FOOD AS MEDICINE:Traditional Chinese Food Therapy

By Jay Heaverlo M.S., L.Ac.Midwest Acupuncture Clinic

Western & Eastern Nutrition Western Diet & Nutrition =

Focuses on molecular functions,carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins,minerals, etc.

Commonly used for weight loss

Eastern Diet & Nutrition = For prevention and treatment of

disease such hypertension, diabetes,common cold, gastritis, diarrhea,constipation, cough,hepatitis,psoriasis, acne, eczema, etc.

Foods are considered for their flavors,energies, movements, therapeutic &organic actions, as well as theindividual’s body type

Essential Aspects ofTraditional Chinese Diet

1. Five flavors of foods2. Five energies of foods3. Movements of foods4. Therapeutic actions5. Organic actions6. Individual body types

The 5 Flavors

PungentSweetSourBitterSalty

Pungentmustard greens, kale, broccoli rabe, cabbage, parsley, chilies, rosemary,scallions, onions, garlic, leeks, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, black pepper, cayenne,turmeric, fennel, horseradish, & nutmeg

-Helpful in warming the body and circulating energy, blood, and vital energy(qi).

-May help stimulate a sluggish or slow digestion, and benefit urinary tract -Induces perspiration

-Excess: - can exhaust the Qi

-cause skin and hair to become dry

-may lead to constipation or dry cough

-dry the digestion and mucous membranes

Sweetbanana, barley, bean curd, beef, black fungus, Chinese cabbage,carrots, chicken, corn, eggplant, guava, pears, strawberries, sweetpotatoes, pumpkin, spinach, wheat bran

Full Sweets: meats and poultry, rice, sweet potatoes, and whole grains• Strengthening, nourishing, calming• Good for people who are thin, dry and nervous

Empty Sweets: simple sugars, cookies, candies, sweetened fruits

The Sweet flavor releases serotoninwhich induces a sense of calm,happiness and relaxation

The Sweet flavor should be usedsparingly by those who are overweight,lethargic, and tired

SourLemon, pear, plum, mango, sauerkraut, apples, leeks, tomatoes,grapefruit, citrus fruits, currants, huckleberries, yogurt• Yin and Cooling• Astringe and prevent or reverse the abnormal leakage of fluids and

energy

• Used to treat excessive perspiration, diarrhea, coughing, urinaryincontinence

Excess weakens the muscles andmay aggravate rheumatism

May cause bloating, fatigue, dryskin and constipation

BitterHops, lettuce, radish leaf, vinegar, arugula, broccoli, celery, scallions,oregano, rye, pumpkin seeds, dandelion greens, asparagus

• The most cooling and drying flavor• Bitter is purging and helps balance weight, abdominal bloating, gas, and

herpes.• Good for people who are hot, restless, loud, and frequent headaches• Anti-inflammatory and is good for joint pain• Helps keep arteries clear of cholesterol & fats

•Excess leads to dehydration,diarrhea, dry skin

•Use with caution by people who arecold, weak, thin, and nervous

Salty

Sea vegetables, soy sauce, parsley, sea salt, dandelion leaves

•Used to soften hard masses, including stones and tumors

•Contribute minerals that help build bones and calm emotions

•Seaweed, or sea vegetables are a good source of magnesium, potassium,calcium, protein, and essential fats

•Best to use sea salt, soysauce or tamari instead oftable salt

•Excess leads to H.B.P.,water retention and mineralimbalance

THE FIVE ENERGIES OFFOODS:

COLD: bamboo shoots, banana, clams, crab, grapefruits, kelp, lettuce, muskmelon, water chestnuts, watermelon

COOL : apple, barley, bean curd, chicken egg whites,button mushrooms, cucumbers, eggplants, mung bean, spinach,wheat, radish, strawberries

NEUTRAL : apricot, beef, black mushrooms, celery, chicken egg, corn, duck,potato, string beans, sweet potato, kidney beans, pork,

HOT: black pepper, chili peppers, lamb

WARM: apricot seeds, chicken, coconut, coffee, coriander, ginseng, fennel, garlic, shrimp, squash, walnuts, sunflower seeds,cinnamon, ginger, green pepper

THE MOVEMENTS OFFOODS:

Outward = move from the inside out causing perspiration & opens the pores

= peppermint

Inward =outside to insideeasing the bowels & reducing abdominal swelling= bananas or aloe

