ginseng tonic wine taken each evening before bed.  Tonic wines are easy to make at home using a large jar filled with the tonic herbs usually roots such as Dang Gui (Chinese Angelica), He Shou Wu or Ren Shen which is then covered with red, yellow or clear wine

The special class of herbs, known as the Elixir Tonics, are easy to use.  Tens of millions of people in China use them regularly to maintain or build their health.  A large and rapidly growing number of Westerners have discovered these incredible herbs and are now using them with great benefit.
  
To apply the system, one need know only a few herbs, understand the basic principles and use common sense.  Different herbs suit different people and are used at different times and under different circumstances.

The general procedure in making an herbal tincture (or herbal liquor) is to place the herbs alcohol and sweetener, if any, all in a glass jar or ceramic container which is then tightly sealed.  This should be put in a cool, dark place.  A cupboard or closet will do.  This should then be left for at least a month, three months or for years.  Some herbs require a two month soaking period.  Some herbalists say to shake the mixture daily but this is not a hard and fast rule.  After the active ingredients have been extracted by the alcohol, the contents can be strained and the medicinal liquor decanted into another bottle.

A rule of thumb is that one should experience benefits from the herbs with no side-effects within a reasonable period of time.  Naturally, different herbs will exhibit their virtues in different lengths of time.  Some, line ginseng, may show noticeable results within hours of consumption; whereas an herb like Schizancdra may take some weeks before the desired results are obvious.  Most herbs, however, will show their stuff within a few days.  If the results expected to not occur, or if undesirable side-effects are detected, the particular herbal being used should be altered or replaced by another.  Guidance is helpful at the beginning, but information provided here is more than will be available in most cases and is quite sufficient if studied carefully.

You will learn the seven major types of tonic herbal remedies and receive a 40 page handbook.

BOOKING

April 24 Friday Evening 7-10pm
Apil 25 Saturday 9:30-5:30pm  

Fee $155 plus $20 materials fee for herbs
Includes 40 page workbook and recipes

Bring a quart of brandy or vodka and a 32-ounce sealed jar

Booking: info@academyhealingnutrition.com
Phone: 646 812 0091

Venue: Manhattan. Details given on booking

Because of the practical nature of this workshop- class size is limited - first come first served- don't be disappointed- book early.

THERE IS MORE!  IF YOU BOOK AND PAY BY
MARCH 31 ST you can join us for a free tour of Chinatown with Nam Singh
Friday April 17th, 2-6pm
Sponsored by The Academy of Healing Nutrition and The New York School of Feng Shui

Booking: info@academyhealingnutrition.com

Nam Singh, L.Ac., O.M.D., N.C. is a practitioner of all eight limbs of Chinese Medicine: Meditation, Exercise, Diet, Herbology, Astrology, Feng Shui, Massage, Acupuncture and Moxabustion. He is a graduate of the Tai Pei Institute of Traditional Pharmacology and Acupuncture, a graduate of Wei Chuan’s Culinary Institute Tai Pei, R.O.C. Taiwan, as well as a chef specializing in Chinese medicinal cuisine. Mr. Singh, formerly of China Moon and Monsoon Restaurants, has worked extensively throughout the Bay Area restaurant scene.  He presently resides in San Francisco. Chef Singh has collaborated on two well-received books, Between Heaven and Earth—A Guide to Chinese Medicine and  The Chinese Immigrant Cooking. He is on the faculty of The Academy Healing Nutrition.