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I am a registered practitioner member of the Shiatsu Society of Ireland (SSI) and am insured through Balens Insurance UK Ltd.Food and nutrition are important elements in maintaining health and in recovering from illness. Food can have both positive and negative impacts on our health, often beyond what we would normally consider possible.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine the importance of food is well known and respected. A system has been developed that outlines the effects of various foods on the well-being of not only the body but also the mind. It is based on the principles of the Five Elements of Nature and Yin and Yang .
The Five Elements of Nature are Water (winter), Wood (spring), Fire (summer), Earth (late summer) and Metal (autumn).
Certain foods have a more Yin effect while other foods have a more Yang effect.
Yin qualities are cooling, moistening, relaxing, nourishing.
Yang qualities are warming, drying, invigorating, stimulating.
Each season of the year, and its associated element, will have certain foods which will strengthen the qualities which relate to that element.
The Fire Element - for summer eating
For example the Fire element (summer) is very Yang - it produces qualities that are hot, invigorating and drying. They are associated with the 'Heart' and 'Small Intestine' energies, the 'circulation of blood' and 'lymph' and our ability to relax and remain calm.
If the Fire element goes out of control we can go either of two ways.
Emotionally we could either be 'over fired' and experience mental restlessness, insomnia and agitation, with a tendency to incessant chatter and laughing, or we could be 'under fired' and experience a lack of enthusiasm and vitality, depression or despair, a lack of light heartedness with no desire to laugh or enjoy life.
Physically we may experience, for example, more sweating or conversely be more thirsty. Or be more irritable or alternatively more tired.
What Foods Can Help?
Foods that can help maintain a healthy Fire element are those with a bitter taste such as dandelion root and greens as well as sesame seeds, celery, quinoa (a grain), scallions, asparagus, alfalfa, citrus peel and apricots.
If the Fire becomes overly Yang we could emphasize lighter quality foods and methods of cooking such as salads with dandelion, lots of alfalfa tea, light leafy greens such as misuna (like rocket), and spouted lentils and beans, tofu and natto (fermented soy bean) and less spices, baked foods or alcohol.
Over the forthcoming year we will look at the different elements and which foods can be beneficial for the energy of each element.
(A wide range of good foods can be bought from Eatwell Whole Foods, 413 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7EW Tel 028 9066 4364).
The information given in this article is not meant to replace medical advice. If you feel unwell please do consult your doctor.
Based on an article by Susan Krieger, L. Ac, Senior Macrobiotic Counsellor and Teacher, published in 'Pulse', the magazine of the American Organization for Bodywork Therapies of Asia.

John at work
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