Food as Medicine
Chinese medicine is an umbrella term used to identify the different modalities practiced in this medicine. These include acupunture, herbal medicine, gua sha (scraping), moxibustion (burning of the chinese herb mugwort), cupping, medicated diet, tui na (Chinese medical massage), and energy work (qi gong, tai chi and medition).
It is one of the oldest medical system on earth, dating back to almost 4000 years. The fundamental philsophy of chinese medicine is that human beings should strive to live in. Harmony with nature and the environment to have optimal health. Everything is interdependent and mutally interactive. Nothing is analyzed or interpresed without references as a whole.
Yin & Yang
The Concept of Yin and Yang developed from observing the physical world. It was observed that nature is organized into pairs of mutually dependent opposites, each giving meaning to the other. for example, hot has no meaning pithing the concept of cold. Yin and Yang are essentially descriptions of dynamic interactions that underpin all aspects of the universe.
Ying and Yang
Examples of Yin-Yang Pairs
Yang: Active, Heaven, Function, Outside, Mind, Masculine, Light, Time, Hot, QI(Engery, Vitality), Excess, Acute
Conditions, Exterior, Superficial imbalances, Expansion
Yin: Passive, Earth, Substance, Inside, Body, Feminine, Dark, Space, Cold, Blood (body fluids, tissues), Deficiency,
Chronic Condition, Interior, Deep imbalances, Contraction.
Five Element theory serves as a way to understand the limitless relationships that permeate every aspect of life, organizing all natural phenomena into five patterns in nature. Like yin-yang theory, Five Element theory also comes from observation of the various groups of dynamic process, functions and characteristics observed in the natural world. Each of the give groups – Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and water – include categories such as a season, direction, climate, stage of growth and development, internal organ, body issue, emotion, aspect of the soul, taste, colour, sound… the categories are seemingly endless. The Five Elements reflects a deep understanding of the universal order underlying all things in our world. This theory provides a master blueprint that illustrates how nature interacts with the human body and how the different aspects of our bodies impact each other.
LIVING IN HARMONY WITH THE SEASON
Ancient Chinese medicine doctors knew that the seasons have a profound cyclical effect on human growth and well-being. We are influenced by climate changes to live optimally, we should live in harmony with these changes.
The earliest Chinese medicine classic books suggested we follow the rhythms of nature:
The principle of the interaction of the four seasons of yin and yang is the foundation of everything in creation. Thus sages nurture their yang in the spring and summer and yin in the fall and winter in order to follow the rule of rules; therefore unified with everything in creation, sages maintain themselves continuously at the gate of life-Huang di Nel Jing (Inner Classic).
For example, as summer (yang) draws to a close we become aware that autumn and winter (yin) are just around the corne, and so our minds and bodies make gradual adjustments as each day passes. Because we live in a climate with cold winters, it is necessary for our blood to become thicker as the weather begins to turn cold. Consciously preparing for this change during the autumn season can help to make the winter a time of beauty and comfort instead of a time of dread.