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?