Although this is one possible approach to preventive medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine tends to take a different view. In TCM, high cholesterol generally falls under the broad disease category known as “Phlegm” and is considered to be a type of toxin buildup in the body. This is usually a result of a poorly functioning digestive system along with improper diet.

Some of the most common foods that increase Phlegm include highly processed items such as white flour and refined sugar, along with animal products in general, and eggs and dairy in particular.

It is interesting to note that in people with allergies, these common trigger foods will often create “visible phlegm” that collects in the respiratory system and manifests as nasal congestion or even coughing up of phlegm and mucous. However, in the case of high cholesterol, TCM views this as a form of “invisible phlegm” which becomes trapped in the body and collects inside the blood vessels.

By minimizing these types of Phlegm-producing foods in our diet, significant changes can often be seen in cholesterol levels. In addition, by taking steps to strengthen the digestive system, further improvements to our health can be made.

“Blood Deficiency” is a concept unique to Traditional Chinese Medicine and can be thought of as a decreased ability of the Blood to provide the proper nourishment to the rest of the body.

Although somewhat similar in idea to anemia, Blood Deficiency encompasses a much broader range of symptoms, and Eastern Medicine relies on its own methods of diagnosis rather than blood tests to evaluate and treat this condition.

Some of the more common symptoms associated with Blood Deficiency include:

• fatigue & chronic tiredness
• pale complexion
• dry hair & skin
• brittle nails
• blurred vision & “floaters” in the eyes
• poor memory
• depression
• insomnia, especially difficulty in falling asleep

Other cases sometimes include symptoms such as:

• muscle spasms & cramps
• numbness in the limbs
• dizziness & vertigo

In addition, women may experience:

• scanty or irregular menstrual periods
• infertility or miscarriage

In Traditional Chinese Medicine physiology, the digestive system (often referred to as the Spleen-Pancreas system) is responsible for manufacturing the Blood, while the Liver system is the one that stores, distributes, and regulates the Blood flow throughout the entire body, so treatment of Blood Deficiency usually focuses on supporting both of these systems.

There are many different factors that can contribute to a Blood Deficient condition.

Improper diet is one common cause. Vegetarians are especially susceptible to this, and should make sure to add adequate amounts of Blood-nourishing foods to their diet.

Because of their connection to the Liver according to TCM theory, overuse of the tendons and the eyes is another common cause, and is frequently seen in athletes who over train their bodies or students who do a lot of computer work or reading.

Prolonged bleeding, especially menstrual or gastrointestinal bleeding disorders, may also lead to a Blood Deficient condition, but of course the underlying cause of the bleeding needs to be addressed first.

Tips for Nourishing the Blood

1. Add some berries – Gou Qi Zi, better known as the Goji berry, is one of the more famous Chinese herbs used for nourishing the Blood. However, other dark berries are also beneficial, including blueberries and blackberries.
2. Blackstrap molasses – rich in iron and other minerals, taking about 1 tablespoon a day on a regular basis can help to give the blood a boost.
3. Green protein – especially good for vegetarians and people who engage in a lot of physical activity, foods such as spirulina and chlorella can be important additions to the diet when dealing with Blood Deficiency. Chlorophyll, the substance that gives these foods their green colour, has often been referred to as “plant hemoglobin” for its close resemblance in composition to blood. In addition, the protein provides the building blocks necessary for helping to rebuild and strengthen the blood.

Words quite familiar to most dieters. However, in Traditional Oriental Medicine, the approach to weight loss is quite different.

According to Eastern Medicine, the digestive system, referred to as the Spleen-Pancreas system, includes many other organs such as the stomach and intestines and has the 2 primary functions of “Transformation” and “Transportation“.

The Transformation function refers to the process of breaking down food, digesting it, and absorbing the nutrients – taking food and transforming it into usable energy for the body, a view quite similar to the Western understanding of the digestive system.

On the other hand, the Transportation function of the Spleen-Pancreas system is more unique to Traditional Chinese Medicine and refers to how fluids are kept in balance throughout the body. Under normal healthy conditions, fluids are extracted from food during the Transformation process and are then transported to the various parts of the body to be used as needed, with the rest being removed as waste.

However, when this Transformation function is weakened and no longer properly processing these fluids, some of the excess can get trapped in the body, creating a condition referred to as “Dampness” which can manifest in various ways, including being stored as excess body weight.

