Energetics and Nutrition Flashcards
What do we mean by energetic qualities?
What are the four fundamnetal qualities and how do we work with them in naturopathy?
Traditional medicine observed fundamental qualities on what is good for them and what is not. What to eat and how to eat. We have largely lost this intuition.
These fundamental qualities are:
* Heat - Fire
* Cold - Earth
* Dryness - Air
* Moisture - Water
We need a balance of all of these and optimum health leans slightly towards warmth and moisture.
Imbalance 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 ‘aggravated’ and others ‘deficient’ or ‘weak’.
*Heat**
1. What does it look like when in balance?
2. Describe the character of a hot constitution and the risks associated with a hot constitution. How can this be mitigated?
3. What increases heat?
4. What does it look like when it is out of balance?
5. What conditions are associated with excess heat?
6. How do we reduce heat?
7. What life stage is associated with heat?
8. What season is associated with heat?
What does it look like when in balance?
Warm body; good circulation and digestion; mental creativity
Couragous, passionate, fiery, motivated, energetic
What increases heat?
1. Hot climates and seasons
2. Very hot food and drinks
3. Red meats
4. Hot pungent herbs and spices such as chilli, and dry ginger.
4. Oily foods
6. Overly processed food.
7. Stimulants such as coffee, black tea, alcohol
8. Cooking methods: Deep or stir fried, smoked, slow cooked, baked, roasted, barbequed,
What does it look like when it is out of balance?
* Redness on the skin
* Burning’ /stinging sensations
* Prone to Inflammation
* Acute infection, yellow discharge,
* Loose stool
* Over acidity
* Characteristics: over excitement, manic, competitiveness, ‘fiery emotions’ such as irritability and anger, aggression and violence. Stressed
What conditions are associated with excess heat?
* Any condition ending in ‘-itis’
* Acid reflux, gastritis, ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease
* Skin conditions such as hot red lesions, inflammatory skin diseases, infected wounds (with yellow pus)
* Respiratory conditions such as acute bronchitis, bright yellow/green catarrh
* Arthritic conditions - burning pain, hot to touch, red nd inflamed
* Hypertension
* Auto-immunity and the acute inflammatory phases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis)
* Menopause
* Migraines
* Stress, mania, anger management problems
* Cancer
How do we reduce HEAT?
Reduce the things that increase heat
Increase the things that increase cold:
Food: Salads, raw food, green smoothies, bitter vegetables (veg) and herbs.
Lifestyle: Fresh air, less energetic exercise like yoga and tai chi. Fasting, detoxification.
What life stage is associated with heat?
Teenage years and adulthood are dominated by heat.
What season is associated with heat?
Summer is dominated by heat.
Inflammation, prickly heat, sunburn, irritability.
*Cold**
1. What does it look like when in balance?
2. What increases cold?
3. What does it look like when it is out of balance?
4. What conditions are associated with excess cold?
5. How do we reduce cold?
6. What life stage is associated with Cold?
7. What season is associated with Cold?
What does it look like when in balance?
Firm tissues, stability, strong bones and muscles.
Cool, composed, steady nature.
Good endurance, resilience and reliability.
Tendency towards weak digestion.
What increases cold?
1. Cold climates and seasons, fresh air
2. Refrigerated, frozen, cold food
3. Iced drinks, cold smoothies
4. Raw and leafy foods such as lettuce and chicory, green smoothies, bitter ‘detoxifying’ vegetables and herbs
5. Sushi
6. Fasting
7. Cooking methods: raw, blended, sprouting, served cold
What does it look like when it is out of balance?
What are the signs of excess cold?
* Prone to poor ciculation - Pale, Cold body
* Weak digestion
* tense muscles, muscle spasms
* Tiredness
* Debility, unmotivated, withdrawn, low mood
What conditions are associated with excess cold
* 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.
How do we reduce COLD?
Reduce the things that increase cold
Increase the things that increase hot
* Warm food and drinks
* Herbs and spices such as fresh ginger, cumin, rosemary, thyme, black pepper and cinnamon to increase circulation and digestion.
* Fire up with vigorous exercise. Need to get active.
* Saunas and oil massages
What life stage is associated with Cold?
Old age is dominated by coldness.
What season is associated with Cold?
Winter is dominated by cold.
Poor circulation, weight gain, sleepiness,
low mood, seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
Dry
1. What does it look like when in balance?
2. What increases dryness?
3. What does it look like when it is out of balance?
4. What conditions are associated with excess dryness?
5. How do we reduce dryness?
6. What life stage is associated with dryness?
7. What season is associated with dryness?
What does it look like when in balance?
