Dubai, Wednesday October 5 During Ramadan Dubai Herbal & Treatment Centre’s (DHTC) Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Head of Department Dr Maria Ridao Alonso says it is a good time for people to pay more attention to their health and body.
Ramadan is the holy month where fasting is considered to be the third pillar of religious obligation of Islam and provides many benefits, mainly being self-control.
According to TCM the body is made up of Qi (energy), moisture and blood. The kidney is responsible for the energy of the body, storing the Qi, and the stomach and the spleen are responsible for digestion.
Dr Ridao Alonso says that as the diet and eating times change during Ramadan, at times the stomach and spleen do not work as effectively as during the day time.
First of all it is important to drink plenty of liquid, minimum of 1.5 to 2 litres, during the night in order to avoid dehydration. It is best to drink water, which, is room temperature and not cold as cold water can damage the stomach function.
Meals should be light and easy to digest especially after breaking fasting, so Dr Ridao Alonso advises no fried, fatty or smoked foods because they can lead to retention of food in the stomach and can cause problems like distension, bloated feeling, gas or stomach pain. “In TCM we say this can stop the circulation of Qi,” says Dr Ridao Alonso.
Soups like chicken or vegetable soup are very good, also steamed rice with steamed vegetables and grilled fish or chicken. “It is better to eat slowly, chewing carefully because that helps the stomach with digestion.”
If symptoms occur there are very effective Chinese herbs to help regulate the function of the organs being kidney, spleen and stomach. In addition acupuncture and cupping (with or without bleeding) can also help especially if you tend to feel week or with little energy.
