Lecture 6: Earth Element Flashcards
What is the earth “season”?
Late summer as well as 15 days around each of the equinoxes and solstices
What is the time of late summer?
Late summer, a short and relatively unrecognized “season,” is approximately the last month of summer and the middle of the Chinese year.
What does late summer represent in terms of yin/yang cycle?
It is the point of transition from yang to yin, between the expansive growth phases of spring and summer and the inward, cooler seasons of fall and winter. Unity, harmony, and the middle way are summoned between the extremes
What happens during the 15 days around the equinoxes and soltices?
These are neutral buffers between the seasons, which change at the equinoxes and solstices. These interchange periods represent pivotal pauses in the light patterns we experience from the sun.
How many days are there in total for the Earth element?
The fifteen days surrounding the equinoxes and solstices amount to sixty days. The addition of the late summer month, running concurrently with the last month of summer (22 days in Sept), gives the Earth Element dominion over 82 days, slightly more than the other elements.
What is an equinox and how many are there?
An equinox is where day and night are equal in terms of amount of hours of light and dark. There is a spring equinox end of March (Mar 20 this year) and fall equinox at end of September (Sept 23 this year)
What is a solstice and how many are there? Which days this year?
There are two. Summer solstice is the start of summer and is the longest day of the year (greatest amount of daylight time) It is June 21 this year. Winter solstice represents the start of winter and is the shortest day of the year (least number of daylight time). It is December 21 this year.
What are some general categories of foods for the earth element?
Mildly sweet foods, yellow or golden foods, round foods and those that are known to harmonize the centre.
What are some specific examples of foods that harmonize the centre and strengthen the earth element?
Amaranth, apricots, cabbage, canteloupe, carrots, chestnuts, corn, garbanzo beans, millet, potatoes, squash, sweet potatoes, sweet rice, string beans, tofu, yams
How should food be prepared to benefit the earth element?
Simply with a minimum of seasonings and a mild taste. Also use moderation in cooking time, methods and temperature and use of water and cooking oil
The seasonal interchanges are times of purification in many cultures. What types of fasting might be useful to bring one to the “centre” for the equinoxes? Solstices?
A short (perhaps 3 days) single grain fast during the fall and winter interchanges.
A vegetable or fruit fast on the cusps of spring and summer
Almost all of this demographic should fast at some point…
modern affluent people who have a lifelong daily schedule of three meals a day plus snacks
What are some reasons that fasting may be useful?
- Cure physical and mental stagnancy
- Enhance one’s mental awareness, sleep and dreams
- Overcome emotional attachment to food
- Purifiy the body before a change of diet to better one’s health
- Seasonal cleansing
- Spiritual reasons
Fasting with these foods is safer and less stressful for those coming from a very rich dietary background…
Fasting on vegetables, fruit, or grains is very successful. Technically slower than more intense fasts.
If one has signs of heat or excess, what type of food should be used for fasting?
Raw vegetables, fruits or their juices
What type of fast could be used for those with symptoms of coldness?
Cooked vegetables or grains, perhaps the addition of warming herbal teas.
What is some fasting advice for those with pronounced signes of deficiency?
These people should not fast.
People with only a slight deficiency can use what type of fast?
Short fasts of grain with chlorella or spirulina micro-algae as an optional supplement.
On a liquid fast when does hunger occur? What does it mean when hunger later reappears?
On a liquid fast, hunger occurs on the second or third day and then disappears. When hunger later reappears, it is a sign that the body has fasted long enough.
What is the maximal length for a liquid fast? Specific solid food fast? How often can shorter one day fasts be done?
It is recommended that a fast last no longer than 7 days on a liquid fast and no more than 14 days on specific solid foods. Shorter one-day or even half-day fasts can be very helpful if they are done weekly.
A raw fruit, vegetable or liquid fast is appropriate for what people? Who would it be unsafe for?
For those making a transition to primarily whole vegetarian foods from a background of abundant animal products.
Not safe for those who have signs of coldness or deficiency.
What is an example of the components of a raw fruit, vegetable or liquid fast?
Carrots, cabbage, apples etc. could include herbal teas, water, juices that can be drunk according to thirst.
For the strong person with signs of excess, one or more of these may be considered…
- Fruit juices, vegetable juices
- Herbal teas or pure water or water with squeeze of lemon
- Barley or wheat grass drinks (can be made from cereal grass powders or freshly pressed grasses)
What is important to note about vegetable and fruit combining?
