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Medicine - Context, Art + Science
Medicine in Context
As with all things in life, it’s important to put the more familiar western approach to medicine, health, the body and life in general, into context by understanding its influences (see the Western Approach to Medicine) and also by learning about the different medicine systems which exist in the world. These distinctive systems present us with alternative perspectives, allowing us to step back from prevailing western ideas and thinking and gain a more open-minded panoramic view of health, illness and medicine. Traditional Chinese Medicine and Indian Ayurvedic Medicine are 2 of the world’s oldest and most enduring medicinal systems. Both are rich sources of wisdom and knowledge which present a contrasting way of seeing and treating the human body in all it’s glorious complexity, and you may find them to be as revelatory and revolutionary as we do :)
Understanding Medicine
Healthy Instincts
Medicine (noun) - the science and practice of establishing the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. Medicine encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness(1).
Medicine is likely to have been around for as long as homo sapiens have been roaming the plains, forests, mountains and valleys of this planet, or even older! And just like us, our primate cousins - the monkeys - use medicinal plants to make themselves feel better; “...they seem to have knowledge of the therapeutic.” “New cases are reported every year, and zoopharmacognosy, the study of self-medication in animals, is a growing field. The fur-rubbing white-faced capuchins and the charcoal-eating red colobus monkeys...are just two examples of medical ingenuity in primates. Across the globe, monkeys have figured out remedies for common ailments, just as we have.”(2)
On top of this, animals also have another health-promoting instinct - the fasting instinct - which we have very recently lost. Animals have the innate wisdom and intuition to know when to abstain from food for the benefit of their health; “When an animal, such as a dog or cat, is sick, its natural instinct is to refuse food. When the crisis is over, and the internal healing work has been accomplished, the appetite will return naturally, of its own accord.“ “The human organism also has a fasting instinct, just like that of other animals. Evolutionary adaptation has made our bodies very efficient at storing energy reserves, and drawing upon them when food supplies are scarce. Fasting is as old as mankind, perhaps even older.”(3)
Its with all this in mind, that we start our little across the world journey to the far East, mirroring in our small way, Chinese monk Xuanzang when he set out to bring ancient Buddhist wisdom from India to his homeland between 629 and 645, all that time ago.
Medicine - Art + Science
For most of the time that medicine has been around, it was less of a science and more of an art (an area of skill and knowledge), frequently having connections to the religious and philosophical beliefs of indigenous cultures. For example, in many communities across the world, a medicine man would apply herbs to an individual within their community, and say prayers for healing. In recent centuries, since the advent of modern science and technologies, most medicine has become a combination of art and science (both basic and applied, under the umbrella of medical science)(1). Current western medical science has its basis in Greek Medicine, but subsequent scientific discoveries have pushed our understanding of illness and ability to treat disease far further than before.
Ancient Medicine Today
However, the west’s symptomatic model of care is failing many - especially those with chronic and mental health conditions - and in the wake of its failings, focus is beginning to shift to more preventative medicinal practices which promote wellness. In the past year, 74% of people in the UK alone have felt so stressed they have felt overwhelmed or unable to cope, according to the Mental Health Foundation. We in the West are discovering the wisdom of ancient mind-body medicinal practices such as meditation, mindfulness and yoga, and their ability to greatly reduce levels of stress, anxiety and boost our health and wellbeing. As a result, traditional medicinal disciplines are becoming increasingly mainstream as we make lifestyle changes to incorporate new good habits into our daily and weekly routines. Wellness disciplines vary widely, encompassing something as deceptively simple as breathing techniques (Pranayama) and concepts such as Yang Sheng “nurturing life”, the traditional Chinese Medicine concept of self-care. Riding on this recent wave of health-awareness, the wellness market has grown into $4.2 trillion industry. After adopting wellness practices and routines such as these, many of us have experienced a dramatic improvement in the quality of our lives.
Medicine - the Beginnings
Medicine - the Beginnings
“Healing with medicinal plants is as old as mankind itself. The connection between man and his search for drugs in nature dates from the far past.”(4)
Each ancient indigenous society/civilisation which arose independently in the old world or “Cradle of Civilisation”, cultivated their very own unique medicinal systems, philosophies and beliefs about health, illness and the body influenced by cultural and environmental factors. Their beliefs and practices were heavily influenced by their habitats and the medicinal plants which were available to them. Each is a fascinating insight into the human mind and brilliant examples of the creativity, imagination, adaptability and ingenuity of our amazing species.
Ancient China - Traditional Chinese Medicine
Ancient India - Ayurvedic Medicine System
Ancient Egypt
Mesopotamia
Ancient Peru
Ancient Mesoamerica
Traditional, Integrative Medicine + the Holistic Approach
(Also known as Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM))
The Mind-Body Connection
Medicine was traditionally holistic, believing that mind and body were intricately linked. Medicine systems aimed to treat the whole person, focussing on mental and spiritual wellbeing, as well as physical health. The fact that the old world’s medicines are still being widely practiced today, hints either at the trust and strength of belief in those systems and/or the success of their practices and treatments. Research is now revealing the wisdom of the holistic, whole body approach in medicine and the depth of the mind-body connection is being backed by medical studies. Research has shown that even the very thoughts we allow into our minds can influence our physical, as well as our mental health(4), (5). Indeed, managing our mental hygiene and health is such a vital part of healing and wellness that we’ve dedicated 4 pages on this site to this subject; Mental Wellbeing, Meditation + Neuroplasticity, On Happiness + Creativity + Art as Therapy.
And when you stop to think about it, it does seem crazy to separate mind and body - above every other organ in the body, we use the squishy grey stuff in our heads to create our own versions of reality, to define who we are as people, express ourselves and communicate with others and interact with the world around us. Our thought and behavioural patterns dictate how we live our lives.
Alternative Medicines' Value Today
The Value of Alternative Medicine in Modern Medicine
Although medical science has achieved a lot, there is still a considerable amount of knowledge and understanding lacking from modern medicine. This is where alternative systems come into their own, filling in the gaps and providing alternative treatments and solutions in the place of harmful, damaging ones (pharmaceutical drugs for instance). It also provides hope and help to many where the western system was unable to. For example, TCM includes the practice of tai chi - one of (if not the) world's oldest forms of exercise which is gentle and so super inclusive, can be practiced anywhere and hosts a very long list of health benefits(6). It’s often described as “meditation in motion”, “medication in motion”or “the perfect antidote to the digital age” and like meditation and many other traditional medicinal mind-body practices, evidence-based studies are currently underway to prove its renowned benefits scientifically, including the use of tai chi as a potential treatment for fibromyalgia. Indeed, tai chi, yoga and mindfulness/meditation have become increasingly mainstream in the west in the wake of the depression, anxiety and other mental health epidemics over the past few years, and now even institutions such as the NHS(4), (5) are recommending these practices to patients. I (Sophie) was suggested meditation as a treatment for my anxiety disorder by a mental health professional via the NHS and 1.5 hour daily sessions has changed my life. Gina took up yoga to help her manage her anxiety disorder and depression and this practice dramatically improved her mental health and quality of life. Meanwhile, physiotherapists recommend pilates and physiotherapy exercises to their patients, both of which include ancient yoga postures(7)!
Traditional Medicine in Demand
What is more, the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) (the 11th version of the World Health Assemby’s global manual and guidebook) includes for the first time, details about traditional medicines, including TCM which may eventually become an integral part of global health care. ...“It will definitely change medicine around the world,”(8) Traditional practices already play a vital part in many parts of the world, as traditional treatments tend to be less costly and more accessible than Western medicine(8).
