Chinese dietary and lifestyle therapy
Healthy is not a one size fits all approach
In Chinese medicine the diet and lifestyle we choose is a huge factor in our wellbeing. Different people, with varying constitutions and health considerations require different foods to stay well.
Chinese medicine doesn’t see food as a one size fits all approach. While nutritional medicine may suggest that salads are healthy for all, or fruits like bananas are healthy for all because they contain a good number of minerals. Chinese medicine on the other hand looks at food with a different perspective. Salads may be healthy for people in summer, particularly those with hot and dry constitutions- while they are considered less healthy for those with poor digestion or coldness, or during winter. Bananas may be considered to be nourishing to the fluids, may be good for thin and dry people, or the elderly. However, Chinese medicine considers bananas to be moistening and cool, so they can lead to dampness in people who may be overweight or with damp accumulation (poor digestion and fluid accumulation).
Salads from a TCM perspective tend to weaken the digestive energy due to their cold nature. Therefore, it is suggested that they be avoided in cooler months, particularly in people with poor digestion, tiredness or lethargy.
Food is seen as a medicine, when it is a harmonious fit for the individual eating it. Likewise, when it is a poor fit for the person consuming it, then it may have an unbalancing/ harmful effect.
Foods according to Chinese medicine theory, like herbs, have varying qualities depending on the individual food and how it is prepared.
Thermal quality of the food varies- may be warming, cooling, neutral.
Qualities of food can vary- Some foods are drying, while others are moistening. Cooking techniques impact the quality of food, e.g. roasting foods makes the food more warm and drying, while stir frying or steaming is a more moistening method.
Food flavour/ taste leads to different foods entering into different meridians/ organs: Bitter foods enter the heart, while pungent foods enter the lung/large intestine.
Therefore, based on an individual patient, a practitioner will suggest a number of foods that can be used to support wellness- as they are a good fit for the individual constitution.
Food and lifestyle are the foundations of wellbeing. A Chinese medicine practitioner will support their patients with food and lifestyle suggestions/ modifications that reinforce balance in their system.
Some lifestyle factors that may be leading to effects on the vitality, organ function or flow of energy include:
Environmental toxins- chemicals in food, air pollution, toxins in cosmetics, household chemicals.
Drug toxins- Prescription drugs, illicit drugs, cigarettes and alcohol.
Sedentary habits- too much sitting, or laying down- not enough movement.
Too much movement- overuse, over training, not enough rest.
Insufficient sleep
Overwork
Excessive emotions that are not given expression and let go.
Stress, over stimulation, not enough rest.
