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TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE AS S PROFOUND SCIENCE IN PROGRESS OF SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGH

Energy of the Seasonal Nutrition

In TCM seasonal nutrition programs are strongly emphasized, as the human body is a part of the environment and therefore influenced by it at all times.

In the fall the body needs more nurturing and energetically warming foods such as the ones the nature supplies at this particular time of the year. These foods protect and strengthen Spleen Qi, meaning the digestion system and its performance of absorption and assimilation.

Seasonal root veggies and seasonal fruits carry more warming energy than other foods. The distinction between raw and cooked food is also important. Raw foods are most abundant in vitamins, enzymes, and other nutrients. Light cooking or steaming will help food to get absorbed and digested; the cell wall is largely made up of difficult-to-digest cellulose, so the application of heat will help to soften the wall and make nutrients more available. Raw foods and fruits can still be a part the menu during the cooler seasons, but they serve us better when balanced with steamed or cooked veggies, and nice soups and stews. Friendly intestinal flora can also help soften the cellulose as they produce enzymes that can help to free nutrients from raw material into the intestinal environment.

In the colder seasons it is also wise to limit cold and frozen foods, cold beverages etc. Drinking cold liquids with a meal is going to make digestion of our food more difficult as the blood flows toward the digestive organs, and energy flow will also be slowed or even obstructed.

Knowing the Energetic properties of vitamins and minerals can help us to choose the right supplements for each season. In general, water-soluble vitamins are more cooling and fat-soluble ones have warmer energy. Maintaining a balance between hot and cold is imperative so it is important to have a balanced multivitamin that contains both groups. For example, to prevent colds and flu in the colder seasons we should take vitamins A, E, and zinc as these fat-soluble vitamins and mineral have warm energy and can strengthen the body's resistance to illness.

Five Emotions - Thousand Ailments
There are five main emotions recognized in association to internal organs. In Chinese Medicine emotions are considered to be the internal cause of the disease. Traditional Chinese Medicine recognizes the fact that too much anger, worry, sadness or any other emotion can disrupt the balance of the physical body, interrupt healthy physiological flow of the energy within the meridians and the internal organs. The variety of emotions can influence the body and mind in different ways. It is important to recognize the difference between the brain and the mind, the body and the spirit.  

The Brain is simply an extra organ, which processes and analyzes the enormous amount of information sent by our sensory organs (eyes, ears, taste buds etc.) as well as the internal organs.

The Mind is housed in our Heart, as in the expression "to follow your heart." Reasoning, force, and all the energy in our life comes from the "heart - mind."

The idea of optimum health lies in being emotionally free; however, this does not mean ignoring our true emotions. It is the right, privilege and nature of humans to feel, but the less we are attached to our emotions the better we feel. A simple key to emotional freedom is realizing firstly what we feel. This is similar to asking yourself, "how do I feel in this present moment?" Every feeling or emotion tells us something about ourselves that can strengthen self-understanding and give us clues to what makes us uncomfortable, unsafe or unhappy, which can lead to unhealthiness.

Secondly, we must understand why we feel that particular emotion. This realization is important for the development of a strong mind and therefore the establishment of long-lasting emotional and physical equilibrium.

"Those who know others are wise; Those who know themselves are enlightened."

It is extremely difficult for some, and naturally easily for others to do. It is a skill that we need so that when our daily troubles strike we can be in control of how we feel.

"Those who overcome others are powerful; those who overcome themselves are strong".

(quotes from the "Essential Tao" translated and presented by Thomas Cleary)

Finally, it is important to remember that our pathogenic (read long-lasting, intense, strong, excessive) emotions may not destroy only our own health, but also damage or injure others' mental or physical well-being.

Traditional Chinese Medicine recognizes a correlation between the Liver and anger, the Kidneys and fear, the Spleen and worry, the Lungs and sadness, and the Heart and joy. Although these feelings or their 'blends' are normal physiological motions of our mind, if they are too excessive they may cause a disease. The treatment of the physical organs can help to disperse emotional energy just as treating physical complaints can help to restore the emotional balance of a person. Using the same treatment tools, both physical and mental complaints can be addressed simultaneously.

It is worth mentioning that physical exercise in general can promote energy circulation and effectively clear all the 'stuck' emotions. Even better is the practice of meditative exercise such as Yoga, Tai Chi or Qi Gong, which can clear the mind and strengthen it by focusing on movement, respiration, calming your thoughts, soothing the body's energy, and increasing muscle, tendon, and bone stamina.

The use of natural herbs, if applied properly, can also treat emotional problems or prevent their persistent re-occurrence. They can soothe worries or treat insomnia, depression, anxiety, etc. Remember to always seek proper medical attention and counselling if you suffer from serious emotional or psychological conditions. Do not replace proper treatment with herbal medicine as an exclusive treatment.