Lynn - Chinese dietary

[Guest guest]

Reading about Lynn's experiments I felt I should write this. I hope I'm not

prigishly (is that the right word?)

 

Quite Interesting and very bravehearted to test on 5 Elements in this way!

But apart from such learning experiments I strongly recommend to remember,

that in chinese medicine all that deals with eating and or food is associated

with spleen and stomach.

So your first goal in any diet is to keep up and take care of stomach and

spleen. Therefore you should avoid any extremes in taste, temprature, amount

and even more important keep up regular times for meals starting early from 7-9

with breakfast (The time when the stomach is most highly energized ?) and

having the last meal not later than 18:00 or 19:00. After this time according

to TCM food is no longer digested but rots.

Also this includes the main taste of almost any meal: slightly sweet as

grains usualy are. All the other aspects of taste and their functions are

composed around this center!

Another possibility would be to split up tastes of a meal into different

dishes but still never forget to ad one dish of the slightly sweet.

Transferred to your herbal experiments this means: If you actualy intend to

heal yourself you should rather come to a clear diagnosis, decide wich

aspects are predominant, make up the resulting healing strategie and look up for

the appropriate traditional receipe. Just in case you feel the idea of tasting

singular herbs could have some doubtable aspects.

Good luck

Karl-Stephan

 

--

Praxis für Traditionelle Chinesische Medizin

Akupunktur und Kräuterheilkunde

 

Heilpraktiker Karl-Stephan Neufeldt

Florastr. 95

13187 Berlin-Pankow

Tel: 480960-30

Fax: 480960-32

Mail:kneufeldt

www.sheng-hua.de

 

GMX - Die Kommunikationsplattform im Internet.

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[Guest guest]

Thank you Karl-Stephan for your response. You offer very wise advice and I

couldn't agree with you more. I can see that in my attempt to be brief, I

did not make myself clear.

 

I am at a point in my studies now where I am searching to understand the

basics in greater depth. I have noticed all along that I would have a

favorable response to a certain food or herb at one time and a not so

favorable or even opposite response at another time. Consequently I was very

confused.

 

As Victoria stated in one of her recent e-mails: " I'm in favor of learning

about the Element theory because sometimes it can provide a little extra

diagnostic and treatment skill than can make the difference between a totally

successful outcome and a partially successful outcome or even failure in

treatment " .

 

I found the table that I posted from the Treatise on the Spleen and Stomach

to be most helpful. Just as in differential diagnosis where " one man's food

is another man's poison " , I have learned that at least for myself … my food

in one season may be my poison in another. Unfortunately my only means at

this time for understanding the finer intricacies of the world around us has

been through experimentation; however, I in no way mean to suggest that

others should follow suit.

 

Each season has an element that is most predominant. The Wood element

(Liver) predominates in spring as others have explained in previous posts.

The Metal element (Lung) is responsible for keeping Wood under control. The

acrid taste enters and strengthens the Lung. It is the taste that

supplements in the spring. If one suffers from excess in the Liver, the

acrid taste would strengthen the Lung to keep order. The sour taste

strengthens and enters the Liver. The sour taste drains in the spring. How

can this be? How can a taste drain and strengthen simultaneously? It

doesn't. Small amounts of a taste associated with an element will strengthen

… large amounts sedate. Thus, the environmental force of spring combined

with a taste that strengthens…. Sedates. Warm supplements in spring, cool

sedates. I don't have a good logical explanation for this one therefore … I

tested it.

 

My personal elemental profile includes exaggerated Earth and Metal with

hypersensitive Wood. Soymilk aggravated my symptoms this past winter.

Soymilk is cool and targets the Spleen and Lung. Cold supplements in the

winter, but cool is closer to cold than warm. Thus I was essentially

tonifying an excess by eating this cooling food. Astragalus helped me but it

is warm and targets the Lung and Spleen. Warm (hot) drains in the winter.

Now that spring is here I have found soymilk to be my saving grace.

Regardless of the season I need to sedate Earth and Metal. I want to learn

to anticipate the waves of those seasons, riding along with them, rather than

allowing them to crash at my feet, upsetting my equilibrium. " Eating for the

seasons " quite honestly has not always been to my benefit. Cooling foods

that have an affinity for the Spleen and Lungs are my best options … for

spring, this year. I do not believe that this means that I am damaging my

Spleen. Soymilk is very nourishing to the Spleen … when used under the right

circumstances …. as with all foods.

 

I suppose the reason why I posted the table was to encourage others to look

more closely at " the basics " . I believe that if we truly understand them, we

will be far more successful in determining appropriate remedies.

 

Lynn

[Guest guest]

>I have noticed all along that I would have a

>favorable response to a certain food or herb at one time and a not so

>favorable or even opposite response at another time. Consequently I was

>very

>confused.

