What is the Middle Burner?

The middle burner in Chinese medicine is the heart of the digestive system. A vivid image of the middle burner is a wood-burning stove that heats a house. Digestion is the stove, and food is the fuel. The quality of the fuel determines the efficiency of the stove and therefore the warmth of the house, i.e., the health and energy of the body.

Is there a Western equivalent?

The equivalent to an efficient middle-burner in Western medicine is an effective metabolism. Good metabolism will “burn” the food cleanly, utilizing calories, burning fat, and assimilating vitamins and nutrients, giving the body energy for living. If your metabolism is appropriate for your activities and food intake, you will naturally maintain your optimal weight.

What benefits the digestive fire?

When you wake up in the morning the fire in your stove has reduced to embers. The fire must be stoked to carry out its digestive function.

Breakfast: To build a strong fire, the day begins with breakfast, which acts as kindling. In Chinese medicine, hot, whole grain cereal (congee) is an ideal meal to gently start your digestive metabolism for clean, efficient, warm burning.

Lunch: The digestive fire is strongest at lunchtime. Lunch should therefore be the biggest meal of the day, with the most variety. It should contain concentrated protein such as animal products, legumes, nuts, seeds.

Dinner: The last meal should ideally be the smallest. It is best if the meal is eaten before 7 p.m., and that the meal is cooked, such as steamed vegetables and a grain.

What injures the middle burner?

A large, heavy breakfast would be like throwing a big oak log on a struggling, flickering flame; it might be snuffed. Cold cereal, milk or raw fruit would be like throwing wet, soggy leaves on a tender little fire. Fried eggs and hash browns would be like green wood; it burns poorly and produces thick, noxious smoke. Not eating breakfast would certainly put the fire out for the day. Ice-cold drinks and foods like ice cream and salads also destroy the digestive fire.

In summary….

If you tend to your middle burner as if you were tending a fire you will be able to achieve and maintain your health and ideal body weight.

Raw veggies (and fruits)

*More nutrients

*Less nutrient absorption

*Cold energetic, hard to digest

*Can cause gas, bloating, diarrhea, indigestion

*Eliminative, cleansing, detoxifying

Lightly steamed or sautéed veggies

*Less nutrients

*More nutrient absorption

*Warm energetic, easy to digest

*Steamed with grated ginger can reduce (especially With oily salad dressing)

Congee

What is it?

Congee is a grain based, usually rice, medicinal porridge served for centuries in traditional Chinese homes. It is used preventatively to promote good health and long life. It is used specifically to help the body recover from various ailments. Congee is an excellent whole-grain hot breakfast alternative.

Benefits of a congee breakfast:

It can jump start your digestive system. Its long cooking time breaks down the grain, making it very easy to digest and assimilate, providing your body with the nutrients it needs. It strengthens digestion, builds energy and enhances metabolism.

Congee is economical and easy to prepare; it is high in nutrients and low in fat.

How do I prepare congee?

Congee is easily prepared overnight in your crock pot. If you do not have a crock pot, it can be simmered on the stove over very low heat. It is important to use a clay, enamel, glass or stainless steel pot for cooking. Do not use aluminum or iron pots, chemicals from these pots can leech from the pot into your food.

Suggested cooking ingredients for 1 serving:

1 part grain (1/4 cup)

5 parts water (1¼ cup)

Combine in crock-pot and cook on low overnight (8 hours). You should adjust the proportions of grain to water until you get the consistency of congee that satisfies you the most. Increase serving size as desired. For added flavor, you can add your favorite spices (see suggestions below). Your acupuncturist may suggest specific flavorings or added nuts, fruits, vegetables or herbs that would be most beneficial to you.

Suggested congee grain combinations:

• Brown rice/barley/cinnamon, ginger
• Millet/Buckwheat/Rye, allspice, cinnamon stick

Benefits:

Reduces excess water weight
Strengthens adrenals, warms digestion

Nutritious suggestions – also use your imagination!

Grains

Rice
Millet
Barley
Rye
Oat
Spelt
Quinoa
Amaranth
Wheat Berries
Kasha

Spices

Cinnamon
Bay Leaf
Allspice
Ginger
Nutmeg
Cloves
Fennel seeds

Nuts/Fruits

Dates
Lyceum berries
Dried cherries
*Walnuts
*Almonds
*Pumpkin seeds
*Hemp seeds
*Black sesame seeds
*Add at end

Veggies

Sweet Potato
Carrots
Pumpkin
Spinach
Squash
Beets
Root veggies
Sesame oil
Kale/Chard

Flavorings

Molasses
Honey/Maple syrup
Licorice root
Rice Milk
Bragg’s
Flax oil
Green tea
Jasmine
Personalized dietary suggestions: