Eastern Nutrition
Additional Information
Food as Medicine
There are no "one size fits all" herbal regiments or diets in TCM. Since each of us has a different constitution, our needs may vary. The nutritional approach in Chinese medicine recognizes that every individuals needs can differ widely, and as such, diet is tailed to each individuals needs.
The nutritional strategy in Chinese medicine is to harmonize what we call the four energies and the five flavors of foods.
The Four Energies in food are hot, warm, cool and cold. These categories define the nature and intensity of energy released in the human system by the food that is being digested.
The Five Flavors are distinctions based on the five elements and their organ association. The flavors are:
Sweet (earth;spleen)
Bitter (Fire;heart)
Sour (Wood;liver)
Pungent (metal;Lung) and
Salty (water;kidney).
By harmonizing the Four Energies and the Five Flavors as well as educating people on the science of Trophology (the science of food combining), Chinese nutritional therapy is considered the use of food as medicine and highly beneficial for anyone with any condition.