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Summer Eating with Traditional Chinese Medicine

Asheville Acupuncture

Summer fun has always been equated with summer foods and cooking. In Asheville, we all know the value of eating seasonally. The foods are fresher, which means they are more nutritious; BUT, did you know that eating seasonally is also about helping the body maintain better balance? So many foods that flourish during the summer are ideal for mitigating the seasonal effects of the season. When practicing acupuncture, we are using the lens of nature to understand the innate essence of food and drink, as well as herbs; it’s an important guideline to maintaining a balanced diet as well as a balanced life.

Traditional Chinese medicine lists three categories in which food and herbs are classified by; temperature, flavor and action. Temperature has a range from cold, cool, neutral, warm, and hot. Flavors are sweet, savory, spicy, salty, bitter, and sour. Actions are a wide scope (and are, of course, grounded in Chinese medicine terminology), here are a few examples; clears toxic heat, clears summer heat (there are distinct differences), moves qi, builds blood.

These are some of the major stars for the summer season:

Cucumbers – cool/sweet, moisturizes, cools. Benefits: bladder, spleen, stomach, large intestine, and heart. Can be helpful as a diuretic; drains dampness, clears summer heat and toxins, moistens lungs; relieves acne, conjunctivitis, sore throat, stomach, inflammation,

Tomatoes – cool-cold/sweet/sour. Benefits; heart and liver. Can be helpful to cool and nourish liver, augments the yin fluids, clears heat and cools blood; aids blurred vision, constipation, dry eyes, dizziness, indigestion, itching, mouth sores, nosebleeds.

Squash- cool/sweet, clears heat/summer heat/toxins, disinhibits water, qi mover. Benefits; liver, spleen and bladder. Can be helpful with stopping pain, difficult urination, edema, irritability, thirst.

Sweet Potatoes -warm/sweet, moisturizes, strengthens qi (specifically of the kidney and spleen). Benefits the kidneys, spleen, stomach and bladder. Can be helpful with diarrhea, insufficient lactation, poor appetite, and premature ejaculation.

Eggplant – sweet/cool, cools blood, moves blood, drains dampness. Benefits; large intestine, spleen, stomach and liver. Can be helpful in mitigating bleeding, diarrhea, dysentery, hemorrhoids, skin disorders with itching,

Corn – (grain) neutral/sweet , nourishes the lungs, heart, spleen, liver, gallbladder and bladder, specifically benefits kidney qi, relaxes the gallbladder qi, drains dampness, tonifies heart, spleen and lung qi.

Mellons (The Queen of Summer fruits!) :

Watermelon – sweet/cold, cools heat, diuretic; benefits the stomach, bladder and heart; augments yin fluids, clears heat from the heart, stomach, bladder, drains damp, relieves summer heat, edema, mouth sores, overheating, inability to urinate, palpitations, thirst; not ideal for those dealing with asthma, stomach bloating/digestion issues (best to consult a practitioner if there are concerns, hmmmm I wonder who you could call?)

Cantaloupe -cool/aromatic/sweet, clears heat, moistens lungs, benefits the lungs, heart, large intestine, small intestine, and bladder. Helpful for constipation, dry cough, fever, scanty urination, and thirst.

Honeydew – sweet/cool/aromatic, moisturizes the lungs, cools heat. Benefits the heart, stomach, lungs, large and small intestines, and bladder. Can help with constipation, dry cough, fever, scanty urination, thirst.

Peaches – sweet/sour, warm, moves blood, feeds juices, nourishes blood, augments yin fluids, moistens lungs and large intestine. Benefits the kidneys, spleen, lungs, stomach, and large intestine. Can help with constipation and dry cough.

Cherries – sweat/slightly sour/warm, moisturizes the kidneys and liver, strengthens middle Jiao, benefits the liver, spleen, stomach, lungs, heart, kidneys and blood. Tonifies the qi of the liver, kidney and spleen. Drains dampness, good for anemia, arthritis, calf pain, dry mouth, dry skin, fatigue, gout, lower back pain, numbness in limbs, palpitations, rheumatism, seminal emissions, vertigo.

