| Most people think of food from only its nutritional | | | | Bitter |
| value which they consider the same for every | | | | Properties: Horses that have excessive energy |
| horse but when viewed energetically foods have | | | | and impulsive behavior benefit from bitter foods |
| different effects on different horses depending on | | | | because they have a centering effect of bringing |
| their Five Element type. In addition to looking at | | | | the energy deeper into the body. Also good for |
| foods from a standpoint of different types we | | | | slow moving, lethargic horses that have damp |
| should also look at what we feed our horses in | | | | conditions such as stocking up or are just |
| different seasons. | | | | generally overfed and under exercised. |
| Each Element has a flavor associated with it and | | | | Uses: Very helpful in horses with inflammations, |
| this flavor is often needed for that type when it | | | | infections and damp skin conditions. |
| becomes out of balance. The same horse may | | | | Organ functions: helps support the heart and blood |
| need a different flavor to help him balance for | | | | vessels by removing deposits which lowers blood |
| seasonal changes. For example, bitter is the flavor | | | | pressure. Celery is a vegetable which is perfect |
| assigned to Fire because the Fire element has a | | | | for this and could certainly be fed to horses. Bitter |
| tendency to overheating conditions. A Fire horse | | | | foods like celery can be given to help clear heat |
| might benefit from some bitter foods in the diet | | | | and inflammation out of the liver after overeating. |
| on a regular basis but might need some sweet, | | | | Sounds like a perfect treat instead of the high |
| warming foods in the heat of summer to help | | | | sugar and starch store bought ones. I will have to |
| keep his energy moving outward to the periphery | | | | try this out with my Fire horse, Cerise. Bitter |
| of the body to match the heat of the | | | | foods help drain damp conditions such as yeast |
| environment. Alfalfa is an example of a bitter | | | | infections, parasites, moist skin eruptions, |
| food and grains such as oats are considered | | | | abscesses, tumors, cysts(including the aggravating |
| sweet according to Traditional Chinese Medicine. | | | | ovarian types) and swellings. Bitter foods help with |
| So an overall diet for a Fire horse could be include | | | | intestinal function by increasing motility. In addition |
| grass and alfalfa hay with minimal grain during the | | | | to the liver and gallbladder, the lungs and kidneys |
| winter or cold weather and slightly less alfalfa and | | | | also benefit from the bitter flavor. Any condition |
| more grain during the summer. Alternately, you | | | | that shows thick, yellow discharges suggests |
| could leave the alfalfa the same and instead of | | | | dampness and heat and the bitter flavor is |
| grain give sweet vegetables such as carrots | | | | perfect to break this up and get it moving out of |
| during the summer months. | | | | the body. Think about upper respiratory infections, |
| Therapeutic use of the Five Flavors: | | | | uterine infections and hoof abscesses and just a |
| Bitter - Fire, heart and small intestine, yin, cooling, | | | | few typical damp heat examples that benefit |
| moves energy inward | | | | from the addition of bitter foods. |
| Sweet - Earth, spleen/pancreas and stomach, | | | | Season: Increase bitter foods throughout the fall |
| yang, warming, moves energy outward | | | | and winter to pull energy in to protect the body |
| Pungent - Metal, lungs and large intestine, yang, | | | | from cold external temperatures or any season |
| warming, moves energy outward | | | | when heat symptoms appear. |
| Salty - Water, kidneys and bladder, yin, cooling, | | | | Cautions: Horses that are weak, thin nervous, and |
| moves energy inward | | | | dehydrated should be given bitter foods sparingly. |
| Sour - Wood, liver and gallbladder, yin, cooling, | | | | Examples: Bitter herbs include, dandelion leaf or |
| moves energy inward | | | | root, burdock leaf or root, yarrow, chamomile, |
| It is important to remember to balance first to | | | | hops, valerian, chaparral, echinacea and pau d'arco. |
| the Five Element type of the horse and then if | | | | Alfalfa is a strictly bitter food, celery and papaya |
| needed to the season. Never go to extreme with | | | | are bitter and sweet, citrus peel is bitter and |
| any flavor because too much can cause the | | | | pungent and vinegar is bitter and sour. |
| opposite effect and weaken the organ you | | | | More on the other flavors later. |
| wanted to support. | | | | |