SND Nutritional Therapy

The Temperatures of food are Hot/Warm, Cold/Cool, and Neutral and are examples of how our body responds when eating the food, and less about the physical temperature of the food when we eat it. 

Hot/Warm foods make the body warmer and improve issues of Cold.  An example of this is a spicy pepper makes us feel hot when we eat it. If we have an issue with feeling cold, Hot/Warm foods will help but if we have issues with feeling hot easily, they will make us uncomfortable, so it is better to eat less of them.

Cold/Cool foods cool the body and deal with issues of heat.  An example of this is drinking mint tea makes our mouth feel cool and refreshing.  Just like Hot/Warm foods we want to choose more Cold/Cool foods if we feel too hot, and less if we feel too cold.

Neutral foods do not affect our perception of temperature and are good for either issue.

Foods under the Deficiencies Section list foods that help replace or nourish things the body is lacking.  It is broken down into Qi Deficiency, Blood Deficiency, Yin Deficiency, Yang Deficiency, and Dryness or Fluid Deficiency. 

Qi is Energy.  Qi Deficiency lists foods that increase the energy of the body.  Common Conditions with Qi Deficiency include Fatigue, Asthma or Shortness of Breath, Diabetes, Low Appetite, Frequent Urination, etc.  Qi Deficiency foods can be any temperature.  

Blood is both the general quantity of Blood, and the health and nourishing aspects of Blood.  Blood Deficiency lists foods that increase the quantity and quality of Blood.  Common Conditions with Blood Deficiency include Anemia, Amenorrhea, Poor Memory and Concentration, Muscle Atrophy, etc.

Yin is the coolant and substance of the body’s functions.  Without Yin a person will feel hot easily, sweat at night, and have issues of dryness.  Yin Deficiency list foods that Nourish Yin.  Common Conditions that are considered Yin Deficiency include Hyperthyroidism, Menopause, some types of Hypertensions with issues of heat, etc.  Yin Foods are almost always Cool or Cold.

Yang is the warm and active part of the body’s functions.  Without Yang a person will feel cold easily, fatigue, issues with metabolism and digestion.  Yang Deficiency lists foods that Tonify or Strengthen Yang.  Common Conditions that are considered Yang Deficiency include Hypothyroidism, Hypotension, Low Testosterone, etc.  Yang Foods are almost always Warm or Hot.

Dryness is a condition when a person is dehydrated or doesn’t sufficiently metabolism and distribute fluids properly which may be called Fluid Deficiency.  Symptoms of Dryness will include Thirst and signs of Dryness.  Fluid Deficiency is also Yin Deficiency, but the foods listed under Dryness will also increase fluids more than other foods.  These foods can be any temperature.  

Stagnation describes an issue of the restriction or lack of circulation through an area of the body.  

Qi Stagnation is a lack of the circulation of Energy in the body.  Foods on the Qi Stagnation Page are foods that help to Reduce or Relieve Qi Stagnation.  Common Conditions include, Any type of Pain, Stomach Cramps, Irritability, etc.

Blood Stagnation is a lack of the circulation of Blood in the body.  Common Conditions include, Bruising, Clotting, Cramping, Cancerous Masses, Menstrual Pain.  Foods on the Blood Stagnation Page are foods that Increase Circulation of Blood.

Bi Syndrome is a Chronic Condition causing pain in a joint or muscle, or chronic tension in the Chest.  Foods for Bi Syndrome are foods that Relieve Chronic Pain and Tension.  

Damp Retention is a lack of circulation of the fluids or retention of fluids leading to swelling.  Foods on the Damp Retention Page are foods that help reduce Swelling, Dampness, or Promote Elimination thru Urination.  Common Conditions of Damp Retention include Chronic Diarrhea, Lymphedema, Vomiting/Diarrhea, Rhinitis, Pneumonia, COPD, etc.

Phlegm Retention is an issue where Fluids begin to solidify into Phlegm.  Foods under the Phlegm Retention Tab are foods that Resolve, Reduce, or Transform Phlegm.  Common Conditions of Phlegm Retention include, Nasal or Chest Congestion, Obesity, Fatty Liver, Mania, etc.

Under the Miscellaneous Section we have Rebellious Qi and Wind.

Rebellious Qi describes an issue when the energy of the body runs the opposite direction of how it should.  Common Conditions with this include Vomiting, Migraines, High Blood Pressure, Acid Reflux, Hiccups, etc.   Sometimes Rebellious Qi can carry other issues to include Hot, Cold, Qi Deficiency, Yin Deficiency, or Yang Deficiency, so it is helpful to look at the other types.

Wind describes an issue in the body that either moves from one area to another such as Restless Leg, or Pain that is in the Knee one day, then the Elbow the next day, or it can describe an invasion in the body from the outside such as Colds, Flu, or Allergies.  Changes in the weather that causes problems are also designated as Wind.  Wind can also be combined other types of issues such as Hot, Cold, Dry, Damp, or Phlegm so it is helpful to look at the other types.