Dietary Therapy should be the first step when one treats a disease. Only when this is unsuccessful should one try medicines.” Without the knowledge of proper diet, it is hardly possible to enjoy good health.” Sun Si Miao (Tang Dynasty 618AD)“He that takes medicine and neglects diet, wastes the skill of the physician.” ~Chinese Proverb According to Classical Chinese Medicine a balanced diet means two things. The first is that one should eat a variety of whole foods in order to benefit from all the flavors, energies, and organic actions a varied diet offers. The second is that foods are selected according to one’s particular needs and physical constitution. A qualified Oriental medicine practitioner can evaluate you in this regard and help select foods that are specifically beneficial to you.There are two basic differences between Western nutritional therapy and traditional TCM dietary therapy. As used in the outpatient setting, modern Western nutritional therapy is most often used for weight loss whereas traditional Chinese nutritional therapy is used to treat a variety of health issues ranging from uncomplicated hypertension to skin disorders. The second main difference is that Western nutrition considers foods with regard to their protein, caloric, carbohydrate, vitamin, and other nutrient content. These measures were largely unknown in ancient China. Instead, TCM dietary therapy considers foods for their five flavors, five energies, movements, the common actions of foods (e.g., to lubricate dryness, soften hardness, or nourish blood), and organic actions (the specific internal organs on which certain foods can act). One should eat a variety of foods in order to benefit from all the flavors, energies, and organic actions of a varied diet. Foods should be selected according to one’s particular needs and physical constitution
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