MACROBIOTICS 101

Macrobiotics is two things — the study and the practice of life according to "The Unique Principle" (see Philosophy of Oriental Medicine, by George Ohsawa). The Unique Principle is a physical classification of yin and yang that is used for understanding how everything interacts in this world (the study of life) and how we can apply it to our daily lives (the practice of life).

1) Macrobiotics — A Practice of Life

Over the past fifty years or so, there has been a great macrobiotic movement in this world, that started out quite small and is now apparently being noticed by many more people. A macrobiotic diet has been devised and continually modified to share with others, giving us a jump-start on this practice of life and on learning the Unique Principle. 

2) Macrobiotics — A Study of Life

Several books have been written on the classifications of yin and yang, using two opposite viewpoints: a physical classification and a metaphysical classification. George Ohsawa based his theory of "The Unique Principle" on the first classification made over 4,000 years ago, which was a physical one. Since that first physical classification was made, it changed over the centuries to a metaphysical one (by people like Confucius) and was then used for what we know today as "traditional Chinese medicine." Because the macrobiotic diet is based on the earlier physical classification, rather than the metaphysical one, practitioners who follow both macrobiotics and traditional Chinese medicine are working with two, oftentimes opposite, classification systems.

Articles on Macrobiotics 101

As my food blog continues to evolve, I will add more links in the categories below that connect to specific articles I've written about these subjects:

Macrobiotics 101: Getting Started

• Getting Started With Macrobiotics 

What is Macrobiotics? — A Variety Of Answers  

• What Is Macrobiotics? (1-2-2011)
• What Is Macrobiotics? (1-23-2011)

The Unique Principle — The Study And Understanding Of Life

• Books About Macrobiotic Theory — Food For Thought
• Guidelines For Classifying In Terms Of Yin and Yang
• The Color Classifications Of Food 

The Macrobiotic Diet — The Applications And Practice of Life 
• Ten Macrobiotic Diets By George Ohsawa
• What NOT To Eat (Or Drink) On A Macrobiotic Diet
• What To Eat And Drink On A Macrobiotic Diet

• What Is A Macrobiotic Diet, Really?

• What Is The Macrobiotic Centering Diet?

• My Notes On The Macrobiotic Centering Diet

• The Yin And Yang Of Acid And Alkaline

• Diet #7 By George Ohsawa

• The Importance Of Chewing

• What Is True Fasting?

• Adapting Our Diets To The Situation

• Diet #6 By George Ohsawa (What Is Nitsuke?)

• Re-Reading "Zen Macrobiotics" (By George Ohsawa)

• The Benefits Of Whole Foods