Untitled. Spring Energy - Macrobiotics. If you understand spring energy, you can balance macrobiotic cooking to achieve peace and better health. For many people, spring means the end of winter, a promise of summer and vacation, baseball games, and being outdoors. It is a celebration of bright yellow daffodils, crocuses emerging from the earth, people walking outside, buds on the trees, little patches of melting snow, and people smiling.
Plant energy, along with atmospheric energy, rises upward and new growth appears as weather becomes warmer. Spring, with its upward, rising energy, is related to the wood element. The vital organ most associated with spring is the liver, along with its paired organ, the gallbladder, which are both supported by foods that have rising, upward energy. In traditional Chinese medicine, organs are never seen as just physical organs. Functions of the Liver The liver's functions harmonize with the upward, rising activity of spring. Controls Chi Stores and Circulates Blood Opens into the Eyes. Cooking With Love. Summer Energy - Macrobiotics. Ah, the fun-filled days of summer! Summer is camping outdoors, swimming in the lake, riding a bike, cooking sweet corn on the grill, and picnicking in the park.
Long, warm, light-filled days abound with people sitting around the campfire, splashing in the cool water of the lake, and taking evening walks with loved ones. Like summer's abundant open blossoms, the energy is outward, expansive, and highly sustained. Summer, with the blazing hot sun at its peak, represents the fire element. The most active organ during this season is the radiant heart, with its partner the small intestine. At the height of the day, the heart peaks from 11:00 to 1:00 , and the small intestine peaks from 1:00 to 3:00 . Functions of the Heart Many energy functions vital to the health of your whole body, mind, and spirit would not be possible without the heart. Meditation is a wholistic way to balance your physical, emotional, and mental states. Houses Spirit Governs Blood Circulation Regulates Consciousness. Late Summer Energy - Macrobiotics. As summer winds down, late summer relaxes into lazy afternoons, football practice, and reading books on the beach.
People are lying in hammocks, fruits are ripening, and high school seniors are ready to take their place as the new leaders. Late summer lasts from the beginning of August to the middle of September and corresponds to the soil element. The spleen, along with the stomach, is most active at this time of year. Soil energy is downward and settling after the intense activity of the previous season. Functions of the Spleen The spleen is considered to be the key organ for healthy digestion as well as several other processes in your body. Transforms and Transports Chi and Blood The spleen transforms food and liquid processed by the stomach into chi and blood. Regulates Water Metabolism The spleen also regulates water metabolism by absorbing and circulating water in the body. Controls Blood Flow One of the spleen's functions is to control blood flow in your body. Directs Ascending Chi. Fall Energy - Macrobiotics.
Fall is the season of gathering in. Fall is raking leaves, harvesting the garden, colorful landscapes, and going back to school. Imagine pumpkins and squash, yellow mountainsides, and children waving from school bus windows. Autumn is related to the metal element, which has a downward, condensing, gathering, accumulating quality. Leaves fall off the trees and vegetation contracts as energy goes to the roots to prepare for the cold weather. Irritable bowel syndrome may be the gut's response to stress and emotional disturbances.
Functions of the Lung The lung is responsible for numerous energy functions vital to your health and well-being. Controls Chi The lung controls chi throughout your entire body in two ways. Controls Immune Function Did you know that your body has a defensive energy shield? Maintains Skin The lung also functions to send body fluids to the skin for moisture and nourishment. Directs Descending Chi The lung directs chi to descend in the body. Governs Water Metabolism. Winter Energy - Macrobiotics. Winter means shoveling snow, cool brisk breezes, gathering friends and family together for the holidays, and preparing substantial whole grains and stews. Imagine falling snow, crackling Yule logs, fragrant herbs and seasonings, and warm sauces and soups. The element associated with winter is water, which has a floating energy.
Water energy goes deep inside the earth; it is the root and basis of life. This is the time of hibernation and inward self-reflection, when the energy is still on the surface, yet active underneath. In traditional Chinese medicine, winter is a time of conservation and storage. The human body is 60 percent water. Functions of the Kidney The kidney performs many energy functions that are important to your overall health.
Stores Kidney Essence The kidney stores kidney essence (jing in Chinese), which is a combination of “inborn chi” that you inherited from your parents along with “food chi” acquired from food. Regulates Water Metabolism Maintains Bones and Teeth. Understanding Emotions in Traditional Chinese Medicine. In traditional Chinese medicine, emotions and physical health are intimately connected. Sadness, nervous tension and anger, worry, fear, and overwork are each associated with a particular organ in the body. For example, irritability and inappropriate anger can affect the liver and result in menstrual pain, headache, redness of the face and eyes, dizziness and dry mouth.
A diagnosis in traditional Chinese medicine is highly individualized. Once an organ system is identified, the unique symptoms of the patient determine the practitioner's treatment approach. Using the liver again as an example, breast distension, menstrual pain, and irritability during menses are treated with certain herbs and acupuncture points. Headaches, dizziness, and inappropriate anger with redness of the face point to a different type of liver pattern and is treated in a different way. What does the liver have to do with migraines?
Spleen Lung Emotions: grief, sadness, detached.Lung Function: Respiration. Liver Heart. Macrobiotic Guide | Your Essential Guide to Macrobiotics.