The Medicine of Negation and Digestion
When we regularly eat harmful, aggravating foods the body does its best to habituate, but can never truly be healthy or balanced. Rather than thinking in terms of what to eat—taking in foods, herbs, or medicines that we believe or hope are good—first think in terms of what is best minimised or avoided. Removing problem foods or shedding what’s no longer needed reduces the mind-body’s burden and supports natural intelligence, balance and healing capacity.
Āyurveda is the ancient healing system of India, a science and art that has been used and tested for over five thousand years. In their treatment of health imbalance, the first step of most Ayurvedic physicians is to remove anything that is causing or perpetuating illness. A practice I term the medicine of negation. In order to introduce new foods and behaviours, it is necessary to first recognise, reduce, and eliminate what’s of no use.
The second prime focus of Āyurveda is to nurture a strong digestion—a capacity that supports the healing of almost all disease states, including heart disease, diabetes, poor immune function and obesity. Using the medicine of negation to strengthen the digestion, first:
– Stop drinking cold foods and fluids, especially iced drinks; and too much water or liquid just before, during, or after a meal.
– Avoid too many dry foods that take moisture from the digestion and body (especially if you tend to have dry skin, mouth, hair).
– Avoid dense, heavy foods such as large serves of meat, and anything deep-fried or containing heat-extracted and hydrogenated oils.
– Limit foods that are unfamiliar to the digestion such as unseasonal foods, imported products, and too many food combinations.
– Limit processed foods and additives, and sterilised and long shelf-life foods that are inert and anti-life, including refined sugars, flours and salts, and junk foods.
Other things to think twice about include:
– Super-sized meals
– Mid-meal snacks
– Foods that cause signs of allergy or intolerance.
– Dietary supplements and extracts that have been isolated from their complex, living surrounds.
– Environmental toxins in plant-based foods sprayed with agrochemicals; commercially farmed animals and their products; food stored in plastic wraps and storage vessels; bottled and unfiltered water; the health and beauty products you use.
The medicine of negation can also be applied to our actions. For example, don’t consume a meal (or snack):
– Before the previous meal is fully digested.
– Very late at night, or just before sleeping.
– While feeling very hot or cold or in pain, or experiencing extreme fatigue, stress, worry, nervousness, fear, anger, jealousy, hatred, anguish, or sorrow.
The medicine of negation is a powerful tool in dietary change, and in life. If in doubt of what to do, move toward the positive by working from the negative; remove what’s problematic first. Saying no to foods also says no to the momentum that supports the habit. To discontinue incompatible foods it’s often best to reduce quantities by one quarter each week over a four-week period.
Thank you Nutritank, in your mission to increase nutrition and lifestyle education within medical school curricula. This knowledge is the foundation from which to promote good health, wellbeing and longevity!
