Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese Dietary Therapy
"Medicine & food share a common origin", & that food materials can be used to prevent or treat medical disorders. Like medicinal drugs, food items are classified as "heating" or "cooling".
A mode of dieting rooted in Chinese beliefs concerning the effects of food on the human organism, centered on concepts such as eating in moderation. Its basic precepts are a mix of folk views & concepts drawn from Traditional Chinese Medicine history.
Improve Qi circulation
Basil, Caraway, Cardamom, Carrot, Cayenne, Chive, Coriander, Dill seed, Garlic, Marjoram, Mustard leaf, Orange peel, Radish, Star Anise, Tangerine Peel, Turmeric.
Improve blood circulation
Anasake, Aubergine, Brown sugar, Chestnut, Chilli powder, Chive, Crab, Hawthorn berry, Mustard leaf, onion, Peach, Scallion, Sturgeon, Vinegar.
Cooling Heat
Asparagus, Aubergine, Bamboo shoots, Banana, Chicken egg white, Clam, Elderflower, Grapefruit, Lemon, Lettuce, Millet, Mungbeans, Mungbean sprouts, Peppermint, Potato, Salt, Tofu, Watermelon, Wheat berries
Warming Cold
Anchovies, Basil, Bay, Black pepper, Cayenne, Cherry, Chestnut, Chicken, Coriander seed, Dill seed, Fennel, Garlic, Ginger, Kohlrabi, Lamb, Kidney, Leek, Muscle, Mustard leaf, mutton, Nutmeg, onion, Peach, Pine kernel, Rosemary, Scallion, Shrimp-, Squash, Sweet potato, Sweet rice, Trout, Turnip, Umeboshi plum.
Drying Dampness
Adzuki bean, Alfalfa, Anchovies, Barley, Celery, Corn, Daikon, Garlic, Green tea, horseradish, Jasmine tea, Job's tears, Kidney beans, Kohlrabi, Lemon, Mackerel, Marjoram, Mushroom, Mustard leaf, Onion, Parsley, Pumpkin, Radish, Rye, Scallion, Turnip, Umeboshi plum.
Draining Water
Adzuki bean, Alfalfa, Anchovies, Barley, Black soy beans, Broad beans, Celery, Clam, Fenugreek, Frog, Grape, Job's tears, Kelp, Lettuce, Mackerel, Sardines, Seaweed.
Resolving Phlegm
Almond, Apple peel, Clam, Daikon, Garlic, Grapefruit, Lemon peel, Liquorice, Marjoram, Mushroom, Mustard seeds, Olive, Onion, Orange peel, Pear, Black and white pepper, Peppermint, Persimmons, Plantain, Radish, Seaweed, Shitake, Shrimp, Tea, Thyme, Watercress.
Tonifying Qi
Beef, Cherry, Chicken, Coconut, Date, eel, Ginseng, Goose, Grape, Ham, Herring, Lentil, Liquorice, longan, Mackerel, Micro-algae, Molasses, Oats, Octopus, Potato, Rabbit, Rice, Royal jelly, Sweet potato, Shitake, Squash, Sturgeon, Tofu and Yam.
Meat
Beef
Neutral, sweet, Sp & St Qi & Blood Tonic.
Lamb
Warm, sweet, Sp, Ki, Qi Tonic, and warms interior.
Ham
Warm, salty, Sp Qi Tonic, generates fluids, subdues rebellious stomach Qi.
Pork
Neutral to slightly cold, sweet & salty, Sp, St, Ki, lubricates dryness.
Poultry
Duck
Neutral, sweet & salty, Lu, Ki, facilitates water passage, reduces, swellings.
Chicken
Warm, sweet, Sp, St, Qi Tonic, warms Interior.
Neutral, sweet, Sp & St, facilitates water passage, promotes milk secretion, heals swelling.
Dairy
Butter
Warm, sweet, Yang, Qi & Blood tonic, circulates blood.
Milk
Neutral, sweet, Ht, Lu, St, Lu & Sp tonic, generates fluids & lubricates the intestines.
