The spleen network plays a crucial part in Chinese dietetics. It controls the actual transformation and transport of all ingested foods and drinks. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the stomach is the container that holds the nutriments during the transformation (see Fig. 35). The spleen transforms the ingested nutriments and extracts the “pure,” usable components. The stomach sends the “impurities” that cannot be used downward to the intestines.

Energy Production

The spleen extracts the grain qi (gu qi) and sends it upward to the lungs, where it combines with the great qi (da qi) or air qi from the lungs. This creates the ancestral or gathering qi (zhong qi), also known as chest qi, which surfaces at the acupuncture point ren mai 17. At this point it is transformed by the kidney yuan qi. Yuan qi is closely related to the essence (jing) from the kidneys and is responsible for many transformation processes in the body. It is a yang aspect and as such is warm. The result of this transformation is the true qi (zhen qi), which has two constituents:

•   The dynamic defense qi (wei qi)

and

•   The construction qi or nutritive qi (ying qi)

  For further recommendations on strengthening the spleen and stomach see the section on Nutrition During Pregnancy, page 200.

The Five Flavors

Sour

Network: Wood; liver and gallbladder

Effect: Contracting, slightly bearing downward

Excessive amounts can produce or increase stagnation, particularly within the function network of the liver. It should be avoided if external pathogenic factors are present in order to prevent these from being drawn deeper into the body (i. e., do not drink hot lemon during a cold or other infection).

Sour flavor supports the astringent function of the kidneys during pregnancy (e. g., vinegar in broth in cases with tendency to miscarriage).

Bitter

Network: Fire; heart and small intestine

Effect: Dries dampness, moves downward

Too much bitter flavor can damage the fluids and increase an existing yin or blood vacuity.

Bitter flavor supports the liquid transforming function of the spleen (e. g., coffee in case of spleen, qi, and yang vacuity). It assists the downward directing function of the stomach (e. g., bitters after a heavy meal).

Sweet

Network: Earth; spleen and stomach

Effect: Is mildly tonifying in case of stagnation, moistures, and moves slightly upward

Excess of sweet flavor causes dampness and blocks the spleen.

Particularly the use of large amounts of refined sugar is considered damaging. The Chinese categorize most grains, carrots, or chicken as sweet. These naturally sweet flavors tonify the spleen.

The healthy function of the spleen is the basis for blood production (Fig. 37). From the Chinese point of view, the condition of the blood plays a central part in many gynecological disease pictures. Accordingly, anemia can cause hypomenorrhea or even amenorrhea. Dysmenorrhea accompanied by dull or aching pain may be the result of anemia as well. In addition, irregularities of the menstrual cycle can be observed if weakness of the spleen is the cause of the vacuity. Patients may be suffering from blood deficiency in a TCM sense even though their laboratory values are normal.

Basic Nutritional Guidelines For Tonifying the Blood

•   Broth (for basic recipe see p. 198) with

•   Congee recipe (for recipe see p. 199) made with spelt or spelt grist

•   Lychee (gou qi zi) in red wine

Berlin-style liver with sliced onions, spinach, and kohlrabi

Beverage: Grape juice

Desert: Red fruit groats (a chilled fruit compote)

Nutrition During Pregnancy

Before making nutritional recommendations for pregnant women it is necessary to take a look at the particular physiology during pregnancy. Pregnancy is made possible by the kidney energy. The kidneys continue to energize and nourish during pregnancy.

The man gives his essence (jing) during conception in the form of semen. The woman nourishes the growing fetus with her essence (jing). The more postnatal essence her spleen produces the more prenatal essence (jing) she can preserve and the better the fetus will be nourished. During pregnancy an increased amount of blood is needed, particularly during the first five months when more blood from the liver is being used.

Blood collects during pregnancy in the chong maiand ren mai channels. Thus, it is “missing” in the rest of the body, which signifies a relative vacuity of yin and blood. Yang predominates.

