{"id":2763,"date":"2011-06-28T10:00:01","date_gmt":"2011-06-28T14:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=2763"},"modified":"2011-12-07T01:08:39","modified_gmt":"2011-12-07T06:08:39","slug":"seasonal-harmony-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=2763","title":{"rendered":"Seasonal Harmony"},"content":{"rendered":"

\ufeffFood As Medicine – Seasonal Harmony<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>By Ellasara Kling<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a>Probably the most obvious aspect of Chinese healing arts is the focus on increasing health from the center of who we are. The ongoing movement between internal forces, external influences, general circumstances, who we are, where we are, and so on are all part of the overall configuration that form the picture of our health at any given moment. Essentially, we are always observing change and \u201ccoaxing\u201d it along as an interactive partner in our transformation. Through this process of flux, insights arise and become today\u2019s pearls of wisdom and tomorrow\u2019s mundanity as we integrate them into our lives as we move along our energy path. The real wisdom is in the underlying, unifying field from which the \u201cmedicine\u201d be it herbs, food, massage, meditation, qigong, taiji, or other, flows regardless of form or technique. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This season is Late Summer<\/strong> in Chinese Medicine which starts around mid-August and lasts until the Autumn Equinox. It is related to the Earth element, the color yellow, the Spleen\/Stomach organ-meridian systems, it is nourished by the sweet\/bland flavor, its environment is damp, its direction is Middle\/Center. The Late Summer flows out of Early Summer and then into Fall. It comes from the bitter taste and is going into pungent. The flavor which balances it is Spring\u2019s sour taste. (Hence, the popularity of sweet and sour sauces \u2013 natural balancing flavors.) This central placement of Late Summer is one of balance. In order to stay in balance, a person must have a deep feeling of trust\/faith. The deeper our trust, the stronger our balance. During Late Summer, the early summer heat is beginning to cool and the earth energy is beginning to prepare for the Fall. Late Summer is a season of abundance and glorious colors.\u00a0 Everything is reaching its peak. The work of Spring and Early Summer is coming to fruition and these results are evident everywhere. Although fruits are prevalent in this season, excessive eating of fruit can lead to excessive mucus later on. Smaller meals that are well-chewed are beneficial just now. <\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Some foods for the late summer<\/span><\/strong>: Almond, Apple, Barley, Blueberries Buckwheat, Cabbage, Carrots, Cherry, Chestnuts, Chicken, Chive, Coconut, Cooked onion, Corn, Cow\u2019s milk, Crab, Cucumber, Dates, Duck eggs, Eggplant, Figs, Fruits (sweeter), Garlic, Ginger, Grapes, Hazelnuts, Honey, Job\u2019s tears, Lamb, Licorice, Lotus root, Mangos, Melons, Millet, Molasses, Mushrooms (especially button mushrooms), Oats, Oranges, Peanuts, Peaches, Peas, Potato, Pumpkins, Red Chinese Dates (Jujube), Rye, Squashes, Strawberry, Sugar, Sweet potatoes, Water chestnut, Watermelon.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Recipes:<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Brunch Berry Cake<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n

Ingredients:<\/strong><\/p>\n

1\/2 cup crushed walnuts – lightly toasted \"\"<\/a>
\n1\/3 cup granulated brown sugar
\n2 tablespoons buckwheat flour type\ufffd
\nPinch of salt
\n1 large organic egg
\n1\/3 cup firm silken organic\u00a0 tofu
\n2 cups of blueberries or blackberries
\n1 cup halved strawberries
\nConfectioners’ sugar for dusting or drizzle of honey (optional)
\nMint leaves (optional)<\/p>\n

Directions:<\/strong><\/p>\n