Nutrition is used as therapy in TCM. All food and culinary herbs have a particular function in the body. Different classes of food have its related function in the organs and tissues. Each of the flavors of sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and pungent have a role in the functioning of an organ system.
As an example:
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Bitter flavor affects the Heart and circulatory system
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Sweet flavor affects the Digestive system
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Pungent flavor affects the Lungs and pulmonary system
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Salty flavor affects the Kidneys and urinary system
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Sour flavor affects the Liver
So, a weak organ system will benefit from a select flavor and class of food. Also, a proper diet will prevent a further weakening of the organ system. Inappropriate diets can also create the opportunity for greater health problems. If a person has illness, then long-term modification of the diet will help in shifting the imbalance toward the generation of good health. Food as therapy is the most mild of therapy but the most long lasting. The appropriate diet for an individual will have the longest effect in maintaining good health for a lifetime.
I also use my experience in sports nutrition to offer guidance in proper supplement and nutrient requirements. Whether you want to increase athletic performance, reduce excess body fat, or feel vibrant strong and light, then I can design a nutrition program for you!
Sometimes you may be missing nutrients, or becoming malnourished. Deficiency in nutrients lead to chronic dysfunction in many metabolic and physiological pathways. Sometimes all that is needed to change a body in crisis to one of good health is in having concentrated food supplements. I often recommend using the concentrated food supplements from the Standard Process company. www.standardprocess.com/display/router.aspx
An evaluation of symptoms that may be related to nutrition deficiencies is done using a symptom survey and/or hair sample analysis. This will determine appropriate concentrated food supplementation. When taking nutritional supplements, it is important to use those from concentrated food, as synthetic vitamins are difficult for the body to assimilate and may be useless.
