NEWSLETTER:
	The Dragon’s Muse	Articles about Traditional Chinese Medicine: Acupuncture, Diet Therapy, Five Elements, Herbs
	Date: June 2006 This Issue: • Fire: The Element that Corresponds with Summer • How Acupuncture helps Acid Reflux • Some Principles of Diet Therapy
		Understanding the Role of Fire
	Traditional Chinese Medicine utilizes a system of thinking which has close correspondences with nature.  By observing nature and how the elements interact, ancient practitioners extrapolated  principles which guide their analysis. TCM is about inter-relationships.  Just as the Yin-Yang sign depicts balance, Five Element Theory utilizes principles of nature to explain the balance of forces within the physical, emotional, spiritual, and social realm of human life.  Whenever we talk about the organs Heart, Liver etc in TCM, we are referring to the Energetic System as a whole, not simply the physical organ. Think about fire.  In a hearth it is cheery, in a cold climate it helps sustain life, in a dry forest it rages and destroys.   Similarly, in the body the Fire element is expressed in joy, cheerfulness, liveliness, a dancing merry kind of energy.   Excess fire would be extreme emotion, uncontrollable inappropriate laughter, heat flaring through the system causing sweats and a red face, quick movements, rash behaviour, inability to rest, insomnia, anxiety, talkativeness,  or a disturbed feeling in one’s spirit.  Lack of fire will exhibit as coldness, both physical and emotional, sluggish movements, possible edema, apathy about life,  inability to order one,s life, or possibly a preference to sleep rather than deal with life. In the English language we also recognize these attributes.  We say someone lacks fire (motivation) or that they are fiery (quick acting or reacting). The Emperor is in charge! The Yin Organ of the Element of Fire is the Heart.  It  is the ruler of the other organs.  Hence, if the Emperor is disturbed, all other functions are affected.  A balanced fire element ensures that there is clarity of thought, and a conscious life direction.  Chinese Medicine sees the heart as housing the Mind.  This is where Western thought and Chinese diverge.  In TCM,  there are two residences for the mind, the third eye and the heart.  Decisions, thoughts etc, need to pass through the heart mind, to read true to one’s core being. In acupuncture we often use a combination of points which addresses the two residences of the mind.  Yin Tang, the point between the eyebrows, and the source point for the heart, just on the wrist crease, are often combined to bring about a unity in the Heart-Mind.
	Organs of Fire	The Great Protector
	The second Yin organ of Fire is the Pericardium or Heart Protector.  Energetically it has the job of protecting the heart.  In TCM, this means on the physical level and on an emotional level.  The Pericardium is responsible for pacing the heart.  Arrythmias, angina, circulatory problems and stagnant energy in the chest are treated through using Pericardium points. The Fire Element is the only element with domain over four organs. The two yang organs under Fire’s rule are the Small Intestine and the Triple Heater. The Small Intestine has the job of sorting the pure from the impure. At the physical level this means absorbing nutrient and relegating the dross to forces of elimination.   Psychologically the same applies.  Being able to sort and discard that which is useless is essential to clarity of mind.  In TCM we often use Small Intestine  points to help a person achieve greater discernment.  Interestingly this can also apply to helping the ears sort out sound, as the Small Intestine Meridian flows past the ear.  The Triple Heater of San Jiao is an interesting concept.  It embodies the idea of harmony between the three jiao or spaces on the trunk of the body.   Upper where the lungs and heart reside, Middle where the stomach spleen pancreas reside.and Lower for  the liver and organs of elimination. Physically all jiaos should be equally warm, and should be in balance with each other.  The San Jiao is employed where one has heat above, cold below or vice versa.  It is used to regulate water elimination problems, and in balancing the elements of Water and Fire in the body. The San Jiao is an interface between the outside and inside. A Healthy San Jiao energy allows us to balance our social obligations with our personal needs and desires.
