SHI TAO CHINESE SECRET POWER OF DEVELOPMENT
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Transcript of SHI TAO CHINESE SECRET POWER OF DEVELOPMENT
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Contents Foreword ........................................................................................................................................... 3
Part 1. Shi Tao (食道), Essence of Chinese Culture ........................................................................... 3
Chapter 1 The US’s Disaster .............................................................................................................. 3
Chapter 2 FDA the Dictator ............................................................................................................... 8
Chapter 3 Excessiveness and Innocence ......................................................................................... 17
Chapter 4 Over-testing, Whose Fault? ............................................................................................ 21
Chapter 5 Most Important Lessons of Chinese Children ................................................................ 23
Chapter 6 Differences Between Western and Chinese Medical Thinking ...................................... 25
Chapter 7 Gist of Health Cultivation ............................................................................................... 34
Chapter 8 Chinese Attitude For Food ............................................................................................. 38
Chapter 9 Theory of Chinese Cuisine .............................................................................................. 40
Chapter 10 Eat the Right Food ........................................................................................................ 45
Chapter 11 Food and Season .......................................................................................................... 53
Chapter 12 Food and Geography .................................................................................................... 55
Part 2. Traditional Chinese Medicine Introduction ......................................................................... 60
Chapter 13. History of Traditional Chinese Medicine ..................................................................... 60
Chapter 14. Basic Theory of TCM .................................................................................................... 62
Chapter 15. Features of TCM diagnose and treatment .................................................................. 75
Part 3 Chinese Cuisine and Ingredients .......................................................................................... 82
Chapter 15 Healthy Chinese Cuisine Techniques and Recipes ....................................................... 82
Chapter 16 Property of Ingredients ................................................................................................ 90
Chapter 18. Drinks ........................................................................................................................ 202
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Part 4 Home Remedy .................................................................................................................... 209
Chapter 19 Home remedy ............................................................................................................. 209
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Foreword
I participated in a community health survey of Rockaway in New York City initiated by Doctors of
the World (DOC) and Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs in March of
2014. There is a large population in this community who live in poverty, are unemployed,
without health insurance, and hopeless. Our survey was focused on these people, hoping to find
out their health status, and medical care requirement. During the survey, some people
complained to me about the un-affordable health insurance in the US, and their disappointment
with the government and the system. I was not surprising by their complains. I do think they
have justified reason to complain. I also thought about if there is any solution, and some idea
naturally came into my mind.
Part 1. Shi Tao (食道), Essence of Chinese Culture
Chapter 1 The US’s Disaster
There is no doubt that the United States is the most advanced country in the world regarding to
the technology and economy. There is Silicon Valley in California, creating the tech world
connecting all the people in the world in a new space called the Internet. There is Wall Street in
New York, managing the world’s wealth. There are Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Columbia
producing leaders and elites of the world. It is a country of dream.
Before I came to the US, I was full of fantastic notions about this country. However, as it is said,
the higher expectation the greater the disappointment. I bought health insurance in China, which
cost me about 200 USD a year. The majority of services and medicines are covered. When I
became a graduate student in the US, I was forced to buy health insurance here. The first time I
got my bill, I was totally shocked. It costs me around 3000 USD a year. I thought may be because
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I am a foreigner, I cannot enjoy any government subsidy. As I became familiar with this system, I
found that there is not much government subsidy for the US citizen at all. Or as it is said, medical
services in the US are provided by the free market.
Frankly speaking, the medical services of China may seem not as qualified as the US medical
services (I didn’t go to hospital much). The Chinese hospitals are very crowded. The average time
doctors spend on patients may be much less. But it works, and effective. Considering what we
paid, I think the majority of people would like to choose the Chinese medical system. I am very
surprised by the big gap between the two systems. This curiosity made me look further to see
what happened to the US medical system.
It didn’t take me much efforts, as there is already tons of research and analysis on the US
medical system. It is obvious that the US medical system is the most expensive in the world. But
what the citizen gets is mediocre service. Actually I don’t think I need to provide any more
supporting data. There are plenty of them. But there is no harm show my own research here:
TABLE 1 LIFE EXPECTANCY AND PER CAPITA EXPENDITURE ON HEALTH1
GDP per capita Per capita total
expenditure on health
(PPP int,$)
Life
expectancy at
birth(2012)
Death ratio
because of
diseases 15+
Qatar 131,758 1595 79 0.15%
Luxembourg 90,790 6020 82 0.89%
Kuwait 85,660 1190 78 0.20%
Singapore 78,744 2556 83 0.59%
Brunei 71,759 1179 77 0.39%
Norway 65,461 6106 82 1.06%
1 WHO World Health Statistics 2014, http://www.who.int/gho/publications/world_health_statistics/en/
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United Arab
Emirates
58,042 1430 76 0.18%
Saudi Arabia 53,780 898 76 0.52%
Switzerland 53,705 5673 83 0.96%
United States 53,143 8467 79 1.01%
Among the top ten richest countries in the world, the US spends most on health per capita. The
life expectancy of US citizen is only the same as that of Qatar, which spends only 20% of the US
per capita on health service. While Singapore an Asian country spend only 30% of the US per
capita on health service, reaches four years longer life expectancy than the US.
The most worrisome thing is, such expensive medical care does not buy US citizen health. As
we can see from the tables above the death ratio because of disease in the US ranked top 2
among the top 10 richest countries. That isn’t cool at all.
Currently about 70% of US citizens are overweight. Obesity can lead to many chronic diseases
such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, arthrolithiasis, infertility,
gallstone, cancer and so on. Obesity always accompanies high sugar or sweetener intake.
Sweetener is killer of brain. The probability to get Alzheimer’s or an overweight person is much
higher than for people with normal weight.
Annual expense of the medical care reaches nearly 20% of the GDP of the US. Normally even for
developed country, medical care only consume 10% of the whole GDP.
Have you thought about how wasteful this system is! If the average health expense can be
reduced to 3000 USD per capita, which is much more reasonable, the nation can save 1.5 trillion
USD per year. In other words, the nation over paid 1.5 trillion on medical care. If this money
were saved, then every US citizen could enjoy two luxury trips per year, or buy themselves some
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gifts normally not affordable or every US citizen could sponsor the education of over 20 poor
children in an underdeveloped area, making a better world.
It is not only a big waste, but also dangerous. Human capital is the most important resources in a
human society. As unhealthy population grow, the society as a whole will lose its
competitiveness.
In the US, most part of the medical expense burden is taken by the US companies. Adding high
tax rate, the competitiveness of the US companies is much harmed.
Actually I think this part is very boring, I don’t need to confirm you how terrible the US medical
care system is. There are lots of articles in the newspaper talking about this situation.
Here are facts from another group of data also from WHO may be more interesting to you:
TABLE 2 DEATH RATIO BECAUSE OF DISEASE COMPARISON2
China Japan Republic of
Korea
United
Kingdom
Canada United
States of
America
Populations (‘000,
15+)
1,069,381 110,185 39,786 50,490 27,684 247,964
Death ratio because
of disease(15+)
0.86% 1.03% 0.63% 1.15% 0.84% 1.01%
Life Expectancy at
birth
75 84 81 81 82 79
2 WHO MORTALITY AND BURDEN OF DISEASE ESTIMATES FOR WHO MEMBER STATES IN 2008
http://www.who.int/healthinfo/global_burden_disease/estimates_country/en/
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Per capita total
expenditure on health
(PPP int,$)
423 3,415 2,198 3,364 4,541 8,467
TABLE 3 WESTERN AND EASTERN COMPARISON3
Eastern three countries
(China, Japan, Korea)
Western three countries
(UK, Canada, US)
Death ratio because
of disease(15+)
0.87% 1.02%
Per capita total
expenditure on health
(PPP int,$)
751 7344
As shown in the data, it is very clear that the Eastern three countries did an excellent job on
health cultivation. The Eastern three countries added together use only 10% of the health
expense per capita, and reaches a lower death rate caused by disease, and longer life
expectancy.
Notably China spends only 5% of the expense of the US per capita on health care, while still
having over 100 million people living in extreme poverty with annual income less than 500 USD,
and having a very polluted environment. But China manages to keep the death ratio because of
disease and longevity at a very acceptable level. I dare say that if the Chinese health care
expense can reach 800 USD per capita per year(which is still very low), Chinese people’s average
life expectancy could reach the same level as the US. I dare to claim that the Chinese medical
system is by far the most efficient in the world. Traditional Chinese Medicine and Food culture is
the secret power of China.
3 WHO MORTALITY AND BURDEN OF DISEASE ESTIMATES FOR WHO MEMBER STATES IN 2008
http://www.who.int/healthinfo/global_burden_disease/estimates_country/en/
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Japan has higher death ratio because of disease only because its people has longer life
expectancy than the other countries. As we all known the longer we live the higher possibility
people get disease. And it is well known that both Japan and Korea’s medical culture origin from
China. This is not coincidence.
I think these data have already told you something interesting. Many factors contributed
together to this disaster. I would like to share with you in detail in the following chapters.
Chapter 2 FDA the Dictator
It is extremely difficult for me to prepare my luggage to the US. Before I came to the US I had
worked in Africa for about five years. Every time I went there I took some traditional Chinese
medicines with me for common diseases like cold, fever, and cough. They are very cheap and
effective. Since the medical services in many countries of Africa are very poor, they could save
my life. However, in the US, the medical services are too expensive to afford. For me it is the
same as another African country. The difference is that I cannot bring my medicines into the US
because of the strict inspection at the US border and strict regulation of the FDA. After very
careful deliberation, I didn’t bring any medicine. But I have to bear the risk that if I get ill, I have
to buy the very expensive services in the US. Yes, I had insurance. But the only one time I went to
an US hospital to check my eyes, it still cost me an extra 80 bucks, out of pocket, just for just
testing. What if I don’t have health insurance when I am sick? Should I just die in my bed? I may
run out of my savings and be without a job. I dare not think about it.
From an outsider point of view, the FDA has contributed a lot to today’s disastrous of US medical
system.
Failure of FDA
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The FDA’s drug approval procedure is the strictest in the world. The FDA leaders must be very
proud of its strictness and clear procedure. However, look at the drug price in the US! Look at the
disaster it creates for the country! The leaders of the FDA should be shamed! What the public
need is not procedure, but effective affordable medical care solution. The FDA created an
isolated, monopoly market.
FIGURE 1 AVERAGE PRICE FOR NEXIUM4
4 21 graphs that show America’s health-care prices are ludicrous, by By Ezra Klein March 26, 2013,
http://www.washingtonpost.com/, http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/03/26/21-
graphs-that-show-americas-health-care-prices-are-ludicrous/
18 21 30 32 37 41
71 72
202
0
50
100
150
200
250
2012 Average Price for Nexium ($)
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FIGURE 2 AVERAGE PRICE FOR LIPITOR5
I don’t think I need to list any more data. It is very obvious that the price of medicines in the US is
out of control. I don’t believe that such prices could exist in a free market.
The US government believes and claims that a free competition market is the most effective
market, which will benefit all consumers. Therefore, the majority of medical services are offered
by insurance companies in the US. I also believe in the power of a free market. Especially with
the help of the internet, the consumer can easily compare the price and quality of goods. The
current E-commerce system really benefits the public a lot.
However, such efficiency can be achieved only when the assumptions are true. The medical
system of the US is not a free competition market. Therefore, it will never achieve effectiveness
5 21 graphs that show America’s health-care prices are ludicrous, by By Ezra Klein March 26, 2013,
http://www.washingtonpost.com/, http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/03/26/21-
graphs-that-show-americas-health-care-prices-are-ludicrous/
611 13
39 4348
60
124
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
NewZealand
SouthAfrica
Spain Argentina UnitedKingdom
France Chile US
2012 Average Price for Lipitor ($)
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automatically. But the US government didn’t play its role to regulate such a monopoly market.
This has been the cause of disaster.
Balancing is one of the most important wisdom in Chinese philosophy. It is applied everywhere,
in politics, in economy, in medical care, in education and so on. Any power should be restrained.
When a system having equally developed Yin and Yang, or in another word, opposite power. The
system can be stable, and work well. The US medical care system is about to collapse because
there is only one player without restraining. If the government cannot restrain it. A new power
should be introduced to balance the system.
Why do I say that the US medical system is a monopoly market?
First of all, the procedure of the FDA is totally biased against traditional herbal medical solutions,
which impedes many very cheap and effective medicines from entering into the US market and
benefiting patients. The FDA created this monopoly system! The benefits are obvious to the
medical providers on the supply chain. Where does the over-paid 1.5 trillion USD go to? It goes in
the pockets of the doctors, insurance companies and pharmacy monopolists. They will try to
maintain the system as long as possible.But the nation as a whole and the public are hurt.
Such biased rule is totally against the WTO spirit. Let’s imagine, if the Chinese government sets a
rule for the alcohol industry requiring all imported wines to be made following the Chinese’s
alcohol producing procedure. What would happen? The alcohol market of China would no longer
be a free market.
There are over 1000 traditional Chinese herbal medicines popular used in people’s daily lives.
They are effective, cheap and safe. Most of them cost less than 2 USD per bottle. But none of
them are accepted by the FDA, because the FDA claimed that the producer cannot provide
clinical trial data or the chemical formula. Such excuses are very ridiculous and without common
sense. Most of these medicines have been used for thousands years, applied by billions of people
in all, which is much more than the total population of the US. I believe widely applied mature
prescription don’t need any other proof of their effectiveness and safety. On the other hand, the
profit of these medicine is very low per unit, because every pharmacy in China can produce them
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without paying patent fees. They are origin from ancient prescriptions. None of the Traditional
Chinese pharmacy can afford FDA’s expensive “clinical trial”. Recently one Chinese Traditional
medicine has received phase 2 clinical trial approve from the FDA. However, the pharmacy can
do this only because the Chinese government has sponsored the company.
Here is a list of nine Chinese herbal medicine prices. All of these medicines are very well
accepted by the public. Some of them have been used for thousands of years. The annual sales
of these nine medicines added together reaches 1 billion USD a year. Keep in mind their very low
unit price. The sales reache about 500 million units per year.
Name Quantity per
unit
Dose
last
Price
（USD)
Function Usually
intake per time
of sick
Yun Nan Bai Yao 4g 4 days 1.5 wound care,
bleeding
2 days
Yin Qiao Jie Du Wan 30g 6 days 0.9 cold 3 days
Huo Xiang Zheng Qi Shui 10 bottle 10
treatment
1 Hyperthermia 1-2
treatment
Bu Zhong Yi Qi Wan 60g（6*10g） 3 days 1.9 cold 3 days
Xiao Ke Wan 30g
（120wan）
6 days 3 diabetes
Xiao Ke Jiang Tang Jiao
Nang
0.3g*36 4 days 5 diabetes
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan 200 capsule 8 days 2 kidney disease
San Jin Pian 72 pills 9 days 3 urinary system
disease
2 days
Huang Lian Shang Qing
Wan
48 pills 4 days 1 inner heat 1-2 day
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You can see how cheap and popular they actually are! The Chinese are very lucky to have these
medicines. The Chinese public has choices. Rich people can go buy the expensive imported
western pills. Poor people can still cure their diseases by taking traditional medicines. The
Chinese traditional medicine is the true wealth of the nation. It saves the nation.
Do you still remember the Oscar winning movie <Dallas Buyers Club> 2014? It partly reveals the
failure of the existing medical system of the US. The Patients should be given by more choices.
Secondly, the Western medical solutions in the US are lack competition, which further impede its
own development.
When you have a strong competitor, there is incentive to improve. However, for so many years,
the US medical care providers closed their eyes, playing by their own terms. They created a lot of
trash, wasted much resources, but didn’t get much improvement. There are so many surgeries
and chemotherapies, but I want to see a true figure: how many patients really recovered without
side effects after those very expensive procedures?
The FDA totally over- values western medical system. One big failure of the western medical
system is that every decision totally depends on so called “scientific data”. However, science is
not the only way to reach the truth, nor is it always the best way. Science is only one useful way
for us to reveal the truth. There are many other ways: common sense and experiential are two of
them. We don’t need research to show that people cannot eat rock. We don’t need research to
show that the water is for drinking, bread is made from flour. They are common sense and
experience. Since every child was born into the world, we began accumulating our own
experiences. In many situations, experience is affordable and easy to get. On the other hand,
“scientific data” can be very dangerous because of imperfect test design or deliberate data
manipulation. The traditional Chinese philosophy tells us to always walk in the middle. Either
side is biased and will lead to trouble. Western medical system has its strength, but it is not
perfect.
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Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is not accepted by the FDA. Many scientists accused the
system lacking scientific proof. But this is only an excuse. The truth is TCM works well and has its
strength. It has worked for over 5000 years, and will continue. According to statistics every year
over 1 billion visits in China to the TCM hospitals to treat their disease. The Chinese medicine
market is the biggest clinical trial venue in the world. The ratio of Chinese people die from
diseases is lower than the US. And Chinese people spend much less on health than the Western
people. Do these scientists assume all the Chinese patients who went to the TCM hospitals are
crazy if it is not effective and appropriate?
The US scientists also claimed that the TCM is difficult to understand and full of obscurity. This
much is true. There are three big barriers for the western people to understand TCM. The first
one is language. Most classic TCM books are written in ancient Chinese. Ancient Chinese gives
native Chinese speakers difficulty, and is that much harder for foreigners. And the translation of
such books into English is rare. The second barrier is difficulties of understanding the ancient
Chinese philosophy. The basic theory of TCM is based on ancient Chinese philosophy. All the
methodology and treatment are based on it. Without profound understanding of such
philosophy, it is impossible for people to understand TCM. The third barrier is lack of experience
with the ingredients. After over 5000 years of accumulation, the food Chinese eat and herbal
Chinese use are over 10 times the variety that western people are accustomed to. Americans
don’t know them, and don’t have experience with them. They generally refused to accept them.
But in fact TCM can be understood: Chinese people are not smarter than American people.
Refusing to understand reflects the arrogance of the US medical elites. They refuse to admit
there may be some things worth to learning from outside of the Western system. It is undeniable
that for the past 200 years, China fell behind. China didn’t have advanced technology, science, a
modern education system, or an advanced economy for a long time. However, China is the only
country in the world which has a continous history since 5000 years ago. (The ancient
civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia and ancient India all disappeared at some point). The
accumulated culture is the power. This is a foundation of a big building. In other words, China
has a very solid foundation. Once opportunity comes, it can build a much stronger and higher
building than the others.
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There are over 1000 traditional Chinese medicines frequently used in China. It is unbelievable
that none of them can fit in the FDA’s system. The TCM style is not the style FDA like. May be the
FDA does this deliberately. There is too much obscurity about TCM according to FDA’s view! But
the TCM medicine are effective, much cheaper and has much lower side effects than the
chemical medicines. All of these facts are enough to make TCM qualified to serve the poor
public. All ingredients of TCM are from the natural world, which contains the essence of the
nature and of the life. They are much better than those human created cold chemical formula. I
do not suggest TCM adapt the FDA procedure. It is the FDA need revolution, not TCM. If the FDA
doesn’t want to change, we can just watch the system goes to decay and finally loses.
The US chemists created many new chemicals. Only by applying these man-made chemicals on
thousands patients for several years, then the FDA authority thinks they are safe and suggests
them to the market. While any of the medicine I listed in the table above has be used by billions
people annually for over hundreds years or even thousands years. But not acceptable by the
FDA. Do you think that the FDA is so ridiculous? The FDA doesn’t put the public’s health issue at
their first calendar. What they care is maintaining their fake authority.
When people occupied Wall Street, they didn’t realize that this big tiger is even worse. The
returns of the pharmacy companies are much higher than the banks. Last year the return of
Pfizer has reached 42.7%. Average return of the US pharmacy companies is over 20%. When the
doctors provide you advices so patiently and kindly, it is because they are made very comfortable
for providing you the service.
The US also spends so much money and resources on many expensive but unnecessary medical
researches. One study showed that a premature baby is more likely survive with a mother’s
embrace and warmth compared to a baby put in an incubator.6 It is common sense. No
6 Randomized controlled trial of skin-to-skin contact from birth versus conventional incubator for
physiological stabilization in 1200- to 2199-gram newborns
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1651-2227.2004.tb03018.x/abstract
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incubator can compare to mother’s warmth. Even now as an adult, I still feel so warm and
comfortable in my mom’s arms. The survival rate of premature babies in China was very high
before western medicine came into China. I don’t think such research is necessary. The system
has created many amazing chemicals, machines and fancy chemical formulas. I am not fan of
many such innovations. I believe nothing is better than the nature provide us.
The medical leaders of the US have lost common sense. It is not difficult to keep healthy: eating
moderate and avoiding junk food, sleeping, having some exercise, and being happy. That is all. To
educate the citizen to live in this way may cost less than 10% of the advanced research costs.
And it will have much better effect. The direction of the western system is totally wrong. The
most effective medical solution is not a huge medical insurance plan, or so called “advanced
technology” but educating the citizen how to cultivate health and prevent themselves from
disease.
During my study on this topic, I happened to find out there are many medicines in the US market
treating disease like acid reflux, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure and so on. There are
some such medicines in China too. However, most Chinese people don’t use these medicine to
treat these diseases! At most these medicines are only temporary assistance, never a solution.
Chinese believe that changing diet and habit is a fundamental solution to these chronical disease.
For example, my aunt controls her blood pressure by drinking hawthorn tea every day. Red dates
congee can help relieve acid reflux. Oolong tea is the best drink for high blood cholesterol. There
are thousands recipes and teas for these body symptoms. They are safer, cheaper, effective and
easier. These choices should be known by the public.
But the above analysis is quite super facial in the face of hiding truth that is the pharmaceutical
dictatorship. The doctors and pharmacists don’t want competition. Nor do they want to admit
that they deliberately make things too complicated to understand. If the citizen understand, they
lose power. The monopolists are scared.
There is no benefit for the FDA to understand TCM. On the contrary if they understand the
system, they have to admit its effectiveness, low risk and low cost. Then they have to bring herbs
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into the US market. Then they will have more work to do. And the most important they will
offend their pharmaceutical friends. Dare the pharmacy company show the public how much
they spend on lobbying and politics each year to maintain the system? They want to fool the
public. There are lots of rich people on the chain. It is a big industry. They are powerful. Most of
them are considered elites of the society. However, compared to the interest of the public, they
are nothing. They should take the responsibility.
Free competition is the essence of a “Market-oriented Economy”. But now what the FDA does is
exactly what a dictator does. Such system only benefit the minority. The people lack of
meaningful choices. May be I should not buy medical insurance, and pay the penalty. I will take
care of myself better. And If I get minor illness, I will go to the TCM clinic in China town. If I get
seriously ill, I will buy a ticket and fly back to China or any other country to solve it. It is definitely
much cheaper.
But it is good to see that the international medical environment is beginning to change: In 2013
the World Health Organization (WHO) published a new strategy called: “WHO Traditional
Medicine Strategy.”7 The world-leading medical experts have realized the benefits of traditional
medical practice. As the US has such a terrible medical system, shouldn’t the US make a big step
as well?
Chapter 3 Excessiveness and Innocence
Look at the following data:
TABLE 4 TRASH FOOD CONSUMPTION
Annual Consumption per capita USA China
7 http://www.who.int/topics/traditional_medicine/en/
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Sugar and sweeter (pound) 78 17
Ice cream (lb) 27 2
Soft drink (gallon) 44.7 8
Popcorn (L) 15 1
The US citizen’s consumption of sugar or other sweeter, ice cream and soft drinks ranked top in
the world. Frankly speaking, they are all very harmful to human’s health if consumed in quantity!
They are no better than cigarettes. We can say that the diseases people get mostly caused by
their habits.
Sugar or sweetener
Too much sweetener has the following effects on the human’s body: it will to lead to obesity,
gallstones, tooth decay, osteoporosis, and diabetes. The most horrible thing is that sugar or
sweetener is very harmful to the brain making people stupid! There is lots of research supporting
this claim, including one done by UCLA. According to WHO data, the ratio of Alzheimer disease
occurrence in the US is 20 times that of China. The average annual intake of sugar per capita in
the US is 78 pounds which is about 4 times of the annual average intake of sugar per capita in
China. According to international standard, the intake of sugar should not exceed 50g per day,
that is 40 pounds per year. And this amount should include all nature fructose contained in fruits.
Any sweetener intake above this amount should be regarded as poison. 8
Many elders with Alzheimer’s live confused in their final years. What a pity! If you don’t want to
be the next one, don’t eat too much sweet food now. If you don’t want your children to suffer
8‘Metabolic syndrome' in the brain: deficiency in omega-3 fatty acid exacerbates dysfunctions in insulin
receptor signaling and cognition, by Rahul Agrawa and Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, :
http://jp.physoc.org/content/590/10/2485
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the same fate, tell them how dangerous sweetener can be. Especially things like macaroni, ice
cream, donuts and so on.
Some food manufacture realized that many people don’t want to take in glucose or similar sweet
things into their bodies anymore. They introduced artificial sweetener claiming that they are
safer. However, the human body is not familiar with such man-made things. They just become
trash inside the body, which is also harmful and may cause high blood pressure, diabetes and so
on. The best way is avoiding too much sweet food.
Ice Cream
Ice cream contains too much sugar and fats which are very harmful to the body. I don’t need to
repeat. Besides, this frozen food will hurt a woman’s womb. Especially while menstruating,
women should avoid ice cream and other frozen food. The cold of these food will make blood
vessel shrink, prevent menses from go out. Then stayed menses will accumulated forming
uterine myoma. At the early age, the patient only feel pain during period. Then as it becomes
bigger and bigger, at last the patient finally has to have surgery. If you have a very strong and
healthy uterus, you should not feel any pain during the period. According to WHO data, the ratio
of genitourinary diseases among US citizen is 2 times that of the Chinese.
The ratio of breast cancer in the US is 10 times the ratio among the Chinese population. The
cause of breast cancer is still a conundrum in the Western world. According to TCM theory,
womb and breast both belong to the genital system. The genital system of human body like to be
warm rather than cold. However, western people like to eat frozen food such as ice cream, and
drink ice water even during period. The inner circulation is impeded, and the body cannot let out
all toxin and menses. The harmful eating habit, which accumulates toxin and menses gradually
hurt the genital system. It is not surprising that the breast cancer happened so much.
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Once when I was in New York visiting a local friend, he derided my habit of drinking warm water.
I forgive him. He doesn’t know the reason. But I won’t compromise, because it will be me, paying
the bill and lying in the hospital bed if I change my habit.
Soft Drinks
Most soft drink contains orthophosphorous acid. Too much orthophosphorous acid in the body
will lead to osteoporosis. Soft drinks are acidic, which is very harmful to teeth and bone.
Moreover, soft drinks are harmful to the stomach and intestines.
Popcorns
Popcorns contain lead. When lead absorbed by the human body, it can destroy the nervous
system and hurt the brain. Children are especially vulnerable to poisoning. Popcorns also contain
a material called diacetyl, which can lead to cancer and harm the lungs.
There are many other junk foods and drinks that Americans love: chips, fried chickens and so on.
I don’t want to list them all here. Put simply, most diseases are caused by very bad eating habits.
American society has taken great effort to reduce the consumption of cigarettes. I think these
junk foods are even more dangerous than cigarettes, because people think they are safe.
Besides junk food dependency, medicine abuse is another serious problem in the US. There are
many reports on the web about the prescription drug abuse by teenagers in the US. Notably, the
abuse of cough and cold medicines is very common. It is very dangerous. Every medicine has side
effects and toxic elements. In some ways, medicine is poison. When taking excessive amount,
the toxins will accumulate in the body, gradually hurting the organs. Especially kidneys can be
easily hurt by excessive drug intake. The kidney disease ratio among US citizen is much higher
than in other countries (three times that of China and UK, two times that of Korea, 1.5 times that
of Canada). Medicine abuse may be the cause.
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After all these listed facts, one should see how terrible the food and drink habits of Americans
really are. The bad habits give you disease. As I claimed, my US friends don’t need more doctors’
visits. What you need is knowing what you are doing. The best doctors are not those graduates
from Harvard or Stanford medical school. The best doctor is ourselves. We are the people who
can control our habits. We are the people who get feelings directly from our bodies. The doctor
can never feel the pain we feel, can never experience the weight we carry, can never cough for
us, and can never breathe for us. We must be responsible for ourselves.
Many young people may think this advice is very boring, not cool. I think doing things which
harm your brain, and weigh you down are even worse. Being smart and having control of your
life is really cool.
Some junk food consumption may be because of innocence. Some people think they are safe.
But there are others who know better. They just cannot control themselves. Their dependency
on junk food must be psychological. After experiencing excessiveness, it can be pretty good to
experience the feeling of restraint and discipline. There is a saying, as long as one can repeat an
action for 20 days, the action can become a habit. So build a healthy habit now.
Right now in China, food safety is a big problem. There are some manufactures bringing un-
qualified or fake food (fake egg, fake beef) to the market. They are very harmful to our health.
Chinese people are hurt by unintentionally eating such food. People are more alert now, and the
government has strengthened the law to regulate and punish such violators. However in the US,
people are eating qualified junk (ice cream, macaroni, popcorns) without concern. The
manufactures are very comfortable. The businesses are very prosperous. The latter is more
dangerous.
Chapter 4 Over-testing, Whose Fault?
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I entered an US hospital once. When I was preparing my dissertation, my eyes kept running
tears. I couldn’t take it. I guessed my eyes were infected. So I went to the hospital to have them
checked. Over the course of a whole afternoon, two assistants, and one doctor gave me at least
5 kinds of tests, using different equipment. The final decision was that I wasn’t infected. During
that time I had insurance, but I still paid 80 bucks out of pocket. I don’t know why they gave me
those tests. Nor do I think I need so many tests. And I have doubts about the doctor’s
professional skill. She is an equipment operator, not a doctor. Her service was not valuable at all.
