What is Dietary Therapy?
Dietary Therapy plays a very large part in Traditional Chinese Medicine and is one of its main therapeutic ‘tools’. Foods are often used for medicinal purposes. Foods are believed to either ‘heat’ or ‘cool’ the constitution, making dietary changes an important part of the healing process.
How does Dietary Therapy work?
In the traditional system of dietary cures, foods have been organised into categories based on their innate temperature, energetics (the direction in which they move qi and how they affect qi and blood flow), and the organs they affect. In general, grains and beans are considered to bring stability to the body. They build blood and qi, and they establish rhythm and stability. Vegetables, which are best if eaten in season, bring vitality. Leafy greens have an affinity for the upper body, while root vegetables give strength to the middle and lower body. Fruits build fluids and purge toxins, and they tend to be cooling by nature. They should be eaten alone, or they can cause indigestion. A healthy diet should consist mainly of a wide variety of organically grown whole grains, beans, and vegetables; fruits and animal protein should be eaten in smaller amounts.