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Chinese Food Therapy 2

Chinese food therapy dates back as early as 2000 BC. However, proper documentation was only found around 500BC. The Huangdi’s Canon of Medicine, also known as the Huang Di Nei Jing, which was written around 300BC, was most important in forming the basis of Chinese food therapy. It classified food by food groups, five tastes and by their natures and characteristics.
Philosophy about Food
The ideas of yin and yang are used in the sphere of food and cooking. Yang foods are believed to increase the body’s heat (e.g. raise the metabolism), while yin foods are believed to decrease the body’s heat(e.g. lower the metabolism). as a generalization, yang foods tend to be dense in food energy, especially energy from fat, while yin foods tend to have high water content. The Chinese ideal is to eat both types of food to keep the body in balance. A person eating too much yang food might suffer from acne and bad breath while a person eating too much yin food might be lethargic or anemic.
Cantonese Classification of Food
Cantonese people pay much attention to the body’s reaction to food. Food items are classified accordingly, and diet is adjusted based on the body’s conditions. In effect, many Cantonese people practice food therapy in day to day situations. The following is a list of common food classifications”.

Names

Related symptoms/effects

Examples

Cures

Dry fire(yang)

Causes dryness of skin, chapped lips, nose bleeding, etc.

Chili pepper, deep fried food, beef jerky, lychee

Any yin or cooling food

Wet heat(yang)

Cause mouth sore, urinary burning, etc. Probably due to the acidity or alkalinity

Mango, pineapple, cherry

Chrysanthemum, Imperata arundinacea, sugar cane, Prunella vulgaris L.

Cold cooling(yin)

Causes dizziness, weakness, pale or green face(low oxygen level in blood), etc.

Watermelon, honeydew and certain kinds of melon-type fruits or vegetables, green tea

Any boosting or dry fire food

blocking

Causes stomach gas, indigestion, etc.

All fibrous food, e.g. yam, chestnuts

Haw(fruit), malt

poisoning

Causes pus or swelling in wound, outbreak of acne, hemorrhoid, etc.

Duck, goose, bamboo shoot, all shellfish

Abstinence at outbreak

greasy

Causes gastric upset, runny stool, outbreak of acne, etc.

All greasy food, e.g. bacon, etc.

Abstinence at outbreak

Clear cooling

Mild yin type that counteracts the dry fire type. Also listed as yin when overused.

Beer, lettuce, sugar cane, Imperata arundinacea, American ginseng.

Not needed if not overused

nourishing

Moisturizing, soothing

Apple, pear, fig, winter melon, lotus, Dioscorea oppposita, longan, lily bulb, etc.

Not needed

boosting

Replenishes blood and Qi. Also liste as dry fire when over used.

Mutton, snake, beef, wild games, lily bulb, etc.

Not needed if not over used.

invigorating

Circulates blood and Qi

Korean ginseng, red wine

Not needed

Generating strengthening

Improves various internal functions

various

Not needed



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