Medicinal Effects of Foods

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The following gives a brief overview of the healing effects of certain foods. It is not comprehensive, but rather representative. Not all listing will be suitable in all circumstances. For example, Spinach in a Liver tonic in people with Liver Heat, but is not a Liver tonic in those with internal Coldness.

Qi Tonics

  • Beef, Beef Liver, Chicken, Chicken Liver, Pigeon
  • Cherries, Dates (Black and Red), Coconut, Grapes, Sultanas, Raisins, Longan
  • Carrot, Potato, Turnip, Squash, Sweet Potato, Shitake Mushrooms, Tofu
  • Rice
  • Honey, Molasses, Maple syrup
  • HERBS: Ginseng, Astragalus, Atractylodes, Chinese Yam, Codonopsis, Elecampane,
    Mastic, Licorice, Withania

Blood Tonics

  • Beef, Oxe tail, Pork Trotter, Liver, Chicken Egg, Cuttlefish, Oyster
  • Spinach, Black Soybean
  • Grape, Dates, Raisins, Cherry, Gou Qi (‘Goji’), Lychee, Longan, Almonds
  • Molasses, Brewers Yeast
  • HERBS: Dang Gui, Peony, Shu Di, Gou Qi berries

Yin Tonics

  • Shell fish (in general), Crabs, Cuttlefish, Shrimp, Chicken Eggs, Duck, Pork, Pork
    Marrow
  • Apple, Canteloupe, Coconut milk, Dates (Red & Black), Figs, Gou Qi (‘Goji’), Lychee,
    Mango, Mandarin, Pear, Pineapple, Pomegranate, Tomatoes, Watermelon
  • Tofu, Kidney Beans, Green Beans, Peas, White Fungus, Pine nuts
  • Milk, Honey, Brown Sugar, Maltose
  • HERBS: American Ginseng, Shu Di, Chinese Yam, Asparagus root, Soloman’s Seal,
    Marshmallow, Tragacanth

Yang Tonics

  • Beef Kidney, Deer Kidney, Testes, Oxe tail
  • Chestnuts, Pistachio nut, Walnuts, Cashew
  • SPICES: Annis, Cinnamon, Ginger, Galangal, Clove, Dill seed, Cumin seed, Fennel seed,
    Fenugreek, Star Anise, Nutmeg
  • HERBS: Korean (Red) Ginseng, Chive seed, Leek seed, Onion seed

Lung Tonics

  • Dairy
  • Barley, Job’s Tears (Chinese Barley), Rice
  • White Fungus
  • Raisins, Sultanas, Grapes, Figs, Almonds, Walnuts, Pine nuts
  • Honey
  • HERBS: Licorice, Ginseng, Elecampane

Heart Tonics

  • Garlic, Ginger, Chili
  • Wheat
  • Walnuts, Apple, Longan
  • Corn, Capsicum
  • Saffron
  • Red Wine, Rosemary Wine
  • HERBS: Ginseng, Hawthorn

Spleen and Stomach Tonics

  • Beef
  • Longan fruit, Mango, Pineapple, Pomegranate
  • Carrot, Shitake Mushrooms, Green (String) Bean
  • Hyacinth Bean, Sago, Lotus seed, Rice
  • Honey, Maltose
  • SPICES: Cardamon, Cinnamon, Clove, Garlic, Ginger, Cumin, Dill, Fennel, Citrus peel
  • HERBS: Elecampane, Withania, Ginseng, Chinese Yam Shan Yao, Atractylodes Bai Zhu, Poria Fu Ling

Liver Tonics

  • Chicken Liver (all Livers)
  • Sesame seed, Tahini
  • Mulberry, Raspberry, Strawberry, Currants, Blueberries, Figs, Red Dates
  • Spinach, Dandelion green
  • Saffron
  • Red Wine
  • HERBS: Chinese Yam, Peony, Dang Gui, Gou Qi (‘Goji’)

Kidney Tonics

  • Duck, Kidney (all), most Shellfish
  • Sesame seed, Tahini, Kidney beans
  • Walnuts, Cashews
  • Asparagus, Celery, Fennel, Parsley
  • HERBS: Ginseng, Rehmannia Shu Di, Orchis

Clear Heat

  • Barley, Mung Bean
  • Melons, Cucumber, Lemon, Grapefruit, Green Apple, Pear, Banana, Persimmon,
    Mandarin, Mango
  • Lettuce, Chicory, Endive, Spinach, green leaf in general; Eggplant
  • Bamboo shoot, Sea weeds, Water Chestnut
  • Salt
  • HERBS: Rose, Violet, Plantain, Purslane, Peppermint, Camomile, Chrysanthemum

Clear Heat and Poison

  • Adzuki bean, Green Mung bean, Barley
  • Figs, Walnuts, Grapefruit
  • Endive, Dandelion greens, Spinach (green leafy vegetables in general), Basil,
    Eggplant, Mung bean sprouts, Potato, Squash
  • Tofu, Aloe Vera
  • Honey, Egg white
  • DRINK: Chrysanthemum tea, Camomile tea, Barley water
  • HERBS: Burdock, Camomile, Dandelion, Licorice, Mint, Plantain, Purslane, Violet

