Guest guest Posted June 3, 2000 Report Share Posted June 3, 2000 >--------- Forwarded Message --------- > >DATE: Thu, 01 Jun 2000 04:19:43 >Dagmar Riley <dagmar-riley >Letter-from-China > >_____ > >LETTER FROM CHINA >June '00 (1) >A newsletter on and modern China > >by Dagmar Riley >______ > >In this issue: > >THE 5 ELEMENTS >...(A) Short Revision >...(B) Balancing Heart Disharmonies - 2: Nutrition > >BEIJING MEMOIRS OF MY CANADIAN FRIEND ROBIN >...Beihai > >DISCLAIMER >SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE information >______ > >Please feel free to FORWARD this newsletter to friends. >______ > >A)SHORT REVISION: >The 5 Elements are a symbol for the 5 basic energies of >the Universe. >The 5 Elements are: Wood - Fire - Earth - Metal - Water. >The Element FIRE is associated with: >Summer - Growth - Joy/Lust - Heat - Heart - Small Intestine >- Tongue - bitter. > >FOOD CLASSIFICATION IN CHINESE MEDICINE: >Classification is according to 2 principles: > >1. Yin and Yang, including the 4 energies of food: >hot and warm (Yang), cool and cold (Yin). > >2. The 5 Flavours: >sweet - earth >bitter - fire >sour - wood >pungent - metal >salty - water > >For BACK ISSUES of this series, please visit >http://www.topica.com/lists/Letter-from-China/read > >B) BALANCING HEART DISHARMONIES - 2: Nutrition > >For the basics of Chinese nutritional theory, please read >LETTER FROM CHINA, March '00 (1) > >FOOD AND ENERGY >Patients seeking treatment are often >surprised when they are told NOT to eat raw foods, only >little fruit (and no citrus fruit) and NOT to drink cold >(temperature) drinks. Mrs. Wang, one of my teachers, even >told many patients to drink less. This seems to go against >all of our " health doctrines " in the West, but it makes a >lot of sense: It doesn't matter how many nutrients there are >in a certain type of food - your body has to be able to absorb >the nutrients, otherwise they are useless. If you cannot >properly digest the food you eat, the food becomes waste, and, >if your body is not able to properly get rid of the waste, >poison. > > is not about " more is better " but about >balance: To balance hot conditions with cold foods, cold >conditions with hot foods, and to properly nourish each >internal organ-function by eating foods pertaining to the >corresponding organ-channels. If we eat balanced, according >to our personal body constitution, we will not feel sluggish, >bloated and tired after eating. Instead, we will feel energized >and our digestion will expel waste properly. > >In the following deficiency/cold conditions, foods classified >as cool/cold in nature and foods cold in temperature are NOT >beneficial: > >*weak digestive systems (a Spleen deficiency in Chinese >Medicine: abdominal distension after eating, loose stools, >tiredness, pale face, easily gives rise to dampness) > >*Yang and/or Qi deficiency (lethargy, pale complexion, feels >cold easily, cold hands and feet, dislikes physical movement, >disinclination to speak, clear urine, no thirst, desire for >warm beverages, etc) > >*cold-damp patterns (no thirst, loose stools, vaginal discharge, >feeling of heaviness, tiredness, females: tendency to >predominantly put on weight at the hips and thighs, pale face, >puffy face in the mornings, etc) > >People suffering from any of the above 3 patterns feel MUCH >happier after following the above advice. These people also >do not benefit from juice or raw fruit diets (cold in nature), >which will further weaken their digestive system, increase >dampness and deplete Qi and Yang even further. The result is: >They put on weight. > >Much of what we think is healthy in the West (plus a number >of peculiar cures and diets)is actually only suitable for Yang >constitution types. These are the people who >* easily feel hot >* are (hyper)active >* have a dominant personality and loud voice >* have a strong desire for liquids, easily feel thirsty >* when having pain tend to feel pulsating, violent pain >* if they feel pain it is not alleviated by touch or warmth >* tend to have a red face >* love cool drinks and foods >* often have dry skin > > >FOOD FOR THE FIRE TYPE > >Most FIRE types have a Yang constitution! You are the ones for >which all these books on vegetarianism, fruit juices, fasting, >raw foods and salads were written! The Fire-type, always >endangered by his fire (Yang) getting out of control and >consuming too much substance (the Yin aspect), benefits by >eating neutral and cooling vegetables, raw foods and salads, >nuts, seeds and grains. >The Fire type should avoid meats, which is almost always >warm or hot in nature, as well as eggs. Sour tasting fruit >teas help to preserve Yin. > >If you feel balanced, a combination of mostly neutral foods >pertaining to any organ channel with a few cooling foods >pertaining to the Heart channel will nourish your digestive >Qi and prevent your heart-fire from flaring up. > >Whenever you are under stress or are experiencing a combination >of symptoms of heart excess patterns, like >*palpitations >*red face >*very red tip of the tongue, possibly a midline crack >reaching to the tip >*thirst >*mouth and tongue ulcers >*dark urine >*inappropriate, too loud laughter >*incessant talking >*hyperactivity, always seems like he/she has drunk too >much coffee. >*sleeplessness >*anxiety >*sweat easily >shift the combination of foods to COOLING Fire foods >(listed below). > >Whenever you experience a combination of symptoms of heart >deficiency patterns, like >*palpitations >*pale, dull face >*pale tongue >*cold hands and feet >*weak and irregular pulse >*tiredness, lack of vitality >*flush easily >*restlessness >*dizziness >*sweating >*feeling of stuffiness or discomfort in the heart region >*easily startled >*disturbing dreams >*sleeplessness >*poor memory >*stuttering or other speech disorders >*aphasia >*lack of concentration >shift the combination of foods to WARM or HOT Fire foods >(listed below). > >NEUTRAL Fire foods are for example: >Grains: Rye >Vegetable: Ice-berg lettuce, lamb's lettuce, beetroot, >stinging nettle (neutral-warm, also pertaining to Liver channel) > >While it is best to use a balanced amount of neutral foods >from all 5 Elements, let us remember the cycle of creation: >Every element has a mother element (e.g. Wood creates Fire) >and a child element (e.g. Fire creates Earth). By nourishing >its mother element, Wood, we make sure that the mother has >enough energy to nourish the child, Fire. And by strengthening >the child, we make sure that the child does not draw too much >energy off the mother. > >NEUTRAL Wood (Liver) foods are for example >Grains: Couscous, spelt >Herbs: Tarragon, chervil, parsley, sorrel >Vegetable: Calabash (bottle gourd)[pertaining to both Liver and Spleen >channel] >Fruit: clementine, rose hip, tangerine, plum, grape, >Meat: beef liver >Drinks: rose-hip tea > >NEUTRAL Earth (Spleen) foods are for example: >Grains: Millet, corn (maize), polenta >Vegetable: Peas, calabash (bottle gourd), potato, sweet potato >(yam), pumpkin, red cabbage, swede (rutabaga) >Fruit: date, fig >Meat: beef >Dairy products: cow milk (only drink warm), butter >Spices: Vanilla, saffron >Sweets: Honey, malt, sugar, molasses. >Nuts: Hazelnut, sesame, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, >almonds, pistachio > >In cases of heart excess patterns, shift the combination of >foods to COOLING Fire foods, e.g.: >Grains: buckwheat >Vegetables, salads: artichoke, chicory, lettuce, dandelion, >radicchio, rucola >Fruit: grapefruit, quince, elderberry. >Herbs: sage >Drinks: top-fermented German dark beer (Altbier), pils beer, >green tea, room-temperature (never ice-cold) water > >In cases of heart deficiency patterns, shift the combination >of foods to WARM or HOT Fire foods. >WARM Fire foods are for example: >Vegetables: Brussel sprouts >Dairy products: sheep's milk cheese, goat's milk cheese, >goat's milk >Herbs/spices: Basil (also pertaining to Liver channel), >turmeric, poppy seed, oregano, paprika, rosemary, thyme >Drinks: Coffee, red wine > >HOT Fire foods: >Meat: mutton, lamb, sheep, goat, all roasted meats >Drinks: Congnac, gluehwein > >BITTER TASTE >The Element Fire is associated with bitter taste, which means >that foods and drinks with a bitter taste will enter the Heart >channel. This " bitterness " is more of an energy classification >than actual taste, and so the bitter taste of foods classified >as bitter is not always obvious to us. >Bitter is causing Qi to flow downwards and thereby also >helps Stomach Qi to properly flow downwards (hence many >digestives have a bitter taste). >Bitter taste also promotes the expulsion of dampness. Most >bitter stimulants like coffee and cigarettes, but also roasted >meats have a strong drying effect, and therefore easily cause >Yin deficiency and Heart fire. Fire types should therefore >reduce their consumption to a minimum. > >FIRE TYPES SHOULD NOT CONSUME TOO MUCH >*coffee and cigarettes for the above reasons (easily >depleting Yin) >*meat, which is mostly warm or hot in nature, especially if >roasted (the roasting process is reinforcing the hot quality >even more), since this easily causes heart fire to flare up. >*hot spices like pepper, pepperoni, for the same reason. >*greasy, fatty foods, as they cause internal heat. > >Fire types should pay attention that they drink enough water. >Although fire types can consume cold foods, the water should >NOT be ice-cold. Ice-cold foods are harmful for any digestive >system. > >That's it for today! Remember that your body, not any theory, >is the ultimate judge of what foods are good for you. Don't >reject these new ideas, try them out and observe yourself: >Can you detect any patterns, what foods in which combination >make you feel tired, which combination leaves you energized? > >Join us next time when we will talk about medical (self-) >treatment,including herbal products and acupuncture/acupressure! >______ >*********************Ad 1******************************* >THE BEIJING UNIVERSITY OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE >TEACHING HOSPITAL in SOUTH WEST BEIJING offers >4-week Acupuncture clinical practice for foreign Acupuncture >students who have basics in >-basic theory of Traditional >-fundamentals of Acupuncture and Moxibustion >For further information e-mail dagmar-riley >*********************Ad 2******************************* >Powerful ideas to maximize your