Introductory information related to lifestyle techniques (diet and exercise).
Meditation is often recommended by Complementary and Alternative Medicine practitioners as a way of reducing stress and its effects on our overall health and vitality. Studies show its usefulness in lowering blood pressure, raising immunity, and improving concentration, among other benefits. It is a technique, however, for which there are millions of theories and influences. Outside of the time commitment, many people have a hard time getting started with meditation because they get carried away with the style to choose, what philosophies to subscribe to, and so on.
Dieting and nutrition are subjects for which there are many differing, often conflicting, viewpoints. Within the debates there are political, sociological, cultural, environmental, scientific, ethical and financial influences which flavor our theories and ultimately our food choices. Eastern medicine provides us with a framework for viewing nutrition which is above all of the debates and choices which we will still have to make for ourselves.
The eastern view of nutrition works in the same way that the eastern view of medicine works. That is to provide a global framework that is flexible enough to be uniquely suited to an individual based on their state of health and also allowing room, in the case of nutrition, for an individuals preferences.
The information in this section is intended to provide you with a clear understanding of the way that a practitioner of eastern medicine may view nutrition as well as to provide you with some clear guidelines to assist in the decisions that we all must make surrounding our food choices.
TCM Dietary Therapy and Chinese Medicine Nutrition Theory:
Eastern Medicine provides us with a variety of lifestyle techniques to maintain and strengthen our health, vitality and overall well-being. The main techniques of dietary modification, meditation, tai chi and qi gong are drawn from the same theories and principles as the medical practices of acupuncture and herbal medicine and have the same power to heal disease and transform our way of life. The information below covers these basic techniques in brief and has links to other articles on our site and related books for further research.
The strength and flexiblity of eastern medicine is a direct result of the eastern philosophical views and understandings from which the medicine is drawn. Eastern philosophy provides us with different approaches to viewing our nature, the workings of our bodies, the manifestation of disease and the process of healing. While it is true that no single system of philosophy holds all of the answers, the eastern framework provides us with a wealth of guidance and practical techniques to foster physical and mental health.
