Chinese Medicine Gut Health Presentation Advanced SMA Session

Chinese Medicine Gut Health Presentation Advanced SMA Session

Transcript

1. The Tao of Balanced Eating Insights from the Ancients for Optimizing Gut Health
2. Part 1: Ancient Practices for Modern Life
3. Why Look Back to the Ancients?  Thousands of years of continuous observation and refinement  Practical system adaptable to time, place, and individual needs  A living tradition still relevant today
4. Brief History of Chinese Medicine  Origins: over 2,500 years ago  Foundational texts: Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine)  Pi Wei Lun (The Classic of the Spleen and Stomach)  Evolved through continuous clinical practice, refinement, observation and documentation
5. Yin and Yang  Two complementary forces  Yin = still, cool, dark, form/substance  Yang = active, warm, light, transformation/function  Life = Yin and Yang “in contact”  Health = dynamic balance of Yin and Yang
6. The Five Phases (Elements)  Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water  Describe relationships in the body and nature  Each linked to organ systems, emotions, and seasons  Earth phase = digestion and gut function
7. The Five Phases (Elements)
8. Modalities of Chinese Medicine  Acupuncture and bodywork  Herbal medicine  Therapeutic movement (qigong, tai chi)  Lifestyle guidance  Diet as daily medicine
9. Part 2: Food as Medicine
10. Food as Medicine  In Chinese medicine, every substance we consume can bring benefit or harm depending on:  Intrinsic nature of the substance  Intrinsic nature of the host  Amount consumed, and how it was prepared
11. Balance in Dietetics  Goal = harmonize body systems  Avoid extremes (too hot, too cold, too rich, too bland; too much or too little)  Adapt to climate, season, age, and health status
12. Food Energetics in CM Taste and Temperature Every food has intrinsic qualities to it The Five Tastes ( Wei )  Salty – Kidneys – Softens Hardness  Bitter – Heart – Clears Heat  Sweet – Spleen – Soothes and Strengthens  Sour – Liver – Astringes or generates fluids  Spicy – Lungs – Disperses Qi and Phlegm  Bland – Moves fluids
13. Food Energetics in CM Taste and Temperature Every food has intrinsic qualities to it The Four Temperatures  Hot – Deeply warming – Dried ginger  Warm – Gently warming – Fresh Ginger  Cool – Refreshing - Apples  Cold – Strongly clearing heat - Seaweed  Neutral – no thermal nature, therefore appropriate for any constitution
14. Matching Energetics to the Body Cold body → warm foods (ginger, lamb, soups) Hot body → cooling foods (cucumber, watermelon, mung beans) Dampness → mildly diuretic foods (barley, pumpkin, adzuki beans) Weak digestion → simple, cooked, warm foods
15. Therapeutic Example (Case 1)  A 32 y.o. female Yoga instructor presented to the clinic for evaluation of increasing fatigue, coldness, and spotty menstruation with watery, pale- colored blood and strong abdominal cramps. She was thin, and her hair and nails had become brittle and split easily. Inquiry into her diet revealed she had been a raw food vegan since the age of 16.  Diagnosis: Yang deficiency and Cold with Blood deficiency  Ultimately the patient was convinced to introduce high quality bone broth simmered with sweet potatoes, butternut squash, leeks and ginger, in small amounts (no more than 1 fluid cup per serving)  Follow up 2 weeks later: Decreased cold and fatigue; 3 months later, menstruation more normal with richer blood color, and hair and nails were improving.
16. Therapeutic Example (Case 2)  A 29 y.o. male software developer presented to the clinic for evaluation and treatment of increasing joint and back pain; hypertension and high cholesterol. His diet frequently included pizza, red vines and caffeinated soft drinks. His tongue was red and his pulse was bounding and rapid.  His diet prescription was to eliminate the soft drinks and drink oolong tea instead. Replaced red vines with a daily apple, banana and raw almonds. Reduce pizza intake and instead have a “burrito bowl” from Chipotle or bring his lunch – fish and cooked vegetables were suggested.  A 2 month follow up found the joint and back pain had reduced significantly. A 6 month follow up found his blood pressure and cholesterol levels had reduced to near normal levels
17. Food as Daily Medicine  Small adjustments matter more than strict diets  Seasonal and local foods are best  Eating with awareness supports health
18. Foods to Support Gut Health  Rice, millet, oats: gentle grains  Root vegetables: carrots, sweet potato, squash  Fermented foods in moderation  Bone broth, congee, lightly cooked greens
19. Part 3: How you eat is as important as what you eat!
20. How You Eat Matters Regular meals, not rushed or at irregular times Warm, cooked foods are easier to digest Overeating burdens the system – 2/3 full Calm, mindful eating supports assimilation
21. Daily Eating Habits  Smaller portions better for more complete digestion  Avoid cold drinks and raw foods in excess (unless heat signs present)  Limit processed and greasy foods  Choose simple combinations  Eat at regular intervals  When you eat, just eat
22. Eating mindfully  Make time to eat at regular intervals  Gratitude. Fully immerse yourself in the experience of eating.  Relax, breathe, be at ease. Eat slowly and chew thoroughly!  Avoid arguments, reading the news, eating while upset  No multitasking – avoid eating while driving, walking, watching TV or working
23. Seasonal Eating  Spring: light, fresh greens for renewal  Summer: hydrating fruits, food cooked lightly  Autumn: moistening foods (pear, rice, nuts)  Winter: warming stews, root vegetables
24. Contemporary Research  Acupuncture shown to modulate gut microbiota balance (Zhang et al., 2020)  Qigong practice associated with reduced gut inflammation (Chen et al., 2021)  Mind-body therapies shown to improve IBS and digestive disorders
25. Conclusion  Ancient Chinese medicine offers time-tested insights for gut health  Diet is daily medicine: balance, warmth, seasonality, mindfulness  Modern research confirms these practices support digestion and microbiome health
26. Suggested Reading  The Tao of Healthy Eating, Bob Flaws, Blue Poppy Press  Healing with Whole Foods, Paul Pritchford  Between Heaven and Earth, Beinfield & Korngold
27. References  Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine)  Li Dongyuan, Pi Wei Lun  Zhang et al. (2020), Frontiers in Microbiology  Chen et al. (2021), Journal of Integrative Medicine