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 the
individual’s body type

Essential Aspects of
Traditional Chinese Diet
1. Five flavors of foods
2. Five energies of foods
3. Movements of foods
4. Therapeutic actions
5. Organic actions
6. Individual body types
 The 5 Flavors
Pungent
Sweet
Sour
Bitter
Salty

Pungent
mustard 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

Sweet
banana, barley, bean curd, beef, black fungus, Chinese cabbage,
carrots, chicken, corn, eggplant, guava, pears, strawberries, sweet
potatoes, 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 serotonin

which induces a sense of calm,
happiness and relaxation

The Sweet flavor should be used

sparingly by those who are overweight,
lethargic, and tired
 Sour
Lemon, 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, urinary
incontinence

Excess weakens the muscles and

may aggravate rheumatism
May cause bloating, fatigue, dry
skin and constipation

Bitter
Hops, 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 are
cold, 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, soy

sauce or tamari instead of
table salt
•Excess leads to H.B.P.,
water retention and mineral
imbalance
 THE FIVE ENERGIES OF
FOODS:
 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 OF
FOODS:
Outward = move from the inside out
causing perspiration & opens the pores
= peppermint
Inward =outside to inside
easing the bowels & reducing abdominal swelling
= bananas or aloe
Upward =moving from lower to upper
diarrhea or prolapsed organs
= ginseng & mushrooms
Downward = moving from upper to down
vomiting , hiccups, asthma, cough
=pears & apricot seeds

THE MOVEMENTS OF
FOODS:
 upward : neutral energy, pungent or sweet or bitter
apricot, beef, beets, black mushroom, Chinese cabbage, carrots, celery,
eggs, apples, string beans, sweet potato, pork, oysters, milk

 outward: hot energy, pungent

black pepper, cinnamon, ginger, green pepper

 downward: cold, cool or warm, sweet or sour

apple, bamboo shoots, banana, barley, egg whites, button mushrooms,
cucumbers, eggplant, lettuce, grapefruits, muskmelon, peaches, watermelon

 inward : cold energy, bitter or salty

bitter melon, crab, kelp, lettuce, seaweed, clam
 ACTIONS OF FOODS ON
ORGANS
 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 dates

stomach acid: chicken eggshell, cuttlefish
checks perspiration: oyster shells, peaches
checks urination : raspberry
disperses blood coagulation : brown sugar, chive, crab,
hawthorn fruit
induce bowels: castor bean, sesame oil
lubricate dryness: eggs, honey, spinach, pork, pear
promote digestion: apple, coriander, ginseng, nutmeg,
plum, tomato
promote urination: asparagus, barley, Chinese
cabbage, cucumber, corn ,corn silk,
lettuce, watermelon
quenches thirst: cucumber, mango, muskmelon,
pineapple
relieves diarrhea: guava, sunflower seeds
sharpens vision: clams, bitter melon, cuttlefish
softens hardness: clams, kelp, oyster shells, seaweed

BODY CONDITIONS:
• Hot condition = thirsty, feels warm, reddish complexion,
scanty urine, hard stools , insomnia, red tongue with
yellow coat

• Cold condition: not thirsty, cold feelings, likes warm

foods and beverages, clear urine, pale skin

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

skinny

• Damp- heavy sensations in the body, overweight, often

tired, thick greasy coat, edema

• Deficient – weak constitution, low energy and mental

spirit, pale complexion,

• Excessive – strong constitution, excess energy, talks

loudly and fast, reddish complexion, hypertension, heart
disease
 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

Spinach
Spinach = 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 for
hypertension, 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 store
for 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, mustard
greens, 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 Soup
1 c. black beans
1 four inch piece kombu
1 small onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves
3 T. tamari
1 t. ginger juice
½ red bell pepper
2 T. cilantro

Soak beans overnight. Discard soak water

and cover with fresh water. Cook beans
and kombu for 1 hour may need to add
more water.
During last 20 minutes, add garlic, onions,
and red bell pepper. Mix tamari and
ginger 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, soaked
½ onion, diced
½ c. carrot, diced
¼ c. burdock root, sliced or
1 shitake mushroom, sliced
1 t. sesame oil
3 c. water
¼ t. salt

Saute vegetables. Dry raost barley lightly.

Place barley and vegetables in a pot with
water and salt. Cover and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to low and simmer 40
minutes.
 Arthritis
4. Heat Type Arthritis:
red, swollen, painful, hot joints, general disability
and usually acute onset

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

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

Arthritis
Simple Vegetable and Tofu Stir-fry: Cooling Fruits:
Cabbage Banana
Broccoli
Carrot
Cantaloupe
Celery Grapefruit
Zucchini Pear
Bean sprouts
Watermelon
Firm tofu
Apple
Dice first five vegetables and saute for 5-10 Oranges
minutes in small amount of water or
broth. Once vegetables are cooked, add
Peaches
tofu and bean sprouts. Season lightly Strawberries
with soy sauce or fresh herbs. Serve over
brown rice.

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 THE
BALANCE:

 When one becomes ill one must use proper foods to

restore 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?