Naturopathic Nutrition, Herbal Medicine, Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Endobiogenic Medicine all have one thing in common when treating disease – they focus on treating the terrain instead of focussing on just the symptoms and disease which is what allopathic medicine does. The terrain is the internal environment within the body – the conditions in which cells, tissues and micro organisms exist. It is this environment that determines how well cells function and how well the body responds to stress, injury or infection. This internal environment is important for health and is greatly influenced by the food we eat and how we live our lives, it’s interconnected with all the internal body systems and determines how how resilient you are to disease.
When we become unwell or start experiencing reoccurring symptoms, we need to ask ourselves why this is happening. What has happened to the internal environment to allow, for example, this microbe to live and spread within the body. I see this in clinic a lot with reoccurring chest infections, UTIs and gut disorders involving SIBO. Two people can be exposed to the same pathogen, one may experience no symptoms and the body just removes it, and another can get sick to the point where the pathogen never leaves and manages to stay in the body and cause reoccurring infections. The strength and resilience of the terrain is not limited to infections, it’s involved in all diseases and disorders, there is imbalance somewhere within the body that’s causing the condition in the first place. If you have a genetic susceptibility to certain diseases then you still need to ask yourself why did the genes express themselves.
There are many modern and traditional diagnostic tools used by naturopaths for clues about the internal environment such as pulse reading, iridology, dosha type, physical appearance (this can include hair loss patterns, weight changes, markings and condition of the skin, quality of the nails, varicose veins, thread veins etc.). Detailed consultations of 60-90 mins can reveal a lot of symptoms both past and present that can give you clues about the body systems under stress and imbalances. Symptoms should never be ignored because they are your body’s sign that something is out of balance, they’re your body’s whispers, and if repeatedly ignored or suppressed with medication like painkillers for example, your body will end up shouting to get your attention.
Here are some basic steps you can take to support the health of your internal environment:
* Keep your blood sugar balanced by not skipping meals and eating a balance of healthy carbs, fats and protein with every meal. High sugar levels create a lot of inflammation and damage within the body and imbalance the microbiome, there’s also a strong association with Type 2 Diabetes, fatty liver and other chronic illnesses. High fat and no carbs can also negatively impact the gut microbiome, so balanced meals are generally more healthful for the body. For cells to function optimally they require vitamins, minerals, amino acids, essential fats, fibre and adequate calories, this supports the function of the immune system, energy production and health within the whole body.
* Support your microbiome by feeding them what they need which is fibre and polyphenols which are found in the different colours of fresh fruit and veg. By ‘eating the rainbow’ you can ensure that you’re consuming the diversity needed for your gut microbiome. Naturally fermented foods can also be a beneficial addition for most people, although they’re best avoided if you have high histamine levels.
* Make sleep a priority, this is when the body heals and repairs and according to the TCM clock this is when the liver does most of its detoxing. This is also when the brain detoxes, and sleep has a profound influence on immune function and hormone balance.
* Stress impacts every system of the body and its management is probably needed by everyone living in the modern world that never stops. Finding ways to switch off and relax is important because it’s when stress becomes long-term and chronic that it impacts the body and reduces its buffering capacity. Chronic stress has been associated with increases in blood pressure, blood sugar, mental health issues and reduced immune functions as well as impacting sleep.
* Support your body’s detoxification processes because having a high toxic load degrades the terrain. Good nutrition, adequate hydration, sleep and regular activity can support this process. But reducing your exposure to toxins can also reduce the load and burden on the liver, so reduce pesticides where you can by eating organic or looking at the Dirty Dozen and the Clean 15 which will tell you the most and least crops that have been spray with pesticides (this list changes each year). Use an air filter if you live near a busy road, use a dehumidifier if you have a mould problem, avoid tobacco smoke (and vapes),reduce or eliminate alcohol and ultra processed foods.
* Exercise, or even just regular movement has many health benefit including an increase in bone density, muscle mass, insulin sensitivity, cardiovascular health, immune regulation and mood. If you sweat then you have the added benefit of excreting toxins through the skin.
So next time you have symptoms or feel unwell ask yourself why this happened, you might be able to see that changes in your diet, lifestyle or stress levels have lead to your symptoms developing as your buffering capacity and ability to adapt during this time became compromised. Optimising your internal terrain can improve resilience and reduce the risk of many diseases, it doesn’t guarantee that you’ll never get sick, but it gives your body the best possible foundation to resist disease, recover efficiently and thrive.
If you’re recovering from illness, managing a chronic condition, or simply looking to improve your wellbeing, I can support your body’s internal terrain through personalised nutrition, herbal support and lifestyle guidance, giving your body the resources it needs to function, repair and recover more effectively.
You can reach me here if you’d like free 15 minute discovery call to see how I can help.
Written by Tina Prajapat DipCNM, mANP, rGNC – Registered Nutritional Therapist, Herbalist and Naturopath specialising in women’s health and gut health using nutrition, herbal medicine and lifestyle approaches.
Find out more about my Naturopathy, Nutrition and Herbal Medicine consultations here.