TCM
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
“In Chinese medicine, as in all traditional Chinese culture, the basic idea is the search for harmony on Earth. Ultimately this was the goal of (Chinese) civilisation itself, and to reach it, inner and outer lives must be incongruous; Yin and yang...female and male, dark and light. This elemental balance underlies all Chinese thought...” - Michael Wood(9)
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can be split into several principal disciplines: Herbal medicine; Acupuncture and Moxibustion (heat therapy); Tui Na (massage/manipulative therapy); Diet; and Exercise, including Tai Chi and Qi Gong. Within TCM, there are varied approaches to all disease, often including a wide variety of treatments to ease each condition(10). The Chinese Medicinal system reflects their ancient belief that everything is cyclical - the cycles of day and night, the sun and moon - and this basic notion sets their system apart from the linear western approach. In other words, they believe what goes around comes around and that
“They don’t...tend to see things in (a) linear fashion. They see things in a cyclical way. And they way they look at the body, they would never say ‘this causes that’, like from A to B. It’s always ‘this and that’. Or, ‘and both’. For example, they’ve always recognized that the emotions, psychology, and physiology are one in the same. In fact they don’t even really have a separate word for emotions...in the medical sense.” - Chris Kresser(11)
Chinese Philosophy + Chinese Medicine
“Many recent medical journal reports take the view that [traditional Chinese] philosophy holds back the progress of medicine, but their authors do not understand the use of philosophy, nor do they understand that philosophy is actually the basis of medicine.” - Zhang Xichun(12)
Chinese medicine differs from western medicine through the sheer extent of its varied practices which aim to prevent disease by maintaining and promoting health, extend health by seeking longevity as well as including practices of medicine in it’s more conventional sense, to cure or prevent disease, treat disease and injury and assist in childbirth etc. One of the core beliefs of Chinese medicine in terms of prevention and treatment is the mantra; Good sleep, good digestion, and good elimination = optimal health.
TCM understands that you cannot attain good health if one of the fundamentals below is missing -
- Good sleep is essential for restoration and repair of tissues and the mind.
- Good digestion is how we extract nutrients from food.
- Good elimination is vital for both the immune system and for clearing the body of toxic waste(13). Because elimination is love people!
This brings us to the ancient practice of fasting therapy in TCM; “The purpose of fasting in Chinese medicine is to address stagnation, as stagnation prevents energy and blood circulating in the body. It mainly starts from food, but can also come from mental blockage related to emotions and trauma.”
Early medical and cosmological thinking created the Chinese belief in a cosmos composed of qi (the energy that constitutes and organises matter and causes growth and change) which was in constant flux, based on the interactions of yin and yang and the “Five Agents” or “Five Powers”. Earth was believed - similar to ancient Greek and Egyptian thinking - to be a “cosmos in miniature”, and it was the responsibility of humanity to maintain correspondence with the gods, ancestors and to balance cosmic order through ritual practices. So the body, state, Earth and cosmos were believed to be linked; “Ritual, for instance, reestablishes the original bond between humans and gods, and the Realized Persons (zhenren) or the Saints (shengren) benefit the whole human community in which they live by aligning themselves with the forces that rule the cosmos. On the other hand, a ruler who ignores Heaven's omens brings about natural calamities and social disturbances.”(13)
Fundamental Principles
It’s important to note that China is a vast, vast country with 56 distinct ethnic groups, with the Han Chinese or “ethic Chinese” making up the world’s largest ethnic group and 18% of the global human population(14). Because of this, TCM practices vary widely across different regions and peoples, but they have the following concepts and principles in common -
- Yang sheng “nurturing life” — a broad category of medicinal practices that comprise of a wide range of self-cultivation techniques. Several Warring States texts express the need to preserve one’s person, self, or essential nature(15)
- Ganying “impulse and response" or "resonance" — the notion that the cosmos, human being, society and areas of ritual are connected to each other so that an event or action relating to one, could be relevant to the others
- Macrocosm and Microcosm in Taoism — (Chinese) society with its order, hierarchies, codes and rituals was believed to represent a “cosmos in miniature”
- The Wuxing “5 Elements” + the Wuzang “5 Vicera” = Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water relate to the 5 viscera/systems in the body - the Heart, Liver, Spleen, Lung and Kidney. These 5 sets are affected by different correlations and link the human microcosm to the macrocosmic categories of space and time
- Qi (Pronounced Chi) “life force” = an energy force thought to flow through the body; Tai Chi and Qi Gong are said to unblock and encourage the proper flow of qi. In an attempt to enhance the flow of qi throughout the body, Qi Gong - a mind-body-spirit practice - encompasses numerous elements such as posture, movement, breathing techniques, self-massage, sound, and focused intent. Qi (“subtle breath” or “vital energy”) and Gong (“skill cultivated through steady practice”)
- Yin and yang = opposing elements thought to make up the universe that need to be kept in harmony. Tai chi among other practices, are said to promote this balance
- Shen “Spirit” or "Mind" = Shen encompasses our consciousness, mental functions, mental health, vitality, and our "presence", all of which are considered vital components of human health and wellbeing
- Jing “essence” = moves in long, slow cycles, and presides over the major phases of development in life. It forms the basis for growth, development, sexual maturation, and reproduction.
