I made an ad-hoc Congee

[Guest guest]

It was really easy using what I had on hand..

 

3 chicken breast, 12 cups of water (actually sub 4 cups of chicken stock

for some of the water), 3 garlic cloves, an onion, and a cup and a half

of Indian Basmatic rice. Some salt and a few seasonings and the first

day I had a so-so chicken and rice soup. By the second and third day it

thickened in the fridge to a porridge and the flavors all melded

together. Really good, and really filling, too. I can't wait to get a

whole chicken and make my own stock and put in the ginger, etc.

 

Forgive my naivete, but, without plastic, how does one freeze food? Or

even better, can anyone suggest how I would 'can' the congee so I don't

get what conventional western medicine calls botulism poisoning?

 

Zenisis

[Guest guest]

<snip>

> without plastic, how does one freeze food?

 

Ball makes wide mouth dual purpose glass

canning jars that food can also be frozen in.

[Guest guest]

Chinese Traditional Medicine , Domingo Pichardo

<domingo4tao@g...> wrote:

 

> I am not sure that you would want to Freeze or Can a Congee! I

know that we

> all all conditioned for convenience these days yet when it comes

to " food as

> medicine " it is best to stay closer to freshly made as possible!

 

Fresh is best, but there are some people who are going to need to

freeze Congees. (If they can be frozen without loss of taste and

all healing properties. I've never tried to freeze one so I don't

know how that will work out. Perhaps someone who has will report to

the list.)

 

Anyway, when people have health conditions that are marked by ups

and downs - good days and bad days - being able to freeze food can

come in very handy. When the person is having a good day, the person

can cook extra and freeze the extra for consumption on the bad days.

Back when I was a lot sicker than I am now, I used to make homemade

TV dinners on my good days. It didn't take that much more extra

energy and effort to cook extra on my good days than to prepare a

meal for my husband and myself. On my bad days when I didn't have a

lot of energy, I'd take a couple of those homemade TV dinners out of

the freezer and heat them up for our meal.

 

I didn't know about the dangers of plastics and microwaves in those

days, so I don't know how I would freeze homemade TV dinners today.

I'm glad to learn that there are freezeable wide-mouth jars that

soups and congees can be frozen in. (Thanks, Penel.) I also made a

lot of soups on my good days back then.

 

For the readers who are new to TCM, congees are medicinal porridges.

Foods and the herbs used to season dishes also have medicinal

properties. Everything that one takes into one's body has TCM

properties - herbs, foods, prescription drugs, etc. They all have

thermal energy. They will either cool, heat, or have no effect on

how warm the person is. (Hot, warm, neutral, cool, cold.) For

example, chicken has warm thermal energy, and it's particularly good

for the Spleen and Stomach. It has some Qi tonic properties, and

it's good for helping Blood to circulate properly. (Info taken from

Chinese Natural Cures: Traditional Methods for Remedies and

Preventions by Henry C. Lu, appendix.)

 

" Jook " is another word for " congee " .

 

There are no one-size-fits-all diets in TCM. There are some general

guidelines for healthy people maintaining health. But when a person

is sick, TCM healers frequently will give dietary suggestions when

needed. For example, dried ginger is very good for people who are

too Cold on the inside. Back when I was still very sick but improved

to the point where I could cook more than I had been cooking, I

fixed a lot of ginger dishes like Ginger Pepper Steak. I also drank

a lot of ginger tea. This was very appropriate for me because I was

so Cold. (My husband also tends towards Coldness.) But for a person

who is too Hot, eating a lot of dishes with dried ginger would make

this person sicker because dried ginger has Hot energy, and adds

more heat to a person who already is too Hot. As I gradually warmed

up and my health improved, I ate less and less ginger dishes. Today

I mainly eat them in the winter.

 

Does this mean that a person who is too Hot can never eat ginger?

No. It shouldn't be a main part of the person's diet (like it was

for me when I was so Cold), but a little, once in a while would not

hurt in most Hot cases AS LONG AS the ginger is mixed with enough

food and herbs with cooling energy to bring the overall thermal

energy of the dish to cooling or neutral.

