Five Flavours

Question 1

Pungent properties (effect, energy movement, qualities

Answer 1

• Yang, warming effect
• Expansive and disrpersive (energy up and out)
• Circulation of energy and blood

Question 2

Pungent Organ Functions

Answer 2

1. Enters and clears lungs of mucus conditions
2. Improves digestive activity (ruled by Spleen-pancreas) and expes gas from intestines
3. Moistens the kidneys. Hot pungents warm and releax cold, contracted kidney
4. Stimulates blood circulation and is cardiotonic
5. Clears obstructions and improves liver function

Question 3

Pungent Seasonal Attunement

Answer 3

• Attunes a person to Spring (in alliance with full sweet flavour)
• Hot pungents (cayenne, black pepper, fresh ginger, hot green and red peppers) attune body to summer. These are so extreme that they change to a cooling effect after 30 min.
• Can use deeply warming pungents (cinnamon and dried ginger) to help overcome cold conditions

Question 4

Diaphoretic pungents are used to promote sweating during a common cold or exterior condition. Give examples

Answer 4

Cayenne

Chamomile

Elder flower

Garlic

Scallion

Question 5

Who benefits most from pungent?

Answer 5

People who are sluggish, dull, lethargic, overweight benefit from pungent (as well as bitter).

Question 6

Certain pungents can be beneficial for dry thing individuals with wind conditions (nervous, restless activity). Give examples

Answer 6

Relax nervous system and soothe digestion: Anise, Caraway, Coriander, Cumin Dill, Fennel

Stimulants but promote stability and smooth circulation: Black Pepper, Ginger, Horseradish, cooked Onion

Question 7

What pungent flavours can worsen the condition of the dry, windy, nervous or thing person?

Answer 7

Sage, raw onion, ALL hot peppers, especially cayenne

Question 8

Those who are overweight from overeating should choose…

Answer 8

cooling pungents

Question 9

What is the Inner Classic caution about pungents?

Answer 9

In qi diseases, avoid too much pungent. This applies to deficient qi (weakness) or stagnant qi of obstructions. Also avoid warming pungents if there are any heat signs

Question 10

Cooling pungent examples

Answer 10

Peppermint, marjoram, elder flowers, white pepper, radish and its leaves

Question 11

Neutral pungents

Answer 11

Kohlrabi, Taro, Turnip

Question 12

Salty flavour properties (effect, energy movement, functions)

Answer 12

• Yin, cooling effect
• Moves energy downward and inward
• Centering, earthy qualities
• Moistens dryness
• Softens hardness and lumps
• Detoxifies
• Purge bowels and promote emesis

Question 13

Uses of the salty falvour int/ext

Answer 13

1. Soften lumps such as hardened lymph nodes, cataracts
2. Internally for constipation, abdominal swelling and pain
3. Externally for impure blood conditions with heat signs (skin discharges, sore throat)
4. Counteracts toxins in body
5. Increases appetite

Question 14

Organ Functions

Answer 14

Salty flavour enters the kidneys.

Considered “proper” flavour for spleen-pancreas where it strengthens digestive function.

Salt also fortifies a weak heart-mind and improves mental concentration

Question 15

Salty Seasonal Attunement

Answer 15

Descending, cooling nature attunes one to colder seasons, should be used progressively more during fall and winter

Question 16

Individuals who benefit most from salty flavour

Answer 16

Salty flavour moistens and calms the thin, dry nervous person

Question 17

Cautions for salty flavour

Answer 17

Salt must be greatly restricted by those with damp, overweight, lethargic or edemic conditions (esp. high bp).

Seaweeds are an exception.