Yoghurt
Cooling, sweet, Ht, Lu, St, Lu and Sp tonic, produces fluids & lubricates the intestines.
Seafood
Abalone
Neutral, sweet & salty, detoxifies, sharpens vision.
Carp
Cuttlefish
Neutral, salty, Liv & Ki, Blood tonic, sharpens vision. Crab Cold, salty, Liv & St, activates blood, cools heat sensations facilitates recovery of dislocations.
Eel
Warm, sweet, Liv, Sp, Ki, Qi tonic, treats Bi syndrome, strengthens bone.
Freshwater clam
Cold, sweet & salty, Liv & Ki, detoxifies, sharpens vision. Kelp Cold, salty, St, softens hardness, facilitates water passage.
Mussel
Warm, salty, Liv & Ki Qi tonic, treats simple goiter.
Oyster
Neutral, sweet & salty, Blood Tonic. Oyster shell Cool, salty, Liv & Ki, stop sweating, astringes Jing, softens hardness.
Saltwater clam
Cold, salty, St, promotes water passage, eliminates phlegm, softens hardness.
Seaweed
Cold, salty, softens hardness, eliminates phlegm, promotes water passage.
Shark
Neutral, sweet & salty, Sp, tonifies Qi, Blood, & Yin lubricates dryness, reduces swelling, tonifies 5 Zang.
Shrimp
Warm, sweet, Kidney Yang tonic.
Eggs
Chicken egg
Neutral, sweet, Blood tonic, lubricates dryness.
Egg white
Cool, sweet, detoxifies, lubricates Lu, cools hot sensations, benefits throat.
Egg yolk
Neutral, sweet, Ht & Ki, blood tonic, lubricates dryness.
Eggshell
Checks gastric acid, arrests bleeding.
Grains
Glutinous rice
Warm, sweet, Sp, St, Lu, Sp Qi tonic.
Malt
Slightly warm, sweet, Sp & St, promotes digestion.
White rice
Neutral, sweet, Sp & St, Sp Qi tonic.
Rice bran
Neutral, sweet & pungent, St, LI, descends energy.
Rye
Neutral, bitter, dries dampness, diuretic.
Whole wheat
Cool, sweet, Ht, Sp, Ki, Ht & Ki tonic.
Wheat bran
Cool, sweet, St, cools St Fire.
Buckwheat
Cool, sweet, LI, St, Sp, Qi & Blood tonic, clears Heat sedates Yang.
Job's Tears (Asian grain)
Cool, sweet, Sp, Lu Ki, detoxifies, Sp & Lu Qi tonic, diuretic.
Barley
Cool, sweet & salty, Sp & St, regulates St, expands intestines, promotes urination.
Millet
Cool, sweet & salty, St, Sp, Ki, Qi & Blood tonic, clears heat, lubricates dryness, tonifies Yin, benefits digestion detoxifying.
Legumes
Soybean
Oil Hot, pungent & sweet, lubricates intestines
String bean
Neutral, sweet, Sp & Ki, Qi, Blood & Yin tonic.
Yellow soybean
Neutral, sweet, Sp & LI, Qi tonic, lubricates dryness, eliminates oedema.
Black soybean
Neutral, sweet, Sp & Ki, circulates Blood & fluids treats Bi syndrome, detoxifies.
Corn
Neutral, sweet, LI & St, Qi & Blood tonic, diuretic Hyacinth bean Neutral, sweet, Sp & St, Qi tonic, eliminates oedema.
Broad bean
Neutral, sweet, Sp & St, Qi tonic, eliminates oedema.
Peas
Neutral, sweet, Sp & St, Qi & Blood tonic, descends rebellious stomach Qi, diuretic, induces bowel movements.
Kidney bean
Neutral, sweet & bland, diuretic, heals swellings. Adzuki bean Neutral, sweet & sour, Ht & SI, diuretic, heals swellings, detoxifying.
Castor bean
Neutral, sweet & pungent, Lu & LI, detoxifies & heals swellings, induces bowel movement.