 

BTW, this same principle is used in herbal formulas. When an herb

with warming thermal energy is needed for a person who is too Hot,

the herbalist makes sure that the overall thermal energy of the

formula is cooling or neutral. (Usually cooling.) When Hot or Cold

is a health issue, sometimes herbs will be added to a formula to

make it more cooling or more heating overall or to neutralize the

thermal property of one or more of some of the other herbs used in

the formula.

 

Thermal energy refers to the heating or cooling effect on the body,

not necessarily to the taste. For example, raw ginger may

taste " hotter " than dried ginger, but the thermal energy of raw

ginger is Warm and that of dried ginger is Hot. It's the effect

that the substance has on the body.

 

Ginger is contraindicated in pregnant women, and should be used

cautiously or not at all in these cases. Again, it's a matter of

what an individual needs, and sometimes a pregnant woman will need

ginger, but in general, it's contraindicated in pregnant women

because of the risk of bringing on premature labor. It's a slight

risk, but nevertheless, it exists. On the other hand, there are a

few pregnant woman in whom it may actually prevent miscarriage. It

depends on what the individual's particular imbalances are. TCM is

individualized to a degree not seen in Western allopathic medicine.

[Guest guest]

Chinese Traditional Medicine , Domingo Pichardo

<domingo4tao@g...> wrote:

>

> Zen,

> I am not sure that you would want to Freeze or Can a Congee! I

know that we

> all all conditioned for convenience these days yet when it comes

to " food as

> medicine " it is best to stay closer to freshly made as possible!

> Domingo

>

> BTW, Hard Plastics are not as bad as the soft transparent type

used for

> wrapping sandwiches, etc.. Also. it is the heating and not the

cooling that

> is more conducive to outgassing of chemicals!

 

As most here know I am a purist when it comes to eating - so without

criticizing cultural norms - I would like to advise against many

ordinary daily habits. Foods should not be 'preserved' - freezing,

canning, and other methods of keeping foods over time should never

be used. The reasons why we eat food are to nourish our bodies with

living vital substances - which are necessary to maintain health.

Dead devitalized foods can not possibly maintain health - in fact it

is the opposite - many ways of preparing and preserving foods are

directly disease producing. Even rice should not be kept over night -

although rice can be partialy revitalized - it is much more acid

and phlegm (ama) producing after being kept over night.

 

There are many studies that show that domesticated and zoo animals

do not keep their health if they constantly eat 'dead' food. this is

even more important for humans because our higher mental faculties

do not function if we do not eat enzyme rich foods.

 

I myself do not eat bread - but most breads - cakes - biscuits

(cookies)- etc. are very bad for the Spleen (they cause water

retention - dampness)- wheat is worst but all breads are not good

foods except in emergency situations - like trekking in the

Himalayas- but in that case it would be better to take the flour

(freshly ground)or whole grains and cook them fresh.

 

Wheat is a problem food for many and should only be eaten

occasionaly. I was raised in a culture that eats unleavened wheat

breads - like chapatti, naan, roti, etc. - but in our culture it is

a common understanding that these breads should not be kept over -

they should be eaten as soon as possible after cooking are it will

cause ama (phlegm)and acid - such foods are said to be 'heavy' -

meaning difficult to digest.

 

Food should be organic (non-poisoned with chemicals) - freshly

prepared with care to protect the nutritional value of the food -

and not kept over. This is a minimum approach to healthy eating.

Foods should be prepared in a manner so as to preserve it's vitality

otherwise how can we properly nurish ourselves? Many take vitamin

capsules to compensate for the devitalization of our foods - better

to not destroy the vitamins in the first place. But in my opinion it

is not just the vitamins that must be protected - even more

important is the enzymes that are necessary to properly nourish us -

enzymes and many vitamins or minerals are damaged by improper

prepertaion - like over heating and 'preservation'. Prepare your

food freshly and eat it. People with weak digestion should eat

lightly cooked foods because they are easier to digest - but over

cooking will create even more weakness in the digestive processes.