Inner Classic says “Do not eat much salt in blood diseases”

Question 18

Salty flavour examples

Answer 18

Salt

Seaweed

Barley & Millet

Soy sauce

Miso

Pickles

Question 19

Sour Properties (effect, energy movement, qualities)

Answer 19

• Yin, cooling effect
• Contracting effect, inward movement
• Gathering, astringent, absorbent

Question 20

Uses of Sour flavour

Answer 20

• Used to prevent or reverse absnormal leakage of fluids and energy
• Dry and firm up tissues
• Urinary dripping, excessive perspiration, diarrhea, weak and sagging tissues, hemorrhoids, prolapse

Question 21

Sour Organ Functions

Answer 21

1. Most active in the liver where it counteracts the effects of rich greasy food, acts as a solvent breaking down fats and protein
2. Helps in digestion and to dissolve minerals and can help strengthen weakened lungs
3. “Proper” flavour for the heart-mind as it plays a role in organizing scattered mental patterns

Question 22

Individuals who benefit most from sour flavour

Answer 22

Sour flavour collects and holds together the dispersed, capriciously changing personality.

Question 23

Sour flavour cautions

Answer 23

Those with dampness, heaviness of mind or body, constipation and constrictions should use the sour flavour sparingly

Question 24

Bitter flavour properites (effect, energy movement, qualities)

Answer 24

• Yin, cooling effect
• Contraction and descending (brings energy in and down)
• Reduces the excessive person
• Antipyretic (lowers fever)
• Dry fluids and drain damp

Question 25

Uses of the bitter flavour

Answer 25

1. Inflammations, infections 2. Overly moist, damp conditions (candida, parasites, mucus, swellings, skin eruptions, abscesses, cysts, obesity, edema of SP areas like intestines and flesh) 3. Constipation (increases intestinal muscle contraction)

Question 26

Organ functions

Answer 26

* Identified with fire element, balances heart * Clears heat * Cleans arteries of damp, mucoid deposits (cholesterol and fats), lower BP * Bitter is the "proper" flavour for the **Lungs** * Tonfies kidneys and lungs. * Removes heat and mucous from lungs * Clears stagnancy and cools heat in liver

Question 27

Bitter Seasonal Attunement

Answer 27

Progressively increase use of the bitter flavour during the fall and winter in order to contract and channel energy lower into the body. Heat symptoms that arise during any season can be treated with bitter.

Question 28

Individuals who benefit most from bitter

Answer 28

* Slow, overweight, lethargic, watery (damp) individuals * Overheated, aggressive people

Question 29

Cautions for bitter flavour

Answer 29

Careful with people who are deficient, cold, weak, thin, nervous or dry Inner Classic says "Those with bone diseases should not eat much bitter food."

Question 30

Sweet Flavour Properties (effect, energy movement, qualities)

Answer 30

* Yang flavour divided in two: i) full sweet which is tonifying and strengthening ii) empty sweet which is more cleansing and cooling (eg. fruits) * When found in warming food the energy expands upward and outward in the body * Harmonizing flavour with a slowing, relaxing effect * Builtds yin of the body, tissues and fludis, therefore tonifies the thin, dry person

Question 31

Uses of the sweet flavour

Answer 31

* Sweet food is the centre of most traditional diets * Energizes yet relaxes body, nerves and brain * Reduce harsh taste of bitter * Relieve acute disease symptoms * Cold and deficiency can be treated with sweet, but not necessarily the cooling ones. Warming vegetables, legumes, grains are good * Extreme deficiencies can be improved with dairy and animal products

Question 32

Organ Functions

Answer 32

* Sweet flavour enters and strengthens the spleen-pancreas * Sweet is appropriate for the liver as it soothes aggressive liver emotions such as anger * Moistens dry conditions of lungs * Slows overactive heart-mind

Question 33

Seasonal Attunement of Sweet Flavour

Answer 33

The sweet flavour is appropriate in every season, especially during equinoxes/solstices and late summer. Warming and/or ascending sweet foods attune one to upsurges of ssrping as do warming pungent foods.

Question 34

What are some sweet foods with an ascending direction yet thermally neutral effect?

Answer 34

Cabbage Carrot Fig Shiitake Peas Yam

Question 35

What individuals benefit most from the sweet flavour?

Answer 35

* *Dry, cold,* nervous, thin, weak, scattered person * Reduce sweet flavour in diet of aggressive person except fro in the form of grains like wheat, rice and oats

Question 36

Cautions of Sweet Flavour

Answer 36

* Sluggish, overweight individual * People with damp signs or mucous conditions * Chewing carbohydrates well makes them less mucus forming and has a less damp impact on digestion