Mung bean
Cool, sweet, Ht & St, detoxifies, clears heat, diuretic.
Soybean
Cool, sweet, LI & Sp, Qi & Blood tonic, clears Heat, lubricates dryness, eliminates oedema.
Tofu
Cool, sweet, Sp, St, LI, Qi tonic, produces fluids, lubricates dryness, detoxifying.
Nuts
Almond
Neutral, sweet, Lu, Qi & Blood tonic, lubricates Lu, relieves coughs, transforms phlegm, sedates rebellious Qi.
Chestnut
Warm sweet, Sp, St & Ki tonic, circulates Blood & stops bleeding
Peanut
Neutral, sweet, Sp & Lu, Qi & Blood tonic, lubricates Lu, harmonises the stomach
Peanut Oil
Neutral, sweet, Qi & Blood tonic, lubricates intestines, pushes accumulations downward
Walnut
Warm, sweet, Ki & Lu, Ki tonic, lubricates intestines, astringes Jing.
Seeds
Bitter apricot seed
Warm, pungent & bitter, toxic, Lu & LI, stops a cough, relieves asthma, lubricates intestines.
Black sesame seed
Neutral, sweet, Liv & Ki tonic. Lubricates intestines, "blackens" grey hair, general tonic.
Cherry seed
Neutral, bitter & pungent, LI, promotes the rash, detoxifying.
Cottonseed
Hot, pungent, Sp & Ki, Sp & Ki tonic, arrests bleeding, prevents Sp Qi sinking.
Dill seed
Warm, pungent, Sp & Ki, Qi & Yang tonic, moves stagnant Blood, regulates Qi, expels cold.
Fennel seed
Warm, pungent, St, UB & Ki, Qi & Yang tonic, moves stagnant Blood, regulates Qi, expels cold, harmonises St.
Lotus seed
Neutral, sweet & harsh, Sp, Ht & Ki tonic, Qi & Blood tonic, constricts the intestines.
Pinenut
Warm, sweet, Lu, LI & Liv, lubricates Lu & LI, stops a cough, Qi, Yang & Blood tonic, promotes fluids, moves Stagnant Blood, expels cold & wind.
Sweet apricot seed
Warm, pungent & sweet, Lu, LI, Sp, Sp Qi tonic, lubricates intestines, stops a cough.
Sesame seed
Slightly. warm, sweet, Liv & Ki tonic. Sunflower seed Warm & neutral, sweet & bland, Liv & LI, stops diarrhoea, facilitates eruption of measles, subdues the Liver.
Sesame oil
Cool, sweet, St, detoxifies, lubricates dryness, promotes bowel movements, produces muscles.
Fruit -Warm
Chinese Date (red & black)
Warm, sweet, Sp & St, Qi & Blood tonic, produces fluids, detoxifies.
Coconut milk & meat
Warm, sweet, produce fluids, promote urination, kills intestinal worms.
Cherry
Warm, sweet & harsh. Qi, Yang, & Blood tonic, activates Qi & Blood, expels Cold, Wind, & Damp.
Dried Mandarin / Orange peel
Warm, pungent & bitter, Sp & Lu, regulates Qi, dries dampness, transforms Phlegm.
Guava
Warm, sweet, (St & LI) obstructive & constrictive, stops diarrhoea & bleeding.
Hawthorn Fruit
Slightly warm, sweet & sour, Sp, St & Liv, harmonises Middle Jiao, removes Qi, Blood & Food Stagnation (esp. meat), expels tapeworms.
Kumquat
Warm, pungent, sweet & sour, (Lu & Sp), circulates Qi, relieves a cough, transforms Phlegm.
Longan (Long Yan/Dragon's Eyes)
Warm, sweet, Sp & Ht, Yang, Qi & Blood tonic, removes Blood stagnation, calms Shen.
Peach
Warm, sweet & sour, (Lu & LI), activates Blood, Qi, Blood & Yang tonic, produces fluid, lubricates intestines, stops a cough, expels cold.