General Nutritional Recommendations

Goal

To strengthen spleen and stomach

•   Thermal nature: Neutral, warm

•   Flavor: Sweet.

To tonify the kidneys

•   Thermal nature: Neutral, slightly warm

•   Flavor: Sweet, a little sour.

Nutrition corresponding to yin vacuity

•   Avoid foods that are too hot

•   Avoid foods that are too spicy and too bitter.

Provide plenty of calcium.

Practical recommendations

Foods that overload the spleen and produce excessive dampness should be avoided, especially:

—  Large amounts of dairy products

—  Refined sugar

—  Foods and drinks from the refrigerator.

Cane sugar may be used in moderate quantities.

Sources of calcium are:

—  Whole grains

—  Green-leafed vegetables, broccoli

—  Legumes

•   Warm millet granola (for recipe see p. 199)

•   Congee (for recipe see p. 199) of two equal parts regular rice and sweet Arborio rice with red Chinese dates (Jujube; da zao) and some fresh ginger.

To drink:

•   Grain coffee, Rooibos or red fruit teas.

Lunch:

(one of the following)

•   Whole grain rice with a little butter, “crisply” sautéed carrots (covered with fresh parsley), and chicken thighs

•   Green rye patties with mashed sweet potatoes and lightly steamed broccoli with roasted almond slivers

•   Risotto with carrots, (fresh) peas, cardamom

•   Omelet with chives.

Desserts/coffee time:

(one of the following)

•   Carrot cake

•   Apple pie made with whole grain flour, walnuts, and freshly ground ginger

•   Spelt pancakes with raisins (or apples) and almond slivers.

In wintertime: baked apple with some honey and ground nuts.

In between:

(one of the following)

•   Green rye soup with some whipped cream and fresh herbs

•   Toasted whole grain bread with scrambled eggs

•   Red beet salad with apples.

Dinner:

(one of the following)

•   Vegetable or chicken broth with egg drop or green rye dumplings and a slice of toasted green rye bread

•   Steamed kohlrabi

•   Celery cooked with fresh tomatoes and basil

•   Cream of avocados, slightly spicy.

  Indications

  Adnexitis

For chronic adnexitis see Chronically Relapsing Infections (p. 203).

  Amenorrhea

Amenorrhea in Cases of Vacuity of the Kidney Essence (Jing)

Symptoms include a decrease in bleeding or primary amenorrhea, fatigue, exhaustion, vertigo, tinnitus, and weakness of the lumbar spine and knees, possibly painful. In the case of yin and blood vacuity, additional symptoms are signs of heat and dryness with dry mouth, heat sensation, night sweat, and restlessness. If yin vacuity is predominant, the tongue is red with little or no coating, the pulse is fine and may be sunken. In context with vacuityheat, the pulse is also rapid. If yang vacuity is prominent, the tongue is pale and the pulse is vacuous.

Spicy, bitter, and most importantly hot foods, excessive salt

Sweet, neutral, and warm nutrients, for example walnuts, amaranth, and chicken

•   In the case of predominant yang vacuity, also refer to Recommendations for Dysmenorrhea in Combination with Kidney Yang Vacuity, page 204, but omit the spicy foods that are used in the treatment of dysmenorrhea

•   In the case of predominant yin vacuity, also refer to Recommendations for Dysmenorrhea in Combination with Yin Vacuity, page 205

•   Chinese Wolfberry (gou qi zi) infusion

Preparation: Add 50 g dried Wolfberry and 15 g Angelica root (dang gui) to 1 L alcohol, for example vodka, and let it sit in a sealed container for at least seven days.

Use: Drink 1 oz every night; eat the fruit.

(Caution: Warms; do not use if heat symptoms prevail.)

Symptoms include increasingly irregular bleeding, depression, restlessness, and pain in the lower abdomen. The tongue is bluish-violet, or has bluish-violet spots or areas, with a white sticky coat in the case of dampness, and the pulse is wiry or rough and may be sunken. For nutritional recommendations refer to Dysmenorrhea in Combination with Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis, page 205.

