Chinese dietary therapy.Nutritional education is often overlooked in the training of medical practitioners. This complaint has often been voiced about Western medical schools, but nutrition is also often overlooked in Chinese medicine education institutions. Jeffrey Yuen, an 88th generation Daoist priest, is the Academic dean of the acupuncture program at the Swedish Institute The Swedish Institute (Svenska Institutet, SI) is a Swedish government agency with the responsibility to spread information about Sweden abroad, to promote Swedish interests, and to organise exchanges with other countries in different areas of public life, in particular in in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. . This fall he also joined the staff of Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts in Asheville. Mr. Yuen believes that nutrition is integral to good health. He states "dietary therapy is the highest level of healing as it forces consciousness to evolve. The effects of dietary therapy are far reaching as food satisfies both physical hunger and emotional hunger". Mr. Yuen is a leader in the restoration of the spiritual roots of Chinese medicine. We each consume food daily, and because the food choices we make are intricately connected to our health and well-being, this nutritional healing Overview Nutritional Healing is an established scientific approach aimed at balancing the needs of the human body through the use of healthful, nutrient-rich foods and, many times, dietary supplements. is healing that is accessible to each of us. But nutrition is not just about the food we consume. The workings of the digestive system are also important in nutrition. Chinese medicine acknowledges that the nutritional content of food consumed is moot if an individual's digestive system is so weak that it is unable to extract nutrients from the food. In Chinese medicine theory, the spleen is responsible for the strength of the digestive system. If the spleen becomes weak, its ability to extract life force energy, or Qi, from the food an individual eats is compromised, and this will have a harmful effect on a person's health and vitality. If the spleen Qi is weak, a person will be prone to developing damp conditions in the body, which are characterized by mucous mucous /mu·cous/ (mu´kus) 1. pertaining to or resembling mucus. 2. covered with mucus. 3. secreting, producing, or containing mucus. mu·cous adj. 1. or phlegm phlegm humor effecting temperament of sluggishness. [Medieval Physiology: Hall, 130] See : Laziness . The kidneys are also important in the relationship between the spleen and digestion. Known as the "root of life," the kidneys rule birth, growth, and development. If kidney Qi is weak, the kidneys will not support spleen energy, and digestion will be compromised. For this reason, any focus on digestion in Chinese medicine must address the Qi of both the kidneys and the spleen. The following recipes nourish kidney and spleen energy. The first recipe is an excellent hot breakfast cereal breakfast cereal, a food made from grain, commonly eaten in the morning. The oldest type of cereal, known as porridge or gruel, requires cooking in water or milk. The modern breakfast cereals, however, are entirely precooked and eaten in cold milk. that is particularly important to consume in the winter months when kidneys need warmth and support. Its ingredients that are relevant to supporting the kidneys are cinnamon powder, chestnuts, and walnuts. Cinnamon bark, from which cinnamon powder is derived, is a warning spice that is used in dietary therapy and in many herbal recipes as well. It warms the kidneys and spleen, and it builds, or tonifies, the digestive system. Chestnuts are the king of nuts. They are sweet and warming, and they also tonify the kidneys and spleen. Walnuts are warming and tonify the kidneys and lungs. They are also low in saturated fats. When cinnamon bark, chestnuts, and walnuts are combined and added to rice, it creates a breakfast cereal that is healthy and nourishing, and tastes good too! In Chinese medicine theory, the kidneys store jing-essence. Kidney jing-essence determines an individual's vitality and resistance to disease, as well as longevity. Congenital jing-essence is present at birth and influences an individual's health and development. Acquired jing-essence can be obtained from food and can greatly enhance the activity of even small amounts of congenital jing-essence. Stress, overwork overwork the condition produced by working a draft animal or working dog, an eventing or endurance horse too hard. See also exhaustion. , emotions, toxins in food and water, and toxins such as heavy metals heavy metals, n.pl metallic compounds, such as aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and nickel. Exposure to these metals has been linked to immune, kidney, and neurotic disorders. can deplete de·plete v. 1. To use up something, such as a nutrient. 2. To empty something out, as the body of electrolytes. jing-essence. Seeds are powerful for building jing-essence and supporting the kidneys. Just as the kidneys are the root of life, seeds contain the essence of life. Sesame seeds, particularly those that are black and unhulled, nourish the kidneys. Seeds are high in calcium, an excellent source for those who do not consume dairy products dairy products dairy npl → produits laitier dairy products dairy npl → Milchprodukte pl, Molkereiprodukte pl . Because kidneys govern the bones, the high calcium content of seeds also supports both kidney and bone health. Seeds also nourish kidney yin and are especially helpful with hormonal imbalances. Seeds can treat hypertension and are high in soluble fiber to help lower cholesterol. The second recipe is excellent for nourishing kidney jing-essence. It contains sesame, sunflower, pumpkin, and flax flax, common name for members of the Linaceae, a family of annual herbs, especially members of the genus Linum, and for the fiber obtained from such plants. The flax of commerce (several varieties of L. seeds. Sesame seeds have an affinity with the kidneys and liver. They are useful for tinnitus Tinnitus Definition Tinnitus is hearing ringing, buzzing, or other sounds without an external cause. Patients may experience tinnitus in one or both ears or in the head. , night sweats, hot flashes hot flashes Hot flush Gynecology A symptom afflicting 80-85% of middle-aged ♀, first occurring during the perimenopause, continuing with ↓ intensity for yrs, manifesting itself as transient waves of erythema and uncomfortable warmth beginning in the , and hormonal imbalances. Sunflower seeds have an affinity with the kidneys and lungs. They are especially good for moistening the lungs of smokers. Of all seeds, pumpkin seeds are the highest in zinc. They have an affinity with the kidneys and spleen, and can be used to alleviate stomach cramping cramping see cramp. and constipation. Flax seeds have an affinity with the kidneys and liver. They are high in omega-3 fatty, acids and are strong antioxidants Antioxidants Substances that reduce the damage of the highly reactive free radicals that are the byproducts of the cells. Mentioned in: Aging, Nutritional Supplements antioxidants, n. . ESSENCE NOURISHMENT 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds 1/2 cup sunflower 1/2 cup brown flax seeds 1/2 cup golden flax seeds 1/2 cup black sesame seeds 1/2 cup white sesame seeds Dry toast the pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds in a frying pan by continually moving the pan over medium heat, until the seeds start to pop. Mix all of the smaller seeds in a pan and dry toast them until they pop. This usually takes only a short period of time, 2-5 minutes, depending on your burner setting. The two different size seeds are prepared separately because the small ones cook more quickly. Mix all seeds together and sprinkle over food or eat as a snack. WARMING THE GATE OF LIFE CEREAL 3 cups cooked rice 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon powder 1 cup (vanilla or plain) rice milk 1/4 cup chopped walnuts 9 chestnuts (chopped or mashed) Place all ingredients in pan and heat and serve. Chinese Medicine's Perspective on Cooked Food Cooking begins the process of digestion. Cooking causes nutrients to be lost, but also makes a food easier to digest. As a general rule, if an individual's digestive system is weak, he or she will do better eating foods that have been steamed, boiled, or baked, rather than eating raw foods. For further information on Chinese medicine dietary therapy, please see Healing With Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford. M. Cissy cissy Noun pl -sies Adjective same as sissy Adj. 1. cissy - having unsuitable feminine qualities effeminate, emasculate, sissified, sissy, sissyish, epicene Majebe, O,M.D., and Jeffrey Yuen will both be instructors at Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts. Dr. Majebe can be contacted at 828-258-9016 or acuQi@earthlink.net. |
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