 Photo Courtesy of Bronwyn Davies Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a unique approach to food, and the impact food has on the body and on health. TCM is fundamentally holistic, where comprehension and full understanding only come when viewing things in their entirety. This means all aspects of any given thing are considered intimately interconnected, the parts only having full value and effectiveness when brought together in its whole form. With this in mind, when it comes to food, TCM does not place focus on the components that make up a specific food in an independent manner (ex. carbohydrates, fats, vitamins etc.). It instead views the qualitative aspects, and effects that these components have on the body, as a whole; placing almost all emphasis on the food item in its totality; what we shall call a whole food. Whole foods are foods in their natural, unaltered, complete form. Whole foods are, in the views of TCM, the best versions of themselves. Nature knows best, as they say. Each smaller component of food contributes towards a larger holistic nutritional purpose. These components of food work best together, not independently of one another, each having multiple part to play individually and interactively for a more efficient, effective and “whole-pictured” purpose. Viewing a food as its whole, and for its qualitative aspects, TCM places greater emphasis on temperature and flavors of a food, and a food's affinities within the body. These aspects together create actions on, and within, the body that are very specific. TCM places emphasis on the health impact that preparation and storing practices, cooking processes, and eating practices have on the body and its systems; And, always is stressed the relationship between these above qualities and individual constitution (click here to learn more about constitution) Balance is essential, especially in diet. One needs to be mindful of the temperatures and flavors of food and the negative actions and impact that can occur with the consumption of any of these qualities in a deficient or excessive way. Too much or too little of one thing can lead to imbalance within the body and beget negative consequences. Everything in moderation, as the saying goes. This would be the quantitative aspect of the TCM view of food and healing; Balance based on constitution. Food is an effective force on, and within, the body. It can create disharmony and disorder if its effectiveness is disregarded and dismissed; or can be used as a resourceful tool towards balance and health if approached with awareness, understanding and respect. In the next part to the Food as Medicine series, I will discuss the eastern approach with qualities such as temperatures, flavors, and affinities of food items; and how these together create specific and intended actions on, and within, the body. 
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 Often in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) we speak of, and plan treatment around, what we refer to as your "constitution." But what is this "Constitution" we speak of? If you were to do a quick definition search of the word constitution on the internet, you would most likely come across statements such as those found on dictionary.com; citing it as "the composition of something" or "a person’s physical state with regards to vitality, health and strength." So, essentially, "constitution" is the "you" in regards to health and vitality. Of course, TCM doesn't see this on a singular level. The "you" we refer to, and the vitality we refer to, involves strengths, weaknesses, soundness and imbalances on a physically structural and functional level, as well as mental, emotional and spiritual levels. With this totality in mind, I suppose the next question to surface is, how does the current "you" come to be?
Constitution can be seen as the current sum total results of consequences up to this point; In other words, the strengths, weaknesses, soundness and imbalances in health that have come to be, both through ascribed and acquired means. Now, consequences are not inherently bad, nor are they inherently good. By definition they are simply results of actions or of conditions; And this is what your constitution is. It is the results of past actions and conditions, whether ascribed at birth or acquired after birth, that are important and relevant enough as to effect results, that is, to create your constitution. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, consequences ascribed at birth are known as pre-natal influences, that effect what we call pre-natal qi (vitality ascribed at birth, for lack of better words). Those consequences acquired after birth are known as post-natal influences, and effect what is known as our post-natal qi (vitality acquired through life experiences and conditions for lack of better words). Now, lets discuss what ascribed and acquired really encompass. So what exactly do we mean when we say 'ascribed consequences at birth', or pre-natal influences? This mean that you were born with certain strengths and weaknesses, things that effected your constitution long before you took your first breath. These influences include genetic strengths and weaknesses passed down through genetic lineage and through mother and father. It also means conditions or events that occurred in the womb during your fetal growth that may have impacted your development. This could be in relation to many things; such as fetal nutrition, environmental and chemical stressors; it could be any physical or mental stress, as well as any trauma suffered by the woman carrying you. All of these, and more, effect the pre-natal qi; the vitality that you are endowed with at birth. For the acquired experiences and conditions; the postnatal influences, we must make reference to a multitude of factors and possible influences that occurred after birth, that might now contribute to current health and well-being. These are usually long standing and enduring conditions, but can include powerfully inflicting short term conditions or events. These can be environmental factors in such as the climate and temperature you grew up in, air quality you were exposed to, long term housing conditions (damp and moldy, dry etc.) and quality and quantity of food and drinking water. We also must consider repetitive habits and the cycles we create; significant periods of inactivity, or long term periods of too much activity; long durations of inadequate sleep or too much sleep. We must account for the emotional taxations we were subjected to; chronic stress or fear, constant anxiety, and bouts of depression. A lifetime of injuries, and any recurring illnesses must always be noted, as these often have lingering results. As does sustained posture or incorrect movement over long periods of time. We must account for any conditions or weaknesses during any stage of life; respiratory, digestive, skin, urinary, immune or other. We must even look into medication, supplements, herbals or recreational drugs used over long periods of time or in large dosages. All of these have consequences, positive or negative effects. In TCM we look for the patterns of conditions within the body created by these consequences. This is your constitution. We become interested in the progressive taxations, relative deficiencies and excesses, in the imbalances and the created disorder and inefficient processes that have developed. Our pre-natal and post-natal influences show us patterns, entire storylines of how things started, how they progressed, where they have led to and where they can further lead to if left on their own. This give us understanding of ourselves; and it is this understanding that allows us to treat effectively, efficiently and with the complete picture in mind. This, for any TCM practitioner, is what they are keeping in mind when planning the best course of treatment for their patients. Cassandra Hecker TCM Health offers a complete constitutional assessment, known as the Traditional Chinese Health Assessment. For further information click HERE |
Cassandra Hecker R.TCM.PPractitioner and general educator in the philosophies, tools and techniques of traditional Chinese health and healing practices. Archives
March 2021
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