Energetics Flashcards
1
Q
What are the 4 fundamental qualities of food?
A
Heat, Cold, Dryness, Moisture
Hot, Cold, Dry, Moist
2
Q
Which of the fundamental energy qualities of food manifests as warm body temperature, good circulation, digestion, hormones, mental creativity, courage and passion?
A
Heat
3
Q
Which of the fundamental energy qualities of food manifests as body structure, firm tissues, stability, stability of personality, endurance, resilience and reliability?
A
Cold
4
Q
What is ‘agni’?
A
Digestive fire
5
Q
Which of the fundamental energy qualities of food manifests as lightness of the body, mental speed, good nerve impulses, agility and adaptability?
A
Dry / Dryness
6
Q
Which of the fundamental energy qualities of food manifests as bodily fluids (lymph, synovial fluid etc), mucous membranes, transport of nutrients, love and contentment?
A
Moisture / Moist
7
Q
In traditional thinking, in terms of balance of energetic qualities within the body, the best place is leaning slightly towards which 2 energetic qualities?
A
Warmth & moisture
8
Q
What was the greek word for optimum health?
A
Pepsis
9
Q
List 6 heating foods / elements
A
- Hot food
- Spices - chilli, ginger, garlic, rosemary
- Hot weather, climates and seasons
- Oily foods
- Red meat
- Stimulants such as coffee, black tea, alcohol, chocolate
10
Q
List 6 cooling foods / elements.
A
- Cold weather, climates and seasons
- Raw and cold foods
- Leafy vegetables, like lettuce, chicory
- Green smoothies
- Bitter greens
- Fresh fruit
11
Q
For a person showing signs of heat, avoid energetically ___ foods.
A
Hot
12
Q
For a person showing signs of coldness, avoid energetically ___ foods.
A
Cold
13
Q
List 5 manifestations of excess heat in the body.
A
- Skin redness
- Inflammation
- Burning sensations
- Stinging sensations
- Loose stools
- Fiery emotions (i.e, anger, irritability)
- Yellow discharges (i.e, pus)
- Over-excitement
- Competitiveness
14
Q
List 5 manifestations of excess cold in the body.
A
- 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
15
Q
Warmth balances heat in acute conditions. True or false?
A
True
i. e, warm applications reduce joint pain and inflammation
i. e, warm teas and spices help a fever
16
Q
List 4 neutral foods
A
- Steamed grains
- Boiled vegetables
- Chicken
- Water (at room temperature)
17
Q
List 5 hot foods
A
- Red meat
- Cayenne
- Chilli
- Deep fried foods
- Chocolate
18
Q
List 5 cool foods
A
- Fish
- Fermented foods
- Sprouts
- Fruit
- Peppermint tea
19
Q
List 5 cold foods
A
- Raw food
- Smoothies
- Iced drinks
- Sushi
20
Q
List 5 warm foods
A
- Soups
- Stews
- Mild curries
- Baked foods
- Porridge
- Most herbal teas
- Herbs like rosemary, thyme, cumin, coriander
- Stir fried foods
- Onions
21
Q
What is an ‘astringent’?
A
Something that has a binding and toning effect on tissues.
22
Q
List 5 drying foods / elements
A
- 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)
23
Q
List 5 moistening foods / elements
A
- 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)
24
Q
Give 3 examples of very damp foods that are highly likely to cause ‘damp’ problems in the body.
A
- Dairy
- Gluten
- Refined carbohydrates
25
Damp in Chinese Medicine is always pathological. True or false?
True
26
List 3 signs associated with excess dryness in the body.
1. Weight loss
2. Dry skin & mucous membranes, dandruff
3. Gas / bloating
4. Fear and anxiety
5. Dry cough
6. Constipation
7. Hyperactivity
27
List 3 pathologies / conditions associated with excess dryness in the body.
1. Dry, flaky, itchy skin conditions
2. IBS with constipation
3. Kidney stones
4. Tremors, tics and twitches
5. Insomnia, accompanied by anxiety
6. Osteoarthritis, clicking joints
28
List 3 signs associated with excess moisture in the body.
1. Weight gain
2. Fluid retention
3. Watery discharges
4. Oedema
5. Weepy lesions
6. Allergies - running eyes, watery nose
7. Nausea
8. Lethargy & fatigue
9. Over sentimental
10. Over emotional
11. Greedy and posessive
29
List 3 pathologies / conditions associated with excess moisture in the body.
