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Toilet Paper Connections

26/4/2020

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As the whole virus crisis began in the Western world, there was a rush for toilet paper. Many people I know and myself included were a little stunned by the stockpiling of this otherwise rather mundane article of modern life. Of course, it is interesting to observe what people were hoarding, food and toilet paper, both items that we utilize on both ends of the digestive tract.
 
I personally don't find toilet paper such an essential. But it got me thinking of the things we take for granted in our everyday. I turn on the tap and CLEAN water flows, I press a switch and the light comes on. When I was growing up in Malaysia in the 1970-80s, we had power outages, sometimes for days and then the water pumps wouldn't work, so when the tap got turned, nothing flowed. I lived in Petaling Jaya, close to the capital city, so if we didn't have water, a lot of other places in Malaysia would have it worse. I learned very early on not to take these very basic things for granted. I learned then that toilet paper isn't such an essential, especially if you can't flush the toilet, where do you put the toilet paper?
 
I walk into a grocery store here and I see possibly 10 different brands of toilet paper; from 3-ply to 5-ply, super soft to silky soft, with Chamomile to Gold Melissa extract, or FSC-certified to recycled paper. It's crazy the choices we are faced with at just the toilet paper shelf. I started to look closer at the labels on the packaging. I personally am interested in environmentally-friendly products so I pay attention to recycling information. They are very deceiving. Some have a recycled-sign on the packet but when you look closer, it states that it's the packaging that is recycled not the paper.
 
I looked a little further on where our toilet paper comes from and I was horrified. I watched a documentary on FSC, Forest Stewardship Council, about how their certification of paper and wood products functions and who runs it. FSC was a council of environmental groups, like Greenpeace, Indigenous people from around the world and the timber companies, who wanted to do sustainable managing of the forests of the world. Turns out, this WAS the case but not anymore. Watch the documentary to find out more. I found out where our toilet paper is coming from. If it is recycled paper, then it is locally or European produced. If not, it is coming from trees, like Eucalyptus, which were grown in place of primeval forest because they grow faster and can be cut down faster. When we refer to primeval forests, we are talking about forest with trees and a whole ecosystem, of over a couple of hundred years old, of which we do not have any more of in Switzerland and most of Western Europe. We, consumers of these products and beings of the earth, have been deceived. If you did not pay attention to the fine-printed details, it is time you did. Too many things have been done in the name of "recycling," "caring for Mother Earth and the environment" etc. but, they are nothing more than ways to sell more products, help us consumers have a better conscience so we buy more and fill the pockets of these companies. Greenwashing for more profit!
 
It is time to act. Use less, buy less, recycle and reuse. It is only a small step but a choice we make. We don't need the newest smartphone, which by the way requires the use of rare earth, or new clothes. These are/will be relics of a time when we consumed without thought of where or what or whom we were affecting. The next time you rip that toilet paper, remember that we are all connected. That piece of toilet paper may have come from a Eucalyptus tree, grown in place of a clear-cut rainforest, which housed thousands of species of plants, insects, animals and indigenous people, who now are extinct or on the verge of extinction. Maybe many of us were revolted by the hoarding of toilet paper because it displayed to us this ugly side of humanity, this irreverent part of us that consumes without regard for those around us. Become aware and awake of what you can do. There is a saying in Malay, "Sedikit-sedikit, lama-lama menjadi bukit," which translates as "little by little over time creates a hill" - Our small actions over time will create change.  


Image by katharinakanns from Pixabay
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Touch the Heart

13/4/2020

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I grew up in Malaysia, in the suburbs of the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. Malaysians, who are of different cultural backgrounds like Chinese, Malay, Indian etc., come together for food. They might have many differences but what connects them is food and their love of it. One of my favorite is Dim Sum, a meal, often a brunch, where different types of food, vegetable, meat, bread, rice, which are steamed, fried, boiled, are served in small portions in bamboo-steamed baskets or plates. A little bit like Spanish Tapas but different. Dim Sum originates from the southern part of China, Hong Kong is very well-known for it. Often in a traditional Dim Sum restaurant, one would sit at the table with an order sheet, your pot of Chinese tea and carts with fresh-made food would be rolled around by servers, shouting the dish's name, and you would just have to call out, tell them how many portions you wanted, they would serve it to you and mark it on your order sheet. Then, the next server would come by and the process continues, until you decide that you've had enough. A very lively atmosphere. It brings people together: families, friends, business meetings, workers, anybody. The meaning of Dim Sum, which is in the Cantonese dialect, is "Touch the Heart." I find that incredible, a meal that touches the heart. So often we think of food as just for the stomach but this one is meant to touch the heart as it brings people together and guess what? In Chinese Medicine, the tongue is the orifice of the Heart. It is all starting to make sense, food that touches the heart by nourishing the receptors of the tongue and bringing people together. 
 
Since the whole quarantine process has been in effect, I have been home with the whole family. Our children have been home-schooling and we have had a lot of time to do things we normally don't get to do. We often cook most of our meals at home normally but now we can take more time, experimenting new recipes. We have made meat dumplings, gnocchi, cakes, smoothies, lemon meringue pie and raspberry tiramisu. It has actually been pleasant to have time. There is a popular American saying, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." In my case, lemon meringue pie. I may not agree or like the situation but it doesn't help if I grumble about it, so I am making the best of it. I am using this time to "touch the heart" of my family.
 
Another effect of the quarantine/ isolation is that we have been called to practice "social distancing," avoiding all physical contact with people, including shaking hands, hugging and definitely not kissing. We have been dictated to stay away from our elderly family and friends, as well as keep a 2-metre distance from everyone in public. 
 
Since I began studying Chinese Medicine, I have become aware what different body parts represent and how they affect our health. For instance, the shaking of hands, which is very prevalent in many places in the world is the connection of 2 points of the palm of the hands which are on the Heart and Pericardium Meridians, both of Fire element. So, when I shake your hand, I connect my heart with yours. Similarly, when I hug someone, I meet my heart with yours. In Malaysia, there is a tradition, especially among the ethnic Malays where they shake hands with both hands and place both their hands right after onto their chest, emphasizing the Heart connection. This I find beautiful. The lips are a little different from the Chinese Medicine and meridian view, they manifest the Spleen and Stomach, both of the Earth element. The cheeks also manifest the Stomach meridian. Of course, the Spleen and Stomach are organs of digestion but in Chinese Medicine, they produce Qi and Blood, the essentials for life. These are greetings with the touch of the skin and there are many more greetings that do not require touch. For instance, in India and in many places in Asia, they place their 2 palms together in front of the heart to greet each and/or they bow their heads to each other, both are as signs of respect and to honor. I am finding these to be very valuable at the current time.
 
So much of how we communicate with each other is the "touch of the heart." Real connection to each other is from the heart. Even if we aren't allowed to touch or be close to one another, we can still touch each other's heart in simple things like greeting and smiling at each other from afar. This current situation is challenging but it also gives us a chance to evaluate what really is important in our lives.   


Image Dim Sum by Alice Cheung from Pixabay
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    Elaine Yap

    I am a Chinese Medicine practitioner at ICM, mother of 2 boys, living on my third continent. I love to share my perspectives on healing, TCM, gardening, social change and life.

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