Chinese Medical Nutrition Flashcards
vegetables in CM
they tonify blood, qi and yin (predominantly), soothe Liver Qi, clear heat & toxicity
Most vegetables are neutral in temperature making them suitable for most people.
Bitter vegetables
Clear heat/fire
Some bitters revitalize the Kidneys & Lung.
Conditions indicated for Vegetables that drain damp
edema, excess mucus, cysts, candida overgrowth, etc.
Some are indicated for DH of LIV, GB, SP, ST
Raw veggies, those grown in warmer climates
stronger cleansing + detoxing
spinach, chard, beet greens: oxalic acid
raw beets
purify blood
raw artichokes
purify Liver
raw asparagus
diaphoretic effect on KID
nightshade family C/c
arthritis, heart disease, tooth decay
veggies/herbs that grow in colder/harsher climates
build immunity and resistance to cold and exterior pathogens
allium properties
*sulfur content purifies heavy metals
*for people who eat lots of meat
Garlic
*topical for poison ivy etc
*with oil to treat ear infection
Leek
Astringent for bleeding, diarrhea
Onion
Lowers blood pressure + cholesterol
Scallion
*Pungent and bitter
*Angina/chest pain
*Contra heat conditions
Asparagus
*Contra KID inflammation
Cruciferous + Brassica vegetables
Cancer-fighting
Broccoli
*Caution with hypothyroid patients (esp. raw form)
Cabbage
Cool
Moistens intestines
Benefits ST, improves digestion
Benefits skin
High vitamin C, vitamin U (ulcer remedy)
Sulfur content –> destroys parasites, purifies blood
Chinese/Napa cabbage
Cool
Sweet
Reduce inflammation in heat conditions
Topical for frostbite
Digestive aid before meals
Manuka honey, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice
Kale
Warm!
Benefits ST
Eases LU congestion
Phlegm-cold
Mustard greens
Warming!
Pungent!
Reduces clear/white cold phlegm
*Dissolves stagnant, congealed blood
Contra heat conditions, phlegm-heat in LU (combine with cooling food)
Kohlrabi (whole vegetable is edible)
Neutral
Fire, Earth, Metal
Improves qi circulation
Eliminates blood stag
Relieves painful urination
Indigestion, sugar imbalance
Colon bleeding
Scrotum swelling
Alcohol/drug detox
Juice = nosebleed remedy
Radish
Cooling
Cuts mucus!
Removes food stag
Detoxifies*
Transforms hot phlegm, clears throat + sinuses
*Contra Qi xu, Yang xu
Turnip
Neutral
*Sulfur content –> highly detoxifying
Artichoke / sunchoke
*Contains insulin + promotes insulin production
Lettuce
Cooling
Diuretic
*Analgesic
Wild foraged = analgesic, lucid dreaming
Wild/foraged veggies
Highly adaptogenic, immunostimulant functions
Temperature/properties may differ from cultivars
Watercress
Cooling
*One of the best veggies for LU phlegm heat
*In winter, found near water source = KID UB
Diuretic
Stimulates bile + other glandular secretions
CONTRA frequent urination
Dandelion greens
Cool
Clears toxic heat
Mildly diuretic
Topically grated with ginger as poultice for breast lumps/tumors
Caution: allergies to ragweed family
Stinging nettle / Xun Ma
Cold
*Builds + purifies blood
*Jing tonic
*Breast cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia
*Allergies
*Prostate health with pumpkin seeds + broccoli
Lamb’s quarters
Anti-cancer
*METAL + EARTH
Caution: light sensitivity in high doses
Miner’s lettuce
*High in vitamin C –> scurvy
Pursulane
Cold
Immune-benefiting
Spinach
Cool
*Builds blood
*Hemostatic
CONTRA: kidney stones, loose stools, seminal emissions, urinary incontinence, blood thinners
Beets
Cool
Nourishes + strengthens HT
Sedates shen
Moisten intestines
Promotes menstruation
CAUTION: beet-top greens with arthritic + calcium metabolism issues, kidney stones
Pumpkin
Cooling
Yellow –> SP, pancreas (Earth)
*Earth is the mother of Metal = benefits bronchial asthma
Cooked pumpkin destroys intestinal worms, not as much as seeds
Cucumber
Cooling
*Lifts depression
*Tapeworms
Squash
Cool
Seeds destroy worms/parasites