 

For those new ot TCM it is a given that diet and herbal strategies need to

change according to the seasons. For example, I am very Cold. I require

more warming foods and herbs in the winter than in the summer. It's so cold

in the winter that I need extra to help me. But the same amount taken in

the summer warms me too much.

 

I tend to have more trouble with certain foods in the spring than at other

times of the year. I do have some food allergies. They're a lot milder

than they used to be. But sometimes I do run into problems with certain

foods. This is more likely to happen in the spring because Wind is the

predominate atmospheric condition at this time of year, and Wind can worsen

existing allergies and possibly can play a role in the tendency to develope

new allergies. Foods that can be eaten ok with no noticable effects at

other times once again start to cause problems in the spring if I am not

careful.

 

Dampness is another factor that one has to watch out for. Some " allergies "

actually are reactions due to the foods increasing Dampness in the body.

External Dampness can invade to the Interior and damage the Spleen. The

Spleen hates Dampness. The Spleen doesn't work as well when it's under

attack by Dampness. The Spleen not working well can trigger even more

Dampness arising internally in addition to the Dampness which is invading

from the Exterior. Foods which engender Dampness - like milk, dairy

products, wheat, oranges, etc. - that can be eaten ok when it's fairly dry

can cause problems in people whose Spleen already isn't up to par when eaten

during damp periods of the year. Especially when it's cold and damp. (The

Spleen also doesn't like cold. Dampness bothers it the most, but Cold comes

in a close second.

 

The predominate atmospheric energies are Wind in the spring (Wood - Liver &

Gall Bladder most vulnerable to), Heat in the early summer (Fire - Heart,

Small Intestine, Pericardium, Triple Heater), Dampness in late summer

(Earth, Stomach and Spleen), Dryness in the fall (Metal, Lungs and Large

Intestine), and Cold in the winter (Water, kidneys & Bladder).

 

>Each season has an element that is most predominant. The Wood element

>(Liver) predominates in spring as others have explained in previous posts.

>The Metal element (Lung) is responsible for keeping Wood under control.

>The

>acrid taste enters and strengthens the Lung.

 

What's being referred to here is the Victor-Vanquished rule. TCM, like

Western medicine, recognizes that checks and balances exist in the body.

One of the checks and balances recognized in TCM is the Victor-Vanquished

relationship. What this says it that each Element controls another. These

are:

 

Wood (Liv, BB) controls Earth (Sp, St)

Fire (Ht, SI) controls Metal (Lu, LI)

Earth (Sp, St) controls Water (Kd, Bl)

Metal (Lu, LI) controls Wood (Lv, GB)

Water (Kd, Bl) controls Fire (Ht, SI)

 

These are inverse relationships. If Wood is too " strong " , Earth will be

over controlled. If Wood is too " weak " , Earth will be out of control.

 

Some people have imbalances in the Spleen because of problems in the Spleen.

Simply supplementing with Spleen-strenghten foods and herbs will help

these people. End of problem. BUT, sometimes the reason the Spleen is

" weak " is not because of something in the Spleen but because the Liver is

too " strong " . In these cases just giving Spleen-strengthening herbs and

foods to the person is going to be like continuously bailing a leaky

rowboat. You have to keep bailing until the leak is plugged. In this case

the " leak " is that the Liver is too " strong " . It's suppressing the Spleen,

not allowing it to perform in tiptop shape. It's not enough in these cases

just to tonify the Spleen, you also have to sedate the Liver. Calm that

Liver down some so it's not a control freak overcontrolling and suppressing

the Spleen.

 

Wood overacting on Earth (the terminology for it in the Elemental approach

to diagnosis) is the same thing as Liver Invading the Spleen (the term for

it in the Organ Analysis approach).

 

>It is the taste that

>supplements in the spring. If one suffers from excess in the Liver, the

>acrid taste would strengthen the Lung to keep order. The sour taste

>strengthens and enters the Liver.

 

Each of the 5 main tastes have an affinity for different Elements and

Organs. The sour taste has an affinity for Wood (Lv, GB), bitter for Fire

(Ht, SI), sweet for Earth (Sp, St), acrid or pungent or spicy for Metal (Lu,

LI), and salty for Water (Kd, Bl). If an Organ gets too much or too little

of what it needs, it can run into problems. For example, cut too far back

on salt, and a person can run into some major problems like the loss of too

much fluid through the urinary system. But load up on too much salt, and it

can be damaging to the heart. Water (Kd) controls Fire (Ht). When a person

consumes too much salt, water literally is in excess and the heart can be

stressed as a result.

