5 Health Idea Differences Between China and the West

5 Health Idea Differences Between China and the West
Oct 27, 2014 By Danielle Martin , eChinacities.com

There are many differences between the West and China regarding health practices and how best to stay healthy. Whilst none are dangerous, better or worse than another, there are certainly some unusual conventions by which Chinese people swear.  Getting to the root of where these stem from is often difficult, with many Chinese people not knowing the true origins of the traditions that they practise – just that they are ‘traditional’ – and so for the curious foreigner, eliciting a reason as to why these habits take place often results in more questions than answers.

Let’s take a look at some perceptions regarding staying healthy that still exist today in China:

5 Health Idea Differences Between China and the West
Photo: Joshua Shinavier

1) Swaddling babies in warm clothes despite warm temperatures outside
Chinese people are very concerned with the warmth of young infants and the belief is that if toes and feet are on display, they will get sick. It is common practice to layer the child in as many items of clothing as possible, regardless of the outside temperature, in order to prevent this from happening. If the child begins to sweat, rather than remove an item of clothing, the family members will often simply wipe its neck with a cold cloth!

2) Not eating or drinking anything cold / not eating chocolate / not exercising during menstruation
The reasoning adopted concerning a woman’s menstrual cycle comes from the Chinese medicine belief that the body contains ‘qi’. Qi translates as ‘natural energy,’ ‘life force’ or ‘energy flow’ with the dictionary definition being given as “the circulating life force whose existence and properties are the basis of much Chinese philosophy and medicine.” It is believed that in order to prevent upsetting the balance of qi so that it doesn’t become stagnant and causes a host of problems in menstruating women, there are a number of customs that must be adhered to, to remain healthy. Not eating or drinking cold items and abstaining from chocolate both stem from the same belief that if you consume these items, the natural free flow of qi throughout the body will be upset. In Chinese medicine, the liver is deemed to be the most important organ channelling qi and during menstruation correct functioning is crucial in preventing painful periods and other symptoms. Other things Chinese women avoid during that time of the month for the same reasons as above are:

  1. Raw and cold foods such as cold water, juices, ice cream, exotic fruit and lettuce
  2. Spicy dishes as they are very warming
  3. Sour tastes as they block qi (for example citrus fruits, yogurt, vinegar, pickles or soups such as tomato or gherkin
  4. Liquids such as coffee, green and black teas and alcohol

Another belief is that exercise should not be carried out under the misapprehension that it will worsen menstrual symptoms. This is in direct contrast to the medical opinions given in the West where doctors advise that you should exercise as it warms the body up and loosens the muscles, therefore alleviating the cramp-like symptoms associated with menstruation.

3) Open windows in winter
Have you noticed how in the depths of winter all of the windows are cracked wide open everywhere – apartments, offices, shops?  This idea perplexed me for the longest time and whenever I asked a Chinese person to explain it, the ideas surrounding it were very vague, simply citing “for fresh air” as the reason. However, it would appear that there is logic for persisting in this bizarre trend: Chinese people believe it to be healthier than leaving the windows closed. Historically, the habit apparently developed thousands of years ago when people used to live in mud huts and caves that needed to be aired out as they were quite smelly, thus the open window habit as we know it today. Whereas the Western view is that in winter we bundle up, put the central heating on full blast and keep a toasty warm house, the Chinese belief is that in doing so the air is ‘stale’ and unable to circulate. By keeping the windows open it is possible to maintain fresh air in the room, preventing germs from spreading. This conflicts with the general medical opinion of keeping warm in order to prevent illnesses such as cold, flu, bronchitis and pneumonia.

4) Drinking pu’er tea as a weight loss aid
Pu’er tea is a ‘medicinal tea’ and has long been famed for its weight loss properties. This idea is actually not that strange as it is fast becoming a recognized dietary aid in the West, along with Oolong tea. The tea is considered to have many benefits that assist the drinker in losing weight by curbing appetite due to the caffeine it contains, decreasing blood cholesterol levels and improving fat metabolism. Due to the double fermentation process that it undergoes in order to produce its distinctive flavour, it is believed that the method produces special enzymes, providing essential well-being nutrients to the body. One cup of pu’er tea a day is said to stimulate weight loss by balancing the body’s systems and stimulating a functional metabolism.   

However be warned: the Chinese ladies I have spoken to say that this tea is only a temporary measure and that if you stop drinking it, the weight comes back on twofold! 