Clears Heat and Damp

  • Barley, Job’s Tears, Buckwheat, Yellow Soybean, Mung bean
  • Alfalfa, Celery root, Chinese Cabbage (‘Wombok’), Bitter Melon
  • Figs, Olives
  • HERBS: Dandelion, Camomile, Wormwood

Liver Heat

  • Barley, Rye, Green Mung bean
  • Chestnut
  • Dandelion greens, Spinach, Endive, Cucumber, Purslane, Bamboo shoot
  • Vinegar, Lemon juice
  • TEAS: Dandelion, Peppermint, Self Heal, Camomile, Chrysanthemum

Warm to clear Cold

  • Walnut
  • Garlic, Basil, Rocket, fresh Ginger, Chives, Leek
  • Soy oil
  • Alcohol
  • SPICES: Basil, Chili, Cinnamon, Clove, Ginger, Pepper, Sichuan Pepper, Nutmeg,
    Garlic, Onion, Chive, Spring Onion, Mustard; Annis, Caraway, Cumin, Fennel seed, Dill
    seed
  • HERBS: Oregano, Rosemary, Basil

Clear Phlegm

  • Almonds
  • Apple peel, Citrus peel (‘zest’), Pear, Persimmon, Dates, Figs, Grapefruit, Olives
  • Garlic, Onions, Chili, Mustard
  • Button Mushroom, Shitake Mushroom, Tofu, Seaweed
  • Basil, Leaf Mustard, Radish, Rocket
  • Honey
  • Salt
  • TEAS: Green Tea, Pu Erh Tea, Jasmine tea, Lemon and Honey
  • SPICES: Asafetida, Cardamon, Cinnamon, Citrus ‘zest’, Orange & Mandarin peel, Garlic,
    Ginger, Mustard, Nutmeg, Oregano, Pepper, Peppermint
  • HERBS: Licorice, Coltsfoot, Radish seed, Thyme

Clear Damp

  • Barley, Job’s Tears (Chinese Barley), Adzuki Bean, Hyacinth Bean, Horse Bean, Mung
    bean
  • Date, Pear
  • Celery, Fennel, Parsley, Capsicum, Pumpkin, Radish, Asparagus
  • Garlic, Onion, Chives, Spring Onions, Ginger, Chili, Mustard
  • Honey, Vinegar, Salt
  • SPICES: Basil, Bay leaf, Caraway, Cumin, Fennel, Oregano, Ginger, Pepper

Clear Wind-Phlegm

  • Coconut, Date
  • Celery, Fennel; Basil, Coriander
  • SPICES: Asafetida, Basil, Bay leaf, Lemon grass, fresh Ginger, Cinnamon, Clove,
    Cumin, Pepper, Nutmeg, Garlic, Onion, Mustard, Juniper, Rosemary
  • TEAS: Peppermint, Rosemary
  • HERBS:

Move Qi (Carminative)

  • Grapefruit, Lemon, Mandarin, Tangerine
  • String Beans
  • Basil, Chives, Spring Onion, Garlic, Onion, Sichuan Pepper, Radish, Rocket; Citrus ‘zest’
  • Vinegar
  • TEAS: Jasmine, Peppermint, Lemon grass, Rose
  • SPICES: Annis, Caraway seed, Cumin seed, Dill seed, Fennel seed, Lemon grass,
    Peppermint, Saffron, Star Anise, Tumeric

Move the Blood and Promote Circulation

  • Chicken, Liver
  • Soybean, Rice (Aromatic and Basmati)
  • Peach, Pineapple, Papaya
  • Celery
  • Garlic, Chili, Onion, Chive, Spring Onion, Leek
  • Brown Sugar
  • Red Wine, Rosemary wine, Alcohol, Vinegar
  • TEAS: Pu Erh, Rose, Rosemary, Saffron, Calendula
  • SPICES: Basil, Cinnamon, Coriander, Ginger, Rosemary, Saffron, Turmeric
  • HERBS: Hawthorn, Calendula, Peach kernel, Motherwort

Wind Diseases

  • Egg Yolk, Oyster, Pork
  • Kidney Bean, White Fungus
  • Celery root, Fennel root, Asparagus
  • Sesame oil; most oils in general when applied externally
  • SPICES: Cinnamon, Clove, Nutmeg, Saffron, Aniseed, Caraway seed, Dill seed, Fennel
    seed
  • HERBS: Peony, Mistletoe, Gastrodia Tian Ma

DISCLAIMER

This Website is intended for the study of Traditional Medicine. Some of the information is Intended for Historical reference only and may be illegal or dangerous if used by unskilled hands. MedicineTraditions cannot be held responsible for the use or misuse of the information contained herein, nor can it be held responsible for injury, sickness or death due to use or misuse of the information contained herein.

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