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Thanks! (was Food growth) (OT)

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Thanks to everyone for their helpful replies and clarifications. I

have quite a bit to think about, it seems. This is the third time I

have seen mention to the conditions of a plant or animal's growth as

effecting their overall properties. Hopefully I will be able to find

some more information on this. Sometimes it's hard to tell whether

TCM is devilishly complex or ridiculously simple; I appreciate your

tolerance and assistance.

 

Mbanu

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In a message dated 10/29/2002 4:09:14 PM Pacific Standard Time,

jcc writes:

 

<< Sometimes it's hard to tell whether TCM is devilishly complex or

ridiculously simple >>

 

I'm leaning towards ridiculously simple.

 

Amidst the plethora of all the contradictions ... lately I have been looking

towards utilizing foods (according to signs, symptoms and constitution) based

on what grows in what climate. No matter where I look I find controversy.

 

For instance I have seen bananas listed by some as hot and some as cold. I

have seen coconut listed by some as warm and some as cold.

 

We could look at it from either perspective. These are both tropical foods

that grow in warm climates. So a banana or coconut could be considered cold

because it balances the heat of the region .... or they could be hot/warm ...

because they align ones energies to the energies of the region.

 

It makes the most sense to me that a food will take on the energies of the

region it is grown. It also makes the most sense to me to follow mother

nature with the seasons ... IE ... align ones energies ... not do the

opposite. Why?

 

Many reasons, but if you really take a look at the seasonal rules and compare

it with foods indigenous to certain areas ... you will not see controversy or

contradiction.

 

For instance ... corn is a warm weather crop. Corn is a staple grain in the

warm climates (Mexico, South America etc). Barley is a cold weather crop.

Barley is a staple grain in cold climates ... like the Himalayas.

 

We are to start adding salt to our diet as the cold weather of winter

approaches and eat more substantial foods (fat, meat, roots).

 

Salt is what keeps the ocean from freezing. TCM considers salt cold ...

Ayurveda considers salt hot. Does it really matter that we get this

distinction right?

 

Winter is a Yin time. Yin is heavy and dense. Roots, fats, meats are heavy

and dense. Fat creates the heat we need in the winter ... it appears like we

should " go with the flow " . Summer is a Yang time. Yang although hot ... is

light. We are to eat a lighter diet in the summer.

 

I could go on and on.

 

One still would want to eat in accordance with basic signs and symptoms. If

one is overweight with health problems relating to too much fat in the diet

.... naturally that person will not want to add more fat ... simply because it

might be winter. I need more fat than the average person would need in the

summer ... since I am always cold, skinny as a rail and light as a feather on

my feet. Thus we still need to take all into account. I have been switching

to cold weather crop grains for the fall and winter but I live in an area

where the seasons change. If one lives in an area that is always warm ...

one would want to continue to eat warm weather crops.

 

The cold weather crop grains are barley, wheat, oats, rye, spelt, quinoa.

 

My dog is Cold and Damp so I would not want to choose wheat, spelt or cooked

oats as all of these would aggravate Damp. For him I will use roasted barley

(roasting imparts a bit more warmth), rye and dry oats (as in granola). All

of these are drying. I am cold and dry but can create conditions of Damp

(mucus, runny nose etc) if I eat too many moistening foods and I can create

conditions of Heat if I eat too many drying foods. Thus, I can pretty much

utilize all of them. When I eat the moist grains like wheat, cooked oats and

spelt ... I'll be careful not to overdo or eat them with something slightly

diuretic like lentils (lentils are a cold weather crop). When I eat the

drying grains like barley, quinoa and rye ... I'll be careful to eat

something moistening as well. I seem to fare best with some of each (moist

and dry).

 

Below is a list I started yesterday as a matter of fact, in case anyone might

find it useful ... I need to do far more searching with oils, nuts, seeds,

beans etc. This list is incomplete ... just a start.

 

Cool-season crops:

Lettuce, leafy greens, beets, carrot, cauliflower, celery, Irish potatoes,

radishes, rutabagas ... can withstand temperatures in the 24-28 degree range

 

Broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, collards, garlic, kale, mustard, onion,

English pea, radish, spinach and turnip .... are even more cold-tolerant and

can withstand temperatures as low as 24 degrees without serious injury

 

Warm-season vegetables

cucumbers, okra, eggplant, snap, pole and lima beans, melons, squash,

pumpkins, corn, southern peas, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes, peppers

 

Cool-season grains:

wheat, barley, rye, oats, quinoa, spelt

 

Warm-season grains:

corn, sorghum, rice

 

Cool-season beans/legumes/seeds:

Lentil

Chickpea

Pea

Canola

Flaxseed

 

Warm-season beans/legumes/seeds

Mung bean

Soybean

Aduki

Cowpea

 

Lynn

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