Amenorrhea in Combination with Qi and Blood Vacuity

Symptoms include a decrease in bleeding, fatigue, possibly vertigo, shortness of breath, and soft stool. The tongue is pale, the pulse is weak, empty, and thin. For nutritional recommendations refer to Dysmenorrhea in Combination with Qi and Blood Vacuity, page 204.

  Back Pain

Back pain in combination with kidney yang vacuity, with symptoms including a cold sensation on the back and knees, general weakness, and copious clear urine (tongue pale, possibly swollen with tooth indentations; slow and weak pulse), is nutritionally treated with the following chicken broth variation. For local treatment: Apply small cherry stone or grain pillows that have been heated in the oven.

Herbal therapy: Local application of Easy Flex (Shu jin lu, Chinese herbal prescription)

Basic recipe: See page 198

Preparation: Add whole, peeled walnuts, 15 g Astragalus root (huang qi), and 3 g Cinnamon bark (rou gui).

  Back Pain Syndrome

See Back Pain, above, in addition to

Recommendations for Kidney Yang Vacuity, page 204

  Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

The complaints are often caused by blood vacuity of the liver and manifest themselves in vertigo, dry eyes, blurry vision, pallor of the face, and pale lips. The tongue is pale and thin, particularly toward the edge; the pulse is thin, rough, and weak.

The nutritional recommendation can be found in Basic Nutritional Guidelines For Tonifying the Blood, page 119. Particularly in the case of intense redness of the skin, consider the following

Strongly warming or spicy foods (e. g., garlic, pepper)

Chicken broth

  Chronically Relapsing Infections

Chronically relapsing infections are often caused by a weakness of the defensive qi (wei qi).

Important:

Basic recipe for broth: See page 198

Preparation: Whole peeled walnuts, 6 slices of fresh ginger, and 6 red dates, Chinese dates (da zao) are added.

Use: Drink regularly over the course of two to four weeks (Caution: Do not drink during acute infections or acute repletion conditions).

  Chronically Relapsing Nonpuerperal Mastitis

The same recommendations as for the treatment of Mastitis, page 208, apply.

According to TCM, the origin is frequently persisting local, toxic heat, which often makes treatment difficult. Additional treatment by an experienced physical therapist is recommended in this case.

  Constipation

Postpartum weakness is usually the origin of this condition. If there is not enough energy for bowel movements, it is primarily the qi which needs to be tonified.

•   General, page 200

•   Broth (for basic recipe see p. 198)

•   Rice congee (for basic recipe see p. 199), adding dried apricots and Chinese dates (da zao).

If the constipation is caused by dryness of the large intestine due to blood vacuity (very hard stool), the nutritional recommendations on page 200 apply.

The following have proven effective:

—  Pear juice, sesame seeds, dried fruit (in moderation)

—  1–2 tbsp. Swedish bitters in the case of stubborn constipation (Caution: Do not use during pregnancy).

Preparation: Crush or grind 30 g sunflower seeds; pour boiling water over the paste and add honey. Use: Drink twice a day.

Basic recipe for rice congee: See page 199 Preparation: 9 g Common perilla fruit (zi su zi) and 30 g sesame seeds are mixed and ground. Rice is added to the paste and prepared as a congee.

  Dysmenorrhea

According to TCM, in the case of acute pain, stagnation of qi or blood is always the reason. Acupuncture in particular has proved to be very effective in this case.

Suggestion: Chronic patterns can be successfully treated through nutritional recommendations.

Acute pain

Preparation: Boil 15 g roasted rose petals in 0.5 L water for approximately 10–30 minutes.

Use: Sweeten with cane sugar, drink with rose petals.

(Caution: Do not use commercially-grown roses, these have invariably been sprayed with pesticides.)

Use: External, apply locally.