Healthy nerve impulses, lightness of the body
Mental speed
Characteristics such as agility and adaptability.
What increases dryness?
* Dry, windy climates and seasons
* Light, dry crunchy foods such as biscuits, starchy grains, rice, cakes, popcorn
* Gas-forming legumes
* Astringent’ herbs such as green tea and cinnamon that have a binding effect
* Too many ‘hot’ spices also lead to dryness
What does it look like when it is out of balance?
What are the signs of excess dryness?
Weight loss
Dry skin and mucous membranes
Stiff joints
Gas, bloating, constipation
Tremors
Hyperactivity, feelings of fear and anxiety.
What conditions are associated with excess dryness
* Osteoarthritis (stiff, rubbing and clicking joints)
* Dry, flaking, itchy skin conditions, dandruff, wrinkled skin
* Dry mouth, sinuses and throat, dry cough
* Gas, bloating, IBS with constipation,
* Gall / kidney stones
* Tremors, anxiety disorders, insomnia (waking early hours).
* Cooking methods: Grilling, baking, dry roasting – drain the moisture out of food
How do we reduce dryness?
Reduce the things that increase dryness
Increase moistening and hydrating foods:
* Fluids, soups, broths, porridge
* Watery fruit and veg.
* 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 and slippery elm are moistening.
What life stage is associated with dryness?
Mature >50s
What season is associated with dryness?
Autumn
Moisture
1. What does it look like when in balance?
2. What increases moisture?
1. What does it look like when it is out of balance?
1. What conditions are associated with excess moistness?
1. How do we reduce moistness?
1. What life stage is associated with moistness?
1. What season is associated with moistness?
What does it look like when in balance?
Healthy bodily fluids (e.g., lymph, synovial fluid) and transportation of nutrients
Moist mucous membranes
Calm, reliable, loving nature. Feelings of love and contentment.
What increases moistness?
* Wet climates and seasons
* ‘Moist’ foods such as porridge, soup, high water content fruit and vegetables (melon, cucumber)
* Slimy ‘mucilaginous’ foods such as ripe banana, okra, gluten, chia, linseeds, aloe vera gel and slippery elm.
* Dairy, refined carbs and gluten are very ‘damp’ foods and highly likely to cause ‘damp’ problems.
* Preferred cooking methods - boiling, steaming soups
What does it look like when it is out of balance?
What are the signs of excess moisture?
* Weight gain
* Watery discharges, fluid retention, mucus, lumps and cysts
* Lethargy, feelings of over-sentimentality and possessiveness.
* Nausea
What conditions are associated with excess moistness
* Obesity
* Oedema
* Lymphoedema following surgery
* Benign tumours, cysts
* Candida
* * Hay fever (watering nose and eyes), thick phlegm, allergies, wet (productive) cough
* Weeping skin lesions
* Excess sweating
How do we reduce moistness?
Reduce the things that increase moistness
Increase:
* Dry, light, crunchy food
* Whole non-gluten grains (oats, buckwheat, millet),
* ‘Astringent’ herbs such as green tea
* Warming, drying spices (cinnamon, ginger, mustard, horseradish
* Most culinary herbs and spices
* Damp types need to challenge themselves and take more risks in life (i.e., be adventurous)
What life stage is associated with moistness?
Childhood
What season is associated with moistness?
Spring
Give 5 examples each for hot, warm, nuetral, cool and cold food.
It is about the food itself but also how it is prepared.
HOT:
* Alcohol, coffee, chocolate
* Chilli, cayenne, dry ginger, garlic
* Deep-fried food, hot spicy curry.
WARM:
* Soup, meat / vegetable stew, Porridge, dahl, mild curry
* Beef, lamb
* Stir-fried or baked food
* Onion, fresh ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, rosemary, thyme, cumin, coriander seeds, mustard seeds
* Warm water, most herbal teas.
NEUTRAL:
… all at room temperature.
* Steamed grains
* Boiled vegetables
* Chicken
* Water
COOL:
* Fish
* Fermented food
* Sprouts, salad leaves, bitter greens, fruit
* Vegetable juice, peppermint tea.
COLD:
* Raw food
* Smoothies
* Iced drinks
* Sushi.
Are plants that grow slowly warmer or cooler?
Are plants that grow in warm envionments warmer or cooler?
