The properties of food decide the properties of blood
Yin-Yang energy dwells in food
In this explanatory text, I introduce the basics of Chisaka Method whose beneficial effects on health have become clear from the results of studies and experiences of the general public. Chisaka Method is different from the treatments performed in hospitals, but is connected more directly to traditional dietary cures.
The Chisaka Method starts by dividing food into prominent types by properties known as Yin-Yang, Acid-Alkali and minerals in which Yin-Yang energy is found.
Some readers may already be familiar with the terms Yin-Yang and Acid-Alkali. Let’s begin by explaining what Yin-Yang is here.
The energy of Yin-Yang pouring from the sun
As the Yin-Yang theory is outlined in the Chinese sacred book The Yi-King, written thousands of years ago, it is clear that the philosophy of all worldly things and phenomena having binary-opposite properties called Yin and Yang has existed from ancient times in the East.
By way of example, males are the Yang and females the Yin, warm things are the Yang and cold things the Yin, hard things are the Yang and soft things the Yin, small things are the Yang and big things the Yin, etc.
This way of thinking can also be applied to solar radiation as the base of food and a way of growing crops to create food.
Looking at a rainbow in the sky shows us that sunlight consists of seven colors. In reality, however, there are far-infrared rays and near-infrared rays outside the rainbow, then red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet, followed by ultraviolet rays outside this spectrum, but our eyes can only recognize the seven colors from red to violet.
Of these, the three colors of red, orange and yellow have a certain warmth and a close resemblance to sunny spots in winter. This property is classified as Yang. On the other hand, the four colors of green, blue, indigo and violet seem somehow cool, and produce a slight sense of tightening the body; these can be classified as cold hues, or Yin.
These two groups of light have different properties. Light with Yang properties (the Yang type) infiltrates the ground, while that with Yin properties (the Yin type) bounces off the surface of the ground and escapes upward.
Yin for the growth of stems and leaves, and yang for the growth of vegetable roots
In winter, soil cools because of a shortage of Yang energy, and the roots of vegetables do not grow well.
When spring comes, though, warm Yang light penetrates far underground. As the soil warms, vegetable roots grow deep beneath the surface.
On the other hand, it is thought that the buds, stems, branches and leaves of vegetables, which grow up upward, absorb the Yin light of the sun that bounces off the ground.
It is understood from this that the power for vegetables to extend their roots is closely connected to the Yang energy of the sun. Conversely, the power for lengthening stems, branches and leaves is closely related to the sun’s Yin energy.
The Yang and Yin described here are simply contrasting properties; it is not that Yang is superior and Yin is inferior. If either one were missing, much of the life and many of the phenomena found in the natural world would not exist.
It is the same as not being able to say that summer is good and winter is bad; without Yang, there is no Yin, and vice versa. This is the nature of our living world.
Looking at all kinds of crops grown in agriculture and plants that inhabit hills or fields, we see that no plants live only by leaves, stems or roots alone.
Crops without doubt consist of Yin leaves and stems and Yang roots, and these Yin and Yang energies are integrated to create life and growth.
As an example, consider the carrot as a familiar food. Since Yang light infiltrates the ground and Yin light reflects off the surface of the ground, both properties can be found in this vegetable.
As we already know, the Yang effect that warms the body dwells in the orange root areas, and the Yin effect that cools the body dwells in the leaves.
A collapse in the Yin-Yang balance leads to a deterioration in physical condition
Yin dilates internal organs and blood vessels, and yang shrinks them
We can also see the effects of these Yin-Yang properties inside our bodies.
Later we will summarize how Yin-Yang energy works inside the body; the following points provide essential background to this.
At first, Yin energy has the property of moving from the center outward, as Yin light reflects from the surface of the ground. Conversely, Yang energy has the property of moving inward toward the center, as it infiltrates the ground.
Let’s look at the inside of the human body.
The balance between contraction and dilation is the basis of the body’s function, as can be seen from gastrointestinal and blood-related activity. The action of Yang energy moving inward to the center controls contraction, while Yin energy moving outward controls dilation.
