Although Chinese Medicine can be complex and can take a lifetime of study and practice to master, there are some very simple basic aspects to it as well that any layperson can implement and put into place for improved health. Sometimes these things are so simple that people don't take them seriously as something that could be causing, exacerbating or certainly not helping to heal their health condition. We have reached an age where we feel that our condition, which we have taken as being very serious, requires serious solutions, not simple ones. The odd thing is that often people would rather embark on the complex, painful, expensive, invasive path that they feel matches their condition, rather than make simple changes in their life that can have profound effect. A frustration definitely arises when someone has undergone years of conventional medical treatments, only to have their condition improve with an inexpensive bottle of herbs or a few dietary and lifestyle changes.
Too often, we search for complex diagnosis and solutions to our health issues, undergoing massive tests, exams, taking strong medicines, reading endlessly, taking fistfuls of the newest touted supplements, fretting with concern and worry, when the solutions are really quite simple and within our grasp without spending a dime (and maybe even saving a few).
These changes, although simple, do however require vigilance. In some ways these recommendations are so simplistic that it's hard for people to take them seriously, and thus not address them with vigilance. Unfortunately our modern lives promote and encourage some very detrimental "habits" that seem benign, but over time, weaken and compromise the system.
Over the years of practicing Chinese Medicine these few principles come up over.
Diet:
1) Those who know they don't eat a healthy diet. They eat out, eat junk food, processed food, etc.
2) Those who think they eat healthy, smoothies/salads/eating out at salad bars or taking out sandwiches, those who barely eat anything.
3) Those who DO eat healthy, but need some tweaking.
"I eat a really healthy diet." That means different things to different people. It's all relative, but the modern concept of "healthy" diet often raises red flags to a Chinese Medicine practitioner.
Sleep
Wind and Fans
Drinking Water
Socks
Tampons
Ice