5) 30 day confinement after giving birth
Confinement or “坐月子” contains a plethora of rules that must be followed in order to ward off aches and pains in later life and to fully recuperate after having just given birth. Post pregnancy is considered to be the time when the new mother is at her most fragile and so she must not come into contact with things that may delay or harm her recovery. Chinese women are not allowed to shower, wash their hair, be exposed to the elements (stepping outside lest the wind catch them is a no-no) or drink cold water. They must also stick to a host of dietary restrictions and cannot move about. Moreover, it is common practice for the husband and wife to be separated during that time.

Confinement is a complete month of total bed rest save feeding the new-born. The reason for not drinking cold water or being exposed to elements stems from the idea that if wind penetrates the body it will lead to future ailments and a great deal of pain whilst not washing hair staves off future migraines.The same goes for the air conditioner or fans: they generate wind so are not allowed. God forbid it is the height of summer when the confinement takes place! The intrinsic nature of these taboos is such that many women genuinely fear that they may catch a ‘confinement-related disease’ if they don’t follow the rules to the letter.

You can imagine the furore surrounding the Duchess of Cambridge last year then after giving birth to Prince George … there she was, just one day later standing proudly on the steps of the hospital showing off the baby.  Many Chinese people were confused at what they saw on the news, unable to believe that Kate Middleton would willingly risk her health by stepping outside into the wind with many mainland news anchors questioning her sensibility. These views go to show just how different the Western mentality regarding post-natal care really is, with most mothers freely moving around within a few days.

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Keywords: China and the West health idea differences China

12 Comments

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Guest2781358

Forget western vs chinese ideas on health, shouldn't we concern ourselves about "modern" and medical ideas. Not traditional medicine, that's just juju and witch doctors.

Feb 19, 2015 00:33 Report Abuse

Guest2067684

Yes, these beliefs are most prevelant particularly in the areas of China where life expectancies and are among the lowest, and infant mortality rates are among the highest. For a rapidly developing country, Mainland Chinese people, for the most part, have an incredibly short life expectancy. Just goes to show none should really listen to what they have to say about health.

Nov 01, 2014 16:49 Report Abuse

Mahir.saggar

Traditional culture and great values are very prominent in Asia, and China is an embodiment of that fact.

Oct 31, 2014 04:06 Report Abuse

Garbo

Chinese people are very old fashioned. Not washing for a whole month is not good for you too.

Oct 29, 2014 16:54 Report Abuse

candyyy

I have heard western people don't need to have the confinement,is it true? why Chinese people must have it.

Oct 29, 2014 09:47 Report Abuse

Mateusz

No one needs confinement, Chinese or Western. Chinese just think they need it.

Nov 17, 2014 07:51 Report Abuse

bill8899

Oh my quite a bit of writing this is.

Oct 27, 2014 21:47 Report Abuse

candyyy

I went outside after 35 days confinement, on that day i meet strong wind ,until now 1 year and a half had passed ,i feel painful especially in cold weather.Now i haven't reach 30 years old ,but the symptoms have already shown. i don't know what should i do to cure my illness.

Oct 27, 2014 16:10 Report Abuse

Hotwater

Go to see a western medicine doctor and find out what your illness is! The 35 day confinement may have reduced your bodies resistance to germs & that could have made you more susceptible to illnesses!

Oct 27, 2014 16:21 Report Abuse

candyyy

Thank you ,I'll take your advice.before i have eaten a lot of traditional Chinese medicine .It cost me lot of money,but it doesn't work .my aunt suffered a lot because of this illness. Several days ago she even want to commit suicide, for she can't stand the pain. I'm afraid when i get older,i'll be like her. Hope i can recover ASAP.

Oct 29, 2014 09:45 Report Abuse

dongbeiren

A friend of mine's new baby had symptoms of heat stroke due to the Chinese family's insistence that he wear too many clothes and stay away from anything cold. Finally my friend had enough crap and took the baby into a room with air conditioning and the baby was fine in an hour. Some of these "traditional" Chinese beliefs are harmless but others can be quite dangerous when followed too closely.

Oct 27, 2014 10:32 Report Abuse

ericsinchina

I often remind my wife that the reason it's called, "Chinese wisdom" or "Chinese medicine", is because it's not actual wisdom or medicine.

Oct 27, 2014 04:32 Report Abuse