To Your Health August, 2008 (Vol. 02, Issue 08)

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When East Meets West

By Stephanie Pina, NMD

Eastern medical philosophy emphasizes the need for balance and harmony in the body in order to maintain health in all aspects of life. One of the most well-known medical texts from China, the Nei Jing Su Wen (Yellow Emperor's Classic of Medicine), written around 200 B.C., stresses this importance.

It speaks not only about the practice of acupuncture and herbal medicine, but also the influence of diet, lifestyle, exercise and meditation as a means to maintain health and prevent illness

Emphasis on these areas of health is an aspect of preventative medicine that is underutilized in the Western medical system. Health becomes more than the absence of disease or illness; it is the body's ability to preserve a balanced relationship with itself and the outside world. This is a different kind of medicine than most of us are used to, since Western medicine relies on treating illness, removing the organisms that make us sick with medications, and surgically removing what is not normal.

In Eastern medical philosophy, the concept of health can be simplified into the principle of keeping the five main organs - the spleen, heart, kidneys, lungs and liver - in balance. These five organs work together with other systems in the body to fulfill their physiological functions, but also perform other specially designated functions. Each of the five organs interacts with the others and is associated with certain colors, seasons, flavors and elements (fire, water, air, metal and wood). Here is an explanation of what each of these organs does and how you can help keep them in balance.

Basic Steps to Balance the Five Major Organs

Diet - Focusing on the spleen and digestion: The spleen, which is in charge of digestion, doesn't like cold, damp food since it's harder for the body to assimilate. Often, people with diets of only raw foods, high in diary products and greasy meats, have trouble with digestion. This can lead to gas, bloating, gastric reflux and inconsistent bowels. The spleen is the Earth element that likes to be nourished with warming foods, which explains why comfort food that is simple, warm and easy to prepare (like chicken soup) can make us feel better.

To help strengthen the spleen, eat meals that are bland and combine a variety of different foods. Warming foods by stir-frying, lightly grilling or steaming can make even raw foods easier to digest. I use sushi as a perfect example of the idea of balanced eating. By itself, cold, raw fish and sticky rice are tough on the stomach, so sushi is served with warm tea, wasabi or horseradish, soy sauce, and ginger to help warm things up. Eating balanced, moderate-size meals that include the five flavors (salty, spicy, bitter, sour and sweet) also benefits the spleen. Always try to eat something for breakfast to kick-start your metabolism for the rest of the day, and try to eat at regular times throughout the day.