Bringing TCM together with modern knowledge of vital nutrients allows food to feed the body and soul. Five-element practitioners put an emphasis on the flavors associated with the phases. When the diet becomes unbalanced, the flavors may become excess or deficient. That can trigger disharmony in associated organ systems. To remedy the imbalance, five-element diet therapy advocates the addition of counterbalancing flavors, and each has special powers to restore balance.
Wood is associated with sour.
Sour is astringent and gathering. A diet that has an excess of sour is associated with weakening of the Spleen, overproduction of saliva by the Liver, and injury to the muscles. It can be counteracted by the addition of metal-pungent foods. Fire is associated with bitter. Bitter is drying and strengthening.