They can give me the results of all of those tests, then I can upload them into my computer. After
some research on the internet, I will know the meaning of those results.
My case is not exceptional. One of the reasons that t medical service in the US is so expensive is
that over-testing is very common. I don’t have to list cases, because it is so pervasive. We can
find many articles about it on the internet.
The US has already entered a vicious cycle. The doctors have economic incentive of ordering
unnecessary tests. The doctors take the advantage of the patients’ fear of disease and lack of
medical knowledge, why not test more? But more tests will make the insurance more and more
expensive. Moreover, many medical tests are harmful to the patient’s health. They can be the
cause of disease.
To end this vicious cycle, government intervention is necessary. Doctors who frequently ordering
unnecessary tests should be punished.
On the other hand, it is necessary to set up public health education program to disseminate
common health knowledge to everyone. The public should have their weapon to protect
themselves. Confidence of the public should be bolstered.
It is fantastic that through those medical tests, we can see so much data about ourselves. We can
see our blood pressure, blood cholesterol, white blood cell, organs, and so on. Everything that
used to be mysterious now seems understandable. However, we are not machines. We are
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organic creature. Even the most advanced computer in the world cannot simulate human
feelings. We are much more than a fresh body with organs connected together by bone, blood
and muscle. The life spirit is the essence of life. The human’s nervous system is the most
sensitive indicator in the world.
We have entered a new era of superstition. In the old days, people believe in wizard, and believe
in theocracy. Now people believe in professionals, scientists, and scientific data, but ourselves.
The information and advice we get from scientists or someone claimed to be professionals on
the internet may have their value. However, we are the only one who know exactly what we
have done to ourselves and what we have experienced. We are the only professionals for
ourselves.
If we eat fatty food for three days, the blood test may show you that you have high blood
cholesterol. If we have an important test coming up, we may temporarily have high blood
pressure. If we worked very hard for one month in front of a computer, our eye sight may
decrease. We don’t need over depend on more medical tests. We are the master, the equipment
are our slave.
Chapter 5 Most Important Lessons of Chinese
Children
I have traveled to a few countries, and I have been to many China towns in different countries
and different cities. Wherever there are oversea Chinese, there are Chinese restaurants, and
TCM clinics. It doesn’t matter if it’s in Flushing New York, Monterey Park Los Angeles, or Bruma
in Johannesburg. About 200 years ago, many Chinese began to move overseas looking for new
life and opportunities. No matter how far they traveled, they keep the culture of food and
medicine. Even after the fourth and fifth oversea Chinese generation have already grown up, the
love of their own food and culture still persists. The food and medicine are the essence of the
culture, are the secret of the nation surviving many disasters and living for over 5000 years in
modern human society. It is a legend. It is the true power of China.
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Since I begin to understand language, my mother taught me what I can eat what I cannot. Before
I started school, I already knew that candies, and ice cream are sweet poison I cannot eat too
much! (Even though my mom didn’t have any scientific data). The first time I got my period, my
mom told me that I cannot drink cold water or eat cold food during that time. She gave me hot
brown sugar water to help the menstrual blood out. When I get cold, my mom will give me
ginger tea help me get through, and change my recipe to help me recover quicker. In different
season, we will eat different food to help the body suite the outside weather. Every Chinese
mother is the doctor and teacher of the family. From the first birth in the family, the mother take
the responsibility for the health of their children.
Mothers always take the opportunity to pass on us traditional understanding of food and
medicine. Even after I have grown up, I am so comfortable knowing that I can take care of myself
with those simple traditions passed from generation to generation. All of these are very common
in most Chinese families. Every mother has the basic understanding of food and medicine. I am
so proud of such simple, warm, but lasting custom.
But I did not always trust our custom.
I used to believe in the Western medical system very much. Once, when I worked in South Africa
several years ago. I found blood in my urine. I went to the best hospital in Johannesburg, and
visited the most expensive doctor there. He treated me without much effort. With his fancy
machines, he found a polypus inside my body. He performed a small surgery cutting it out and
curing me. I still remember it cost me about 1000 USD. But after about 6 months, I was bleeding
again. I was very scared and shocked. I went to another hospital checking. Again, they found
another polypus inside my body. Again they cut it out. But, the nightmare didn’t end. Not long
after, I was bleeding still. I didn’t go to the hospital anymore. I searched on the web for
traditional Chinese treatment for my disease. I chose the simplest one: first take some anti-
inflammatory medicine, then drinking brown sugar tea and saffron tea every day (except during
period days) for three months, accompanied by massage on an acupuncture point. I recovered. I
haven’t felt pain or bleed since then. And the ultrasonic check recently shows that I am very
healthy.
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It seems so unbelievable. But the logic is very reasonable. I was bleeding because I had inner
wound. Because the wound is inside, it cannot recover easily. It became inflamed. After a short
time, the inflammation expanded. At one point, a polypus grew. Even after the doctor took off
the polyp, the inner environment didn't change. So after a period, another polypus grew. The
anti-inflammatory medicine help me stop inflammation temporarily. Massage on the
acupuncture point help dissolve of the focus of disease. The brown sugar tea, and saffron tea
both work to improve my inner blood circulation. With better circulation, the blood help take out
all of the damaged tissue and blood cells, and other harmful cell, and gore. Then I am actually
well.
People like me are very common in China now. As a generation who grew up after the “The
Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution”, we are very much impacted by western culture and
technology. We use the internet, Apple, we travel abroad, go to schools oversea, enjoy movies
from Hollywood, listen Adele’s music, and eat western food as well. Our belief for tradition was
challenged by the advanced technology and fancy outside world. However, after experiencing
the fantastic Western world, I am finally able to appreciate the true essence of the Chinese
culture.
Chapter 6 Differences Between Western and
Chinese Medical Thinking
In the 19th century, Western Medicine was brought into China. During that period, China was a
closed, backward country without modern industry. Meanwhile the Western countries had
already finished their industrial revolution. They went to China exploring new market for their
mass-produced goods. They brought their medical technology too. As the Western represented
the advanced ideas and society during that time, TCM was challenged and derided by many
society elites and young people
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It is true that the antibiotics have saved billions of lives. The western instruments are so
fantastic: X ray, stethoscope, hematomanometer, and other big machines I can’t name. Bottles
of pills are so colorful in different shapes. A dentist can operate so many tools. It’s fascinating,
even as a lay person, you can imaging controlling these impressive machines. On the other hand,
there are almost no instruments for Chinese Traditional Medicine doctors. They are totally
dependent on themselves. Seeing, asking, smelling and feeling are the only methods they can
use to get the information from a patient. At most they can use acupuncture needles, guasha
boards, and dry (suction) cups. It is reasonable that when a doctor can see a hole in patient’s
lung, they would want to take immediately action. Who cares about “Yin Yang”9 balance, and
the “Five Phases Theory”10? The traditional Chinese Medical techniques seems so primitive. It is
very reasonable that many people lose confidence for TCM.
However, the Western hospitals never replaced the Traditional Chinese Hospitals. They co-exist
in China for over 200 years, and still do. Many old TCM doctors persisted. They believe the true
essence can survive. They are correct. Chinese people manage to absorb the essence, and
abandon the weakness of the Western medical technology. When taking physical surgery, or
treating an emergency situation, Chinese people go to the modern Western hospitals. When
treating chronicle disease, lasting pain, or cultivating health, Chinese people go to Traditional
Chinese hospitals.
Hong Kong is the best example. Hong Kong used to be colony of the United Kingdom. Since, Hong
Kong was colonized, the Western model and attitudes spread in Hong Kong without any barrier.
Especially after the invention of antibiotics, Western Medicine totally dominated the market. The
TCM in Hong Kong fell without development for about 50 years. Many Chinese Traditional
Medicine doctors could only do acupuncture or massage to survive. Until the 1980s, after Hong
Kong citizens had experienced so many years’ treatment of Western medicine, they found out
that the Western method is not universal. TCM has much great effect on some diseases,
especially chronical diseases such as rheumatism, heart disease, infertility, and pediatrics. Since
9 Yin Yang theory is the fundamental theory of TCM
10 Five Phases Theory is the fundamental theory of TCM
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then, TCM entered a new period of development. Now, about 40% medical treatments in Hong
Kong are done by TCM doctors.
During the Chinese Cultural Revolution in 1960s, the chairman Mao Zedong called on all citizens
to break the four old things: old thinking, old culture, old custom, and old habit. Traditional
culture experienced a disaster. However, Chairman Mao especially protected Traditional Chinese
Medicine from this disaster, because he knew that this is the tradition we cannot lose. This the
foundation of Chinese power.
There are many differences between Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Western medical
systems.
The first big difference is the historical background.
Most academics regard Hippokrates of Kos as the father of the western medical system. He lived
in ancient Greece about 2400 years ago (460 – 370 BC). His medical ethics has profound
impacted on the western medical practice. He believed food is the best medicine. He also
believed that the human is an organic whole creature. He started the humoral theory. He also
believed that human’s character, life habit and environment have profound influence on
human’s health. His theory has much in common with TCM. However, the later development of
the Western Medical system didn’t follow his medical theory. The failure of ancient Greece may
be one of the reason. Instead anatomy became popular during Europe's renaissance, beginning
in the 14th century and greatly influenced the development of modern Western Medical Theory.
Xuan Yuan Huang Di, who lived about 5000 years ago (2717-2599 BC), is taken as the father of
Traditional Chinese Medicine. <Huang Di Nei Jing / Huang di's Canon of Medicine> is a record of
his medical theory. “Yin Yang theory”, and “Five elements theory” are the foundation of
Traditional Chinese Medicine. Since then Traditional Chinese Medicine has followed his rules and
theory and developed to its current state.
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Secondly, the theory underlying the two systems are totally different.
Modern Western Medicine is based on anatomy and chemistry. Darwin's theory of evolution also
has important influence on modern western medicine. Modern western is powerful. It can
clearly separate the human organs, muscles and bones. It makes clear the function of each organ
and tissue. It has accuracy. It believes as long as there is tool, all disease can be seen. Western
doctors really like to see the disease: the destroyed organs, or pathogenic bacteria.
The Traditional Chinese Medicine is a philosophy and belief rather than a set of techniques. “Yin
Yang theory” and “Five Phases theory” are theoretical foundation of TCM. Both “Yin Yang
theory”, and “Five elements/phases theory” are based on a more advanced and earlier Chinese
philosophy “Yi Jing”. We can say that “Yi Jing” (or some translated it as I-Ching) is the most
important philosophy in China. To understand Chinese culture and history, one must understand
the spirit of “Yi Jing”. “Yi Jing” was transmitted into the Western world in the 17th century. Many
Modern Western thinkers are greatly influenced by it. Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz is one of them. I
can also tell you that the “Five Phases theory” is very advanced, profound, which we will discuss
in detail in the second part later.
As modern science developed, many new techniques were introduced into the medical system.
We now have many tools and equipment. However, the TCM’s theory has not changed much! It
has survived for over 5000 years. I believe that it is canon, which can be tested by time.
Third, the major target of the two medical systems are different.
The major target of TCM treatment is prevention.
It is clearly stated in “Huang Di Nei Jing” that the best doctor cure patients before they are ill,
which means a good doctor can see the potential of disease as soon as there is only little
symptoms shown. By observing people’s behavior, personality, color of their face, poxes, their
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spirit, urine, feces, sweat, food, and so on, a good doctors can tell the weak organ or function,
then provide advice. When the organs have already been destroyed, it is usually too late. At that
time, too much medical treatment may only bring the patients more suffering.
According to TCM the causes of all diseases are classified into four categories: the outside
factors, the personality factors, life habits and heredity. Outside factors refers to weather,
geography, or epidemics. People’s personality has great influence on people’s health. Avarice,
fear, anger or ignorance can all lead to diseases. On the contrary, people with peaceful mind,
optimistic, and lenient nature are more likely to enjoy longevity and health. Bad habits such as
smoking, staying up late, abusing alcohol, not eating well can all lead to disease. Heredity is
obviously the most difficult factors to change.
If the causes cannot be changed, then the diseases cannot be cured. Even for the same
symptoms or disease, taking same treatment, one might recover, the other cannot. Whether the
patient and doctors can find the cause of disease and change it is one of the most important
factors to achieving recovery. However, it is extremely difficult to change people’s personality or
habit. All chronicle diseases are accumulated effects of many years. Usually people only
remember to treat it when they cannot ignore pain. How can you expect a doctor work miracles
to solve the problem in such case? This is the reason TCM put on much more efforts toward
prevention rather than curing disease.
But Western doctors like to cure disease, cutting out the “destroyed organ”, or clearing
pathogenic bacteria. So many surgeries have been taken every year in the US. But I didn’t see
any improvement in the public health. Every year so many cancer organs have been taken out,
how many patients really recovered? In fact most surgeries are not necessary and have
deleterious impact on the patients. Chinese acupuncture has already been accepted by many
countries including the US. People can imagine, a little tiny needle having impact on people’s
organs, but it is easier to see a knife cutting your body open. When the western doctors cannot
see the pathogen or destroyed organ, they feel so helpless.
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When I went a US hospital to check my eyes. They used many tests, but could not find anything
wrong with my eyes. They just let me go suggesting that if they kept running, I should go back
and have more tests. My tears kept running out. I couldn’t take it. But I didn’t believe more tests
would help. Finally I diagnosed myself. During that period, I was writing my dissertation, always
staying up late, which hurt my liver. The best time for the liver to rest is from 11PM to 3 AM. I
had missed most of the time for my liver to rest. Eyes are outlets of the liver, my liver was
sending me a signal that it required rest. I adjusted my time schedule by resting earlier, my eyes
recovered.
People may cough, have pain, feel lack of vigor or strength, cannot sleep well and so on. In many
cases, the equipment cannot find pathological changes of the organs. But the symptoms still
bother the patients. Those symptoms are signals sent by the organs telling us they are tired or
not feeling well. In such cases, the TCM can find the causes and help patients recover. If we wait
until there are pathological changes, the diseases usually are serious already. The organs are
destroyed. It will take more efforts for the patients to recover.
Fourth, the medicines are totally different.
The western medical industry is based on modern chemistry. Every year, lots of new medicines
are invented, put into trial and introduced into the markets. Typically it takes 10-15 years for a
medicine to pass the FDA clinical trial. It seems long. However, I think it is too short to evaluate
the impact of a new substance on the human’s body! Many hereditary effects and side effects
can only be seen after generations and massive application. There are lots of famous cases.
When antibiotics came to the markets, it got all the praise. However, after about 90 years, we
can see that it is not as good as we thought. The pathogenic bacteria can develop resistance. Any
kind of antibiotics cannot be effective for long. As antibiotics kill pathogenic bacteria, it also kills
other beneficial bacteria. It may harm organ function like hearing. The abuse of antibiotics has
resulted billions economic loss a year now and incalculable environment disaster.
In 2000, Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) medicine had be globally stopped because after it was
widely used, the doctors found its extremely bad side effects. It will increase the possibility of
31
cerebral apoplexy. And it may lead to cardiovascular and carotid artery disease. There are other
cases as well. Dare you eat those chemicals? I will try my best to avoid them. What we eat today
may be proved to be poison tomorrow.
Also it is still too early to know the impact of trans-genetically modified food, -the side effects
may come out after generations of application. I do suggest be cautious when creating these
things. We are not god. Human’s understanding of the nature is still very tiny. Finding existing
solution to solve problems is much safer, especially for health problems.
Nature has already endowed us with plenty of treasures. As long as we have an open mind, we
can find many choices. Every nation has its secrets for life. Those secrets should be shared and
benefit human society as a whole. Rooibus tea originates from South Africa, which can prevent
cancer, and is caffeine free. It contains powerful antioxidants, relieves stomach complaints, and
aids in absorption of iron, which can protect against Parkinsons/Alzheimers disease. Saffron from
Mediterranean is the best herb for blood circulation; Olives from Europe is one of the healthiest
food. They can prevent cancer, decrease blood pressure, prevent obesity, and prevent
osteoporosis.
TCM does not create chemicals. All of its ingredients are herbals from the natural world. Most of
the ingredients are common foods we eat daily. I am not saying all herbals are safe. They have
side effects as well. However, the majority of TCM medicines have been used for thousands
years. The function and side effects are very well known. The risk when taking such medicines is
relatively low.
Fifth, the diagnosing tools and methodologies are different.
The western medical doctors and patients are very dependent on testing machines. It seems that
without machines, they can do nothing. There are lots of diagnosing tools such as ultrasound, CT,
X-ray, blood test, and so on. It seems the equipment is omnipotent. However, we can only get
cold data from a machine. We cannot get the spirit and feelings of a patient, which is the most
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important feature of life. I remember a scene in a US television series called “Breaking Bad”. A
chemist is analyzing the components of human. The last component he adds to a human is soul.
Soul cannot be seen by any machine. But it is soul that gives us life. It is by far the most
important part of a human.
The classic Chinese Medicine doctor went door to door to treat their patients, taking several
herbals with them. There are still many in rural of China now. They depend totally on what they
see, what they heard, what they smell and their feelings of pulse. Feelings seem so inaccurate.
But feelings of humans are the most accurate reflection of the human body. Moreover, it is the
feeling make us a living creature. Many people criticize such methodology is pseudoscience. They
are partly right. TCM is not science, nor does it pretend to be science. It is super-science. Life is
not science either. I prefer a more life-oriented methodology and thinking to treat the problems
of life. As I mentioned already, science is only one way for human to approach truth. It is not the
only way, nor a better way. It is not target of life either, why should we be bounded by so called
“science”?
Sixth, the divisions are different.
There are clear divisions of the Western Medicines, which includes Gynecology, Cardiology,
Ophthalmology and Otorhinolaryngology, Gastroenterology, pneumologie and so on. When we
have a problem with our eyes we must go to ophthalmology and otorhinolaryngology doctors. If
we had uterine problems, we have to go to a gynecological doctor. It is correspondent with
anatomical theory, which comes from the Latin word anatomia, which means “to cut” or isolate
and scrutinize parts individually. The income of the US medical specialists is very high. The
society has great respect for their professional.
There are four categories of doctors in TCM: disease doctors (Ji Yi, 疾医), food doctors (Shi Yi,
食医), wound care doctors (Yang Yi, 疡医), and animal doctors (Shou Yi, 兽医). Normally when
we talked about TCM doctors, we are referring to disease doctors. TCM require doctors to
understand a human as a whole. There is no clear sub-division or separation of human disease.
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An integral view is very important in TCM. When a patient has a headache, the problems may be
caused by any part of the human body. It is impossible to separate the head and treat the it
alone. Here is a typical case. In TCM, when a person is short of Qi, it may lead to archoptoma or
metroptosis, or both. For western medical system, they are two different diseases, and patients
should go to different doctors. However, for TCM doctor, the symptoms are different but the
cause is the same. Because the original health status of patients are different, the outcomes are
different for the same reason. Therefore, the treatment of archoptoma and metroptosis may be
the same: improve Qi of the patients.
Every doctor does have his or her strongest area. However, if a doctor doesn’t have an integral
view, it is dangerous for his or her patients. If there is headache, treating the head may be totally
misleading. The effectiveness of acupuncture also prove that the human body is an organic
whole. It is impossible to explain that different small acupuncture points can have such big
impact on different organs according to anatomical terms.
Seventh, the ways Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine treat epidemic disease
are different. When epidemics come, Traditional Chinese Medicine will help the public
strengthen the immune system, letting the human immune system fight against the contagion.
Western Medicine like to kill the contagion. 2003 SARS exploded in China, with the most infected
area in Guangdong province. By applying TCM treatment there was no case of death in the
Guangzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine University Hospital, nor was any nurse infected.
Comparing western medical hospitals there were lots of death and nurses infections. Smallpox
used to kill millions of humans in ancient time. Around 1000 AD Chinese doctors have found
Smallpox inoculation to cure Smallpox.
There are many strength of the Western Medicine. When we cure disease, we do need accuracy
at times. With the help of equipment and tests we can have more confidence of the disease we
feel. If surgery is necessary, we need the techniques that Western medicine can provide. Making
good use of this tool, patients can benefit a lot. This is the way Traditional Chinese Medicine
treats the Western Medicine. If it is useful, let us use it.
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It's a pity, until now the Western world cannot fully appreciate the essence of TCM. Many
western people think TCM is acupuncture and massage. But I believe gold will shine sooner or
later. I would like to see the essence of Chinese culture can benefit more people in the world.
Chapter 7 Gist of Health Cultivation
As I talked so much about TCM health theory and cultivation, we haven’t reached the nub yet.
The gist of health cultivation is wisdom and personality cultivation. Both TCM and Western
Medicine are tools for us to reach a healthier life. As long as we develop wisdom and a peaceful
personality, no matter which medical care system we prefer, we can enjoy a peaceful life.
There are many people in the history enjoy longevity over 100 years, both in the Western world
and Eastern world. They enjoyed their nature longevity and died in peace without disease
suffering. Having peace in heart is the most important factors to be away from worries and
troubles. Wisdom is the way to peace. We must recognize our ego, and distinguish ourselves
from our ego.
According to TCM, anger hurts lung, happy hurts heart, anxiety hurts spleen, sadness hurts lung,
fear hurts kidney. This theory is coincided with Buddhism’s theory: all emotions are harmful.
Everyone must have an experience after expressing much emotion, like crying, quarreling, or
extreme happiness, we feel very exhausted. It is not difficult to understand, when people are at
an emotional peak, some organs are over-working. If over-worked for a long time, they will be
hurt.
This is also the reason, after so many years studying science and technology, I finally approach
Buddhism looking for a right attitude towards uncertainty in life. Job loss, dying love, unhappy
marriage, and diseases are never far away. Still we are longing for success, fame, money,
35
happiness and so on. I don’t want to live with anxiety for the rest of my life. I have been tortured
by my mind and ego enough already.
But even Buddhism is not the final target. It is a tool as well. While practicing meditation, and
observing my ego, I realized that as long as we can be conscious, and live in now, we can get rid
of intemperance, vanity, greedy, hatred, jealous, fear and other natural deficiencies of humans.
In other words, we must get rid of ego to live in peace and face whatever will happen in our life
until the end.
I have thought thousands of time the meanings of life. Why do we have to live? I didn’t find a
final answer yet. May be experience our own special life is the answer. I like the saying: we are
dancers of life. If we cannot choose the music or steps, let’s enjoy it, whatever it is.
It is extremely important for a doctor to think about life and death. When there is a patient at a
final or later phase of cancer, the chance of a successful surgery is low. What should the doctor
suggest?
I don’t think there is a universal answer. One of the most important Chinese Taoist philosophers,
Zhuangzi celebrated his wife’s death by dancing and singing. He said that life and death are like
the four seasons of nature. As long as we celebrate birth, we must celebrate death. The dead
person just leave the human society and return to nature. When he was dying, his students
asked his last wish. He wished be thrown into the wild without funeral ceremony, decayed and
returned to nature.
In China, if people died after they reach 80 years old, their death is a happy event for the family.
The family member should not cry or be sad.
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Confucius (Kong zi, 孔子), the greatest philosopher in China, founder of Confucianism said: The
old lusting for life is thief. When a person is too old or too sick to maintain a decent life, is death
a better choice?
This summer I returned my home town, visiting my grandmother. She is over 84, and has been
paralyzed for ten years. All ten years, she has only laid in her bed. Even for urinating, she needs
help. She has a very kind daughter, my aunt, who takes good care of her without complaining.
But when I talked with my grandmother, she kept telling me that her biggest wish is to die as
soon as possible. I don’t think she is pessimistic, or a hypochondriac. I think she was telling me
what she really wishes.
The target of medical care should be helping people live a decent healthy life rather than just
maintaining life. Many modern surgery only extend people’s lives expectancy without mercy. But
it is still a little perfunctory for me to talk about this serious topic. Nor can I give any suggestion
to other people’s choice of life. Having people think about it is my only purpose.
Mis-use of statistics
I love the movie “Dallas Buyer’s Club “very much! It inspires people to think about life and
health. I still remember a scene in this movie: having the test results of Ron Woodroof in hand,
the doctor claimed that he only had one month left to live. I really don’t like people making
forecast. Even with so many powerful computers’ calculation and numerous sensors everywhere,
the weather forecast can only be relatively accurate only within five days. How can a doctor tell
the longevity of a patient? Nor do I like patients asking this question. The patients can ask about
the available statistical data. But the doctor does not have the capability to tell you how long
your life left, no matter how successful they are in their career. Even if they provide a number, is
meaningless.
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For scientific research, there is a lots of statistical data the public can refer to. This is an era of
data. Every research institute, government, private sector and NGO have created numerous data.
And most of them are available on the Internet. But are we sure how to use this data?
I don’t think so. I have seen that there are statistics screens in casino, telling the winning number
ratio beside the tables. Many people use that number to bet. I don’t think they can win. It’s the
gambler’s fallacy, because past outcomes are irrelevant to the next wager. Many people also use
the statistical data to forecast other things besides, like longevity of life, ratio of successful
businesses. We cannot use statistics to forecast. All statistics were data of the past, and data of
the population, even we assume the procedure we get the data is perfect. Statistics is used to tell
features of a population, macroscopic phenomena rather than individual’s future. The first
lesson I learned on my quantitative analysis class is that statistics is not used for forecast. And
every patient is an individual, special for their own cases.
To do forecasting, we need to build other models. But it is still extremely difficult with the limit of
human’s intelligence. Enjoying today is the only choice. Actually it is the same for all of us! Even
for the baby just born into the world. We don’t know how long any of us will live. Life is full of
uncertainty. But we definitely know that there is an end. Death is never far away.
I like a book called “The power of Now”, written by Eckhart Tolle. No matter what happened
yesterday, or may happen tomorrow, now is the only important thing we should care about.
Memory is false image. The faces and sciences on the photo is not existing anymore. Our
imagination of tomorrow is meaningful only because we are alive now. Tomorrow won’t be
different. We get up doing things we want to or have to, then we go to bed. We can make future
plans, but it is meaningful only because we want to do it now. Try to live every day as the last
day, doing things we really have passion for, forgetting ego, vanity, fear, anger and others. Even
time is an illusion created by our mind. Because our mind can only understand the world by this
way now.
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When we have a peaceful spirit, longevity and health comes naturally. Actually I think if we can
enjoy now, longevity, health or other things is not important anymore. Because we are satisfied
and enjoyable, we are not lusting for anything. It is the same for all human beings.
Chapter 8 Chinese Attitude For Food
Chinese always take food as both nutrients and drug. Food not only build our body, providing
energy, but also can cure disease or lead to disease. Chinese always welcome new food
ingredients and cuisine. For this part, China has shown the greatest tolerance.
In 1980s, as the new China (People’s Republic of China) opened door to the world, the Western
food and fast food also came into China. At present the KFC has already opened more than 2500
restaurants in China. McDonald’s has opened about 1000 restaurants. Starbucks has opened
over 200 coffee bars in China. Pizza Hut also has about 200 restaurants in China. They represent
Western style food. They all made good business in China. The western bakery stores are also
very popular in China, although they are not as sweet as it was in the West. Additionally, French,
and Mediterranean cuisine are available in the big cities in China. Chinese people never refuse
foreign food and foreign taste. “Absorb the essence, drop the bad” is always the attitude.
In Chinese history, the Chinese people have the tradition of welcoming the foreign food. Lots of
food and ingredients popular today on Chinese people’s table came from different continents,
including Africa, West Asia, Southern America and so on. Wheat and barley came to China during
Shang Dynasty; grape and Granada came to China in the Han Dynasty; spinach cam to China in
the Tang Dynasty; jasmine came to China in the Wei Dynasty; chilly came to China in Ming
Dynasty. Besides, cucumber, eggplant, peanut, and corn all came from the outside world, but are
now staples in China.
After thousands of years’ accumulation, the Chinese cuisine now has much more food
ingredients than the western cuisine: there are about 600 vegetables that Chinese people eat,
with over 130 vegetables frequently used, which is 6 times more than western vegetables. The
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ancients of China learned to cook every part of a livestock because of the shortage of meat. They
also learn to eat fresh water fish. Abundant vegetables and variety of meat has supplied the
Chinese people with plenty of vitamins and trace elements, and provide plenty of choices and
taste;
Vegetables like bitter gourd, sponge gourd, agaric and sea triangle are very common Chinese
food which are not eaten by western people. They are very healthy and delicious. In the
following chapters I will introduce some Chinese vegetables, their function and recipe. Try them
and let them surprise you.
Besides vegetables and meat, Chinese people have more choices of fruits as well. Longan is good
for the spleen and can help sleep. Loquat is the best fruit for cough and lungs. Mangosteen is a
cold fruit. When you have inside heat, it is a good choice.
Chinese tea is already very famous. But many western people don’t know that there are over
6000 types of tea in China. And their functions are different. In different season, we should
choose different tea. Choose several types of teas that suit you for daily drinking, you will find a
brand new you. I will introduce some in the following chapters as well.
Nutritionists suggest that people eat as many as 25 different foods per day to keep the body’s
vitamin balanced. Have you ever counted how many foods you eat in one day? It is difficult to
reach this target. But don’t be upset. Trying to eat 25 different ingredients in two days.
Chinese also have more cooking techniques: boiling, stewing, braising, frying, stir-frying, quick-
frying, deep-frying, frying and simmering, sautéing, simmering, smoking, roasting/barbecuing,
baking, steaming, scalding and so on. Different cooking method can bring out different features
of the same ingredient. Different cooking methods have different impact on the nutrients of the
ingredients.
Chinese restaurants are now all over the world. Many western people have tasted Chinese
cuisine. Some people already love Chinese food. Chinese dumpling, Peking duck, noodles, and
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tofu are famous. However, rarely many people understand the cuisine culture and the health
cultivation function of the Chinese cuisine. But I think they are the best part of Chinese food.
