In oriental medicine Water is the Element.
KIDNEYS AND BLADDER
At this time of the year these organs become more active
COLOR: BLACK, Blue, Deep Purple
ORGANS: Kidney, Bladder, Sexual Organs, Ears, sense of hearing
SYSTEM: Renal, Hormone
SMELL: Putrid, decaying, urine
FLAVOR: Salty
GRAINS: Kasha
BEANS: Black, Aduky, Pinto
VEGETABLES: Sea Vegetables
FRUIT: Blackberries, concord grapes, Water Melon, Cranberries
ANIMAL: Blue Fish
MOODS:
- Positive: Will power, vitality
- Negative: Fearful, anxious
KIDNEYS
At birth the Kidney store all our potential: the source of life and individual development. The Kidneys control the water in the body in all its forms, It controls the bone marrow including the brain, the bones including the teeth. The Kidneys gives us the ability to hear. The PH of the blood is controlled by the Kidneys. The best PH is around 7.4, slightly alkaline.
A PH of 6.9 will result in a Coma, and a PH of 7.8 it could cause a Seizure. The Kidneys and the Bladder, act like supervisors of the functions of other organs. The kidneys are assisted in their function by the Adrenal Glands, the autonomic nervous system, and the reproductive organs.
The Kidneys regulate the acidity of the blood and filter the blood; the waste is discharged in the form of urine.
The heart with each beat sends about 25% of the blood pumped to the Kidneys, each day approximately 2,100 quarts of blood pass through the Kidneys and it is filtered. We are born with a large reserve of Kidney strength; in fact we will not experience painful physical and emotional negative symptoms until 90% of kidney function has been lost.
Kidney weakness will show:
Hair loss
Blood sugar disorders
Night sweats
To much hot baths will deplete the minerals out the body and consequently weakens the Kidneys.
RIGHT KIDNEY
- Healthy functions: Adrenals, Endocrine System
- Dysfunctions: Fatigue, Hotness in the head
LEFT KIDNEY
- Healthy functions: Water metabolism
- Dysfunctions: Edema (water retention), Chilling of the extremities
The right side of the face correspond to the right kidney, the left side to the left Kidney.
To much or too little of water or salt will affect the Kidneys.
A diet with no salt will damage the kidneys.
Oil united with the right amount of salt will maintain the kidney health.
The condition of the Kidneys will show in the Ears.
If they appear as:
- RED: There is excessive contraction, the cause is a diet with too much salt and animal fat.
- OILY: The Kidneys are overworked and there is an excessive intake of fat and oil.
- MOLES & WARTS: There are mucous deposits, too much intake of animal protein.
- PIMPLES & LUMPS: Fat accumulations, maybe there is stones.
- DEAFNESS: Too much fat congestion in the kidneys.
- EXCESSIVE WAX: Fatty accumulations too much oily food intake.
- RINGING IN THE EAR: Caused by a discharge of extreme form of yin.
Also the larger, the thicker, more lover set on the head, the bigger the lobes and flatter against the head, the stronger the Kidneys are and the stronger is the overall constitution of the person.
The condition of the Kidneys can be seen also in the area under the lower eyelids, the overall condition of the skin, and the hair.
Problems in the Kidneys caused by excessive minerals can be seen : darkness under the eye, bags under the eye, sweaty hands, swollen legs.
EYE BAGS: when there is puffiness under the eye it could be from excessive liquids, or excessive mucus.
The mucous is formed with a diet of to much dairy products & or to much flour products. Small pimples or dark spot show that the accumulated mucus and fat in the kidneys tissue is forming stones.
BOTH TYPE OF EYE BAGS INDICATE A DECLINE OF PHYSICAL & MENTAL VITALITY.
- DARK COLOR= excessive yang conditions, excessive salt, roasted baked foods, dried foods, or excessive sex. Stagnated metabolism & high level of toxicity in the blood due to inadequate detoxification of the kidneys.
