Medicinal Effects of Foods
in Traditional Medicine

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, 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, Calendula

Spleen and Stomach Tonics

• Beef, Lamb
• 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)

• Peel of Grapefruit, Lemon, Mandarin, Tangerine
• String Beans
• Basil, Balm, 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

Patient Resources:

9 Rules for Health
Why Digestion Matters
Traditional Diagnosis
Traditional Treatment
Taking Herbs
Medicinal Effects of Foods
Recipes
Drinks