Guest guest Posted July 1, 2000 Report Share Posted July 1, 2000 >--------- Forwarded Message --------- > >DATE: Thu, 29 Jun 2000 02:55:47 >Dagmar Riley <dagmar-riley >Letter-from-China > >_____ > >LETTER FROM CHINA >June '00 (3) >A newsletter on and modern China > >by Dagmar Riley >______ > >In this issue: > >NOTE FROM THE EDITOR >Letter from China going monthly > >THE 5 ELEMENTS >...(A) Short Revision >...(B) the Earth type: energy characteristics and >personality > >RECIPE >...Beans with a TCM-flavour a la Zooky > >DISCLAIMER >SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE information >______ > >Please feel free to FORWARD this newsletter to friends. >______ > >NOTE FROM THE EDITOR > >From this issue on, A Letter from China will be sent out >every four weeks instead of every two weeks. >While I am very happy that my work in the >field keeps me more busy than ever, I regret that time >constraint does not allow for a two-weekly publication. > >Thank you for understanding. >______ > >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 EARTH is associated with: >Indian summer - Maturity - Brooding - Humidity - Spleen >- Stomach - Mouth - sweet. > >For BACK ISSUES of this series, please visit >http://www.topica.com/lists/Letter-from-China > >B) THE 5 ELEMENTS - EARTH > >As usual, let us first examine aspects of nature associated >with Earth, which will make it easy to understand the energy >characteristics of Earth, its influence on the " earth type " >person and the resulting personality traits. > >Close your eyes and think of Indian summer. A field bathed >in warm sunlight. The sun is mild, different from the glaring >sunlight of summer. It is the time when fruit starts to ripen, >growth becomes maturity - harvest time. > >This is the time when mother earth provides us with food >to sustain our lives. Within our bodies, our " mother earth " >or source of nourishment is the Spleen and Stomach. >[for new readers: Chinese organs are not defined according >to their anatomical location (which is irrelevant in Chinese >Medicine diagnosis or treatment). Organ names are a " heading " >for specific groups of functions within the body. When these >functions are impaired, they can be associated with an >imbalance/disharmony of that " organ " . A combination of >acupuncture points or herbs designed to treat a disharmony >of, say, the Spleen, will restore the impaired functions >associated with the Spleen. For more information please see >http://www.topica.com/lists/Letter-from-China/read >LETTER FROM CHINA January '00 (2): East and West: 2 different >ways of perceiving the same world] > >In , not only the Stomach but also the Spleen >is involved in the digestion process: The Spleen is responsible >for digestion and assimilation of food. It plays an important >role in the body's water metabolism and controls the >absorption, distribution and elimination of water from the >body. Together Spleen and Stomach are responsible for the >separation of nutrients from waste, sorting out the useful >from the useless. > >But Spleen and Stomach, the Earth organs, do not only perform >this function of separating useful from useless on the >physical level (digestion), but also on a mental and emotional >level: >If the Earth organs are healthy, a person will be able to > " digest " thoughts and emotions properly. Thoughts will be >organized in a clear order, emotions will be clearly recognized >and the person will be able to make them the basis of clear >decisions. Either appropriate action will be taken or the >thoughts and/or emotions will be put aside if there is nothing >that can be done in the moment. There will be no worrying or >brooding about things that can't be changed. > >As mentioned before, in there is no >separation between body and mind. A disharmony of the Earth >organ Spleen can be the cause of lack of focus, brooding, >depression etc. At the same time, excessive brooding, >worrying, thinking in circles etc can impair the Spleen and >be the cause of digestive problems. >Also western medicine recognizes that " undigested worries >and emotions " can be the cause of many digestive problems, >e.g. ulcers. > >A healthy Earth-element will therefore make the person seem > " down to earth " , stable, practical. The person will show >common sense. Proper " digestion " of thoughts and emotions will >keep his/her mind and heart clear and provide the ability to >focus and concentrate. (You might have noticed that the >concepts " clear " as opposed to " muddy " , " damp " and " sluggish " >will play an important role in the discussion of the Earth >Element, not only on a physical, but also on a mental and >emotional