Re: Re: Raw Milk Fast Instructions?

[Guest guest]

,

From what I understand of TCM dampness, you can still fast: it just isn't

the standard fast we talk about here. Milk would be very bad for someone

who is damp, as would most juices - not only because of their moistening

nature, but because they are often raw (raw and damp don't go well together

as dampness reduces digestive strength).

Salty broths (especially shrimp and chicken) can help dispel dampness and

would make a decent fasting liquid. Ginger tea can also be helpful, but it

is very warming so it may not be appropriate if you are warm and damp.

There are also a number of spices that may help (mostly heating spices

though, so once again, not so appropriate if you're warm and damp). Also, a

herbal tea could be designed by your TCM practitioner which would be

appropriate for treating the dampness.

One of my favorite " remedies " for dampness (not a fasting food though) is

homemade pumpkin pie with a spelt crust. Both the pumpkin and the

spices (nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger) are very appropriate for the cold dampness

I used to be afflicted with and the spelt is a great warming substitute for

wheat.

-Lana

" There is nothing more useful than sun and salt. " - Latin proverb

On Fri, Jun 27, 2008 at 10:56 AM, <lisa_landen@...>

wrote:

> Hi

>

> I feel the same way you do when fasting. I have done it many times,

> anyway, but have wondered if it is really good for me because it never

> makes me feel better.

>

> I recently started seeing a doctor of Chinese Medicine and one of my

> diagnoses through her is Dampness. For a person with dampness,

> fasting or dietary detoxes are NEVER recommended! For me, fasting can

> do more damage than benefit.

>

> Thought I'd share in case you have the same situation.

>

> Best Wishes,

>

[Guest guest]

Lana,

> From what I understand of TCM dampness, you can still fast: it just isn't

> the standard fast we talk about here. Milk would be very bad for someone

> who is damp, as would most juices - not only because of their moistening

> nature, but because they are often raw (raw and damp don't go well together

> as dampness reduces digestive strength).

I'm not very familiar with TCM dampness, but it seems to me this would

only come into play on an extended liquid fast (and then only where

the liquids are contraindicated), not a condensed window fast where

the fasting period only involves water.

> Salty broths (especially shrimp and chicken) can help dispel dampness and

> would make a decent fasting liquid. Ginger tea can also be helpful, but it

> is very warming so it may not be appropriate if you are warm and damp.

> There are also a number of spices that may help (mostly heating spices

> though, so once again, not so appropriate if you're warm and damp). Also, a

> herbal tea could be designed by your TCM practitioner which would be

> appropriate for treating the dampness.

>

> One of my favorite " remedies " for dampness (not a fasting food though) is

> homemade pumpkin pie with a spelt crust. Both the pumpkin and the

> spices (nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger) are very appropriate for the cold dampness

It is a fasting food (depending on how the crust is made) in the

Orthodox Church! :-)

Again, it seems to me on a condensed window (i.e intermittent) fast,

one could just fast on a liquid that does not affect dampness or

warming, and then eat an appropriate " warming " food when it is time

for a meal.

> I used to be afflicted with and the spelt is a great warming substitute for

> wheat.

Isn't spelt an ancient species of wheat?

--

" How do they become one flesh? " As if she were gold receiving purest

gold, the woman receives the man's seed with rich pleasure, and within

her it is nourished, cherished, and refined. It is mingled with her

own substance and she then returns it as a child! "

St. Chrysostom

[Guest guest]

>

> I'm not very familiar with TCM dampness, but it seems to me this would

> only come into play on an extended liquid fast (and then only where

> the liquids are contraindicated), not a condensed window fast where

> the fasting period only involves water.

>

Very true, water doesn't have any TCM qualities AFAIK.

> One of my favorite " remedies " for dampness (not a fasting food though) is

> > homemade pumpkin pie with a spelt crust. Both the pumpkin and the

> > spices (nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger) are very appropriate for the cold

> dampness

>

> It is a fasting food (depending on how the crust is made) in the

> Orthodox Church! :-)

Reaaaaaalllyyy??? :) Just out of curiosity, how would the crust have to

be made?

> Again, it seems to me on a condensed window (i.e intermittent) fast,

> one could just fast on a liquid that does not affect dampness or

> warming, and then eat an appropriate " warming " food when it is time

> for a meal.

That sounds about right, it is just the usual liquids used are extremely

dampening (and most of them are cold forming - outside of cherry juice) so

it is easier to say no fasting than specify what liquids (water, certain

broths and certain teas) are okay for someone who is damp. People with

really bad damp/cold problems will have very exaggerated reactions to even

the smallest amount of damp/cold forming foods.

> Isn't spelt an ancient species of wheat?

>

Yes, it is. I could never figure out why it is warming when wheat is

cooling, but it really is in my experience.

-Lana

[Guest guest]

You're welcome.

I am not a TCM practitioner, although one of my very close friends is and I

was lucky he was willing to share a lot of his knowledge with me (for free!)

when I got ill with my spleen qi deficiency/liver qi stagnation thanks to

mercury poisoning. I'd love to do something with nutrition, be it TCM or

otherwise, but I haven't gotten that far yet.

When I first weaned back onto milk, I always drank it gently warmed. I

still prefer it that way, but I don't get any of the damp symptoms (like

mucus) if I happen to drink it cold now. Have you tried warming your milk

before drinking it?

Actually, there was a long while where I always ate food warm, regardless of

its TCM designation ( " warm " foods that have been warmed are even more

beneficial for " cold " than when consumed room temp).

-Lana

" There is nothing more useful than sun and salt. " - Latin proverb

On Sun, Jun 29, 2008 at 8:53 PM, <lisa_landen@...>

wrote:

> Hello Lana

>

> That you so much for this insight. Are you a TCM practitioner? The

> info you gave rings true to me. I have cold and dampness and

> generally do not like to drink much, especially cold. I can only

> tolerate one glass of milk per day or I get diarrhea! Ginger tea and

> chicken broth in small amounts make me feel well. Spelt is okay, too,

> though I generally don't like any flour products because they tend to

> make me bloated and gain weight. Anyway, thanks again. Love your info!

>