- YELLOWISH COLOR= excessive cheese or dairy foods consumption or excess of root & round vegetables (carrot, pumpkin) temporary disorder of Kidneys and excretory functions.
- GRAYISH COLOR= malfunction of the Kidneys due to stagnation caused by excessive intake of heavy fatty animal food, and over consumption of salt and other yang food .
If the kidneys do not work well the Liver and the Heart are affected, the ovaries will grow cysts & will affect the sex organs.
OTHER SIGNS OF KIDNEY IMBALANCES ARE:
- Tendency to be anxious & work compulsively but not finish things.
- Tendency to overdo things & overreact to everything.
- Cramps in the legs.
- The head feel heavy with lack of sleep.
- Inability to sleep soundly.
- Bitter taste in the mouth.
- The skin gets easily infected and eczema.
- Frequent nosebleeds.
- Frequent urination.
- Excessive sexual drive or impotence.
- Continual stress at home or work... no escape.
- Always in the hurry.
- Workaholic.
- Constant complaining.
- Always trying to be Humorous.
Arthritis is the tip of the iceberg, the body is telling you to reduce the excesses, if you have this type of inflammation do not use pepper, tomatoes, potatoes and egg plants.
FOOD TO EAT OR NOT TO EAT IN ORDER TO HAVE HEALTHY KIDNEYS
Oil and salt in the right amount.
Soy sauce-- be careful- is high in salt.
Gomasio--One teaspoon per day.
Using to much salt will make you feel cold, salt is very contractive. The blood vessels will contract and the blood will not move well so the circulation will become sluggish.
To much salt will make you puffy.
Grains and vegetables will need salt in the cooking but in small amount.
Excessive protein is the fast way to damage the Kidneys.
To much tofu is not good.
MEN NEED MORE PROTEIN THAN WOMEN.
But a heavy protein diet will deplete the minerals of the body, leaches the calcium out of the bones and makes the formation of kidney stones.
We need to eat some protein to feel more satisfied, is best to heat small amounts of beans.
ADUKI Beans are the most digestible of all beans.
MILK protein increases inflammation and pain.
PHOSPHATES found in sausage, cheese and coca cola are damaging to the Kidneys. Chemical additives are also damaging.
SEA VEGETABLES are good for Kidney health.
In small amounts support the immune system, detox the body and adds minerals.
WAKAME, KOMBU, NORI, ARAME, IZIJKI, DUSE SEA PALM, AGAR AGAR.
They all strengthen the water energy.
Proper mineral balance is essential.
Mineral rich plants like Chicory (Dandylines) and their roots are very good.
Buckwheat support the kidney function.
BEANS:
With their creamy changeable energy associated with the winter season, nourishes the Kidneys, the adrenal glands and the reproductive organs.
Serve more often in the Winter then in the Summer.
HOT GINGER COMPRESSES are good for the weak and out of order Kidneys .
BLADDER
The bladder meridian controls the reproductive functions and the Uterus as well the organs of elimination. In Facial diagnosis the lines or ridges in the upper part of the forehead indicates trouble in the Bladder. BLADDER IMBALANCES:
- A large amount of nervous tension and overreaction.
- The muscle down the back fill rigid while the lover back feels weak.
- Painful sensation in the inside of the eye (next to the nose).
- Headaches or throbbing sensation in the back of the head.
- Occasional chilling sensation from the lower abdomen down to the legs.
- Increase or decrease of frequency of urination.
Menu
Rice- Pasta- Beans- Polenta
Rice with chestnuts
Ingredients
- 1 bag of dried chestnuts soaked
- 3 cups of brown rice soaked for 3 hours
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1 Tbsp mirin
- 2 Tbsps sake
- 1″ piece of kombu
- 7 cups of spring water
- Gomasio for garnish
Preparation
For this dish I use dried chestnuts that I by in oriental supermarket. Because this type of chestnuts are smoked I soak them for 8-10 hours and I change often the soaking water to remove some of the smoky flavor.