 

I have never known a truly healthy person who eats -dead food - it

is really a matter of common sense. Just try to imagine or vizulise

the difference in the nature of a fresh apple and say apple pie - no

doubt the apple pie is tasty but it is not the same thing

nutrionally as a fresh apple. Mixing dead foods with fresh (not

necessarily raw) is a partial answer - but why do that? the only

foods that keep much of their nutrional value after long cooking are

grains, legumes, meats, and many tonic herbs - most fruits and

vegetables are damaged by long cooking.

 

there have been several books written on preparing congee - Bob

Flaws has one - I forget the name but remember that congee is often

called jook - so when searching for congee recipes - also search for

jook. Also investigate recipes for kitcheree - a perfect basic food

for those with Stomach/Spleen weakness. Rice and legume porridges

eaten with freshly, lightly cooked vegetables and fruits can

maintain excellant health in all Yin people - and the same type of

diet with small amounts of meat will keep Yang people in top form.

[Guest guest]

Hi Dr. Kumar,

I agree with what you say but I also agree with Victoria

that sometimes people need to prepare food in advance

for times when they are physically unable to prepare food.

 

That way they at least have some control over how many

additives there is in the food they eat in addition to having

a choice of foods.

 

When I worked outside my home I had to leave for work

by 6 AM. My choices for lunch at noon were to purchase

from the candy machines at work,

eat at the hamburger joint next door,

or bring my own lunch from home.

 

In the winter I brought " left-overs " of what ever I had eaten

for dinner the evening before.

We had a refrigerator at work, but to heat our meals all

we had were microwave ovens.

 

My bringing food from home was the lesser of evils.

 

Small OT comment; when the mother of one of my

co-workers came to visit her from India she was very

surprised by all the " conveniences " of the USA.

 

My friend said what her mother liked most was not

having to boil the milk.

It is illegal to sell milk in most states here unless it is

pasturized. Most milk in the USA is also homogenized.

 

I'd like to share with the list the website of a fine

journal (though not of TCM).

<http://www.wellbeingjournal.com/articles.htm>

In this instance I suggest particular attention be

given to the articles about milk.

 

To judge what the lesser of evils is

it is best to know that the evils you have of the options.

 

> As most here know I am a purist when it comes to

> eating - so without criticizing cultural norms - I

> would like to advise against many ordinary daily

> habits. Foods should not be 'preserved' - freezing,

> canning, and other methods of keeping foods over

> time should never be used. The reasons why we eat

> food are ...

[Guest guest]

> Hi Dr. Kumar,

> I agree with what you say but I also agree with Victoria

> that sometimes people need to prepare food in advance

> for times when they are physically unable to prepare food.

>

 

It is absolutely true that the modern life style has a quality of

convenience. I remember the first time my mother saw a washing

machine she was very excited to have one - she said I waste many

hours a week washing clothes. We are developing so many

new 'conveniences' that it has created a completely new way of life.

In my opinion many of these so called conveniences are in reality a

false culture being created by the out of control consumerism of

modern times - these lifestyle changes are being promoted by

businessmen and their advertising companies. These 'artificial'

lifestyles are an important reason for why we have fallen into all

of these 'new' disease patterns.

 

Unfortunately most people have few options and have to settle for a

less than optimal life - my heart goes out for all of these millions

who have neither the time or energy to live in a healthy manner. But

for those who have some ability to study and inform themselves the

solutions of the problems created by the modern culture are

solvable. Iknow many people from all levels of society who have

healed themselves of disease and now live an accomadating life -

adapatation is a science and an art - those who are successful at

adapting become very strong and thrive in this modern life. I think

of myself as a person who lives in multiple cultures and have

learned to addapt to them all fairly well - the reason why is that I

make the adjustments necessary in each circumstance - this is the

science of life - conforming to these adaptations becomes more

important as we age.

