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Seasonal Harmony 季节的和谐 Finding Harmony in Seasonal Eating by Ellasara Kling In times past, and until fairly recently in human history, eating with the seasons was normal as it was not generally possible to eat any other way. Food was obtained from farms that were pretty much local, and although in the 19 th and early 20 th centuries transportation access and refrigeration made it possible to obtain some foods “out of the local season” and not grown in your local area, most easily available foods were seasonal. Following the seasons in eating was the way of life for most people. Things change. Since the 1940’s technological advances in refrigeration and transportation, changes in farming methods, and the modernization of food have made it possible for many people to have access to a wider variety of foods in any season than at any previous time in human history. Now, we have an abundance of food from countries that have summer when we have winter and vice versa. So strawberries from South American countries are available in North America throughout the winter. How does this fit in with seasonal eating, if at all. What is seasonal eating? On the surface that question is self-answering. After all, Seasonal Eating must mean eating only foods that are within the season you are in. Makes sense, easy, simple, right? Well, almost so. That point of view leaves out a couple of important pieces: the needs of the person doing the eating and how one season flows from the previous season and into the next. Chinese medical theory takes into account the unique individuality of each person and how that person is changing, i.e., moving from where they are to their next phase and guiding them into ever increasing harmony and balance until they, as a selfregulating system, can maintain that balance and harmony without medical intervention. Applying this concept to food and seasonal eating would mean taking into account your multi-level state, your environment, your health goals, your life situation (for example, levels of stress, physical activity, and so on). Consequently, your food choices are always best guided by your true needs and your intuitive understanding of what you need. The following is an example of how your choices might be guided individually and seasonally. Eggplant is primarily grown as a summer vegetable that is also seasonally available in the Fall. It’s flesh has a sweet flavor, the skin a slightly bitter flavor, and its nature is cooling. It is excellent for removing heat from the digestive system and clearing food stagnation; supporting healthy skin including removing heat rash and reducing the effects of aging; and can relieve dampness among many other healing/balancing uses. If you are experiencing too much internal heat, eggplant would be a good food choice. If, however, you are internally cold, you © Alex7021 | Stock Free Images &Dreamstime Stock Photos would want to add ginger to your diet. So, it is important to know what in yourself you want to nourish and what is natural to your area in your environment (season) that can help you achieve your desired result so as to strengthen yourself and maintain/create balance. For example, in the Fall, pungent flavored foods are warming and move your internal energy outward. So as the weather becomes cooler, it would seem 12 Yang-Sheng (Nurturing Life) Volume 2, Issue No. 5
Five Element Theory LIVER KIDNEY HEART 1 LUNG 2 LARGE INTESTINE 3 METAL 4 Nose 5 Skin & Hair 6 Grief 7 Autumn 8 Dryness 9 Crying 10 White 11 Spicy 12 West 13 3 am – 7 am SPLEEN Generation Restriction/Control that this flavor would have a positive effect. However, it is a good idea to eat foods with a sour/tart flavor in Fall as this flavor helps to retain moisture (important in Fall because it is a “dry” season) and because it has a contracting effect, it assists in protecting against wind. Even on this simple level, understanding the dynamic of the season is important. Some Foods That Harmonize with Autumn Almonds, Apples, Apricot, Bamboo Shoots, Banana, Barley, Basil, Bai Mu Er – aka White Fungus or Snow Fungus, Bay leaves, Broccoli, Cardamom, Cauliflower, Chicken Egg, Chickweed, Cilantro, Coriander, Cumin, Cow’s Milk, Eggplant, Fennel bulb, Figs, Garlic, Ginger, Job’s Tears (Chinese Barley), Kohlrabi, Kumquat, Lily Bulb, Lotus Root, Lotus seeds, Mustard – leaf and seeds, Onions – Green, Yellow, Red, Rosemary, Safflower oil, Shallots, Parsnip, Peanuts, Pears, Peppermint, Persimmon, Pumpkin, Radish, Rice, Sesame Seeds, Spinach, Squashes, Strawberry, Tofu, Walnut, Water Chestnut, White beans (including navy beans, chickpeas, soy beans, cannellini beans, and so on) Yam Adding lily root or snow fungus to congees or soups is beneficial in the Fall as they act to retain moisture. Lung Season The organ system for the Autumn season is the Lung/Large Intestine. The Lungs are in charge of the flow of air in and out of our bodies. They connect our “insides” with our “outside” through the nose, its sense organ. The Lung is literally the highest organ in the torso and directs the qi it receives downward to the other organs. It is the administrator. The Lung is known as a “delicate” organ and is, indeed, very sensitive to changes in hot, cold, dryness, dampness, and wind. The Lung is responsible for providing proper moisture to the skin and similarly through its paired partner, the Large Intestine, dry hair is a sign of a tired Lung. Grief and sadness are the emotions associated with the Lung and crying is its “sound”. On those crisp, clear Fall days, be sure to get lots of fresh air and fill and empty the Lungs completely. September—October 2012 Yang-Sheng (Nurturing Life) 13
Page 2 and 3: Yang-Sheng ( 養生 Nurturing Life
Page 4 and 5: From the Editor 编者的话 The
Page 6 and 7: Featured Article 精选文章 Th
Page 8 and 9: F. Reliability and Validity of the
Page 10 and 11: “Wuji is the mother of taiji” (
Page 14 and 15: Fennel, Carrot Mushroom Soup with L
Page 16 and 17: Mediation In Motion 动中冥想
Page 18 and 19: 18 Yang-Sheng (Nurturing Life) Volu
Page 20 and 21: the hollow interior of the middle p
Page 22 and 23: Lobe Frontal Parietal Temporal Func
Page 24 and 25: the diencephalon. It regulates the
Page 26 and 27: ment (REM) sleep, arousal and sleep
Page 28 and 29: interactive online course “Founda
Page 30 and 31: © Velkol | Stock Free Images & Dre
Page 32 and 33: this way. They're not people to be
Page 34 and 35: TCM Food Therapy 中医食疗 by
Page 36 and 37: Black Walnut tea Black walnuts with
Page 38 and 39: By Shiuan Gee Many years ago a Chin
Page 40 and 41: Qi Cultivation & Dao 炼气与
Page 42 and 43: thereof—Recalling the Mind and tr
Page 44 and 45: 14. Sun, GC. The Tao of Internal Cu
Page 46 and 47: your tribe, your community; then co
Page 48 and 49: Quantum Healing with Dr. Lu 咨询
Page 50 and 51: and Yang, the duality of our existe
Page 52 and 53: vention group, and 10.1%, 6.3%, 9.9
Page 54 and 55: physical well-being as measured by
Page 56 and 57: Development of Specific Aspects of
Page 58 and 59: Cycle of Harmony 和谐周期 By
Page 60 and 61: A Comedy Moment 开心一刻 “
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