In the physiology of Traditional Chinese Medicine there is what is known as “Shen”. Shen is the light, the essence, the radiance, the atmosphere that makes up the ‘spirit’, that can be observed in the face and presence of a person. With ‘Healthy Shen’ we are observing a person who is happy, integrated, and no doubt healthy.
In Chinese medical terms Shen is what naturally arises from a healthy interplay between “Jing” and “Qi”- another aspect of “Yin” and “Yang”. “Jing” is Form, the material and observable aspect of things- its what real and has definite form. And food is one aspect of it.
“Qi” is all about Process, about Transformation. Qi in our bodies is the digestive fire and the enzymatic power of digestion. It is also the microcirculation in our lungs that allow us to transform oxygen into blood.
So we all take in food (Jing), and transform it (Qi) into Blood. When we do this what arises is our health – which again is observed in our Shen. When we are healthy we are naturally experiencing Joy as blood and oxygen circulate and inspire us to activity, to cleansing and healing our bodies, to sleeping well, to emotionally feeling content. The roots of Healthy Shen start with choice of appropriate diet – but at least equally important is our capacity to digest that food well.
From this point of View, any discussion of appropriate diet, vegetarian, paleo, or otherwise, in relation to radiant health, longevity, etc, is incomplete without taking into account a few factors that are often left out of dietary advice. Not only is the choice of food important, in that it meet the criteria of being free of toxins and meet modern nutritional criteria. We must also look at assimilation and appetite. Improving that will also improve food choices, food utilization, longevity, health, etc
Surely most of us have had the experience of eating what was ‘supposed’ to be healthy and feeling bloated, uncomfortable, and perhaps ill as a result. Often its simply the case of having too much of a good thing – we’ve overloaded our own capacity. But sometimes it’s because it wasn’t really ‘right’ for us – some of us can know that intuitively. What looks good on paper might just be this year’s model. For how that sandwich we had an appetite becomes perfectly transformed into just what we need – well it’s pretty much a miracle.
And we have eaten food that would seem to be absolutely on the ‘no’ list, but didn’t seem to be a problem at the time. It is true that some people seem to be more affected by diet than others. Getting away with things might be a sign of some inner strength, however being a little sensitive might serve us well in the long run as compared to someone who seems to have no problem that they are conscious of. It makes sense to avoid the foods and choices that over time create the bad health consequences. But if we had a strong appetite for the food- it usually makes for a better experience.
In some ways life, eating, nutrition, is an experiment in meshing appetite and desire. Being present for the experiment, paying attention, is an important place to begin. And so is having some guidance, some clue.
So what makes that a diet that is more attuned to a certain individual for that person’s ultimate health?
I think we must always look at constitution, activity, and condition.
In many traditional medical paths, such as Chinese medicine, there are tools to assess constitution. As well as asking questions, we can rely on time-honored skills like as pulse diagnosis, tongue reading, and abdominal and point palpation. Also we can tell a lot by simply observing and listening. Some of our capacity is genetic – but often one’s constitution has been enhanced or weakened as a result of life lived. Stresa, illness, accident, emotions – all play a role.
One must take into account the sedentary or active nature of the client. A diet high in salads and raw food may not work well at all for a client who is mostly desk-bound, and has weak assimilation. That same diet might work better for the Type-A client with high blood pressure, anger issues, and acid reflux. Diets can vary dependent on medical condition.
We may think we can get good nutrition eating protein bars when we are athletic only to find there isn’t much nourishment there. It reads well, but despite the organic label and the list of ingredients having every possible phytonutrient, it doesn’t digest. We can get sold on products offering more and more concentrated nutrients – and this can be taken too far and our innate appetite/digestion can get overwhelmed. And so Traditional diets tend to emphasize more soup, slow cooking, as a mainstay – especially when the system has been stressed. .
So lets not forget that important word- “appetite”. That ‘appetite’ for unhealthy carbohydrates, refined flours, sugar, etc, may have developed by confusing food with entertainment. Eating on the go!
Afer slowing down and actually enjoying eating for a period, many people find that these ‘jet fuel’ foods no longer seem to have the same kind of excitement – rather they feel heavy and rather unattractive.
When our appetite become more lively and open, we have a more vivid interest in the world and nature generally. Our “appetite” includes food, rest, people (social), and ideas. We possess a sense of response – of adventure without recklessness. It’s not just brocolli and quinoa. It’s good, its varied, its enjoyable, its easy – and we might even find we begin to exhibit very “Healthy Shen”.
🙂
(This article was developed as a companion piece to Michael Gill’s article: “To Meat, or not to Meat”. Michael is my colleague and Thai massage/nutrition practitioner at the Yamhill Pain Relief Center – where I am practicing now in Portland)