Green Bamboo: Strength in Flexibility

Those who have watched the movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" would be familiar with the imagery of bamboo: flexible yet firm, delicate yet strong. These unique qualities make the bamboo fit snugly into ancient Chinese philosophy and endow the health benefits of the bamboo with an air of wisdom and grace.

History

In China, the highly revered bamboo reflects celestial unity in ancient art, such as ethereal paintings of misty mountains with bamboo leaves, delicate bamboo weavings and bamboo baskets.

The strength of bamboo is apparent when the fury of the atomic bomb unleashed at Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War Two only damaged bamboo marginally. It was also one of the first plants to reappear after the deadly war, thus occupying a special place in the hearts of the Japanese. Visitors to Japan will be charmed by the melodious sound of nature when a breeze rustles through bamboo-made wind chimes.

In Hawaii, where bamboo is known as "ohe", bamboo crafts have been elevated to an art, with intricate designs of delicate tapa stamps carved from split bamboo.

Before the invention of wheels, bamboo provided stout shafts for carrying baskets woven from bamboo fibres, hence revealing its wide spectrum of uses.

Ecology

Bamboo has strong survival skills. Like grass, it grows rapidly and is able to propagate by itself. Like wood, it is strong and can be found throughout the world. Although bamboo only needs minimal water to sustain itself, as little as 20 inches of rainfall for some species, most large bamboos grow quicker when exposed to full sunlight.

Growing profusely in poverty-ridden and resource-scare areas, bamboo is like a gift to humanity, giving the most of itself during its short lifespan of a few years.

The height of bamboo varies from 30cm dwarf plants to hovering timber bamboos of over 40m.

Bamboos are classified according to the type of roots. Runners, which belong mainly to tropical bamboos, spread exuberantly while clumpers, which belong to temperate bamboos, expand slowly from the original planting. There are also root systems that combine the two types.

Bamboo leaves come in a large variety. There are soft velvety leaves, leaves with saw-toothed edges and leaves with tiny wisps of hair-like adornments around the bases of the stems and culm (stem) sheaths.

Health Notes

Bamboo, a vital element in Traditional Chinese Medicine, has a temperament that ranges from mild to cooling. So although specific health benefits differ according to the various parts and flavours of the bamboo, generally, bamboo is able to help detoxify, repel insects, eliminate heatiness, clear phlegm, curb vomiting, restore vitality and quench thirst. Small wonder then that the bamboo is the panda's favourite. In fact, with plenty of crude protein, bamboo is also used frequently as animal fodder.

Bel'Air's green bamboo essential oil is the result of comprehensive research. From the joints of bamboo stems, a beneficial essence known as bamboo sil is extracted. It contains abundant amounts of silice, which is a rich store of calcium. After aromatherapy with green bamboo essential oil, calcium would be replenished and bones would be strengthened. This innovative essential oil can also alleviate old age problems such as backache and rheumatism, as well as enhance calcium contents in children and teenagers, hence boosting their growth.

---

Three Immune System Building Natural Remedies

Here are three products that can help you elevate your... Read More

History of Essential Oils

Extracted from botanicals, that is, from plants and trees. They... Read More

Natural Medicine--Finding a Qualified Naturopath

Naturopathic medicine is currently the fastest growing segment of the... Read More

Using the Subconscious for Pain Relief - What?s In It For You?

If you're in chronic pain, you probably want 7 things.... Read More

Junk Food Is Not Easier To Eat

There is something to be said about fast food being... Read More

Types of Hair Loss Treatment Currently Available

The hair loss treatments outlined here cannot provide definitive cures... Read More

Home Remedies, Treatment To All Ailments By Herbal Homemade Remedies

Given below the list of Best Home Remedies for all... Read More

Alternative Medicine, Complementary, Integrative, Wellness, Holistic ? What Do They All Mean?

Alternative medicine has grown in so many ways in North... Read More

Acupressure

Developed in Asia over 5,000 years ago, acupressure is an... Read More

Focus Your Light: Earning Money From Home When You Have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome /Fibromyalgia

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome /Fibromyalgia makes you extremely tired, exhausted and... Read More

Natural Remedies For Treating a Cold

Sometimes it can be hard to escape that shivery feeling... Read More

Why Most People Dont Really Want to Heal (Part 2)

The story so far...At a metaphysical lecture facilitated by Guy... Read More

Laughter, Why Its so Good for You

For hundreds of years, we've known that 'Laughter is the... Read More

Just The Tea FAQs: Health Benefits (Part II)

A hot cup of tea might be just the thing... Read More

Biofeedback: Applying the Mind to Health

What is biofeedback?In biofeedback you expand self-awareness and practice powerful... Read More

A Lifestyle Approach to Remedy Snoring

If you want to remedy snoring, you have to find... Read More

Achieve Instant Calm

For instant calm, try one or more of the following... Read More

Hyaluronic Acid - The Natural Face Lift?

If So What Is It and What Does It Do?In... Read More

Get Your ZZZZZZ?s Naturally

Insomnia ? according to the dictionary is a chronic inability... Read More

Alternative Medicine is Holistic, Western Medicine is Reductionist

The major difference between alternative medicine, or what I'll call... Read More

Treat Cold Sores, Sore Throats, and Warts Naturally

Tired of costly medications, prescriptions and time lost for doctor's... Read More

Migraine and Feverfew

Many people today will tell you that they suffer from... Read More

Natural Arthritis Pain Relief - By Doing Simple Arthritis Exercises

Treating arthritis is not easy. Apart from the regular medication,... Read More

Independent Research Proves Effectiveness of Magnotherapy Wristbands

"Magnetic bracelets reduce the pain of osteoarthritis." Those are the... Read More

Frequency Specific Microcurrent Offers New Hope For People With Chronic Pain and Fibromyalgia

Approximately 10 million Americans suffer from a condition known as... Read More

Health Benefits of Noni Juice

Noni Juice, Morinda CitrifoliaMorinda Citrifolia , a deciduos creeping vine... Read More

Body Work

Body Work is more than just a massage, it's a... Read More

Natural Remedy for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - ADHD

Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a complex neurobehavioral disorder of... Read More

Liver Spring Cleansing

The liver is the second largest organ in the body... Read More

The Stammering/Stuttering Speech Course

The five day speech course for stuttering/stammering.The first two days... Read More

Fight Cancer With Broccoli Sprouts

Mom was right to insist on us eating our vegetables.... Read More

Cure for Shingles

Shingles is a patch of painful blisters that appear on... Read More

A Free Natural Medicine Which is also Your Strongest, Most Abundant, and Easiest to Use

We've all heard, haven't we, that a 40-year-old was considered... Read More