Plants that grow slowly are warmer
Plants that grow in cold environments are warmer
What skin conditions would be associated with each energetic quality?
Hot: red lesions, secondary infection, yellow exudate.
Cold: pale skin, cold extremities, slow wound healing.
Dry: dry, flaky, psoriasis, itchy skin.
Damp: allergic hives, vesicles,
weeping skin lesions with clear exudate
What Arthritic conditions would be associated with each energetic quality?
Hot: red, inflamed, burning pain, hot to the touch.
Cold: chronic, degenerative, pale, cold to the touch.
Dry: stiff, clicking and cracking joints.
Damp: swollen, oedematous joints.
What Respiratory conditions would be associated with each energetic quality?
Hot: Acute bronchitis, bright yellow / green catarrh.
Cold: stuck, difficult to clear, degenerative lung disease.
Dry: dry, irritable non-productive cough, brown catarrh.
Damp: Productive cough, copious clear watery catarrh, allergic asthma.
Describe the concept of Yin and Yang
Chinese concept of how opposite forces are distinct but also related and connected to one another.
Good health is an expression of harmony between Yin and Yang. When out of balance, there is dis-ease.
What does the Yin Yang diagram represent?
It is trying to symbolise the concept of dualism and balance and how opposite forces are distinct but related and connected.
YIN
What are the qualities of Yin?
What are the qualities and actions of Yin foods?
What are some examples of cooling YIN foods?
What are some examples of nourishing YIN foods?
What are the causes of excess Yin?
How do you treat excess Yin?
YIN
What are the qualities of Yin?
Cold; Moist/Hydrating; Matter (solid & Stable); Contraction; Decending; Nourishing; Water
**What are the qualities and actions of Yin foods? **
* Cooling, Hydrating, Nourishing
* Balance excess heat or dryness
* Rebuild a system depleted by exhaustion or illness.
What are some examples of cooling YIN foods?
Bitter, leafy greens, watery fruit and veg such as pear, melon, celery.
What are some examples of nourishing YIN foods? Soups, stews, broths, braised meats, dark leafy greens, fruit, yoghurt, honey, oyster, tempeh, nut milks, sesame.
What are the causes of excess Yin?
Cold diet or chronic exposure to cold.
What does excess Yin look like?
Signs and symptoms: Sharp pains, cramps, pale / pale-blue complexion, feeling cold all the time, constipation.
Tongue: Blue, possibly with thick white coating.
How do you treat excess Yin?
Avoid: Raw foods, salads, cold drinks, smoothies.
Eat: Warming soups, stews, broths, warm water and herbal teas (e.g., ginger, cinnamon).
Lifestyle: Always stay warm, hot baths, hot water bottles
YANG
What are the qualities of Yang?
What are the qualities and actions of Yang foods?
What are some examples of warming YANG foods?
What are some examples of damp clearing YANG foods?
What are the causes of excess Yang?
What does excess Yang look like?
How do you treat excess Yang?
Hot; Dry; Energy; Expansion; Rising; moving; Fire
**What are the qualities and actions of Yang foods? **
* Warming, Drying, Moving.
* Balance excess cold or dampness.
What are some examples of warming YANG foods?
Soups, stews, dahls, warm porridges, beef, lamb, stir-fried or baked food, onion, garlic, ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, cumin, coriander seeds, mustard seeds, warm water, herbal teas.
What are some examples of damp clearing YANG foods? Non-gluten grains, mushrooms, fennel seed or cinnamon tea, horseradish, black radish, ginger, seeds (mustard, cumin, cardamom, star anise), Szechuan pepper
What are the causes of excess Yang?
Stress, diet, acute inflammation, competitive life.
What does excess Yang look like?
Signs and symptoms: Red face, hypertension, anger, headaches, feeling hot, thirst, constipation.
Tongue: Red, possibly with yellow coating.
How do you treat excess Yang?
Avoid: Sugar, alcohol, coffee, black tea, fizzy drinks, red meats, hot spices, fried or greasy food, onion, garlic, processed foods.
Eat: Cooling Yin foods, bitter greens, watery fruit, melon, celery.
Lifestyle: Avoid stress, strong exercise, hot yoga. Consider moderate exercise i.e., walking, gentle yoga, Qi gong
What are the four principle imbalances of Yin-Yang
Think of the yin/yang symbol as a dynamic spinning symbol because of the way the energetics change over a season or change over a lifetime.
Excess Yang
Deficient Yin
Excess Yin
Deficient Yang