- Pi Gu “stop eating (abstaining from) grain” = the ancient Chinese way of fasting. According to TCM history, Pigu fasting theory was a Taoist practice used for the attainment of immortality and originated from Qi Gong practice. When in the Pi Gu condition, with training, the individual can abstain from food for extended periods without being hungry while also having increased energy(16). When the practice is followed, we become more of one with our life force, our Chi/Q.
“According to TCM, most disease is caused from intake of food through the mouth. This includes diet, virus, germ, and food pollution. If we want to have healthy bodies, we must have good diets. The best diet is to eat nothing from food. In the Pi Gu theory, it is believed that the food we eat changes into Chi and nourishes our lives. If we can take the Chi from the universe, this Chi will nourish us without the taking of food.”(16)., (17)
“In the Han dynasty, “nurturing life” techniques became a major concern of the Recipe Masters (fang shi) of the Han court (Ngo 1976). Texts on nurturing life include methods for absorbing and circulating qi in the body—for example, breathing and meditation exercises, diet, drugs and sexual techniques.”(15)
“Each system (the liver, lungs, heart etc.) includes both physical symptoms and also emotional and psychological and even psycho-spiritual aspects… and I think in that sense it’s more advanced than our way of looking at it, which is… like a car, with a bunch of separate parts.” - Chris Kresser(10)
Ill health and imbalance in the body can be caused by the 6 Evils, the 7 Emotions or other causes. Diagnosis is a 4 pillar process of Looking, Listening, Asking and Pulse which is deceptively simple. Western medical practitioners/GPs all too often skip at least 2 of these points of enquiry during patient visits.
Read General TCM Theory in all its complexity on these sites - Sacred Lotus & the Ying Yang House.
“Simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures. Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of being. Patient with both friends and enemies, you accord with the way things are. Compassionate toward yourself, you reconcile all beings in the world.” ― Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching
Ayurveda
Ayurvedic Medicine
Ayurvedic Medicine, or Ayurveda in Sanskrit means “The Science of Life”. Along with TCM, is one of the world’s oldest holistic healing systems. Ayurvedic knowledge originated in India more than 5,000 years ago and is often called the “Mother of All Healing.” It shares similarities to many of the other ancient traditional medicine systems, being based on the belief that health and wellness depends on the delicate balance between mind, body and spirit. It’s main focus was to maintain and promote health and in so doing, avoid disease occurring in the body. Like conventional “medicine”, it also provides treatment for specific ailments and health problems, providing a complementary and alternative medicine in the west(18) and is still widely practiced in its native homeland today.
