Modern medicine generally identifies illnesses by the presence of specific pathogens (the organisms causing the disease to its host). Hence, although the negative results from necessary physical and chemical tests run through medical equipment, there are instances when we still feel discomfort and pain.
On the contrary, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) assesses one’s overall state. In TCM, ‘lenient’ signs, such as sleep deficiency, lethargy, or irritability, can lead to a body imbalance that hasn’t fully developed into a disease yet. This situation is referred to as suboptimal health status.
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What is Suboptimal Health Status (SHS)?
Suboptimal, also called sub-health or subhealth, health status happens when all tested chemical and physical indexes are found negative by advanced medical equipment. However, the person tested remains uncomfortable and unwell.
Since our health condition is an ongoing, changing process, SHS involves different levels. It starts from being healthy, sub-healthy, and ends with unhealthy. Theoretically, SHS is between health and illness.
Specifically, when your body undergoes SHS, your organs experience degrading and aging processes. In other words, your body will deteriorate, and immunity will break down slowly. As a result, you’ll be prone to sore throat, fatigue, concentration and memory loss, mild fever, hormonal imbalance like irregular menstruation, and other diseases. If taken for granted, they’ll become worse.
Irritability, insomnia, constipation, and cold are the common symptoms of a sub-health condition. While modern medicine typically prescribes antibiotics for them, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has different stands for these. Check them out here.
Note: In TCM, any capitalized name of body parts refers to the organ’s functional system rather than the organ itself.
Irritability
Feeling irritated and stressed out commonly happens to what studies described as Liver Qi Stagnation. It prevents the Liver from effectively performing its functions, including emotion regulation.
In TCM, the Liver’s function is to move the Qi (energy). It prefers to move forward in life creatively and dynamically. It shouldn’t be stuck or unreleased. Otherwise, it will explode. Consequently, people experience headaches, migraines, bad tempers, and high blood pressure, which are all common causes of irritability.
To relieve Liver Qi Stagnation, here’s the list to consume:
- Vegetables (like squash or sweet potatoes)
- Fruits (like red or black dates, cherries, coconut meat, or kumquat)
- Herbs (like garlic, oregano, or spearmint)
- Seeds/beans (caraway seeds, mustard seeds, or red beans)
- Meat – chicken
- Spices – (like saffron, sweet basil, or turmeric)
Insomnia
Heart Fire mainly results in sleeping difficulties. In TCM’s philosophy, Fire is Yang energy. If Yang is disrupted and Fire can’t flow properly, Fire causes excess heat. It can disturb one’s body and mind, causing inflammation. Poor eating habits, restlessness, resentment, frustration, depression, and anger all contribute to this built-up heat.
In TCM, the Heart incorporates the features of the nervous system in biological sciences and psychology (emotion). That’s why the TCM treatment for insomnia involves clearing the excess heat, alleviating the damage from emotional stress, and calming your spirit.
If you’re experiencing insomnia, here are some of the foods to avoid before bedtime:
- Alcohol
- Spicy food
- Pizzas
- Steak
Alternatively, the following are what you should rather consume 1-2 hours before going to bed:
- Calming foods (like almonds, bananas, cherries, lemon balm tea, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, or pineapples)
- Cooling foods (like apples, avocados, beets, chards, cucumbers, lemons, melons, navy beans, pears, summer squashes, yogurt, and teas, including chrysanthemum tea or valerian tea)
Constipation
In TCM, the digestive system and a few parts of the circulatory system are under the Spleen system.
When the area of the Spleen becomes cold and damp, the flow of Qi will be impeded, causing Spleen Qi Deficiency. It causes digestive issues, such as bloating, bowel movement difficulties, and gastric pain. Since Spleen weakens due to damp and cold food, avoid eating raw, cold, and cooling food.
Additionally, don’t overeat and have meals at irregular intervals. Instead, warm and dry meals seasoned with mild spices work best.
To strengthen Spleen, consume the following:
- Beef
- Herbs (like astragalus, codonopsis, ginseng, or jujube dates)
- Root vegetables
- Warming spices (like ginger, cumin, and black pepper
- Warm food
Cold
In TCM, the Lungs are easily affected by wind, cold, heat, and the surrounding environment. If you’re experiencing hoarseness, runny nose, coughing, dry nasal cavities and throat, spontaneous sweating, and warming of palms and soles, you could have Lung Qi or Lung Yin.
Lung Qi is typically compromised by unexpressed or prolonged negative emotions, such as sadness or grief, poor posture, lack of exercise, and physical overexertion. On the other hand, Lung Yin is damaged by inhaling bronchodilators, tobacco, and steroids.
A healthy diet is necessary to have a balanced Qi and Yin. The following foods can be added to your meals:
- Healthy, energizing fats (like avocados, coconut oil, or salmon)
- Fermented foods (like kefir, kimchi or sauerkraut)
- Lightly cooked nuts
- Vegetables and fruits
- Adaptogenic herbs (like ginseng)
Should I Really Consider TCM?
TCM has been the subject of many clinical studies and scientific reviews. While some products are associated with safety issues, research shows that other TCM approaches have relatively few complications and can be safe practices.
Nonetheless, don’t use TCM to delay or replace conventional care. If affordability is your concern, there are ways to cover medication cheaply, even without insurance. For example, Buzzrx.com offers free prescription discount cards. These cards can help you save up to 80% on your prescription drugs at over 60 000 participating pharmacies in the United States.
If you consider TCM, inform your healthcare providers about your plans to use it as a complementary or integrative health approach. This is particularly important if you’re pregnant, nursing, having a health condition, or considering using it to treat a child. This ensures coordinated and safe care.
Final Thoughts
Many medical practitioners labeled suboptimal health status (SHS) as “the new killer of the 21st century”. Even the World Health Organization (WHO) referred to it as “the gray state of health.” Despite these, discussing TCM considerations with your healthcare providers is crucial.