Upward =moving from lower to upperdiarrhea or prolapsed organs= ginseng & mushrooms

Downward = moving from upper to downvomiting , hiccups, asthma, cough=pears & apricot seeds

THE MOVEMENTS OFFOODS:

upward : neutral energy, pungent or sweet or bitterapricot, beef, beets, black mushroom, Chinese cabbage, carrots, celery, eggs, apples, string beans, sweet potato, pork, oysters, milk

outward: hot energy, pungentblack pepper, cinnamon, ginger, green pepper

downward: cold, cool or warm, sweet or sourapple, bamboo shoots, banana, barley, egg whites, button mushrooms, cucumbers, eggplant, lettuce, grapefruits, muskmelon, peaches, watermelon

inward : cold energy, bitter or saltybitter melon, crab, kelp, lettuce, seaweed, clam

ACTIONS OF FOODS ONORGANS

Bladder: wax gourd, cinnamon, fennel, watermelon, grapefruit peel

Gall Bladder: chicory, corn silk

Heart: egg yolk, cinnamon, crab apples, green pepper, milk, mung bean, saffron, watermelon, adzuki beans

Kidneys: black sesame seeds, black soybean, chestnuts, egg yolk, clams, cuttlefish, plums, oyster shells,pork, string bean, pork kidneys

Large Intestine: bean curd, black mushroom, cabbage, cucumber, eggplant, figs, honey, spinach,

Liver: brown sugar, celery, chicory, chive seed, corn silk, eel, leeks, peppermint, plum, star anise

Lungs: pears, button mushroom, coriander, green onions, walnut, sweet basil, grapes, ginseng, duck

Small Intestine: Chinese gourd, adzuki beans, salt, spinach

Spleen: barley, beef, brown sugar, chicken, coriander, clove, grape, nutmeg, peanuts, string beans, sweet rice, pork

Stomach: barley, beef, bitter melon, black sugar, chicken, clams, corn, mung beans, shiitake mushrooms, squash, watermelon, pear

Therapeutic Actions of Foods:

calms the spirit: licorice, chinese datesstomach acid: chicken eggshell, cuttlefishchecks perspiration: oyster shells, peacheschecks urination : raspberrydisperses blood coagulation : brown sugar, chive, crab,

hawthorn fruitinduce bowels: castor bean, sesame oillubricate dryness: eggs, honey, spinach, pork, pearpromote digestion: apple, coriander, ginseng, nutmeg,

plum, tomatopromote urination: asparagus, barley, Chinese

cabbage, cucumber, corn ,corn silk,lettuce, watermelon

quenches thirst: cucumber, mango, muskmelon, pineapple

relieves diarrhea: guava, sunflower seedssharpens vision: clams, bitter melon, cuttlefishsoftens hardness: clams, kelp, oyster shells, seaweed

BODY CONDITIONS:• Hot condition = thirsty, feels warm, reddish complexion,

scanty urine, hard stools , insomnia, red tongue withyellow coat

• Cold condition: not thirsty, cold feelings, likes warmfoods and beverages, clear urine, pale skin

• Dry – thirsty, dry lips, skin, mouth, stools, cough, may beskinny

• Damp- heavy sensations in the body, overweight, oftentired, thick greasy coat, edema

• Deficient – weak constitution, low energy and mentalspirit, pale complexion,

• Excessive – strong constitution, excess energy, talksloudly and fast, reddish complexion, hypertension, heartdisease

Balancing A Cold Condition

Veggies: broccoli rabe, mustard greens, onions Grains: buckwheat, oats, basmati rice Proteins: lamb, venison, chicken, black beans, Nuts & Seeds: almonds, pine nuts, sesame oil Cooking methods: bake, broil, grill, stir fry

SpinachSpinach = nosebleeds, diabetic thirst, constipation, alcoholism, scurvy,

hemorrhoids

cool: sweet, glossy, lubricates dryness, stops bleeding, used as blood tonic, affects the large and small intestines

-boil spinach in water for 3 minutes and eat it w/ a little sesame oil forhypertension, constipation,headaches and dizziness

Asparagus cough, mucous discharge, swelling, skin eruptions

slightly warm, bitter, and slightly pungent, promotes urination

lowers blood pressure, expands terminal blood vessels, and reduces heartbeats

Cherries• paralysis, numbness of arms and legs, rheumatism, lumbago, frostbite,

• warm, sweet• for cold type of arthritis & rheumatism

in a large jar add 500g fresh cherries, 4 1/2 cups rice wine: cover and storefor 10 days. Drink 30 to 60 g cherry wine each time, twice a day, to alleviate

numbness of joints and paralysis

Arthritis

1. Cold Type:-Sharp, stabbing pain in a fixed location and coldness in the joints.-Pain is relieved by heat such as warm liniment, sunshine, or a heating pad.

