What is your digestive fire? Your digestive fire is the internal energy that helps break down all the food you eat. If your digestive fire is strong you can eat and digest your food properly. If not, you begin to have various symptoms. Some examples are weight gain, reflux, bloating, fatigue, allergies, fungal and bacterial problems. These conditions are due to having a weak digestive system. The stomach is one of the most important ways to obtain energy every day. When you have a weak digestive system your energy begins to reduce. This is why diet is so important.   How to determine your constitution?   Each of us has our own unique body constitution. It is very important to understand your own body and body signals. These are a few simple things to help you learn about your own constitution. There are 5 different body types. You can have more that one of these conditions. Keep things simple and you can learn how to stay well. Yang constitution – These people are known as hot blooded people. Normally they like cold weather and like cold beverages. They get hot very easily, red complexion, hyper personality and bodies (busy).  Yang people are usually very out spoken with loud voices. Yang constitution people should be very careful with stimulants such as alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, spicy foods and high protein diets. All of these will add more heat to your body making you feel irritable, restless and quick tempered. Yin constitution – These people are cold natured and dislike the cold.  Generally, prefer warm weather and like warm beverages. Their complexion is usually paler. Yin people are usually more withdrawn people. They don’t like a lot of attention. They are more internal types that like to read, paint and write. Yin constitution people should be careful with too many cold beverages and foods. A vegetarian diet is not recommended for yin constitutions. Damp Constitutions – Damp constitution people usually have a lot of weight and sinus and allergy issues. Their bodies hold on to too many fluids and cause weight issues. Damp constitution people usually do better in dry environments. They should use caution with spending too much time in water or damp surroundings. They have a tendency to feel very heavy, tired and lethargic. Over time their energy levels begin to wane and emotions issue can become a problem. Dry constitutions – Dry constitution people usually suffer from inflammatory conditions. The tissues are often dry which makes them inflame easily. Dry mouth, hair, skin, nails and mucus membranes are just a few examples of a dry body constitution. Wind or Liver constitution- These people are usually very restless people. They can’t sit still. Their body build is usually thinner due to over activity. Involuntary muscle spasms or twitches are often seen in people that have a wind or liver constitution.
How to determine your constitution?   Each of us have our own unique body constitution. It is very important to understand your own body and body signals. These are a few simple things to help you learn about your own constitution. There are 5 different body types. You can have more that one of these conditions. Keep things simple and you can learn how to stay well. Yang constitution – These people are known as hot blooded people. Normally they like cold weather and like cold beverages. They get hot very easily, red complexion, hyper personality and bodies (busy).  Yang people are usually very out spoken with loud voices. Yang constitution people should be very careful with stimulants such as alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, spicy foods and high protein diets. All of these will add more heat to your body making you feel irritable, restless and quick tempered. Yin constitution – These people are cold natured and dislike the cold.  Generally, prefer warm weather and like warm beverages. Their complexion is usually more pale. Yin people are usually more withdrawn people. They don’t like a lot of attention. They are more internal types that like to read, paint and write. Yin constitution people should be careful with too many cold beverages and foods. A vegetarian diet is not recommended for yin constitutions. Damp Constitutions – Damp constitution people usually have a lot of weight and sinus and allergy issues. Their bodies hold on to too many fluids and cause weight issues. Damp constitution people usually do better in dry environments. They should use caution with spending too much time in water or damp surroundings. They have a tendency to feel very heavy, tired and lethargic. Over time their energy levels begin to wane and emotions issue can become a problem. Dry constitutions – Dry constitution people usually suffer from inflammatory conditions. The tissues are often dry which makes them inflame easily. Dry mouth, hair, skin, nails and mucus membranes are just a few examples of a dry body constitution. Wind or Liver constitution- These people are usually very restless people. They can’t sit still. Their body build is usually thinner due to over activity. Involuntary muscle spasms or twitches are often seen in people that have a wind or liver constitution.
Myths about stimulants. Most people believe that caffeine, alcohol, tobacco and sugar give them energy. This is not correct. Stimulants increase body functions and give the feeling and appearance that your getting more energy. Actually what they are doing is depleting your bodies energy. This is know as false energy.  Symptoms from excessive stimulants are increased body heat, red face, irritability, premature aging, impatience and anxiety.  If you continue using these stimulants you will gradually require more of them to keep you going. In Chinese medicine stimulants deplete your Kidney Yang energy ( adrenal glands). When the adrenals are exhausted feelings of burn out can happen. Once the adrenals are exhausted there are no quick fixes. If your not sure if you are dependent upon stimulants I would suggest taking a break from them for 21 days. This gives you body enough time to detox and rebalance itself. If you are taking several stimulants at one time I suggest that you only start with one at a time. Too much at one time will create a lot of detoxing symptoms. In 15 years of practice I have noticed many conditions are caused by excessive stimulants. Too much stimulation causes the nervous system to work overtime. This leads to stress and tension.