Dysmenorrhea In Combination with Qi and Blood Vacuity

Symptoms include dull or aching after the onset of menstruation, watery blood (scarce with blood vacuity or copious and prolonged with qi vacuity), fatigue and possibly vertigo, shortness of breath, or palpitations. The tongue is pale and might show teeth marks. The pulse is weak, empty, and thin.

The nutritional approach assists in the formation of qi (cf. p. 8) and the formation of blood (cf. p. 10).

•   Raspberry-blackberry leaf tea

•   Broth, add

•   Angelicae sinensis root (dang gui)                  20 g

Astragalus root (huang qi)                             10 g

to the basic recipe on page 198

•   Lamb soup.

Preparation: Sauté the lamb with fresh ginger. Cook rice with presoaked lentils and green onions. Mix together, add broccoli, fresh coriander and diced tomatoes and cook for 10 more minutes.

Dysmenorrhea In Combination with Vacuity-Cold in the Uterus, Usually Kidney Yang Vacuity

Symptoms include pain throughout menstruation, alleviation by warmth and pressure, watery blood, typically with delayed onset, possibly cold arms and legs, and often copious, clear urine. The tongue is pale and the pulse is weak and possibly slow.

Cool or even cold foods, frozen foods

•   Favor: Sweet, spicy, warm, moderately hot foods

•   The following are beneficial: chives, walnuts, black sesame, and shrimp

•   Lamb soup (for recipe see above) add black sesame

•   Chicken broth (for recipe see p. 198) with warming herbs such as cardamom, cloves, and ginger.

Basic recipe for broth: See page 198

Preparation: Use lamb and add whole, peeled walnuts, 30 g black sesame, bay leaves, and fresh garlic.

Dysmenorrhea In Combination with Yin Vacuity, Predominantly of the Liver and Kidneys

Symptoms include prolonged pain after onset of menstruation, scarce, light-red blood, alleviation through pressure, pain of the lumbar spine, exhaustion, possibly vertigo, and tinnitus. The tongue is red, with little or no coating. The pulse is thin, possibly sunken, and in the case of vacuity-heat, it is rapid.

Very bitter, spicy, cold, or particularly hot foods, for example pepper, alcohol, and coffee. Salt should be used in moderation

•   Favor: Neutral and sweet foods, cool, slightly warm, and a little spicy

•   The following are beneficial: Apples, grapes, chives, spelt, wheat, squid, beans, walnuts, and black sesame; generally all grains and seeds

•   Congees (for basic recipe see p. 199) made with wheat, black sesame, and chives.

Basic recipe: See page 198

Preparation: Add whole, peeled walnuts, chives, 50 g black sesame, and 25 g Rehmannia root (shu di hang).

Dysmenorrhea In Combination with Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis

Symptoms include aching, before and during menstruation, often slow, stagnant onset, predominantly dark red, blood with clots, pressure aggravates, discharge of the clots frequently alleviates or ends the pain. (For premenstrual syndrome see p. 211.)

—  In the case of qi stagnation: tension and non-localized pain, smaller clots

—  In the case of blood stasis: strong, stabbing, and localized pain, larger clots.

The tongue is bluish-violet, or has bluish-violet spots or areas and the pulse is wiry or rough, and possibly sunken.

Sour, cold foods

•   Favor: Spicy, neutral, and especially warm foods

•   The following are beneficial: chives, saffron, curcuma, and rose petals

•   Rose petal tea (for recipe see p. 204)

•   Rose petal wine.

Preparation: Place 30 g dried rose petals and 60 g Crataegus or Hawthorn fruit (shan zha) in a container, add 1 L wine (classic rice wine), and store for one week.

Use: Three days before the onset of menstruation begin to drink one glass at night.

In the case of qi stagnation

•   Orange cookies (for recipe see p. 209)

•   Orange peel tea (for recipe see p. 210)

•   Jasmine tea.

In the case of blood stasis

•   Rose petal tea forte

•   Saffron.

Preparation: Add 20 g rose petals to 0.75 L water and boil for approximately 30 minutes. During the last five minutes, depending on the severity of the blood stasis, add 0.1–1 g saffron (Caution: Very expensive spice.)