		Acid Reflux:  The TCM Perspective
	Acid Reflux ‘disease’ appears to be very common these days.  Advertisers target it frequently on TV, and advise that one should get a medication to control it immediately.  It is very true that acid reflux is unpleasant, and can lead to complications from the constant burning of tender tissues in the esophagus. Traditional Chinese Medicine sees acid reflux as a part of several different syndromes.  The treatment will vary according to the other symptoms present. Liver Fire Invading the Stomach which is characterized by hot reflux, hunger and gnawing pain in the stomach, bitter mouth, dry tongue with a yellow coat, taut rapid pulse, possible head-aches . Treatment includes pacifying the liver, strengthening the Stomach energy against attack, and supplementing the liver yin to ensure the liver fire does not flare again. Acupuncture and patent herbs can be useful for this condition. Cold Dampness Obstructing Internally: in this pattern the fire or digestive ability of the Spleen and Stomach are insufficient to process food, it sits undigested and causes problems further down the tract, as diarrhea.  White tongue fur, a sticky feeling mouth, slow slippery pulses, bloated feelings and poor appetite occurr. Treatment includes warming and tonifying the Spleen with acupuncture and burning moxa,  Acupuncture will help resolve the diarrhea, as will patent herbs. Chai Tea which contains ginger, star anise and cloves is helpful for warming digestion. Food Accumulating and Stagnating in the Stomach.  Eating of large meals, or heavy foods (fried, spicy etc) contributes to stalling the digestion.  A greasy coat, feelings of nausea and chest oppression  plus foul smelling belches characterize this condition.  The pulses will feel slippery. Acupuncture, a digestive enzyme formula, and a cleaner diet will resolve this problem
		Diet  Therapy
	Chinese Dietary Therapy is concerned with balancing the needs of the internal organs. Each organ requires certain conditions to remain healthy.  These conditions relate to the properties of foods. Whether the flavour of a food is sour or bland, or hot or neutral in thermal nature all affect the health of the body. As this edition is focused on the Fire we will examine what flavours and food are good for the heart.  Foods for calming the heart mind are listed as : Whole wheat, brown rice and oats Mushrooms (especially Reishi) calm the mind and nurture the immune system Silicon foods such as celery, cucumber, lettuce which strengthen  nerve and heart tissue Spices dill and basil which have a calming effect Herbs chamomile, skullcap, catnip as teas The Heart is said to like bitter flavours.  Bitter green vegetables such as chard, broccoli, cabbage, spinach are all excellent heart foods The bitter flavour clears heat from the system, and scours out mucoid deposits (ie plaque): it has a tendency to lower blood pressure. Bitter  romaine, bitter melon, rye, dark greens Bitter pungent , scallion, turnip, rutabaga Bitter sweet  asparagus, celery, papaya, quinoa Common fruits which will help cool summer heat are apples, lemons and limes.  Mung beans are useful in salads to refresh oneself.  Watermelon is useful for heat exhaustion, as it restores the mineral balance
		Tabouleh - A food for the heart
	1 cup uncooked bulgar 4 bunches of chopped parsley 2 medium tomatoes diced 1 medium red onion diced 1cucumber diced 1yellow pepper diced 4 green onions diced Juice of 1 lemon 1/4 fresh cup of mint chopped 3/4 cup olive oil	Method Cover the bulgar with boiling water until it has softened then drain well.  Meanwhile dice and chop the remaining ingredients .  Add the vegetables to the drained bulgar , toss and  season with salt and pepper to taste. It may be served room temperature or cold as a salad.  Tabouleh embodies the fire food category .  It includes the whole grain, bulgar which is par boiled whole wheat, for calming the heart energies.  Parsley is a bitter green and therefore tonics the heart and cools it. It is nutrient rich, and helps clean the blood.  The combination of the five flavours bland, sour, sweet, salty and bitter means that this food satisfies each of the internal organs.  Eating foods which embody the five flavours generally means that one is satisfied with less volume.  This factor contributes to retraining one’s body to accept less volume of food and therefore promotes a sleeker profile. Should you be wheat allergic, there is a blend of ‘black japonica rice’ which if cooked and used in place of bulgar will give you a similar looking tabouleh dish.
		Dear Reader I wrote this newsletter in the hope that the information would prove intriguing and entice some of you to try Traditional Chinese Medicine as a way to get back to really vibrant good health.  TCM treatments of acupuncture, patent herbs, or various massage techniques like cupping, tuina, guasha etc can be important ways to help restore vital functions. If you feel dragged out, stressed or nervy, if your neck or back regularly give you grief Traditional Chinese Medicine can provide you with relief. TCM is part of a whole health system which includes practices like Tai Chi or Qi Gong.  Once learned these simple exercises  can provide a lifetime of centering and health giving resources. Diana