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[ Home ] [ Acupuncture-philosophy ] [ Chinese Herbology ] [ Acupuncture History-China ] [ Scott Suvow, L.Ac. ] [ Food Energetics ] [ Links ] |
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Diet and nutrition play an important role in the Chinese Medical Arts. |
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It goes beyond vitamins and minerals but looks at the
energetic |
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properties of food. These qualities include - taste, color,
temperature, |
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meridian entered, direction, yin-yang, organ nourished, and
treatment |
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principle. Diet selection is based upon a diagnosis performed
by a |
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practitioner of Chinese Medicine. If a patient displays signs
of defiency |
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and cold , the Acupuncturist will recommend tonifying and warm
foods |
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in the diet. |
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Mastering food selection in today's fast pace world is near
impossible. |
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All we can try to do is keep balance in mind. This is achieved
by eating |
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in moderation and being aware of taste and variety. Taste is
very |
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important because the primary taste sends nutrition via the
acupuncture |
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meridians to the corresponding organ.If we eat a balanced meal
with |
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many tastes, then we feel satisfied and won't look to binge
immediately |
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afterward. |
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TASTE |
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Sweet: nourish Spleen and Stomach |
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grains, sugar, sweet fruits-bananas, blueberries, oranges,
figs, dates, |
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honey, molasses,etc. |
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Sour: nourish liver, gallbladder |
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tomatoes, vinegar, chicken, turkey, green apples, lemons,
grapefruit, etc. |
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Pungent: nourish Lung and Large Intestine |
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onions, garlic, ginger, peppers, etc |
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Bitter: nourish Heart, Small Intestine |
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kale,lettuce, broccoli, argula, endive, collard greens, etc. |
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Salty: nourishes the kidney and bladder |
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eggs, tofu, fish, miso, sea vegetables (arame, hiziki, kombu,
kelp,etc), |
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COLOR |
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The color of a food will play a secondary role to the
taste.For example- |
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a green, bitter food- kale-will nourish the heart because of
its |
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bitter taste, but will also nourish the liver because of its
green color. |
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Green foods nourish the liver and gallbladder ex.
celery,kale, lettuce |
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Red- foods nourish the heart and small intestine ex.
apples,red peppers |
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Yellow - foods nourish the spleen and stomach
ex. yellow squash |
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white -foods nourish the lungs and large intestine
ex. white onions |
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black - foods nourish the kidney and bladder ex.
black sesame seeds |
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The following is an example how foods are
classified.
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1. ASPARAGUS |
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Nature: Cooling |
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flavor: Sweet, bitter |
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Meridian: Heart, Lungs, Kidney, Liver |
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Actions: tonifies Qi and blood, clears heat,
detoxifies, dries damp, tonifies |
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clears the lungs |
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Conditions: constipation, hypertension, high blood
cholesterol, |
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diabetes, chronic bronchitis. |
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2. SCALLION |
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Nature: Warm |
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Flavor: Sweet |
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Meridians: Lung, Large Intestine, Heart |
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Actions: assists yang, removes blood stagnation,
sedates yang, |
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resolves damp, expels external pathogens, dispels wind-cold,
antiviral, |
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Conditions: Common Cold, chest pain, heart pain,
diarrhea. |
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Contraindications: Best used in the beginning stages
of common cold, |
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not to be used in the heat stage of common cold -fever,
extreme thirst,etc |
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3. CARROT |
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Nature: Neutral |
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flavor: Sweet |
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Meridian: Lungs, Spleen |
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Actions: Clears heat, detoxifies, strengthens Spleen,
lubricates intestines, |
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transforms accumulations. |
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Conditions: Indigestion, chronic dysentery, cough,
night blindness |
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4. CELERY |
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Nature: Cool |
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Flavor: sweet, bitter |
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Meridian: Stomach, Liver |
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Actions: Tonifies Qi and blood, clears heat, sedates
yang, calms liver, |
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expels wind, strengthens Spleen and Stomach. |
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Conditions: Hypertension, insomnia, vertigo,
headache, conjunctivitis, |
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carbuncle, hematuria |
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By keeping a subtle awareness of the taste, color and Qi of
food, |
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you will uplift your meals to a higher level.The alchemy of
combining |
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will not only make your meals taste great, but will increase
your health |
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and longevity. |
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Recommended Reading: " The Tao Of Nutrition" by
Maoshing Ni and |
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"Prince Wen Hui's Cook -Chinese Dietary Therapy" by
Bob Flaws and |
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Honora Wolfe |
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[ Home ] [ Acupuncture-philosophy ] [ Chinese Herbology ] [ Acupuncture History-China ] [ Scott Suvow, L.Ac. ] [ Food Energetics ] [ Links ] |
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