In this era of pursuing a slim body, weight loss has become a fixed topic for many people. There are various weight loss methods on the market, among which "hungry and thin" is undoubtedly the most direct and crude way.
However, Chinese medicine has a different view, believing that obesity is not simply fat accumulation, but "phlegm and dampness" in the body.
From ancient times to the present, traditional Chinese medicine has always adhered to one principle in the treatment of obesity: "make up for the middle to be thin".
This may sound like a contradiction, but when you look into it, there is something different.
1. Traditional Chinese medicine interpretation of obesity and phlegm-dampness constitution
In the eyes of traditional Chinese medicine, those distressing fats are not traceless, but because of excessive phlegm and dampness in the body. People with phlegm-damp constitution usually have a round body, heavy limbs, limited mobility, and a thick tongue coating can be seen even on the tongue.
These phenomena are explained in TCM theory as the dysfunction of the spleen and stomach, which is unable to effectively transform and transport water in the body, resulting in the internal cessation of water and dampness, and the formation of phlegm and dampness.
The formation of phlegm and dampness is closely related to the health of the spleen and stomach. The spleen is the foundation of nurture, and the health of the spleen directly affects the metabolic ability of the human body.
Once the spleen is deficient, its function of transporting water and dampness will be weakened, and the water and dampness will stagnate, and over time, it will be transformed into phlegm and dampness, which is manifested as body obesity.
Therefore, when treating obesity, TCM often starts by regulating the spleen and stomach, rather than simply reducing weight through dieting.
2. The importance of the spleen and stomach in the theory of traditional Chinese medicine
The spleen and stomach are known as the "officials of the five internal organs and the source of biochemistry", and occupy a pivotal position in the traditional Chinese medicine system.
The spleen and stomach are like a person's internal kitchen, which is responsible for converting food into nutrients that the body needs, and then transporting these nutrients throughout the body.
The spleen is clear, the stomach is turbid, and the two complement each other to ensure the balance of the human internal environment.
However, when the spleen and stomach function is poor, there will be problems in the digestion and absorption of food, and nutrition cannot be converted into physical energy, but instead into phlegm, dampness and fat, resulting in body fat.
At this time, if you take the way of starvation and thinness, although the weight may be lost in a short time, in the long run, the spleen and stomach function will only be weaker, and the body's metabolic ability will further decline, which may eventually lead to more serious obesity.
Therefore, TCM emphasizes the need to eliminate phlegm and dampness by nourishing the spleen and stomach, and to achieve weight loss by improving the internal environment.
This method not only reduces weight, but also strengthens the body's resistance, making the process of weight loss both healthy and long-lasting.
3. The concept of traditional Chinese medicine weight loss: to make up for weight loss
In the treatment concept of traditional Chinese medicine, weight loss is by no means simply reducing food intake, but by regulating the internal balance of the body, especially the function of the spleen and stomach.
When the spleen and stomach are healthy, the body's metabolic activities can be smooth, and phlegm and dampness can be naturally transformed and discharged. On the contrary, if the spleen and stomach are weak, even if the amount of food is reduced, the metabolism will slow down, and the problem of fat accumulation will still not be effectively solved.
Traditional Chinese medicine realizes the concept of "slimming" by "tonifying the spleen", that is, by supplementing the nutrients needed by the spleen and stomach, improving its ability to transport, so that the dampness and phlegm in the body can be dissolved, and the fat is naturally reduced.
This method not only helps the body to restore its normal metabolism, but also improves overall vitality.
Studies have shown that this method of supplementing the middle and thinning in traditional Chinese medicine has a certain scientific basis for improving obesity.
For example, a study published in the Chinese Journal of Basic Medicine of Traditional Chinese Medicine pointed out that the digestion and absorption function of the spleen and stomach can be significantly improved through TCM conditioning, thereby promoting the decomposition and consumption of body fat.
In addition, TCM formulas that tonify the spleen and stomach can also improve insulin resistance and reduce blood lipid levels, thereby aiding weight loss and health management on multiple levels.
