Leading up to my online CEU course on Jing and nurturing life practices (
2 hours of CEUs for FREE, sign up here
), I sat down with scholar and Chinese medicine practitioner Dr. Phil Garrison to discuss Jing (Essence) and the less discussed Jing Shen.
PCOM-NY faculty member Jeremy Pulsifer was featured cooking a healing soup to treat a cough on PCOM alumna Jill Blakeway’s show “Grow Cook Heal”. Check it out!
And at #7: the Power of Placebo, featuring Ted Kaptchuk–Pacific Symposium 2013’s keynote speaker and a longtime PCOM associate!
“ 32 - Because joining a ragtag band of fellow travellers, cooks and guides as I trekked back from La Ciudad Perdida in Colombia reminded me of the joy of sharing your journey with others.”
In 404 CE, the first foreign medicine was imported into Japan from Korea, which has been deduced as being mostly herbal in nature.
During this time, waves of migration from the Korean peninsula brought Chinese technology and writings to the island nation. It was through these transplants that the native Japanese learned of Chinese medicine and acupuncture. As passageways between China and Japan became more open, the first formal introduction of acupuncture in Japan occurred in 562 by a Chinese monk name Zhi Cong. He made the trek across the Sea of China east and brought with him medical treatises on herbal medicine and acupuncture meridians including the Mingtang tu, also known as the Illustrated Manual of Channels, Collaterals, and Acupuncture Points.
Thanks to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation for honoring Pacific College for our support for the important work they do. And thanks to Dr. Jeff Poplarski who makes it all possible.
David Rich Sol, Dean of Asian Holistic Health and Massage of PCOM’s Chicago campus, talks extensively about this method to reduce pain and tension.
Aussie rules football betting through a safer, clearer lens
Australian rules football is woven into the rhythm of local life. From a packed MCG in Melbourne to a Saturday match in Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide or Sydney, supporters follow ladder positions, injury reports, weather conditions and tactical changes with remarkable attention. Betting has become part of that wider sports culture, yet it deserves the same level of scrutiny as any other financial decision.
A wager on an AFL match may involve a head-to-head result, line betting, total points, first goal markets or player statistics. Each market carries different risks, and the speed of in-play betting can make a recreational activity feel more urgent than planned. Understanding the product, the operator and personal limits matters more than chasing a dramatic upset.
A useful way to approach gambling is through awareness of the body and mind. Traditional Chinese medicine places value on balance, observation and measured choices. It does not make gambling safer or predict sporting outcomes, but its broader emphasis on noticing stress and restoring equilibrium can encourage more responsible habits. An account of hospital acupuncture work offers a helpful reminder that health decisions require attention to the whole person.
How AFL wagering differs from casino play
Aussie rules football betting is based on an event with a scheduled start, known teams and publicly reported information. Sportsbooks generally publish markets before the bounce, while live markets change as scores, disposals, injuries and momentum develop. This can make football wagering appear analytical, but statistics do not remove uncertainty.
Casino play works differently. A roulette spin, slot result or card hand is generated independently of previous outcomes, while an AFL result develops through many variables. A bettor can research form, travel, weather and selection news, but no amount of research guarantees a winning result. Treating a bet as an investment is therefore misleading.
Market terminology also deserves care. A head-to-head bet selects the winner, a line bet gives one team a points advantage or disadvantage, and a total-points market concerns the combined score. Multi-bets combine several selections and usually increase the difficulty of winning. Live betting adds speed and emotional pressure, particularly when a favourite falls behind early.
Australian rules and local conditions
The regulatory position depends on the type of gambling and the state or territory involved. Licensed online wagering is overseen through Australia’s federal and state framework, while the Interactive Gambling Act 2001 restricts certain online gambling services, including online casino services offered to Australians. A website being accessible from Australia does not prove that it is licensed or lawful for Australian residents.
AFL betting also reflects local conditions. A wet afternoon at the MCG can affect ball handling and scoring patterns, while long travel between Perth and the eastern states may influence preparation and recovery. The Adelaide Oval, the Gabba in Brisbane and Sydney’s major stadiums each create different environmental settings, although venue narratives should never be treated as guaranteed betting systems.
Australian consumers should check whether an operator accepts local customers under appropriate rules, displays clear terms and offers recognised harm-minimisation tools. State-based differences matter: a bettor in New South Wales may encounter different regulatory information and available protections from someone in Victoria or Western Australia. Australian dollar limits, identity checks and tax questions should be understood before funds are deposited.
Reading form without mistaking it for certainty
Team form is more useful when it is separated into specific evidence. Recent wins can hide a soft fixture, while a narrow loss may reflect strong performance against a leading opponent. Injuries, suspensions, interchange selections, weather, travel and rest periods can all affect the contest. The challenge is to assess information without turning it into a promise.
Historical head-to-head records are often overused. A match from several seasons ago may involve different coaches, game plans, lists and rules. Even a dominant recent record can be a small sample. Player disposals and clearances can provide context, but individual statistics also depend on role, opponent pressure and time on the ground.
The medical and wellness perspective adds an important boundary: evidence can guide a decision, but it cannot control an outcome. Research summaries such as notable medical findings show why claims should be examined carefully rather than accepted because they sound authoritative. The same discipline applies to betting tipsters, promotional claims and social-media predictions.