Use: Three days before the onset of menstruation begin to drink one third of the above amount while warm, three times a day.

Recipe, see page 205

Dysmenorrhea In Combination with Damp-Heat in the Uterus

Symptoms include sensation of constriction and tension, or pain before and during menstruation, ample, thick blood, possibly small clots, ample yellow, foul-smelling vaginal discharge, pressure aggravates, cold ameliorates, and frequently preceded by chronic pelvic inflammation. The tongue has a yellow greasy coating, particularly on the posterior third. The pulse is slippery and rapid.

•   Very sweet, hot and fatty foods, for example curries, French fries, and sodas

•   Moistness and phlegm-producing foods such as dairy products, bananas, refined sugar, raw foods, and peanuts

•   Favor: Bitter, slightly spicy, cool nutriments

•   The following are beneficial: radishes, celery, chicory, barley, mung beans, dandelion root tea, gentian tea, and green tea

•   Congee (for basic recipe see p. 199) with 30 g garden purslane (Herb. Portulacae oleraceae, ma chi xian)

•   Mung bean-barley decoction.

Preparation: Cook 100 g barley or 200 g mung beans in 1 L water until tender. (Soak mung beans for at least three hours before cooking.)

Use: Drink as tea; eat barley and mung beans as side dish.

Preparation: Combine radish and celery (300 g of each), coarsely grated, with chives and add some salt or cane sugar and lemon.

  Edema

Kidney or spleen vacuity is present. Extremely bitter or extremely dry foods need to be avoided. Mild forms of edema after the seventh month do not require therapy.

Cool and especially cold foods, raw foods, dairy products, citrus fruits, and bananas, salt

•   Favor: Sweet, warm, or neutral foods

•   Cooked or baked foods

•   Corn silk tea (for preparation see p. 212).

•   Roasted millet, for example in millet granola (for preparation see p. 199)

•   Orange peel tea (for preparation see p. 210)

•   Beef broth.

Basic recipe: See page 199

Preparation: Soak adzuki beans; roast sweet (short grain) rice in a skillet until golden yellow; use equal amounts for the congee.

Use: Eat one cup of congee with steamed vegetables and fresh herbs, once a day.

Basic recipe: See page 198

Preparation: Use beef; add 200 g roasted millet, 200 g fresh fennel, and dried ginger.

Edema In Combination with Kidney Yang Vacuity

Symptoms include the sensation of cold, particularly in the arms and legs, weakness or even pain in the back, and general lack of energy. The tongue is pale and the pulse is weak, slow, and sunken.

•   Congee with black soybeans

•   Shrimp

•   Use warming spices such as cardamom, basil, and clove

•   Chicken or lamb broth.

Basic recipe: See page 199

Preparation: Use black soybeans to make the congee and add cinnamon, cloves, and cane sugar during the final half hour.

Use: Eat one cup daily for at least one week.

Basic recipe for broth: See page 198

Preparation: Use lamb and add whole, peeled walnuts, 30 g black sesame, bay leaf, and fresh garlic. (Caution: None of the recommendations apply in the case of heat symptoms!)

  Emesis During Chemotherapy

Basically, recommendations are the same as for Hyperemesis Gravidarum, page 209.

Tumor patients are frequently debilitated by the disease and the treatment. This requires the support of qi (see p. 8) and blood (see p. 10) formation.

According to TCM, chemotherapy often produces toxic heat. It becomes apparent that it is mandatory to precede an individual nutritional recommendation with a TCM differential diagnosis. Chinese herbal therapy can also be very effective, but should be prescribed by an experienced phytotherapist only.

If Weakness of Qi and Blood are Dominant

Basic recipe: See page 198, using beef

Preparation: Add 25 g Astragalus root (huang qi) and 10 g Angelica root (dang gui). (Caution: Omit in case of heat symptoms and severe pain.)

