{"id":9348,"date":"2013-08-14T14:17:23","date_gmt":"2013-08-14T18:17:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=9348"},"modified":"2013-10-11T20:46:14","modified_gmt":"2013-10-12T00:46:14","slug":"diet-therapy-how-to-choose-food-using-chinese-medicine-principles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=9348","title":{"rendered":"How to Choose Food Using Chinese Medicine principles"},"content":{"rendered":"

[Season’s Harmony]<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Food \u2013 It\u2019s More Than You Think<\/b><\/h2>\n

By Ellasara Kling<\/p>\n

\u201cTraditional medicine and food share a common origin\u201d\"ys41\"<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

Diet Therapy<\/strong> is one of the healing modalities of Chinese medicine.\u00a0 Diet Therapy is applied not only to alleviate ailments, but is utilized for day-to-day living. Choosing foods that are fresh, unadulterated, follow the patterns of nature, and are appropriate for your individual state at that time, are basic general criteria for everyone at all times.<\/p>\n

The choice of foods for supporting one\u2019s health using the principles of Chinese medicine need not be exotic, nor cost a great deal. Rather, local, seasonal foods are utilized to address out of balance conditions, and\/or to reinforce\/augment the health that one has obtained. It has long been understood by Chinese medicine that the correct daily diet can prevent dis-ease, prolong life, strengthen the body\/mind.<\/p>\n

Diet Therapy utilizes the principles of yin\/yang; hot\/cold; dry\/damp; calming\/stimulating; internal\/external; color, taste; relationship to the organ systems; the five elements; cooking techniques; and much more.<\/p>\n

Even though that seems to be a complex list, it is possible to incorporate this method of considering food into one\u2019s daily life with a little attention, practice, some guidance, and by following one\u2019s intuition.<\/p>\n

Five Element Theory is an excellent place to start. For a person who is practicing some method of energy cultivation (qigong\/taiji\/yoga\/meditation, for example) or receiving treatments from a TCM doctor or acupuncturist, then paying attention to diet can be of significant support to these activities, and can be viewed as an extension of them.<\/p>\n

Viewing food from the framework of Five Element Theory is quite different than the usual western food lists. Foods are categorized by season, taste and flavor along with the organ system that they support. Foods are meant to be appetizing through aroma, visually and taste. Preferably, foods are combined in dishes to enhance each other and help to bring about greater health balance. In these ways, even simple meals can add health benefit.<\/p>\n

Consider these ideas: Each item we ingest has its own level of life force available to us – clearly, the fresher the food, the greater the vibrant energy. Each food item also has its own distinct message within its energy pattern. It has its own level of consciousness.<\/p>\n

When we eat some food, we are literally taking into ourselves a form of energy and incorporating that energy into the fabric of our physical body. From this point of view, every time we eat it is potentially an act of healing. We give our body\/mind\/spirit powerful messages through the choices that we make regarding our diet.<\/p>\n

What would it be like for you to choose your foods for just one day keeping in mind this idea? How would that change your choices? What changes would you make? How would that affect how you feel? Perhaps, you would like to challenge yourself.<\/p>\n

\"avocado<\/a><\/p>\n

This year\u2019s Building Bridges for Traditional Chinese Medicine Conference October 17-20, 2013 (<\/b>www.tcmconference.org<\/a>) will have seminars on Food as Medicine by James Gordon, M.D. <\/b>(Center for Mind-Body Medicine, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC) <\/b>and The Spirit of Food by Nan Lu, OMD. <\/b>Additionally, <\/b>featured speakers include Dr. Amit Goswami <\/b>(Professor of Theoretical Physics (retired), University of Oregon)<\/b> The Quantum Physics of Vital Energy and Energy Healing<\/b><\/em> and<\/b> Lama Surya Das, <\/b>Tibetan Buddhist Teacher\/lecturer\/author, among many others.<\/p>\n

<\/b>Some important relationships of Late Summer:\u00a0 <\/b>In Chinese Medicine, Late Summer 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<\/b>, it comes forth from the bitter taste and is going into pungent taste. The flavor which balances it is Spring\u2019s sour taste<\/b>. Its environment is damp, its direction is Middle\/Center. The Late Summer flows out of Early Summer and then into Fall.<\/p>\n

This 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\u2019s energy is beginning to prepare for the Fall. The environment is going from damp to dry. Although fruits are prevalent in this season, overeating of sweet fruits can cause too much internal dampness later on.<\/p>\n

Some Foods That Are Harmonious With Late Summer Include<\/span><\/b>:.<\/p>\n

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, Hawthorne Berries, Hazelnuts, Honey, Job\u2019s tears (Chinese Barley Coix Seeds), 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, Tumeric, Water chestnut, Watermelon<\/p>\n

Get that midafternoon drowsy feeling<\/span>? A cup of Spearmint tea <\/i>will perk you up without any shaky side effects. It’s refreshing and easy to find at your local market. Two good brands are Traditional Medicinals\u2019 Organic Spearmint and Bigelow’s Plantation Mint. Peppermint tea does not have the same effect, it’s purpose is somewhat different.<\/p>\n

Dill Weed <\/i>(used as an herb in many salads and soups) is great for the stomach as both a stimulant and for its carminative properties<\/i><\/b>. Additionally, it will “diffuse Qi” which is where its stimulant properties come from.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

RECIPES\u00a0\"diabetic<\/a><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Red Date Congee w\/Toasted Sesame and Peach (or Mango)<\/p>\n

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