Medicinal Effects of Foods
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
Blood Tonics
Heart Tonics
Spleen and Stomach Tonics
Liver Tonics
Kidney Tonics
Clear Heat
Clears Heat and Damp
Liver Heat
Warm to clear Cold
Clear Wind-Phlegm
Wind Diseases
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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:
- 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
- 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