Chapter 9 Theory of Chinese Cuisine
About 5000 years ago, under Xuan Yuan Huang Di’s rule, Chinese ancestor started a culture of
food and medicine. This is one of the reasons Chinese people regard Xuan Yuan Huang Di as the
founder of Chinese civilization.
As early as the “Zhou Dynasty”, about 1000BC, there were professional food doctors. They
served in the palace responsible for providing healthy dietary suggestions for the royal family.
“Shi Yi Xin Jian” was a major text which introduced the theory of healthy cuisine during the Tang
dynasty ( 618AD－907AD)
Chinese medicine theory, medical practice and philosophy are the solid foundation for Chinese
people to accept and utilize foreign food ingredients. Chinese understanding of food is much
deeper than fat, fiber, cholesterol and vitamin. The Chinese ancestors observed them, tried and
made records. They tried to understand the inner properties of the food, and their impact on
human’s organs and health. They tried to understand the relationship between food and food,
between food and people, and between food and the nature. That is why Chinese people can use
the food as daily medicine to cultivate health.
“Food and medicine have the same origin” is a fundamental belief of Chinese cuisine. There is
no clear boundary between food and medicine. Many disease can be treated by food. Many
diseases are caused by eating the wrong food. Food can be good medicine and can also be
poison. Food and medicine are supplements for each other. Food cultivates health. Medicine
cure disease. According to a survey, 93% of Chinese in mainland will change their daily food
when they are sick until they have recovered. The ratio is as high as 97% in Taiwan and Hong
Kong. Healthy food habit help the Chinese people keep health and away from doctors.
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For example, sick people should avoid sea food. Most seafood has the aggrandizing property, it
will make symptom worse.
According to Chinese health cultivation theory, food are classified by “five tastes” and “five
properties”. The five tastes are “acid, bitter, sweet, spicy, and salty“. The five properties are “hot,
cold, even, warm, and cool”. This classification corresponds to the “Five Phases theory”. When
people consume different food, the food will have an impact on different organs according to
their properties. For example, acid influences liver, sweet functions on spleen and stomach,
bitter impact heart, spicy food influence lungs and intestines, salt have effect on kidneys and
cysts. Cooking methods may also change the property of food ingredients.
The second feature of Chinese cuisine is matching. The food should match the season and the
weather. Chinese people will adjust their recipe according to season and weather to make the
body be prepared for the nature. The food should also match our body. People should choose
their food according to their own condition like age, property, disease record and so on. At the
same time, the cooking method should match the property of food to maintain the nutrition and
taste as much as possible while eliminate the undesirable property. This is called “property
cooking”.
The five properties: hot, cold, even, warm, cool
Hot: “Yang”, masculine element, eliminate cold, and disorders due to cold. Typical food:
durian, chili.
Cold: “Yin”, feminine element, clean summer heat, relaxes the bowels and purges inner
heat, eliminate disorder due to hot. Typical food: oyster, persimmon, kelp
Warm: “Yang”, masculine element, eliminate cold, cure deficiency. Typical food: red dates,
longan
Cool: ”Yin”, feminine element, decrease heat, eliminate fidgeting. Typical food: grape fruit,
mongo, sponge cucumber
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Even: Average property. Typical food: apple, potato, and rice
The five tastes: acid, bitter, sweet, spicy, salty
Acid: Astringent, whets the appetite, nourish the spleen and stomach, stop sweating, stop cough.
Impacted organs: liver. Typical food: dark plum, haw. Too much acid food is not good for muscles
and bones. People with fever should avoid.
Bitter: Cleans summer heat and toxic material, relaxes the bowels. Impacted organs: heart.
Typical food: bitter gourd. Too much bitter food is not good for stomach. People who are cold-
insufficient should avoid. Long-term consumption of bitter food also harms the Yin, feminine
element.
Sweet: Tonic and release pain, mediate spleen and stomach. Impacted organs: spleen. Typical
food: red dates, longan, and sticky rice. Too much sweet food leads to fat and is not good for
teeth.
Spicy: Cleans wind-cold, conducts inner breathe and blood, cure cold and fever. Impacted
organs: lung. Typical food: chilly, green onion, ginger, leek, garlic. Too much spicy food lead to
constipation. People who have too much inner heat should avoid.
Salty: Relaxing the bowels, resolves hard lump. Impacted organs: kidney. Typical food: oyster,
seaweed, kelp. People with loose stools should avoid.
TABLE 5 FIVE PROPERTIES OF FOOD
Five properties
Property Yang or Yin Function Typical Food
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Cold Yin Clear summer heat, relax the bowels, purge
inner heat, eliminate disorder due to hot
oyster, persimmon, kelp
Hot Yang Eliminate cold, disorder due to cold durian, chili
Warm Yang Eliminate cold, cure deficiency red dates, longan
Cool Yin Clear inner heat, eliminate fidgeting grape fruit, mango, sponge
cucumber
Even Even apple, potato
TABLE 6 FIVE TASTES OF FOOD
Five tastes
Taste Function Corresponding
organ
Typical food Notice
Acid astringent, whet the appetite,
nourish the spleen and stomach,
stop sweeting, stop cough
liver dark plum,
haw
Too much acid food is not good
for muscles and bones, people
with fever should avoid.
Bitter Clear summer heat and toxic
material, relaxing the bowels.
Corresponding gut: heart. Typical
food: bitter gourd
heart bitter gourd People who are cold-insufficient
should avoid. Long-term
consumption of bitter food also
harm the Yin, feminine element.
Sweet tonic and release pain, mediate
spleen and stomach, strengthen
out
spleen red dates,
longan, sticky
rice
Too much sweet food leads to fat
and not good for teeth.
Spicy Clear wind-cold, conduct inner
breathe and blood, cure cold and
fever
lung chili, green
onion,
ginger, leek,
garlic
Too much spicy food lead to
constipation. People who have
too much inner heat should avoid.
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Salty relaxing the bowels, resolving
hard lump
kidney oyster People with loose stools should
avoid
There is also a category called aggravation food.
Aggravation Food
What is aggravation food? Simply put, aggravation food is the food patients should avoid.
Aggravation food can make symptoms even worse or lead to other diseases. Typically lamb,
shrimp, crab and goose are considered aggravation food which should be avoid for all disease
and by all patients.
The TCM classifies the aggravation food into six groups:
1. Humidity aggravation food: malt sugar, glutinous rice and rice wine. Patients with
stomach flatulence should avoid,
2. Heat aggravation food: ginger, lamb, pepper and chilly. If you get heat disease, bleeding,
feeling thirsty, having insomnia or upset you should avoid heat aggravation food.
3. Wind aggravation food: shrimp, crab. People get headache because of cold or wind
should not eat.
4. Bleeding aggravation food: pepper, chili.
5. Cold aggravation food: pear, water melon, low temperature-food (ice cream) and
persimmon. If you get cold or you feel pain in your stomach, or your hands and feet are
cold you should avoid cold aggravation food.
6. Stagnation aggravation food: potato and tofu.
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Skin disease patients should avoid all stimulating ingredients and all aggravation food. Asthma
patients should avoid eggs, milk, fish, shrimp and other food containing lots of protein while
symptoms are present.
Chapter 10 Eat the Right Food
Food is the basic and most important factor making species evolve. Food builds our body. The
father of ancient Greek medicine Hippocrates said: you are what you eat. The food we eat has
direct impact on our health.
The average longevity of primitive man was only about 15 years. The evolution of human food
accompanied the evolution of human beings. According to a recent study, about 790 thousands
years ago humans learned how to use fire. It was a milestone of human society. Cooked food is
easier to absorb and helps to avoid much germs and diseases.
During Feudal society, the variety of food ingredients had increased a lot. The method of cooking
had also evolved. Both of these factors have contributed to longer longevity.
In modern society, there are much profound understanding the relationship between food
nutrients and our health. Average longevity of human beings has increased to about 60 years.
However, human beings are still plagued by diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood
pressure, obesity, and so on. What If such chronic disease cannot be overcome? Besides
medicine and physical surgery, is there any other safer and cheaper solution? Sure, we can save
ourselves by: eating the right food.
Eating the right food means choosing the food most suitable for our body. There are three levels
understanding of this concept. First we must understand our body. Second we should
understand the function and property of ingredients and food. Finally, the cooking method can
change property of the food.
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Even for things like drinking water, there are rules to follow to make the body healthier. Our
stomach and spleen like to be warm. People who have weak stomach and spleen, should avoid
ice water. Women in period or after delivery of baby should also avoid ice water or cold food.
The cold water will make blood vessel contract. Then it is difficult for the body to release waste.
The accumulated gore will lead to disease like algomenorrhea, and fibroid. It is very good for
women during period and after delivery of baby to drink hot brown sugar ginger tea to help
release toxin. Salt water can help relieve a dry and painful throat.
The best way to understand our bodies is to pay attention to the signals they send out. Feces,
urine, sleep, taste in our mouth and appetite are all important signals. Normally we should
defecate every day. If there is constipation, we must take some food to help defecation. We
should also avoid the food lead to constipation. Some people are easily to get constipation and
are afraid of hot weather. When wake up, there is always gum in the eye. These people have hot
bodies. They should avoid hot property food like peppers, and chilies. If people cannot sleep
well, they can take some food or tea help sleep like longan tea.
Some people always have very cold hands and feet. They should take less cold-property food,
like crab, and bitter gourd.
I have a hot body. Since I was a little child, my mom always warned me that: you had a hot body,
you cannot eat too much spicy food. She is absolutely right. Even in the cold of winter, I am
always warm. After I grew up, I used to test my biphasic basal body temperature for about two
months. My temperature is 0.3 degree centigrade higher than average. Maybe because of this,
my metabolism is very fast. My hair drops a lot every day. But new hair always comes out. And I
have difficult gaining weight. On the contrary, I can easily lose weight if I don’t eat enough.
This is also the reason that I get constipated easily. When I was in my 20’s, I used to eat a lot of
aloe to relieve my constipation. It temporarily worked. However, later I found out that it almost
bring me disaster.
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The Five Phases theory is amazing that my health history has verified its correctness. According
to “Yi Jing” theory I am a fire person, I lack water in my five phases. Water correspond to kidney.
Later I found out my weakest organ is kidney. Whenever, I get tired, or emotionally depressed. It
is easily to get urinary infection. I used to have chronicle urinary infection. According to TCM,
kidney manages the urinary system and germinal system. The aloe I took is an extreme cold
ingredients. It can clear inner heat, help feces. Therefore it can solve my constipation problem.
However, side effects of cold food is that they are very harmful to “Yin”. A fire person, usually
has a relatively strong “Yang”, and weak “Yin”. After I took so much aloe, my “Yin” is hurt deeply.
I became very weak without vigor, easy to feel tired. But, as long as I stopped eating aloe,
constipation came back. I entered into a vicious cycle.
After much research, I changed my diet, and stopped clearing my inner heat. Instead, I took
brown sugar wolfberry tea for a month every day. I added sweet potato to my daily food as well.
Since then my constipation problem was totally solved. Now I don’t need to eat special food to
help feces anymore. Brown sugar wolfberry tea can nourish “Yin” and my kidney. Stronger ‘Yin”
can balance my strong “Yang”. Sweet potato helps peristalsis of intestine. That is the logic,
I learned another lesson, although cold foods can be very effective to clear inner heat, they hurt
Yin very much at the same time. People should be very careful when using them. The stronger
the effect, the stronger side effects as well. Extreme cold food include: aloe, bitter gourd, and
crab.
There are other ways to understand our body as well. For example, we can foresee potential
disease by checking the family disease record. We can also check our habit and working
environment. People with a long history of smoking may have weak lungs. People with an alcohol
habit should pay more attention to their liver. Taking some food daily to strengthen the weaker
organ is a way to avoid disease.
Heredity, environment, the season we were born in and many other factors together form us
when we came to the world. Our organs have not developed evenly since we were born. Some of
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them are stronger than the others. When we are tired, take in harmful elements, or experience
extreme weather, our weak organs are usually hurt first. By observing ourselves and our parents,
we can find our weaker organs, and take special care of them to keep our body functioning well.
Our food and life style influence our organs. By observing our body, we can tell whether or not
the organs are functioning well. Usually when we feel pain, the organs have already been hurt
and are out of function, we have to go to the hospital spending time and money to have it
recovered. If we take actions earlier when the organ send its first signals of weakness, we can
restore them much easier by eating the right food and resting.
Poxes suddenly appearing on our face are obvious signals sent by our body.
Poxes on the forehead and left side of faces show that there are too many toxic elements in the
liver. Too little sleep, and irregular life style can all affect the function of the liver. Eating more
liver-benefiting food and rest can help eliminate the toxin from the liver. Animal liver, sesame
and red dates are all good for liver. Besides, the time for liver to rest is from 11PM-3 AM. Going
to bed before 11PM will help liver recover.
Poxes on the tip of nose show that the stomach is not functioning well. People should avoid spicy
food and freezing food. Poxes on the wings of noses show that the reproductive system may
have problems. Temperance may help them recover.
Poxes on right side of face show the disorder of the lung. Having some lung-benefit food will help
it recover. Food like lily bulb, birds nest, white fungus and loquat are all lung-benefit food.
Poxes on temples are sign of disorder of bile cyst. People may eat too much processed food with
additive. People should clean them out as soon as possible. Small red beans, mung beans and
Job's tears can all help.
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Poxes besides lips show potential problems of intestines. Poxes in the middle of two eyebrows
show the weakness of your heart.
When we are not eating anything, sometimes we can still have taste in our mouth. This the
signals sending by our inner organs. Pay attention to these signals, take actions, we can prevent
many chronical diseases.
When we have bitter taste in our mouth, usually we have dis-ordered bile metabolism. There is
high probability that we have serum hepatitis, cholecystitis, or gall stones. We can eat more
spinach, which is cool and sweet. Spinach can clear inner heat, help relieve the bitter taste of
mouth.
When we have sweet taste in our mouth, it is probable that we have disordered digestion system
or we have diabetes.
Acid taste in mouth is a symptom of gastritis. Usually people have hyperchlorhydria will have
acid taste in mouth. People should avoid acid food and high protein food. Congee can help
nourish stomach. My stomach is very weak. When sometimes, I drank wine, I will have acid taste
in my mouth the next day, I knew my stomach was hurt. Therefore I will take very lite congee for
a whole day to let my stomach recover. It is very effective.
Salty taste in mouth is a symptom of nephritis, throat inflammation, or aphthous ulcer. Take
some food strengthen kidney can help release the symptom.
Smelly mouth usually is symptoms of indigestion. Chinese cabbage is very good for stomach and
intestine. Eat a whole day Chinese cabbage can help release the symptom. If necessary take
some vitamin B, vitamin C can all help.
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One should be careful if he cannot defecate for two days. Long term of constipation can lead to
serious problems. When you find yourself having difficulty defecating, change your food right
away. Sweet potato congee is very good recipe for constipation. Besides, banana, and potato are
good for constipation too.
Thirsty is another signal we should notice. If you drink enough water without much heavy sports,
you still feel thirsty, you should treat your kidney well. Eating 20 Chinese wolfberry every day will
soon relieve the symptoms.
Ladies should be very sensitive to their period. A normal period should be regular, on time and
without pain. If your period is not regular and bring you pain. You should adjust your life habit
and food to help your worb recover.
In summary, observe our body, be sensitive to the signals it send us, treat them. Then we will
keep ourselves away from the doctors and enjoy a healthy life.
How to understand food?
We are lucky, we don’t need to start from very beginning. We can get much information about
food ingredients from traditional Chinese medicine book. They are the record of thousands years
of experience with ingredients and cooking. I will also introduce much knowledge in this book
and on our web site.
Another important way to understand a food is the feeling after we ate them. If some food make
you hot, the food may have the hot property. If some food make you run, the food may have the
cold property. Choosing the food you take make you comfortable is the most important criteria.
Property-cooking
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The longer the cooking procedure, the more nutrients will be lost. Biscuits, sodas, instant
noodles, chips and other factory produced food which can store for a long time don’t have any
natural nutrients left anymore. Many advertisements claim that such over-processed food is
“fact free” which help reduce weight. In fact, people who consume such “trash” into the body
only add the burden of the body. If such burden cannot be releases quickly, it will lead to
disease. On the other hand, many nutrients can only dissolve in fat. Without fat, such nutrients
cannot be absorbed by the human body.
Is fresh food or food without any processing is best for human health? The answer is no. Before
human beings learn to use fire, primitive man can only eat fresh food. Their longevity was much
shorter than modern human beings. The cooking procedure can kill germs in the food and
parasites in food. Especially the human body can digest meat better after it is cooked. Many
vegetables and fruits are better absorbed after cooking too. Eating cooked food is a milestone in
human’s evolution history. Although fresh food keep all the nutrients, if they are not absorbed
by the human body, they are still trash like over-cooked food. Moreover, it may bring in bacteria
which lead to disease. Therefore, we promote “property-cooking” here. “Property-cooking”
means choosing the most suitable way to cook food according to their property, and keeping
most of their nutrients while making them easier to be absorbed by human body. There are
many ways of cooking like boiling, frying, steaming, baking, salting and so on. Different methods
have different impact on foods.
I have seen many US friends eat fresh carrots. It seems very healthy. But human cannot absorb
most nutrition of fresh carrots. Tomato is another vegetable which has more nutrients after it is
cooked. When tomato is heated, it becomes soft, dissolving tomatin, which can then be easily
absorbed by the body. Carrots are also better after cooking. The carotene can only dissolve in oil.
Fruits like pear are very good for throat and lung after being cooked. When people have a cough,
pear soup can help relieve a lot.
Cooking methods can change the properties of the ingredients. For example, potato is an even
property food. When it is made into chips, it become a hot food. The deep fried procedure
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makes food hot. When chicken is deep fried, it became hot. Roast also make food hot. On the
other hand, steaming, stewing, cold dressing and boiling usually keep the property of food.
One of my American friend used to deride Chinese food habits. They thought we put too much
energy and time in our cuisine. It is true that may be China is the nation that loves food most.
One reason is that we know we cannot afford disease, both physically and economically. We
would rather spend time on food than spend time in hospital. Besides, delicious food can provide
us so much enjoyable experience. Why not savor cuisine?
Flavor is a very important part of cuisine. There are many flavors in both Eastern and Western
cuisine. Ginger, garlic, salt, chili, pepper, soy oil, vinegar sugar and so on. There are numerous
sauces in the super market as well: salad dressing, barbecue sauce, seafood sauces, and so on. It
is not difficult to list 100 different kinds of sauces.
My uncle is a great chief, cooking for over 30 years in many different countries in many famous
restaurants. Once I asked him the secret of taste. His words made me really upset. He thought
the best taste is the natural taste of the ingredients rather than any secret flavor. The best chief
is the one who helps people appreciate the natural flavor of the foods, rather than adding much
secret sauce. Moreover, most sauces contain preservatives, man-made pigment and other un-
familiar chemicals. We don’t know the long-term effect of such things on our body.
Later I found out he is genius. Every ingredient has its natural taste, they are very delicious and
clear. Cuisine with less man made sauce make me feel so fresh and light. But some time we do
need flavor to cover some taste we don’t like, then I try to use natural ingredients to replace
sauce. There are many fresh fruits and vegetables act very well for such function, lemon can
make acid taste, tomato can make both acid and salty taste, pine apple can add an acid and
sweet taste. When you make soup, add pear in it, it will make the soup so fresh. Fresh chili and
garlic can provide spicy favor. When your cuisine are all composed of fresh fruits and other fresh
ingredients, the idea itself makes people happy.
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Chapter 11 Food and Season
All creatures in the world have developed their habits to adapt the season change of the nature.
Spring is the season for mating. Summer is the season of activity. All creatures are busy and
active in summer. In autumn, leaf of trees fall. Animals decrease their activities and store food
for winter. In winter, the activities of animals is the lowest. Many animals and trees hibernate in
winter without any activity at all.
We as human beings are not much special. We are part of the nature. We also need to adjust our
activities to adapt to the seasons. Changing recipe is an important part of adaption.
<Huang Di Nei Jing / Huang di's Canon of Medicine> has clearly stated the gist of health
cultivation in different seasons. According to TCM, there are five seasons in a year rather than
four seasons. They are spring, summer, autumn, winter and long summer. Long summer refers to
the last nine days of a season and first nine days of the next season, totally 72 days a year. It can
also be understood as transitional period of two seasons.
The five seasons are corresponding to five organs. Spring is corresponding to liver. Spring is the
season of growth. After a cold winter, everything wake up. The metabolism is increasing. Trees
sprouts. Animals go out. Liver’s five phase is wood11, referring to composing and decomposing.
Therefore, spring is the best season to nourish liver. In the early spring, the weather is still cold.
The best food are those with warm and even property such as leek, fresh ginger, onion, garlic
shoot, cilantro and so on. As temperature increases, we can add some warm tonic food such as
Chinese yam, red dates, honey. In the late spring we should decrease those warm ingredients,
add cool and cold property food such as bitter gourd, sea tangle, lily bulb and so on.
According to the TCM, people with hot temper usually have too much heat of liver. It is good for
them to take some sour ingredients in spring to restrain the heat of liver. Acid ingredients have
restraining function, which can help balance Yin and Yang of liver. Then it is easier for these
people to control their temper.
Summer is the hottest season in a year. The activities of all creatures reach peak in the summer.
11 Five Phase Theory
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People usually sweat in summer. According to the TCM, blood and sweat have the same origin.
They are managed by heart. Summer is the best season to nourish heart. Heart is corresponding
to bitter taste. In the summer taking some bitter food is very good for heart, like bitter gourd,
bamboo shoot and lotus seed. Lite food is suitable choice for summer. Cold dressing cucumber,
wax gourd soup, sponge gourd, mung bean are all best choices for summer. The food for summer
should not include too much warm and tonic ingredients such as lamb, and Chinese ginseng.
In autumn temperature decreases. Leafs of trees fall. It is hot in the day time, but cold at night. It
is easy to get cold or cough. Many chronicle diseases returned. Dry autumn usually leads to Yin
consumption of the human body. It is the most important season to nourish lung. Lily bulb,
sesame, walnuts, white fungus, pear and crabs are all good food for lung.
Winter is the coldest season in a year. The metabolism of people is slowest in a year. This is the
season most respire disease and cardiovascular disease happen. According to the TCM, in winter,
Yang is weakest, Yin is strongest. It is important to protect Yang in winter. Therefore, TCM
suggest more sleep in winter. After sports, people should keep body dry and warm to avoid cold
Intruding.
Winter is the best season of tonic. Winter is also the most important season to nourish kidney. In
winter, it is good to take more warm and hot property foods such as lamb, and Chinese ginseng.
Besides, shrimp, radish, black fungus, longan, are all very good for winter. In winter people
should avoid cold property food such as sea tangle, duck, and cucumber and so on.
Long summer refers to the interchanging periods between two seasons. In these periods,
weather changes a lot, usually accompanied by lots of rain, human body is adapting to the new
season. These are important periods to nourish spleen. According to TCM, the major function of
spleen is managing immunity system and distributing nutrient and inner water. During the long
summer season, the spleen is experiencing big challenge. Therefore it is important to take some
food strengthen the spleen. Sweet potato, coix seed, and sticky rice are all ingredients for spleen.
Although modern technology has made us less influenced by the weather. We are never far from
the nature. The air we breathe, the water we drink, the sunlight we enjoy are all nature
elements. Eating proper food in different seasons can help human beings adapt to the
environment and enjoy health.
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Chapter 12 Food and Geography
The outside environment always has huge impact on creature’s lives. All creatures in the nature
learn to develop features or habits which make it easier to survive in nature. Human beings are
not an exception. For a long time, Chinese people in different area have also developed their
own food habit to adapt the local environment. The food habits in different areas are incredibly
varied!
Middle West
Sichuan, Guizhou, Hunan, and Hubei are provinces typically regarded as the middle-west of
China. The food of these provinces are relatively similar. A typical feature of their food is very
spicy flavor. Chili is the most popular and important ingredient and flavor in their recipe. We can
almost say that they cannot live without chili. People there eat spicy chili as a main dishes, also
put it as flavor in most of their cuisine.
I was born in Sichuan province, and I grew up with chili. We can say that people there love chili,
but in fact they need it.
A typical feature of Middle West of China is humidity. There is lots of rain in those areas. The
biggest river in China, Chang Jiang runs through these provinces, contributing to the humidity.
Moreover, there are lots of big mountains chains in these areas, which do not allow the clouds to
disperse. Therefore the humidity of this area is very high all year around. The incidence of
rheumatism in this area is very high. That is why people who live there need to eat so much chili.
Chili’s property is hot, tastes spicy, and impact heart and spleen. According to TCM, one of
spleen’s major function is managing the transport of inner liquids. Chili can help clean inner
humidity, preventing rheumatism, or relieving symptom of rheumatism. Moreover, the winter of
these provinces is very cold. The temperature is around 1 degree Celsius, accompanied by rain,
which makes the cold much worse. The chili can also help the body keep warm.
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A very popular cuisine in the Middle West is hot pot. The local people make a very spicy soup
with chili, oil, ginger, star anise, fennel and so on. All friends sit around a big pot of this soup. As
the soup boils, you put fresh vegetables and meat into the soup, and eat the ingredients as soon
as they are ready. It makes everyone so warm in the winter. People can enjoy many vegetables
and meat at one time. I love it.
I didn’t go to many places in the US, but I guess there
are places that have similar weather. May be Seattle
is one of them. People there can try more chili to
help the body get rid of humidity and cold.
South
Guangdong, Fujian, and Guangxi are mainly referred
as South of China. The cuisine of the South is totally different from the other area. I used to live
the Guangdong province for five years. The first day I arrived there, my friend told me that: you
cannot eat so much chili here! As you can see that Sichuan cuisine is famous for its spice and
chili.
He is absolutely right. The weather and geographic feature of Guangdong are very hot. People
must avoid hot ingredients. There is a saying that even you do not eat chili, the water of
Guangdong can make your nose bleeding. It is not an exaggeration. The first year I stayed in
Guangdong, my body has suffered greatly. I am a hot-body person. Together with the hot
weather and water (hot here refers to the property rather than temperature), I got constipation,
frequent nose bleeding, and have poxes everywhere on my faces. During that time I was so
depressed and lacking confidence, even daring not look at a man directly, because I felt
unattractive.
Therefore, one major feature of Guangdong cuisine is its light taste. Rarely any cuisine of
Guangdong uses chili, or Chinese red pepper. There are numerous kinds of congee in
FIGURE 3 HOTPOT
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Guangdong. Sea food congee, chicken congee, preserved duck egg congee, vegetable congee and
so on. They help the body clear out heat.
Another important feature of Southern cuisine is its emphasis on invigoration. Tonic cuisine is
very popular in Guangdong. Almost every day or two days, a family will make a tonic for all
members. Hot weather takes a toll on vigor. People can easily get tired in a hot environment,
especially if they are working outside. Tonic can help the body recover. Moreover, in such hot
environment, “Yang” is very strong, while “Yin” can be easily hurt. These tonics also help nourish
“Yin” of the body. The balance of the body is maintained. Herbal stew is a very popular tonic
there. American ginseng stew was invented there. Many tonic herbals have hot or warm
property. However, American ginseng is cool, which is the best tonic there. There are other
famous and popular tonic stew, such as astraglus base black chicken stew, longan chicken stew,
white fungus soup(sweet), etc.
There are also many herbal tea and desserts help people get rid of inner heat. One is called: cool
tea (Liang Cha in Chinese pronunciation). One is Guilinggao. I used to eat a lot, but they hurt my
“Yin”. They all have cold property. Because my “Yin” is weak, they are too cold for me.
States in the South part of the US like Florida, Texas, New Mexico and so on may consider food
with light flavor.
North
Typical weather of Northern China is cold. There are long winters. The temperature there can fall
below -20 degree Celsius. The people who live in the north are mainly descendants of nomads.
Their life style dictates that meat is their major source of food. Lamb, and beef consumption in
the north part of China is higher than the national average. On the other hand, the vegetables
are relatively fewer in the North.
The major grain consumption in the north is flour. The major grain consumption in the south and
east is rice.
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Food made from flour is a typical feature of the northern cuisine. There are over hundreds kinds
of noodles, dumplings and other flour made food. I am a fan of dumplings. Dumplings are a must
food for the most important Chinese festival: Spring Festival. Every family makes dumplings.
They are not easy to make. However, we can easily get fast frozen dumplings in many super
markets. Although they are not as good as fresh, they are acceptable.
Chinese cabbage is the most common
vegetable in the north. In the old
times, it was extremely difficult for
people to get fresh vegetables in
winter in the north. Chinese cabbage
provide the north people with
vegetable fiber, Vitamins and other
necessary nutrients. It is very easy to
store and lasts a long time. Chinese
cabbage is also one of my favorite vegetable. It is lightly sweet. It is very good for the stomach
and intestine. After having it, you feel you are totally fresh. The cheapest thing can be the best.
The food habit of an area is the result of adaption. Human being try to use the food they eat
every day to improve their ability to survive the environment. Equipped with modern
technology, many people begin to forget the power of nature. However, nature is never far away
or powerless. The water we drink, the air we breathe, the blowing wind, the rain, the sun, and
ourselves are all nature. We can never get rid of it. Only by following the natural rules, can
human beings enjoy longevity and health.
This book is not about complaining. Nor am I a cynical person, or communist. I do not belong to
any party. I am just a common person with mercy inside. When I saw the problems, I knew there
are choices, and I cannot hold my tongues. In fact every country has its own problems. I just
want to propose feasible and affordable solutions.
