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| Rice fields at the base of the Himalayan Mountains in Central Nepal, Li-Lan and Alex’s 3-week trek to close to 17,000 feet on the Manaslu trail in 2011 |
written and compiled by Li-Lan Hsiang Weiss L.Ac. updated 7/21/21
“In the long run, our Earth Path can sustain us when we are able to find acceptance of ourselves in the context of our life’s experiences, regardless of past traumas and mistakes” Li-Lan Hsiang Weiss
“We are not our thoughts, we are not our suffering, nor are we our past actions that we regret. Though they are for us to work with.” Channeled in the month of Gemini 2021 from Milarepa, Tibetan siddha from the 11th century
LESSONS FROM OUR SPLEEN and Stomach, the organs of the Earth Path
Mostly Excerpted from Helping Ourselves: A Guide to Traditional Chinese Food Energetics
- Organ of adaptation, nourishment, and support: We learn from infancy how to adapt to our environment and have our needs met
- Physical digestion is “transformation and transportation” of nutrients
- Mental digestion is processing information/knowledge/experiences: “Food for thought”
- Emotionally about obtaining and giving emotional nourishment and support
- Developing and cultivating an internal source of home, nourishment, and support. Is there enough “sweetness” in your life? Or does the “excess” caring turn into worry?
- Belief in deserving nourishment and trust that there will always be enough
- Fascia and soft tissue are a function of our support and containment (tone to our body). When fascia is free to move and respond, we feel “at home”, comfortable, and supported by our bodies from the inside out.
- Stronger the Spleen, stronger we are with its physical, mental and emotional connections
HOW TO BUILD A STRONG SPLEEN?
- Physically: STRETCH, exercise, MASSAGE, nourishing physical contact, wisely choosing to consume foods that nourish both the body and the emotions, cooking & preparing food
- Mentally: Meditation, Law of Attraction, affirmations/intentions, limit news that cause you anxiety and worry. Make a commitment to read or seek guidance that nurtures your heart/spirit/soul.
- Emotionally: Honor and attend to your needs, be in community or around people that accept you.
- Spiritually: Connection with Earth/Nature and be of service to others
| When attending to digestion and dietary issues, consider the above perspectives. We can strengthen our digestion through working with any of the above levels; true change and integration in one level will resonate throughout the Spleen’s entire sphere of influence.
What are some Spleen nourishing foods? Sweet potatoes, onions, cabbage, corn, apples, pears, rice, quinoa, amaranth, millet, barley, potatoes, cherries, dates, figs, beets, carrots, squash, mushrooms, almonds, coconut, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds. Meats, fish, beans, nuts, and sweeteners are highly tonifying to the Spleen and are used in moderation in order to avoid creating conditions of heat (inflammation), dampness, and phlegm. Avoid high glycemic sweeteners like those made from cane sugar and opt for low glycemic ones like coconut palm sugar and stevia. The Spleen can’t process foods that are too sweet or cause phlegm, so avoid excessive carbohydrates, sugars, dairy, wheat flour, and refined grains. DIGESTING FOOD WITH EASE – EnJOY your food! – Positive attitude – Relax while eating (that means no news, cell phone, charged conversations) – Choose foods with strong life force when possible – Take time to enjoy preparing and cooking your food – Chew well: “The stomach has no teeth”, digestion starts in the mouth, chew 30 times before swallowing – Stop just before you are full (7/8 full) – Don’t flood the stomach, literally: 4 oz with meal, soups ok, excess liquid dilutes digestive juices in the stomach – Don’t overchill the stomach with cold, raw foods: what happens to muscles when cold? – Eat in season and less processed as often as possible – Eat main meal early, focusing on breakfast and lunch, digestion slows down in the evening. Stick to regular meal times. – Smaller meals, NOT snacks, help stabilize blood glucose – Trust your body, over time we can cultivate the skill of separating our cravings and addictions from deeper levels of guidance If after implementing the above guidelines for improving digestion, you still suffer from digestive imbalances and upsets, try implementing proper food combining principles from Dr. Herbert Shelton. Protein, carbohydrates/starch, and fats require different enzymes for digestion and vary in how long and what medium they need to break down into absorbable components. Proper food combining helps with more efficient absorption and assimilation of nutrients. General rules: · Fats and starch go with vegetables · Protein goes with vegetables · Protein does not go with starch · Do not combine different classes of proteins at the same meal ( ie egg with meat, cheese with meat, beans with cheese) · Eat proteins and starches at different meals · Melons and watermelons “Eat them alone or leave them alone” · Leave fruit for 30 minutes before a meal, or 1 hour after a meal · Desert the desserts For some people supplementing with digestive enzymes and HCL (hydrocholoric acid) before a meal of protein, carbs, and fats is helpful. If you have been vegetarian for years or are trying to gain weight, your stomach acid (hydrochloric acid) has naturally adjusted to digesting plant proteins so if you start incorporating animal protein, take it slowly and in small portions, consuming more the white meats (chicken, fish) that are easier to digest before consuming meats that are higher in fats (red meat, pork, lamb). If you are trying to loose fat in the body, diminishing carbohydrates and simple sugars will help (aka Paleo/Mediterranean style diet), while still consuming plenty of a wide variety of vegetables and being mindful of portions towards the end of the day/evening. Consult your medical doctor or health care provider for specific diets for your health condition as this article is for informational purposes only. |