 

In addition, each taste has certain properties. The sour taste tends to

generate fluids and Yin, and it also " plugs leaks " (can be good for

excessive sweating, diarrhea, etc.). Wood (Lv) controls Earth (Sp). One of

the things the Spleen does is it plays a major role in the transformation

and transportation of food and drink. Translation: When the Spleen is weak,

one possible symptom is Dampness accumulates. The last thing a person with

Dampness problems needs is something that generates fluids.

 

The bitter taste tends to clear Heat, to sedate, and to harden. It also

tends to clear Damp Heat and to subdue rebellious Qi. Fire (Ht, SI)

controls Metal (Lu, LI). Too many bitter herbs can trigger problems in the

Lungs. The bitter taste tends to be drying. Even though the Lungs don't

like to be Damp, they also don't like to be too dry.

 

The sweet taste " tonifies, balances, and moderates. It is used to tonify

deficiency and to stop pain. " (Maciocia, Foundations, p. 33) Earth (Sp, St)

controls Water (Kd, Bl). Think of the urinary problems diabetics have when

you think of this relationship.

 

" The pungent taste scatters, and is used to expel pathogenic factors. "

(Maciocia, p. 33). Think of the spices in the spice section of the

supermarket. They're warming in nature and can be great for people who are

too Cold but hard on people who are too Hot. Ginger, cinnamom, cloves, etc.

Metal is the Mother of Water, and these spices can be godsends to people who

are too Cold because of Kidney Yang Deficiency. But heat has a tendency to

rise. Eat too many foods and herbs with the spicy taste, and the Lungs can

accumulate too much Heat. Metal (Lu, LI) controls Wood (Lv, GB).

 

" The salty taste flows downward, softens hardness and is used to treat

constipation and swelling. " ) (Maciocia, p. 33)

 

>The sour taste drains in the spring. How

>can this be? How can a taste drain and strengthen simultaneously? It

>doesn't. Small amounts of a taste associated with an element will

>strengthen

>… large amounts sedate. Thus, the environmental force of spring combined

>with a taste that strengthens…. Sedates. Warm supplements in spring,

>cool

>sedates. I don't have a good logical explanation for this one therefore

>… I

>tested it.

 

One of the TCM concepts of diet is that one should eat food which has the

energy of that season in order to be in tune with that season. Thus, one

should eat some cold foods and salty foods in the winter in order to partake

of the energy of that season (and head off problems that can arise later).

Yang energy is increasing in the spring so eat Yang foods. But, it's also

important to correct personal deficiencies. A person who is too Cold needs

warming energy; a person who is too Hot needs cooling energy, regardless of

what the season is.

 

The Chinese concept of a balanced diet is one that includes all 5 tastes at

each meal. The ratio of these tastes will depend on the individual's needs.

For example, even though I include all 5 tastes, I need to go heavily on

spicy (warms me up) and salty. Many years ago I cut back on salt because of

all the bad PR salt got. This is a definite no-no for someone like me who

has CFIDS. Many CFIDS patients report that increasing salt in their diet

helps them to feel better. Most PWCs have Kidney imbalance and need to

tonify the Kidneys.

 

One TCM diet concept I personally disagree with is the prohibition against

raw foods. One can go overboard with raw food, but even though I have a

weak Spleen, there is something that a salad provides for me that helps me

to feel better the next day even though I'm so Yang Deficient and raw foods

tend to be Yin. I just don't go overboard. I also sprinkle cayenne pepper

on my salad dressing. This works real well for me. Some people canNOT

handle raw foods, and there is nothing healthy about raw foods for them.

Other people do benefit from raw fruits and veggies in moderation. I have

known people who could handle raw food some of the time, but not at other

time. Some of them could tell ahead of time if raw food was going to bother

them.

 

Beginners will benefit from starting to memorize these correspondences like

Wood - Liver - Gall Bladder - Spring - anger - sour taste, etc. Directions

also are associated with Elements: The East is Wood and the Green Dragon,

South is Fire and the Red Phoenix, Middle (or center) is Earth, West is

Metal and the White Tiger, and North is Water and the Black Tortoise. These

color correspondences also will be helpful in diagnosis. Very often people

with greenish skin tones will be suffering from Liver imbalance. Black or

dark tones in the complexion very often will be a sign of Kidney imbalance.

And so on.

 

The really weird thing is that directions can be diagnostic too. I can't

explain this, there is no logical Western explanation for it, but it happens

sometimes. Some people - not all - will feel uncomfortable when they sit in

a certain quarter. For example, people with Liver imbalances sometimes will

feel uncomfortable when they sit " in the East " (back to the East and facing

West). If they have a choice of seats, they will not choose the one on the

West side of the table or room. Sometimes when a person meditates in the 4

quarters, testing sitting in the East, South, West, and North, they discover

that some quarters feel uncomfortable to them and some feel more comfortable

than the others. Sometimes this discomfort can indicate imbalance in an

Element. There's no rational explanation for it, but it happens.

 

Victoria

 

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