Energetics Flashcards
What are the 4 fundamental qualities of food?
Heat, Cold, Dryness, Moisture
Hot, Cold, Dry, Moist
Which of the fundamental energy qualities of food manifests as warm body temperature, good circulation, digestion, hormones, mental creativity, courage and passion?
Heat
Which of the fundamental energy qualities of food manifests as body structure, firm tissues, stability, stability of personality, endurance, resilience and reliability?
Cold
What is ‘agni’?
Digestive fire
Which of the fundamental energy qualities of food manifests as lightness of the body, mental speed, good nerve impulses, agility and adaptability?
Dry / Dryness
Which of the fundamental energy qualities of food manifests as bodily fluids (lymph, synovial fluid etc), mucous membranes, transport of nutrients, love and contentment?
Moisture / Moist
In traditional thinking, in terms of balance of energetic qualities within the body, the best place is leaning slightly towards which 2 energetic qualities?
Warmth & moisture
What was the greek word for optimum health?
Pepsis
List 6 heating foods / elements
- Hot food
- Spices - chilli, ginger, garlic, rosemary
- Hot weather, climates and seasons
- Oily foods
- Red meat
- Stimulants such as coffee, black tea, alcohol, chocolate
List 6 cooling foods / elements.
- Cold weather, climates and seasons
- Raw and cold foods
- Leafy vegetables, like lettuce, chicory
- Green smoothies
- Bitter greens
- Fresh fruit
For a person showing signs of heat, avoid energetically ___ foods.
Hot
For a person showing signs of coldness, avoid energetically ___ foods.
Cold
List 5 manifestations of excess heat in the body.
- Skin redness
- Inflammation
- Burning sensations
- Stinging sensations
- Loose stools
- Fiery emotions (i.e, anger, irritability)
- Yellow discharges (i.e, pus)
- Over-excitement
- Competitiveness
List 5 manifestations of excess cold in the body.
- Pale
- Weak digestion
- Cold extremities
- Spasmodic, tight muscles
- Poor peripheral circulation
- Tiredness & exhaustion
- Low motivation, lethargy
- Emotional withdrawal - depression
- Menstrual cramps
- Hypothyroidism
- Weight gain
- Food intolerances
- Poor memory and concentration
Warmth balances heat in acute conditions. True or false?
True
i. e, warm applications reduce joint pain and inflammation
i. e, warm teas and spices help a fever
List 4 neutral foods
- Steamed grains
- Boiled vegetables
- Chicken
- Water (at room temperature)
List 5 hot foods
- Red meat
- Cayenne
- Chilli
- Deep fried foods
- Chocolate
List 5 cool foods
- Fish
- Fermented foods
- Sprouts
- Fruit
- Peppermint tea
List 5 cold foods
- Raw food
- Smoothies
- Iced drinks
- Sushi
List 5 warm foods
- Soups
- Stews
- Mild curries
- Baked foods
- Porridge
- Most herbal teas
- Herbs like rosemary, thyme, cumin, coriander
- Stir fried foods
- Onions
What is an ‘astringent’?
Something that has a binding and toning effect on tissues.
List 5 drying foods / elements
- Dry, windy environments
- Light, crunchy foods (i.e, biscuits, crackers, rice cake)
- Starchy grains
- Gas forming legumes
- Astringent herbs (i.e, cinnamon, green tea, ginger, horseradish)
List 5 moistening foods / elements
- Wet climates and seasons
- Porridge
- Soups and stews
- High water content fruits and veggies (i.e, melon, cucumber, berries
- Mucillaginous foods (i.e, chia seeds, linseed, okra, aloe vera, slippery elm)
Give 3 examples of very damp foods that are highly likely to cause ‘damp’ problems in the body.
- Dairy
- Gluten
- Refined carbohydrates
Damp in Chinese Medicine is always pathological. True or false?
True
List 3 signs associated with excess dryness in the body.
- Weight loss
- Dry skin & mucous membranes, dandruff
- Gas / bloating
- Fear and anxiety
- Dry cough
- Constipation
- Hyperactivity
List 3 pathologies / conditions associated with excess dryness in the body.
- Dry, flaky, itchy skin conditions
- IBS with constipation
- Kidney stones
- Tremors, tics and twitches
- Insomnia, accompanied by anxiety
- Osteoarthritis, clicking joints
List 3 signs associated with excess moisture in the body.
- Weight gain
- Fluid retention
- Watery discharges
- Oedema
- Weepy lesions
- Allergies - running eyes, watery nose
- Nausea
- Lethargy & fatigue
- Over sentimental
- Over emotional
- Greedy and posessive
List 3 pathologies / conditions associated with excess moisture in the body.
- Benign tumours and cysts
- Obesity
- Hayfever
- Productive coughs
- Excess sweating
- Lymphoedema
Energetic qualities often combine into mixed presentations. Give an example of excess hot and wet.
- Bleeding
- Weeping lesions
- Sweating
- Red, oozing skin diseases
- Irritability
Energetic qualities often combine into mixed presentations. Give an example of excess cold and dry.
- IBS with weak digestion
- Spasms
- Gas and bloating
- Constipation
- Anxiety
List 3 food preparation/serving methods associated with the energetic quality of warmth.
- Stir frying
- Steaming
- Slow cooking
- Baking
- Roasting
List 3 food preparation/serving methods associated with the energetic quality of coolness / cold
- Raw food
- Blending
- Sprouting
- Food served cold / room temperature.
List 3 food preparation/serving methods associated with the energetic quality of moistness.
- Steaming
- Boiling
- Food in liquid form (soups / smoothies)
List 3 food preparation/serving methods associated with the energetic quality of dryness.
- Grilling
- Baking
- Dry roasting
Which of the 4 energetic states would you associate with cystitis with burning pain and blood in the urine?
Heat
Which of the 4 energetic states would you associate with constipation with very hard stool?
Dry
Which of the 4 energetic states would you associate with acute acid reflux with burning pain?
Heat