Plums – sweet/sour, warm-slightly cool, regulates qi, nourishes blood, clears heat, augments yin fluids, feeds juices. Benefits the liver, kidneys, gallbladder, and bladder. Can help with bleeding gums, constipation, fever, indigestion, mouth sores, sore throat, thirst, tongue sores.

To learn more about food as medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Asheville Acupuncture treatments, call 828-225-3161.

The Chinese Character of Qi, 氣 (pronounced /CHē/ ) means vital energy, life force. There are numerous qualities of qi in the body with specific functions. The overall functions of qi is movement/transportation, warming and transformation. Depending upon which organ the qi is associated too, will specify it’s unique property. What is most important to understand in the practice of Chinese medicine is that qi is the fundamental working principle to all aspects of this science, from; acupuncture, herbalism, dietary and body work. So, when a patient comes in the practitioner needs to understand the fundamental imbalance of qi in the body. Then, decide which modality will best be able to correct the imbalance.

What I would like to focus on here is how the body maintains overall energy levels. I will be discussing the dynamics of qi in a broad scope to avoid getting too technical. Essentially we derive energy primarily from from air, food and water, which is called Gu Qi (yes it’s a fabulous designer Qi). Which is transformed into Ying Qi, or nutritive Qi. It is used to replenish and nourish our body. We also have a quality of Qi called Yuan Qi, or original source Qi. Yuan Qi is a finite amount of qi that supports organ functions on a fundamental level. When you hear about a 30 yr old rock star that dies suddenly, it is more than likely due to their poor lifestyle of little rest, poor nutrition and too much sex, and drugs. Another way to think of this quality of qi is as a deep reserve that should only be used in case of emergencies, such as illness, extreme survival. With proper rest and nutrition this qi is only sipped upon appropriately. Instead of living like a rockstar staying up late, doing the whole sex, drugs and rock -n- roll thang becoming depleted and dying prematurely.

When a bodily function becomes impaired, it is usually about a qi dynamic that is out of balance. For an example, if the stomach is not breaking down food properly, then it’s qi dynamic with other organs is out of balance. It can be the liver/stomach dynamic, or kidney/stomach dynamic, even the liver/kidney/stomach dynamic. There are circumstances where an organ becomes deficient because due to an overall qi deficiency as well. When these imbalances arise it is usually a result from a life style, diet, and/or genetics. The qi can become stagnant, deficient or other substances (such as blood) in the body are impairing proper qi flow. The time of year, and regional climate are additional factors that can influence how one’s qi is performing.

Because the Chinese have done an amazing job understanding how the spirit, mind and body are interconnected, they see how the qi of the body is affected by on different levels. How fear affects the kidneys, worry consumes the qi of pancreas, or how anger strangles the heart.
It is through careful examination that the practitioner is able to find the breakdown of the qi dynamic. Questions about other bodily functions and life style give insight to how other organs are contributing to the breakdown in the qi dynamic. This is one of the reasons why Chinese medicine is so effective in places where western medicine fails, because the whole body is assessed. Once a proper diagnosis has been made, treatment may proceeded that will energetically support the imbalance.

What is most important to understand is that by addressing proper qi flow we can strengthen the body, reduce inflammation, slow the aging process, improve emotional well being and stability. Have you ever watched a video of Chinese people in the park in the mornings practicing Qi Gong and Tai Chi? Have you ever asked your self, why are they doing a practice that is thousands of years old? I was amazed witnessing this on my first trip to China. Soooo many people practicing many different forms. My favorite was a group of elderly women in matching outfits practicing Tai Chi sword forms (see picture above).