  Functional Disorders of the Breast

Galactostasis, Pain

These complaints are usually caused by liver qi stagnation. The consumption of lactation-stimulating foods may have to be sporadically reduced.

Sour, very cold, hot, or fatty foods

•   Orange cookies (for recipe see p. 209)

•   Chicken broth (for basic recipe see p. 198), add 300 g celery and 20 g white peony root (bai shao).

Preparation: Simmer 5 g tangerine peel (chen pi) and 5 g Licorice root (gan cao) in 0.5 L water for 30 minutes. Drink as a tea.

Mastitis

Generally, the recommendations are the same as for Galactostasis, Pain (see above). In the case of mastitis, cold and detoxifying nutriments such as dandelion, asparagus, and mung beans are included because heat is an additional factor.

Basic recipe: See page 199

Preparation: Barley is used for this congee. During the last half hour, add 10 g green tangerine peel (qing pi) and 10 g Licorice root (gan cao). (Caution: Do not use in the case of ascending liver yang, i. e., migraine.)

Use: Eat three times a day and discontinue immediately after symptoms disappear to avoid interference with lactation.

Preparation: Simmer 20 g dandelion root in 1 L water for 20 minutes, add 10 g dried orange peel, and strain after five minutes. Add some cane sugar and drink throughout the day.

For recipes see page 204 and page 205

The Chinese call milk the surplus of the blood. Follow the Guidelines for Tonifying the Blood (p. 119). Additional qi is required to nourish the infant.

Raw, cold, or hot foods, especially refined sugar, dairy products (e.g., yogurt), raw food diet, and citrus fruit

•   Favor: Warm, neutral, and sweet foods

•   The following are beneficial: Grains, adzuki beans, eggs, carp, figs, papaya, walnuts, sweet potatoes, and raspberry leaf tea

•   Fennel, anise, and cumin tea

•   Congee (for basic recipe see p. 199) made with one half sweet rice and one half black sesame; sweeten with maltose and puree.

Recipe for tonifying the blood (Caution: Do not use for galactostasis and pain.)

For additional recipes and foods see Guidelines for Tonifying the Blood, page 119.

  Functional Disorders of the Menstrual Cycle

Functional disorders are frequently caused by kidney essence yang or yin vacuity. Additional possible causes are blood vacuity, dampness, qi stagnation, or blood stasis. The following symptoms and nutritional recommendations apply:

  Amenorrhea in Combination with Vacuity of the Kidney Essence (Jing), page 202

  Dysmenorrhea in Combination with Vacuity-Cold in the Uterus (Kidney Yang Vacuity), page 204

  Dysmenorrhea in Combination with Yin Vacuity, page 205

  Dysmenorrhea in Combination with Qi and Blood Vacuity, page 204

  Dysmenorrhea in Combination with Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis, page 205.

  Headache and Migraine

Liver yin and blood vacuity with ascending liver yang are frequently the cause of chronic migraine. See nutritional recommendations for the Menopausal Syndrome, page 210.

•   In the case of tension headache: jasmine tea, orange peel tea, or orange cookies, (see p. 209)

•   Congee (for basic recipe see p. 199) using spelt with 15 g white peony root (bai shao).

  Heartburn

Shred one raw potato and eat one teaspoon at a time. Use sweet potatoes in the case of qi vacuity.

Heartburn and Vomiting

The basic recommendations for Hyperemesis Gravidarum (see below) apply in the case of nausea and vomiting.

  Hyperemesis Gravidarum

Rebellious stomach qi is often the reason for disorders of the spleen and the stomach. The basic nutritional guidelines during pregnancy apply, Nutrition During Pregnancy, page 200.

Fatty foods, very spicy, hot, or cold foods, coffee and tobacco

•   Favor: Sweet, slightly warm or neutral foods, cooked foods, rice congee (for basic recipe see p. 199) made with one half sweet (short grain) and one half regular (long grain) rice, ginger tea, raspberry leaf tea (Caution: May soften the cervical os).

