If you’re reading a Chinese medicine wellness blog, chances are you are an active participant in creating your own health. You probably have a few blogs or podcasts you keep an eye on and your instagram is likely filled with images of plants with captions that say, “this food kills 98% of cancer cells in your body!” or “eat this every day to improve sleep!”
It can be challenging to figure out what is true, what is untrue and what is loosely based in truth and is probably good practice anyway. The discernment required to make it through a day of social media and news can be mentally exhausting and at times the advice can be down right dangerous. Everyone talks about how ginkgo is great for memory but almost no one mentions that it can cause a brain bleed in some people. It is truly important to do research on whatever you are going to be taking before you put it in your body. Even if you are reading a blog from a health professional, they may forget to mention possible drug interactions with the herbs in teas or that consuming too much of this food can cause digestive issues. We have no idea who is even making these images we’re seeing online. As an acupuncturist I see so much information pertaining to Chinese medicine that is simply wrong, sometimes this is even being shared by other practitioners! When deciding to make changes to your diet or lifestyle it’s important to check in with yourself and ask, “will this help me? Is this information verified? Can I do this safely?”. I recommend always doing an independent check from a secondary source before incorporating new information into your life and always google “contraindications” just to be safe.
In addition to misinformation, there can be a ton of pressure to do everything perfectly. I remember once reading a blog about warm lemon water in the morning (you know, the advice we’ve all read). This made good sense to me, lemon to get the liver qi flowing, the warm water to wake up your digestion and get hydrated after sleep and the bonus was, it’s super easy! I can do this no problem! As I read the blog the author goes on to say it’s critical you do this FIRST. THING. She keeps a kettle in her bedroom for this purpose. I didn’t think much of it and the next day I woke up at 6am, launched myself out of bed full bore, raced to the kitchen and held my bladder while I waited for the water to heat up. I then chugged my lemon water. Perfect, done and down within 3 minutes of waking! I maintained this routine for several weeks until it hit me one day; what I was doing was idiotic. What is better for my health than spiking my heart rate before I’ve even had time to think and stressing myself out with trying to get fluid in before my eyes are fully open is snuggling with my cats or my partner, is going to the washroom and brushing my teeth so I feel refreshed before heading to the kitchen. It’s starting my day off in a calm and serene way instead of waking to immediate stress and time constraints.
There is so much information online, in books and magazines, in documentaries and suggestions from mentors and instructors. It is wonderful that we are at a time where people are honouring their minds, bodies and spirits and I am grateful to be a part of this movement. But we also have to keep it realistic. We simply cannot eat every food, do every yoga pose, consume every herb, get 8 hours of sleep every night and wander around in the present moment 100% of the time. I can’t speak for everyone but I know for myself the advice I give out I expect to be incorporated in a way that is manageable for my individual client. What you need to prioritise will be different for every person. I eat 90% organic, I exercise and get outside every day and I try to meditate for 20 minutes at least 5 days a week. That’s it, that’s what I have in me. Should I be getting involved in the community, reaching out to friends and family, drinking a cup of bone broth every night and sitting an hour of meditation daily? Ideally. Is that realistic when I have a full time job, a partner I like to spend time with, hobbies I enjoy and a home to take care of? Not at all. The pressure of trying to do everything perfectly is more likely to make you ill than just not doing the thing. If you’re a new mom you likely won’t get 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep per night and internalising that it’s terrible for your health can cause even more issues.
So I ask you, reader, to take everything you see online (this site included) with a generous grain of salt. Ask yourself if the information is true, if these changes are manageable or beneficial and how can things be adapted to suit you and your limitations at this time. The journey towards health and actualisation should be enjoyable, something to be approached with curiosity as you figure out what works for you and what doesn’t.
I still drink a cup of warm lemon water in the morning but these days it’s typically the third thing.