Keep the 'Home Fire' burning: TCM

[Guest guest]

....The Chinese think of the stomach (called the

" 'spleen " in TCM) as cooking receptacle that likes to

be about 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

Of course, this heat, besides actual temperature, is

biochemical and consists of hydrochloric acid and the

various digestive enzymes that are used to break down

food.

We could consider this like our internal fire

metabolism. The therapeutic objective is to harmonize

the individual with the season, innate constitution,

lifestyle and activity so that the body is better able

to maintain itself.

 

Breath, food and proper rest is primary to health.

The job of the Spleen in TCM physiology is to

transform food into blood and ultimately the very

substance of the body itself.

 

The Spleen, therefore, represents the innate warmth

and strength of our metabolism and following the

Chinese teachings, it doesn't like to be cold and damp

because these are the two energies that will lower

overall physical metabolism.

The results are symptoms of coldness and dampness

including weak digestion, abnormal weight gain,

lowered immune system, etc.

Too much cold or raw foods weakens our digestive and

assimilative capacity on all levels and it is much

like placing a cold, wet log into a burning fireplace.

We create smoke. In the body metaphorical 'smoke' is

expressed as gas, bloating, heaviness and in general,

decreased assimilation of important nutrients

including vitamins and minerals

This eventually leads to chronic disease.

This is why all traditional healing systems stress the

importance of maintaining good digestion.

 

-Shasta Tierra

studied and worked with her father, Michael Tierra, a

well-known herbalist and author of The East West

Herbal Correspondence Course, The Way of Herbs,

Planetary Herbology, The Natural Remedy Bible, Chinese

Herbal Medicine and The Way of Chinese Herbs. She also

worked with herbalist, Christopher Hobbs L.Ac., AHG.

and acupuncturist Miriam Lee.

She currently practices Traditional

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