Through the use of regular exercises (Tai Chi/ Qi Gong), consistent acupuncture treatments, and an energetically balanced diet, you can be sure to have strong and vibrant body. I have even witnessed severely debilitated bodies rebound dramatically by fully embracing this life style, with minor changes to their current life. What is important to consider is, what is more important; a) a life that only nourishes your life on one level, or, b) a life style that accounts for you spirit, mind, and body? I have had great success guiding patients through this subtle path of qi dynamics to arrive in a place of greater health and vitality. Through careful guidance and planning on diet, lifestyle choices, and exercises your life can be completely changed into one with joy, ease, and grace.

Another fun filled amazing summer has passed.  This year was rather auspicious for me because I turned 50!  I waited till now to write about it, to allow some time of reflection  upon what a half century of living has meant for me.  My life has been a gift, good and bad with villains and heroes, drama/trauma and serenity/healing.  What I have learned that matters most are family/friends, your health and time, and none, NONE of it should be taken for granted!

All three of these treasures can disappear in a blink of an eye!  In our youth it is easy to believe that we have plenty of time, our quality of health will endure and that our family and or friends will always be around.  I have been most fortunate to have wonderful people in my life, a good quality of health, and taken time to enjoy life.  

At the half century mark, I feel that these treasures are truly more important than ever.  I suffered a bout of “tennis elbow” in late May (sans the tennis).  THE MOST PAINFUL experience of my life (and I have broken several bones).  Not only was my recovery painful (lots of acupuncture, some call it dry needling, but it is also known as the correct terminology direct needling), but, I was not able to keep up with my regular  gym routine  of cardio and weight lifting, yoga class, and my big passion of mountain biking (thank goodness I was still able to keep up with my Tai Chi and Qi Gong practice!).  

After about two months of rehabilitation, I am back in the saddle again (literally, back on my bike that is!), cautiously lifting weights and getting bendy in yoga class.  BUT, what a difference a two month hiatus makes.  I have gained some pounds, lost a lot of my muscle tone and strength! Not to mention the muscle soreness and fatigue from recovery seems a bit more pronounced!

That age old adage is so very true! YOU DON’T USE IT, YOU LOOSE IT!!!

Let’s be clear, I made a commitment at 48 to make sure that when I arrived at 50 I would be in the most excellent of shape! Meaning, I was staying active six days of the week! I can’t imagine  how bad of shape I would be in if I had not fortified my workout routines!    

There is an old saying,”the two major causes of becoming decrepit in old age is the inflexibility of the spine and the clotting of the intestinal track”. A very succinct perspective on the pillars of  physical health in which I agree.  

In Asheville, acupuncture, yoga, and eating farm to table is a fundamental part of life. Living in a community that values such principles is a true gift and delight when working with patients that are in tune with such values.  As well as having friends living a common life style which makes gatherings even more so enjoyable!

Another insight I have gained is that even though I have lived a healthy life style, that does not mean bumps in the road of life don’t come up.  We need to keep a perspective that as we get older, vitality diminishes, we must be diligent in refining diet, exercises (routines, types, and intensity), and life style in general.    And, we must be diligent with self care, routine trips for acupuncture and massage can go a long way when it comes to preventive care.  As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.  

Finally, I would like to address the Morpheus in the room, “time is always against us”, as he once said.  How often have you heard your self say, “wow, the summer just flew by!” “Where does the time go?” I’ll tell you where it goes, the wind! Lost to the ages, off to the land where lost socks and buttons go!  Ever fleeting, time moves on, and quicker as we get older and busier with our lives.  I have found that daily meditation helps clear my mind to slow things down, to be mindful of where I am, what I am doing, and how I am doing it, which allows for me to appreciate any all moments of life.  

With all that said, I am starting a new tradition by reclaiming the concept of the “new years resolution”, with a slight reinvention, the NEW New Years resolution.  The idea is take the new year, my new year, and see how I can make my life better, how it may improve.  SO, my New New Years resolution is to entertain more, have people over to strengthen and deepen my relationships.  I would love to hear how you take on the New New Years Resolution.  Come in and lets have a chat!  

P.S. My mother made the Spider-Man cake!!