Nutrition The Enemy Of Injury
by Lisa Heimberger CM MH

Nutrition is the best way that a person can avoid injuries, and if an accident does take place, nutrition is the element that causes you to heal quicker. Make a habit of applying the following general diet regimen to your everyday living. This is a healthy way to live because, when followed, you do not have to think of vitamins, mineral elements, fat intake, or calories.
The best diet, over the period of a day, is two different fruits, at least four to six vegetables, one protein and one starch, with fruit or vegetable juices between meals, eat at least two green leafy vegetables a day, fifty to sixty percent of the food you eat daily should be raw.

The 9 Principles Of Nutrition:
1 Do not fry foods or use heated oils
2 Do not eat unless you have a keen desire for the plainest food
3 Do not eat beyond your needs
4 Be sure to thoroughly masticate your food
5 Miss meals if in pain, emotionally upset, not hungry, chilled, overheated and during illness.
6 Your diet should be 80% alkaline and 20% acid 7 Proportions: 6 vegetables, 2 fruits, 1 starch and 1 protein daily
8 Do not overeat
9 Bake, broil or roast; if you eat meat, have it--but only 3 times a week. This includes poultry, fish and lean meats.

Herbal Formulas To Aid In The Prevention Of Injury:
Tiredness and fatigue is a sign that the body is in need of nourishment, rest, or both. As extra support the following herbal formulas aid in strengthening the Wing Chun practitioner.

Brain:
In order to have connection between physical action and reaction there must be proper communication between the brain and body. This is the only way to prevent injury and increase dexterity. Therefore concentration on the three boxing forms is critical prior to the Wooden Dummy techniques, these forms encompass the ideal body positioning that should be used on the dummy. If for some reason you develop chronic pain, concentrate on your forms to help establish proper body positioning.
Concentration takes mental effort and should be supported through proper nutrition. The following herbal formula has been specifically designed to increase brain function, thus supporting the interaction between mental thought and physical realization.

BRAIN FORMULA:
3 Parts Siberian Ginseng
3 Parts Goto Kola
2 Parts Damiana
2 Parts Sage

Digestive
Every body cell needs a constant supply of nutrients to provide energy and building blocks for the manufacture of body substances. Food as we take it in, however, is too large to enter the cells. It must first be broken down into particles small enough to pass through the cell membrane. This process is known as digestion. After digestion, food must be carried to the cells in every part of the body by the circulation. The transfer of food into the circulation is called absorption., Digestion and absorption are the two chief functions of the digestive system.
This formula supports the body's efforts in Digestion and Absorption of nutrition

DIGESTIVE FORMULA:
3 Parts Papaya leaves
2 Parts of Peppermint leaves
I Part Fennel seeds
1 Part Fenugreek seeds
1 Part Ginger root

Circulation
Dummy exercise requires more blood flow. The body realizes that it needs to get more nutrition into the areas being worked and metabolic waste out of those areas, therefore the body literally changes to compensate for the increased demands placed on it--new nerve endings, new blood vessels, new muscle tissue, etc. Asking the body to do something that it did not do yesterday physically hurts and aches.
This formula will increase circulation to feed every part of the body the nutrients it needs to help avoid injury and increase healing. It supports the heart action without increasing blood pressure.

CIRCULATION FORMULA:
3 Parts Cayenne
2 Parts Siberian Ginseng
1 Part Ginger

About the Author and Copyright:
Lisa Heimberger is a Master Herbalist, and practicing Certified Midwife in the state of Utah. All formulas are formulated by Lisa Heimberger and are printed here for your information and personal use. No commercial use of these formulas are allowed by copyright laws of the United States.

Any questions or comments on the use of herbs or nutrition that may or may not concern Martial Arts may contact Lisa at

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