EAT: garlic, green onions, pepper, black beans, sesame seeds, chicken, lamb, mustardgreens, ginger, spicy foods, grapes, and parsnip.

Remedies:1. Rub garlic or ginger on the affected areas.2. Drink scallion tea and rub heat into the painful areas.3. Make tea from parsnip, cinnamon, black pepper, & dried ginger.

Avoid: cold foods, raw foods, cold weather

Arthritis

Black Bean Soup1 c. black beans1 four inch piece kombu1 small onion, chopped2 garlic cloves3 T. tamari1 t. ginger juice½ red bell pepper2 T. cilantro

Soak beans overnight. Discard soak waterand cover with fresh water. Cook beansand kombu for 1 hour may need to addmore water.

During last 20 minutes, add garlic, onions,and red bell pepper. Mix tamari andginger juice in at end.

Arthritis

2. Wind Type Arthritis:Pain that shifts locations, comes and goes suddenly, and may cause dizziness.

EAT: scallions, grapes, black beans, most grains, leafy green vegetables (spinach, kale, chard, mustard greens),snake meat

Avoid: meats, shellfish, sugar, alcohol, smoking and all stimulants

Arthritis

3. Damp Type Arthritis:Heavy feeling extremities, stiffness, swelling, dull aching pain that lingers and

sluggishness. Most obese people.

EAT: Barley, mung beans, mustard greens, red beans, millet, sweet rice, corn silk

Remedies:1. Cook barley, mung beans and red beans.2. Drink cornsilk tea freely

Avoid:Cold foods, raw foods, dairy products

Arthritis

Barley with vegetables:1 c. barley, soaked½ onion, diced½ c. carrot, diced¼ c. burdock root, sliced or1 shitake mushroom, sliced1 t. sesame oil3 c. water¼ t. salt

Saute vegetables. Dry raost barley lightly.Place barley and vegetables in a pot withwater and salt. Cover and bring to a boil.Reduce heat to low and simmer 40minutes.

Arthritis

4. Heat Type Arthritis:red, swollen, painful, hot joints, general disabilityand usually acute onset

Eat:bitter , cooling foods (fresh fruits and veggies), cabbage, mung beans, wintermelon, soybeans

Avoid:spicy foods, alcohol, smoking, stress, green onions

Arthritis

Simple Vegetable and Tofu Stir-fry:CabbageBroccoliCarrotCeleryZucchiniBean sproutsFirm tofu

Dice first five vegetables and saute for 5-10minutes in small amount of water orbroth. Once vegetables are cooked, addtofu and bean sprouts. Season lightlywith soy sauce or fresh herbs. Serve overbrown rice.

Cooling Fruits:Banana

CantaloupeGrapefruit

PearWatermelon

AppleOrangesPeaches

Strawberries

Remedies

Stomach Ulcer = Drink potato juice daily on an empty stomach for at least 2 weeks.

Bronchitis & Cough = Core a pear and fill with honey. Steam until soft ,mash then eat. Once daily until cough resides.

Sore Throat = Make a tea with carrots and olives. Drink 3x daily for one week.

Hypertension = Drink warm celery juice 3x daily. Chronic Sinusitis = Make garlic juice, add olive oil & soak cotton balls &

alternately put in nostrils Bladder Infections: Drink watermelon & pear juice 3x daily Asthma = drink fig juice 3x a day

RESTORING THEBALANCE:

When one becomes ill one must use proper foods torestore the balance.

One must choose the correct: flavors energies directions therapeutic actions organic actions appropriate for the individual body type and their disease.

Book List:

Live in the Balance: Linda Prout The Tao of Nutrition: Maoshing Ni Chinese System of Food Cures: Henry Lu The Tao of Healthy Eating: Bob Flaws Healing with Whole Foods: Paul Pitchford

Questions?