Comparing Australian-facing gambling information
Spinago1 is a review and guide website rather than the casino operator itself. Its Australian-facing coverage highlights the Spinago welcome offer of up to AU$150 plus 200 free spins, game selection, payment methods, crypto withdrawals, mobile access, licensing information, providers and working mirror links. Promotions and access conditions can change, so readers should verify the current operator terms directly before acting.
The comparison below focuses on what a consumer can check: the kind of brand encountered, the information commonly presented for review, and the regulatory question that applies to all offshore casino services. It does not treat a promotional claim as proof of legality, fairness or suitability. For the latest Spinago-focused information, the guide is available at https://spin-ago1.com/.
| Brand or guide | Public-facing market position | Attributes to verify before using | Australian regulatory point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spin Ago1 | English-language review and guide site focused on Spinago for Australian players | Welcome offer, free-spin conditions, game providers, payment and crypto withdrawal rules, mobile access, licence details and mirror-link safety | A review site is not a gambling licence; check the underlying operator and Australian restrictions |
| Joe Fortune | Online casino brand presented to international and Australian-facing audiences | Current bonus terms, available games, accepted payment methods, identity checks, withdrawal rules and dispute process | Confirm whether the service may lawfully provide the relevant product to an Australian resident |
| RocketPlay | Online casino brand with public promotional and casino information | Licence shown on the current site, wagering requirements, game availability, payment limits, withdrawal timeframes and responsible-gambling controls | Accessibility from Australia does not establish approval under Australian law |
| Fair Go Casino | Online casino brand serving an international-facing market | Operator identity, licence jurisdiction, bonus expiry, restricted markets, payment security and account closure terms | Check the Interactive Gambling Act position and any state or territory guidance |
| Ozwin Casino | Australian-facing online casino brand | Current terms, operator details, game providers, deposit and withdrawal conditions, verification procedures and support channels | Review Australian legal status carefully, as online casino services are subject to strict restrictions |
A fair comparison should also include the quality of the terms, not just the size of a welcome promotion. Look for plain language around wagering requirements, maximum bet rules during bonus play, excluded games, withdrawal verification, dormant accounts and promotional expiry. A large headline offer may have little practical value if the conditions are difficult to meet.
Bonuses, payments and mobile access
Welcome bonuses can make a casino review look attractive, but the headline amount is only one part of the offer. A promotion of up to AU$150 plus 200 free spins may depend on a minimum deposit, a specific code, a qualifying game, a time limit or wagering requirements. Readers should record the exact conditions before accepting a bonus rather than relying on an advertisement or comparison summary.
Payment choices require similar caution. Bank cards, electronic wallets, bank transfers and cryptocurrency can involve different processing times, fees, identity checks and reversal rules. Crypto withdrawals may appear fast, but asset values can change sharply between deposit and withdrawal. A person should never use borrowed money, rent money or essential household funds for gambling.
Mobile access is convenient during an AFL match, whether a supporter is travelling on Melbourne’s public transport or watching from a pub in Newcastle. Convenience can also remove useful pauses between deciding to bet and placing the wager. Disable promotional notifications, avoid betting while drinking, and consider whether a smaller screen makes terms or odds harder to inspect.
Health information is most useful when it supports informed choices instead of promising quick solutions. An explanation of cupping marks illustrates how visible signs can be misunderstood without context. Betting promotions work similarly: a bright bonus figure is only a surface detail until the underlying conditions are understood.
Recognising emotional and financial warning signs
The strongest warning sign is often a change in behaviour rather than a particular losing bet. Chasing losses, increasing stake size after frustration, hiding transactions, checking odds constantly or feeling unable to enjoy a match without a wager may indicate that gambling has moved beyond entertainment. Stress, poor sleep and conflict with family or colleagues deserve attention as well.
A pre-set budget and time limit can provide a practical boundary. Use only money allocated for leisure, decide the maximum loss before opening an account and stop when that limit is reached. Deposit limits, spending alerts, time-outs and self-exclusion tools can add friction, although they work best when activated before an emotional decision.
The social setting matters in Australia, where tipping competitions, workplace chats and match-day gatherings can normalise frequent wagering. A friendly conversation about a game does not need to become pressure to place a bet. Keep gambling separate from rent, bills, study expenses and medical costs, and never treat a win as a reason to raise the next stake.
A grounded checklist for safer decisions
Before using any betting or casino-related website, take a short pause and apply the same measured approach used when evaluating health information:
- Confirm the operator’s identity, licence jurisdiction, Australian availability and current terms.
- Set a firm entertainment budget in Australian dollars and do not use credit or essential funds.
- Read bonus wagering, expiry, maximum-bet, excluded-game and withdrawal-verification conditions.
- Turn off marketing notifications and use deposit limits, time-outs or self-exclusion tools where needed.
- Stop if betting becomes connected with stress, secrecy, chasing losses or difficulty controlling time.
A responsible choice may be to follow the AFL without wagering at all. For someone who does choose to participate, a small fixed stake, transparent terms and a clear stopping point are more important than a tipster’s confidence or a promotional headline. No review website can remove the financial risk inherent in gambling.
Use Spinago1 as a source for checking information about Spinago’s published offer, games, payments, mobile access and operator details, while independently verifying the current terms and Australian legal position. Approach every selection with restraint, protect essential finances, and make match-day enjoyment the priority rather than the outcome of a bet.