Then I put them in a pot with short or medium grain rice, with the peace of kombu at the bottom.
Add the rest of the ingredients (omit the gomasio)
Bring to a boil on a high flame, add a flame deflector under the pot, then reduce the flame and simmer covered for 45 minutes
When is done let the rice rest for 10-15 minutes before putting it in a serving bowl.
Kamut Spiral Salad
Ingredients
- 1 package of Kamut pasta
- Blanched vegetables
- Spring water
- Umeboshi plum paste
- Tahini
- Soy sauce
Preparation
In boiling water blanch all type of vegetables separately, (root vegetables and leafy greens), remove from the boiling water when are still crunchy.
After cooking the pasta in plenty of boiling water and a pinch of salt, remove into a colander.
Mix the pasta and the vegetables.
Add a sauce made with 2 Tbsps of ume paste, one Tbsp of tahini, a few drops of soy sauce diluted in ½ cup of hot water.
Mix well and serve.
Pinto Beans
Ingredients
- 2 cups Pinto Beans, Soaked overnight
- 2″ piece Kombu
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 stalks Celery with leaves, and add more leaves if available chopped fine
- Spring Water, enough to cover in an earthenware pot
- 2 Tbsps White Miso
Preparation
Put Kombu in pot first, then add Onions, Celery and Beans. Cover with Spring Water and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer for one hour. Dilute the White Miso with some of the cooking Water and mix in. Simmer another five minutes and serve.
Squash
The good thing about winter squashes is that they last for a long time.
Here is My Halloween squash after I used it as a decoration for more than two month I finally cook it.
Here is how:
Cut the squash in half, remove seeds place in a baking sheet with the cut face down and bake it at 300 for one hour or until it becomes soft to the touch.
Let it cool, then carve out the cooked pulp, add a pinch of salt and mush it out with the back of a fork or a tool.
Adjust the taste by adding some barley malt if the squash is not to sweet. Place in a bowl and back in the oven for 5-10 minutes.
Serve.
Feng Shui for the New Year
The beginning of each year most of us make New Year 's resolutions, many times it is to clean up the clutter in our homes, our closets, or our bodies in the form of a new diet etc.
Sometimes we are successful and feel so much better that it makes us wonder why we didn't do it earlier.
Feng Shui is mostly about order and "flow" in a room, in a body, or in a meridian, this "Flow" is also called "CHI", "KI".
When we are in a neat un-cluttered room/home/body, we think more clearly.
The energy in a room does have an impact, however imperceptible, on the conscious mind and how a person feels in that space.
A good designed home/room with good chi will contribute to a clearer mind and greater ability to focus on what you want to change. Because you do not have to "fight" against the negative energy of the space, you are able to take effective action in what you want to achieve.
House cleaning is not only for the outside, it is also for the inside of the body.
So when you have cleared out the outer space, you can focus more clearly on clearing out your inner world.
Our body is the temple of God and our Soul needs a clean instrument to be able to achieve the best circumstances that we were born to realize in this thing called life on Earth.
Sometimes life seems like a thing that we have no control over, but if we break away from certain patterns, our life changes.
We are a big bundle of habit forming patterns, some good, others we wish we could change.
How do we get the power to change?
Discipline ...
As we go ... at times
We fall back to old patterns ...
Life is like learning to ride a bicycle , with every fall we need to get the strength to get up and get back on that bicycle and keep on pedaling until we find equilibrium.
We think we have no control over what happens, but if we break away from the wrong patterns our life changes.
How do we get the will-power to change?
DISCIPLINE …
As we clean up our act externally and internally, we start to feel better about ourselves.
We gain respect for what we are, accept it as getting better and be in a more peaceful place.
Then when we realize we are part of a Creation, Gifts come in the form of bounty and blessings.
Best wishes for a very happy and healthy New Year!