Raspberry
Warm, sweet & sour, Liv & Ki, Liv & Ki tonic, controls urination, astringes Jing.
Litchi
Warm, sweet & sour, Sp & Liv, Yang, Qi & Blood tonic, Regulates Qi & Blood, soothes Liver & calms Shen.
Papaya
Neutral, sweet, (Sp, St, Lu & LI), promotes digestion, destroys intestinal worms, lubricates Lu, stops a cough.
Figs
Neutral, sweet, Sp & LI, St tonic, detoxifying. Grape Neutral, sweet & sour, Lu, Sp & Ki, Qi & Blood tonic, strengthens tendons & bones, promotes urination.
Crab apple
Neutral, sweet & sour, Ht, Liv & Lu, quenches thirst, stops diarrhoea, astringes Jing.
Olive
Neutral, sweet & sour, Lu & St, Qi & Blood tonic, clears Lu, benefits throat, produces fluids, detoxifying.
Loquat
Neutral, (sweet & slightly. bitter),(Lu, St & Liv), lubricates dryness, harmonizes St & soothes Liver Qi, descends rebellious Qi, stops a cough.
Apricot
Neutral, sweet & sour, Lu, lubricates Lu, produces fluids. Pineapple Neutral, sweet & sour, Qi & Blood tonic, promotes urination & digestion, quenches thirst, stops diarrhoea, clears Summer Heat.
Plum
Neutral, sweet & sour, Liv & Ki, produces fluids, promotes digestion & urination, soothes the Liver.
Sour Plum
Neutral, sour, Liver, produces fluids, destroys worms.
Fruit - Cool
Lemon
Cool, sour, promotes fluids, harmonises St, relieves thirst.
Mango
Cool, sweet & sour, (St & Lu), Qi & Blood tonic, benefits St, relieves vomiting, quenches thirst, diuretic.
Mandarin Orange
Cool, sweet & sour, (Lu), diuretic, lubricates Lu, relieves a cough, transforms Phlegm.
Apple
Cool, sweet & sour, Lu & St, produces fluids, lubricates Lu, promotes digestion, relieves intoxication.
Strawberry
Cool, sweet & sour, Lu & Sp, lubricates Lu, produces fluids, detoxifies alcohol.
Pear
Cool, sweet & slightly sour, Lu & St, produces fluids, lubricates dryness, transforms phlegm, clears Heat.
Persimmon
Cold, sweet, Ht, SI, Lu (& Sp), Qi, Blood & Yin tonic, quenches thirst, lubricates Lu, benefits Sp, clears Heat.
Watermelon
Cold, sweet, Ht, St & UB, promotes urination, lubricates intestines, quenches thirst, clears Summer Heat, detoxifying.
Banana
Cold, sweet, lubricates intestine, detoxifying. Grapefruit Cold, sweet & sour, (St & Sp) harmonizes Middle Jiao, circulates Qi, detoxifies alcohol.
Star Fruit (Carambola)
Cold, sweet & sour, (St, Ki & UB) clears Heat, produces fluids, promotes urination (treats stone Lin), detoxifying.
Muskmelon
Cold, sweet, Ht & St, clears Heat, quenches thirst, promotes urination.
Vegetables - Warm
Leek
Warm, pungent, Liv & Lu, Qi & Yang tonic, regulates Qi, removes Blood Stagnation, expels Cold, sedates Yin, clears St Fire.
Scallions
Warm, pungent, Lu & St, Assists Yang, tonifies & regulates Qi, clears Heat, sedates Yang, dries Damp, diuretic, removes Blood stagnation, expels Cold.
Mustard Greens
Warm, pungent, Lu, Qi & Yang Tonic, circulates Qi & Blood, expels cold, sedates Yin, expands Lu, transforms Phlegm.
Squash
Warm sweet, Sp & St, Qi, Yang & Blood tonic, circulates Blood, heals inflammation, relieves pain.
Vegetables - Neutral
Chinese cabbage Neutral, sweet, St & LI, promotes digestion & urination, tonifies Ki & Brain.