FIGURE 4 FLOUR MADE FOOD
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We don’t need the huge and expensive medical plan. What we need is more choices, and
understand the choices. And the US government father of the citizen, we don’t need the luxury
medical plan either. What we need is taking the responsibility, breaking the monopoly, absorbing
the great experiences outside and transmit the experience to cultivate a healthier life.
After so much introductions of Chinese food and medicine theory, here I would like to provide
some suggestions:
For the individual:
1. Open your refrigerator, throw away those junk food;
2. If you and your family need snacks, choose fruit and nuts; walnut is especially good for the
brain;
3. Begin to understand your body and understand food;
4. Begin new journeys with food, try some new ingredients or cuisine every week; Bring new
things into your life; if you don’t know how to cook, search on the web or contact us. This
may cost you some time. But it is much better spending time on food and cuisine than
spending time visiting doctors and lying in hospital bed being sick.
5. Ask for more medical choices from the government. When there are more choices, both the
medical services and medicine will be cheaper and better. The medical insurance fees will
drop, then the savings can go to your pocket rather than to the doctors and pharmacies.
For the US government:
1. Increase tax rate on those junk food;
2. The focus of the medical system should turn from curing disease to preventing disease.
Research on new medicines and new machines should not be encouraged, In stand funding
should go to prevention, and public health education such as providing food and health
courses in the primary school and communities; launch healthy habit campaign;
3. Help to promote more healthy ingredients and cuisine to the market;
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4. Review the procedure of the FDA, bringing in more effective and affordable medical
solutions and medicines to the market. Break the monopoly. When the price of medical
service and medicine decrease, the insurance fee will decrease as well. Insurance will be
more affordable. With lower insurance burden, the US companies will be more competitive
in the global market.
Part 2. Traditional Chinese Medicine Introduction
I believe many TCM medicines are very effective and affordable. And I believe that the FDA
should let them in without extra clinical trial. But just importing those medicine and translate
their labels and names is dangerous to the public. The doctors who can give TCM prescription
must have profound understanding of TCM theory. This is the key requirement for TCM to
benefit the public.
However, for most western doctors and scientists, TCM seems so primitive and mysterious. I
think there must be much misunderstanding. In fact TCM’s theory is very clear, objective,
logically reasonable and understandable.
Here I will use some modern and scientific language to explain the basic theory of TCM. Hope by
this way, can help many people understand the essence of TCM.
Fundamental theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Chapter 13. History of Traditional Chinese Medicine
There are over 5000 years of written records of Traditional Chinese Medicine history.
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Inscriptions on bones or tortoise shells of the Shang Dynasty (1700BC-1100BC) has recorded
many ancient Chinese medical activities. <Classic of Mountains and Seas or Shan Hai Jing> has
recorded many stories of doctors testing herbals.
Generally <Huangdi Acupuncture> <Su Nu Pulse Book>, < Canon of difficult questions> and
<Divine Farmer’s Materia Medica> are regarded as the four classic textual foundation of
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The following development of the TCM are based on these
four classic books. They are the summary of the medical practice before the Qin Dynasty (221BC-
207BC). In another word, before Qin Dynasty, an integral medical system had already been
developed. “Yin Yang”, and “Five Phases theory” are the theoretical foundation. Doctors use four
methods: to see, to smell, to ask, to feel to get the information for understanding and curing
disease. The therapy includes: bian stones, needle, medicine soup, moxibustion and so on.
The development of TCM follows into two paths one is “medical theory”. Another is “therapy
theory”. Before Han dynasty there were seven factions of “medical theory” eleven factions of
“therapy theory”. Most of their papers were lost. However before Han dynasty (202BC – 220AD)
the TCM has built its integral frame of theory which including clinical medicine, pharmacy theory
and acupuncture. Zhang Zhongjing is a famous doctor in Han dynasty. He had clearly stated the
eight features of disease: Yin, Yang; outside, inside; solid, void; cold, heat. Hua Tuo, - was
another famous doctor in Han dynasty. He was good at surgery. He invented “Ma Fu San”, which
is the earliest anesthetic in the world. He also create gymnastics “Wu Qin Xi” for common people
practicing to cultivate health.
The Tang dynasty (618AD —907AD) was a period when ancient China experienced prosperity.
Sun Simiao is the most famous doctor during that period. Sun Simiao has collected over 5000
prescriptions, and is regarded as the “King of Medicine”. Since then, TCM was widely transmitted
to Japan, Korea, Middle Asia and West Asia.
During the Song dynasty (960AD —1279AD), the government had built formal Medical schools.
The theory of TCM approached maturity. The government published <Tu Jing> and standardized
the “Jing Luo” theory.
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Many doctors build their theories and fame in the Jin dynasty (1115AD－1234AD) and Yuan
dynasty（1271AD—1368AD）. The four schools of medical practice came into being. They are
the “School of Cold” （寒凉派） “School of Eliminating pathogenic factors” （攻下派）
“School of invigorating the earth” （补土派） and “School of nourishing the essence”（养阴
派）. The representative of the four schools are Liu Yuansu , Zhang zihe, Li gao and Zhu
zhenheng.
The publishing of <Compendium of Materia Medica> at the end of Ming dynasty was a high point
of TCM. The writer, Li Shizhen took over 30 years researching on herbals and other traditional
medicine ingredients and while wroting this book. It records 1892 medicine ingredients in detail.
It collected 11096 prescriptions. It not only corrected some misunderstanding of previous
medical writings, also brought in new ideas, new classification, and thinking of evolved thoughts.
During the Qing and Ming dynasties lots of medical practitioners revised the classic writings and
added their own experiences. Lots of medical books were published. Like Ying Lou’s <Medical
Menu> Kentang Wang wrote <Guide line of symptoms therapy> and the Qing government
revised and published <golden mirror of medicine> <Siku Quanshu. Medicine> and so on.
After the First Opium War the western medicine and theory entered China greatly impact the
practice of TCM. Many TCM practitioner explored a revolution road for the TCM. One of the
claim was “Making TCM a science”.
After the People’s Republic of China was established lots of modern methodology and
techniques were introduced into TCM. TCM has entered into a new phase of development.
Chapter 14. Basic Theory of TCM
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The most difficult part for the Western people to understand TCM is the language. Actually it is
very difficult for me to translate the concepts. I believe many people were stopped by the name
of the concepts. They seem so primitive and not a scientific style. Don’t let a word or name stop
you. A name is no more than a means to an end. It’s an abstraction. The word apple isn’t apple.
You can pronounce the word apple or talk about it as long as you like, but you won’t really know
it until you bite one. After you have eaten an apple, the name apple becomes even less to you. In
fact in different language, apple has lots of other names. They are just a logo or mark. We must
go beyond the word to get the essence of TCM.
Yin and yang
Yin (阴) and yang (阳) are ancient Chinese concepts which can be traced back to the Shang
dynasty (1600BC–1100 BC) in <Yi Jing>. They represent two abstract, opposite and
complementary aspects that every phenomenon in the universe can be divided into, like day and
night, dry and wet, hard and soft and so on. Yin and Yang reflect the basic rules of the world. The
world is a mixture of Yin and Yang. Archaic as the concept may seems, it still works in the modern
science technology. Zero and one are the basic number for all other numbers, which can be
represented by Yin and Yang. They are the base of computer science. Positive and negative
electrons form atoms, a basic conception of physics, which can also be represented by Yin and
Yang.
Yin and Yang are just names, the essence of this conception is opposition! The reason the world
is formed by Yin and Yang is that opposition makes
energy. All the objects are formed by opposition. The
world is full of opposition.
FIGURE 5 YIN YANG GRAPH
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Primordial analogies for these aspects are the sun-
facing (yang) and the shady (yin) side of a hill. Two
other commonly used representational allegories of
Yin and Yang are female and male. In the Yin-Yang
theory, detailed attributions are made regarding the
Yin or Yang character of things:
TABLE 7 YIN AND YANG PHENOMENON12
Phenomenon Yin Yang
Celestial bodies moon sun
Gender female male
Location inside outside
Temperature cold hot
Direction downward upward
Degree of humidity damp/moist dry
Human Organs Fu ( stomach, intestine,
blander, bile, sanjiao)
Zang (heart, liver, lung,
kidney, spleen)
According to TCM, diseases have eight features: Yin, Yang; outside, inside; solid, void; heat, cold.
Outside, solid and heat are Yang. Inside, void, and cold are Yin. Organs are divided into Yin and
Yang. Zang organs are Yang, which include heart, lung, liver, spleen and kidney. Fu organs are Yin,
which include stomach, small intestine, large intestine, gallbladder, bladder and San Jiao. TCM
believes a healthy body should be the one which has balanced “Yin” and “Yang”. We can also
understand this concept by using a mathematical matrix.
12 Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_Chinese_medicine#Model_of_the_body
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TABLE 8 YIN YANG MATRIX
Yang Yin
Yang strong, strong (1,1) Strong, weak (1,0)
Yin Weak, strong (0,1) Weak, weak (0,0)
When both Yang and Yin are strong, people are healthy. Young people and children usually
belongs to this category. When people don’t have balanced Yin and Yang. They are weak or sick.
When people are very old or at the end phase of a disease. They usually have both weak Yang
and Yin. They are lack of vigor, and can only keep alive.
Therefore, maintaining a balanced system is one of the major way for TCM doctors to cure
disease. It puts patients as the major actor. Doctors or medicines are only assistance, helping
patients strengthen the weaker part and return to balance, rather than taking off morbid
elements for them. Based on such belief, many patients with destroyed organs can still survive
for a long time if there is balance, and not many treatments are required or necessary. On the
contrary, a perfunctory treatment may lead to incorrigible disaster.
Majority of human beings come into the world with 1*1 Yin Yang, and gradually go to 1*0, or
0*1. Finally we will all go to 0*0. The purpose of medical practice is to help people peacefully
experience every phase. However, it is impossible to reverse this trend.
Five Phases Theory
Five Phases (五行 wǔ xíng), sometimes also translated as the “Five Elements” theory, presumes
that all phenomena of the universe and nature can be broken down into five elemental –
represented by wood (木, Mu), fire (火, Huo), earth (土,Tu), metal (金,Jin), and water (水, Shui).
In this way, lines of correspondence can be drawn:
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TABLE 9 FIVE PHASES
Phenomenon Wood Fire Earth Metal/Gold Water
Direction east south center west north
Color green/blue red yellow white black
Climate wind heat damp dryness cold
Taste sour bitter sweet spicy salty
Zang Organ Liver Heart Spleen Lung Kidney
Fu Organ Gallbladder
Small
Intestine, San
Jiao
Stomach Large
Intestine Bladder
Sense organ eye tongue mouth nose ears
Season spring summer long summer autumn winter
Many modern scientists found such theory very primitive and pseudo-scientific. Actually it is
brilliant! It reveals the natural laws of the world so accurately and profound. If anyone say that it
is pseudo-scientific. It just shows that they don’t understand.
Chemists must find it very relatable. There is a class of objects in the world we called organic
compound which contains carbon (C), and hydrogen (H). It is the fundamental elements for all
organism. Animals, plants, materials made of plants and so on. They are represented by “wood”.
There is another class of objects in the world. Modern parlance calls them inorganic matter.
Objects like metals, oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen are all belongs to this class. The ancient
Chinese philosophers gave them the name “gold”
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A third class of objects in the world are called microbes. Objects such as fungus, and bacteria.
They are represented by “earth”.
“Fire” represent the process of composing and decomposing. During the process of oxidizing,
energy is released, and organic materials decomposed. After oxidizing, the feature of life also
disappear. Animals cannot compost organic materials as plants. Therefore for an animal “fire”
only represent the process of decomposing and “oxidizing”.
In the whole course of the circulatory system, a medium is required to transmit those materials.
“Water” represent the media of transportation. Also water is a necessary object for
photosynthesis. Water is usually one of the product of decomposing.
In the world all materials are circulated in one of the three categories (organic compound,
inorganic compound and microbe) by composing or discomposing. The transmission media is
water. The “Five Phases theory” accurately describes the natural laws of life circles. Such
material transforming processes exist everywhere in the world. It also happens inside our body.
Our ancestors had already understood the rules of the nature profoundly, and applied their
findings to the understanding of human body.
FIGURE 6 NATURAL MATERIAL RUNNING CIRCLE
Heart (Small intestine)
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The major function of heart is pumping blood. It is true. Have you think how fantastic it is for
blood to change from arterial blood to venous blood?
Yes, it is the process of oxidizing and decomposing. Arterial blood carry oxygen and other
nutrients to every cell in the body. There, they carry out the process of oxidizing. Then oxygen
leaves, and the cell gets energy and materials for growth and reproduction. That is why TCM take
heart as “fire”. It carry out the process of oxidizing. This process is for human’s body, inner-
oriented. Therefore heart is taken as Yin organ, Zang.
Small intestine is the major organ for digestion and absorption. In the small intestine, food are
totally digested into nutrient which can be absorbed by the body. In other words, in the small
intestine, the function of decomposing is carried out. Therefore small intestine represent “fire”.
This process is processing food, which is outside oriented. Therefore small intestine is taken as
Yang organ, Fu.
Spleen (Stomach)
One major function of the spleen is creating blood, and managing blood. Besides spleen is an
important lymph organ. It can produce lymphocyte, which can eliminate germs, pathogen,
antigen and other foreign matter. Spleen’s function is like a microbe as well. Therefore it is taken
as “earth”. Spleen’s function is inner oriented. Therefore spleen is take as Yin organ, Zang.
The major function of stomach is processing food. It grinds food into tiny pieces. It secrets gastric
acid and proteolytic enzyme, killing bacteria in the food, turning protein into peptides. The
function of stomach is like microbe. Therefore it is taken as “earth”. Because stomach’s major
function is processing food. It is outside-oriented. Therefore stomach is taken as Yang organ, Fu.
Liver (Gallbladder)
This gland plays a major role in metabolism and has a number of functions in the body, including
glycogen storage, decomposition of red blood cells, plasma protein synthesis, hormone
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production, and detoxification.13 Liver is among the most complicated organs in the human’s
body. It performs many organic functions just like a creature in the organic world. Liver also
secrets bile which is stored in the gallbladder. They are taken as “wood” together.
Kidney (Bladder)
Kidneys manage the inner water of the human body. They create urine. They evacuate extra
sodium, and potassium. The kidneys participate in whole-body homeostasis, regulating acid-base
balance, electrolyte concentrations, extracellular fluid volume, and blood pressure. Kidney
manage the liquids circulating inside the body. That is why kidney is taken as “water”.
Lung (Large Intestine)
Lung manage the respiratory system. They get oxygen from breathe, and let out carbon dioxide.
It is the essential element for oxidizing. Large intestine absorb water from the food residue
coming from small intestine, forming feces. Both oxygen, carbon dioxide and feces are all
inorganic materials for the human body Therefore the lungs and large intestine are regarded as
“Gold”.
By such classification, we can understand how the organic system inside a human body works.
Our body actually is microcosm. The whole outside world maps inside the human body. The
organ’s functions are not isolated but all linked with one another. It is not difficult to understand
there is close relationship between the five phases. There are promoting and inhibiting
relationship between the five phases.
13 Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liver
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FIGURE 7 RELATIONSHIP OF FIVE PHASES
Qi14
In a general sense, Qi is something that is defined by five "cardinal functions"
Actuation (推动, Tui Dong) – of all physical processes in the body, especially the circulation
of all body fluids such as blood in their vessels. This includes actuation of the functions of
the Zang, Fu and meridians.
Warming (温煦,Wen Xu) – the body, especially the limbs.
Defense (防御,Fang Yu) – against Exogenous Pathogenic Factors
Containment (固攝,Gu She) – of body fluids, i.e., keeping blood, sweat, urine, semen, etc.
from leakage or excessive emission.
14 Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_Chinese_medicine#Qi
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Transformation (气化,Qi Hua) – of food, drink, and breath into Qi, blood (Xue), and fluids
(Jin Ye), and/or transformation of all of the latter into each other.
Vacuity of Qi will especially be characterized by pale complexion, lassitude of spirit, lack of
strength, spontaneous sweating, laziness in speech, non-digestion of food, shortness of breath
(especially on exertion), and a pale and enlarged tongue.
Qi is believed to be partially generated from food and drink, and partially from air (by
breathing).Another considerable part of it is inherited from the parents and will be consumed in
the course of life.
TCM uses special terms for Qi running inside the blood vessels and for Qi that is distributed in
the skin, muscles, and tissues between. The former is called Ying Qi (营气); its function is to
complement blood and its nature has a strong yin aspect (although qi in general is considered to
be yang).The latter is called Wei Qi (卫气); its main function is defense and it has a pronounced
yang nature.
Qi is said to circulate in the meridians. Just as the qi held by each of the zang-fu organs, this is
considered to be part of the 'principal' qi (元气,Yuan Qi) of the body. Ginseng is the tonic which
help Yuan Qi a lot. Qi is as spirit, breath, and power. The Qi is the most important feature of life.
Blood (血，Xue)15
In contrast to the majority of other functional entities, blood (血, Xue) is correlated with a
physical form – the red liquid running in the blood vessels. Its concept is, nevertheless, defined
by its functions: nourishing all parts and tissues of the body, safeguarding an adequate degree of
moisture, sustaining and soothing both consciousness and sleep.
15 Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_Chinese_medicine#Qi
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Typical symptoms of a lack of Xue (usually termed "blood vacuity" （血虚,Xue Xu) are described
as: pale-white or withered-yellow complexion, dizziness, flowery vision, palpitations, insomnia,
numbness of the extremities; pale tongue; "fine" pulse.
Jinye16
Closely related to Xue are the body fluids (津液, Jinye), and just like blood they are considered to
be Yin in nature, and defined first and foremost by the functions of nurturing and moisturizing
the different structures of the body. Their other functions are to harmonize yin and yang, and to
help with the secretion of waste products.
Jinye are ultimately extracted from food and drink, and constitute the raw material for the
production of blood; conversely, blood can also be transformed into Jinye. Their palpable
manifestations are all bodily fluids: tears, sputum,saliva, gastric acid, joint fluid, sweat, urine, etc.
Zang-fu17
The Zang fu (脏腑) constitute the center piece of TCM's systematization of bodily functions.
Bearing the names of organs, they are, however, only secondarily tied to (rudimentary)
anatomical assumptions (the Fu a little more, the Zang much less).As they are primarily defined
by their functions, they are not equivalent to the anatomical organs – to highlight this fact, their
names are usually capitalized.
16 Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_Chinese_medicine#Qi
17 Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditional_Chinese_medicine#Qi
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The term Zang (脏) refers to the five entities considered to be Yin in nature –Heart, Liver, Spleen,
Lung, Kidney–, while Fu (腑) refers to the six Yang organs –Small Intestine, Large Intestine,
Gallbladder, Urinary Bladder, Stomach and San Jiao.
The Zang's essential functions consist in production and storage of Qi and Xue; in a wider sense
they are considered to regulate digestion, breathing, water metabolism, the musculoskeletal
system, the skin, the sense organs, aging, emotional processes, mental activity etc. The Fu
organs' main purpose is merely to transmit and digest (转化，Zhuan Hua) substances like waste,
food, etc.
Since their concept was developed on the basis of Five Phases philosophy, each Zang is paired
with a Fu, and each Zang-Fu pair is assigned to one of five elemental qualities (i.e., the Five
Elements or Five Phases).These correspondences are stipulated as:
Fire (火) = Heart (心,Xin) and Small Intestine (小腸,Xiao Chang) (and, secondarily, "Triple Burner
[三焦, San Jiao] and Pericardium [心包,Xin Bao])
Earth (土) = Spleen (脾, Pi) and Stomach (胃,Wei)
Metal (金) = Lung (肺,Fei) and Large Intestine (大腸,Da Chang)
Water (水) = Kidney (腎,Shen) and Bladder (膀胱,Pang Guang)
Wood (木) = Liver (肝,Gan) and Gallbladder (膽,Dan)
The Zang-Fu are also connected to the twelve standard meridians– each Yang meridian is
attached to a Fu organ and five of the yin meridians are attached to a Zang. As there are only five
Zang but six yin meridians, the sixth is assigned to the Pericardium, a peculiar entity almost
similar to the Heart Zang.
As we have already analyzed before, the function of Zang is mainly inner oriented. Their products
can be directly used for the human body. The function of Fu is mainly outside oriented. The
stomach conveys the food from the mouth. The small intestine digest food from stomach into
nutrient. The large intestine produce shit for feces. Bladder store urine.The gallbladder store bile.
Therefore, TCM takes Fu as outside function, and Yang, takes Zang as inside function and Yin.
Heart is the master of all Zang and Fu. According to TCM it also dominate spirit, mind and
emotion. That is why when people are hurt emotionally, they feel heart broken.
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Jing-luo
Jing Luo is another important conception in TCM.
There is still a lot of discussion about what exactly Jing Luo
is. A popular definition of Jing Luo system is connective
tissue + blood vessel + neuroglia system + lymphatic system.
Although the physical appearance of Jing luo is not very
clear yet, the function.
The first function of Jing Luo is connecting organs inside the
human body. By such connection, all the organs can
function together to maintain the whole organic body.
The second function of Jing Luo is transporting Qi and
blood, nourishing the body. Qi and blood are basic
requirement for a life. The Jing Luo system has spread all
over the body. By using such system, can blood and Qi reach
every cell of the body.
The third function of Jing Luo is transmitting signals of the body. When part of our body is
stimulated, the corresponding signal will be sent to the brain and corresponding Zang and Fu. On
the other hand, when there is a change of Zang or Fu, they will also transmit signals to
corresponding body surface. That is why we can discern the function of organs by checking our
face’s color, poxes, tongue, eye and so on.
Fourth, Jing Luo system can regulate the function of the Zang and Fu. When organs are out of
function, they are stimulated by the Jing Luo system. The mal-functioned organ can work again.
FIGURE 8 ACUPUNCTURE CHART
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TCM identifies 12 "regular" and 8 "extraordinary" meridians; the Chinese terms being 十二经脉
(:Shi Er Jing Mai, lit. "the Twelve Vessels") and 奇经八脉 (Qi Jing Ba Mai) respectively. There's
also a number of less customary channels branching off from the "regular" meridians.
In the practical application. Jing Luo can be used both as diagnosing and treatment media. TCM
doctors can use Jing Luo to confirm their diagnosis. And acupuncture also be used frequently as
treatment for disease.
Acupuncture has already been widely accepted by many developed countries as a formal medical
treatment. It takes time and formal education to become a professional an acupuncturist.
However, common people can also use Jing Luo theory to improve their health. All Jing Luo are
concentrated in our feet. Foot massage is always a good way to improve the function of our
organs. If we don’t know the corresponding acupuncture point. Just walking bare foot on pebbles
can have positive effect.
I used to cure my chronicle urinary infection by massage. I still remember the extreme pain I feel
when I made the first contact on the acupuncture point. Actually I didn’t use much strength. Only
a tiny pressure on that point already make me sweating. Therefore, I knew how sick I was. But
after three months of massage, the pain had gone.
Chapter 15. Features of TCM diagnose and
treatment
The theory of TCM was developed by a long term clinical practice based on the traditional
Chinese philosophy and combined natural science knowledge. The theory has been used as
guideline for over 5000 years and has always been revised and developed. There are two basic
features of this system:
1. Basic features
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Integral view
According to TCM theory, the human body is an organic integral; the human body is part of
the nature inevitably influenced by the environment.
In TCM theory, the heart is the center of the body. The five internal organs (heart liver
spleen lungs and kidneys are five systems in the body. The five systems are connected by the
Jing Luo. Qi, blood and body fluid are the material foundation of the body. The five systems
are functioning together to maintain a balanced system. From another point of view the
body is divided into two parts: Yin and Yang (feminine and masculine). The two parts are
mutually contacted restricted. At the same time according to TCM human beings have close
relationship between the nature and the society. In another word, the human body is a
mirror image of the outside world. Such an “integral view” is the foundation of TCM practice
including finding the cause of sickness, diagnosing, making prescription, cultivating health
and disease prevention.
From this point of view we can get another important conception of the TCM “balance”.
TCM believe that a healthy body is a balanced system both inside the body and outside with
nature. Therefore when TCM doctors treat the patients they always consider the season
weather place the patients live and work and their habits. The sick position or organs usually
is a reflection of inner disorder. Eye disease usually shows weakness of the liver. Ear diseases
usually shows the weakness of the kidney. Muscle diseases usually shows the weakness of
the spleen. When the liver is sick the spleen. When liver is sick spleen should be
strengthened. Finding reasons of disorder is the key to cure disease. As I mentioned before,
causes of disease can be categorized into four classes: outside factors, personality factors,
life habits and heredity. For different causes, different prescriptions can be applied.
However, the success of healing mainly decided by the patient’s willingness.
2. Diagnose
TCM use four diagnosis methodologies to collect information from a patient.
The four diagnosis are: to see, to smell, to ask, and to feel.
To see
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The TCM doctor observe a patient’s spirit, color of face, skin, limbs, eyes and tongue to get
information about the disease. Besides, doctors can also observe a patient’s demeanor and
wound.
It is better not wearing make up to see a doctors. The tongue’s status is very important for a
TCM doctor. Therefore, when a patient plan to see a TCM doctor, he or she should also avoid
food which will temporarily change color of tongue such as: milk, soy milk, olive, dark plum,
smoking, coffee, orange, peanuts, walnuts, wine and so on.
The first thing to see is the spirit of a patient. When the eyes are bright, patient’s mind is
clear, voice is powerful, it shows that the patient’s Qi is not hurt, the disease should be heat,
Yang, outside, or solid.
When a patient is lack of spirit, is slow to respond, unable to talk, or with soft voice. Usually
the Qi of the patient is hurt. The disease must be severe, chronicle, cold, void, and Yin.
When a patient is insensible, confused, or manic, the patient’s Qi is hurt as well, and very
difficult to recover.
The second thing to see is color of face.
A red face usually show the inner heat. Red all over face shows solid heat; only red on
cheek shows void heat (unbalanced Yin and Yang);
A white face usually shows inner cold or lack of blood;
A yellow face usually shows weak spleen, inner humidity;
A black face usually shows weak kidney, void Yang, or chronicle disease;
A blue face also shows inner cold, or weak liver;
The third thing to see is morphology of body
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Over weight patients usually have weak spleen. Slim patient usually have weak Yin,
unbalanced Yin and Yang; Patient with difficulty of movement may have cold and humidity.
And so on.
Another important thing to see is tongue.
Through Jing Luo, tongue is connected with our Zang and Fu. Therefore, the function of Zang
and Fu, blood, Jin Ye, and Qi all show on the tongue. By observing the tongue, doctors can
get information of the organs, discriminate the disease and changes.
TCM divides the tongue into three parts, tip of tongue, middle of tongue, and root of tongue.
Tips of tongue shows status of heart and lung, middle of tongue shows status of spleen and
stomach, root of tongue shows status of kidney, sides of tongue shows status of liver and
gallbladder.
The first thing to check is colors of tongue. Pale color shows void and cold disease, or lack of
Yang, Qi and blood. If there are teeth marks, usually shows lack of Yang and Qi. Red tongue
shows inner heat. The darker the color the more inner heat. If there is blue or purple spot,
shows gore inside the body.
The second thing to see of tongue is its shape. A fat tongue shows inner humidity, weak
spleen or weak kidney. Slim tongue shows lack of Qi and blood. If there is awn on the
tongue, shows heat of liver.
Third thing to see about tongue is its status. If tongue keeps shaking, it shows lacking of both
Qi and blood. If tongue slant aside, the patient may stroke.
The fourth thing to see is the coat of the tongue. White coat shows inner cold. Yellow coat
shows inner heat. If the coat is thin, the disease usually not bad. If coat is thick, the disease
usually serious. If there is no coat, it shows a very void stomach.
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To smell
TCM doctors should also get information by smelling. Therefore, before going to a TCM
doctor, patients should not eat or drink things with a strong smell. The doctor should smell
the patient’s mouth, smell of body, phlegm and so on.
Actually, to smell also includes listening to the voice of a patient. The doctor should listen to
voice of the patient, his or her breathe, cough, vomit, sigh and so on.
To ask
TCM doctors should ask all relevant information about the disease.
Ask hot or cold; ask about sweat; ask what food a patient eat; ask drinks a patient take; ask
urine and feces; ask about pain; sleep; hearing and eye sight; ask about period and
leucorrhea; ask history of disease, and family disease record;
To feel
To feel includes feeling the pulse of a patients, the temperature of body and to press the
body. By feeling the pulse and feel the body the doctors can get further information about a
disease.
Blood vessels are all over the body. When there is disease or pain in the body, it will
definitely affect the blood vessels system. Then the pulse will be affected. By feeling pulse
strength, speed, rhythm, depth, a doctor can tell organ’s status inside the body.
Combing all information obtained from the four diagnoses, a doctor can have an integrated
view of the patient’s disease.
3. Discrimination
After diagnosing, a TCM doctor will discriminate the disease.
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First the doctor should confirm the disease. But for most disease, there are many types. The
doctors should also discriminate the types of disease according to the information he get
from diagnosing. For example, cold may have different symptoms such as fear of cold, feel
hot, headache and pain of the body. The causes of cold are different as well, including cold
wind, hot wind, summer heat and so on. Only by finding out the correct causes, a doctor can
give the right prescription. For the cold wind cold, warm the body is the right therapy. For
the hot wind cold, clearing inner heat is the right therapy. For the summer heat cold, clearing
summer heat and wet is the right therapy.
According to TCM, the same disease can show different symptoms at different phases of the
disease; different diseases may show the same symptoms at different phases. Therefore, for
one disease, the prescription may change accordingly. For different disease, prescription
may be the same. When measles doesn't come out fully at the initial phase, the prescription
should help the measles come out; in the middle phase, lung usually shows heat,
prescription should help clear lung heat; at the final phase, lung heat usually hurt lung Yin
and stomach Yin, nourishing Yin should be the therapy. For another case, irregular heartbeat
and amenorrhea are two different diseases. Yet both of them will show blue blood inside the
body. Therefore the prescription may both be promoting blood circulation, and clearing and
dissolving the inner gore.
