Nutrition forms the foundation of our health. Therefore we focus on educating and advising our patients on dietary strategies and conservative use of supplements. Our philosophy includes principles from Chinese and Ayurvedic (East Indian) medicine, and modern western nutritional science. In the Asian systems we are able to see individuals as belonging to constitutional or archetypal patterns of physiological and psychological characteristics.
In Chinese medicine we have the five elements: fire, earth, metal, water, and wood. In Ayurvedic medicine we have the three doshas, or body humors: kapha, pitta, and vata, which are themselves comprised of five elements. Each of us contains all five elements and the three doshas in varying degrees of predominance. Each element relates to a group of physiological functions as well as vulnerabilities to particular diseases. In a healthy state, we manifest specific physical and psychological strengths. When we become imbalanced by physiological or environmental factors, we tend to manifest symptoms and diseases that are associated with our constitution.
The liver and gallbladder are associated with the wood element. A person with wood predominating, for example, has certain personality traits, emotional tendencies, and physical strengths and weaknesses. While wood types have mental acuity and above average muscular strength and coordination, they can be prone to liver and gallbladder disease, anger or depression, migraine headaches, and numerous other physical maladies. In a healthy state, they have dynamic personalities, but internal or environmental imbalances can push them toward aggression.
Specific foods for the liver include small amounts of sour foods and bitter greens. While sour is the taste associated with the liver, in actuality, hot diseases, which are treated with bitter foods and herbs, easily affect the liver.
Contact certified holistic integrative medicine specialist Dr. Trahan today to set up an appointment and get started on your journey to a healthier life and body!
While the need for vitamin and mineral supplements may be open to debate, leaders in the field of modern biochemical nutrition cite reduced nutrients in our food sources as well as increased environmental, biological, and social stressors today as evidence of our requiring extra nutritional support to maintain optimal health and prevent disease. Since we base our treatments on herbal medicine, we rely much less on other nutritional supplements than do other holistic practitioners. We take a conservative position in this regard. We do not ascribe to the high dosage supplementation espoused by the orthomolecular philosophy, and focus on foods and herbs for our nutrients. As the same time, we enter into discussions regarding each patient’s health situation and their possible benefitting from supplements in addition to quality foods and herbs. B-complex and vitamin C in a multiple vitamin protect us from physiological stress.
Contact certified homeopathic physician Dr. Trahan today to set up an appointment and get started on your journey to a healthier life and body!
The concepts of Yin and Yang were developed in the Taoist tradition of ancient China, and they are foundational to the practice of Chinese medicine. Diseases categorized as Yin relate to coldness and hypofunction. Yang diseases relate to heat and hyperfunction. Foods and herbs can be described as warming or cooling, as well as damp or dry. These categories guide the fundamental guidelines for maintaining health and treating disease.
In Chinese medicine we have the five elements: fire, earth, metal, water, and wood. In Ayurvedic medicine we have the three doshas, or body humors: kapha, pitta, and vata, which are themselves comprised of five elements. Each of us contains all five elements and the three doshas in varying degrees of predominance. Each element relates to a group of physiological and psychological functions as well as vulnerabilities to particular diseases. In a healthy state, we manifest specific physical and psychological strengths. When we become imbalanced by physiological or environmental factors, we tend to manifest symptoms and diseases that are associated with our constitution. For example, the liver and gallbladder are associated with the wood element. A person with wood predominating, for example, has certain physical strengths and weaknesses, personality traits, and emotional tendencies. While wood types have above-average muscular strength and coordination and mental acuity, they can be prone to liver and gallbladder disease, anger or depression, migraine headaches, hormonal and musculoskeletal issues, and numerous other physical maladies. In a healthy state, they have dynamic personalities, but internal or environmental imbalances can push them toward depression (Yin) or aggression (Yang). Specific foods for the liver include sour foods and bitter greens. While sour is the taste classically associated with the liver in foods, in clinical practice many hot diseases affect the liver, and are treated with bitter foods and herbs.
While the need for vitamin and mineral supplements may be open to debate, leaders in the field of modern biochemical nutrition cite reduced nutrients in our food sources as well as increased environmental, biological, and social stressors today as evidence of our requiring extra nutritional support to maintain optimal health and prevent disease. Since we base our treatments on herbal medicine, we rely much less on other nutritional supplements than do other holistic practitioners. We take a conservative position in this regard. We do not ascribe to the high dosage supplementation espoused by the orthomolecular philosophy, and focus on foods and herbs for our nutrients. As the same time, we enter into discussions regarding each patient’s health situation and their possible benefitting from supplements in addition to quality foods and herbs. B-complex and vitamin C in a multiple vitamin protect us from physiological stress.