Guest guest Posted August 12, 2009 Report Share Posted August 12, 2009 Good morning, Thank you in advance for any guidance that you can provide me. I am a 37 year old Mexican male and have been diagnosed with a Damp/Heat condition, (not sure which burner), which has manifested itself into Lichen Planus along my wrists, hands, genitals, forearms and feet. I have had this skin irritation for about 10years. Although I understand that it is a very mild case, it has caused me much frustration and embarrassment. Dermatologists simply scratched their heads, advised that it was caused by stress, prescribed topical steriod lotions, which only worked for a few weeks at a time and wished me luck. I did not use these lotions very often at all, as they did not really work and I was sure that the steriods could cause damage to other parts of my internal organs. In one case a doctor wanted to prescribe me a drug that he stated, " ...could make you anemic. " My frustration lead me to seek alternate help...this is when I was introduced to a TCM practitioner. My herbalist/acupuncturist, has advised me to stay away from cold drinks and cold food, including ice, ice cream, mango, watermelon, cucumber, spicy foods. She has also advised me to eat warm soups and have room temperature drinks. She noted that my condition is treatable and that I can really do alot to help myself by eating the right foods, getting more rest, (I usualy get about 7.5hrs of sleep), and exercise, (I have an average build and have been doing yoga, pretty consistently for about three years now, mostly to relieve stress and to stay limber). I have recently been doing some online research on TCM and Food Therapy and have come across some contradicting information, regarding the types of foods that I should and should't be eating. I'd like to learn more about how I can help myself through Food Therapy. Most importantly however, a list of foods that I should be eating and avoiding. Can you recommend a reputable website or literature on the subject? Also, can you reccommend a natural, safe, over the counter, topical lotion that I can use on my skin to decrease/help eliminate the skin irritation? Thank you kindly... Jai Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 12, 2009 Report Share Posted August 12, 2009 The few books out there on Chinese medicine dietetics are kind of light-weight in my opinion. But then i like heavy books. Personally, I think that the therapy that has taken " Chinese " dietetics into the next level is Macrobiotics. Again, that's just my opinion. To address your sense that there is some contradictions taking place, on the surface, I would agree. You have damp HEAT and your practitioner is suggesting that you eat less cold foods and more WARM foods. How weird is that? However, what I see is that your practitioner is keeping you away from foods that cause DAMP. Giving you foods that are easier to digest will help with that. When there is no more dampness, the heat has nowhere to hide or cling to, hence killing two birds with one stone. That's what I see here, the logic is not completely absent. But you can confirm that with your practitioner. -al. On Wed, Aug 12, 2009 at 11:35 AM, capisces7 <capisces7 wrote: > > > My herbalist/acupuncturist, has advised me to stay away from cold drinks > and cold food, including ice, ice cream, mango, watermelon, cucumber, spicy > foods. She has also advised me to eat warm soups and have room temperature > drinks. > -- , DAOM Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 13, 2009 Report Share Posted August 13, 2009 Here's an article that I just happened to be editing that talks in some depth about Chinese nutrition. http://gancao.net/cgi-bin/ib3/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=1;t=1654 There are a few books out there including Paul Pritchforth's book (which isn't entirely CM, but includes a few other traditions) and a book by Henry Lu. Both are appropriate for consumers. > > On Wed, Aug 12, 2009 at 11:35 AM, capisces7 <capisces7 wrote: > >> >> >> My herbalist/acupuncturist, has advised me to stay away from cold drinks >> and cold food, including ice, ice cream, mango, watermelon, cucumber, spicy >> foods. She has also advised me to eat warm soups and have room temperature >> drinks. >> > > > -- , DAOM Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2009 Report Share Posted August 14, 2009 I think it might be Paul Pitchford you're talking about? http://www.amazon.com/Paul-Pitchford/e/B000APSJYE/ref=ep_sprkl_at_B000APSJYE?pf_\ rd_p=479564851 & pf_rd_s=auto-sparkle & pf_rd_t=301 & pf_rd_i=paul%20pitchford & pf_rd_m\ =ATVPDKIKX0DER & pf_rd_r=19XYYZKBNT02XAKKT6PE http://www.amazon.com/Henry-C.-Lu/e/B000APJD4O/ref=ep_sprkl_at_B000APJD4O?pf_rd_\ p=479564851 & pf_rd_s=auto-sparkle & pf_rd_t=301 & pf_rd_i=henry%20lu & pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIK\ X0DER & pf_rd_r=1KNMP5A1ATQB6X4J7WF6 BTW thanks for posting the link to the paper you are editing. I find it interesting =) Chinese Traditional Medicine , Al Stone <al wrote: > > Here's an article that I just happened to be editing that talks in some > depth about Chinese nutrition. > > http://gancao.net/cgi-bin/ib3/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=1;t=1654 > > There are a few books out there including Paul Pritchforth's book (which > isn't entirely CM, but includes a few other traditions) and a book by Henry > Lu. Both are appropriate for consumers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2009 Report Share Posted August 14, 2009 Thanks again Al! � I'll certainly�read the article! � I've started doing some preliminary�research on Macrobiotics and I'm very intrigued so far. People have always told me, that I seem to be one that " runs against the current " . Being in sync with the universe and�living as fully a balanced life as possible, " running with the current " , seems like such an obvious, healthy, way of living.�It eliminates the unncessary " stress " .�I guess I have some changes to make.... � I am looking forward to�learning more about it!