Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is rooted in the ancient philosophies of Taoism and has existed, virtually unchanged, for centuries.

In TCM, how you eat is just as important as what you eat. A very healthy food eaten quickly could be detrimental to digestion, for example. Foods are known to have energetic properties that can significantly impact the way the body feels during and after eating. For example, cold foods are said to weaken the digestive system. This thinking emphasizes the importance of food energetics, and our connection to the earth.

With the yin-yang theory at its core, TCM teaches eight principles to interpret symptoms and identify conditions. These eight principles are used in conjunction with the Five Element Theory (earth, metal, fire, water, and wood) to analyze how the body works. 

Eight Principles:

• Cold/heat
• Interior/exterior
• Excess/deficiency
• Yin/yang

TCM aims to keep the body in balance throughout the year, even as seasons and climates change. If a person is sick, it’s believed that there’s a disturbance in their energetic force. This energetic force is called “qi” – pronounced “chee.” Each individual has their own constitution and condition – their qi when they were born, and how it developed as they grew up. This means that everyone has different requirements when it comes to food energetics. For example, some types will thrive on a lot of raw food, while others need cooked food to feel grounded.

Environment plays a crucial role in how energetic forces in the body interact and react. This isn’t limited to the weather outside, but also includes indoor temperatures, where air conditioners and heaters come into play. In TCM it’s encouraged to chew food very well, only eat until 80% full, avoid external stressors when eating, refrain from eating within three hours of bedtime, and eat lightly cooked foods when possible. Of course, all of these recommendations are based on one’s constitution and condition, and can be tailored accordingly.

Within TCM, various therapies are used to manage health and treat illnesses. The most common include herbal remedies, acupuncture, Chinese massage, qi gong and tai chi.

 

Foods to include:

• Fresh and fermented vegetables
• Minimal fruits
• Whole grains
• Beans
• Fermented soy
• Meat
• Poultry
• Fish
• Nuts and seeds
• Oils 

Foods to avoid:

• Very cold foods
• Desserts
• Dairy
• Fried foods
• Very spicy foods

Pros:

• Encourages whole foods
• Could be sustainable lifestyle
• Honors primary food 

Cons:

• Some thrive on dairy
• May be difficult for some to avoid fried foods
• Some benefit from spicy foods

Sources:

The ABC’s of Traditional Chinese Medicine www.acupuncturetoday.com (Links to an external site.)
Traditional Chinese Medicine www.nccam.nih.gov (Links to an external site.)