Energetics and Nutrition; Energetic qualities

Question 1

Energetic qualities:
Basics

Answer 1

Historically, people would eat when hungry and follow the instincts on what to eat and what to avoid
* Animals eat what they need and like. They normally don’t eat when sick. Babies demand food which is good for them and only as much as they need (requests vary as each baby is of a different constitution)
* As babies grow, they get spoilt by added sugars, denatured foods and environmental poisons (including medications). Thus, instincts about what the body needs are replaced by ‘food’ additions
* In other words: we need to learn what to eat and how to eat

Question 2

Energetic qualities:
Fundamental Qualities

Answer 2

Our ancestors knew nothing about biomedicine, biochemistry or the chemical structure of foods
* They followed their instinct & experience on what’s good & not good for them
* They observed fundamental qualities in the material world, the environment, living organisms, patterns of health and disease, foods and medicines. These fundamental qualities are:
o Heat
o Cold
o Dryness
o Moisture

Question 3

Heat

Answer 3

Heat:
o Manifests; in a warm body temperature, transformative processes such as digestion, hormones, mental creativity, inspiration
o Characteristics; such as courage and passion

Question 4

Cold

Answer 4

Cold:
o Manifests; in body structure, firm tissues, stability
o Characteristics; such as endurance, resilience and reliability

Question 5

Dryness

Answer 5

Dryness:
o Manifests; in nerve impulses, lightness of the body, mental speed.
Characteristics; such as agility and adaptability

Question 6

Moisture

Answer 6

Moisture:
o Manifests; in our bodily fluids (E.g. lymph, synovial fluid), Mucus membranes, transportation of nutrients
o Characteristics; such as love and contentment

Question 7

Balance

Answer 7

A balance of all the qualities is needed for optimum function and vitality. Thus, we need a balance of:
* Heat – good circulation and body heat, strong digestion, mental creativity, courage and motivation
* Cold – firm tissues, strong bones and muscles, mental stability, endurance, resilience and reliability
* Dryness – healthy nerve impulses, lightness, agility, adaptability
* Moisture – healthy body fluids, moist mucus membranes and feelings of love and contentment

Question 8

‘Whole’

Answer 8

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 leaving the body, is most active