1. Benign tumours and cysts
2. Obesity
3. Hayfever
4. Productive coughs
5. Excess sweating
6. Lymphoedema
30
Energetic qualities often combine into mixed presentations. Give an example of excess hot and wet.
1. Bleeding
2. Weeping lesions
3. Sweating
4. Red, oozing skin diseases
5. Irritability
31
Energetic qualities often combine into mixed presentations. Give an example of excess cold and dry.
1. IBS with weak digestion
2. Spasms
3. Gas and bloating
4. Constipation
5. Anxiety
32
List 3 food preparation/serving methods associated with the energetic quality of warmth.
1. Stir frying
2. Steaming
3. Slow cooking
4. Baking
5. Roasting
33
List 3 food preparation/serving methods associated with the energetic quality of coolness / cold
1. Raw food
2. Blending
3. Sprouting
4. Food served cold / room temperature.
34
List 3 food preparation/serving methods associated with the energetic quality of moistness.
1. Steaming
2. Boiling
3. Food in liquid form (soups / smoothies)
35
List 3 food preparation/serving methods associated with the energetic quality of dryness.
1. Grilling
2. Baking
3. Dry roasting
36
Which of the 4 energetic states would you associate with cystitis with burning pain and blood in the urine?
Heat
37
Which of the 4 energetic states would you associate with constipation with very hard stool?
Dry
38
Which of the 4 energetic states would you associate with acute acid reflux with burning pain?
Heat
39
Which of the 4 energetic states would you associate with seasonal affective disorder with lethargy?
Cold
40
Which of the 4 energetic states would you associate with hay fever with watering eyes and a runny nose?
Moist / damp
41
Which of the 4 energetic states would you associate with a flaking, itchy scalp?
Dry
42
Which of the 4 energetic states would you associate with insomnia due to colourful, vivid and violent nightmares?
Heat
43
Which symbol underpins a lot of the theories of chinese medicine?
The yin/yang symbol
44
Which symbol in Chinese Medicine encompasses a concept of dualism and balance?
The yin/yang symbol
45
Which side of the yin/yang symbol is yin?
The black side
46
Which side of the yin/yang symbol is yang?
The white side
47
List 5 qualities / properties of yin.
1. Cold
2. Moist
3. Matter - solid, stable, structure
4. Contraction
5. Water
48
List 5 qualities / properties of yang.
1. Hot
2. Dry
3. Energy - activity, transformation
4. Expansion
5. Fire (think 'white hot')
49
In yin/yang, ____ is descending, ____ is rising
Yin is descending
| Yang is rising
50
List 4 heat signs, manifesting as an imbalancing rise in yang
1. Headaches
2. Irritability
3. Red face
4. Nosebleeds
51
List 4 cold signs, manifesting as an imbalancing rise in yin.
1. Chills
2. Tiredness
3. Lethargy
4. Poor circulation
52
In terms of yin and yang, ____ foods are cooling, nourishing and hydrating.
Yin
53
List 3 cooling yin foods
1. Bitter greens
2. Leafy greens
3. Watery fruit and veg (melon, celery).
54
List 3 nourishing yin foods
1. Soups and stews
2. Nut milk
3. Fruit
4. Yogurt
5. Honey
55
List 3 warming yang foods
1. Soups, stews, dahls
2. Stir-fried and baked foods
3. Onion, garlic, ginger, black pepper, cinnamon, cumin
4. Herbal teas
56
List 3 foods / spices that clear dampness
1. Non-gluten grains (i.e, millet, buckwheat)
2. Horseradish
3. Fennel, cinnamon, ginger
57
What is 'amma'?
The mother of all diseases. A build up of toxicity within the body.
58
What are the 4 principle imbalances of yin-yang?
Excess Yang
Excess Yin
Deficient Yang
Deficient Yin
59
Strong signs of heat, such as migraines, red face, irritability and high blood pressure indicate excess ____.
Yang
60
Moderate signs of heat, such as low-grade fevers and night sweats indicate deficient ___.
Yin
61
Strong signs of cold, such as a blue tongue or skin, stabbing pains and cramps indicate excess ____
Yin
62
Moderate signs of cold, such as lethargy, tiredness and diarrhoea indicate deficient ____
Yang
63
List 3 things that can lead to excess yang in the body.
1. Stress
2. Poor diet
3. Acute inflammation
4. Highly competitive environment
64
List 3 things that can lead to excess yang in the body.
1. Chronic illness
2. Old age
3. Cold, raw diet
4. Chronic cold exposure
65
Which life stage is dominated by moisture?
