Beth Bright, L.Ac., Dipl.Ac., M.S. Rocky Mountain Acupuncture 303-445-1114

Nutrition, Diet and Lifestyle
Beth Bright, Acupuncturist, Lakewood, Colorado

When we understand that the invisible "go power" of our body is energy, then we can help ourselves nourish our energy appropriately for our individual needs. Chinese Medicine deeply respects food as medicine.  Nutrition is the combination of food and digestion. 

Food is digested and transformed into qi (physical energy).  In order for this to happen, digestive energy must be healthy. A healthy diet must accomplish 3 things: nourish energy, support elimination, and promote healing. This means food needs to give us sustained energy and strengthen our body. Healthy elimination means one bowel movement every day in the morning. Promoting healing means continuous tissue repair and DNA production.

It makes sense that what we eat influences how we digest.  Different people may have different needs in this. Chinese Medicine is unique in its approach to diet and nutrition. There is no single best diet for all people. We understand food as having energy properties that influence and work with the body in specific ways. Because of this understanding, we are able to work within any nutritional approach to gain balance and health.  For example, in treating constipation, whether a patient eats a vegetarian diet, or vegan, or paleo diet , is celiac or allergic, Chinese Medicine understands the properties of food and organ function, and so we can help establish proper bowel function no matter what diet the patient is dedicated to.  

Nutrition deals with food and digestion.  We acquire good nutrition when the food we eat provides what we need, and our digestive process is strong and clean.  ALL digestive issues are primarily related to food!  How else could it be?  Often there are additional problems influencing digestion that are essential to address.  Our digestive system not only about digesting food. It is also about digesting emotions, life experiences, and thoughts.  The energy of digesting is about taking in - physical substance (food), and life experiences, as well as our emotions and thoughts in responses to life experiences. This is obvious to anyone who has experienced acute digestion upset due to strong emotions.  This is a factor in prolonged and more serious digestive problems.  

There was a restaurant associated with the hospital where I interned in Shanghai (Longhua Hospital).  Doctors would sometimes prescribe food cures for illnesses and write a nutrition prescription, which patients would take to the restaurant in order to receive the appropriate food for their ailments.  This demonstrates the deep understanding and respect of food as medicine. After years of clinical experience I have found that for some health issues, a change in what we eat and how we eat it is all that is required for complete care! Obviously, there are more com[lex and difficult issues, too, that require a combination of acupuncture and Chinese Medicine and qi gong and time for healing. 

I have written a Chinese Medicine Cookbook. It is entitled Embody Eating - Recipes, Chinese Medicine, and Beyond! After years of clinical experience, I hope this is helpful to my patients and anyone else interested in how and what to eat!

For help with Crohn's Disease, Celiac disease, I.B.S., acid reflux and other digestive issues, please consider acupuncture and Chinese Medicine with Beth Bright at 303-445-1114.