Most of us grew up hearing “sweet nourishes the Spleen,” and instantly pictured sugar. But in the classical texts, sweet meant something very different — nourishing, hearty, flesh-building foods that actually put you back together. This post unpacks what the ancients really meant, why modern TCM got confused, and why your Spleen wants supper, not jujubes.
When I switched to an animal-based diet in 2024, I expected better digestion — but I didn’t expect everything else. My chronic hip pain vanished, my migraines lifted, my “carpal tunnel” symptoms disappeared, and my nails grew long and strong for the first time in my life. My depression softened and then lifted, my anxiety calmed, and I suddenly wanted to socialize instead of hide. I could walk for hours, hike, even jog. My cravings vanished. My energy stabilized. I stopped thinking about food all day. And I lost fifty pounds without forcing anything.
Reintroducing variety later felt joyful and socially freeing, but my body pushed back fast. Now, through a TCM lens, I’m learning to listen, recalibrate, and find my way back to what truly supports me. This is the beginning of my Personal Healing Journey.
Practical ways to bring Traditional Chinese Medicine into everyday life. Simple if this, then that advice for balancing Qi, supporting hormones, and feeling grounded through the seasons.
