Hippocrates, considered the father of Western medicine, famously said, “Let medicine be your food and food be your medicine.” This understanding of food’s value has been somewhat lost, along with the practice of energetic medicine. Increasingly, in recent times, we’ve looked to the East to rediscover this connection. This article explores how we can integrate Eastern wisdom into Western culture, specifically by incorporating Eastern ideas about food into our Western diets, all while respecting our own culinary traditions.
East vs. West: Different Perspectives
It’s helpful to clarify key differences in perspective between Eastern and Western approaches. Many are familiar with Qi, the fundamental energy underlying our physical existence. Chinese culture, like many others (including our own until recent times), recognizes a subtle reality beyond the material. Similar to modern physics, the world is viewed in terms of energy and vibration. The subtle movements of Qi are observed in medicine and agriculture, reflecting how the vast workings of the cosmos mirror the details of daily life. Cultivating our life force, our Qi, is a core principle for a healthy life.
Western food understanding relies heavily on laboratory analysis, breaking down food into basic constituents. In the West, food is defined by nutrient quantities (protein, iron, vitamin A, etc.). Eastern understanding comes from observing how food affects the body. Food is assessed by the nature and quality of its Qi. All foods are seen as having specific effects on the body. Some foods boost metabolism, some slow it down; some create warmth, others coolness; some are moistening, others drying; some nourish kidneys, others liver or heart.
One of the foundational principles of “eating orientally” is aligning food choices with individual needs. A universally “right” diet doesn’t exist. Each person has a different constitution and therefore different nutritional needs. Diagnosing your own constitution requires expertise, best done with a skilled practitioner of oriental medicine. Generally, a person is described by a combination of qualities: Excessive or Deficient, Hot or Cold, Dry or Moist. A person may also have an imbalance tendency in a specific organ or element. These patterns determine the best diet for each person; what works for one may not work for another.
The Energetic Qualities of Food
In oriental medicine, food possesses energetic qualities that influence our body’s balance.
-
Temperature: Some foods are considered warming (yang), increasing body heat and stimulating metabolism. Others are cooling (yin), reducing heat and calming the system. Warming foods include spices like ginger and cinnamon, while cooling foods include watermelon and cucumber.
-
Moisture: Foods can be either moistening or drying. Moistening foods, like pears and seaweed, can help alleviate dryness and constipation. Drying foods, like crackers and cooked oats, can help reduce dampness and bloating.
-
Flavor: Five flavors correspond to different organs and elements. Sour relates to the liver, bitter to the heart, sweet to the spleen, pungent to the lungs, and salty to the kidneys. Incorporating these flavors in moderation helps nourish the related organs.
Applying Energetic Principles to Your Diet
Integrating energetic principles into your Western diet involves mindful food choices and preparation methods.
- Listen to Your Body: Pay attention to how different foods make you feel. Do you feel energized or sluggish? Warm or cold? These are clues to your body’s needs.
- Seasonal Eating: Eat foods that are in season. In summer, favor cooling foods like salads and fruits. In winter, opt for warming foods like soups and roasted vegetables.
- Cooking Methods: Different cooking methods alter a food’s energetics. Steaming and boiling are more cooling, while baking, roasting, and frying are more warming.
- Balance: Strive for balance in your diet. If you consume a lot of warming foods, balance them with cooling foods, and vice versa.
By understanding the energetics of food, we can move beyond a purely nutritional approach to a more holistic way of eating, connecting us back to Hippocrates’ original wisdom. This approach is about finding balance and harmony, tuning into our bodies’ needs and making informed choices to support our well-being.
