If you could sum up TCM in one sentence, it would be: maintain a state of harmony.

What is harmony? Not too much, not too little. Not too hot, not too cold. Not too fast, not too slow.

Think of your body as a house. When summer comes, you turn on the AC. When winter comes, you turn on the heat. Neither too hot nor too cold — just right. That’s harmony.

TCM is not about “supplementing.” Many people think health means eating expensive tonics and herbs. But that misses the point. Your body doesn’t want “more.” It wants balance.

Eating: seven-tenths full is harmony. Stuffed is disharmony.
Exercise: lightly sweating is harmony. Collapsing from exhaustion is disharmony.
Work: alternating busy periods with rest is harmony. Working nonstop for three months is disharmony.
Emotions: feeling happy when you should and sad when you should is harmony. Suppressing everything or exploding at the smallest thing is disharmony.

How do you know if you’re in harmony? You don’t need a doctor. Your body will tell you. How is your sleep? How are your bowel movements? How is your mood? Ask yourself these three questions, and you’ll know how far you are from harmony.

Harmony isn’t a destination. It’s a process. You can be a little more in harmony today than you were yesterday. One less coffee. Ten minutes more sleep. One less angry outburst. That’s it.