Chinese Food Therapy

Traditional Chinese Medicine
Man and Nature
Factors (internal and external)
What is it? What does it do?

Based on Eastern philosophy TCM has a unique approach to viewing the nature of man, the functions of the body, the manifestation of disease, and its cures.
Western medicine focuses on individual parts of the body.
Eastern medicine does not. Instead
the focus lies in the functions of the
body and their associations with Yin,
Yang, and the Five Elements.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_p2y3E5DwjI&feature=PlayList&p=C679CD8BD812F53B&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=11
Tradicional Chinese Medicine

Food is thought to have characteristics of either Yin or Yang, and also a connection with one of the Five Elements.
Yin Foods are thought to be cooling and bring energy inward to descend or to be collected. They are higher in water content. Soups are usually Yin foods, Congee is an example.
Yang foods are heartier, and tend to have a higher fat content. They strengthen and warm the body, causing energy to expand upward and outward. Meats are a type of Yang food.
How does food tie into this?

There are many differing ways that the Elements interact with each other. But the two most important for Chinese Food Therapy are shown in the Ke and Sheng cycles of the Elements.
Five Elements?

Five Elements?
How are the elements linked to food? The answer is taste!

Which foods of the elements are Yin?
Fire, Wood, and Water
Which foods are Yang?
Earth and Metal
Five Elements?

There’s even more to consider than just Yin, Yang, and the Five Elements when using Chinese Food Therapy.
Other considerations:
Weather (sunny, cloudy)
Climate (damp, dry)
Temperature (hot, cold)
Seasons
Body type of the person eating (Yin or Yang)
More considerations

In Chinese Food Therapy foods do not only cure disease, they can also cause it.
Yang related food-illness:
Acne
Nose bleeds
Urinary burning
Ying related food-illness:
Dizziness
Weakness
Insomnia
Dangerous foods!

Asthma is a condition associated with the lungs, a Metal organ, the spleen, an Earth organ, and also the heart, a Fire organ.
Use of Ke and Sheng cycles. What foods should be eaten?
Application

First a lot of metal foods should be eaten to boost the strength of the lungs.
Fire foods should also be eaten to strengthen the heart and manage the effects of the asthma on the lungs.
Earth foods should also be eaten to strengthen the spleen and also to help promote bringing strength back to the lungs.
Application