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The Language of Food

In food, we have one of the best micro-medicines. In the west, food is described as containing amounts of protein, fat, minerals, vitamins and so on. This information is obtained in a lab by analyzing foods, separating them into their basic ingredients.

The nutritional value of a food (and there are foods with absolutely NO nutritional value that pack a powerful disease punch, such as soda) is a statement of the sum total of its chemical ingredients before they enter the body.

In Oriental medicine, food is described as possessing certain qualities such as a warming or cooling nature; possessing certain flavors such as bitter, sour, sweet, hot or salty; or acting on our body by dispersing, tonifying, warming, cooling, and so on. The action of food on the body easily fits into the Five Element Theory of Chinese Medicine (illus) and gives us some direction for how to use food in our own healing.

Each element in nature also has a color. Between the elements there is an outer connecting circle that represents the nurturing relationship among the elements; the inner connecting lines represent the controlling relationship.

Elements Have a Related Organ and Meridian System

FIRE = HEART (Red)
EARTH = SPLEEN (Yellow)
METAL = LUNG (White)
WATER = KIDNEY (Blue or Black)
WOOD = LIVER (Green)

In the very simplest of terms, using color to guide us, begin by relating the energetics that a food has on a specific organ, with the color. For example, yellow is associated with spleen. Now apply this basic knowledge to the season. In early fall, yellow (EARTH) squash from the garden (EARTH) is ready. This sweet vegetable is rich in nutrients that tonify the spleen (EARTH).

Energetic qualities of squash

Temperature: Warm
Flavor: Sweet
Organ Affinity: Spleen & Stomach
Tonifies: Qi (energy and spirit)
Regulates: Cold & Qi Circulation

We have our "medicine", yellow squash

What symptoms would we use yellow squash to alleviate? A common complaint in the fall - and sometimes into winter - is fatigue. If the shorter days have you feeling tired and in a low mood, you need to tonify your qi, and get it moving (circulation). Add a serving of yellow squash to your dinner. If you have additional symptoms of feeling cold in the middle, or have trouble keeping warm as the days turn colder, then add extra warming power to your "dose" of squash by preparing it as a delicious hot and spicy soup--yum. This would be the perfect example of natural healing using a specific FOOD, in SEASON, for symptoms of disharmony in the related Organ/Meridian. You could expect to have excellent results!

	Your symptoms: If you would like to have some recommendations of foods, based on their energetics, send an email to us and we'll give you some suggestions. Include this information: A description and duration of your symptoms, any food allergies or dislikes you have, your height, weight and age.

Text: Kathe Ana 2005.05.12
Image: ©2005 Steve Wiedemann. All rights reserved.