Carrot
Neutral, sweet, Lu & St, Sp Qi tonic, dries dampness & Phlegm.
Corn
Neutral, sweet, St & LI, Qi & Blood tonic, regulates Middle Jiao stimulates appetite, diuretic.
Black Fungus
Neutral, sweet, St & LI, Qi & Blood tonic, cool Blood, stops bleeding.
White Fungus
Neutral, sweet, Lu, Yin tonic, produces fluids, lubricates Lu.
Pumpkin
Neutral, sweet, (Lu & Sp), Qi & Blood tonic, dries Damp, diaphoretic.
Potato
Neutral, sweet, Sp, Sp Qi tonic, heals inflammation.
Sweet Potato
Neutral, sweet, Lu, Sp & Ki, Qi, Blood & Yin tonic, benefits Kidneys, astringes Jing
Shiitake Mushroom
Neutral, sweet, St, Qi & Blood tonic, benefits St. Celery Neutral, sweet bitter, St & Liv, Qi & Blood tonic, clears Heat, sedates Yang, dries Damp, calms Liver, expels Wind.
Taro
Neutral, sweet & pungent, St & LI, Qi, Yang & Blood tonic, circulates Qi & Blood, clears Heat, reduces swellings.
Turnip
Neutral, sweet, pungent, bitter, Qi, Yang & Blood tonic, circulates Qi & Blood, clears Heat & Yang, dries Damp, diaphoretic, lowers Reb. Qi, detoxifies Yin tonic, clears Heat & Fire, dries Damp, clears Lu, lubricates Dryness, diaphoretic.
Vegetables - Cool
Alfalfa sprouts
Cool, bitter, St & Sp, benefits St & Sp, dispels Damp- ness, lubricates intestines.
Asparagus
Cool, sweet & bitter, Lu & Ki, Qi, Blood & Yin tonic, clears Heat & Fire, dries Damp, lubricates Dryness, clears Lu, diaphoretic.
Lettuce (Iceberg)
Cool, bitter & sweet, St & LI, Qi & Blood tonic, clears Heat & Yang, dries Dampness & diuretic, promotes lactation.
Cucumber
Cool, sweet, Sp, St & LI, clears Heat Yang, & detoxifies, promotes urination & quenches thirst.
Eggplant
Cool, sweet, Sp, St & LI, Qi & Blood tonic, clears Heat & Yang, removes Blood Stagnation, relieves pain, heals swelling.
Mushroom (button)
Cool, sweet, Lu, LI, St & Sp, Qi & Blood tonic, clears Heat & Yang, calms Shen, stimulates appetite, regulates Qi, transforms Phlegm.
Spinach
Cool, sweet, LI & SI, Qi & Blood tonic, clears Heat & Yang, haemostatic, lubricates Dryness.
Winter Melon
Cool, sweet, Lu, LI, UB, & SI, detoxifies, diuretic, transforms Phlegm.
Swiss Chard
cool, sweet, Su, LI, Sp & St, Qi Y Blood tonic, clears Heat & Yang, detoxifies, haemostatic, relieves coagulations.
Watercress
Cool, sweet & pungent, Lu & St, Qi, Yang & Blood tonic, circulates Qi & Blood, clears Heat & Yang, lubricates Lu, quenches thirst, diuretic.
Radish
Cool, pungent & sweet, Lu & St, Qi, & Blood tonic, clears Heat & detoxifies, transforms Phlegm-Heat, lowers rebellious Qi.
Bamboo shoot
Cold, sweet, Tonifies Qi, Blood & Yin, clears Heat, detoxifies (often used to balance the warm energy of meat).
Kelp
Cold, salty, St & Sp, Yin tonic, clears Heat, lubricates Dryness, softens Hardness, promotes the flow of Water.
Lotus Root
Cold, sweet, Sp St & Ht, Qi, Blood & Yin tonic, cools Blood (when raw), stimulates appetite, produces muscles, relieves diarrhoea (when cooked).
Water Chestnut
Cold, sweet, Lu & St, clears heat, Yin tonic, transforms Phlegm, diuretic.