“Ayurveda, the scientific way of life and the portion of old Indian knowledge, is a definitive craft of all-inclusive pharmaceutical and medicinal understandings. It guides humanity to combat sicknesses as well as to keep up and maintain supreme wellbeing. “(19)
The medicinal, health-lifestyle system Ayurveda has been used for over 5,000 in India and shares one of its core principles with the TCM’s Wuxing + Wuzang concept. In Ayurveda, the five elements of nature (space, air, fire, water, earth) combine in the body as three metabolic types or principle energies (doshas) known as Vatta, Pitta, and Kapha. These doshas relate closely to the basic elements of nature and to specific functions of the body. A balance of these doshas (homeostasis) is thought to be required for optimal health. If an imbalance occurs in any of the three doshas, illness will occur(20).
- Vata dosha - Air + Space. Vatta controls muscle and joint movement, breathing, and heartbeat. Also, Vatta controls anxiety, fear, pain, and other functions of the nervous system
- Pitta dosha - Fire + Water. Thought to control such bodily functions as digestion, metabolism, intelligence, and skin colour. Pitta governs the emotions of anger, hate, and jealousy
- Kapha dosha - Earth + Water. The physical structure of the body and the immune system are governed by Kapha. Emotional responses thought to be controlled by Kapha include calmness, forgiveness, love, and greed(20).
Its believed that from birth, one or two doshas are present and these determining an individual's mental, physical and emotional characteristics. Each of the doshas thrives under a specific diet, lifestyle, and exercise routine. An imbalance among the doshas can be corrected by making lifestyle and dietary changes(21). Many types of Ayurvedic medicine also treats illness in a variety of ways, including dietary changes, herbal remedies, and exercise. According to ayurvedic philosophy, yoga, meditation, or counselling can also treat disease.
Physical Characteristics of the 3 Doshas
Vata Dosha — Slender with prominent features, moody, impulsive, enthusiastic. This dosha is associated with the large intestine, pelvis, bones, ears, thighs, and skin.
Pitta Dosha — Medium build, well-proportioned, stable weight. This dosha is associated with the small intestine, stomach, sweat glands, eyes, skin, and blood.
Kapha Dosha — Solid, heavy, strong, with a tendency to be overweight. This dosha is associated with the lungs, chest, and spinal fluid.
Ayurveda in Practice
The incredibly effective stress-reducing and anti-inflammatory mind-body practices of yoga and meditation can be helpful for people with diseases such as asthma, high blood pressure, and arthritis(20). Their list of health benefits is profound and we discuss them in depth separately on this site (see Meditation + Neuroplasticity and On Movement). Both practices are becoming increasingly mainstream in the west and are seen as an antidote for our stress inducing modern day lives and the anxiety disorders and mental health epidemic which are a direct result of this. Me and Gina used both to dig our way out of mental illness and into a much, much better and happier place :) that’s why we rave about them and cannot recommend them enough!
Gut Health in Ayurveda
This incredibly insightful ancient medicine system was way ahead of its time, believing that gut health and digestion function determines our overall health. As a result, many Ayurvedic practices and medicines are aimed to enhance and aid digestion and metabolism. As such, the core concepts of Ama (toxic waste in the body), Langhana (to eliminate or cleanse) and Agni (Digestive fire/powder) are all focussed around the GI and how to maintain proper gut health and function.
“According to the ayurvedic "beej-bhoomi" theory of disease, poor digestion is actually the root cause of most disorders. When the food we eat is not digested properly, ama, the by-product of poor digestion and metabolism, builds up in the body, clogging the microchannels of the body. Not only does this further block the efficient flow of nutrients to the different parts of the body, weakening the immune system, but it also hampers the unrestricted flow of wastes out of the body so that a "fertile breeding ground" is created for disease and infection to take hold.”(22)
“Ayurveda recognizes...that fasting realizes the assimilation of metabolic toxins which are not good for health. It is also stated in Ayurveda that fasting encourages digestive fire with exclusion of blockage in the channel which helps in reducing of effects of any disease.”(19)
Practices + Medicines We Can Recommend
- Ama-fighting spices = Ginger, Cinnamon, Turmeric + Black Pepper. We use these 4 potent and magical spices every day (except black pepper as its a seed). Chewing raw chunks of ginger and drinking fresh ginger tea is one of the best ways to naturally stimulate digestion, promote peristalsis and immune health. We sprinkle cinnamon, turmeric and ginger on all our cooked meals (see Recipes) to help boost digestion and all 4 are highly antiinflammatory. Be wary of pepper if you have an AID - the other 3 spices are safer. It's no surprise that Indian cuisine taste amazing - Ayurvedic medicines include a range of ama-fighting spices which are aimed to boost and aid digestion and just happen to taste incredible, especially when mixed together!