Eight features discrimination
The basic methodology of TCM discrimination is eight feature method. That is define the
diseases by the eight features according to the information from diagnostics. The eight
features are: Yin, Yang, outside, inside, cold, heat, void and solid.
Yin and Yang are the summary feature. Normally inside, cold, and void are Yin disease.
Examples such as pale face, weak, lack of strength, fear cold, weak pulse are Yin disease.
Heat, solid and outside are Yang disease. Examples are, restlessness, thirsty, desiring cold,
constipation, yellow urine, red tongue and so on.
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It is possible to have both Yin and Yang disease, like outside cold, inside heat, outside void,
inside solid. A disease can also transfer to the opposite direction, from outside to inside,
from void to solid, from cold to heat, and so on.
When features of disease are determined, corresponding prescription can be made.
Qi and blood discrimination
Qi, blood and Jing Ye are the material foundation of life. Qi and blood discrimination can be
further divided into Qi discrimination, blood discrimination and Jin Ye discrimination.
There are four kinds of Qi disease, void Qi, sank Qi, stagnated Qi and reverse Qi. In summer,
many people may have such experience as self-sweating, lack of strength, and dizziness.
Summer heat and wet can exhaust Qi. Therefore in summer, it is better drink some cool tea
like wax gourd tea, bitter gourd tea, chrysanthemum tea to clear summer heat.
There are three kinds of blood disease, void blood, gore, and hot blood. When there is pain
at some part of body, it is usually a gore disease. The gore inside the body has blocked
normal circulation of the blood.
The difficulty of metabolism of the other liquid inside the body may lead to Jin Ye disease.
Such as phlegm disease, edema, urine and leukorrhagia.
There are other discrimination method such as Jing Luo discrimination, Zang Fu
discrimination, San Jiao discrimination and so on.
4. Prescription and therapy
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TCM therapy includes: acupuncture, moxa-moxibustion, massage, cupping, Gua Sha, herbal
soup, herbal tea, herbal wine, Qigong, and food recipe.
The treatment can be applied together at the same time. Massage, food, Qigong, herbal tea
and herbal wine are also used as daily health cultivation for healthy people. As I wrote
before, TCM put more effort on disease prevention. Sometimes, there is no clear boundary
between disease treatment and disease prevention.
Part 3 Chinese Cuisine and Ingredients
Chapter 15 Healthy Chinese Cuisine Techniques
and Recipes
As I introduced in front, there are many Chinese cooking method such as: boiling, stewing,
braising, frying, stir-frying, quick-frying, deep-frying, frying and simmering, sautéing, simmering,
smoking, roasting, baking, steaming, scalding and cold dressing.
Here I would like to introduce several healthy methods in detail.
Steaming(蒸)
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According to recorded history, steaming cuisine has
over 10,000 years’ history in China. The ancient food
doctor used to comment that steaming is the best
cuisine to keep nutrients of ingredients, next is
frying, the worst is deep-frying.
Steaming is using the heat of water vapor to cook
food. For most steaming cuisine, not much oil
added, the temperature is below 100 Celsius degree,
food can be ready in several minutes. By using this method, most nutrients are kept, while at the
same time it saves energy. It is one of the most popular cuisine methods the Chinese use. All
most every ingredients can be cooked by steaming. The most famous steaming foods are:
steamed stuffed-bun, fish, babao rice, rice-beef and rice-pork.
We can get a steamer easily from Amazon or cuisine store.
Add some water at the bottom, put the food on the top aperture plate. After the water boiled
several minutes, the foods are ready.
Stuffed-bun, in Chinese it called: Bao Zi
Stuffed-bun is one of the most popular breakfast or
dinner food for Chinese. The outside skin are made
of flour. The inside stuffing can be hundreds of
choices like: Chinese cabbage pork, celery pork,
lamb, shrimp, vegetables mixture, red bean paste
(sweet), sesame paste (sweet), lotus seed paste
(sweet), pumpkin paste (sweet) and so on. No or
only little oil is added to make it. No additive added
to them. The stuffing usually contains many different
ingredients, providing us different nutrients. Most
important: they are delicious!
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It takes time and technique to make Chinese stuffed-bun. But one can easily get from many
Chinese restaurants. Or go to a Chinese or Korean super market. There are fast frozen stuffed-
bun, not as good as fresh one, but acceptable.
If you buy the fast frozen stuffed-bun, when you want to eat, put them in a steamer, heat them
for 10 minutes. They are ready. Served with congee or soup. A fabulous dinner is ready.
Cold dressing(凉拌)
Cold dressing food is very like salad. But the sauce Chinese use for dressing is much different
from salad sauce. The ingredients are different too. The sauce Chinese use for cold dressing are
soy oil, sugar, vinegar, chilly oil, sesame oil, garlic, mustard and Sichuan pepper. You can choose
your own flavor and add any of them or all according to your preference. Comparing salad sauce,
the chief of cold saucing has more flexibility and can control the fat intake. Because most
ingredients for cold dressing are fresh, they keep much of the vitamins. Cold dressing cuisine is
especially suitable for summer. But people with diarrhea should avoid cold dressing food.
Here I would like to share two most popular cold dressing dishes.
Cucumber cold dressing
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Cut the cucumber into pieces, you can keep the skin
or take it off, either is fine. Add a little soy oil and
garlic. It is ready. You can add other flavors: vinegar,
chili sauce, green onion or sugar if you wish. It is
easy to make. And it is very fresh and juicy. You can
imagine a fresh cucumber with soy oil’s taste and a
little spicy garlic! It make me slobbering.
Chicken cold dressing
Boil a free range chicken for 20 minutes with green
onion and ginger. Take the chicken out wait until it
is cool. Cut it into pieces. Add soy oil, garlic,
shredded ginger, chilly oil and a little sugar. Mix
them. Then it is ready. The chicken is very soft and
juicy, accompanied by spicy chili oil. It totally make
me hungry.
Besides, many ingredients can be cold saucing, such as stem lettuce, sea tangle, pigweed, black
fungus, pork, beef and so on. If the ingredients cannot eat freshly, boil them and cold saucing
them when it is cool. Cold saucing is especially good for summer.
Stewing
Stew is very healthy cooking method as well. Stew is usually used for cooking meat. Because
stew normally takes at least two hours, meat will be very soft. Many nutrients dissolve in the
soup, like Protein, and bone glue. Stew is especially good for children, elders and patients. All the
ingredients in the stew are very soft and easy to be absorbed by human body. Stew is also very
good for people with weak stomach.
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Chinese people usually add Chinese herbals into stew together with food ingredients to improve
the nourishing function. Stew is a traditional cuisine for Chinese to nourish health.
In the old days, stew can only be appreciated by the rich families. Because it takes time, and cost
so much firewood. The poor family cannot afford. But now there are many types of stew pot
made stew easily. Put all the ingredients into the pot, add enough water, then the pot can
automatically adjust heat. After hours, a delicious stew is ready.
When I was in New York studying, usually before I
went to school, I would put the planned ingredients
into my little stew pot, add water until every things
are fully covered. Turn on the power, and left. When
I finished classes and come back, a very delicious
stew is waiting for me. Added a little salt, I can enjoy
a very healthy and delicious stew soup. It doesn’t
cost much time but very satisfying my requirement
for food.
The most popular ingredients for stew are: free range chicken, duck, lamb, pork bone, pork ribs
and beef. Please notice that vegetables usually are not suitable for stew, because stew takes long
time. The nutrients of vegetables are totally destroyed by long time cooking. If one want to add
vegetables into stew. We can add the vegetable when the stew is almost ready. Ginger is the
most important flavor ingredients for stew. Please put one or two pieces of ginger into all meat
stew. Ginger can eliminate the unfavorable smell of meat. Before we begin stew, we usually put
meat into boiled water for 5 minutes until the water boiled again. Then take meat out, pouring
away the rest water. This procedure can eliminate the blood in the meat. The blood will affect
the taste of the soup.
Chicken stew soup ranked No 1 in my stew recipe, very nourishing and delicious. I made it every
week. It is suitable for every season. Chicken can be stewed together with Chinese ginseng,
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American ginseng, black fungus, mushrooms, Chinese yam, Chinese wolfberry, angelica, red
dates, longan and so on.
But chicken is the leading actor for the chicken stew, the rest ingredients should not be too
much. Especially Chinese herbal like Chinese ginseng, American ginseng, Chinese yam, Chinese
wolfberry, angelica should not be more than 5g, for one chicken. 50g mushroom or 50 black
fungus are enough to serve one chicken.
During the stew time, you may find the water is not enough, you can only add hot boiled water
to the soup not cold water. The cold water will make the dissolved protein concreting, which
cannot be absorbed by us.
In the summer, I like duck stew.
Duck is slightly cold, can help
eliminate summer heat. Duck
can be stewed together with
sea tangle, Chinese yam, and
Chinese wolfberry.
The procedure of duck stew is
the same as chicken stew. If we add sea tangle into the stew, it must be put at the same time as
duck. It takes some time for sea tangle to be soft.
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Beef stew is especially good for spring, autumn and
winter. It is good choice to stew beef together with
radish or carrot. But we should add radish or carrot
later. Please notice that radish and carrot cannot be
eat together. Another perfect beef stew ingredient is
tomato. 30 minutes before you want eat, add 2-3
tomato into the beef stew, then it can be ready on
time. If possible take off the skin of tomato. The skin
of tomato has a taste of acerbity. Add some cilantro
when the stew is ready can greatly improve the flavor.
Lamb stew is good for winter too. We usually stew
lamb with radish. But we should add radish later.
Add some cilantro when the stew is ready can
greatly improve the flavor.
Congee
Although congee is not a cuisine method, it is very
popular in very Chinese family. And there are so
many types of congee. I have to introduce it. Congee
is also the healthiest cuisine which are best for child, elder and patients.
There are over hundreds kinds of congee in China. Congee in Guangdong province is the most
famous. There are sweet congee like “Ba Bao congee”, lotus seed congee, red bean congee,
mung bean congee, red dates & longan congee, lily bulb congee and so on. There are meat
congee like, chicken congee, fish congee and pork congee. There are vegetable congee and
seafood congee as well.
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For any kind of congee, rice is the basic ingredient. (We can also use millet, corn flour or black
rice to replace rice.) But rice is the most popular. Adding other different ingredients, can make
different congee.
Ba Bao congee
Ba Bao congee is the most nutritious congee.
Besides rice, it contains: longan, red dates, red
bean, black bean, peanut, coix seed, walnut,
lotus seed and gordon euryale.
Prepare 50g rice(or black rice), five longan,
seven red dates, 20g red bean, 20 black bean,
10g peanuts, 10g coix seed, 10 lotus seed, 10
gordon euryale, 10 walnut.
First soak red bean, black bean, peanut, coix seed, lotus seed and gordon euryale for three hours.
Second, put cold water to boil red beans, black beans, and gordon euryale until water boiled.
Then add in the rice. Boiled them for an hour. Then put in the soaked lotus seed, red dates and
peanuts. Until congee became viscous, then put in walnuts. Boiled them all until everything is
soft, add some sugar or rock sugar. Finally it is ready.
If you cannot find so many ingredients, add what you have is fine. Ba Bao congee is very soft and
mild, suitable for everyone especially for patients. As you can see it contains so many
ingredients, it is very nutritious and healthy. But most patients cannot eat peanuts, if the congee
is for patients, please don’t add peanuts.
Other congee.
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The cooking procedure for all other congees are almost the same. First boil rice until it is soft.
Then add the vegetables, meat or seafood you like. Until every ingredients are soft, the congee is
ready. If you cook meat or seafood congee, remember to add shredded ginger to eliminate the
smell. Whenever we make congee, the ratio of water to ingredients should be about 9:1.
Because water can evaporate easily, and congee usually takes at least about 40 minutes.
Chapter 16 Property of Ingredients
In this part I will introduce some popular Chinese food ingredients, drinks and their property and
taste for your reference. Most of them can be easily get from China town or Chinese super
market, I do wish you can try some, bringing new things to your table. It is not necessary for me
to list them all. I believe everyone can find their own healthy cook book. I wish this is just a
starter for you.
Category one: Even property ingredients
Food with even property is always a safe choice. No mater you are healthy, or sick, in which
season, we can choose even property food without worry.
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Black fungus (黑木耳, Hei Mu Er)
Property and taste: even, sweet
Impacted organ: stomach and large intestine
Function:
Black fungus is called king of vegetables. It can promote blood circulation, nourish blood. It is
good for patients with gall stone, kidney stone and bladder stone.
The Fe black fungus contains is 10 times of meat. It can prevent anemia. It is rich of K, can
prevent arteriosclerosis and coronary disease. Vegetable jelly it contains can help clean inside
dust. It can prevent cancer.
Cuisine tips:
Black fungus is one of best ingredients in the world. It is healthy, containing lots of nutrients and
elements. It is easy to cook. Cold dressing, frying, and stewing are all very suitable for black
fungus. But we cannot eat fresh black fungus. Fresh black fungus contain porphyrin, which may
lead to skin itching.
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Dry black fungus is more popular, because it can be easily stored for a long time. It is available in
all Chinese super market. When you want to eat, take some dry black fungus out, soaking it in
warm water for 20 minutes. Then it is ready for cooking.
Nutrition of 100g dry black fungus:
Caloric 205 Vitamin B1 0.17 mg Ca 247 mg
Protein 12.1 g Lactochrome 0.44 mg Mg 152 mg
Fat 1.5 g Antipellagra factor 2.5 mg Fe 97.4 mg
Carbohydrate 35.7 g Vitamin C 0 mg Mn 8.86 mg
Dietary fiber 29.9 g Vitamin E 11.34 mg Zn 3.18 mg
VataminA 17 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.32 mg
Carotene 5.3 mcg K 757 mg P 292 mg
Retinol 15.5 mcg Na 48.5 mg Se 3.72 mcg
White fungus (银耳, Yin Er)
Property and taste: even, sweet
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Impacted organ: lung, stomach, and kidney.
According to TCM, white fungus is an all-around nourishing food. It can strengthen kidney,
increase energy, replenish body fluid, moistening lung, relief cough, nourishing stomach,
strengthen heart, and protect brain. It is also called fairy food. It is good for all old, weak people
including pregnant women. From modern medical study, white fungus can also restrain tumor.
First, white fungus can improve the detoxifying function of liver, protecting liver from hurt.
Second, white fungus has lots of vitamin D, which is good for growth of teenager.
Third, white fungus has natural vegetable jelly, which is good for skin. It can reduce wrinkles,
eliminate color fleck.
Fourth, white fungus can increase the capability of white cells, strengthening the immunity
system of people.
Cuisine tips:
The most famous and popular white fungus recipe is white fungus soup. Put the soft soaked
white fungus into a stew pot, add a little Chinese wolfberry, several red dates and longan, stew
them together for at least 3 hours. Before eating, add some honey or rock sugar. White fungus
soup can nourish “Yin”, strengthen kidney, prevent cancer, nourish lung, arrest cough. It is
suitable for everyday drink.
Dry white fungus is available for all Chinese super market, because it can be easily stored for a
long time. When you want to eat, take some dry black fungus out, soaking it in warm water for 2
hours. Then it is ready for stewing.
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Nutrition of 100g dry white fungus:
Caloric 200 Vitamin B1 0.05 mg Ca 36 mg
Protein 10 g Lactochrome 0.25 mg Mg 54 mg
Fat 1.4 g Antipellagra factor 5.3 mg Fe 4.1 mg
Carbohydrate 36.9 g Vitamin C 0 mg Mn 0.17 mg
Dietary fiber 30.4 g Vitamin E 1.26 mg Zn 3.03 mg
VataminA 8 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.08 mg
Carotene 6.7 mcg K 1588 mg P 369 mg
Retinol 14.6 mcg Na 82.1 mg Se 2.95 mcg
Sweet potato (红薯, Hong Shu)
Property and taste: even, sweet
Impacted organ: spleen, and kidney
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Function
Sweet potato is a perfect food for losing weight. Its calorie is much lower than rice. It can
improve Qi, strengthen spleen and stomach. It contains plenty of vegetable fiber and pectin,
which help defecation. It contains much β- Carotene which can prevent cancer.
Cuisine tips:
Sweet potato can only be eaten when it is cooked thoroughly. Millet sweet potato congee can
increase Qi, help defecation, which can cure constipation. Cut sweet potato into small pieces.
Boil millet and sweet together until all soft, then a millet sweet potato congee is ready.
Every 100g sweet potato contains:
Caloric 99 Vitamin B1 0.04 mg Ca 23 mg
Protein 1.1 g Lactochrome 0.04 mg Mg 12 mg
Fat 0.2 g Antipellagra factor 0.6 mg Fe 0.5 mg
Carbohydrate 23.1 g Vitamin C 26 mg Mn 0.11 mg
Dietary fiber 1.6 g Vitamin E 0.28 mg Zn 0.15 mg
VataminA 125 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.18 mg
Carotene 0.6 mcg K 130 mg P 39 mg
Retinol 73.4 mcg Na 28.5 mg Se 0.48 mcg
Potato (土豆, Tu Dou)
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Property and taste: even, sweet
Impacted organ: spleen, lung, kidney and stomach
Function:
Potato can improve Qi. It can strengthen spleen and stomach. It contains plenty of K, which can
prevent apoplexy.
Notice: potato chips are very unhealthy. Many researches have proved that fried chips can
greatly increase the possibility of breast cancer and diabetes. Stew potato and mash potato are
better choices.
Every 100g potato contains:
Caloric 76 Vitamin B1 0.08 mg Ca 8 mg
Protein 2 g Lactochrome 0.04 mg Mg 23 mg
Fat 0.2 g Antipellagra factor 1.1 mg Fe 0.8 mg
Carbohydrate 16.5 g Vitamin C 27 mg Mn 0.14 mg
Dietary fiber 0.7 g Vitamin E 0.34 mg Zn 0.37 mg
VataminA 5 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.12 mg
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Carotene 0.8 mcg K 342 mg P 40 mg
Retinol 79.8 mcg Na 2.7 mg Se 0.78 mcg
Chinese yam (淮山, Huai Shan)
Property and taste: even, sweet
Impacted organ: spleen, lung, kidney
Function:
In China yam is called “fairy food”, because it is a traditional tonic food in China. Yam can help
produce saliva and relieve thirst. Yam contains 18 amino acid, more than 10 microelements, and
other minerals. It contains a special mucoprotein, which can prevent rheumatoid arthritis and
atherosclerosis. It can strengthen the spleen and kidney, intensify lung.
It is also very famous for anti-aging. Chinese yam has auxiliary curative effect on diabetes
because it is easy to produce satiety, which helps control food intake.
Yam is frequently used as medicine in TCM.
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Cuisine tips:
Normally Chinese use it to make stew or fried with other ingredients. Stew Chinese yam with
chicken or pork ribs is very nourishing. It cannot serve freshly.
Notice: people who have cold or fever should avoid, people who have diarrhea should avoid.
Every 100g Chinese yam contains:
Caloric 56 Vitamin B1 0.05 mg Ca 16 mg
Protein 1.9 g Lactochrome 0.02 mg Mg 20 mg
Fat 0.2 g Antipellagra factor 0.3 mg Fe 0.3 mg
Carbohydrate 11.6 g Vitamin C 5 mg Mn 0.12 mg
Dietary fiber 0.8 g Vitamin E 0.24 mg Zn 0.27 mg
VataminA 3 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.24 mg
Carotene 0.7 mcg K 213 mg P 34 mg
Retinol 84.8 mcg Na 18.6 mg Se 0.55 mcg
Chinese cabbage (大白菜, Da Bai Cai)
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Property and taste: even, sweet
Impacted organ: intestine and stomach
Function:
Chinese cabbage is the best food for stomach and intestine disease. It is especially useful to let
out toxin of intestine. People who want to clean their intestine can just eat a cabbage recipe for
three days. Then he/she can see the amazing effect. Boiled the cabbage with fresh water, adding
a little chilly, add a little salt and oil as you wish.
A research institute in New York showed the fact that Chinese cabbage contains many elements
which help suppress cancer cell.
Cuisine tips
We can make cabbage soup or fried it with other vegetables or meat.
Every 100g Chinese cabbage contains:
Caloric 17 Vitamin B1 0.04 mg Ca 50 mg
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Protein 1.5 g Lactochrome 0.05 mg Mg 11 mg
Fat 0.1 g Antipellagra factor 0.6 mg Fe 0.7 mg
Carbohydrate 2.4 g Vitamin C 31 mg Mn 0.15 mg
Dietary fiber 0.8 g Vitamin E 0.76 mg Zn 0.38 mg
VataminA 20 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.05 mg
Carotene 0.6 mcg K 0 mg P 31 mg
Retinol 94.6 mcg Na 57.5 mg Se 0.49 mcg
Radish (白萝卜, Bai Luo Bu)
Property and taste: even, sweet and spicy
Impacted organ: spleen, stomach, and lung
Function:
Radish can help digestion, dissolve retention of food. It also help clean stones in the urinary
system. Radish is good for cough. Radish cuisine is especially good for winter.
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Cuisine tips:
In China there is a saying that radish is cheap ginseng. Radish stew with beef or lamb is super
delicious dish for winter. After having a big bowl of the radish lamb stew, all the body is warm
and full of energy.
Every 100g radish contains:
Caloric 21 Vitamin B1 0.02 mg Ca 36 mg
Protein 0.9 g Lactochrome 0.03 mg Mg 16 mg
Fat 0.1 g Antipellagra factor 0.3 mg Fe 0.5 mg
Carbohydrate 4 g Vitamin C 21 mg Mn 0.09 mg
Dietary fiber 1 g Vitamin E 0.92 mg Zn 0.3 mg
VataminA 3 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.04 mg
Carotene 0.6 mcg K 173 mg P 26 mg
Retinol 93.4 mcg Na 61.8 mg Se 0.61 mcg
Cowpea (豇豆, Jiang Dou)
Property and taste: even, sweet
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Impacted organ: stomach, and kidney
Function:
Cowpea can strengthen kidney, and improve appetite. Cowpea is very good for diabetes. It can
prevent cancer.
Cuisine tips:
In China, cowpea is a popular ingredient for pickle. When it is ready, fried minced cowpea pickle
with minced pork, we can make a very delicious dish, which can greatly improve our appetite.
Every 100g cowpea contains:
Caloric 322 Vitamin B1 0.16 mg Ca 40 mg
Protein 19.3 g Lactochrome 0.08 mg Mg 36 mg
Fat 1.2 g Antipellagra factor 1.9 mg Fe 7.1 mg
Carbohydrate 58.5 g Vitamin C 0 mg Mn 1.07 mg
Dietary fiber 7.1 g Vitamin E 8.61 mg Zn 3.04 mg
VataminA 10 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 2.1 mg
Carotene 3 mcg K 737 mg P 344 mg
Retinol 10.9 mcg Na 6.8 mg Se 5.74 mcg
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Crown daisy (茼蒿,Tong Hao)
Property and taste: even, sweet, spicy
Impacted organ: liver, and kidney
Function
Crown daisy can nourish liver and kidney. It can also peace mind and help sleep.
Every 100g crown daisy contains:
Caloric 21 Vitamin B1 0.04 mg Ca 73 mg
Protein 1.9 g Lactochrome 0.09 mg Mg 20 mg
Fat 0.3 g Antipellagra factor 0.6 mg Fe 2.5 mg
Carbohydrate 2.7 g Vitamin C 18 mg Mn 0.28 mg
Dietary fiber 1.2 g Vitamin E 0.92 mg Zn 0.35 mg
VataminA 252 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.06 mg
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Carotene 0.9 mcg K 220 mg P 36 mg
Retinol 93 mcg Na 161.3 mg Se 0.6 mcg
Carrot (胡萝卜, Hu Luo Bu)
Property and taste: even, sweet
Impacted organ: spleen, lung, and liver
Function
Carrots can strengthen spleen, and nourish lung. It helps defecation. Carrots can also help
decrease blood sugar and blood pressure. It is good for diabetes patients, constipation, night
blindness, and coronary heart disease.
Notice: The nutrients of carrot can be better absorbed after it is cooked. Human body can only
absorb 10% nutrients when eat it freshly. Especially carotene can only dissolve in oil. Therefore
cook carrot with oil will help its nutrients be absorbed.
Every 100g carrot contains:
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Caloric 37 Vitamin B1 0.04 mg Ca 32 mg
Protein 1 g Lactochrome 0.03 mg Mg 14 mg
Fat 0.2 g Antipellagra factor 0.6 mg Fe 1 mg
Carbohydrate 7.7 g Vitamin C 13 mg Mn 0.24 mg
Dietary fiber 1.1 g Vitamin E 0.41 mg Zn 0.23 mg
VataminA 688 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.08 mg
Carotene 0.8 mcg K 190 mg P 27 mg
Retinol 89.2 mcg Na 71.4 mg Se 0.63 mcg
Cauliflower (花菜, Hua Cai)
Property and taste: even, sweet
Impacted organ: stomach, kidney, and spleen
Function:
Cauliflower have anti-cancer element which can prevent cancer. Cauliflower contains flavonoid
which can prevent cholesterol from oxidize.
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Cuisine tips:
Fried cauliflower with bacon is a fantastic choice. First boiling cauliflower for five minutes, then
fried it with bacon or preserved meat. They are perfect match for each other.
Every 100g cauliflower contains:
Caloric 0 Vitamin B1 0 mg Ca 26 mg
Protein 0 g Lactochrome 0 mg Mg 33 mg
Fat 0 g Antipellagra factor 0 mg Fe 0.6 mg
Carbohydrate 0 g Vitamin C 12 mg Mn 6 mg
Dietary fiber 0 g Vitamin E 0 mg Zn 0.18 mg
VataminA 0 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.05 mg
Carotene 0 mcg K 152 mg P 6 mg
Retinol 93.7 mcg Na 215.7 mg Se 0 mcg
Broccoli (西兰花, Xi Lan Hua)
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Property and taste: even, sweet
Impacted organ: heart, and spleen
Function:
Broccoli can improve the tenacity of blood vessel. It can prevent breast cancer.
Cuisine tips:
Broccoli cannot be cooked for long, the nutrient will lose much during long time cooking.
However, if eat broccoli freshly, its nutrients can hardly be absorbed. The best way to cook
broccoli is quickly boil it with boiling water, when the water boils again, take broccoli out. Then it
can served as side vegetables or used for cold dressing.
Every 100g broccoli contains:
Caloric 33 Vitamin B1 0.09 mg Ca 67 mg
Protein 4.1 g Lactochrome 0.13 mg Mg 17 mg
Fat 0.6 g Antipellagra factor 0.9 mg Fe 1 mg
Carbohydrate 2.7 g Vitamin C 51 mg Mn 0.24 mg
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Dietary fiber 1.6 g Vitamin E 0.91 mg Zn 0.78 mg
VataminA 1202 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.03 mg
Carotene 0.7 mcg K 17 mg P 72 mg
Retinol 90.3 mcg Na 18.8 mg Se 0.7 mcg
Oyster mushroom (平菇, Ping Gu)
Property and taste: even, sweet
Impacted organ: liver, and stomach
Function
Oyster mushroom is especially good for muscle and bone. It is also good for ureteral calculus
patients.
Every 100g oyster mushroom contains:
Caloric 20 Vitamin B1 0.06 mg Ca 5 mg
Protein 1.9 g Lactochrome 0.16 mg Mg 14 mg
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Fat 0.3 g Antipellagra factor 3.1 mg Fe 1 mg
Carbohydrate 2.3 g Vitamin C 4 mg Mn 0.07 mg
Dietary fiber 2.3 g Vitamin E 0.79 mg Zn 0.61 mg
VataminA 2 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.08 mg
Carotene 0.7 mcg K 258 mg P 86 mg
Retinol 92.5 mcg Na 3.8 mg Se 1.07 mcg
Mushroom (香菇, Xiang Gu)
Property and taste: even, sweet
Impacted organ: liver, and stomach
Function:
Mushroom can strengthen liver, stomach and spleen. It can nourish brain, peace mind. It can
dissolve phlegm.
Cuisine tips:
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Stew mushroom with chicken is a very popular cuisine in China. The odor mushroom let out
always make people swallow.
Every 100g mushroom contains:
Caloric 19 Vitamin B1 0 mg Ca 2 mg
Protein 2.2 g Lactochrome 0.08 mg Mg 11 mg
Fat 0.3 g Antipellagra factor 2 mg Fe 0.3 mg
Carbohydrate 1.9 g Vitamin C 1 mg Mn 0.25 mg
Dietary fiber 3.3 g Vitamin E 0 mg Zn 0.66 mg
VataminA 0 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.12 mg
Carotene 0.6 mcg K 20 mg P 53 mg
Retinol 91.7 mcg Na 1.4 mg Se 2.58 mcg
Needle mushroom (金针菇, Jin Zhen Gu)
Property and taste: even, sweet
Impacted organ: liver, and stomach
Function:
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Needle mushroom can decrease blood pressure, decrease blood cholesterol. It can nourish brain.
It can prevent cancer.
Every 100g needle mushroom contains:
Caloric 26 Vitamin B1 0.15 mg Ca 0 mg
Protein 2.4 g Lactochrome 0.19 mg Mg 17 mg
Fat 0.4 g Antipellagra factor 4.1 mg Fe 1.4 mg
Carbohydrate 3.3 g Vitamin C 2 mg Mn 0.1 mg
Dietary fiber 2.7 g Vitamin E 1.14 mg Zn 0.39 mg
VataminA 5 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.14 mg
Carotene 1 mcg K 195 mg P 97 mg
Retinol 90.2 mcg Na 4.3 mg Se 0.28 mcg
Sesame (芝麻, Zhi Ma)
Property even, taste sweet
Impacted organ: liver, kidney, lung, and spleen.
