Balancing the four basic elements of the body and soul with Thai indigenous vegetables

Thai ancestors have intellectually applied the knowledge of Thai Traditional Medicine into daily life by consuming different kinds of indigenous vegetables and fruits to balance the four basic elements or “Tart” of the body and soul all year round. According to the Thai Traditional Medicine, the balance of the four basic elements of the body and soul will keep a person healthy. One way to keep this balance is to take the food, vegetables or fruits that are compatible with the basic elements, especially the dominant element or “Tart Chao Reun”.

To know which kinds of vegetables or fruits match which basic elements is to check their taste. Those with astringents, sweet, creamy or salty taste are good for “Tart Din” or earth persons, while vegetables or fruits with sour taste are suitable for “Tart Nam” or water persons. Spicy food is compatible with “Tart Lom” or wind persons, while food having bitter, cool or bland taste is good for persons with “Tart Fai” or fire as the dominant basic element of the body and soul.

Young leaves or the tips of different plants make up of most of Thai indigenous vegetables. Thai people especially those living in the rural areas where there are many kinds of indigenous vegetables available usually have vegetables in almost every meal with different kinds of chilli dips called “Narm Prik”. Different regions of the country have different kinds of “Narm Prik”, but some basic ingredients of “Narm Prik” are similar, e.g. chilli, lime, garlic, fish or shrimp paste, and fish sauce.

Vegetables and fruits for “Tart Din” or Earth as the dominant basic element of the body and soul
(Pak Tart Din)

“Pak Tart Din”, or vegetables and fruits suitable for persons having “Tart Din” or Earth as the dominant basic element of the body and soul, are those that taste astringent, sweet, creamy, or salty. Some examples of “Pak Tart Din” are :

Vegetables and fruits for “Tart Nam” or Water as the dominant basic element of the body and soul
(Pak Tart Nam)

“Pak Tart Nam”, or vegetables and fruits suitable for persons having “Tart Nam” or Water as the dominant basic element of the body and soul, are those that taste sour or bitter. Some examples of “Pak Tart Nam” are :

• young leaves and tips of Thai copper pod, sesban, tamarind, hog plum
• bitter cucumber
• young sesban flowers
• young inflorescence of Siamese neem
• citrus fruits
• pineapple
• tomato
• star gooseberry
• tamarind

 

 

 

 

 

Vegetables for “Tart Lom” or Wind as the dominant basic element of the body and soul
(Pak Tart Lom)

“Pak Tart Lom”, or vegetables suitable for persons having “Tart Lom” or Wind as the dominant basic element of the body and soul, are those that taste spicy. Some examples of “Pak Tart Lom” are:

• ginger
• galangal
• lesser ginger
• pepper
• chili pepper
• turmeric
• basil,holy basil
• garlic
• mint
• fennel
• coriander

 

Vegetables and fruits for “Tart Fai” or Fire as the dominant basic element of the body and soul
(Pak Tart Fai)

“Pak Tart Fai”, or vegetables and fruits suitable for persons having “Tart Fai” or Fire as the dominant basic element of the body and soul, are those that taste sour or bitter. Some examples of “Pak Tart Fai” are:

• young leaves and tips of morning glory, pumpkin, or sweet potato
• Nymphaea stalk
• bitter cucumber
• egg plant
• okra
• Chinese chive
• horse radish tree pood
• young inflorescence of Siamese neem
• water melon
• yam bean
• monkey apple

 

 

Vegetable salad for the four Tarts
(Yum Pak See Tart)

Yum Pak See Tart is a salad dish made of vegetables and fruits or all tastes mixed together with a tangy salad dressing suitable for persons with any of the four basic elements of the body and soul.


 

Ingredients: Variety of Thai indigenous vegetables, roasted and ground black and white sesame, ground chilli pepper (optional)

Ingredients of salad dressing for 6-7 servings: sugar 300 g., water 500 ml., 3-4 limes or ¼ of a pineapple, salt

Mix sugar, salt, lime juice or blended pineapple, and water then heat the mixture until boil Lower the temperature and simmer for 15 minutes Add more sugar, salt, or lime to satisfy your taste, if preferred.

Preparation of salad:

Clean all vegetables and cut into small pieces
Mix vegetables with salad dressing, ground sesame and chilli pepper

 

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References

Thai Traditional Medicine Development Foundation. (2004). Thai wisdom for global health. Thailand : n.p.