level.) > >Let's go back to our original image: A field in Indian >summer. Earth is warm and neutral, the source and the end of >all life. Earth is impartial, as it sustains all life. The >Earth-type's nature is to be compassionate, patient and >warm-hearted. He/she wants everybody to live in harmony. >The Earth-type does not like conflicts and tries everything >in his/her power to resolve them. > >Whenever people have problems, they will find it easy to >open their heart to the Earth-type since they do not >have to fear to be judged. Friends and strangers are >attracted to the Earth type not because they feel magically >inspired, like they would be by the Fire-type, but because >they feel comfortable, understood and accepted just as they >are. Earth-types always have time for a chat and are good >listeners. They always seem calm and collected and often >hide their own problems behind a smile. > >Since the Earth-type is accepting towards all creatures, >their friends are often from all walks of life. >As mother-earth's basic nature is giving to (nourishing) >and accepting all life, Earth types love to give attention >to others, they love to listen and just be there. They don't >like to be in the centre of attention like the Fire-type but >prefer to act in the background: They love to organize the >company outing, the annual party of the sports club, communal >activities. > >Earth personalities have love and respect for mother earth: >They love their pets, their garden and plants. Earth types >love to grow their own vegetables and herbs. Their animals' >needs are respected and cared for. > >Because of their need for harmony and their strong connection >to their home, Earth-types love traditions. They are no >revolutionaries and prefer security and continuity. > > >[Now keep the feel of warm mother earth while reading on.] >Earth personalities are: > >*down to earth > >*compassionate, loyal, selfless. A friend to be trusted in >hard times. They love to be able to help, which often >reflects in their professions: Social workers, doctors, >teachers who have picked their profession because it was >their calling are often Earth types. Otherwise, Earth types >prefer positions where they are not challenged and their >responsibilities are straightforward and stay the same. > >*social, friendly: They love to create a relaxed atmosphere >and make everybody feel comfortable and at home. > >*diplomatic, tactful: He/she is the person who settles >disputes in a the family, group of friends, the office. >He/she is the calm centre of the group. In order to maintain >peace, they have the tendency to forget about their own >needs, wishes and opinions. > >*non-judgemental, accepting: even strangers are attracted >by his/her ability to let everyone be himself, to listen, >to give. > >*relaxed: He/she loves to have a lazy afternoon with his >friends. > >*likes things to stay as they are. Changes make them feel >uncomfortable. They like to draw strength and wisdom from >the past and, in the face of difficulties, have the weakness >of dreaming of the " good old times " . They also are > " collectors " who can't throw away anything, which often >drives their family crazy. > >*can be perceived to be nosy and meddling, although they >only want to help. > >A typical challenge in the life of an Earth-type is not >to lose his centre, not to lose his sense of self because >of his need to give to other people. The Earth type needs >other people, he needs to give and gather his friends and >family around him. Whenever friendships or relationships >break up, children grow up and leave the house or there >are too many changes, the Earth-type is overcome by a strong >feeling of emptiness and hunger for love. >The typical reaction of the Earth type is to fill this >emptiness with food, preferably sweets. > >When the Earth-type loses his balance, his compassionate >nature turns to compulsive meddling, his relationships >become suffocating and symbiotic. His constant worries >about everything and everybody, his craving for attention, >his phobias (afraid of change, being left, challenges at work) >and over-sensitivity drive people away and make him even more >afraid and lonely. >In addition to his weight problems (due to his attempt to >fill his feeling of emptiness with food), he feels heavy, >tired and without energy. His self-esteem is low. Thoughts >are muddled and constant brooding makes him prone to >depression. He has extreme difficulties to take a clear >stand and to focus. > >An Earth-type should avoid inactivity and stagnation and >pay great attention to clarity and focused action. A >healthy Earth element means being able to separate the