Lettuce (Romaine)
Cold, bitter, LI & St, Qi & Blood tonic, clears Heat & Yang, dries Dampness, diuretic.
Herbs and Spices
Dried Ginger
Hot, pungent, Lu, St & Sp, Yang & Qi tonic, circulates Blood, warms Middle Jiao, opens the meridians.
Pepper (black & white)
Hot, pungent, St & LI, warms interior, descends Rebellious Qi. Pepper (red & green) Hot, pungent, Ht & Sp, warms interior, harmonises Middle Jiao, stimulates appetite.
Cinnamon Bark
Hot, sweet & pungent, Sp, Ki, UB, diaphoretic, strengthens St, warms surface & interior.
Clove
Warm, pungent, St, Sp & Ki, Yang tonic, warms Interior.
Coriander
Warm pungent, Lu & Sp, diaphoretic, harmonises Middle Jiao.
Cinnamon Twig
Warm, pungent & sweet, UB, Ht, Lu, diaphoretic, warms Upper Jiao.
Dill seed
Warm, pungent, Sp & Ki, Qi & Yang tonic, circulates Qi & Blood. Fennel seed Warm, pungent, Ki, UB, St, Warms Interior, circulates Qi.
Fresh Ginger
Warm, pungent, Lu, St & Sp, diaphoretic, Yang & Qi tonic, circulates Blood, transforms Phlegm, stops vomiting
Garlic
Warm, pungent, Sp, St & Lu, Qi & Yang tonic, circulates Qi & Blood, warms Middle Jiao, destroys worms.
Nutmeg
Warm pungent, Sp & LI, Qi & Yang tonic, warms Interior, circulates Blood, warms Middle Jiao, lowers rebellious Qi
Sweet Basil
Warm, pungent, Lu, LI, Sp, St, Qi & Yang tonic, circulates Qi & Blood, harmonises St.
Star Anise
Warm, pungent & sweet, Sp, Ki, Liv, Yang tonic, circulates Qi, harmonizes St, stops vomiting.
Caraway Seed
Warm, slightly pungent, Ki & St, circulates Qi, descends rebellious Qi.
Spearmint
Warm, pungent & sweet, (Lu & Sp), diaphoretic, circulates Qi & Blood
Ginseng
Warm, sweet, & sl bitter, Sp, Lu (Ht), Qi tonic, produces fluids, calms Shen.
Rosemary
Warm, pungent, (Lu, St), diaphoretic, activates Blood, strengthens St, calms Shen
Saffron
Neutral, sweet, Ht & Liv, circulates Qi & Blood, eliminates Blood Stagnation.
Liquorice
Neutral, sweet, Sp, St & Lu, lubricates lungs, detoxifies, moderates effects of other herbs
Peppermint
Cool, pungent, Lu & Liv, diaphoretic, regulates Qi & Blood
Marjoram
Cool, pungent, (Lu & Sp), diaphoretic, circulates Qi, drains dampness.
Miscellaneous Foods
Brown sugar
Warm, sweet, Liv, Sp & St, Qi tonic, circulates blood. Vinegar Warm, sour & bitter, Liv & St, disperses coagulations, detoxifies, arrest bleeding.
Wine
Warm, sweet, bitter & pungent, Ht, Liv, Lu & St, promotes blood circulation, expels cold, speeds up effects of herbs.
Coffee
Warm, sweet & bitter, Ht, Heart tonic, stimulant, diuretic.
Molasses
Warm, sweet, Lu & Sp, Qi tonic, lubricates Lu, stops a cough.
White sugar
Neutral, sweet, Lu & Sp, lubricates Lu, produces fluids, Qi tonic.
Honey
Neutral, sweet, Lu, Sp & LI, detoxifies, lubricates dryness, relieves pain.
Tea
Slightly cold, bitter, sweet, Ht, Lu & St, quenches thirst, promotes digestion & urination, awakens Shen. Salt Cold, salty, St, Ki, SI & LI, detoxifies, clears Heat, lubricates dryness, Yin tonic.
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