Discover the secrets of Chinese Medicinal Cuisine / Food Therapy

Discover the secrets of Chinese Medicinal Cuisine / Food Therapy

The Integrative Dietary Therapy System combines the wisdom of food energetics in Chinese Medicine with the scientific knowledge of nutrition. By utilizing both aspects of food and nutrition, this therapy will aid in the healing process and improve the patient’s overall health. This lecture will go over the secrets of Chinese Medicinal Cuisine and gives you dietary guidelines, food choices, and how to utilize the Chinese Dietary classifications to improve health imbalances

From China Highlights

“General Principals of Chinese Medicinal Cuisine

1. Balance

The basic idea is to balance the qi and the body fluids — the fundamentals of Chinese traditional medicine. It is thought that a healthy body or organ has a proper balance of these things. When they are out of balance, there is disease or sickness.

The environment or physical injury disrupts the balance. For example, cold weather causes a lack of qi or high yin in the body. So high yang foods are eaten. In hot weather when there is naturally too much yang, high yin foods are eaten. Recipes for each season are described below.

2. Adding Medicinal Herbs

Healing herbs or animal parts can be added to the diet to heal disease. Many of the same herbs are used by Western herbalists and herbalists in other parts of the world for the same conditions, so this strongly suggests that the herbs have real medicinal effects.

3. Using Heats and Flavors

All foods are categorized by qi temperature, ranging from high yang to high yin, and one of the five food flavors (sour, sweet, bitter, hot and salty). A food item’s qi temperature and specific flavor influences the body in its own way.

It is thought that people should generally include all the flavors in every meal and balance the “heat”. Most Chinese people think that if too much of one type of food is consumed, it can cause an imbalance in the body.

4. Mealtime TCM Principles

The ancient texts described not only what to prepare for meals, but also how to eat meals. You might be surprised at these Chinese customs about eating meals that have been part of the culture for hundreds of years.

• Try to avoid overly processed food. Eat naturally.
• Eat seasonal vegetables and fruits.
• Always make sure the vegetables are cooked.
• Sit down to eat at a quiet place.
• Chew the food well.
• Eat slowly. (慢吃 mànchī /man-chrr/ ‘

  eat

  slowly’ means “bon appetite!” in China)

• Pay attention to your eating, and get away from distractions. In TCM your mind plays a part in how well you digest food, so pay attention to the tastes of the food.
• Do not skip meals.
• After lunch, take a nap or rest for a while.”  Read more from China Highlights

When: 7:00 p.m.
Where: SOPHIA Natural Health Center, 31 Old Route 7, Brookfield, CT
Cost:  Free for current patients and their guests. $50 non-patients
RSVP: 203-740-9300