OBSAH

The Chinese Duan Gu Diet

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Duan Gu is an ancient Chinese diet based on the Taoist tradition. It is one of the oldest diets in the world. Translated, it means “grain-free diet” (“duan” = to stop; “gu” = grain). Ands its name suggests, its primary principle is the exclusion of grains from the diet. In ancient China, it was believed that this diet slows down theagingaging, detoxifies the body, and cleanses the digestive system.

Themain purpose of this diet in China was to expel the “three death-bringers,” i.e., three malevolent spirits living in the human body that devour grains and cause various diseases. The presence of the “three death-bringers” was described by the Chinese physician Chao Yuanfang in his work “A General Discourse on the Origin and Symptoms of Emotions” in the 7th century. According to the author, these three entities reportedly fed on the five grains (rice, wheat, spelt, barley, and beans), specifically on the byproducts of their digestion.

According to ancient Taoist texts, the “three bringers of death” caused symptoms such as:

– a runny nose and congestion,

-heart palpitations and shortness of breath,

-fatigue, exhaustion,

-intestinal pain,

-loss of appetite.

Grains are, and have always been throughout human history, a natural part of our diet. What, then, led the Taoists to believe that they might be harmful to us? From a modern perspective, one explanation that emerges is that this is due to their high lectin content.

Lectins are substances found in all living organisms. Specifically, rplant lectins are proteins that occur naturally in many foods, especially legumes and grains. In plants, they play an important protective role — it is a way for plants to protect themselves from being eaten. They are essentially a form of the plants’ “immune system.” Lectins are relatively resistant to heat treatment as well as to digestive enzymes. In our bodies, they bind to carbohydrates, which can affect the digestive system and the body’s immune functions. According to recent research, lectins can disrupt nutrient absorption in the intestine and cause gastrointestinal problems such as bloating, abdominal pain, or diarrhea. At the same time, it is said that lectins can trigger an immune response, which may lead to inflammation and autoimmune diseases, especially in predisposed individuals. Here, too, the rule applies that lectins do not necessarily cause problems for all consumers, especially if they are properly cooked.

Nowadays, there are several diets that focus on eliminating lectins from the diet and are used primarily by patients with autoimmune diseases. Among the best known are the Steven Gundry diet, the paleo diet, the autoimmune protocol, and the primal diet. Now let’s talk more about the use and principles of the Duan Gu diet.

For the treatment of which conditions can we use the Duan Gu diet?

  • Abdominaland obesity and metabolic syndromeom

  • Atherosclerosis

  • Disorders of the intestinal microflora

  • Inflammation of the intestines (ulcerativeand colitisíand Crohn’s disease)

  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome

  • Autoimmunediseases diseases

  • At(andallergies, asthma, eczema)

  • Inflammationinflammation of the respiratory tract mucosa

  • Neuropsychologicaldisorders

  • Gynecological conditionsinflammation

  • Osteoarthritis

  • Degenerativedegenerative diseases and others

Which food categories are off-limits on the Duang diet?

Strictly prohibited:

  1. Group (worst): wheat

  2. Group: grains, pseudo-grains (barley, oats, rice, rye, buckwheat, quinoa, amaranth, corn)

  3. Group: legumes (beans, peas, soybeans, lentils, peanuts, chickpeas)

  4. Group: Solanaceae—tubers (potatoes)

At-risk groups:

  1. Group: Milk and dairy products (except butter) + Solanaceae (tomatoes, eggplant, bell peppers)

  2. Group: meat from grain-fed animals

This diet lasts at least 100 days, and there is no point in following it only partially. To achieve the desired results, strict adherence is necessary. It’s always a good idea to consult with your Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner before starting this diet.

What foods are allowed on the Duan Gu diet?

Permitted foods include: Hokkaido squash, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, cucumber, beef, pork, game, rabbit, lamb, trout, tuna, cabbage, onions, garlic, beets, carrots, parsley, leeks, kohlrabi, celery, Brussels sprouts, white radishes, button mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, spinach, cabbage, red beets, flour—tapioca, coconut, poppy seed, sesame, flaxseed, chia, pumpkin, chestnut, almond, tapioca pearl pudding, apples, pears, bananas, peaches, plums, apricots, figs, dates, melon, honey, nuts (except cashews and peanuts), oils—sunflower and coconut, pumpkin and olive, coconut milk, butter, molasses, and others.

What might a meal plan based on the Duan Gu diet look like?

Breakfast:

– homemade duangu bread

– butter

-ham

-mushrooms

-eggs

Lunch and dinner:

–roasted beef with broccoli

-Celery pancakes with pumpkin purée

-vegetable noodles with braised spinach, oyster mushrooms, and an egg

-baked fish pieces with sweet potato fries

-braised beef with vegetables

Recipe for Healthy Duan Gu Bread

-230 grams of sunflower seeds

-2 eggs

– Soak 30 grams of chia seeds in 0.6 dcl of water

-60 grams of golden flaxseeds

-2 teaspoons of baking powder

-25 grams of psyllium

-2 teaspoons of caraway seeds

-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar

Grind the sunflower and flaxseeds in a food processor. Add all the other ingredients and water to the ground seeds until the mixture reaches a dough-like consistency. Transfer the dough to a “deer back” baking pan lined with parchment paper. Bake in the oven at 180 degrees. After baking, let it cool and steam off, then enjoy a taste right away, wrap it in a towel, and place it in a bread box. The bread will keep for about five days.

