In Zhou dynasty China (1100-700BCE) dieticians were regarded as the most significant healers, with the focus on prevention of disease. In the Tang dynasty the physician Sun Si Miao (581-682) is recorded as saying that dietary therapy should be employed first and medicines only used if unsuccessful.

In today’s society Nutrition is beginning to be regarded as a stand-alone therapy. In 2002 Medicare recognised medical nutrition therapy and stated it could be billed as a stand-alone benefit for diabetics and renal disease patients (Medicare News, 2002). The first stand-alone centre for paediatric nutrition is planned at Great Ormond Street Hospital, and is headed by Professor Alan Lucas, the first consultant in paediatric nutrition appointed in the UK.

Blackberries together with blueberries and cranberries, rank highest for antioxidant content among fruits studied (Wu, et al. 2004). They are rich in anthocyanins, particularly Cyanidin-3-glucoside, for which a recent study has demonstrated both protective and therapeutic effects for cancer (Ding, et al. 2006). They contain Vitamin C, E, ellagic acid, and soluble fibre, such as pectin, all of which may be cancer protective. The leaves are used by today’s herbalists for diarrhoea, haemorrhoids, mouth ulcers, bleeding gums, sore throats, and to stop haemorrhage. As they are naturally astringent, eating too many may lead to constipation. Also containing natural salicylates, anyone allergic to aspirin should take care.

We believe in the use of foods to stay healthy, emphasising the positive, rather than the negative associations many people have with the word diet. Exploring the individual’s relationship with food, advising on what and where to buy, cooking methods, and use of nutritional supplements, are all part of our work.

We commonly utilise nutrition as part of an acupuncture or homeopathic consultation.

References
Ding, M., Feng, R., Wang, S.Y., Bowman, L., Lu, Y., Qian, Y., Castronova, V., Jiang, B.H., Shi, X., 2006,Cyanidin-3-glucoside, a natural product derived from blackberry, exhibits chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic activity, J Biol Chem.
 
Wu X, Beecher GR, Holden JM, Haytowitz DB, Gebhardt SE, Prior RL, 2004, Lipophilic and hydrophilic antioxidant capacities of common foods in the United States. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 52, 4206-4037.