In the previous two posts, we discussed how Western medicine and medicinal herbs can harm our body. Without care, nutritional supplement can have the same harmful effects.
Artificial supplements are not food but more like Western drugs. Supplements made from foods are concentrated food. They should be treated as medicinal herbs because of their strong effects. We cannot process concentrated food supplements in the same way as we do natural foods. We cannot take them for long periods without side effects.
History Repeat Itself
There were times in Chinese history when people believed that taking nutritional supplement would improve their health and lead to long life. Beginning in 365 BCE, 10 emperors and many Chinese had health problems and died earlier than normal because of taking special metal or mineral supplements.[i] Current supplements may not be as bad. But they still have side effects. Those ancient supplements were extracted from natural earth, while modern supplements may be made from artificial ingredients.
My Experience in Nutritional Supplement
- I took supplements for nutritional purposes. I took them as directed by my doctor during my first pregnancy. I had no idea what was in them. Now I think that I ingested plastic. I am glad I did not take any supplements during my second pregnancy. One time I fainted after taking a handful of nutritional pills. I believe the pills made my already weakened Stomach and Spleen work harder, causing me to faint.
- I used to spend a good amount of money on natural digestive enzyme supplements to improve my digestion. I hardly had any burping or bloated feelings after taking the supplements. However, I experienced a heavy sensation and fullness in my abdominal area. Whenever I forgot to take those supplements, the bloated feelings immediately returned and were worse than before. After I changed my diet, my digestive system recovered and I no longer needed those supplements.
Once you have the right foods and nourishment, you do not need expensive supplements or toxic medicinal herbs. When you cannot be nourished with food because of its energy problems, supplements will probably not be of much use either.
Supplements, as well as medicinal herbs, are different kinds of medicine. They have side effects and often cause health problems with long-term use. According to the Better Health Channel (BHC), sponsored by the Victoria State Government of Australia, “Medicines can cause unwanted side effects. All kinds of medicines, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, herbal preparations, vitamins, and natural or herbal medicines can have side-effects.”[ii] There are no magic pills that can help us return to full health.
Supplements, as well as medicinal herbs and Western medicines, are not food. They can be used temporarily to combat sickness and prevent symptoms from worsening, but they should never be used long term.
Food Is the Best Medicine
Food, not supplements, not medicinal herbs, and not Western medicines, is the best medicine for our long-term health. Food from Nature can fill us with energy, promote health, prevent and cure disease, and enable us to live a long life. Healing through food and diet is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine and has been used in China for thousands of years by doctors and others. It is preferred over medicinal herbs for preventing and curing disease.
Even when you use medicine, you still need to take care of the illness and help yourself recover by consuming the right foods. Medicine can only cure illnesses if it is used along with the right foods. A Chinese proverb says, “He who takes medicine and neglects his diet wastes the skill of his doctors.” This is why traditional Chinese doctors may refuse to provide further treatment if their dietary recommendations are not followed.
A healthy person, eating food grown in naturally fertilized soil and following the Total Life Energy Plan, should rarely need medicinal herbal formulas, Western medicine, or supplements.
Natural foods, unadulterated by man, are rich in many kinds of natural energy that empower us to adapt to many different environments. It is impossible to make a pill that contains yin and yang in the right balance that will then go to the right organs.
[i] Chinese TV Network, http://jishi.cntv.cn/20111026/100431_1.shtml 10/26/2011. About 10 emperors died early by taking special supplements.
[ii] the Better Health Channel (BHC), sponsored by the Victoria State Government of Australia: Fact sheet: Medicines and side effects. http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Medicines_can_cause_unwanted_side_effects?open