This is a great oil to diffuse during the night while sleeping. Food really is the best medicine. TCM claims that disease is caused when any of the external or exogenous evils exert too much influence on our body, foods that have specialized movements can be used to counter these evils. ), blue, purple and black foods, root vegetables and seaweeds and seafood. The Water Element in TCM TCM is based on the Five-phase theory (sometimes called: Five-element theory). This element fosters modesty and sensibility. Foods to avoid include chocolate, salt, meats, stimulants and hot spices. Your body has heat so you crave cold foods or iced drinks. “Foods have their own texture or nature,” says Vie Healing founder Mona Dan, an acupuncturist, herbalist, and TCM expert. Juniper Berry teaches that there is nothing to fear when we acknowledge and accept all aspects of the self. Spending some time journaling, taking a hot (foot) bath with lavender oil and Epsom salt (add 5 drops of oil to 1 cup of salt before putting it in the bath) or quietly drinking a cup of your favorite tea without doing anything else are simple ways to support yourself and keep the water element nourished. In TCM, dampness is an excess of the water element and heat is an excess of the fire element. Recommended foods for the fire body type include bitter foods, grains, vegetables, dark leafy greens, beans and seeds. Food really is the best medicine. Food And the 5 Elements Many foods can be more than one element at a time. Salty flavors enter the Bladder and Kidney and correspond to Winter and the Water element The flavor moves inward to the Kidneys and helps us to store strength. The Water Element includes the Kidneys and Bladder, but the energetic organ system which is recognized in Chinese medicine is much more complex than just the tissue of these organs. 3 Thus, any obstruction in the channels and meridians ultimately will affect water metabolism adversely in some manner. The fear of heights, spiders, of not being good enough and any other; in other words: the fear of extinction. Avoid the cold, greasy and viscous food bad for spleen, stomach and Yang, as well as beverage and liquor. Taking quiet time to connect with the fear and allowing it to be there to give it space is a potent way to balance kidney chi and the water element. In contrast with western medicine, the role of food and medicine in traditional Chinese medicine overlap. To get out of it: The use of essential oil is also an effective way to support our emotions and overall wellbeing. For better health, TCM emphasizes the importance in a balanced diet incorporating both ‘cooling’ and ‘warming’ foods to … The Five Elements The Five Elements, or Five Phases, are aspects of Qi. Also foods high in minerals like leafy greens and vegetables are good choices.  Foods to avoid include dairy, red meat and bitter foods. Salty flavoured foods: miso, sea salt, seaweed, tamari, salted raw sauerkraut. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) advocates a healthy and balanced diet. Knowing what to put on your plate is different for everyone, as we all have different needs. The water element rules the kidneys, bladder, bones, nerves and teeth. The Fire Type. This includes the heart, small intestine and the lymphatic system. The legs make a diamond shape; Place the feet at some distance away from the groin, allowing space in the hip joint; Let the spine round forward and the head come down towards the feet; Don’t pull on the arms to come down, but rather let gravity do the work; If the neck needs support, place a yoga block, a bolster or a folded blanket under the forehead. Recommended foods include those that have a dispersing effect and promote energy circulation. In the poetic language of the Five Elements, health is a harmonious balance of all the elements. One can go overboard with raw food, but even though I have a weak Spleen, there is something that a salad provides for me that helps me to feel better the next day even though I'm so Yang Deficient and raw foods … These foods tend to keep the fire at bay, avoiding an overabundance. In TCM, emotions are simply considered expressions of energy. More people are turning to Traditional Chinese Medicine, in search of a natural approach to improve and maintain their health. Water: All salty foods and dark foods, foods that are purple, black or blue.Also, fresh fish and salted fish, salted meat, caviar and other fish eggs, shellfish of all kinds, pork, eggs, beans of all kinds, seaweed and sea vegetables, Soy Sauce and Tamari, miso, figs, blueberries, blackberries, eggplant, kale, wild rice, walnuts, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds are water foods. Copyright 2020 Insight Network Inc. All rights reserved. To support the Water element, recommend a healthy amount of … Understanding what your body – and mind – need during the winter months will allow you to stay balanced and healthy. The metal element rules the intestinal, respiratory and skin systems, as well as assisting with the immune system. Bitter – even its name can make us cringe, and it is certainly not the most popular of the 5 Flavors falling behind sweet, sour, pungent, and salty Yet the bitter foods serve a vital role in our health. It is common for some foods to have two simultaneous flavours. In contrast with western medicine, the role of food and medicine in traditional Chinese medicine overlap. The energies within the body must be a perfect synergy of elements. References Used. Follow these Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) tips to cleanse your liver, detoxify your body and feel more energized. The earth element rules the digestive and structural systems within the body. Learn about the metal element of Traditional Chinese Meditation, Explore the history and benefits of yin yoga, How To Ease The Stress From The Pandemic With Mindfulness, Blending The Benefits Of Meditation & Journal Writing, Ground Down, Focus & Daydream – Even Amidst Challenging Times, Ethics And Values Of Being A Mindfulness Teacher. Each of the five elements in TCM has a flavour attributed to it, and the Water flavour which governs Kidneys is salty. The Five Elements in Chinese Cuisine. CLICK HERE TO SCHEDULE YOUR CONSULTATION! The Kidneys are considered the ‘root of life’ because they store our Jing (essence) and are the foundation of Yin and Yang in the body. The Qi of the elements waxes and wanes in daily and seasonal cycles. • Nourish Yourself Well: Nourish yourself with warm food and drink lots of water; winter sucks the moisture out of your body. Food Therapy. The water body type has a round face and soft, white skin. One TCM diet concept I personally disagree with is the prohibition against raw foods. While fall is the time to get your affairs in order, winter is the time for introspection. Coriander, Chinese chives, onion, leeks, green onion, asparagus, sweet peppers, sword bean, spearmint, Garland chrysanthemum, pomegranate, apricot, peach, cherry, litchi, longan fruit, raspberry, chestnut, pumpkin, glutinous rice, dates, walnut, pine nut, mussels, fresh water eels, sea cucumber, carps, abalone, hairtail, lobster, fresh water shrimps, chicken, mutton, sparrow, venison, pig's liver, ham, goat milk, … … And every organ has its own properties and energies that must remain balanced for the body to function properly. Water is associated with wisdom, stamina and endurance. If your cravings tend toward salty foods, give your Kidney some added support. The water element body type has a tendency towards “thickness.” The face tends to be large and round, with a wider base, while the body is full and chubby. The Water Element includes the Kidneys and Bladder, but the energetic organ system which is recognized in Chinese medicine is much more complex than just the tissue of these organs. These are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. WATER ELEMENT WOOD, FIRE, EARTH, METAL, WATER Extract from Facial Enhancement Acupuncture: Clinical Use and Application by Paul Adkins Water is linked to winter, the time of maximum Yin, but its power cannot be underestimated: Under heaven nothing is more soft and yielding than water. The fire element handles the circulatory, glandular and immune systems. Read more: In Hindu, Ayurvedic, Hatha Yoga and Tantric Yoga traditions, chi is referred to as prana. Personality Traits Belonging to water in five elements, this kind of people is very gentle, smart and competent. The Five Elements are a comprehensive template that organizes all natural phenomena into five master groups or patterns in nature. This theory suggests that there are five elements in nature that cycle in phases through the seasons and our organs: Earth, Water, Wood, Metal and Fire. Learn what prana is and how to feel it. Conversely, the body can also be hot, cold or balanced, or neutral and certain illnesses introduce heat or cold into the body, so in Chinese medicine we eat cooling foods for excess heat, or warming foods for excess cold. According to TCM, the san jiao meridian is the pathway for the movement of all fluids within the body. Avoid raw and cold foods and drinks or ice water. A simple Yin Yoga pose that affects the kidney meridian and so enhances chi flow into the kidneys is Butterfly Pose: It is recommended to hold this pose for three to five minutes. Foods sour in nature are best for this body type. One TCM diet concept I personally disagree with is the prohibition against raw foods. Eat warming foods such as root vegetables, whole grains, and small amounts of meat or