Diet is medicine

Chinese medicine attaches great importance to healthy eating

Little meat and at least one apple a day - many Germans associate this with a healthy diet. However, from the point of view of Chinese medicine, healthy nutrition means much more than focusing on a diet rich in fruits and vegetables. The importance of alternative medicine for well-being and health is shown by the fact that nutritional teaching besides acupuncture, Chinese herbal therapy, Tunia massages and Qi Gong representing the five pillars of Chinese medicine.

As a principle, the use of regional food, ideally organically grown. "Healthy eating always means choosing food according to the seasons and your personal health condition," explains Dr. Christian Schmincke, expert in Chinese medicine and director of the clinic at the Steigerwald. "In addition, it is important to pay attention to fresh preparation and to cook meals completely without cooking them." From the point of view of Chinese medicine, one refrains from raw food, such as salads and raw fruit, as this often over-cools the organism , The same applies to whole grains.

Since all foods have different effects on the organism, everyone can achieve a harmonization in the body through targeted intake again. If illness causes an imbalance, foods are considered to be mild therapeutics. Often the wrong foods but also diseases. For example, experts point out possible slime formation when consuming animal protein and, depending on the indication, also advise against cheese or milk consumption. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis report success in treating their disease with vegetable-based foods. "Patients with atopic dermatitis, too, should refrain from certain foods," said Drs. Schmincke. Many people with neurodermatitis relieve their symptoms by avoiding alcohol, cheese and sugar.

Chinese medicine: seeing people in their entirety

"Chinese medicine looks back on a three-thousand-year history. In order to use it as a valuable supplement to Western medicine, it always requires adaptation to European patients. With their profound approach to seeing people in their entirety, new and promising therapeutic options will open up in this country as well, " Schmincke. Especially when orthodox medical measures are no longer effective, patients with chronic pain, chronic inflammatory or neurological diseases seek help in Chinese medicine. The success of this concept is demonstrated by a documentation study by the Klinik am Steigerwald: More than one in two patients clearly benefits from inpatient hospital stay and comprehensive treatment with Chinese medicine, including a healthy diet. (Sb)