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Function:
It can increase blood, moisten intestines, and strengthen liver. It is good for hair, and anti-aging.
It can cure weakness, dizziness and tinnitus. It can decrease high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. It can cure gray hair, anemia, and dry feces. It can increase milk for women after
delivery.
According to TCM, take sesame daily can help cultivate healthy life much. It is better to make the
sesame into powder to make its elements better absorbed.
Cuisine tips:
Sesame is usually made into sesame oil or sesame sauce to serve as flavor, especially for cold
dressing. Black sesame seed paste is a very delicious and healthy breakfast.
Every 100g black sesame contains:
Caloric 531 Vitamin B1 0.66 mg Ca 780 mg
Protein 19.1 g Lactochrome 0.25 mg Mg 290 mg
Fat 46.1 g Antipellagra factor 5.9 mg Fe 22.7 mg
Carbohydrate 10 g Vitamin C 0 mg Mn 17.85 mg
Dietary fiber 14 g Vitamin E 50.4 mg Zn 6.13 mg
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VataminA 0 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 1.77 mg
Carotene 5.1 mcg K 358 mg P 516 mg
Retinol 5.7 mcg Na 8.3 mg Se 4.7 mcg
Red bean (红豆, Hong Dou)
Property and taste: even, sweet
Impacted organ: heart, and small intestine
Function:
Red beans can increase urine, which is good for heart, kidney and edema. Red beans can also
help defecation. It can help milk out for women after delivery.
Cuisine tips:
Red bean coix seed soup is a famous for promoting metabolism and letting extra water inside
body. Coix see can nourish skin. Red bean can nourish blood. Both of them can help lose weight.
Therefore the soup is especially good for beauty, and weight control.
Before cooking, soak 80g red bean and 80g coix seed for at least 12 hours. Then boil them
together with 9 times of water for about 40 minutes. When both are soft, add 50g rock sugar.
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Then it is ready. According to the season and your requirement, we can also add Chinese yam,
ginger, red dates, longan to the soup.
Notice: women in period and pregnant women should not eat red bean coix seed soup.
Every 100g red bean contains:
Caloric 240 Vitamin B1 0.04 mg Ca 2 mg
Protein 4.8 g Lactochrome 0.05 mg Mg 13 mg
Fat 3.6 g Antipellagra factor 1.7 mg Fe 1 mg
Carbohydrate 47.2 g Vitamin C 0 mg Mn 0.25 mg
Dietary fiber 7.9 g Vitamin E 9.17 mg Zn 0.89 mg
VataminA 0 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.13 mg
Carotene 0.6 mcg K 226 mg P 89 mg
Retinol 35.9 mcg Na 3.3 mg Se 0.71 mcg
Black rice (黑米, Hei Mi)
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Property and taste: even, sweet
Impacted organ: spleen, stomach, and kidney
Function:
Black rice can nourish Yin strengthen kidney. It is good for eye. It can be used to cure anemia,
gray hair at early age.
Cuisine tips:
Black rice is usually used for making congee. “Three Black” congee is one of the most famous. Pre
pare 50g black congee, 20g black bean, 15g black sesame, 15 walnuts.
Before cooking, soak black beans for over 12 hours. Then boil all ingredients together until them
soft. Add brown sugar before eating.
“Three black” congee can nourish kidney, and brain, improve intelligence. It can also nourish
blood and Yin. Very healthy.
Every 100g black rice contains:
Caloric 333 Vitamin B1 0.33 mg Ca 12 mg
Protein 9.4 g Lactochrome 0.13 mg Mg 147 mg
Fat 2.5 g Antipellagra factor 7.9 mg Fe 1.6 mg
Carbohydrate 68.3 g Vitamin C 0 mg Mn 1.72 mg
Dietary fiber 3.9 g Vitamin E 0.22 mg Zn 3.8 mg
VataminA 0 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.15 mg
Carotene 1.6 mcg K 256 mg P 356 mg
Retinol 14.3 mcg Na 7.1 mg Se 3.2 mcg
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Grape (葡萄, Pu Tao)
Property and taste: even, sweet, acid
Impacted organ: liver, spleen and bladder
Function:
Grape can improve appetite. It can nourish blood, and strengthen stomach. It can prevent
cardiovascular disease.
Red wine is the best drink to prevent cardiovascular disease. Red wine contains resveratrol which
can prevent cerebral thrombosis. Red wine can prevent kidney stone and breast cancer. Red
wine is anti-aging. Drink a glass of red wine every day is very healthy.
Every 100g grape contains:
Caloric 43 Vitamin B1 0.04 mg Ca 5 mg
Protein 0.5 g Lactochrome 0.02 mg Mg 8 mg
Fat 0.2 g Antipellagra factor 0.2 mg Fe 0.4 mg
Carbohydrate 9.9 g Vitamin C 25 mg Mn 0.06 mg
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Dietary fiber 0.4 g Vitamin E 0.7 mg Zn 0.18 mg
VataminA 8 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.09 mg
Carotene 0.3 mcg K 104 mg P 13 mg
Retinol 88.7 mcg Na 1.3 mg Se 0.2 mcg
Beef (牛肉, Niu Rou)
Property and taste: even, sweet
Impacted organ: spleen, kidney, and stomach
Function:
Beef can nourish stomach, strengthen bone and muscle. Beef can improve immunity system of
the body.
Every 100g beef contains:
Caloric 106 Vitamin B1 0.07 mg Ca 9 mg
Protein 20.2 g Lactochrome 0.13 mg Mg 21 mg
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Fat 2.3 g Antipellagra factor 6.3 mg Fe 2.8 mg
Carbohydrate 1.2 g Vitamin C 0 mg Mn 0.04 mg
Dietary fiber 0 g Vitamin E 0.35 mg Zn 3.71 mg
VataminA 6 mcg Cholesterin 58 mg Cu 0.16 mg
Carotene 1.1 mcg K 284 mg P 172 mg
Retinol 75.2 mcg Na 53.6 mg Se 10.55 mcg
Chicken (鸡, Ji)
Property and taste: even, sweet
Impacted organ: spleen, and stomach
Function:
The Protein chicken contains can be easily absorbed by human body. It can improve strength,
strengthen Qi. It is good for people with blood asthenia.
Cuisine tips:
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Chicken is the most popular tonic ingredient in China. Chicken stew is very nourishing can
improve Qi a lot. Usually we add herbals to chicken stew to improve specific function. Ginseng,
longan, red dates, Chinese yam, Chinese wolfberry, and soya-bean sprout are all suitable
ingredients which can serve chicken stew well.
According to my experience, Chinese species of chicken is better than the US chicken. There are
many species which are available in Chinese super market. One is called “Huang Mao Ji”. “Tu Ji”
means free range chicken. I have stewed both Chinese species chicken and the US super market
chicken. The Chinese chicken is smaller but has much better taste and smell. Pure corn chicken in
the super market is fine too.
Notice: chicken butt includes many toxin elements which are harmful to human body. We should
avoid.
Every 100g chicken contains:
Caloric 167 Vitamin B1 0.05 mg Ca 9 mg
Protein 19.3 g Lactochrome 0.09 mg Mg 19 mg
Fat 9.4 g Antipellagra factor 5.6 mg Fe 1.4 mg
Carbohydrate 1.3 g Vitamin C 0 mg Mn 0.03 mg
Dietary fiber 0 g Vitamin E 0.67 mg Zn 1.09 mg
VataminA 48 mcg Cholesterin 106 mg Cu 0.07 mg
Carotene 1 mcg K 251 mg P 156 mg
Retinol 69 mcg Na 63.3 mg Se 11.75 mcg
Carp (鲤鱼, Li Yu)
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Property and taste: even, sweet
Impacted organ: spleen, liver, stomach, and kidney
Function
Carp can strengthen stomach. It can help milk for women after delivery. It can also reduce
edema.
Every 100g carp contains:
Caloric 109 Vitamin B1 0.03 mg Ca 50 mg
Protein 17.6 g Lactochrome 0.09 mg Mg 33 mg
Fat 4.1 g Antipellagra factor 2.7 mg Fe 1 mg
Carbohydrate 0.5 g Vitamin C 0 mg Mn 0.05 mg
Dietary fiber 0 g Vitamin E 1.27 mg Zn 2.08 mg
VataminA 25 mcg Cholesterin 84 mg Cu 0.06 mg
Carotene 1.1 mcg K 334 mg P 204 mg
Retinol 76.7 mcg Na 53.7 mg Se 15.38 mcg
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Crucian (鲫鱼, Ji Yu)
Property and taste: even, sweet
Impacted organ: stomach and intestine
Function
Crucian can improve appetite. It can improve blood circulation. It is also help milk out for women
after delivery.
Cuisine tips:
Crucian soup is very popular for women after delivery. It can increase milk and help women
recover.
Fried a crucian until the skin turns to be gold, and smell comes out. Add water, ginger and green
onion to the fried crucian. Stew them together for an hour. The soup is ready.
Notice: crucian cannot eat together with pork. Crucian has a lot fishbone which is dangerous to
child. Therefore, we usually just drink crucian soup.
Every 100g crucian contains:
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Caloric 108 Vitamin B1 0.04 mg Ca 79 mg
Protein 17.1 g Lactochrome 0.09 mg Mg 41 mg
Fat 2.7 g Antipellagra factor 2.5 mg Fe 1.3 mg
Carbohydrate 3.8 g Vitamin C 0 mg Mn 0.06 mg
Dietary fiber 0 g Vitamin E 0.68 mg Zn 1.94 mg
VataminA 17 mcg Cholesterin 130 mg Cu 0.08 mg
Carotene 1 mcg K 290 mg P 193 mg
Retinol 75.4 mcg Na 41.2 mg Se 14.31 mcg
Lotus Seed (莲子, Lian Zi)
Property and taste: even, sweet
Impacted organ: stomach, heart, kidney, spleen, liver, and bladder
Function:
Lotus seed can strengthen spleen, stop diarrhea. It can nourish kidney. It can peace mind and
heart. It is an anti-aging food.
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Cuisine tips:
Stew lotus seed and white fungus together is a famous Chinese cuisine called white fungus lotus
seed soup. This soup can strengthen kidney, nourish Yin. It can peace mind, and help sleep. Both
ingredients have even property, suitable for all four seasons.
Every 100g dry lotus seed contains:
Caloric 344 Vitamin B1 0.16 mg Ca 97 mg
Protein 17.2 g Lactochrome 0.08 mg Mg 242 mg
Fat 2 g Antipellagra factor 4.2 mg Fe 3.6 mg
Carbohydrate 64.2 g Vitamin C 5 mg Mn 8.23 mg
Dietary fiber 3 g Vitamin E 2.71 mg Zn 2.78 mg
VataminA 0 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 1.33 mg
Carotene 4.1 mcg K 846 mg P 550 mg
Retinol 9.5 mcg Na 5.1 mg Se 3.36 mcg
Apple (苹果, Ping Guo)
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Property and taste: even, sweet, acid
Impacted organ: lung, and spleen
Function:
Apple is the most popular and healthier fruit. It improve appetite, stop diarrhea. It helps
digestion. The smell of apple can relieve sadness and sense of oppression. There is a popular
saying that: one apple a day keeps doctors away.
Every 100g apple contains:
Caloric 52 Vitamin B1 0.06 mg Ca 4 mg
Protein 0.2 g Lactochrome 0.02 mg Mg 4 mg
Fat 0.2 g Antipellagra factor 0.2 mg Fe 0.6 mg
Carbohydrate 12.3 g Vitamin C 4 mg Mn 0.03 mg
Dietary fiber 1.2 g Vitamin E 2.12 mg Zn 0.19 mg
VataminA 3 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.06 mg
Carotene 0.2 mcg K 119 mg P 12 mg
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Retinol 85.9 mcg Na 1.6 mg Se 0.12 mcg
Pineapple (菠萝, Bo Luo)
Property and taste: even, sweet, acid
Impacted organ: lung, spleen and stomach
Function
Pineapple can help blood circulation, help digestion and stop diarrhea. Pineapple juice can
effectively dissolve fat, help lose weight.
Cuisine tips:
Pineapple contains pineapple proteinase, which may lead to allergy. The right way to eat
pineapple is soak it in light salt water for about half hour before eat. Stew beef or chicken with
pineapple is a good choice.
Every 100g pineapple contains:
Caloric 41 Vitamin B1 0.04 mg Ca 12 mg
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Protein 0.5 g Lactochrome 0.02 mg Mg 8 mg
Fat 0.1 g Antipellagra factor 0.2 mg Fe 0.6 mg
Carbohydrate 9.5 g Vitamin C 18 mg Mn 1.04 mg
Dietary fiber 1.3 g Vitamin E 0 mg Zn 0.14 mg
VataminA 3 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.07 mg
Carotene 0.2 mcg K 113 mg P 9 mg
Retinol 88.4 mcg Na 0.8 mg Se 0.24 mcg
Loquat (枇杷, Pi Pa)
Property and taste: even, sweet acid
Impacted organ: lung, and stomach
Function
Loquat can increase saliva, relieve thirsty, dissolve phlegm arrest cough.
Every 100g loquat contains:
Caloric 39 Vitamin B1 0.01 mg Ca 17 mg
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Protein 0.8 g Lactochrome 0.03 mg Mg 10 mg
Fat 0.2 g Antipellagra factor 0.3 mg Fe 1.1 mg
Carbohydrate 8.5 g Vitamin C 8 mg Mn 0.34 mg
Dietary fiber 0.8 g Vitamin E 0.24 mg Zn 0.21 mg
VataminA 0 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.06 mg
Carotene 0.4 mcg K 122 mg P 8 mg
Retinol 89.3 mcg Na 4 mg Se 0.72 mcg
Pig feet (猪蹄, Zhu Ti)
Property and taste: even, sweet
Impacted organ: kidney
Function:
Pig feet can help milk of women after delivery. It contains much collagen which helps reduce
twinkles of skin.
Every 100g pig feet contains:
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Caloric 260 Vitamin B1 0.05 mg Ca 33 mg
Protein 22.6 g Lactochrome 0.1 mg Mg 5 mg
Fat 18.8 g Antipellagra factor 1.5 mg Fe 1.1 mg
Carbohydrate 0 g Vitamin C 0 mg Mn 0.01 mg
Dietary fiber 0 g Vitamin E 0.01 mg Zn 1.14 mg
VataminA 3 mcg Cholesterin 192 mg Cu 0.09 mg
Carotene 0.4 mcg K 54 mg P 33 mg
Retinol 58.2 mcg Na 101 mg Se 5.85 mcg
Category two: Cool property ingredients
Ingredients with cool property can help clear inner heat, which is very suitable for summer
cuisine. People with hot property can take more cool property ingredients. Cool ingredients also
help defecation. People with cold property should not eat too much!
Wax gourd(冬瓜, Dong Gua)
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Property and taste: cool, sweet
Impacted organs: lung, large intestine, small intestine, and bladder
Function
Wax gourd contains much K, which is very good for kidney, high blood pressure disease and
edema disease. Wax gourd can clear lung inflammation dissolve sputum. Many people usually
use it to cure cough, edema, asthma, diabetes and so on. Wax gourd can relieve thirsty. It can
substantially increase urine, protecting kidney. Pregnant women can have wax gourd to relieve
edema.
Wax gourd is good for reducing weight too. It also help to clear flecks on the face.
Cuisine tips:
The most popular cooking methods for wax gourd is stew. Stewing wax gourd together with
duck, or pork can made delicious soup. Remember to add wax gourd later after the meat almost
soft. It cannot be served freshly.
Wax gourd tea is very suitable for summer and hot weather.
Prepare 500g wax gourd. Cut it into small pieces with skin. Add 10g brown sugar and mix it with
wax gourd. After 15 minutes, add water and boil them. Add 10g rock sugar, keep boiling. When
the soup became viscous and wax gourd became partially transparent, turn off heat. Filter out
the residue, take the soup. Wax gourd tea can clear inner heat, peace mind, and relieve thirsty.
Every 100g wax gourd contains:
Caloric 11 Vitamin B1 0.01 mg Ca 19 mg
Protein 0.4 g Lactochrome 0.01 mg Mg 8 mg
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Fat 0.2 g Antipellagra factor 0.3 mg Fe 0.2 mg
Carbohydrate 1.9 g Vitamin C 18 mg Mn 0.03 mg
Dietary fiber 0.7 g Vitamin E 0.08 mg Zn 0.07 mg
VataminA 13 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.07 mg
Carotene 0.2 mcg K 78 mg P 12 mg
Retinol 96.6 mcg Na 1.8 mg Se 0.22 mcg
Sponge gourd (丝瓜, Si Gua)
Property and taste: cool, sweet
Impacted organs: lung and liver
Function:
Sponge gourd is rich of Vitamin B group, which is good for brain. Sponge gourd can clear lung
inflammation dissolve sputum. Sponge gourd is good for asthma and faucitis patients.
It can stop bleeding. It can help milk out after women delivery.
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But sponge gourd may lead to diarrhea. Weak patients, people with weak stomach and spleen or
dyspepsia should not eat too much sponge gourd.
Cuisine tips:
Normally Chinese use it to make soup or fried. It cannot serve freshly.
Every 100g sponge gourd contains:
Caloric 20 Vitamin B1 0.02 mg Ca 14 mg
Protein 1 g Lactochrome 0.04 mg Mg 11 mg
Fat 0.2 g Antipellagra factor 0.4 mg Fe 0.4 mg
Carbohydrate 3.6 g Vitamin C 5 mg Mn 0.06 mg
Dietary fiber 0.6 g Vitamin E 0.22 mg Zn 0.21 mg
VataminA 15 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.06 mg
Carotene 0.3 mcg K 115 mg P 29 mg
Retinol 94.3 mcg Na 2.6 mg Se 0.86 mcg
Cucumber (黄瓜, Huang Gua)
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Property and taste: cool, sweet
Impacted organ: stomach, lung, and large intestine
Function:
Cucumber can clear inner heat. It can clear edema. It is good for skin, help reduce wrinkles. It can
relieve wrinkle. It can suppress the procedure of glucose becoming fat. It contains tartronic acid
which can prevent sugar turn into fat. It is good for weight control. It is good for diabetes as well.
Cuisine tips:
Cold dressing cucumber is very popular in China. Cut cucumber into small pieces, add some salt,
garlic, soy oil and chili sauce as you like. It is ready.
Every 100g cucumber contains:
Caloric 32 Vitamin B1 0.03 mg Ca 44 mg
Protein 1.7 g Lactochrome 0.03 mg Mg 33 mg
Fat 0.3 g Antipellagra factor 0.3 mg Fe 3.1 mg
Carbohydrate 5.6 g Vitamin C 7 mg Mn 0.24 mg
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Dietary fiber 1.8 g Vitamin E 0.21 mg Zn 0.55 mg
VataminA 0 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.29 mg
Carotene 9.3 mcg K 220 mg P 21 mg
Retinol 81.3 mcg Na 3087.1 mg Se 1.57 mcg
Pigweed (苋菜, Xian Cai)
Property and taste: cool, sweet
Impacted organ: intestine, liver, and bladder
Function:
Pigweed can clear inner heat and detoxify. Fe the pigweed contains double the amount spinach
has. The Ca it contains is triple the spinach has, which is very rare for a vegetable. Pigweed is
good for teenager’s growth. It is also good for bone fracture.
Every 100g pigweed contains:
Caloric 25 Vitamin B1 0.03 mg Ca 187 mg
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Protein 2.8 g Lactochrome 0.12 mg Mg 119 mg
Fat 0.3 g Antipellagra factor 0.8 mg Fe 5.4 mg
Carbohydrate 2.8 g Vitamin C 47 mg Mn 0.78 mg
Dietary fiber 2.2 g Vitamin E 0.36 mg Zn 0.8 mg
VataminA 352 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.13 mg
Carotene 1.7 mcg K 207 mg P 59 mg
Retinol 90.2 mcg Na 32.4 mg Se 0.52 mcg
Stem lettuce (莴笋, Wo Sun)
Property and taste: cool, sweet
Impacted organ: stomach and intestine
Function:
Stem lettuce can clear stomach heat. It also help urine. It can help delivery women let out milk.
Cuisine tips:
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I like cold dressing stem lettuce. Cut it into shreds, add a little soy oil, garlic, and chili sauce. Mix
them, then it is ready. The color of stem lettuce is like green gem stone. It is so fresh full of juice.
This dish can totally open your appetite.
Every 100g stern lettuce contains:
Caloric 14 Vitamin B1 0.02 mg Ca 23 mg
Protein 1 g Lactochrome 0.02 mg Mg 19 mg
Fat 0.1 g Antipellagra factor 0.5 mg Fe 0.9 mg
Carbohydrate 2.2 g Vitamin C 4 mg Mn 0.19 mg
Dietary fiber 0.6 g Vitamin E 0.19 mg Zn 0.33 mg
VataminA 25 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.07 mg
Carotene 0.6 mcg K 212 mg P 48 mg
Retinol 95.5 mcg Na 36.5 mg Se 0.54 mcg
Soya-bean sprout (黄豆芽, Huang Dou Ya)
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Property and taste: cool, sweet
Impacted organ: spleen, and large intestine
Function
Soya-bean sprout can clear inner heat and increase urine. It is good for skin. It can reduce high
blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
Cuisine tips:
Soya-bean sprout is a good ingredient for soup. No matter you made vegetable soup or meat
stew, adding it is always a good choice.
Notice:
People have diarrhea or frequent urine should avoid.
Every 100g soya-bean sprout contains:
Caloric 44 Vitamin B1 0.04 mg Ca 21 mg
Protein 4.5 g Lactochrome 0.07 mg Mg 21 mg
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Fat 1.6 g Antipellagra factor 0.6 mg Fe 0.9 mg
Carbohydrate 3 g Vitamin C 8 mg Mn 0.34 mg
Dietary fiber 1.5 g Vitamin E 0.8 mg Zn 0.54 mg
VataminA 5 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.14 mg
Carotene 0.6 mcg K 160 mg P 74 mg
Retinol 88.8 mcg Na 7.2 mg Se 0.96 mcg
Mung bean sprouts (绿豆芽, Lv Dou Ya)
Property and taste: cool, sweet
Impacted organ: stomach
Function
Mung bean sprout can clear inner heat and increase urine. It can prevent stomach cancer,
intestine cancer. It help defecation. It is good for high blood pressure patient.
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Every 100g mung bean sprouts contains:
Caloric 18 Vitamin B1 0.05 mg Ca 9 mg
Protein 2.1 g Lactochrome 0.06 mg Mg 18 mg
Fat 0.1 g Antipellagra factor 0.5 mg Fe 0.6 mg
Carbohydrate 2.1 g Vitamin C 6 mg Mn 0.1 mg
Dietary fiber 0.8 g Vitamin E 0.19 mg Zn 0.35 mg
VataminA 3 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.1 mg
Carotene 0.3 mcg K 68 mg P 37 mg
Retinol 94.6 mcg Na 4.4 mg Se 0.5 mcg
Eggplant (茄子, Qie Zi)
Property and taste: cool, sweet
Impacted organ: stomach，and large intestine
Function
Eggplant contains Vitamin P. It can protect human from arteriosclerosis. Eggplant also contains
melim, which can prevent subcutaneous hemorrhage.
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Notice: Tuberculosis patients should not eat eggplant. Atopic dermatitis patients should not eat
eggplant.
Every 100g eggplant contains:
Caloric 21 Vitamin B1 0.02 mg Ca 24 mg
Protein 1.1 g Lactochrome 0.04 mg Mg 13 mg
Fat 0.2 g Antipellagra factor 0.6 mg Fe 0.5 mg
Carbohydrate 3.6 g Vitamin C 5 mg Mn 0.13 mg
Dietary fiber 1.3 g Vitamin E 1.13 mg Zn 0.23 mg
VataminA 8 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.1 mg
Carotene 0.4 mcg K 142 mg P 23 mg
Retinol 93.4 mcg Na 5.4 mg Se 0.48 mcg
Celery (芹菜, Qin Cai)
Property and taste: cool, sweet
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Impacted organ: stomach, lung, and liver
Function:
Celery can decrease blood pressure. It can increase urine eliminate edema.
Notice: people with weak stomach should not eat celery. Pregnant women should not eat celery.
Low blood pressure patients should not eat celery.
Every 100g celery contains:
Caloric 11 Vitamin B1 0.01 mg Ca 38 mg
Protein 1.4 g Lactochrome 0.19 mg Mg 16 mg
Fat 0.2 g Antipellagra factor 1 mg Fe 6.9 mg
Carbohydrate 0.9 g Vitamin C 5 mg Mn 0.79 mg
Dietary fiber 0.9 g Vitamin E 0.32 mg Zn 0.38 mg
VataminA 63 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.1 mg
Carotene 0.4 mcg K 212 mg P 32 mg
Retinol 96.2 mcg Na 40.9 mg Se 0.81 mcg
Spinach (菠菜, Bo Cai)
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Property and taste: cool, sweet
Impacted organ: stomach, lung, and large intestine
Function:
The carotene contained in spinach can transmit into Vitamin A, which is good for eye sight.
Spinach contains nucleic acid can prevent Alzheimer's disease.
Notice: people should not eat spinach when having diarrhea.
Every 100g spinach contains:
Caloric 24 Vitamin B1 0.04 mg Ca 66 mg
Protein 2.6 g Lactochrome 0.11 mg Mg 58 mg
Fat 0.3 g Antipellagra factor 0.6 mg Fe 2.9 mg
Carbohydrate 2.8 g Vitamin C 32 mg Mn 0.66 mg
Dietary fiber 1.7 g Vitamin E 1.74 mg Zn 0.85 mg
VataminA 487 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.1 mg
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Carotene 1.4 mcg K 311 mg P 47 mg
Retinol 91.2 mcg Na 85.2 mg Se 0.97 mcg
Pear (梨, Li)
Property and taste: cool, sweet
Impacted organ: lung, and stomach
Function
Pear can nourish lung, increase saliva, and relieve thirsty. It can decrease blood pressure. Pear
can also protect heart, and strengthen heart muscle. Pear can help defecation.
Cuisine tips:
Pear rock sugar tea is very good for lung can cough patients. Cut pear into pieces and boil it
together with rock sugar for 20 minutes. Drink the water and eat the pear. Pear is also a great
ingredient for stew. Stew pear with pork or beef, can make a wonderful dish.
Every 100g pear contains:
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Caloric 44 Vitamin B1 0.03 mg Ca 9 mg
Protein 0.4 g Lactochrome 0.06 mg Mg 8 mg
Fat 0.2 g Antipellagra factor 0.3 mg Fe 0.5 mg
Carbohydrate 10.2 g Vitamin C 6 mg Mn 0.07 mg
Dietary fiber 3.1 g Vitamin E 1.34 mg Zn 0.46 mg
VataminA 6 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.62 mg
Carotene 0.3 mcg K 92 mg P 14 mg
Retinol 85.8 mcg Na 2.1 mg Se 1.14 mcg
Grapefruit (柚子, You Zi)
Property and taste: cool, sweet, acid
Impacted organ: lung, and stomach
Function
Grapefruit can dissolve phlegm. It can strengthen respiratory system. It is good for people with
asthma, cough and chronic bronchitis.
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Every 100g grapefruit contains:
Caloric 41 Vitamin B1 0 mg Ca 4 mg
Protein 0.8 g Lactochrome 0.03 mg Mg 4 mg
Fat 0.2 g Antipellagra factor 0.3 mg Fe 0.3 mg
Carbohydrate 9.1 g Vitamin C 23 mg Mn 0.08 mg
Dietary fiber 0.4 g Vitamin E 0 mg Zn 0.4 mg
VataminA 2 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.18 mg
Carotene 0.5 mcg K 119 mg P 24 mg
Retinol 89 mcg Na 3 mg Se 0.7 mcg
Strawberry (草莓, Cao Mei)
Property and taste: cool, sweet, acid
Impacted organ: lung, stomach, and spleen
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Function
Strawberry can prevent scurvy. It can strengthen stomach and spleen.
Every 100g strawberry contains:
Caloric 30 Vitamin B1 0.02 mg Ca 18 mg
Protein 1 g Lactochrome 0.03 mg Mg 12 mg
Fat 0.2 g Antipellagra factor 0.3 mg Fe 1.8 mg
Carbohydrate 6 g Vitamin C 47 mg Mn 0.49 mg
Dietary fiber 1.1 g Vitamin E 0.71 mg Zn 0.14 mg
VataminA 5 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.04 mg
Carotene 0.4 mcg K 131 mg P 27 mg
Retinol 91.3 mcg Na 4.2 mg Se 0.7 mcg
Category three: Cold property ingredients
Cold property food is very useful to clear inner heat. It is suitable for summer cuisine. However,
take too much cold property food is harmful to Yin. Therefore, cold property food is not suitable
for everyday cuisine. Take some for a while is a safer choice. Or we can add some hot ingredients
in the cuisine to balance the property.
Bitter Gourd (苦瓜, Ku Gua)
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Property and taste: cold, bitter
Impacted organs: spleen, stomach, heart, and liver
Function:
Bitter gourd contains 0.4% energy clear lignans, which is as expensive as gold, used for reducing
weight. Bitter gourd contains αelaterin, βelaterin, which can help the human body let out
toxin. Bitter gourd can clear inner heat, detoxify toxin, relieve thirsty, and help kidney maintain
acid base equilibrium.
Bitter gourd can decrease blood sugar, which is very good for diabetes patients.
Bitter gourd contains lots of dietary fiber and vitamin C. Dietary fiber helps defecation. Vitamin C
is good antioxidant, which can suppress cancer cell. It can also prevent atherosclerosis.