fish protein. Start in a seated position with legs extended; Bend the knees and bring the soles of the feet together. For example, the Chinese call vinegar "bitter wine." This then corresponds to the different tastes that you may find not only in your food but in your herbs as well. The water element has introspective qualities; it is often referred to as The Philosopher. Yet for attacking the solid and strong, nothing is better; […] In Chinese medicine, as in reality, there is no way to separate the mind and the body. In order to maintain this optimal health we also need to support an unobstructed flow of Chi through the meridians in our body, and keep a generative balance between the elements. Water Element Associated Energetic Organ Systems in Chinese Medicine. Each food in TCM is seen to have a thermal property – warming, cooling or neutral. It is quiet until overwhelmed; too much activity, overdoing anything and too much focus on the outer world will deplete water and leads to imbalance. However, if water people do less exercise but eat more cold food, such as cucumber, lotus root, bitter gourd, pear and watermelon, they will develop the Yang deficiency constitution. Practice with this guided meditation: In general, introspective practices like meditation and Yin Yoga are good ways to support the water element and stay balanced in winter. Juniper Berry essential oil encourages to face our fear. Water vegetables are: beets, burdock, sea vegetables and kale. Being aware of this cycle and recognizing the relationship between the elements is essential for maintaining (or creating) optimal balance in our physical body as well as for mental and emotional health. Usually, you can guess if a food … The food we put in our mouths can either fuel us or slowly kill us. Basil essential oil is an excellent ally to improve fatigue, low energy, being overwhelmed, and the inability to cope with life’s stressors. It acts as a catalyst by helping to access and address those fears and issues which have long been avoided. Dr. Ellie Heintze, ND, LAc, is a naturopathic doctor and acupuncturist in Bothell, WA at her practice Starting Point Acupuncture. She is a pain specialist, seeing people who suffer from chronic pain, migraines, as well as digestive issues. Damp heat conditions may also include inflammation, high blood sugar, urinary tract infections, weight gain and food … This is why it is helpful to have an understanding of how the seasons and the elements are related. Inhale and slowly roll the spine up to a straight position; Place the hands under the knees to help the knees back together; Hug the knees into the chest with the arms and take a few breaths; Then lie down on the back with legs extended, to notice the effects of Butterfly Pose. Applying a drop to the forehead or crown of the head invites a sense of peace. Foods to avoid include refined carbohydrates, dairy, iced drinks and processed foods as they gunk up the digestive system and overtax the spleen and stomach. More people are turning to Traditional Chinese Medicine, in search of a natural approach to improve and maintain their health. Minimize eating raw foods, like salads especially in the winter. With the knowingness it will still be a while till summer, you may be inclined to hunker down – hibernate if you could – or at least slow down your pace and spend more time attending to your inner world. Foods with yeast/fungus-inhibiting properties known to relieve damp and damp-heat include: onion, cinnamon, ginger, scallion, basil, rosemary, dill, oregano, sage, parsley, cardamom, nutmeg, fennel, anise, clove, coriander, leek, chives, Job's tears (yi yi ren) 5, euryale seed (qian shi) 6, aduki beans (chi xiao dou) 7, ginkgo nut (bai guo) 8, rye, celery, lettuce, alfalfa, turnips, raw honey and corn. Each food in TCM is seen to have a thermal property – warming, cooling or neutral. The emotion associated with the water element is fear. There are certain physical attributes that each element portrays. Seafood: fish, shrimp, seaweeds – all support the Water element. Sandalwood essential oil aids in quieting the mind, and offers support with meditation and spiritual practice. Vegetables should be cooked only lightly to preserve beneficial enzymes and vitamins. According to TCM, the kidneys store our essence energy (called: Jing), which is our source of vitality, resistance and longevity. It is very important to hydrate by drinking at least 8 to 10 glasses of fresh water daily. Fire element: The fire element body type tends to possess a pointy nose, chin and top of the head. In Western terms, an overproduction or underproduction of thyroid hormone alters the body’s chemical balance and causes hyper- or hypothyroidism. 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