Nutritional interventions may be of three types:^197- Supplementation: as well as various vitamins and minerals, the range
may contain animal and plant products (e.g. algae or kelp). - Dietary modification: this involves changes in dietary habits to exclude
elements not considered nutritious or to establish better eating
patterns. - Therapeutic systems: the inclusion (or exclusion) of foods considered
to have a contributory role to the patient’s health.
Examples of diets with properties beneficial to health include:^199- White rice porridge: this regulates the bowels (constipation and
diarrhoea), for nausea and loss of appetite. - Sweet and sour sauce: considered to be an important constituent of
diet because of its antiseptic properties. - Sweet and sour crispy noodles: noodles are a good source of nutrients
for athletes and growing children. The vinegar in the sauce has
antiseptic properties.
Examples of dietary remedies for common illnesses include:- Acne: infusion of the flowers of peach (Prunus persica) or almond (P.
amygdalus) in water daily - Arthritis: cinnamon tea (Cinnamonum cassia); for cold arthritis, sage
steeped in rice wine sipped daily and for warm arthritis infusion of
purslane (Portalaca oleracea) in water - Constipation: fig wine, stewed pears and bananas eaten cold with honey
- Flatulence: seeds of mandarin orange chewed
- Haemorrhoids: simmer a mixture of almonds, peach kernels, pine nuts
and sesame seeds in water and drink as a soup - Halitosis: a few leaves of peppermint or the peel of a mandarin orange
chewed.
Martial art therapy
This approach uses movements and exercises adapted from martial arts,
such as tai ji quanand kung fu.^200 A case study report has indicated that a
patient suffering from severe cervical stenosis improved after martial art
therapy.^201
Qigong
This is a meditative therapy with a history similar to that of Chinese
massage. It is often combined with body movement and breathing exercises
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