Bitter gourd tea are made for daily drink. It is special good for summer and for patients of kidney
disease, diabetes, and constipation. Dry bitter gourd or bitter gourd tea is available in every
Chinese super market.
Cuisine tips:
The most popular cooking methods for bitter gourd are stew and fry.
Every 100g bitter gourd contains:
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Caloric 19 Vitamin B1 0.03 mg Ca 14 mg
Protein 1 g Lactochrome 0.03 mg Mg 18 mg
Fat 0.1 g Antipellagra factor 0.4 mg Fe 0.7 mg
Carbohydrate 3.5 g Vitamin C 56 mg Mn 0.16 mg
Dietary fiber 1.4 g Vitamin E 0.85 mg Zn 0.36 mg
VataminA 17 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.06 mg
Carotene 0.6 mcg K 256 mg P 35 mg
Retinol 93.4 mcg Na 2.5 mg Se 0.36 mcg
Lily bulb （百合， Bai He）
Property and taste: slightly cold, sweet
Impacted organ: heart, lung, and liver
Function:
Lily bulb can nourish lung and arrest cough. TCM usually use lily bulb to cure cough. Lily bulb can
also smoothen mind bring peace to the heart. It can used to relieve sadness and depression.
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But it cannot be used to cure the cough because of cold. People with weak stomach and spleen
should not eat it either.
Cuisine tips:
Lily bulb congee is the most popular cuisine for lily bulb. Stew rice and lily bulb together until
both of them are soft, adding rock sugar, which is good for lung and cough.
Every 100g dry lily bulb contains:
Caloric 343 Vitamin B1 0.05 mg Ca 32 mg
Protein 6.7 g Lactochrome 0.09 mg Mg 42 mg
Fat 0.5 g Antipellagra factor 0.9 mg Fe 5.9 mg
Carbohydrate 77.8 g Vitamin C 0 mg Mn 0.59 mg
Dietary fiber 1.7 g Vitamin E 0 mg Zn 1.31 mg
VataminA 0 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 1.09 mg
Carotene 3 mcg K 344 mg P 92 mg
Retinol 10.3 mcg Na 37.3 mg Se 2.29 mcg
Water spinach (空心菜 Kong Xin Cai)
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Property and taste: cold, sweet
Impacted organ: intestine and liver
Function
Water spinach can clear inner heat and toxin. It can also stop bleeding, urine bleeding, nose
bleeding, and cough bleeding.
Cuisine tips:
The most popular cuisine for water spinach is fried. Cold dressing is also very favorable. Boil it
quickly, take it out and served it with soy oil.
Every 100g dry water spinach contains:
Caloric 20 Vitamin B1 0.03 mg Ca 99 mg
Protein 2.2 g Lactochrome 0.08 mg Mg 29 mg
Fat 0.3 g Antipellagra factor 0.8 mg Fe 2.3 mg
Carbohydrate 2.2 g Vitamin C 25 mg Mn 0.67 mg
Dietary fiber 1.4 g Vitamin E 1.09 mg Zn 0.39 mg
VataminA 253 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.1 mg
Carotene 1 mcg K 243 mg P 38 mg
Retinol 92.9 mcg Na 94.3 mg Se 1.2 mcg
Bamboo shoot (竹笋, Zhu Sun)
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Property and taste: cold, sweet
Impacted organ: lung, and stomach
Function:
Bamboo shoot can nourish lung and dissolve phlegm. Bamboo shoot contains very little starch
and help urine. It contains little fat and calorie, which is good for weight control. It is also very
good for high blood pressure, and diabetes patients.
But bamboo shoot is cold containing much raw fiber and calcium oxalate, people with stomach
ulcer, kidney stone, nephritis and enteritis should avoid.
Cuisine tip:
One of my mom’s best cuisine is bamboo shoot beef stew. Soak the dry bamboo for a whole day
until they expand and soft. Then fried beef with oil, ginger, green onion, Chinese pepper, chili
sauce and star anise. When you can smell the odor of the flavor, add water and bamboo shoot.
Stew them together for 2-3 hours until beef soft. Add salt and a little sugar, the dish is ready.This
dish is a little spicy, the bamboo shoot has its special fresh taste accompanied by the juicy beef.
You can never forget it.
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Every 100g bamboo shoot contains:
Caloric 19 Vitamin B1 0.08 mg Ca 9 mg
Protein 2.6 g Lactochrome 0.08 mg Mg 1 mg
Fat 0.2 g Antipellagra factor 0.6 mg Fe 0.5 mg
Carbohydrate 1.8 g Vitamin C 5 mg Mn 1.14 mg
Dietary fiber 1.8 g Vitamin E 0.05 mg Zn 0.33 mg
VataminA 0 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.09 mg
Carotene 0.8 mcg K 389 mg P 64 mg
Retinol 92.8 mcg Na 0.4 mg Se 0.04 mcg
Lotus root (莲藕, Lian Ou)
Property and taste: cold, sweet
Impacted organ: lung, stomach, heart, and spleen
Function:
When eat freshly, lotus root can clear inner heat, nourish lung, help extravasated blood out. It
can stop cough blood, urine blood, womb blood and shit blood. It can improve appetite, stop
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diarrhea. It can also peace mind, nourish brain, anti-aging. It is very good for old people. There is
rarely any side effects of lotus root.
Cuisine tips:
Lotus root stew pork rib is one of the most popular stew in China. Stew lotus root with pork rib
for 2-3 hours, make it very soft. It can bring you the fresh and cool taste of a beautiful lake! It is
especially good for summer nourishing.
Every 100g lotus root contains:
Caloric 70 Vitamin B1 0.09 mg Ca 39 mg
Protein 1.9 g Lactochrome 0.03 mg Mg 19 mg
Fat 0.2 g Antipellagra factor 0.3 mg Fe 1.4 mg
Carbohydrate 15.2 g Vitamin C 44 mg Mn 1.3 mg
Dietary fiber 1.2 g Vitamin E 0.73 mg Zn 0.23 mg
VataminA 3 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.11 mg
Carotene 1 mcg K 243 mg P 58 mg
Retinol 80.5 mcg Na 44.2 mg Se 0.39 mcg
Tomato (西红柿 Xi Hong Shi)
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Property and taste: cold, sweet and acid
Impacted organ: stomach, lung
Function:
Lycopene of tomato is natural antioxidant, can clear free radical, protect cell, prohibit cancer cell.
Tomato can prevent pancreatic cancer, prostatic cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, oral
cancer and breast cancer.
Lycopene of tomato can also protect skin under sunshine. Women who eat 50 tomato per day
have much lower rate of skin cancer. It has very strong anti-aging function.
But only after cooking the lycopene of tomato can be better absorbed by human.
Important notice: 1. Tomato cannot eaten together with sea food or fresh water fish. 2.
Tomato’s nutrition can be absorbed better after cooking. Much fresh tomato’s nutrition cannot
be absorbed by human body.
Cuisine tips:
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Tomato is the best natural flavor. When I made soup or stew, if I have tomato in my place, I will
add some to improve the taste of my cuisine. When tomato is added, please add less salt to the
dish since tomato have already increased the flavor. Besides, tomato is a super anti-aging food.
When I eat it, I have a feeling of youth. It is so satisfying.
Every 100g tomato contains:
Caloric 19 Vitamin B1 0.03 mg Ca 10 mg
Protein 0.9 g Lactochrome 0.03 mg Mg 9 mg
Fat 0.2 g Antipellagra factor 0.6 mg Fe 0.4 mg
Carbohydrate 3.5 g Vitamin C 19 mg Mn 0.08 mg
Dietary fiber 0.5 g Vitamin E 0.57 mg Zn 0.13 mg
VataminA 92 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.06 mg
Carotene 0.5 mcg K 163 mg P 23 mg
Retinol 94.4 mcg Na 5 mg Se 0.15 mcg
Asparagus (芦笋, Lu Sun)
Property and taste: cold, sweet
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Impacted organ: stomach, and lung
Function:
Asparagus can improve immunity. It also have anti-cancer function
Every 100g asparagus contains:
Caloric 19 Vitamin B1 0.04 mg Ca 10 mg
Protein 1.4 g Lactochrome 0.05 mg Mg 10 mg
Fat 0.1 g Antipellagra factor 0.7 mg Fe 1.4 mg
Carbohydrate 3 g Vitamin C 45 mg Mn 0.17 mg
Dietary fiber 1.9 g Vitamin E 0 mg Zn 0.41 mg
VataminA 17 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.07 mg
Carotene 0.6 mcg K 213 mg P 42 mg
Retinol 93 mcg Na 3.1 mg Se 0.21 mcg
Marrow squash (西葫芦, Xi Hu Lu)
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Property and taste: cold, sweet
Impacted organ: stomach, kidney, and spleen
Function:
Marrow squash can nourish lung arrest cough. It can also eliminate symptoms of diabetes.
Every 100g marrow squash contains:
Caloric 18 Vitamin B1 0.01 mg Ca 15 mg
Protein 0.8 g Lactochrome 0.03 mg Mg 9 mg
Fat 0.2 g Antipellagra factor 0.2 mg Fe 0.3 mg
Carbohydrate 3.2 g Vitamin C 6 mg Mn 0.04 mg
Dietary fiber 0.6 g Vitamin E 0.34 mg Zn 0.12 mg
VataminA 5 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.03 mg
Carotene 0.3 mcg K 92 mg P 17 mg
Retinol 94.9 mcg Na 5 mg Se 0.28 mcg
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Watercress (西洋菜, Xi Yang Cai)
Property and taste: cold, sweet
Impacted organ: stomach, kidney, and spleen
Function:
Watercress can nourish lung, arrest cough. It is very good for respiratory system. It can prevent
breast cancer or help breast cancer patients recover.
Notice:
When you want to have baby, you should not eat watercress. It can stop embedding of ovum.
Pregnant women should not eat either. People with cold or cold body should not eat.
Every 100g watercress contains:
Caloric 17 Vitamin B1 0.01 mg Ca 30 mg
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Protein 2.9 g Lactochrome 0.11 mg Mg 9 mg
Fat 0.5 g Antipellagra factor 0.3 mg Fe 1 mg
Carbohydrate 0.3 g Vitamin C 52 mg Mn 0.25 mg
Dietary fiber 1.2 g Vitamin E 0.59 mg Zn 0.69 mg
VataminA 1592 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.06 mg
Carotene 0.6 mcg K 179 mg P 26 mg
Retinol 94.5 mcg Na 61.2 mg Se 0.7 mcg
Sea tangle (海带, Hai Dai)
Property and taste: cold, salty
Impacted organ: lung, liver, stomach, and kidney.
Function:
Sea tangle can prevent breast cancer. It can nourish kidney, black hair. It can decrease blood
sugar, which is very good for diabetes patients.
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Cuisine tips:
Two popular cuisine for sea tangle is cold dressing and stew. Usually we can only get dry sea
tangle in store. Before cooking sea tangle, we must soak it for hours to let it expand. Besides, sea
tangle contains a little toxin, soaking can help the toxin dissolve in the water. We must boil sea
tangle before use it for cold dressing. Sea tangle cannot be eaten freshly.
Every 100g wet sea tangle contains:
Caloric 14 Vitamin B1 0.02 mg Ca 241 mg
Protein 1.1 g Lactochrome 0.1 mg Mg 61 mg
Fat 0.1 g Antipellagra factor 0.9 mg Fe 3.3 mg
Carbohydrate 2.1 g Vitamin C 0 mg Mn 1.47 mg
Dietary fiber 0.9 g Vitamin E 0.08 mg Zn 0.66 mg
VataminA 52 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.03 mg
Carotene 1.7 mcg K 222 mg P 29 mg
Retinol 94.1 mcg Na 107.6 mg Se 4.9 mcg
Purple laver (紫菜, Zi Cai)
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Property and taste: cold, salty
Impacted organ: liver, stomach, and kidney.
Function:
Purple laver can dissolve phlegm arrest cough. It can decrease blood pressure.
Every 100g purple laver contains:
Caloric 207 Vitamin B1 0.27 mg Ca 264 mg
Protein 26.7 g Lactochrome 1.02 mg Mg 105 mg
Fat 1.1 g Antipellagra factor 7.3 mg Fe 54.9 mg
Carbohydrate 22.5 g Vitamin C 2 mg Mn 4.32 mg
Dietary fiber 21.6 g Vitamin E 1.82 mg Zn 2.47 mg
VataminA 228 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 1.68 mg
Carotene 15.4 mcg K 1796 mg P 350 mg
Retinol 12.7 mcg Na 710.5 mg Se 7.22 mcg
Coix Seed (薏米, Yi Mi)
Property and taste: little cold, sweet
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Impacted organ: kidney, lung, and spleen.
Function:
Coix seed can invigorate the spleen by eliminating dampness. It can clear away heat and
eliminate pus. The major components of coix seed is vegetable Proteins. It also contains much
vitamin B1, B2. It can reduce wrinkles, clean colored patches, help urinate, promote blood
circulation and slim the body. It can serve as weight-reducing food.
Notice:
Coix seed’s function is soft, suitable for long time intake. People with constipation and pregnant
women should avoid.
Cuisine Tips:
Before cook coix seed, we need to soak it for at least 12 hours. Then boil it for 40-60 minutes
until it is open.
Every 100g coix seed contains:
Caloric 357 Vitamin B1 0.22 mg Ca 42 mg
Protein 12.8 g Lactochrome 0.15 mg Mg 88 mg
Fat 3.3 g Antipellagra factor 2 mg Fe 3.6 mg
Carbohydrate 69.1 g Vitamin C 0 mg Mn 1.37 mg
Dietary fiber 2 g Vitamin E 2.08 mg Zn 1.68 mg
VataminA 0 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.29 mg
Carotene 1.6 mcg K 238 mg P 217 mg
Retinol 11.2 mcg Na 3.6 mg Se 3.07 mcg
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Mung bean (绿豆, Lv Dou)
Property and taste: cold, sweet
Impacted organ: stomach, and heart.
Function:
Mung bean has very strong detoxification function. People who work outside can drink mung
bean soup to clean way heat and protect body. If anyone intoxicate, before reaching hospital
drinking mung bean soup can help a lot.
Every 100g mung bean contains:
Caloric 316 Vitamin B1 0.25 mg Ca 81 mg
Protein 21.6 g Lactochrome 0.11 mg Mg 125 mg
Fat 0.8 g Antipellagra factor 2 mg Fe 6.5 mg
Carbohydrate 55.6 g Vitamin C 0 mg Mn 1.11 mg
Dietary fiber 6.4 g Vitamin E 10.95 mg Zn 2.18 mg
VataminA 22 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 1.08 mg
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Carotene 3.3 mcg K 787 mg P 337 mg
Retinol 12.3 mcg Na 3.2 mg Se 4.28 mcg
Duck blood (鸭血, Ya Xue)
Property and taste: cold, salty
Impacted organ: liver, and spleen
Function:
Nourish blood, and clean inner dust.
Every 100g duck blood contains:
Caloric 56 Vitamin B1 0.05 mg Ca 3 mg
Protein 13.2 g Lactochrome 0.03 mg Mg 11 mg
Fat 0.4 g Antipellagra factor 0 mg Fe 31.8 mg
Carbohydrate 0 g Vitamin C 0 mg Mn 0.12 mg
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Dietary fiber 0 g Vitamin E 0.1 mg Zn 0.9 mg
VataminA 57 mcg Cholesterin 95 mg Cu 0.08 mg
Carotene 1.3 mcg K 186 mg P 127 mg
Retinol 85.1 mcg Na 198.6 mg Se 0 mcg
Duck (鸭, Ya)
Property and taste: slightly cold, sweet, and salty
Impacted organ: spleen, stomach, and kidney
Function
Duck contains plenty of Vitamin B and Vitamin E. Vitamin B is can protect nervous system and
heart. Vitamin E is an anti-aging element. Because it is slightly cold, it is better to eat duck in
summer. Peking duck is one of the most famous Chinese dish.
Notice:
People with cold body should not eat too much.
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Every 100g duck contains:
Caloric 240 Vitamin B1 0.08 mg Ca 6 mg
Protein 15.5 g Lactochrome 0.22 mg Mg 14 mg
Fat 19.7 g Antipellagra factor 4.2 mg Fe 2.2 mg
Carbohydrate 0.2 g Vitamin C 0 mg Mn 0.06 mg
Dietary fiber 0 g Vitamin E 0.27 mg Zn 1.33 mg
VataminA 52 mcg Cholesterin 94 mg Cu 0.21 mg
Carotene 0.7 mcg K 191 mg P 122 mg
Retinol 63.9 mcg Na 69 mg Se 12.25 mcg
Pig intestine (猪大肠, Zhu Da Chang)
Property and taste: cold, sweet
Impacted organ: intestine
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Function:
Clear inner heat, relief thirsty, stop bleeding, and help defecation.
Every 100g pig intestine contains:
Caloric 196 Vitamin B1 0.06 mg Ca 10 mg
Protein 6.9 g Lactochrome 0.11 mg Mg 8 mg
Fat 18.7 g Antipellagra factor 1.9 mg Fe 1 mg
Carbohydrate 0 g Vitamin C 0 mg Mn 0.07 mg
Dietary fiber 0 g Vitamin E 0.5 mg Zn 0.98 mg
VataminA 7 mcg Cholesterin 137 mg Cu 0.06 mg
Carotene 0.8 mcg K 44 mg P 56 mg
Retinol 73.6 mcg Na 116.3 mg Se 16.95 mcg
Oyster (牡蛎, Mu Li)
Property and taste: cold, sweet
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Impacted organ: Liver, and kidney
Function
Oyster can relieve thirsty, and peace mind. It can strengthen kidney. It is good for diabetes, high
blood pressure, and atherosclerosis
Every 100g oyster contains:
Caloric 73 Vitamin B1 0.01 mg Ca 131 mg
Protein 5.3 g Lactochrome 0.13 mg Mg 65 mg
Fat 2.1 g Antipellagra factor 1.4 mg Fe 7.1 mg
Carbohydrate 8.2 g Vitamin C 0 mg Mn 0.85 mg
Dietary fiber 0 g Vitamin E 0.81 mg Zn 9.39 mg
VataminA 27 mcg Cholesterin 100 mg Cu 8.13 mg
Carotene 2.4 mcg K 200 mg P 115 mg
Retinol 82 mcg Na 462.1 mg Se 86.64 mcg
Category four: Warm property ingredients
Ingredients with warm property can promote blood circulation, warm body, which is good for
winter cuisine. Ingredients with warm property can usually strengthen Qi. People who have inner
extravasated blood can have more warm property ingredients to help clear them out. However,
warm property ingredients may increase inner heat and aggravate constipation, people with
inner heat should not eat too much warm property food. Or when we make dishes, we can use
some cool property ingredients to balance the warm property ingredients.
Pumpkin (南瓜, Nan Gua)
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Property and taste: warm, sweet
Impacted organs: spleen, and stomach
Function:
Pumpkin is good for Qi. Pumpkin contains lots of Zn, which is important nutrients for teenager’s
growth. Pumpkin contains pectin which can help stomach ulcer recover. Pumpkin can strengthen
stomach and spleen. Pumpkin contains Co, which can nourish blood.
Cuisine tips:
The skin of pumpkin is very hard. Some people even use saw to cut pumpkin. There is a very easy
way to take off the skin of pumpkin. Steam pumpkin, after water boiled for 3 minutes, take it
out. The skin is soft can be easily take off by beam knife. Pumpkin soup and pumpkin congee are
all good choice to cook pumpkin.
Notice:
Pumpkin is aggravating food. When people are sick and taking medicine, should not eat
pumpkin.
Every 100g pumpkin contains:
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Caloric 22 Vitamin B1 0.03 mg Ca 16 mg
Protein 0.7 g Lactochrome 0.04 mg Mg 8 mg
Fat 0.1 g Antipellagra factor 0.4 mg Fe 0.4 mg
Carbohydrate 4.5 g Vitamin C 8 mg Mn 0.08 mg
Dietary fiber 0.8 g Vitamin E 0.36 mg Zn 0.14 mg
VataminA 148 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.03 mg
Carotene 0.4 mcg K 145 mg P 24 mg
Retinol 93.5 mcg Na 0.8 mg Se 0.46 mcg
Mustard (芥菜, Jie Cai)
Property and taste: warm, spicy
Impacted organ: lung, stomach, and kidney
Function:
It can strengthen stomach, promote circulation, nourish lung, and dissolve phlegm.
Every 100g mustard contains:
Caloric 24 Vitamin B1 0.03 mg Ca 230 mg
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Protein 2 g Lactochrome 0.11 mg Mg 24 mg
Fat 0.4 g Antipellagra factor 0.5 mg Fe 3.2 mg
Carbohydrate 3.1 g Vitamin C 31 mg Mn 0.42 mg
Dietary fiber 1.6 g Vitamin E 0.74 mg Zn 0.7 mg
VataminA 52 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.08 mg
Carotene 1.4 mcg K 281 mg P 47 mg
Retinol 91.5 mcg Na 30.5 mg Se 0.7 mcg
Leek (韭菜, Jiu Cai)
Property and taste: warm, sweet and spicy
Impacted organ: liver, stomach, and kidney
Function
Leek can promote blood circulation, strengthen kidney, and harmonize all organs. It can improve
appetite. It is especially good for patients with sexual impotence. It is a popular food ingredient
to promote Yang. However, too much intake of leek may lead to foul breath.
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Cuisine tip:
Leek dumpling is one of my favorite food. Cut leek into mince mixed it with pork mince, then add
the flavor you like: salt, soy oil, ginger and so on. Use it as stuffing of dumpling. It can make me
satisfied for a whole day.
Every 100g leek contains:
Caloric 26 Vitamin B1 0.02 mg Ca 42 mg
Protein 2.4 g Lactochrome 0.09 mg Mg 25 mg
Fat 0.4 g Antipellagra factor 0.8 mg Fe 1.6 mg
Carbohydrate 3.2 g Vitamin C 24 mg Mn 0.43 mg
Dietary fiber 1.4 g Vitamin E 0.96 mg Zn 0.43 mg
VataminA 235 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.08 mg
Carotene 0.8 mcg K 247 mg P 38 mg
Retinol 91.8 mcg Na 8.1 mg Se 1.38 mcg
Garlic shoot (蒜苔, Suan Tai)
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Property and taste: warm, sweet
Impacted organ: stomach, spleen, and lung
Function:
Garlic shoot can prevent coronary heart disease, prevent arteriosclerosis, and reduce blood fat. It
can also prevent liver from cancer. It can sterilize prevent human body from viral influenza. It can
suppress staphylococcus aureus, alpha hemolytic streptococcus and E. coli. It can prevent pile
and release constipation.
Cuisine tips:
Fried garlic shoot and pork is a typical dish for garlic shoot.
Every 100g garlic shoot contains:
Caloric 61 Vitamin B1 0.04 mg Ca 19 mg
Protein 2 g Lactochrome 0.07 mg Mg 28 mg
Fat 0.1 g Antipellagra factor 0.2 mg Fe 4.2 mg
Carbohydrate 12.9 g Vitamin C 1 mg Mn 0.32 mg
Dietary fiber 2.5 g Vitamin E 1.04 mg Zn 1.04 mg
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VataminA 80 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.03 mg
Carotene 0.7 mcg K 161 mg P 52 mg
Retinol 81.8 mcg Na 3.8 mg Se 2.17 mcg
Chili (辣椒, La Jiao)
Property and taste: warm, spicy
Impacted organ: stomach, and large intestine
Function:
Chili can clear inner humidity and warm body. Chili is the most popular ingredients in Middle
West China. It can improve appetite. It can prevent rheumatism.
Cuisine tips:
Small chili is usually used as flavor.
Every 100g chili contains:
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Caloric 23 Vitamin B1 0.03 mg Ca 15 mg
Protein 1.4 g Lactochrome 0.04 mg Mg 15 mg
Fat 0.3 g Antipellagra factor 0.5 mg Fe 0.7 mg
Carbohydrate 3.7 g Vitamin C 62 mg Mn 0.14 mg
Dietary fiber 2.1 g Vitamin E 0.88 mg Zn 0.22 mg
VataminA 57 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.11 mg
Carotene 0.6 mcg K 209 mg P 33 mg
Retinol 91.9 mcg Na 2.2 mg Se 0.62 mcg
Onion (洋葱, Yang Cong)
Property and taste: warm, spicy
Impacted organ: stomach, heart, and spleen
Function:
Onion can kill bacteria. Onion contains prostaglandin A which can decrease blood sugar. Onion
contains plenty of Se, which can prevent cancer.
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Cuisine tips:
Onion is very suitable for cold dressing.
Every 100g onion contains:
Caloric 330 Vitamin B1 0.16 mg Ca 186 mg
Protein 5.5 g Lactochrome 0.16 mg Mg 49 mg
Fat 0.4 g Antipellagra factor 1 mg Fe 0.9 mg
Carbohydrate 76.2 g Vitamin C 22 mg Mn 0.62 mg
Dietary fiber 5.7 g Vitamin E 0 mg Zn 1.02 mg
VataminA 5 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.45 mg
Carotene 3.1 mcg K 740 mg P 78 mg
Retinol 9.1 mcg Na 31.7 mg Se 3.91 mcg
Cilantro (香菜, Xiang Cai)
Property and taste: warm, spicy
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Impacted organ: stomach, and lung
Function:
Cilantro can strengthen stomach and help digestion. The Vitamin C cilantro contains is much
higher than other vegetables. 7-10g cilantro a day can provide enough Vitamin C for human.
Cilantro can also improve fertility.
Cuisine tips:
In Chinese cuisine, cilantro is usually served as flavor, especially frequently used in cold dressing
and soup. When you make cold dressing dish, adding some fresh cilantro, will greatly improve
the smell and taste. When you stew beef, adding some fresh cilantro when the meat is ready,
will make everyone swallow.
Every 100g cilantro contains:
Caloric 31 Vitamin B1 0.04 mg Ca 101 mg
Protein 1.8 g Lactochrome 0.14 mg Mg 33 mg
Fat 0.4 g Antipellagra factor 2.2 mg Fe 2.9 mg
Carbohydrate 5 g Vitamin C 48 mg Mn 0.28 mg
Dietary fiber 1.2 g Vitamin E 0.8 mg Zn 0.45 mg
VataminA 193 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.21 mg
Carotene 1.1 mcg K 272 mg P 49 mg
Retinol 90.5 mcg Na 48.5 mg Se 0.53 mcg
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Longan (龙眼, Long Yan)
Property and taste: warm, sweet
Impacted organ: spleen, and heart
Function
Longan can strengthen the heart and spleen. It can improve Qi. It can bring peace to heart and
mind. It helps sleep. It can regulate period.
Notice:
Longan contains much sugar. Diabetes patient should avoid.
Cuisine tips:
Fresh longan is taken as fruit. Dry longan is usually taken as tonic. We can add it into congee or
tea. It can help sleep.
Every 100g longan contains:
Caloric 71 Vitamin B1 0.01 mg Ca 6 mg
Protein 1.2 g Lactochrome 0.14 mg Mg 10 mg
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Fat 0.1 g Antipellagra factor 1.3 mg Fe 0.2 mg
Carbohydrate 16.2 g Vitamin C 43 mg Mn 0.07 mg
Dietary fiber 0.4 g Vitamin E 0 mg Zn 0.4 mg
VataminA 3 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.1 mg
Carotene 0.7 mcg K 248 mg P 30 mg
Retinol 81.4 mcg Na 3.9 mg Se 0.83 mcg
Litchi (荔枝, Li Zhi)
Property and taste: warm, sweet
Impacted organ: spleen, stomach and heart
Function:
Litchi can nourish blood, and heart.
Notice:
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Litch contains much sugar. Diabetes patient should avoid. Too much litchi intake of litchi may
increase inner heat.
Every 100g litchi contains:
Caloric 70 Vitamin B1 0.1 mg Ca 2 mg
Protein 0.9 g Lactochrome 0.04 mg Mg 12 mg
Fat 0.2 g Antipellagra factor 1.1 mg Fe 0.4 mg
Carbohydrate 16.1 g Vitamin C 41 mg Mn 0.09 mg
Dietary fiber 0.5 g Vitamin E 0 mg Zn 0.17 mg
VataminA 2 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.16 mg
Carotene 0.4 mcg K 151 mg P 24 mg
Retinol 81.9 mcg Na 1.7 mg Se 0.14 mcg
Chinese Hawthorn (山楂, Shan Zha)
Property and taste: slightly warm, sweet acid
Impacted organ: liver, stomach, and spleen
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Function:
Chinese hawthorn can prevent cardiovascular disease. It can decrease high blood pressure, high
cholesterol, and peace mind. It can improve appetite. It can improve blood circulation. It can also
cure diarrhea.
Every 100g Chinese hawthorn contains:
Caloric 95 Vitamin B1 0.02 mg Ca 52 mg
Protein 0.5 g Lactochrome 0.02 mg Mg 19 mg
Fat 0.6 g Antipellagra factor 0.4 mg Fe 0.9 mg
Carbohydrate 22 g Vitamin C 53 mg Mn 0.24 mg
Dietary fiber 3.1 g Vitamin E 7.32 mg Zn 0.28 mg
VataminA 17 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.11 mg
Carotene 0.8 mcg K 299 mg P 24 mg
Retinol 73 mcg Na 5.4 mg Se 1.22 mcg
Red dates (红枣, Hong Zao)
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Property and taste: warm, sweet
Impacted organ: Spleen, and stomach
Original from China. It can nourish blood, soothe the nerves, and strengthen the spleen and
stomach.
Cuisine tips:
In china, red dates are frequently used as tonic and medicine. It is very popular to add red dates
into congee, tea and soup.
Notice: people with decayed tooth, constipation, dyspepsia, cough, or diabetes should avoid.