- Shilajit = pea-sized amount/day = A bioavailable, mineral-rich and super safe supplement in the form of a black sticky humus. It has been used in Ayurvedic medicine to promote longevity and rejuvenation but the list of health benefits for this one substance are profound(23). Commonly used for brain and nerve health, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), anemia and heart health. We recommend
- Panchakarma = “five actions/treatments” in Sanskrit, is a mixture of treatments which aim to cleanse ama from the body. Ayurvedic cleanses aims to clean the body of toxic materials left by disease, poor nutrition and environmental toxins. An Ayurvedic practitioner might rely on blood purification (detoxing - see 5 Steps to Immune + Gut Health), massage, medical oils, herbs, and enemas and/or laxatives
- Herbs for the mind = Tulsi (Holy Basil), Brahmi (Water hyssop) and Gotu Kola (Indian Pennywort) contain powerful phytochemicals shown to have positive benefits for cognitive and memory function and overall mental health. Holy Basil is also an adaptogenic herb - an effective immune modulator - and which we discuss its amazing properties in more depth at the end of our 5 Steps to Immune + Gut Health page
- Yoga = long known about in its native homeland, the mental and physical health benefits of this ancient mind-body medicinal practices are now being backed up by scientific research. Studies have shown that regular yoga practice reduces cortisol levels, leading to improved symptoms and levels of wellbeing in patients with anxiety and/or depression. It also strengthens your whole body (including fitness levels if the session includes cardio), promotes deep relaxation, happiness and increases energy levels. (See On Movement)
- Meditation = the profound benefits of this ancient mind-body medicinal practice, similar to yoga, have long been known about but are now being proven by evidence-based studies. There are so many things to be gained from any form of meditation training and that we’ve dedicated a page specially to this subject alone - see Meditation + Neuroplasticity. Through meditation training we learn to better manage our thought and behavioural patterns, strengthen, train and develop our minds, moulding them to change and improve them and in so doing, we improve ourselves as individuals and also the quality of our lives. Consequently, we also improve the lives of those around us. It is no exaggeration to say that meditation has changed our lives dramatically since we began years ago and we cannot recommend the practice enough.
- Upavasa “that which causes lightness to the physique is Langhanam” in Sanskrit(24) = ancient Indian fasting therapy. Ayurveda believes the practice of fasting is a healing therapy which promotes spiritual, psychological and physical health. In brief, fasting is the withdrawal of food for specific time periods generally done under the observation of a person with knowledge of fasting therapies. “Ayurveda advocates fasting relying on the individual and his body type. The body type is decided on the vaya, agni, kala and dosha of the person. Fasting is advised as a precautionary and in addition, remedial methodology.”(19) Fasting has profound health benefits, which we discuss in depth on the Fasting for Health page.
You can read more on “Agni” - the fire of digestion, and “Ama” - the root cause of disease and more about Ayurvedic medicine in general via these sites - Healthy Ayurveda, Maharishi Ayurveda and Banyan Botanicals. There are many great resources out there!
““Thought is part of ego and the chatter becomes the smoke screen that disturbs us from the true self.” The ego creates stories and draws upon attachments to the past and projections of the future, constantly shape-shifting and vacillating between the two; preventing us from being absolutely absorbed in the present moment because it fears its cessation.”(25)
***Ayurvedic physicians recommend resisting the temptation to take your spices as nutraceuticals, where the so-called "active" ingredient is isolated and put inside a pill or a capsule. Take them as nature intended, and you will reap the benefits for years to come(26).