Maciocia on taste contraindications

[Guest guest]

The following is taken from The Foundations of by Giovanni

Maciocia, p. 33:

 

" Certain precautions should be used when choosing foods as these are

consumed regularly over a long period of time and have therefore a deep and

long-lasting effect on the body's functions. The same precautions apply if

a certain herbal treatment is applied over a long period of time. " (In

other words, there's wisdom in following a varied diet not only from a

Western standpoint of allergies and/or a range of nutrients but from a TCM

standpoint.)

 

" The sour taste goes to the nerves and can upset the Liver, so it should be

used sparingly if a person suffers from chronic pain.

 

" The bitter taste goes to the bones, and an excess of it should be avoided

in bone diseases.

 

" The sweet taste goes to the muscles and an excess of it can cause weakness

of the muscles.

 

" The pungent taste scatters Qi and syhold be avoided in Qi deficiency.

 

" The salty taste can dry the Blood, and should be avoided in Blood

deficiency.

 

" The 'Spiritual Axis' in chapter 56 deals with the effect of the five

tastes. It says: 'The wour taste goes to the Liver, the bitter taste goes

to the Heart, the sweet taste goes to the Spleen, the pungent taste goes to

the Lungs, the salty taste goes to the Kidneys ... if the Liver is diseased

one should not eat pungent foods, if the Heart is diseased one shold not eat

salty foods, if the Spleen is dseased one should not eat sour foods, if the

Kidney is diseased one should not eat sweet foods, if the Lung is diseased

one should not eat bitter foods'. "

 

Some readers may be wondering about the restriction on spicy food in cases

of Liver disease when spicy has an affinity for the Lungs, the restriction

on salty foods in cases of Heart disease when salty has an affinity for the

Kidneys, the restriction on sour for Spleen diseases when its the Liver that

has an affinity with the sour taste, etc. These restrictions have to do

with the Victor-Vanquished rule of the 5 Elements. There are previous posts

on the 5 Elements and the Victor-Vanquished rule. Basicly, it has to do

with Organ systems having an inverse relationship with each other. When one

gets stronger, the other gets weakened in Victor-Vanquished relationships.

For example, if too much energy accumulates in the Liver, it can attack the

Spleen. The term for this is Liver Invading the Spleen (because the Liver

is too strong - the Liver also can Invade the Spleen because the Spleen is

too weak). In any event, Liver Invading the Spleen wrecks havoc with the

digestion and can be painful. If a person with a weak Spleen eats something

sour (which has an affinity with the Liver) it's energizing the Liver and

weakening the Spleen still more because of this inverse, Victor-Vanquished

relationship between the Liver and the Spleen. (Note: Sometimes the Element

which normally is the Vanquished will turn the tables on the Element which

normally is the Victor in these relationships. When this happens it's

referred to as " Insulting " . In this case Earth (Spleen) Insulting Wood

(Liver).)

 

Note: In TCM diet is considered the first line of defense in health matters.

In some cases the person will have to straighten out the diet before the

herbs can work properly or before the medicinal herbs are even given.

 

Victoria

 

_______________

Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com