In Combination with Spleen and Stomach Qi and Yang Vacuity

Symptoms include loss of appetite, vomiting watery fluids, and the lack of a sense of taste. The tongue is pale and the pulse is slow and weak.

•   Ginger tea with meals

•   In the morning: Apple or grape juice with fresh ginger or orange peel

•   Fennel tea.

Preparation: Simmer five slices of fresh ginger in 1 L water for 20 minutes; or grind or finely chop two or three slices of fresh ginger and pour boiling water over them. Sweeten this tea with cane sugar.

Preparation: Heat 0.5 L of apple or grape juice, add three slices of fresh ginger and 1 tsp. dried orange peel, briefly bring to a boil, and let the tea brew for 15 minutes. Store in a thermos.

Use: Prepare in the evening and drink one cup warm before rising in the morning.

Preparation: Wash 9 g coriander, put in a pot with 6 g Cardamom seed (sha ren), pour over hot water, and let it brew. When the solution becomes aromatic, strain and drink in small sips.

In Combination with Stagnation of Liver Qi that Affects the Stomach

Symptoms include hiccups, burping, bitter or sour taste in the mouth, excessive thirst, and tension at or under the costal arch. The tongue can have a red or curled edge. The pulse is wiry and possibly slippery.

•   Mung bean decoction

•   Congee made with spelt or green rye

•   Orange cookies

•   Fresh parsley tea

•   Orange peel tea.

Preparation: Remove the seeds from 250 g peeled oranges. Over a low heat, candy the oranges with 50 g cane sugar and some water. When the liquid thickens, mince the oranges; remove from heat until cool. Mix together 500 g buckwheat flour, three eggs, some water, and 50 g brown sugar. Add the candied oranges to the batter. Bake in the oven. In the case of heat (especially in the stomach) spelt flour should be used. By adding eggs, the batter can be made into pancake batter.

The same recommendations as for Edema apply (p. 206). However, in the case of hypertension, yin vacuity conditions are frequently present, and spicy, hot condiments should be used in moderation.

Preparation: Simmer the rind of a watermelon in 1 L water for 20 minutes; add cinnamon, cloves, and cane sugar; simmer for an additional 10 minutes.

Use: Drink several times a day.

Preparation: Mix celery and grape juice, 0.25 L of each; pour into a thermos and add 0.5 L hot water.

Use: Drink several times a day.

  Involution Disorders

Involution disorders are often caused by qi and blood vacuity. The general nutritional recommendations for maintaining the function of the spleen and the stomach (p. 197) and for blood production (p. 199) apply.

Basic recipe: See page 198

Preparation: Add 10 g Angelica root (dang gui) and 15 g Astragalus root (huang qi).

  Menopausal Syndrome

In Combination with Kidney Yin Vacuity with Ascending Liver Yang

Spicy, extremely bitter, cold, or particularly hot foods, for example pepper, alcohol, and coffee. Salt should be used with caution.

•   Favor: Neutral and sweet foods, cool, slightly cold to decrease the yang

•   The following are beneficial: Apples, grapes, celery, spelt, wheat, squid, beans, and black sesame

•   Juices may act in a cooling manner on hot flashes and may moisten dryness, for example apple juice, melon juice, or celery-mandarin juice

•   Congees (for basic recipe see p. 199) using wheat, black sesame, and celery.

Basic recipe: See page 198

Preparation: A small amount of beef, plenty of celery, 30 g black sesame, and 25 g of white peony root (bai shao).

In Combination with Insomnia

Red dates with honey, see below

  Mental/Emotional Disorders During Confinement

These disorders are usually caused by acute exhaustion combined with qi, essence, and blood vacuity. The shen is not sufficiently nourished and becomes restless.

The nutritional adjustment is supposed to Strengthen Qi (see p. 8) and produce blood (see p. 10).

Spicy, extremely warm foods such as pepper, garlic, chili

•   Favor: Neutral to warm, sweet

•   The following are beneficial:

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