The Chinese Concept of Eating Food and Taking Medicine: A Lesson in Natural Healing
Language is a reflection of culture, and nowhere is this more evident than in the Chinese words for eating food (吃飯) and taking medicine (吃藥). Both phrases use the verb “吃” (“to eat”), suggesting that in traditional Chinese thought, consuming medicine is akin to consuming food. This linguistic connection provides a deeper insight into the way ancient cultures understood the relationship between nourishment and healing.
One striking aspect of the Chinese word for medicine, “藥” (yào), is that it contains the grass radical (艹) at the top. This radical signifies that medicine originates from the earth, from plants, from nature itself. This is not merely a linguistic coincidence—it is an acknowledgment of the fact that nearly all pharmaceuticals were originally derived from plant sources. The modern field of pharmacognosy, the study of drug discovery derived from plants and other natural sources, is built upon this principle.
The Pharmaceutical Industry’s Imitation of Nature
For thousands of years, traditional healers and herbalists relied on plants to treat ailments, refining their knowledge through generations of observation and experience. Modern pharmaceutical companies have taken a different approach: rather than using whole plants, they isolate and extract an active phytonutrient and then create a synthetic version of it in the lab. This allows them to patent their product, ensuring exclusivity and profit. However, this reductionist approach comes at a cost.
When a plant-based remedy is consumed in its whole form, it contains a synergistic blend of nutrients, enzymes, and co-factors that work together harmoniously in the body. When a single compound is extracted and synthesized, it loses this natural balance. Furthermore, because synthetic drugs are foreign to the body, they often cause side effects. These side effects lead to the creation of additional diseases, in which a second medication is often prescribed, resulting in a vicious cycle of pharmaceutical dependence. To break the cycle, one must understand pharmacology and be able to educate confidently to patients.
The Dangers of Pharmaceuticals: What Clinicians Must Know
It is crucial for natural health practitioners to recognize and address the negative effects of pharmaceuticals on their patients. All drugs come with side effects, and many lead to additional drug-induced diseases. The liver and kidneys, responsible for metabolizing these synthetic compounds, are often severely damaged by prolonged medication use. Patients frequently suffer from fatigue, digestive disorders, hormone imbalances, and cognitive decline, all stemming from the very drugs meant to “heal” them.
As clinicians, we must take a proactive approach. Identifying medication-induced health issues is essential to guiding patients toward true healing. This includes:
Educating patients about the risks of long-term pharmaceutical use.
Encouraging dietary and lifestyle changes to replace the need for medications.
Using targeted Functional Nutrition to support detoxification and cellular repair.
Why Every Clinician Must Read The Pharmaceutical Myth
For those seeking to deepen their understanding of these issues, The Pharmaceutical Myth is an essential read. This book exposes the reality of the pharmaceutical industry, detailing how it prioritizes profits over patient health. More importantly, it highlights the power of Functional Nutrition as a viable alternative to lifelong medication use. Every clinician should have a copy in their office, providing patients with the knowledge they need to take control of their health.
By returning to nature and embracing food as medicine, we can break free from the pharmaceutical stranglehold. Patients deserve to be educated, empowered, and guided toward solutions that truly support their well-being. Natural health clinicians have a duty to challenge the status quo and restore faith in the body’s innate ability to heal—the way it was designed to.
As we reflect on the linguistic connection between eating food and taking medicine in Chinese, we must ask ourselves: If medicine was originally meant to come from nature, why have we allowed it to be replaced by dangerous, synthetic alternatives? The answer lies in reclaiming our knowledge, trusting our intuition, and remembering that real medicine starts with what we choose to put on our plate
Food as Medicine: A Time-Tested Truth
The idea that food is medicine is not new. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, famously said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” In ancient times, healers prescribed specific foods and herbs to address illnesses, knowing that the nutrients found in natural substances supported the body’s ability to heal itself.
Today, this concept remains just as relevant. Whole foods, rich in vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients, can prevent and even reverse chronic diseases. In contrast, a diet full of processed foods and artificial ingredients contributes to inflammation, weakened immunity, and metabolic disorders. Functional Nutrition, which emphasizes using food to restore health, is a powerful ally in modern healthcare. It allows clinicians to work with the body’s natural processes rather than against them, avoiding the pitfalls of pharmaceutical dependency.
The Urgent Call to Action
Natural health professionals must take a stand against the widespread and dangerous use of pharmaceuticals. Want to learn more on how to investigate your patients’ medications and learn how to identify, prevent and reverse drug-induced diseases?
The Natural Solution: Addressing the Root Cause
Migraines and seizures do not happen randomly—they are symptoms of deeper imbalances in the body. Natural health clinicians have the tools to uncover these root causes and provide real, lasting healing.
Some of the most effective natural approaches include:
Functional Nutrition – Eliminating inflammatory foods, balancing blood sugar, and addressing nutrient deficiencies (such as magnesium and B vitamins) can dramatically reduce migraine and seizure frequency.
Detoxification – Heavy metal toxicity, food additives, and environmental toxins often contribute to neurological dysfunction. Cleansing the body of these harmful substances can help restore balance.
Hormonal and Gut Health Optimization – Many migraine sufferers and seizure patients have underlying gut dysbiosis or hormonal imbalances that must be corrected to achieve full recovery.
Stress and Nervous System Regulation – Chronic stress is a major trigger for neurological disorders. Natural techniques such as acupuncture, chiropractic care, and meditation can support nervous system healing.
References:
1. Zhao YM, Xia AX, Wei YH, Ruan YP, Li FZ. [Polysorbate-80 modified neurotoxin nanoparticle with its transport and cytotoxicity against blood-brain barrier]. Yao Xue Xue Bao. 2010 Oct;45(10):1312-6. Chinese. PubMed PMID: 21348312.
2. Ema M, Hara H, Matsumoto M, Hirata-Koizumi M, Hirose A, Kamata E. Evaluation of developmental neurotoxicity of polysorbate 80 in rats. Reprod Toxicol. 2008 Jan;25(1):89-99. Epub 2007 Aug 25. PubMed PMID: 17961976.
3. Murphy CP, Cox RL, Harden EA, Stevens DA, Heye MM, Herzig RH. Encephalopathy and seizures induced by intravesical alum irrigations. Bone Marrow Transplant. 1992 Oct;10(4):383-5.
4. Reusche E, Pilz P, Oberascher G, Lindner B, Egensperger R, Gloeckner K, Trinka E, Iglseder B. Subacute fatal aluminum encephalopathy after reconstructive otoneurosurgery: a case report. Hum Pathol. 2001 Oct;32(10):1136-40.
5. Bishop NJ, Morley R, Day JP, Lucas A. Aluminum neurotoxicity in preterm infants receiving intravenous-feeding solutions. N Engl J Med. 1997 May 29;336(22):1557-61.
6. Crapper DR, Tomko GJ. Neuronal correlates of an encephalopathy associated with aluminum neurofibrillary degeneration. Brain Res. 1975 Oct 31;97(2):253-64.
7. Crapper DR, Krishnan SS, Quittkat S. Aluminium, neurofibrillary degeneration and Alzheimer’s disease. Brain. 1976 Mar;99(1):67-80.
8. Gorell JM, Rybicki BA, Cole Johnson C, Peterson EL. Occupational metal exposures and the risk of Parkinson’s disease. Neuroepidemiology. 1999;18(6):303-8.