In advanced medical fields, a pump-oxygenator is a type of life-support device, and performs the roles of the heart and lungs, i.e., cardiorespiratory function. If the heart and lungs stop moving, humans cannot live even for a few minutes.
These coronary and pulmonary functions of contraction and dilation are also supported by Yang and Yin energy, respectively. Coronary function works as follows: when the bilateral atria (intracardiac chambers into which blood flows) are dilated by Yin energy, blood enters, and when the bilateral ventricle (an intracardiac chamber that expels blood) is constricted by Yang energy, the blood is sent out again.
Pulmonary function works in the same way. When the diaphragm (the muscular membrane that separates the chest from the abdominal organs) moves down and a vacuum is created around the lungs, pulmonary alveoli (the countless tiny air sacs in the lungs) are dilated by Yin energy, and inspired gas (air that is breathed in) flows into the lungs. When the diaphragm moves up again and the pulmonary alveoli are constricted by Yang energy, expired gas (exhaled air) flows out of the lungs.
It is thought that if the balance of this Yin-Yang energy collapses, the body’s condition is disturbed, causing sickness over time.
The balance between Yin and Yang is the start point of the Chisaka Method. Neither of the Yin and Yang effects must be excessive.
Focus on minerals to become healthy
Minerals represent the soil
I explained previously that the start points of the Chisaka Method are Yin-Yang, Acid-Alkali and minerals (we will look at acid-alkali later).
Minerals are one of the components essential in sustaining life. Although they are not defined as nutrients like carbohydrates or proteins, they are an important part of food on the same level as nutrients.
There are many kinds of mineral; most people can name calcium, potassium, sulfur, sodium, magnesium, iron and zinc off the top of their heads.
Of these, calcium in particular is well known as an osseous material. When the body lacks calcium, it is taken from the bones. Since calcium deficiency is thought to be a cause of arteriosclerosis, it is an area of strong interest in the fields of health and medicine.
Then, how do you imagine the appearance of these minerals in the natural world?
They represent the soil itself.
When the earth was created, the ground was covered only with rocks. Many kinds of mineral are contained in rocks, and generally, mineral substances are simply referred to as minerals.
Over time, the sea was created, and the mineral substances of the soil dissolved into the water. Bright sunlight poured into the sea, which stored this energy, and life on earth was born at last.
Yin food thins the blood, and Yang food thickens it
Yin is a spreading energy, and Yang is a concentrating energy
As we already know, the first rule of choosing food is to consider the Yin-Yang aspect.
Life is based on keeping a balance between Yin and Yang.
It can be thought that good health is dependent on a careful balance between Yin and Yang.
Humans constantly take air and essential nutrients into the body and excrete waste products to maintain life. This process is known as metabolism.
However, the metabolism to maintain life becomes confused if Yin energy is not where it should be or if it is disproportionate to Yang, or if there is a shortage of Yang energy where it should be and a leaning toward Yin.
As we saw before, there are two types of energy (Yin and Yang) in solar light, and the basis of life is the integration of these two energy forms into plants.
Yin energy helps vegetable buds, stems, branches and leaves to grow upward.
Yin energy is represented by cold-colored light, and has the property of moving outward from the center. Such power is known as centrifugal force; that is to say, Yin is a centrifugal energy.
When climbing a mountain, it is possible to feel the temperature becoming lower and the air density becoming thinner than at ground level. Yin energy, which escapes from the center outward, can be apprehended as the phenomenon by which air becomes cooler and thinner with the ascent.
The reduced air density shows that Yin is an expansion energy that spreads outward.
Conversely, Yang energy is represented by warm-colored light, and tends to move from the outside to the center. It is known as a centripetal force. It can be apprehended that Yang energy is centripetal because it helps crop roots to grow downward in a centrospherical fashion.
The centripetal force provided by Yang energy can also be seen in the phenomenon of tightening and contracting.
Naturally, these food properties have an effect on the body. Yin and Yang energy thins and thickens the blood, respectively, and changes the body’s constitution.
The effects of Yin energy and Yin food
Yin energy has the following characteristics and effects:
- It moves from the center outward.
- It controls diffusion, destruction, dispersion and decomposition.
- It stretches, loosens, submerges, enlarges and cools substances and organs in the body.