� Thank you for helping to steer�me in a much healthier direction. � Namaste, Jai Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2009 Report Share Posted August 14, 2009 There are a lot of folks interested in nutrition on this list, and I encourage them to step up with any additional source that may be of benefit to the group. I love macrobiotics, but that's just my own thing. There are other things. Regarding your " running against the current " . Taoism repeats over and over that the yin eventually overcomes the yang. The silence will overcome the noise. Patience overcomes frustration. And that's really good advice. However, I think that the Tao Te Ching favors being " yin " as opposed to " yang " because the author probably believed that people were too goal oriented and needed to be motivated into allowing things to happen rather than forcing them to happen. I would agree with this overall. But the Tao is about balance if nothing else, and there are times when we need to ACT and times in which we need to ACCEPT. The hard part is knowing when to employ each. As a wise man once said: Lord give me the strength to change those things that I can, to accept those things that I cannot, and the wisdom to know the difference. Amen to that. On Fri, Aug 14, 2009 at 10:12 AM, J ORTEGA <capisces7 wrote: > > > Thanks again Al! > � > I'll certainly�read the article! > � > I've started doing some preliminary�research on Macrobiotics and I'm very > intrigued so far. > People have always told me, that I seem to be one that " runs against the > current " . > Being in sync with the universe and�living as fully a balanced life as > possible, " running with the current " , seems like such an obvious, healthy, > way of living.�It eliminates the unncessary " stress " .�I guess I have > some changes to make.... > � > I am looking forward to�learning more about it!� > Thank you for helping to steer�me in a much healthier direction. > � > Namaste, > Jai > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2009 Report Share Posted August 14, 2009 There's a couple of books that I know of Bob Flaw's book the Tao of Healthy Eating http://www.amazon.com/Tao-Healthy-Eating-According-Traditional/dp/0936185929/ref\ =sr_1_1?ie=UTF8 & s=books & qid=1250285923 & sr=1-1 This one if I remember right has a few chapters at the beginning explaining some of the basics, and then the second half of the book tries to categorize different foods (and vitamins) according to energy and channel. It's considered more new age though, so some of the energies that he finds to be the case not everyone would agree with. Although it seems to be a pretty good book for someone who is new to the subject. Prince Wen Hui's Cook: Chinese Dietary Therapy http://www.amazon.com/Prince-Wen-Huis-Cook-Paradigm/dp/0912111054/ref=ntt_at_ep_\ dpt_7 This one has good reviews and might be worth looking at http://www.amazon.com/Chinese-Nutrition-Therapy-Dietetics-Traditional/dp/3131309\ 628/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8 & s=books & qid=1250285969 & sr=1-5 Seems like Paul's book is the most popular and has the best ratings, at least on amazon. Chinese Traditional Medicine , Al Stone <al wrote: > > There are a lot of folks interested in nutrition on this list, and I > encourage them to step up with any additional source that may be of benefit > to the group. I love macrobiotics, but that's just my own thing. There are > other things. > > Regarding your " running against the current " . Taoism repeats over and over > that the yin eventually overcomes the yang. The silence will overcome the > noise. Patience overcomes frustration. > > And that's really good advice. However, I think that the Tao Te Ching favors > being " yin " as opposed to " yang " because the author probably believed that > people were too goal oriented and needed to be motivated into allowing > things to happen rather than forcing them to happen. I would agree with this > overall. > > But the Tao is about balance if nothing else, and there are times when we > need to ACT and times in which we need to ACCEPT. The hard part is knowing > when to employ each. > > As a wise man once said: Lord give me the strength to change those things > that I can, to accept those things that I cannot, and the wisdom to know the > difference. > > Amen to that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 14, 2009 Report Share Posted August 14, 2009 Wow, you and Al have been so helpful! I really appreciate your references, suggestions and guidance. I'm a bit embarrased of being so ignorant, regarding such a�vital�subject. However there are so many mixed messages and so much confusing information regarding nutrition and healthy�diet...my head just spins round and round. � I anticipate that�steering towards this ancient and�more sane and balanced form of alimentation, is going to help me in more ways than I can imagine. � Thank you for listening and for passing on your knowledge! � Namaste! Jai Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 15, 2009 Report Share Posted August 15, 2009 thanks =) and you're welcome It's understandable how confusing proper nutrition can be. After all most products or diets have something to sell and want to attract customers with the information they provide. I'd say just keep it simple and do what you can and keep at it, moment by moment. It's easy to get over complicated and over vested, especially when there is so much information (especially proprietary) out there. Good luck with your process =) Chinese Traditional Medicine , J ORTEGA <capisces7 wrote: > > Wow, you and Al have been so helpful! > I really appreciate your references, suggestions and guidance. > > I'm a bit embarrased of being so ignorant, regarding such a�vital�subject. > However there are so many mixed messages and so much confusing information > regarding nutrition and healthy�diet...my head just spins round and round. > � > I anticipate that�steering towards this ancient and�more sane and balanced form of alimentation, is going to help me in more ways than I can imagine. > � > Thank you for listening and for passing on your knowledge! > � > Namaste! > Jai Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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