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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
  • 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