Eating for Old Age: The Lost Art of Chinese Food Therapy

A Pebble in the Cosmic Pond

Today’s conversation is inspired by Leo Lok’s ideal of “Bodhisattva Math,” which is a great reminder for us to focus on topics in Chinese medicine that have the most impact on alleviating unnecessary suffering with the least amount of effort! In this context, Sun Simiao reminded us already in the seventh century that food is essential for human survival but can be medicine or poison. As he put it:

“Anything that contains Qi without exception has the potential to provide food and thereby safeguard life. And yet, if we eat it without awareness [of its specific effect], it can mean thriving or ruin.”

In this episode on “Eating for Old Age: The Lost Art of Chinese Food Therapy,” Leo Lok and I explore the potential and power of food in the contemporary clinical practice of Chinese medicine. To cite Master Sun again, dietetics is

“...the special method of lengthening the years and ‘eating for old age’ and the utmost art of nurturing life. Any practitioner of medicine must first thoroughly understand the source of disease and know what has been violated. Then, use food to treat it. If treatment with food will not cure [the patient], afterwards apply drugs. The nature of drugs is harsh and unyielding. This is just like managing soldiers. Soldiers being fierce and violent, how could you allow them to recklessly set out!”

You will see, there are some real gems that Leo shares with us in this episode, such as how to have your ice-cream and eat it too…

Additional Information

• Leo's course on "Weight Loss in Chinese Medicine"
• Leo's course on "Shen Nong's Secret Sundae"
• Dr. Wilms' free course: Introduction to Classical Chinese — Translating Chinese Medicine
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