clear >from the cloudy, the useful from the useless. > >Join me next time (from now on in 4 weeks), when we will >discuss the organs associated with Wood (the Spleen and the >Stomach)and common imbalances. >______ > >RECIPE >...Beans with a TCM-flavour a la Zooky > >[in TCM, the spices Zooky uses have the following >properties: > >celery: >energetics - sweet, cool. >channels it pertains to - large intestine and stomach. >functions - tonifying blood, arresting bleeding, astringing >Yin fluid, moistening dryiness. >indications - nose bleeding, bloody stool, constipation. > >garlic: >energetics - acrid, warm. >channels it pertains to - Spleen, Stomach, Lung. >functions - promoting Qi circulation, warming the Spleen >and Stomach, clearing away toxic materials. >Indications - treats food retention in the Stomach, cold >feeling and pain in the abdomen, diarrhea, dysentery. > >fresh ginger: >energetics - pungent, slightly warm. (dried ginger is hot) >channels it pertains to - Spleen, Stomach and Lung. >functions - relieving exterior syndrome and dispersing >cold (like e.g. a cold with strong aversion to cold and >no fever), arresting vomiting, resolving phlegm. >indications - cold, vomiting, cough of wind-cold type >(phlegm is clear and not yellow [sign of heat]). > >molasses: >energetics - sweet, warm. >channels it pertains to - Liver, Spleen, Kidney. >functions - tonifying blood, aiding digestion. >indications - blood deficiency > >dry mustard: >energetics - pungent, hot. >channels it pertains to - Stomach, Lung. >functions - resolving phlegm, relieves intestinal gas and >distension, dispersing cold. >indications - cough of wind-cold type, body and joint pain >due to cold, cold feeling and distension in the abdomen, >diarrhoea. > >cardamom: >energetics - pungent, warm. >channels it pertains to - Spleen, Stomach, Lungs, Kidney. >functions - strengthening the Stomach, relieves intestinal >gas, pain and distention, resolving phlegm. >indications - stomach pains and distension and gas, >involuntary urination, cough of cold type. > >pepper: >energetics - pungent, hot. >channels it pertains to - Stomach, Large Intestine. >functions - warming the Middle Burner (seat of the Stomach >and Spleen), keeping adverse Qi flowing downward, clearing >away phlegm and toxic material. >indication: cold phlegm (clear colour), food stagnation, >cold-pain in the abdomen, watery vomiting, diarrhoea. > >You'll probably spot some herbs/spices in this recipe that >you never thought of adding to baked beans before. Those of >you familiar with TCM (Traditional ) will >instantly recognize them as being there to " move stomach qi " . >They not only add a wonderful aroma & taste to the beans but >they make them highly digestible. > >While the Aduki & Black Beans are preferred when it comes >to working with Kidney, all forms of beans are beneficial >(if properly prepared). This recipe uses the traditional >Navy beans but use your favorite (except for butter beans, >need a different recipe for those). > >Baked Beans 1 pound navy or Great Northern beans 3 strips >thick-cut, turkey bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces 1 large >onion, diced 2 or 3 stalks of celery, diced 2 cloves garlic, >minced 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced 1/4 cup molasses >1/2 cup maple syrup 1 tablespoon dry mustard 2 to 3 cups >apple cider 1/2 cup cider vinegar 2 bay leaves 4 sprigs >thyme 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves 1/2 teaspoon ground >cardamom 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice 1/2 teaspoon sea salt >1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper 2 strips bacon additional. > >Bring beans and 3 quarts hot water to a boil; continue to >boil for 2 minutes. Let sit at least 1 hour, but it is best >to allow beans to soak in the pot overnight. Cook the bacon >for 3 minutes in a 3- to 4-quart pot. Add onion, celery, >garlic and ginger, and cook for an additional 3 minutes. >Add drained beans and next 10 ingredients (molasses through >allspice). Bring to a simmer. Add salt and pepper and mix >well. Cover with remaining bacon. Bake in a 300-degree oven >for 5 to 6 hours or until beans are very tender. If necessary, >add additional cider during cooking to keep beans covered. >When cooked, remove thyme sprigs and bay leaves, correct >seasonings and serve. > >Note: recipes of this nature often taste MUCH better >the next day. > >from zooky > >______ >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 month 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 >_______ >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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