|
||
Definition:
Macrobiotics, created Sagen Ishizuka in the 19th century and made popular in the United States by
Michio Kushi, is based upon the same principles of yin and yang as is
acupuncture.
But, instead of attempting to regulate the flow of ch'i through needles, macrobiotics involves the
proper use of diet.
According to macrobiotics, every food has some essential "yingness" or "yangness." When a person eats too many of one type, that will result in mental of physical problems. Correcting this imbalance, whether that imbalance is created by improper diet or other forces, requires adjusting one's diet to increase the yingness or yangness of the foods they eat, depending upon what they need. It is possible for a macrobiotic diet to be healthy (because it relies heavily on whole grains, vegetables, and beans), but only by coincidence - foods are not, after all, chosen for any nutritional value. The original macrobiotic diet was less healthy, however, and some people came near death when they followed it strictly.
Also Known As: none
Alternate Spellings: none
Common Misspellings: none
Related Resources:
What is Alternative Medicine?
There's an awful lot in the news and in society about "alternative medicines" these days. By some estimates, it's an industry doing between $15 and $20 billion annually - and growing! But what is alternative medicine - how does it differ from scientific medicine and why do people use it?Skepticism & Critical Thinking
This is the main index for issues dealing with skepticism, critical thinking, logic and arguments. The first section is Critical Thinking itself - how to think about claims and arguments you hear, how to critique arguments, and how to formulate your own arguments such that they are more likely to be sound and valid. The second section is about Skeptical Investigations - the practical application of the critical thinking skills covered in the first section. Here you will find critiques of things like astrology, alternative medicine, parapsychology, the New Age and more.
