First of all, it’s important to understand what illness is. In fact, what we call illness in all traditional medicine, since Hippocrates, is an alarm sent by the body. Most of us experience these moments of alarm as tragedies. As a result, the tendency is to rush to medication to put an end to the disturbing symptoms.

However, if we regard this illness as a warning, then silencing the signal does not tell us anything about the disease or its origin.

What if this illness were the expression of a deeper, as yet unexpressed evil? This pain, which takes the form of physical ailments, is often psycho-emotional in nature. So, when we fail to express what ails us, or when we lead a life that doesn’t suit us, the body will manifest itself through pain, or even illness. And the longer we silence this signal, without trying to decode it, the greater the risk of serious pathologies appearing.

Although subjective, pain – like certain disorders – is a distressing, even unbearable experience for some people. So, when pain is intense, it’s justifiable to want to get rid of it. The quickest way is to take painkillers. But these drugs can only be taken for very short periods, at the risk of becoming ineffective or even creating side effects or dependency.

To avoid this, there are natural alternatives. The management of acute and chronic pain often requires multidisciplinary expertise. Acupuncture, touch techniques, massage, hypnosis, relaxation techniques and sophrology all work well. Homeopathy remains a preferred alternative for some.

As soon as the pain subsides and serenity returns, it’s time to investigate. What’s happening to me? Why have I reached this stage? etc. In some cases, the answer may come quickly to mind. In other cases, and particularly in the case of serious or chronic pathologies, this time of introspection will take time.

These questions, you’ll agree, require time and calm! So, first of all, let’s look at rest.

Generally speaking, the onset of illness invites us first and foremost to stop and rest. Whatever its origin, the body signals that it needs to restore itself, to recover its energy. For this energy is the guarantee of our ability to heal.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), rest belongs to the Yin movement. In periods of rest, and particularly during sleep, activity stops, body temperature drops and the mind finds rest, thus replenishing itself. Energy movements become more fluid.

Many factors can influence our daily energy: infectious disease, sleep disorders, overwork and, of course, repeated and unmanaged stress.

Not forgetting, of course, an unbalanced or unhealthy diet, as well as excessive alcohol or caffeine consumption. Overeating is also to be avoided. They cause fatigue due to the digestion process: the transformation of food into nutrients by the body consumes enormous energy resources.

This is especially true when we’re ill. Just as we need to rest, we need to adapt our diet. And while adapting may seem complicated to many people, there’s an extremely simple technique that’s particularly well-suited to alarm situations (illness): fasting.

Fasting has existed in every culture in the world. Today, it is very fashionable in the West and an integral part of Chinese medicine. Even science is discovering that its effects are miraculous. In fact, regular fasting is an excellent tool for preventing disease.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been using fasting for thousands of years to treat specific illnesses such as digestive disorders, mental disorders and so on.

The Chinese derived the following maxims from their observation:

“Those who eat meat are brave and fierce；
Those who eat grain are wise and skillful (of mind)；
Those who eat Qi have clear minds and longevity；
Those who don’t eat don’t die and become spirits/immortals.”

In view of these maxims, it’s easy to see the point of seriously lightening our bodies in general, and especially when those bodies are crying out in pain. So we can stop eating for a few days. For those who find this difficult, it’s important to eliminate at least all sugars and foods that are heavy to digest, and to reduce their quantity.

It’s best to eat a few vegetables, or even a few fruits, preferably just once a day. As your health improves, you can gradually return to a more regular diet.

By fasting, whether completely or partially, we leave as much of our energy as possible at our body’s disposal, enabling it to repair itself. This energy is not taken up by the digestive process.

The other advantage of these fasting periods is that an empty stomach is also an invitation to inner listening or introspection. Fasting increases our capacity for perception, and makes us more available to ourselves. As a result, we’re more likely to understand the origin of the signal that is our illness.

We’ll then be able to listen more closely to our emotions, an essential step. In TCM, body and mind are closely linked. Emotions are directly linked to the functioning of our organs, and therefore to our energy balance. Good energy balance means good health. Without going into detail – which you can explore here – you’ll find an overview in the box below.

Seeing illness as a signal enables us to adopt a different attitude towards it. So, instead of being a victim, we become actors in our own healing. And, even if we have to seek the help of a therapist, our healing will be all the more effective and profound.