An increasing number of people are interested in natural health, and are seeking solutions to self-treat and improve their well-being. This approach, certainly positive, must be done with discernment, and without excluding the use of professional therapists. Chinese medicine proposes basic rules to orient oneself in this path of health research.

The 21st century marks a change of mentality in the field of health. The new being no longer thinks of “illness” but health. This phenomenon affects a growing number of individuals who are moving away from Western medicine and chemical remedies to seek natural solutions while re-appropriating their health.

Self-medication has become a widespread phenomenon on the planet. Everyone becomes a doctor for a day when it comes to treating a slight cough, a cold or a common headache … And this is made all the easier as the internet is full of articles , videos, offering health tips or extolling the miraculous virtues of this or that plant.

Moreover, the more their living environment improves, the more human beings are sensitive to their well-being. More and more people understand that our appearance is a reflection of our inner health, that of our organs.

A profusion of products on the market

This growing interest in wellness and self-medication is generating increased demand for dietary supplements, essential oils and other natural treatments. The market is full of products that promise its users:

• better athletic ability,
• a thinned physique,
• a better sexual capacity,
• a perfectly balanced diet etc.

This phenomenon is virtuous as it reflects a renewed interest of individuals for their health. And that they understand that it passes through Nature, its products, its rules. Moreover, self-medication is a sign that the individual ceases to put his health back into the powerful hands of the doctor, and endeavors to do his own research, his experiments, thus positioning himself to be responsible for his health. These two points are essential in a process of maintenance of the health, even of cure.

Be careful though. Self-medication also has its limits, even its pitfalls.

The limits of self-medication

Self-medication – that is, taking medications outside the medical prescription – can be useful when it comes to treating a mild pathology for a short time. It is recommended to consult for heavier or lasting pathologies.

Indeed self-care wisely without the help of a therapist requires a high level of listening to his body, good management of his emotions, and so in summary good health! In other words, few can do it.

The solutions found on the net can be interesting, but are rarely the miracle solutions announced. Each individual having a different terrain, there is no universal solution! Moreover we can very quickly get trapped, will be it only with the diet. For example, we may be attracted to certain foods by thinking that they are good for us while it is the opposite. Again, only an already healthy person has the ability to instinctively perceive what really succeeds.

However, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), like other traditional medicines, offers insights and self-treatment tools that are part of a holistic vision of health. Because for TCM, many factors related to our lifestyle affect our health in one way or another. The key is a healthy lifestyle. This depends on 3 main axes:

• Diet
• Movement
• Detoxication

Diet

Diet is the first branch of TCM. Indeed, health must pass by our plate. It is also the secret of longevity.

First of all it is imperative to eat very little. Indeed it is not quantity that gives energy but quality. If we eat foods that are low in qi (vital energy) or lack energy, even a large amount of this food will not meet our needs. It is necessary to look for high quality foods in vital energy.

Good fruits and vegetables grown without pesticides will be the basis of a healthy diet. They contain a lot of fibers that facilitate the transit, slow the absorption of fats and sugars, regulate the sensation of hunger. They do not disrupt hormonal systems.

It is necessary to flee the sugar like the plague! He is a violent poison for the body. The body uses very little sugar. Also, any additional intake will be stored in the liver inducing various pathologies. Note in passing that overweight, or the appearance of pimples on the face, are not due to sugar, or alcohol alone but also to other factors.

Focus on fish rather than meat. Cooking will be more like grilling, boiling or steaming rather than frying. Numerous scientific studies have shown that deep fried cooking is bad for the body.

We must drink of course, but in reasonable quantity. We will avoid coffee and especially coffee latte (sweet or not). Life is in the water; a low mineralized water source as far as possible.

Movement

For traditional or first peoples, movement is life. It is a basic concept of traditional Chinese medicine.

It is therefore important to have a daily minimum physical activity: walking or gymnastics. Twice a week, one will take care to have an intense sport activity based on the training of the heart. Physical activity helps eliminate toxins and promotes pleasure through the production of dopamine. It has a positive effect on our body and our emotional state.

Detoxification

It is recommended to practice in parallel less intense but equally beneficial activities such as tai chi, qi gong or yoga, which consist in circulating vital energy. When these activities are practiced at a high level (one hour a day), this leads to a detoxification of the body and mind. Indeed, we spend a lot of our time brooding over negative thoughts, breathing polluted qi and meeting many sick people physically or mentally. As a result, our emotions overwhelm us and cause imbalances in our body and mind.

Energy management exercises such as qigong help to free oneself of these parasitic energies, to clarify our mind, and to better control our emotions. As a result, they initiate a process of self-healing.

These general rules make it possible to create a favorable ground for health. Again, if there is a pathology heavy or installed, whether physical, mental or emotional, it will be necessary to consult for treatment and more specific advice.