 

One simple answer - as 'Penel' mentioned- to the problems you

mention is planning ahead. Since society does not make accomadation

to those of us who want to live in a healthy way - then it is

necessary to 'be prepared'. Eating naturally is actually easy -

because it is simple - more simple than some other options. Example

when we go out or travel we must think ahead about what and how we

are going to eat. My wife has studied the issues and makes sure we

are never caught with 'nothing' to eat. We follow many of the habits

of the Japanese like freshly made rice balls with various fillings -

to me this is infinitly better tasting than the repulsive foods

found in fast food restaurants or on airplanes. When traveling light

eating is better anyway - so carry easy simple foods - and

supplement this with tonic herbs which will provide good quality Qi.

Many wandering monks eat foods like asparagus root to supplement the

Yin. My wife grinds lycium, raisins, asparagus root, red dates,

walnuts, black sesame seeds, and a little honey and makes balls out

of them - sometimes rolling in grated coconut. This with a cup of

gynestemma tea and some Return to Youth (Lycium Formula)pills will

keep my energy steady for many hours.

 

Healthy life takes some planning and study - but it can be done with

out preservatives or devitalisation of food. It will take sometime

to make adaptive changes in life but when one learns what is

necessary for the art and science of life - it becomes second nature

and does not take any more time than making bad choices.

 

I wish good luck to all struggling with this problem.

[Guest guest]

Vinod and all:

 

I simply made too much congee in an experiment and cannot eat it all at

once, even over several days, being that it is so surprisingly filling.

I live alone, and I simply cannot bear to throw away all of that food.

 

150 years ago foods were not organically grown or inorganically grown,

organic was the way all food was grown. However, food shortages were

common and preservation was necessary and considered wise. Waste was

considered laziness and foolishness, it was in this spirit that I froze

what I could not eat before it spoiled.

 

Being able to purchase only enough food that one can eat in the near

future is also a convenience of 'modernity.' As is the steady supply of

food we take for granted. Yet, the tons of waste we create are hidden

from us. And the millions of people who starve are far away, for the

most part.

 

However, I do appreciate the recipe you offered, Vinod, sounds quite

tasty and probably could be adapted for any number of ingredients.

There are also stainless steel thermos' with rubberized lids in which

one can store hot soups and/or stir-fry. If made in the morning that

should keep the food hot for the rest of the day and it won't be

necessary to microwave it.

 

Zenisis

 

Vinod Kumar wrote:

 

>>Hi Dr. Kumar,

>>I agree with what you say but I also agree with Victoria

>>that sometimes people need to prepare food in advance

>>for times when they are physically unable to prepare food.

>>

>>

>>

>

>It is absolutely true that the modern life style has a quality of

>convenience. I remember the first time my mother saw a washing

>machine she was very excited to have one - she said I waste many

>hours a week washing clothes. We are developing so many

>new 'conveniences' that it has created a completely new way of life.

>In my opinion many of these so called conveniences are in reality a

>false culture being created by the out of control consumerism of

>modern times - these lifestyle changes are being promoted by

>businessmen and their advertising companies. These 'artificial'

>lifestyles are an important reason for why we have fallen into all

>of these 'new' disease patterns.

>

>Unfortunately most people have few options and have to settle for a

>less than optimal life - my heart goes out for all of these millions

>who have neither the time or energy to live in a healthy manner. But

>for those who have some ability to study and inform themselves the

>solutions of the problems created by the modern culture are

>solvable. Iknow many people from all levels of society who have

>healed themselves of disease and now live an accomadating life -

>adapatation is a science and an art - those who are successful at

>adapting become very strong and thrive in this modern life. I think

>of myself as a person who lives in multiple cultures and have

>learned to addapt to them all fairly well - the reason why is that I

>make the adjustments necessary in each circumstance - this is the

>science of life - conforming to these adaptations becomes more

>important as we age.

