TCM and Nutrition

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) helps to explain digestion as Qi burns in the Digestive System in the Middle Burner together with the Lymphatic System.

Transforming Qi as it moves

It’s about transformation of the Qi, which if happening properly allows movement, growth and health. When Qi moves in the right direction, it’s the basis for the movement of blood, transformation of essence, movement of bodily fluids, digestion of food, absorption of nourishment, excretion of waste, moistening of sinews and bones, moistening of skin and resistance to exterior pathogenic factors. (Source: The Foundations of Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive Text for Acupuncturists and Herbalists, Maciocia)

Yin-Yang philosophy: Food (yin) is transmuted by metabolic activity (yang) into more substance (tissue) and more energy (heat and metabolic activity).

Nutrition has become an important component for me in relation to digestion in particular. Each day I have the following digestive-enhancing routine:

• kombucha
• liquid calcium, containing magnesium
• Healthy Vata Ayurvedic potion (for calming and digesting)
• Primal Defense probiotics (for health gut flora)
• tumeric/ginger tea (antinflammatory, antioxidant and digesting)
• filtered water
• vitamin D3 (the liver participates in the activation of vitamin D for use in the body)
• Cat's Claw (used by indiginous people in South Amerca for digestion, inflammation and wound-healing)