Childhood
| Runny noses, allergies, tears, productive coughs, moisturised skin, etc
66
Teenage and adulthood are dominated by which energetic property?
Heat
| Teenagers - hot red acne, angry outbursts
(Adults - inflammation, stress, high blood sugar)
67
Which life stage is dominated by dryness?
Mature years (50's and 60's)
Dry skin, joint stiffness, energy/stamina decreases
68
Which life stage is dominated by coldness?
Old age / senior years
Less energy, less circulation, declining mobility, exhaustion, withdrawal.
69
Energetic qualities change across the seasons.
Spring is dominated by ________
Summer is dominated by ________
Autumn is dominated by ________
Winter is dominated by ________
```
Spring = moisture
Summer = heat
Autumn = dryness
Winter = Cold
```
70
Our constitution gives us characteristic _________ which can be used to our advantage in life.
Strengths
71
Our constitution gives a tendency to certain types of problems. True or false?
True
72
Staying in good health depends on making appropriate diet and lifestyle choices to _______ rather than aggravate our constitution.
Balance
73
Which constitution has a cool, composed, steady nature?
Cold constitution
74
Which constitution has a fiery, motivated, competitive nature?
Hot constitution
75
Which constitution has a quick, light and adaptable nature?
Dry constitution
76
Which constitution has a calm, reliable and loving nature?
Moist constitution
77
Regardless of constitution, acute situations always involve _____.
Heat
78
What does constitution tell us?
That we all have slightly different needs/requirements in order to live in a state of balance and harmony.
79
What diet and lifestyle advice would you give a client with a 'hot' constitution who is experiencing GORD?
Reduce stimulants, spices, oily foods and red meat.
Manage stress.
Increase cooling foods - green smoothies, linseed, slippery elm, raw fruits and veggies.
80
What diet and lifestyle advice would you give a client with a 'cold' constitution who has weak digestion and cramping IBS pains?
Increase warming foods, stews, soups dahls, aromatic spices.
Avoid cool, raw foods, foods direct from the fridge, cold water.
Herbal teas containing volatile oils, i.e, peppermint
81
What diet and lifestyle advice would you give a client with a 'dry' constitution who has stiff, painful joints?
Increase sound, porridge, liquid foods and hydration.
| Avoid drying foods and environments
82
What diet and lifestyle advice would you give a client with a 'damp' constitution who would like to lose some weight?
Stop dairy and gluten, refined carbs and high water content fruits and veggies.
Increase mild spices, grains and legumes.
83
What is the 'Doctrine of Signatures'?
The idea that all foods, healing plants and therapeutic substances carry signs of what they do.
i.e, walnuts and their benefits for the brain
84
In terms of food direction, hot food is _________.
Ascending
85
In terms of food direction, stalky vegetables that grow fast and upwards are _________
Ascending
| ie. celery, broccoli, asparagus
86
In terms of food direction, cooling foods are _________.
Descending
87
In terms of food direction, give 5 examples of foods that are cooling and descending.
1. Strawberries
2. Cucumber
3. Watermelon
4. Descending root vegetables (carrots, parsnips)
5. Bitter foods
88
In terms of food direction, give 4 examples of foods that are centring.
1. Soups, stews
2. Porridge
3. Steamed / boiled veg
4. Round-shaped foods (celeriac, squash, beetroot, hazelnuts)
89
In terms of food direction, give 4 examples of foods that spread out to the exterior.
1. Hot spicy foods
2. Black pepper
3. Ginger
4. Chilli
90
In terms of food direction, which type of foods have an affinity for clearing the lungs and ridding the body of pathogens?
Foods that spread out to the exterior
91
In terms of food direction, which type of foods have an affinity for the kidneys/adrenals?
Consolidating foods
92
List the 5 food flavours.
1. Sweet
2. Salty
3. Bitter
4. Pungent (spicy)
5. Sour
93
```
Every food flavour has an affinity for a particular organ. Name them.
Sweet =
Salty =
Bitter =
Pungent =
Sour =
```
```
Sweet = Spleen (digestive energy)
Salty = Kidneys & adrenals
Bitter = Heart
Pungent = Lungs
Sour = Liver
```
94
Excess bitter depletes ___
Qi (energy)
95
In TCM there are a few foods that can uplift the spirit. Name 3 of them.
1. Pistachio
2. Vanilla
3. Rose
4. Poppy seeds
5. Lotus seeds