>

>One simple answer - as 'Penel' mentioned- to the problems you

>mention is planning ahead. Since society does not make accomadation

>to those of us who want to live in a healthy way - then it is

>necessary to 'be prepared'. Eating naturally is actually easy -

>because it is simple - more simple than some other options. Example

>when we go out or travel we must think ahead about what and how we

>are going to eat. My wife has studied the issues and makes sure we

>are never caught with 'nothing' to eat. We follow many of the habits

>of the Japanese like freshly made rice balls with various fillings -

>to me this is infinitly better tasting than the repulsive foods

>found in fast food restaurants or on airplanes. When traveling light

>eating is better anyway - so carry easy simple foods - and

>supplement this with tonic herbs which will provide good quality Qi.

>Many wandering monks eat foods like asparagus root to supplement the

>Yin. My wife grinds lycium, raisins, asparagus root, red dates,

>walnuts, black sesame seeds, and a little honey and makes balls out

>of them - sometimes rolling in grated coconut. This with a cup of

>gynestemma tea and some Return to Youth (Lycium Formula)pills will

>keep my energy steady for many hours.

>

>Healthy life takes some planning and study - but it can be done with

>out preservatives or devitalisation of food. It will take sometime

>to make adaptive changes in life but when one learns what is

>necessary for the art and science of life - it becomes second nature

>and does not take any more time than making bad choices.

>

>I wish good luck to all struggling with this problem.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Post message: Chinese Traditional Medicine

> Subscribe: Chinese Traditional Medicine-

> Un: Chinese Traditional Medicine-

> List owner: Chinese Traditional Medicine-owner

>

>Shortcut URL to this page:

> /community/Chinese Traditional Medicine

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Dr. Kumar,

 

My name is Moda M. Ugerione, I am a nurse practioner interested in

alternative medicine! I have a question regarding your food

guidelides!

 

Do you have a published text of the food and diet regimes that you

personally follow and that you recommend to your patients. Are there

any specific recommendations that can be customized for a given

health condtion and metaboic type?

 

I most definitely agree with you regarding the higher importance of

diet and life style adjustments for developing systemic health rather

than using drugs and surgery for " manageing " disease symptoms!

 

As a related diet issue, do you or any one else have any recommdation

for Reactive Hypoglycemia causing cardiac arrythmias after eating?

 

Regards,

 

Mod

 

 

Chinese Traditional Medicine , " Vinod Kumar " <vinod3x3>

wrote:

>

> Chinese Traditional Medicine , Domingo Pichardo

> <domingo4tao@g...> wrote:

> >

> > Zen,

> > I am not sure that you would want to Freeze or Can a Congee! I

> know that we

> > all all conditioned for convenience these days yet when it comes

> to " food as

> > medicine " it is best to stay closer to freshly made as possible!

> > Domingo

> >

> > BTW, Hard Plastics are not as bad as the soft transparent type

> used for

> > wrapping sandwiches, etc.. Also. it is the heating and not the

> cooling that

> > is more conducive to outgassing of chemicals!

>

> As most here know I am a purist when it comes to eating - so

without

> criticizing cultural norms - I would like to advise against many

> ordinary daily habits. Foods should not be 'preserved' - freezing,

> canning, and other methods of keeping foods over time should never

> be used. The reasons why we eat food are to nourish our bodies with

> living vital substances - which are necessary to maintain health.

> Dead devitalized foods can not possibly maintain health - in fact

it

> is the opposite - many ways of preparing and preserving foods are

> directly disease producing. Even rice should not be kept over

night -

> although rice can be partialy revitalized - it is much more acid

> and phlegm (ama) producing after being kept over night.

>

> There are many studies that show that domesticated and zoo animals

> do not keep their health if they constantly eat 'dead' food. this

is

> even more important for humans because our higher mental faculties

> do not function if we do not eat enzyme rich foods.

>

> I myself do not eat bread - but most breads - cakes - biscuits

> (cookies)- etc. are very bad for the Spleen (they cause water

> retention - dampness)- wheat is worst but all breads are not good

> foods except in emergency situations - like trekking in the

> Himalayas- but in that case it would be better to take the flour

> (freshly ground)or whole grains and cook them fresh.