Winter squash > more beneficial
Zucchini (type of squash)
Clears heat
Detoxifies
Bitter melon
*Caution in pregnancy
*Anti-pancreatic cancer
Sweet potato
Sweet
Neutral
SP
Qi mover
Detoxifies
Builds KID yin
Benefits fluids
Nourishes dryness, inflammation
Food remedy for night blindness
Sweet potato
Spirulina
Organic animal liver
Food remedy for jaundice
Yam, squash, pearl barley soup
Food remedy for diabetes
bitter melon
yam
Purple yam/ube
Sweet
Neutral
SP, KID
Tonify SP, KID
*stop diarrhea from Qi/Yang xu
*KID tonic: yin, yang, qi
Frequent uncontrollable urination
Poor appetite
Asthma
*Emotional instability
Dysmenorrhea
Mountain Yam (Shan Yao)
Sweet
Neutral
LU, SP, KID
Tonifies Qi + Yin
Astringent for Xiao Ke, spermatorrhea, frequent urination, etc
Enhances immune function
*Lowers risk of heart disease
*Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antispasmodic
Good for menopause (steroid hormone precursor) –> hair, skin, nails, dental
Water spinach
*Increase lactation
Gestational diabetes
Insomnia
Constipation
Jaundice
Liver disease
Detoxification
Veggies that promote lactation
Lettuce
Sweet potato
Water spinach
Snowpea
How to neutralize the oxalic acid in nightshades
Bake
Roast
Fry
+ Salt / Miso
*Parsley, seaweed
What is unique about mustard greens’ temperature?
Warming + pungent
What is key to remember about mustard greens?
Dissolves stagnant, congealed blood
Elemental qualities of Kohlrabi
Fire
Earth
Metal
Radish KEY points
Cuts mucus
Removes food stag
Detoxifies
CONTRA Qi + Yang xu
Turnip key points
Sulfur content –> detoxifying, alkalizing
Jerusalem artichoke key points
Contains insulin
Wild lettuce key points
Hypnotic/possibly narcotic: induce sleep + lucid dreaming
What does lettuce combine well with?
Fruit
Watercress key points
VERY good for LU phlegm heat
Stimulates bile, glandular secretions
Always found near water source (KID, BL)
Stinging nettle key points
Effective for breast cancer + benign prostatic hyperplasia
Allergies
Lamb’s Quarters key points
Metal + Earth
LU, LI, ST
Miner’s lettuce key points
High in vitamin C
Spinach key points
Builds blood
Stops bleeding
Beets key points
Caution: beet top greens for patients with arthritic, calcium metabolism problems; kidney stones
Pumpkin key points
Regular use benefits bronchial asthma
(Yellow –> Earth –> mother of Metal)
Cucumber key points
Lifts depression
Detoxifies
Tapeworms + other intestinal worms
Purple yam key points
Emotional instability
Tonifies KID qi, yin, yang
Shan yao (mountain yam) key points
Lowers risk of HT disease
Analgesic
Antispasmodic
Water spinach key points
Increase lactation
Breaking blood stasis
Eggplant
Kohlrabi
Eggplant key points
Specifically acts on UTERUS + LIV
Prevents strokes, hemorrhages
Contra in pregnancy –> miscarriage
Potato key points
Reduces any and all inflammations
Highly yin nourishing
Electromagnetic stress
Tomato key points
Cooling
Sweet, sour (unique properties)
Used for anorexia
Medicinal dosage: 1-2 tomatoes 2x/day
Carrots key points
Destroys pinworms and roundworms
Parsnip key points
Excellent pain remover
WCD Bi
*Parsnip leaves are poisonous!
Okra key points
Insulin-like properties = ideal food source for diabetics
Bamboo shoots key points
Analgesic: pain
Very cold, very strong blood mover
Caution in pregnancy (abortive) but can be consumed during labor
Sugarcane key qualities
erectile dysfunction/infertility
UTI
lemongrass key points
extinguish wind!
fights staph infections
calms shen
wheatgrass key points
*blood tonic
*jing tonic (vegan source, like nettle)
Lion’s Mane key points
Benefits brain, neurons
Yun Zhi / Turkey Tail Mushroom key points
Cancer drugs derived from this
Celery key points
Benefits Earth + Wood organs
*Hypertension, especially in pregnant people
Lotus root key points
Tonifies all 5 Zang + Zhi
Irritability
Hypertension