Most fruits and vegetables do not combine well at the same meal – exceptions are celery and lettuce, which can be eaten with fruit.
What is the ideal amount of liquid (juice, tea and/or water) per day during a fast?
ldeally between six and eight glasses, although more can be taken if thirsty
For whom is a steamed vegetable fast useful?
For those who have overeaten consistently, including with sweets, nuts, beans, grain, dairy, eggs, meat but whose condition is still a little on the cool and deficient side. This would be good for anyone after the holiday season.
Instructions for a steamed vegetable fast
Fast of lightly steamed vegetables, ideally one or two types (at the most three)
Consume water or herbal teas according to thirst
For whom would a whole grain fast be appropriate? How many days?
For those wishing to improve mental focus and whose constitution ranges from relatively balanced to slightly deficient and thin or cold. This fast is recommended for three days.
What are the components/instructions for a whole grain fast? Addition for those with cold signs?
Rice and various other whole grains
Millet is recommended because of it’s alkaline, detoxifying nature
Water or grain beverage if thirsty between meals
Warming herbal teas such as cinnamon bark or dried ginger root for those with cold signs
This fast is favoured by yogis and referred to as “food of the gods” because of its balancing effect on every facet of the body and mind
Mung bean and rice fast
For whom would a micro algae fast be useful?
For those with blood sugar imbalances and attendant sugar cravings. Also good for those who find fasting difficult or who intend to maintain a busy schedule while fasting.
What other fast can the micro algae fast be combined with?
Can be combined with any other fast
What combination of fasts is the saftest for those who are slightly thin and weak?
Micro algae fast with cooked grain or steamed vegetable fast.
Why is a micro-algae fast (maybe with cooked vegetable and steamed grains) good for people who find fasting difficult?
Hunger or other difficulties are rarely experienced
For whom would an absolute fast be appropriate?
People with damp excesses such as water retention, candida overgrowth, too much body weight, abundant mucus or sluggishness
What are the cautions for an absolute fast? What people should avoid this?
Not safe to extend beyond 36 hours without close supervision and preparation.
Not appropriate for the thin, deficient or overheated person (esp. yin deficiency)
How does one perform an absolute fast?
Eat or drink nothing for 36 hours. Begin at 6 or 7pm one evening and break fast early the second morning
What is the benefit of the absolute fast?
It accomplishes in a short time what other fasts take several days to do.
When should someone not fast?
- During pregnancy or lactation
- If one is starving or deprived of proper nutrition
- Careful in cold weather, an extended fast could be harmful
- During serious physical or mental degeneration unless advised by a knowledgeable practitioner
What are 5 general guidelines for fasting?
- Use pure water and foods.
- Chew food very well.
- The quantity of liquid or food can be somewhat determined by intution, which is remarkabley heightend while fasting.
- Get sufficient mental and physical rest, and keep warm.
- Daily enemas are traditional with fasts.
How should someone ease into fasting (4 principles)?
- Complete a series of small fasts before attempting a long one.
- Start and break the fast gradually by taking one-third of the length of the fast on each end of the fast (one day for a three-day fast) to add foods from other fasting groups at levels closely below that used on the fast. (refer to p. 280 – “Cleansing and Building Chart”).
- Esp don’t automatically go into a liquid fast. Eg. start with steamed vegetable fast, go into liquid, then steamed vegetable and out.
- Exception is micro-algae fast as it is already combined
What happens if spleen qi does not ascend?
Diarrhea, prolapse of organs (uterus, ST, KI, bladder, vaginal and rectal vein)
What symptoms will you see if ST qi does not descend?
Nausea, vomiting, hiccup, belching
List of noteworthy folk remedies for Earth element
- Apple
- Barley water with lemon
- Bergamot
- Black tea
- Carrot juice
- Cinnamon sticks
- Cloves
- Cucumber juice
- Grapefruit
- Lemon juice
- Potato
- Rice water
Apple benefits
with meals; indigestions, heartburn, other digestive disorders
Barley water with lemon benefits
digestive upset
cystitis
sore throat
Bergamot benefits
Food addictions
Black tea
diarrhea, dysentery, hepatitis, gastroenteritis
Carrot juice
stomach pain, infant diarrhea,
Cinnamon stick benefits
colds, indigestions, circulatory problems
Clove benefits
neuralgia, indigestion, toothaches
Cucumber juice benefits
Drink 3-5 fl. oz (100-150 mL) every two hours for gastric or duodenal ulcer