mind/body, relationships, >spirituality, prosperity, & career+...clear/easy steps...Make >your life more fulfilling without wasting time on things that >don't work and without spending years learning these ideas by >yourself. Awesome Health's Tutorial newsletter priced @ $97, >free now. http://www.awesomehealth.com/tr/a.cgi?ay >*********************End Ad***************************** >______ > >BEIJING MEMOIRS OF MY CANADIAN FRIEND ROBIN > >[i had the opportunity, over the past year, to visit China. >My husband is a refrigeration mechanic who was sent to >Beijing to build an ice rink in a shopping plaza so that >you can skate and shop. Since I love to travel, I quit my >job to follow him. This is the story as it unfolds.] > >I finally got Michael to the Forbidden City on Sunday. >This time, we decided to use a great audiotape tour. You get >two portable tape recorders with a tour narrated by Roger >Moore and it gives you all the details of how this place >was built and the reasons for each symbolic statue, archway, >building or whatever. > >For instance in one building there is a ball carved into >the centre of the ceiling. Legend has it that it will fall >on anyone standing underneath it who wasn't a true emperor. >We also found out that the huge red columns that seemed to be >holding everything up everywhere were not made out of stone but >in fact out of timber with coats of lacquer painted over them >to give them a uniform shape and colour. > >The lion statues that we see all around China show a male >lion with his paw on a ball (representing the world) and a >female with a paw on a cub (representing the family) - I am >now noticing these details everywhere. As we wandered through >the city listening to the tape I realized that it was taking >us up through the main area of the city without taking us to >the different buildings that I had gone through the first time. > >As we left the complex I noticed a park across the street >which seemed to contain the pavilions which I had seen in the >distance on my first visit. That provided me with another >place to see and it was where I went yesterday. > >I walked over to Beihai Park, which was built in the 1200's >and is the oldest park in Beijing. It also has the highest >point in the city (these people love hills) and constructed on >the top was the white pagoda I had seen from Jing Shan Park. >As I walked through the gates to the park, I could see a >lake with an island in the middle, connected by a white, >carved marble bridge. Who could resist? Over the bridge I >went and found another enticing doorway. This was the entrance >to get to the pagoda. > >First you go through a courtyard and into the first building >housing a Buddha. Statues of different deities and flowers >surrounded him. Through the back of the room was another >doorway leading to more steps going straight up. I was going >to get my exercise today! After climbing the steps to the >top I was able to see just how extensive this park is. >Different areas contained gardens, play grounds, places to >stroll, places to climb. What a neat place. Again I found >another Buddha in his own little house at the foot of the >pagoda. Pathways enticed you to explore and wound through >arches and huge stands of rocks and trees. > >I followed one, which took me around the hill and to the >bottom, near the lake. There, I found what looked to be an >interesting restaurant, which I would love to try at another >time. I wandered around the lake, crossing small bridges >and passing people who were enjoying this day with me. Off to >one side were two guys practising martial arts and their >instructor was clapping his hands to keep them on beat. >Old women with wizened faces sat on benches watching. >A white peacock hunted for scraps of food. Stands of bamboo >rustled in the wind. Pines and willow trees added to the >whole scene. This park is really beautiful and again I have >found somewhere to take Michael back to enjoy it with me. >______ >DISCLAIMER >The material in this newsletter is intended for >informational purposes only. I do not prescribe and I >do not diagnose. If you use the information in this >newsletter without the approval of a health professional, >you prescribe for yourself, which remains your constitutional >right, but the author assumes no responsibility. >_______ >SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE > >The Letter from China is published every two weeks on Fridays. >New rs will be forwarded the current issue. > > >by sending a BLANK email to: >Letter-from-China- > > >by sending a BLANK email to: >Letter-from-China- > >submit your own personal stories >gesund2000 >and write " article submission " in the subject line. > >comments, suggestions or criticism >gesund2000 >and write " comment " in the subject line. > >for back issues visit >http://www.topica.com/lists/Letter-from-China/read >_______ >Copyright ) 2000 by Dagmar Riley. All rights reserved >worldwide. > >_________ >T O P I C A The Email You Want. http://www.topica.com/t/16 >Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics > > >--------- End Forwarded Message --------- ______________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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