Every health tradition is built on its own model of the human body. They differ not only in their dietary recommendations but also in their fundamental understanding of what health actually is.
The table below compares five different perspectives.
| Topic | Weston A. Price Foundation | Andreas Moritz | Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) | Ayurveda | Modern Medicine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View of the human body | A biological organism that needs nourishment | A self-healing system that needs cleansing | An energetic system through which Qi flows | A balance of body, mind, and consciousness | A biological system governed by physiology and biochemistry |
| Cause of disease | Nutrient deficiencies and modern diets | Toxins, blockages, and liver overload | Imbalances in Qi, Yin and Yang, and organ systems | Imbalances in the doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) | Infections, genetics, lifestyle, environmental factors, and aging |
| Primary solution | Nourishment | Detoxification | Restoring balance | Restoring balance | Diagnosis and targeted treatment |
| Nutrition | Rich in animal foods | Mostly plant-based | Tailored to constitution and the seasons | Tailored to an individual’s dosha | Healthy, balanced nutrition based on dietary guidelines |
| Key organ(s) | Gut and liver | Liver | Spleen, liver, kidneys, and lungs (functional systems) | Agni (digestive fire), intestines, and liver | Every organ according to anatomy and physiology |
| Role of emotions | Limited | Very important | Closely linked to organ function | Closely linked to the doshas | Recognized, but often treated separately |
| Prevention | Correct nutritional deficiencies | Cleansing and living in harmony with nature | Maintaining daily balance | Daily routines (dinacharya) | Vaccination, healthy lifestyle, and screening |
Different Starting Points
Perhaps the greatest difference between these traditions lies in the questions they ask.
Weston A. Price Foundation
The central question is:
“What is the body made of?”
From this perspective, the body resembles a house.
If you have:
- strong bricks;
- solid insulation;
- a firm foundation;
the house remains strong.
Food literally provides the building materials the body needs.
Andreas Moritz
Moritz asks a different question:
“Why is the body no longer functioning optimally?”
He compares the body to a river.
When a river becomes clogged with debris, the water can no longer flow freely.
The solution is therefore to:
- cleanse;
- detoxify;
- reduce stress;
- process emotional burdens.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
Traditional Chinese Medicine asks something quite different.
“Where is the flow of energy being disrupted?”
Health is viewed as movement.
Qi should circulate freely throughout the body.
When Qi stagnates, symptoms gradually develop.
For example:
anger → Liver Qi stagnation → headache → muscle tension → insomnia
A TCM practitioner therefore does not simply treat a headache.
Instead, they look for the underlying pattern of imbalance.
To restore harmony, TCM may use:
- acupuncture;
- herbal medicine;
- nutrition;
- breathing exercises;
- movement practices such as Tai Chi and Qigong.
Ayurveda
Ayurveda asks yet another question.
“How can this individual return to their own natural state of balance?”
According to Ayurveda, every person has a unique constitutional type.
The three doshas are:
- Vata (movement);
- Pitta (transformation);
- Kapha (structure and stability).
Disease develops when a person’s natural constitution becomes imbalanced.
As a result, two people with the same symptoms may receive completely different treatments.
Nutrition is therefore highly individualized.
Modern Medicine
Modern medicine generally asks:
“Which biological mechanism is causing this disease?”
Possible causes include:
- bacteria;
- viruses;
- hormonal disorders;
- inflammation;
- autoimmune reactions;
- genetic mutations.
Treatment is then aimed as precisely as possible at correcting or controlling that specific mechanism.
Remarkable Similarities
Despite their different philosophies, these approaches share many practical recommendations.
| Principle | WAPF | Moritz | TCM | Ayurveda | Modern Medicine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good nutrition is important | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Chronic stress contributes to illness | Partial | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Adequate sleep is essential | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Physical activity promotes health | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| The gut plays an important role | ✔ | ✔ | Partial | ✔ | ✔ |
| Prevention is better than cure | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
In practice, these traditions agree on many of the same lifestyle principles. They differ primarily in why they believe those principles are effective, because each is based on a different model of how the human body works.
Their Deeper Philosophy
When viewed from a broader perspective, these five traditions represent five distinct worldviews.
Weston A. Price Foundation
Human beings are designed to thrive on traditional, nutrient-dense foods.
Andreas Moritz
The body naturally heals itself once blockages are removed.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Health is the free flow of energy and dynamic balance.
Ayurveda
Health is living in harmony with your unique constitution and with nature.
Modern Medicine
Health is the optimal functioning of biological systems, supported by testable scientific evidence.