Fourth, Citrus aurantium decoction: the application of traditional Chinese medicine for weight loss
As one of the classic weight loss formulas of traditional Chinese medicine, Citrus aurantium decoction is only composed of two herbs, Citrus aurantium and Atractylodes, but it has significant effects in regulating the spleen and stomach, dryness, phlegm and dampness.
Citrus aurantium has a bitter and cold taste, returns to the lungs and stomach meridians, and has the effect of breaking qi and reducing inversion, drying and dampness and dissolving phlegm; Atractylodes atractylodes has a sweet and warm taste, returns to the spleen and stomach meridians, and can strengthen the spleen and dampness, and dilute water and infiltrate dampness. The combination of the two can not only strengthen the spleen and stomach, but also dry and damp phlegm, and has a good therapeutic effect on obesity caused by phlegm dampness.
According to the "China Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine Information", in clinical application, Citrus aurantium decoction can significantly reduce body weight and BMI value for obese patients with phlegm-damp constitution, and improve the spleen and stomach function of patients. This shows that Citrus aurantium decoction is not only effective in theory, but also verified in practical application.
It is worth noting that the use of citrus aurantium decoction needs to be adjusted according to the individual's constitution and symptoms, and cannot be generalized.
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatment focuses on syndrome differentiation and treatment, and the same prescription may have different blending and use methods under different constitutions and symptoms.
Therefore, when using Citrus Citrus decoction or other Chinese herbal slimming prescriptions, it is best to do so under the guidance of a professional TCM practitioner to ensure that it is both safe and effective.
5. Diet therapy and spleen and stomach maintenance in daily life
In the worldview of traditional Chinese medicine, diet therapy is not only a means of treatment, but also an attitude towards life. A reasonable diet can provide stable energy for the spleen and stomach, helping it maintain normal digestion and absorption.
Traditional Chinese medicine often says: "Five grains are for nourishment, five fruits are for help, five animals are for benefit, and five vegetables are for abundance", emphasizing the balance and diversity of food. For example, ingredients such as soybeans, red dates and yams are all famous for strengthening the spleen and stomach.
They are not only rich in nutrients, but also help the spleen and stomach to transport functions, help regulate phlegm and dampness in the body, and naturally achieve the purpose of weight loss.
In daily life, in addition to paying attention to food choices, we should also pay attention to the regularity and moderation of diet. Irregular eating habits can disrupt the rhythm of the spleen and stomach and affect its function.
Excessive food intake will increase the burden on the spleen and stomach, making it more difficult to transform phlegm and dampness. Therefore, the principle of regular and quantitative diet is equally important for maintaining spleen and stomach health and promoting weight loss.
6. The combination of scientific weight loss and the wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine
In modern society, the combination of scientific weight loss and the wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine provides us with a more comprehensive and in-depth perspective of weight loss.
Modern medical research has found that obesity is associated with a variety of metabolic pathologies, such as insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, etc.
TCM conditioning methods, such as tonifying the spleen and dispelling dampness, can play a role in these aspects. For example, some traditional Chinese medicine ingredients have been found to have the function of improving insulin sensitivity and regulating blood lipid levels.
Combined with modern lifestyles, we can incorporate the weight loss wisdom of TCM into our daily lives. For example, moderate exercise can not only promote blood circulation in the body, but also enhance the transportation function of the spleen and stomach, and help the discharge of moisture in the body.
Proper rest and sleep are also essential, as adequate sleep helps regulate the body's endocrine system, which in turn promotes metabolism and reduces the production of phlegm and dampness.
In practice, we can choose a suitable diet plan and lifestyle adjustment according to the constitution identification of TCM.
At the same time, the detection methods of modern medicine can also help us understand the physical condition more accurately, so as to choose TCM conditioning programs in a more targeted manner.
summary
All in all, the weight loss method of TCM is not static, it emphasizes personalized conditioning according to individual differences.
The development of modern science has provided the means to verify the theories and methods of traditional Chinese medicine, and the combination of the two has opened a new door to a healthy weight.
In this way, we can not only lose excess fat, but also gain a more harmonious state of mind and body.