For more information about the diet, including recipes, visit:

www.duangu.cz

Sources:

www.duangu.cz

https://daoistgate.com/bigu-daoist-fasting/

https://dao-world.org/2022/04/07/%E8%BE%9F%E8%B0%B7-bi-gu-taoist-fasting/

Mattes, R. D., & Fisher, G. (2008). Nutritional and physiological implications of lectins. “Nutrition Reviews.”

Jaffe, E. A., & Berrios, M. (2013). “The Role of Dietary Lectins in the Pathogenesis of Autoimmune Diseases.” Autoimmune Diseases.

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The body does not need to be fixed. It needs to be understood.

I am a woman, wife, mother and physiotherapist. Over the years of practice, I have realised that health does not come only from eliminating symptoms or solving a specific problem. Real change comes when a person begins to better understand themselves, their body, and the way they live their life.

It was this idea that led me to create the space you know today as ToBe – a place where different areas of expertise, perspectives, and approaches to health are interconnected. A place that does not see a person only through a diagnosis or individual symptoms, but as a unique whole.

My professional journey began in physiotherapy and the musculoskeletal system. Over time, clients and their stories gradually led me deeper – from working with the body through the pelvic floor to understanding the meaning of emotions, the psyche, and the functioning of the nervous system. Today, I see the body as the bearer of a person’s story, and therapy as a space where we can get to know that story, understand it, and support its natural process of change.

How I work

Years of practice have taught me to slow down. To listen more. To place less emphasis on performance, results, or quick change.

In therapy, I strive to create a safe space where clients can become more aware of their bodies, their needs, and the connections between what they are experiencing and what is happening on a physical level. I don’t focus only on symptoms; I also look for their possible causes and the context in which they arise.

Over the years, I have become increasingly aware of how closely the body, mind, and nervous system are connected. This is why I naturally integrate a psychosomatic perspective and the principles of nervous system regulation into my work – gently, clearly, and always with respect for where each client is in their own process.

I believe the body has a remarkable capacity for healing and renewal. Sometimes it doesn’t need more pressure — it needs understanding, a sense of safety, and the right conditions to begin functioning in a different way.

What I can help you with

In my practice, I specialise mainly in:

  • urogynecological physiotherapy
  • pelvic floor dysfunction
  • incontinence
  • painful conditions after childbirth
  • preparation for childbirth and postpartum recovery
  • painful menstruation
  • pain during sexual intercourse
  • functional disorders of the musculoskeletal system
  • chronic pain without an organic cause
  • unintegrated scars
  • psychosomatic connections of health problems
  • regulation of the nervous system

Methods and approaches I use

In my work, I connect physiotherapy with knowledge from psychosomatics, work with the nervous system, and a holistic therapeutic approach. I mainly use:

  • urogynecological physiotherapy
  • pelvic floor therapy
  • diagnosis and therapy of functional disorders of the musculoskeletal system
  • visceral manipulation
  • osteopathic principles
  • craniosacral therapy
  • psychosomatic approach in physiotherapy
  • principles of nervous system regulation
  • knowledge from Somatic Experiencing® training

In therapy, I combine professional knowledge with a sensitive perception of the person and their story. My goal is not only to relieve the problem, but to support the client in better understanding themselves and their body.

ToBe – the concept

ToBe grew naturally out of the original IntimFyzio centre. Over time, I increasingly felt the need to bring different areas of expertise together and create a place where a person does not have to be divided into separate parts.

Today, ToBe is a multidisciplinary space where physiotherapy, psychology, psychotherapy, women’s health, traditional Chinese medicine, work with the nervous system, and other approaches come together – united by a common idea: to see a person in their entirety and create the conditions for health, growth, and a deeper connection with oneself.

Education and professional development

I studied physiotherapy at the Faculty of Medicine of Comenius University in Bratislava, and completed my master’s degree at the University of Brighton in the United Kingdom.

I have completed a specialisation in functional and structural disorders of the musculoskeletal system at the Slovak Medical University in Bratislava. I hold a licence for independent medical practice and am a member of the Slovak Chamber of Physiotherapists.

Training that has significantly shaped my therapeutic approach

  • Somatic Experiencing® (currently in training, Lilian Troost)
  • Psychosomatic approach in physiotherapy (CKP Edu, Prague)
  • Visceral manipulation and osteopathic approach (Inge Schuermans, MSc)
  • Birth trauma in physiotherapy and self-regulation tools in client practice (Mgr. Radka Tomášková)
  • Holistic approach to scar and pelvic floor therapy (PhDr. Michaela Prokešová, PhD.)
  • Traditional care for women and mothers (Angelina Miranda Martinez)
  • Osteopathic approach in pregnancy and gynaecological dysfunctions (Inge Schuermans, Jory Paul)
  • Ludmila Mojžišová method (Mgr. Jana Jedličková)
  • Physiotherapy of pelvic floor dysfunction and urinary incontinence (Prof. Magdaléna Hágovská, Mgr. Zuzana Woleková)
  • Craniosacral therapy (Mgr. Helena Toušková, Upledger Institute)
  • Certified DNS Therapist Diploma (Prof. Pavel Kolář)
  • Diagnosis and Therapy of Functional Disorders of the Musculoskeletal System (Eva Janíková)
  • Stott Pilates (Jitka Kadish)

I believe health is not a goal to be achieved. It is a relationship we build with ourselves, our bodies, and our lives – and it is a journey I love to accompany my clients on.