>

> Wheat is a problem food for many and should only be eaten

> occasionaly. I was raised in a culture that eats unleavened wheat

> breads - like chapatti, naan, roti, etc. - but in our culture it is

> a common understanding that these breads should not be kept over -

> they should be eaten as soon as possible after cooking are it will

> cause ama (phlegm)and acid - such foods are said to be 'heavy' -

> meaning difficult to digest.

>

> Food should be organic (non-poisoned with chemicals) - freshly

> prepared with care to protect the nutritional value of the food -

> and not kept over. This is a minimum approach to healthy eating.

> Foods should be prepared in a manner so as to preserve it's

vitality

> otherwise how can we properly nurish ourselves? Many take vitamin

> capsules to compensate for the devitalization of our foods - better

> to not destroy the vitamins in the first place. But in my opinion

it

> is not just the vitamins that must be protected - even more

> important is the enzymes that are necessary to properly nourish us -

 

> enzymes and many vitamins or minerals are damaged by improper

> prepertaion - like over heating and 'preservation'. Prepare your

> food freshly and eat it. People with weak digestion should eat

> lightly cooked foods because they are easier to digest - but over

> cooking will create even more weakness in the digestive processes.

>

> I have never known a truly healthy person who eats -dead food - it

> is really a matter of common sense. Just try to imagine or vizulise

> the difference in the nature of a fresh apple and say apple pie -

no

> doubt the apple pie is tasty but it is not the same thing

> nutrionally as a fresh apple. Mixing dead foods with fresh (not

> necessarily raw) is a partial answer - but why do that? the only

> foods that keep much of their nutrional value after long cooking

are

> grains, legumes, meats, and many tonic herbs - most fruits and

> vegetables are damaged by long cooking.

>

> there have been several books written on preparing congee - Bob

> Flaws has one - I forget the name but remember that congee is often

> called jook - so when searching for congee recipes - also search

for

> jook. Also investigate recipes for kitcheree - a perfect basic food

> for those with Stomach/Spleen weakness. Rice and legume porridges

> eaten with freshly, lightly cooked vegetables and fruits can

> maintain excellant health in all Yin people - and the same type of

> diet with small amounts of meat will keep Yang people in top form.

>

[Guest guest]

> Hi Dr. Kumar,

>

> My name is Moda M. Ugerione, I am a nurse practioner interested in

> alternative medicine! I have a question regarding your food

> guidelides!

>

> Do you have a published text of the food and diet regimes that you

> personally follow and that you recommend to your patients. Are there

> any specific recommendations that can be customized for a given

> health condtion and metaboic type?

 

Your understanding that diet must be customized for both the

constitutional type of the individual and to the pathological

conditions that have developed is correct.

 

In TCM diet is approached in different ways by different schools of

thought. If following a true theraputic dietary system then there are

several books written on that subject. Dr. Henry Lu has several

valuable books on this subject. My favorite books on diet in TCM are

Bob Flaws' several books on the subject - Arisal of the Clear - The

Tao of Healthy Eating - Prince Wen Hui's Cook. Bob's approach is

simple and easy for most to understand - and to follow. His major

point is that the diet must first be supportive of the Stomach/Spleen

functions - with no stresses at all on this system - after that then

the diet can be adjusted to any other organ system imbalances. The

premisese are simple - his dietary system includes animal foods -

since the Chinese (in general) advocate the use of animal foods for

those suffering Yin deffeciencies.

 

For those interested in Ayurvedic approach to diet there are books

like Morningstar's book 'Ayurvedic Cooking for Westerners' - another

helpful book is Usha Lad's 'Ayurvedic Cooking for Westerners' -

Another is Deepak Chopra's 'The Chopra Center Cookbook'- there are

many.

 

I myself follow the traditional diet of my family (not my father who

does not eat grains) rice- legumes- nut and seeds -vegetables -

fruits. When in India (tropical South India)I eat lighter with more

fruits and vegetables in proportion to grains - I also take raw foods

including juices - when traveling I often eat animal foods like fresh

yogurt - or a glass of hot milk with warming spices)and occasionaly

eggs when in Japan or China I frequently eat Tofu (Dofu)- when

traveling in cold climates I eat soups with more oil than I normally

eat and more protein.