Every 100g red dates contains:
Caloric 264 Vitamin B1 0.04 mg Ca 64 mg
Protein 3.2 g Lactochrome 0.16 mg Mg 36 mg
Fat 0.5 g Antipellagra factor 0.9 mg Fe 2.3 mg
Carbohydrate 61.6 g Vitamin C 14 mg Mn 0.39 mg
Dietary fiber 6.2 g Vitamin E 3.04 mg Zn 0.65 mg
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VataminA 2 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.27 mg
Carotene 1.6 mcg K 524 mg P 51 mg
Retinol 26.9 mcg Na 6.2 mg Se 1.02 mcg
Lemon (柠檬, Ning Meng)
Property and taste: warm, sweet, acid
Impacted organ: lung, and stomach
Function:
Lemon can increase saliva, relieve thirsty. It can improve appetite. It is a nature bactericide.
When we eat seafood, it help prevent bacteria. Lemon is also very good for weight control.
Green lemon can help reduce blood sugar, function like insulin. Green lemon is very good for
diabetes.
Cuisine tips:
Lemon can replace vinegar for many dishes. It can also clear strange smell of some meat. In many
Southern Asia countries, like Viet Nam and Malaysia, people lemon every day as a flavor.
Notice:
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Avoid eat fresh lemon directly, it will hurt stomach. The best way to eat lemon is making lemon
tea. Take one or two pieces, add water to it. Drink the water.
Every 100g lemon contains:
Caloric 35 Vitamin B1 0.05 mg Ca 101 mg
Protein 1.1 g Lactochrome 0.02 mg Mg 37 mg
Fat 1.2 g Antipellagra factor 0.6 mg Fe 0.8 mg
Carbohydrate 4.9 g Vitamin C 22 mg Mn 0.05 mg
Dietary fiber 1.3 g Vitamin E 1.14 mg Zn 0.65 mg
VataminA 0 mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.14 mg
Carotene 0.5 mcg K 209 mg P 22 mg
Retinol 91 mcg Na 1.1 mg Se 0.5 mcg
Pig liver (猪肝, Zhu Gan)
Property and taste: warm, sweet, bitter
Impacted organ: liver
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Function:
Pig liver can nourish blood. It can improve eye sight.
Notice: people with high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, coronary heart disease should
avoid.
Every 100g pig liver contains:
Caloric 129 Vitamin B1 0.21 mg Ca 6 mg
Protein 19.3 g Lactochrome 2.08 mg Mg 24 mg
Fat 3.5 g Antipellagra factor 15 mg Fe 22.6 mg
Carbohydrate 5 g Vitamin C 20 mg Mn 0.26 mg
Dietary fiber 0 g Vitamin E 0.86 mg Zn 5.78 mg
VataminA 4972 mcg Cholesterin 288 mg Cu 0.65 mg
Carotene 1.5 mcg K 235 mg P 310 mg
Retinol 70.7 mcg Na 68.6 mg Se 19.21 mcg
Pig stomach (猪肚, Zhu Du)
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Property and taste: warm, sweet
Impacted organ: spleen, and stomach
Function:
Pig stomach can strengthen stomach, improve appetite. It can relieve spermatorrhea.
Cuisine tips:
Pig stomach chicken stew is one of the best stew. It is especially good for weak elder or patients.
The smell will make you swallow. It is super nutritious as well. I just don’t have word to describe
it. It is easy to make. You must try.
Prepare a free range chicken and a pig stomach. It is a little difficult to clean pig stomach. We can
use salt and starch to clean pig stomach. Add some salt and starch to a pig stomach. Give it a
massage for several minutes. Use water to rinse away the salt and starch. Then it is clean. Cut
chicken and pig stomach into pieces. Put them into a stew pot, add Chinese 5g wolfberry, a little
white pepper, and two pieces of ginger. Add water. Stew them until all ingredients are soft. Add
some salt. Then it is ready.
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Every 100g pig stomach contains:
Caloric 110 Vitamin B1 0.07 mg Ca 11 mg
Protein 15.2 g Lactochrome 0.16 mg Mg 12 mg
Fat 5.1 g Antipellagra factor 3.7 mg Fe 2.4 mg
Carbohydrate 0.7 g Vitamin C 0 mg Mn 0.12 mg
Dietary fiber 0 g Vitamin E 0.32 mg Zn 1.92 mg
VataminA 3 mcg Cholesterin 165 mg Cu 0.1 mg
Carotene 0.8 mcg K 171 mg P 124 mg
Retinol 78.2 mcg Na 75.1 mg Se 12.76 mcg
Lamb (羊肉, Yang Rou)
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Property and taste: warm, sweet
Impacted organ: spleen, kidney, and heart
Function
Lamb can warm body, especially good for weak people. It can strengthen the kidney, promote
digestion. Stew lamb with ginger, brown sugar and angelica, which is suitable for winter cold
weather. It can improve immunity system of human. It suits people with blood asthenia.
Every 100g lamb contains:
Caloric 203 Vitamin B1 0.05 mg Ca 6 mg
Protein 19 g Lactochrome 0.14 mg Mg 20 mg
Fat 14.1 g Antipellagra factor 4.5 mg Fe 2.3 mg
Carbohydrate 0 g Vitamin C 0 mg Mn 0.02 mg
Dietary fiber 0 g Vitamin E 0.26 mg Zn 3.22 mg
VataminA 22 mcg Cholesterin 92 mg Cu 0.75 mg
Carotene 1.2 mcg K 232 mg P 146 mg
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Retinol 65.7 mcg Na 80.6 mg Se 32.2 mcg
Shrimp (虾, Xia)
Property and taste: warm, sweet
Impacted organ: spleen and kidney
Function:
Shrimp can strengthen kidney. It can prevent atherosclerosis
Every 100g shrimp contains:
Caloric 79 Vitamin B1 0.01 mg Ca 146 mg
Protein 16.8 g Lactochrome 0.05 mg Mg 46 mg
Fat 0.6 g Antipellagra factor 1.9 mg Fe 3 mg
Carbohydrate 1.5 g Vitamin C 0 mg Mn 0.11 mg
Dietary fiber 0 g Vitamin E 2.79 mg Zn 1.44 mg
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VataminA 0 mcg Cholesterin 117 mg Cu 0.44 mg
Carotene 1.8 mcg K 228 mg P 196 mg
Retinol 79.3 mcg Na 302.2 mg Se 56.41 mcg
Category four: Hot property ingredients
Hot property ingredients are usually very nourishing. But they will increase much inner heat.
People cannot eat too much hot property food.
Durian (榴莲, Liu Lian)
Property and taste: hot, sweet
Impacted organ: lung, liver, and kidney
Function
Durian is taken as king of fruit. Durian can nourish spleen, and strengthen Qi. Durian can warm
body, promote blood circulation, and relief dysmenorrhea. It is especially good for cold body.
There is a saying that one durian is as nutritious as three chickens.
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Notice:
Durian has very hot property. People with inner heat or have hot property should avoid.
Every 100g durian contains:
Caloric 147 Vitamin B1 0.04 mg Ca 4mg
Protein 2.6g Lactochrome 0.16 mg Mg 27mg
Fat 3.3g Antipellagra factor 1.19 mg Fe 2.3 mg
Carbohydrate 28.3g Vitamin C 14 mg Mn 0.22mg
Dietary fiber 1.7g Vitamin E 2.28 mg Zn 0.3mg
VataminA 3mcg Cholesterin 0 mg Cu 0.27 mg
Carotene 1.6 mcg K 261mg P 38mg
Retinol 26.9 mcg Na 2.9 mg Se 3.26 mcg
Flavor:
Brown sugar (红糖, Hong Tang)
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Property and taste: warm, sweet
Impacted organ: spleen
Function:
Brown sugar can nourish blood, warm stomach, help spleen, relief pain, promote blood
circulation to remove blood stasis.
Brown sugar is a kind of raw sugar which keeps many vitamins and mineral substance. Brown
sugar is especially good for delivery woman, woman in period, and anemia children. It can help
to clear the stasis after delivery or menstrual blood.
Cuisine tips:
Brown sugar made by traditional Chinese procedure is better. We can get it in any Chinese super
market. It is better to have brown sugar boiled before take it.
Notice
People with diabetes should avoid, people who have constipation should also avoid. Besides,
people should not take pills with brown sugar.
192
Sichuan pepper (花椒, Hua Jia)
Property and taste: warm, spicy
Impacted organ: spleen, lung and kidney
Function
Sichuan pepper is a flavor. Mainly used in Sichuan dishes. Therefore it is called Sichuan pepper. It
can clear the smell of meat. It can strengthen stomach, warm body and clear inner cold. It can
clear inner parasites
Ginger(姜, Jiang)
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Property and taste: hot, spicy
Impacted organ: spleen, heart, stomach, and kidney
Function:
Ginger is king of flavor. When cooking meat, it is a must flavor, and one of the most popular in
the world. Every cuisine as long as it contains meat we will put ginger in it. It can eliminate the
disgusting smell of meat. Ginger can warm the body, clear cold. It can cure stomach cold and
nourish of Yang. When we get cold, a cup of ginger tea usually can help us recover. Ginger brown
sugar tea is usually used to help menses out during women’s period.
Garlic (蒜, Suan)
Property and taste: hot, spicy
Impacted organ: spleen, stomach, and lung
Function:
Garlic can kill bacteria. Because ingredients of cold dressing is usually fresh, normally put garlic
into cold saucing food to help eliminate bacteria. Garlic can kill many pathogenic bacteria like
staphylococcus aureus, bacillus comma, trichomonad, hookwomb and so on. Fresh garlic can
prevent flu. But cooked garlic don’t have such function anymore.
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Garlic can prevent cancer cell from reproduce. Garlic can decrease blood cholesterol. Garlic can
also decrease blood sugar, dilute blood.
Notice
People with stomach ulcer, headache, and cough should not eat garlic. It is better eat garlic
freshly.
Green onion (葱, Chong)
Property and taste: warm, spicy
Impacted organ: spleen, stomach, and lung
Function:
Green onion can promote blood circulation, decrease blood pressure. It can clear headache
caused by cold. It can prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
Chapter 17. Herbal and tonic
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Many herbals are very frequently used in daily cuisine of Chinese family. They help people
recover from tiredness and weakness, and strengthen the body. Here I would like to introduce
some most popular herbals and their function.
Saffron (藏红花，Zang Hong Hua)
Property and taste: warm, spicy
Impacted organ: spleen, and heart
Function:
Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world. There are only three pistil stigmas in a flower.
Around 15,000 flowers can only produce 100 g pistil stigma. Farmer must collect the stigma by
hand before sun rise before the flower withered. Saffron can only be sold when it is dried. Iran is
the biggest producer of saffron in the world. Although it is very expensive, only with very little
quantity, it can have super flavor and medical function.
Saffron origin from the Mediterranean. It can promote blood circulation by removing blood
stasis. It also have very good anticancer function, without much side effect or toxicity.
It is very good for women with algomenorrhea and irregular menses. Saffron is also very good for
people who have diabetes. It can greatly decrease complication of diabetes.
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Saffron tea is very good treatment for wound after 24 hours of injury. It can quickly help the
body clear blood stasis. After delivery or period, take some saffron tea can help clear blood stasis
as well. Saffron can be poisonous with excessive intake. Only 5-7 slice can make a cup of tea. One
cannot take it too much per day. For me, 1g saffron can serve for two months.
Notice: pregnant women must not take saffron. It will lead to abortion. Women during period
should avoid it too.
Chinese angelica (当归, Dang Gui)
Property and taste: warm, sweet, spicy
Impacted organ: lung, spleen, and heart
Function:
Angelica origins from China. Angelica is the most important herbal for blood disease. It can
increase blood, can promote blood circulation. It is the most popular herbal medicine used for
gynecology. It can help women with irregular period or have dysmenorrhea. It is also very
frequently used in chicken stew to serve as tonic.
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American ginseng (花旗参, Hua Qi Shen)
Property and taste: cool, sweet
Impacted organ: kidney, lung, heart
Function:
American ginseng can improve nervous system, peace mind, and improve memory. It can
improve cardiovascular system. It can improve immune system. It is approved to be effective to
cure diabetes.
Cuisine tips:
We can put several pieces of American Ginseng into boiled water, served as tea for daily use.
American Ginseng chicken stew is also very popular. When we stew the chicken put 5g American
ginseng into the stew. The soup is very nourish.
Ginseng (人参, Ren Shen)
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Property and taste: warm, sweet
Impacted organ: spleen, and lung
Function
Ginseng is the most important toxin in China. It can improve vitality and Qi. It is approved to be
effective to cure diabetes. It can warm body.
Notice:
Ginseng is especially helpful for those very weak patients or elder. It can improve Yang
dramatically. However, young people take ginseng make lead to nose bleeding. People with inner
heat take it may lead to insomnia and manic agitation.
Root of straight ladybell (沙参, Shas hen)
199
Property and taste: slightly cold, sweet
Impacted organ: spleen, and lung
Function
It can clear lung heat, arrest cough. It can help defecation. It can improve immunity. It can peace
mind.
Astraglus base (黄芪, Huang Qi)
Property and taste: slightly warm, sweet
Impacted organ: spleen, lung
200
Function
Astraglus base can improve Qi. It is an important medicine for Qi. It is mainly used for weak
patient lack of vigor, and short of breathe.
Chinese wolfberry (枸杞, Gou Qi)
Property and taste: warm sweet
Impacted organ: liver, and kidney
Chinese wolfberry origin from western part of China. It is very good for liver and kidney. It can
greatly improve the immunization system and Hematopoietic function. It can reduce blood lipid.
Wolfberry chrysanthemum tea:
10g wolfberry and 6-8 chrysanthemum serving together are very good for kidney and eyes.
Safflower (红花, Hong Hua)
201
Property and taste: warm, spicy
Impacted organ: liver, and heart
Function：
Safflower can promote blood circulation, get through Jing block, dissolve gore, and relieve pain.
It is effective for irregular period, carbuncle and wound care (after 24 hours).
Pseudo-ginseng (三七, San Qi)
Property and taste: warm sweet, bitter
Impacted organ: liver, stomach, and large intestine
202
Function：
Stop bleeding, dissolve gore and relieve pain. It is effective for high blood pressure, diabetes, and
cardiovascular disease. It is also commonly used for wound care.
Chapter 18. Drinks
Chinese tea is very famous in the world. But many people don’t know that there are over 6000
kinds of teas in China. They are mainly divided into four categories: no fermentation tea, half
fermentation tea, fully fermentation tea, and flower tea. In general, none fermentation tea has
cool property suitable for summer, half fermented tea has even property suitable for all seasons,
full fermented tea has warm property, suitable for winter drink.
None fermentation tea
Property: cool
Green tea
Green tea refers to tea without any fermentation. There are over one hundred types of green
tea. The most famous green tea are Longing, produced in Zhejiang province, original started in
Song dynasty (960 AD-1279 AD) and Biluochun produced in Jiangsu province, original started in
Ming dynasty (1368 AD -1644 AD).
Function:
203
Green tea contains tea polyphenols, which helps fat metabolism. Tea polyphenols can also
prevent sedimentation of fat in blood vessel, suppress atherosclerosis. Green tea can prevent
and cure radiation disease. Green tea is alkaline drink which can protect calcium in the body.
Green tea contains aromatic compounds which can dissolve fat. Therefore green tea can help
reduce weight. However green tea may prevent body from absorb Fe. People with anemia
should avoid green tea.
Yellow tea
The producing procedure of yellow tea is similar with green tea. However, yellow tea requires
special procedure to make tea oxidizing and turns to be yellow. Therefore, yellow tea has slightly
fermented. Representative of yellow tea is:Junshan yinzhen tea, produced in Hunan province.
Function:
Yellow tea contains much digestive enzyme, which is very good for stomach and spleen. People
with weak stomach and without appetite can drink yellow tea to improve appetite. Yellow tea
also has approved effect to prevent esophageal cancer.
Half fermentation tea
Property: even
Oolong tea is half fermented tea, original from Qing dynasty. The major place of production of
oolong tea is Fujian Anxi. Representative includes: Wu Yi Yan tea, Tie Guanyin, and Da Hong Pao.
204
Function
Oolong tea is the healthiest drink in the world. According to scientific analysis, there are over 500
organic elements in oolong tear. Oolong tea can dissolve fat inside the body, help reduce weight.
Oolong tea can prevent cancer. There was a famous test for oolong tea in 1998. Food scientist
Chi Han carried out a research of oolong tea. They divided rats into two groups. They fed
carcinogen Methyl kakya nitrate gel (purity>99.8%) to both groups of rats. One group they fed
oolong tea. The other didn’t. After three months, the cancer ratio of rats without feeding tea was
higher than 90%. The other group was around 60%.
Oolong tea can decrease blood cholesterol. In 1981 and 1983, there were scientists in Japan and
Fujian China both doing experiments to test the effects of deceasing blood cholesterol of oolong
tea. After taking oolong tea for 24 weeks, at the same time, stopping all medicine of decreasing
blood cholesterol, the blood cholesterol of patients all decreased. Further tests also showed that
oolong tea can prevent atherosclerosis.
Experiments in 1983, in Fujian TCM research center showed that, oolong tea shows the same
effects as vitamin E of anti-aging.
Full fermentation tea
Property: warm
Red tea
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Red tea is a fully fermented tea. It started in Ming dynasty (1368 AD -1644 AD). It is originally
produced in Fujian province, Wu Yi mountain. Qimen red tea is the most famous, produced in An
Hui province, Qimen county.
Function
Red tea can refresh mind, clear inner heat, increase urine. It can kill bacteria. It can also absorb
heavy metal toxin. Red tea can nourish stomach. Usually green tea is not good for stomach. But
red tea can protect stomach. Red tea can also prevent osteoporosis.
Black tea
Representative: Pu’er Tea
Function
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Pu’er tea can warm stomach, and decrease blood cholesterol. It can decrease blood sugar. It can
prevent coronary heart disease. Especially it can help lose weight.
Notice: people should not drink tea with empty stomach. People with fever should avoid tea.
Pregnant women should not drink tea. Women in period should not drink tea. Patients taking
medicine should not drink tea.
Flower tea
Jasmine tea
Property: cold
Function:
Jasmine tea can get through Qi to help people who have choking sensation inside the body. It
can suppress bacterium relief inflammation. It can improve eye sight help liver. It can also help
clear inner heat.
Notice: Jasmine tea has cold property, which is not good for weak patients or people with cold
body.
Rose tea
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Property: warm
Function:
Rose is excellent food for womb. It can regulate women’s period. It can sooth menalgia. Rose can
soften blood vessel. It is good for heart disease patients.
Notice: rose has warm property, people with hot body and has constipation should avoid.
Osmanthus fragrans tea
Property: warm
Function
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Osmanthus fragrans can nourish lung, stop cough. It can relieve thirsty. It can clear the flatulence
of stomach. It can cure fetid breath. It can nourish skin.
Chrysanthamum tea
Property: cold
Function
Chrysanthamum tea can clear inner heat. It can decrease blood pressure. It can relieve
headache. It is very good for eyesight. People work with computer for a long time can take it
regularly to protect eyes.
Others:
Brown sugar ginger tea
Boiling two pieces of ginger together with 5g brown sugar. It is especially good for women during
period. It can help menses out and relieve pain. It is also good for people getting cold.
Ginger red dates tea
Boiling two pieces of ginger together with 4 red dates. This tea can warm stomach, consume fat,
improve blood circulation. It is good for winter and cold body.
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Bitter gourd tea
Buy the dry bitter gourd in a Chinese super market. Every time, put several pieces into a glass,
adding boiling water. Drink it once a day. It can clear inner heat, improve eye sight. It is good for
summer.
Part 4 Home Remedy
Chapter 19 Home remedy Home remedy has always been an important part of medical care in China. They are not formal,
and lack of scientific reasoning. However, most of them are ancient prescription, transmitted
from generation to generation. Because they are approved to be effective in many cases. They
got such strong vitality to survive. They are all regular food, even common healthy people can
take without much side effects. Therefore, it worth a try.
Diabetes
There are basically three categories of diabetes: type 1, type 1, and gestational diabetes. Most
patients of type 1 diabetes are young people. They don’t have enough insulin in their body. They
need insulin injection to maintain their life. Most patients of type 2 diabetes are people elder
than 30, their insulin level is not low or even higher than average. But cells fail to respond to
insulin properly.
Green lemon chicken stew.
This a traditional food recipe effective for diabetes, especially effective for adult or elder people.
After taking it for about one month, many patients recovered without further medicine
assistance:
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Prepare a free range chicken. Take the skin, head, feet, and butt off. Cut four green lemons into
pieces with the skin. Put the four green lemons, water and the chicken together into a crockery.
The water must cover all ingredients. Stew them until chicken soft, adding a little salt. Eat this
recipe every day for two weeks, then test your blood sugar.
The taste of this recipe is not good. As long as it can cure the diabetes, it worth try.
Please notice that you cannot use yellow lemon. It is better to buy a free range chicken in
Chinese super market. Or buy an organic chicken. Don’t use any metal pot. Porcelain pot is fine
too.
Besides, Chinese ginseng, American ginseng, bitter gourd, sea tangle, Chinese wolfberry, saffron
are all effective ingredients to cure diabetes. One easy way to take them is making tea, Chinese
ginseng, American ginseng, bitter gourd and Chinese wolfberry can all served as tea. Put a little
into a glass, adding boiled water. Drinking the water. After the water finished, eat them all.
But be notice that Chinese ginseng, and Chinese wolfberry are warm, American ginseng, bitter
gourd and sea tangle are cold. Choose one group which suites you better.
High blood pressure
Sea tangle green bean soup
Prepare 150g dry sea tangle, and 150g mung beans. Soak the sea tangle for 3 hours, clean it. Put
them together into a big pot, add water covering them all. Boil them until soft, add brown sugar.
Take the soup twice a day, each time about 50g.
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Corn silk tea
Corn silk is a traditional Chinese herb. Its property and taste is even and sweet. It is especially
useful to cure nephritis. It can effectively decrease blood pressure as well.
Take 60g corn silk, boil it with water. Take the corn silk tea three times a day.
Hawthorn tea
Fresh hawthorn 10 pieces, sugar 10g. Boil them together until hawthorn soft. Drink the tea once
a day.
Celery tea
Celery has the function of decrease blood pressure, peace mind, stop vomiting and help
urinating. It is very good for high blood pressure patients.
Prepare Celery 200g, bitter gourd 60g, boiling them together, take the soup twice every day.
Constipation
Constipation is not a big disease. However, keeping trash and toxin in the body in a long time will
lead to other diseases. Normally doctors suggest defecate at least once a day. There are many
reasons lead to constipation. First we must find out the reason for our own constipation.
The first type of constipation is called solid constipation. The causes of solid constipation are
inner heat or accumulation of Qi. The symptoms of inner heat constipation are dry and hard shit,
short yellow urine, anxiety, thirsty, or smelly mouth. People with inner heat constipation should
avoid spicy food, choose some cold food to clear inner heat, such as banana, bitter gourd,
cucumber and so on. The symptoms of Qi constipation are difficulty to let shit out, flatulence of
stomach, or pain of stomach. People having Qi constipation should eat food help circulation of
Qi, nourish intestine, such like banana, sea tangle, or bamboo shoot.
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The second type of constipation is weak constipation. It is further divided into weak Qi
constipation, and weak blood constipation. The symptoms of weak Qi is willing to defecate, but
lack of strength, difficult to let it out, or cold stomach. People with weak Qi constipation should
eat food strengthen spleen, nourish intestine, such as yam, taro, and fig.
The symptoms of weak blood constipation are sheep shit, little sleep, sweating, and dizziness.
People with weak blood constipation should avoid lamb, chili, pepper and other spicy hot food
and flavor. Eat more sesame, honey, and peanuts.
I have heard that many US people use colon cleansing enema to clean their intestine and solve
constipation. A colon cleansing enema may cost over 100 USD dollars. Chinese cabbage cuisine is
suitable for most constipation. Chinese cabbage is even, mainly have function on stomach and
intestine. Adding other suitable food for your category of constipation, one can solve the
problem.
Chinese cabbage cuisine
Chinese cabbage has even property, and taste sweet. It impacted stomach and intestine. Chinese
cabbage is the best food for stomach and intestine. It contains plenty vegetable fiber, which can
clean intestine. It also can prevent intestine cancer.
When you want an intestine cleaning, buy a Chinese cabbage, cut it into small pieces. Boiled it
soft, add a little salt or olive oil as you like when it is ready. Then take the cabbage as your
dinner, without eating other things. After 2-3 hours, you will feel the movement of your
intestine. If you really want a through clean, take cabbage dish for a whole day or two days. It is
harmless, cost you less than 5 bucks, and very effective.
Weight control
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Sea tangle
Sea tangle contains plenty of vitamins and minerals, especially iodine, calcium, iron, magnesium,
kalium and so on. Iodine can improve function of thyroid gland, promoting metabolism, and
consuming calorie.
Fruit diet
Every morning, take fresh fruit as your breakfast when the stomach is empty. Take regular lunch
and dinner. Fruit such as banana, grapefruit, apple, pineapple, and tomato are all very suitable
for weight control diet.
Hawthorn white chrysanthemum tea
Put several pieces of dry hawthorn, white chrysanthemum into a cup, adding hot boiling water.
Drinking the tea once a day.
Heart disease
Garlic brown sugar tea
Prepare three pieces of garlic, 5g brown sugar. Put the garlic together with its skin into a pot
together with two bowl of water. Boiling water to half. Adding brown sugar. Drink this tea at
noon from 11AM-1PM. Every month dink seven days.
Safflower，pseudo-ginseng and pigeon steam
Prepare 6g safflower, 5g pseudo-ginseng, 1 pigeon, 10g cooking wine, 3g salt, 10g green onion,
5g ginger, 10g soy oil, 5g brown sugar, 100g rape.
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Clear pigeon, take off viscus, put cooking wine, soy oil, brown sugar, ginger, green onion, salt all
together into a big bowl, socking them for 30 minutes.
Add safflower，pseudo-ginseng and rape.
Steaming them for 60 minutes. Then it is ready.
Notice: pregnant women cannot eat.
It can promote blood circulation, nourishing Qi and blood. It is good for coronary heart who have
stagnation of the heart blood.
Safflower，pseudo-ginseng and pigeon egg steam
Prepare 6g safflower, 10g pseudo-ginseng, 5 pigeon eggs, 3g salt, 200g chicken soup
Boiling the pigeon eggs until they are ready, take off their eggshell. Put safflower, pseudo-
ginseng, salt, pigeon eggs all together, add chicken soup. Steam them all together for 25 minutes.
Notice: pregnant women cannot eat.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Young cock ginger stew
Prepare a young cock, and 150 ginger. Cut ginger into pieces. Put them all into a pot, add water.
Stew them together until cock soft. Take it every two weeks.
Cock can warm the body, nourish kidney, relieve pain and increase strength.
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Patients of Rheumatoid arthritis cannot eat too much peanuts, sweet food, and seafood. Cannot
drink too much milk, sheep milk, alcohol, cafe, and tea.
Best food for patients of Rheumatoid arthritis are:
1. Bitter gourd, sponge gourd. They can clear inner heat, relieve inflammation and pain;
2. Coix seed, Toufu, celery, Chinese yam, hyacinth bean can clear inner humidity, they can
relieve swelling;
3. Snake wine. they can promote blood circulation, relieve pain, and prevent disease expand;
Asthma
1. Sesame, walnut mixture
Prepare 250g walnut meat, and 100g black sesame, fried them in a pan without adding any other
thing for several minutes until them are hot. Then pound them into mash. Prepare 200ml warm
water, adding 100ml honey, adding the walnuts and sesame. Then steam the mixture for 20
minutes. Take it once in the early morning, once in the late night for several days, you can see
the effects.
2. Ginger sesame mixture
Prepare ginger 125g, sesame 250g, rock sugar 125g, honey 125ml. first pound the ginger get its
juice. Fried the sesame in a pan without adding other thing until it is very hot. Put the sesame,
ginger juice, rock sugar, and honey together, blend them until rock sugar dissolve. Take it once in
the early morning, once in the late night for several days, you can see the effects.
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3. Red dates, Hawthorn, and lungan mixture
Prepare 125g red dates (without kernel), hawthorn 125g (without kernel), lungan meat, 125
sugar, little corn oil
Pound the above ingredients into mash, blend them together. Take it 3-4 times a day for seven
days.
4. Rock sugar vinegar soup
Prepare 500ml vinegar, rock sugar 500g. Put them together and heat it until rock sugar dissolve.
Take it once in the early morning, once in the late night for several days, you can see the effects.
Menalgia
1. Brown sugar ginger tea
Prepare 20g ginger, 15g red dates, 10g brown sugar. Cut the ginger into pieces. Boil them
together with 500ml water. Wait until half water evaporate. Then it is ready. Take it every day
during period.
2. red wine apple stew
Prepare 2 apples, cut it into pieces. Put it into a pot, add red wine until apples are covered. Boil it
for 15 minutes. Turn off the heat. Keep soak them for two hours. Then it is ready. One can also
add honey when take it.
3. Hawthorn red dates soup
50g Hawthorn, 15g ginger, 15 red dates.
Add water and boil them together for 15 minutes. Take it twice every day during period.
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Besides, rose tea, ginger red dates tea, hawthorn angelica tea all can relieve pain during period.
I am not a doctor, nor did I take any formal medical training. But I am very confident here to
share all the health knowledge to the public. Because I stand on a big mountain. 4000 years
medical practice experience and tradition provide me the confidence. What I share here is only a
tiny part of the Chinese food, drink and medical culture. I wish I can open a window for the rest
of the world. I wish all the people can benefit from the essence of the Chinese culture.
