Western civilization, up until the last few decades, has pursued health primarily through the concept: "If I’m sick, I go to the doctor and take the prescribed drug". While this approach has proven effective for medical crises, it has not proven effective for long-term improved health.

For thousands of years, Chinese civilization has conducted an in-depth study on the challenge of long-term health improvement. What they found can benefit us today.

The Philosophy of Regeneration
1. The body has the ability to create balance and health when given proper nutrition.
2. This proper nutrition must come from whole foods.
3. You must take responsibility for your own health.

Experience or Experiment?
Historically, the Chinese have been the only people to develop an organized method for recording and documenting the effects of herbs. Although there are many sources cataloging herbs to some degree (usually 100 to 200 varieties), the Chinese—over the last 5000 years—have specialized in understanding thousands of herbs and their effect on the human body. They are specialists in the usage of herbs. Their health, long life and medical philosophies reflect this knowledge.

The Chinese study of herbs began with one man eating an herb and recording the effects on his body. Through the years this information was categorized and organized until it was an exact Chinese science. Their gathering of information is “observed experience.” Today, scientists “experiment” with animals which theoretically respond like humans. From these reactions, the scientists draw conclusions about future human response. Then, as the product of this experimentation is used by humans, experience shows whether the scientific conclusions were healthful or harmful. (Please note the difference between experience and experiment.) The Chinese took the first approach. Their knowledge is based on 5,000 years of experience with herbs and is neither theoretical nor experimental. They know what effects herbs have on the human body.

With this experience, the Chinese have classified all herbs into three groups. The first is called food herbs. These herbs do not control the body, but as food, will feed the body nutritionally and support proper functioning and self-regulation. The second group is called medicinal herbs. These herbs will control body functions similarly to the drugs commonly used in the medical profession today. The third group is poisonous herbs. These herbs will cause extreme illness or death.

Regeneration
With this categorical approach to herbs came two health approaches. The philosophy of regeneration states that the human body is fully capable of building a strong, healthy, balanced body, when the body obtains proper whole food nutrition. With good nutrition, the body creates the energy necessary to function properly. Add good eating habits, exercise, and positive mental attitudes, and a person can develop excellent physical strength and health.

Substitution
An opposing philosophy is substitution, which states that when a body function does not work properly or ceases to work at all, it becomes necessary to institute “crisis management.” The use of controlling substances (herbs or drugs) either stimulates the function so it works, or gives it a rest so that it might regain strength to begin functioning on its own. It is called substitution because a drug, herb or chemical is used as a substitute for a function the body was designed to perform on its own. Both principles have their place. Regeneration creates health when the body has proper nutrition, exercise, and mental attitudes. Substitution is used when the body, through lack of proper nutrition, has lost its ability to function properly, thereby creating the need for outside control to begin solving the problem.

Lets use the Digestive System as an example. Let’s consider an example of the body’s digestive system. To operate properly the digestion system needs hydrochloric acid. After going to the doctor, you find your digestive problems stem from a lack of hydrochloric acid. A prescription is given for pills with synthetic hydrochloric acid. After taking the pills, the digestion system works! The stomach problems seem to be gone. That is, until the hydrochloric acid in the stomach leaves, then the ache is back and it is necessary to take more pills.

The body is a self-regulating mechanism and is designed to create its own hydrochloric acid when given the proper nutrition. The question is, does substitution solve the problem of the body’s inability to produce hydrochloric acid? No, it is substituting the acid so the body does not have to create it on its own.

Unfortunately, substituting tends to create some negative effects, and the problem is not solved.

First, it creates greater weakness of the body function. Like your muscles, if a body function isn’t used, it weakens until it dies. This is called atrophy.

Second, when the function ceases to operate, the body creates a dependency on the substitute.

Third, substitution rarely only affects the function it is intended to help. There are almost always side effects, many of which are dangerous to good health. If you take a substitute to help with high blood pressure, it may cause nausea. Then if you take a substitute for nausea, it may cause dizziness. Then you take a substitute for dizziness... it goes on and on.

Now, let’s apply this same example of digestion to the principle of regeneration. The Chinese have found from experience that certain food herbs feed specific systems of the body. From this information, they developed food formulas to feed specific systems of the body. Now, suppose you have a stomach ache. You decide to see if the digestive function can be regenerated by giving it proper nutrition. You eat the herbs the Chinese have used for years to feed the digestive system. The body then takes the nutrients from those herbs and feeds the digestive system. As the digestive system receives these nutrients it is now, once again, able to produce hydrochloric acid.

This is regeneration. The body obtains the proper nutrients through whole foods, then utilizes the energy and elements necessary for the body to function properly and regenerate itself