Regeneration encompasses all processes that rebalance and nourish us after stress. Our sleep-wake rhythm shows how ill we become if we do not regenerate sufficiently. Physically and mentally.
What we need to regenerate is directly dependent on the previous type of stress. If I have burned a lot of calories during sport, one of the ways I regenerate is by eating something high in calories. However, the latter is not a good way to recover from stress and mental tension in the long term. (In the short term, it provides relief by activating the parasympathetic nervous system.) If you do a lot of muscle work, you need to replenish your mineral balance in order to regenerate. Those who work a lot in a sitting position are more likely to recover by taking a walk in the fresh air. Nowadays, we are often more mentally challenged than physically. So we may regenerate mentally when we do sport or simple activities such as gardening or chopping wood. After major exertion and when faced with particular (also mental) challenges, for example, we need a different kind of recovery than when everything is running smoothly.
In addition to the type of stress, our constitution also has an influence on what we need to regenerate; whether we can manage with six hours of sleep or need eight hours, whether we need more warmth or more rest and what diet is good for us. If we tend to exhaust ourselves, it is interesting to recognize the underlying patterns. In TCM, for example, different types of exhaustion can be distinguished.
We can actively support and optimize regeneration processes.
Chronobiology shows that various regeneration processes are at their optimum at certain times of the day and year. Sleep at night is generally more restorative than the same amount of sleep during the day. Strenuous sport is better suited to the first half of the day and relaxation techniques are better suited to the second half of the day. Many elements of traditional medicine make use of this circadian rhythm. TCM works with the organ clock. For example, midday is the time of the heart and an occasional midday nap can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) (by 37% according to a Harvard MS study). The stomach and pancreas are at their peak from 7-11am, hence the recommendation to eat breakfast like a queen.
The most important elements of regeneration are sleep, nutrition, balanced exercise and rest. Depending on your individual constitution and condition, you can supplement these well, e.g. with nutrients, medicinal herbs or herbal supplements.
