Energetic Imbalances

Question 1

Energetic Balance

Answer 1

• When the qualities in the body are balanced, we are ‘whole’.
• In traditional thinking, the best place is leaning slightly towards warmth and moisture. At this balance point, the vital force which maintains health and regulates healing in the body, is most active.

Question 2

Energetic Imbalance

Answer 2

• Imbalance of the qualities leads to characteristic patterns of physical disease and mental disharmony.
• This happens when our environment, diet and lifestyle choices lean excessively towards some qualities at the expense of others, causing aspects of physiology and character to become ‘excessive’ or ‘and others ‘deficient’ or ‘weak’.

Question 3

Energetic Imbalance: Hot

Answer 3

Heat increases in: hot climates and seasons, from hot food and drinks, herbs and spices such as chilli, ginger, garlic, rosemary and thyme , which stimulate circulation and digestion. Oily foods, red meats and stimulants such as coffee are also heating.
• For a person showing signs of HEAT: Avoid energetically hot foods (e.g. hot spices, chocolate, sugar, red meat). Increase cool foods (e.g. salads, green smoothies, fruit).

Question 4

Energetic Imbalance: Cold

Answer 4

Coldness increases in: cold climates and seasons , from cold food and drinks, raw and leafy foods such as lettuce and chicory , and bitter ‘detoxifying’

• For a person showing signs of COLD: Avoid energetically cold foods (e.g. raw foods, cold drinks or smoothies). Increase warm foods (e.g. soups, stews, porridges).

Question 5

Excess Heat: Signs

Answer 5

redness 
‘burning’ sensations
inflammation
acute infection
yellow discharge
loose stool
over excitement
competitiveness
‘fiery emotions’ such as irritability and anger.

Question 6

Excess Heat: Conditions

Answer 6

cystitis
sinusitis (any condition ending in ‘ itis’),
hypertension
auto immunity (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis)
menopause
migraines
acid reflux
gastritis
ulcers
inflammatory bowel disease
inflammatory skin diseases
infected wounds
stress
mania
anger management problems.

Question 7

Balancing Excess Heat

Answer 7

Reduce: very hot foods / drinks, hot ‘pungent’ spices chilli, dry ginger ), red meat , oily foods,
chemical additives, stimulants ( coffee, alcohol Deep fried, smoked, barbequed food.

Increase : salads , raw food , green smoothies , bitter vegetables (veg) and herbs . Fresh air,
fasting, detoxification also balance excess heat.

Warmth balances heat in acute situations : warm teas, spices and wraps promote sweating & treat fevers; warm applications reduce joint pain and inflammation.

Question 8

Excess Cold: Signs

Answer 8

pale
cold
weak digestion 
muscle spasm
tiredness
debility 
low motivation
emotional withdrawal.

Question 9

Excess Cold: Conditions

Answer 9

poor circulation (cold hands and feet, Raynaud’s)
poor digestion (low appetite, colicky pains, IBS)
menstrual cramps
hypothyroidism
weight gain
stiffness
poor memory and concentration
exhaustion
depression.

Question 10

Balancing Excess Cold

Answer 10

Reduce: refrigerated and frozen foods, iced drinks, too many cold, raw and ‘bitter’ leafy foods such as chicory , cold smoothies , sushi , too many bitter ‘detoxifying’ herbs,

Increase: warm food and drinks, herbs and spices such as fresh ginger, cumin, rosemary , thyme, black pepper and cinnamon to increase circulation and digestion. Vigorous exercise, saunas and oil massages also balance excess cold.

Question 11

Dryness

Answer 11

Increases in dry, windy climates and seasons, from light, crunchy foods such as biscuits, starchy grains, gas forming legumes and ‘astringent’ herbs (green tea, cinnamon ).

Question 12

Moisture

Answer 12

Increases in wet climates and seasons, from ‘moist’ foods such as porridge, soup , high water content fruit and vegetables ( melon, cucumber ), slimy ‘mucilaginous’ foods and herbs such as okra, linseeds, aloe vera gel and slippery elm.
Note: dairy, refined carbs and gluten are very ‘damp’ foods and highly likely to cause ‘damp’ problems.

Question 13

Excess Dryness

Answer 13

For a person showing signs of DRYNESS or dehydration: Avoid energetically dry foods (e.g. starchy grains, legumes, astringent herbs). Increase moistening and hydrating foods (e.g. porridge, soup, watery fruit and veg.)

Question 14

Excess Moisture

Answer 14

For a person showing signs of excess MOISTURE or damp: Avoid energetically moist / damp foods (e.g. dairy, gluten, soups, watery fruit and veg). Increase drying / damp clearing foods (e.g. dry food, legumes, ‘astringent’ herbs).

Question 15

Excess Dryness: Signs

Answer 15

Weight loss
Dry skin and mucous membranes
Gas
Bloating
Hyperactivity
Feelings of fear and anxiety.

Question 16

Excess Dryness: Conditions

Answer 16

Osteoarthritis (stiff, rubbing and clicking joints)
Dry, flaking, itchy skin conditions, dandruff
Wrinkled skin,
Dry mouth, sinuses & throat
Dry (non productive) cough
Gas, bloating, IBS with constipation,
Gall / kidney stones,
tremors
Anxiety disorders, insomnia (waking early hours).

Question 17

Balancing Excess Dryness

Answer 17

• Reduce: light, dry foods such as biscuits, rice cakes, popcorn, starchy grains, legumes that increase gas, and ‘astringent’ herbs such as green tea and cinnamon . Too many ‘hot’ spices also lead to dryness.
• Increase: fluids , soups, broths , high water content fruit and vegetables, root vegetables, nut milks, live yoghurt , ‘mucilaginous’ foods such as okra, chia and linseeds , sweet herbs such as liquorice , most herbal teas. Aloe vera gel & slippery elm are moistening

Question 18

Excess Moisture: Signs

Answer 18

Weight gain
fluid retention,
watery discharges, 
mucus, 
lethargy,
nausea, 
lumps and cysts, 
feelings of over sentimentality and possessiveness.

Question 19

Excess moisture: Conditions

Answer 19

obesity
oedema
benign tumours,
cysts, 
candida, 
lymphoedema following surgery, 
hay fever (watering nose and eyes),
thick phlegm, 
allergies, 
wet (productive) cough,
weeping skin lesions, 
excess sweating.

Question 20

Balancing Excess Moisture

Answer 20

Reduce: dairy , sweet or high water content fruit and vegetables such as cucumber and melon, refined sugars and carbs, cold smoothies, slimy ‘mucilaginous’ foods such as ripe banana, okra, gluten, chia, linseeds.
• Increase: dry, light, crunchy food, whole non gluten grains (oats , buckwheat , millet), astringent’ herbs such as green tea , warming, drying spices ( cinnamon, ginger, horseradish , most culinary herbs and spices.)

Question 21

Excess combinations: Hot and Wet

Answer 21

Excess hot and wet (bleeding, weeping lesions, hot red oozing skin diseases, sweating, irritability).
To restore balance: reduce both hot and moist foods, whilst increasing both cold and dry foods.

Question 22

Excess combinations: Cold and Dry

Answer 22

Excess cold and dry (IBS with weak digestion, spasms, gas, bloating, constipation, anxiety). To restore balance: reduce both cold and dry foods, whilst increasing hot and moist foods.