 

I met a lady in Japan who's husband is a well known Zen priest she has

recently published a book called 'Fresh Vegetable Dishes From the

Temples of Japan' - this book (it is a simple cookbook without much

science or philosophy) is interesting because it reflects the very low

protein diet followed by millions of Chinese and Japanese spiritual

practioners. This diet is well suited to those with a Yin constitution

who live a refined lifestyle. This type of diet will fulfill the needs

of simple and pure people. One objection I had is that she has several

recipes for deep fried foods - which I do not agree with.

 

I prefer vegetarian diet for most people but for very Yang

constitutions or those with Yin defecicncy animal foods are frequently

called for. Since most on this list are of a Yin constitution or a

mixed constitution i feel that vegetarian diet will be suffecient for

recovery and maintainance of health.

 

Mild diet is the correct approach to healing meaning the diet should

not have any excesses of taste - not too sour or too sweet, etc.

simple and bland and purely prepared is the key. the food must be esay

to digest and does not create more acid, phlegm, or gas. So general

suggestions are have proteins, carbohydrates, and small amounts of

natural oils with fruits and vegetables at every meal with a little

salt. Legumes and grains will provide all necessary proteins. If ill

and suffering from Yin defeciency then add small amounts of animal

foods every other day.

 

For very Yang constitutions more proteins (including animal - they

need purines which are difficult to get from vegetable foods)and oils

will be needed even in health.

 

Diet is the key to health recovery - medicines can not 'heal' disease

in one who is eating a disease forming diet. My father states it like

this 'For those who eat well medicines are not needed, for those who

eat 'relatively' well medicines are a great help, for those who eat

poorly there is not much hope in medicnes or any other therapy'.

[Guest guest]

>

> I prefer vegetarian diet for most people but for very Yang

> constitutions or those with Yin defecicncy animal foods are

frequently

> called for. Since most on this list are of a Yin constitution or a

> mixed constitution i feel that vegetarian diet will be suffecient

for

> recovery and maintainance of health.

 

Just to be clear - I mean lacto/ovo diet. but for those with severe

Yin defecinncy - flesh may be necessary. for reactive types eat only

fish and chicken (if severly reactive only take white meated fish and

chicken parts - and of course organic). For Yang types red meat might

be necessary. Study the nature of animal flesh in one of the TCM diet

books and choose meats suited to your condition and constitution. Meat

is potentially acid forming so often this must be considered in the

individual case. Many people only take the broth made from long

cooking meat - and discord the meat itself - this is very helpful for

those with low stomach Qi - drink this broth or use it to make soups

or Jook. Chinese herb shops sell a product called Chicken Essence -

the one with cordyceps is very helpful for giving energy.

 

We must individualize the diet!

[Guest guest]

what do you mean by reactive types?

 

 

Chinese Traditional Medicine , " Vinod Kumar " <vinod3x3>

wrote:

>

>

> >

> > I prefer vegetarian diet for most people but for very Yang

> > constitutions or those with Yin defecicncy animal foods are

> frequently

> > called for. Since most on this list are of a Yin constitution or a

> > mixed constitution i feel that vegetarian diet will be suffecient

> for

> > recovery and maintainance of health.

>

> Just to be clear - I mean lacto/ovo diet. but for those with severe

> Yin defecinncy - flesh may be necessary. for reactive types eat only

> fish and chicken (if severly reactive only take white meated fish and

> chicken parts - and of course organic). For Yang types red meat might

> be necessary. Study the nature of animal flesh in one of the TCM diet

> books and choose meats suited to your condition and constitution. Meat

> is potentially acid forming so often this must be considered in the

> individual case. Many people only take the broth made from long

> cooking meat - and discord the meat itself - this is very helpful for

> those with low stomach Qi - drink this broth or use it to make soups

> or Jook. Chinese herb shops sell a product called Chicken Essence -

> the one with cordyceps is very helpful for giving energy.

>

> We must individualize the diet!

>