Yin food has the following characteristics:
- It grows up from the ground surface toward the sky.
- It grows fast.
- It is produced on land in warm (hot) climates or is harvested in the hot season.
- It swells (this is how it produces fruit).
- It is soft (or loose).
- It is light (i.e., it has low density).
- It has high water content.
- It cools the body when eaten.
- It works as a metabolic brake.
The effects of Yang energy and Yang food
On the other hand, Yang energy has the following characteristics and effects:
- It moves from the outside toward the center.
- It controls concentration, enrichment and contraction.
- It stretches, tightens, raises, collects and warms substances and organs in the body.
Yang food has the following characteristics:
- It grows downward from the ground surface.
- It grows slowly.
- It is produced on land in cool (cold) climates or is harvested in the cold season.
- It extends underground (this is how it produces fruit).
- It is hard (or firm).
- It is heavy (i.e., it has high density).
- It has low water content.
- It warms the body when eaten.
- It works as a metabolic promoter.
The acidity and alkalinity of food affect how quickly and easily blood flows
It is different from acids and alkalis as chemicals
The second ruler to be used in judging food is acid-alkali.
However, the concepts of Acid-Alkali used to divide the properties of food in the Chisaka Method are different from the definitions of Acid-Alkali generally used in chemistry.
What are normal acids and alkalis in the chemical sense?
Normally, Acids and Alkalis have properties related to ions that are seen when dissolved in water.
An ion is a positively or negatively charged molecule; materials producing hydrogen ions (H+) when dissolved in water are acidic, and those that produce ions including a hydroxyl group (OH–) are alkaline.
We generally use litmus paper to measure whether a certain material is acidic or alkaline. Acid turns blue litmus paper red, and Alkali turns red litmus paper blue.
The unit of measurement for the degree of acidity/alkalinity is pH, with a value of 7 being neutral. A pH of lower than 7 indicates an acid, and a value of larger than 7 shows an alkali.
What do you think happens when acidic and alkaline liquids are mixed? Both the acid and the alkali are weakened and neutralized, and the mixture approaches neutral.
Incidentally, some readers may have heard of the classification of acidic or alkaline foods. These acids or alkalis are generally classified in the chemical sense, and are different from the concept of the Chisaka Method.
Generally, acidic food is that which contains many non-metallic elements, including sulfur, phosphorus, chlorine, etc. Meat, sugar and cereals are examples of such food.
On the other hand, alkaline food contains metallic ions including sodium, potassium, calcium, etc. Vegetables, seaweed and milk are typical examples of such food.
This is the concept of acid-alkali commonly used in modern chemistry.
The concept of Acid and Alkali in Chisaka Method
Acid contaminates and Alkali cleans the blood
It is essential to understand that the ruler of Acid-Alkali referred to here is different from the chemical sense outlined previously.
We, Chisaka Method, classify food as acidic or alkaline depending on whether it contaminates or cleans the blood. Specifically, acidic food has the properties of contaminating the blood and decreasing bodily function, while alkaline food purifies the blood and cleans the body.
The concept of acid-alkali in the Chisaka Method is an original definition, and the properties of food or bodily condition are assessed in relation to the Yin-Yang concept explained previously.
Let us then summarize the meaning of Acid-Alkali as it appears in the text that follows.
The characteristics of Acidic and Alkaline food in Chisaka Method
Acidic food pollutes the blood, and Alkaline food purifies it.
Acidic food has the following characteristics and properties.
- It pollutes the blood.
- It causes blood flow to deteriorate.
- It tastes sweet (however, not all sweetness is classified as acidic; some sweetness is apprehended as alkaline in the Chisaka Method).
- It is high in sugar.
- It is high in protein.
- It is high in lipids.
- It is mild.
What, then, are the characteristics and properties of alkaline food? They can be easily understood as the opposite of those of acidic food, and are as follows:
- It cleans the blood.
- It improves blood flow.
- It tastes bitter or acrid.
- It is low in sugar.
- It is low in protein.
- It is low in lipids.
- It is harsh.
Chisaka Method recommends mainly to eat Yang – Alkaline foods and eat less Yin – Acidic foods for your health.