Treatment to help lose weight, whether through acupuncture, herbal medicine, or dietary and lifestyle changes, is based on a two-fold approach of strengthening the digestive system as well as helping to directly get rid of the excess Dampness being stored in the body.

Certain foods can assist the body in draining this Dampness and should be emphasized in the diet, while other foods actually contribute to the problem and should be minimized or avoided altogether.

Incorporating small positive changes into your lifestyle and diet can assist you in achieving lasting improvements in your health as well as maintaining a healthier weight for yourself.

Tips for assisting Weight Loss

1. Don’t skip meals – having irregular eating patterns or skipping meals entirely, especially breakfast, can weaken the digestive system and should be avoided. Eating smaller, more regular meals can actually assist with losing weight. A good rule of thumb that many people find useful is to eat before you’re extremely hungry, but stop before you are completely full. It was traditionally advised to only eat until you are 4/5 full.
2. Slow down and chew well – thoroughly chewing your food allows the digestive system to work more efficiently – you’ll end up eating less food but absorbing more nutrition.

Foods to Add (Strengthen the Spleen-Pancreas)

• whole grains, especially oats, rye, & amaranth
• legumes, especially adzuki, lentils, & mung
• vegetables, especially celery, lettuce, radish, kohlrabi, & turnip
• kelp & kombu seaweed

Foods to Avoid (Remove Dampness)

• refined sugar & flour
• artificial sweeteners
• animal products in general, but eggs & dairy in particular
• refined oils, including margarine & shortening

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Spleen-Pancreas system (also commonly just referred to as the Spleen) encompasses all the other organs of digestion, including the stomach and small & large intestine.

Eastern medical theory describes the Spleen as being like the Earth – just as the earth provides food for our nourishment, so the digestive system produces the energy and nourishment needed by the rest of our bodies. Because of this, it plays a central role in our overall health – if we have a strong and healthy Spleen system, we usually have a greater ability to recover from sickness. This effect can easily be seen in serious cases such as the late stages of cancer – once the person’s appetite and digestion deteriorates, the rest of their health often rapidly follows.

According to Eastern medicine, the Spleen is also important in controlling how fluids are distributed throughout the body. Symptoms such as abdominal bloating, fluid retention, edema, and heaviness of the body are all signs of an imbalance in the Spleen system and its inability to properly regulate the fluids.

Other conditions such as phlegm and mucous buildup in the respiratory system are also viewed as being related to the Spleen. The person’s digestive system, along with their diet, is commonly seen as an important factor in all of these conditions, and some people may notice that certain foods such as dairy products or other items tend to worsen their condition.

Finally, in Traditional Oriental Medicine, the Spleen controls our mental ability to think and concentrate. Common examples showing this connection include students who notice an increase in their appetite and particular food cravings while studying hard for exams, or someone suffering brain-fog due to low blood-sugar levels. With an imbalance in the Spleen system, people often experience things such as difficulty to focus, feeling foggy-headed (especially after meals), and a tendency to over-think & over worry.

Hopefully, this brief introduction to the Spleen-Pancreas system gives a better understanding of how Traditional Oriental Medicine views the body and how a healthy digestive system is a foundation for our overall wellbeing.

Some conditions often related to the Spleen

• nausea
• colic
• irritable bowel
• fatigue
• bloating
• water retention
• over thinking
• anxiety
• worry

Tips for keeping the Spleen-Pancreas (Digestion) healthy

1. Nourishing foods – try to avoid overly processed & sugary foods, as they tend to weaken the digestive system. In addition, animal products, especially dairy, tends to produce mucous which further weakens the digestion. Instead, whole grains such as barley, buckwheat, oats, and rice provide a slow release of energy & nourishment for the body. Other excellent foods to include in the diet are root vegetables such as squash, turnips, and yams.
2. Slow down & chew well – thoroughly chewing our food releases enzymes which assist in proper digestion. Take your time when eating meals. Eating on-the-run puts a tremendous strain on the digestive system and should be avoided.
3. Warm it up – consuming ice-cold drinks and excessive cold raw foods puts additional strain on the digestive system, as energy is used up to heat it to body temperature. In Eastern medicine, the Spleen prefers warmth, so warm drinks and lightly steamed vegetables are helpful, especially for those with weak digestion.