Practicing Traditional Chinese Medicine for Well-being: Essential Tips for Women
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), maintaining good health is particularly emphasized for women, who often experience weakness and an imbalance between yin and yang. To help achieve optimal wellness, there are seven fundamental rules to follow. These principles are both logical and easy to implement.
1. Start Your Day with a Glass of Cool Boiled Water
The first thing to do upon waking is to drink a glass of cool boiled water. TCM suggests that "the stomach's qi is weakest in the morning, so drinking cool water can stimulate this qi. This is essential for health." Essentially, the stomach is delicate after a night's rest, making it inadvisable to eat immediately. Instead, sip cool boiled water to stimulate the gastrointestinal tract and signal the hypothalamus to induce feelings of hunger.
After hydrating, proceed to urinate, wash your face, exercise, and finally enjoy a nutritious breakfast. When starting with cool boiled water, begin with a few hundred milliliters, gradually increasing the amount. It’s important not to overexert yourself during morning workouts to preserve energy for the day ahead. Breakfast should be nutritious, focusing on high-protein, healthy options that are quick and easy to prepare.
Modern medicine has found that human metabolism reaches its lowest point around 4 a.m., which means that heart rate, respiratory rate, and digestive enzyme secretion are minimal. Thus, consuming hard-to-digest foods in the morning can disrupt bodily functions. To jumpstart digestion, drinking water is the most effective approach. By choosing cool boiled water, you stimulate gastrointestinal activity and encourage a natural sense of hunger. Clinical findings suggest that many stomach issues stem from the habit of eating immediately upon waking.
Some may argue against this practice for children, those with stomach conditions, or menstruating women, fearing it may lead to discomfort. It’s important to ease into this habit gradually to avoid adverse reactions.
However, many people grab breakfast as soon as they wake up, even consuming meals in bed or drinking tea, soda, or alcohol first thing in the morning. These habits often go against natural wellbeing principles.
2. Lunch Should Start with Nourishing Broth
For lunch, begin with a bowl of nourishing broth made from pig trotters, followed by whole grains and light vegetable dishes. This practice is rooted in TCM which states, "for lunch, drink nourishing broth and avoid heavy meats. Opt for whole foods and vegetables to detoxify the body, achieving about 70% fullness." This is a critical principle for maintaining health.
The broth may include options such as beef tendon soup, pig's trotter soup, lamb trotters, skin jelly soup, crucian carp soup, beef soup, spare rib soup, or chicken soup. Whole grains can feature corn, millet, buckwheat, barley, legumes, sweet potatoes, and taro. Light vegetable options might comprise potatoes, persimmons, radishes, eggplants, and winter melons.
The wisdom of historical TCM practitioners, such as Liu Chun, is noteworthy. He recommended consuming meat but emphasized that meat chunks could be toxic, advising instead to opt for broth. He was also concerned about ensuring proper digestion, encouraging the intake of whole grains and vegetables to facilitate healthy bowel movements. Consequently, this dietary philosophy has been embraced by millions around the world.
Conclusion
Incorporating these guidelines into daily routines can lead to significant improvements in overall health and well-being. By prioritizing hydration and nutrition throughout the day, particularly tailored for women, the traditional wisdom of TCM can be a cornerstone for a healthier lifestyle.