TCM Traditional Chinese Medicine in Spokane teaches that we are surrounded by five fields of energy. These five elemental environments – wood, water, metal, earth, and fire – are each related to certain body organs, that include the gall bladder, urinary bladder, abdomen, intestines, liver, lungs, spleen, and heart. The five different elements are also affiliated with the different seasons of the year: wood=spring, water=winter, metal=fall, earth=late summer, and fire= summer. These five elements depend and interact with each other.
Therefore, in order to preserve balance in all the elements and promote harmony in our health and surroundings, we need to eat foods that are associated with each of the elements. Five element foods recommended are fruits, vegetables, beans, tubers, and grains. Foods to avoid include wine, beer, liquor, deep-fried foods, chemical foods, processed foods, sugary foods, and meat.
Example of Everyday Dishes
Breakfast: Oats loaded with blueberries and
walnuts
Lunch: Black bean salad corn with Grilled shrimp
Snack non-microwave popcorn
Dinner: stir-fried tofu and broccoli with brown rice
Dessert: Watermelon
To promote balance in the body, practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine advice eating foods appropriate to the season as well as foods associated with each of the elements.
Spring
The season of spring is associated with the element of wood and with morning. It
is essential to eat a diet that cleanses and strengthens the gallbladder and
liver because spring is associated with these organs. Wood veggies include
leafy greens, parsley, sprouts, zucchini, string beans, carrots, broccoli, and artichokes.
Purification is the effect of wood in your body.
Summer
Summer is the season related to Fire and high noon (12 p.m.). Its associated
organs are the small intestine and heart. Fire veggies include tomatoes,
scallions, dandelion, chives, Brussels sprouts, and asparagus. Fire generates
blood flow in the body.
Late Summer
Late Summer is associated the earth element and with the afternoon. Its related
organs are the pancreas and abdomen. Earth veggies include sweet potato,
squash, parsnips, collards, and chard. Earth is responsible for digestion.
Autumn
Autumn is the season of the Metal element, the lung organs specifically respond
to it. Metal veggies are among others, radishes, daikon, cucumber, celery,
cauliflower, and cabbage, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, daikon and radishes. Tempeh,
tofu, spirulina, and peppermint all belong to the metal family. Respiration is
its associated bodily function.
Winter associates with the water element, especially affects the bladder and
kidneys, and is related to night time. Water veggies include burdock, beets, kale,
and sea vegetables. Tamari, salt, and miso are also water foods. Winter relates
to the bodily function of Elimination.
When one knows what element is associated with which season, foods, and bodily functions, they can figure out what part of the body is out of balance and how to treat it. For instance, if you are experiencing constipation in the middle of winter, drinking more water and eating lots of sea vegetables water can treat your problem since winter is the season of water.
Based on the theory of the Five Elements, the manner the food is cooked also alters the food’s energy. Barbecuing and grilling add fire energy to the food, steaming adds earth energy to the food, deep frying and stir-frying give food a wood energy, and baking adds metal energy to the food.
Keep a record of the food you eat and try to eat foods from each element every day if you are seriously considering this kind of dietary program.
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