Chinese Name: 魔芋
Thermal Nature: Cold
Flavor: Bitter, pungent
Properties: Dissolves phlegm and clots, helps with detoxification, relieves pain
Best Use For: Treating cough due to phlegm, treating external bruises
Serving Per Day For One Person: 9 to 15g
Dietary Caution: Konjac needs to be cooked for at least 2 hours before consumption. Never consume konjac raw.
Suitable For: Balanced body constitution, Blood stasis body constitution, Phlegm and dampness body constitution
Chinese Name: 芋头
Thermal Nature: Neutral
Flavor: Sweet, pungent
Organ Meridian: Stomach
Properties: Strengthens spleen, dissolves clots, helps with detoxification
Best Use For: Treating weakness in spleen and stomach
Serving Per Day For One Person: 60 to 120g
Dietary Caution: Avoid overconsumption as it will cause harm to spleen. Note that raw yam contains some poisonous substances, so it must be thoroughly cooked before consumption.
Suitable For: Balanced body constitution, Blood stasis body constitution, Qi stagnation body constitution
Chinese Name: 山药, 淮山
Thermal Nature: Neutral
Flavor: Sweet
Organ Meridian: Spleen, lung, kidney
Properties: Strengthens spleen and lungs, protects kidneys
Best Use For: Treating weakening of spleen and loose stools, cough due to weakness in lungs, frequent urination due to weakness in kidneys
Serving Per Day For One Person: 15 to 30g
Dietary Caution: Do not consume chinese yam if you have flu or fever symptoms
Suitable For: Balanced body constitution, Qi deficiency body constitution, Yin deficiency body constitution, Yang deficiency body constitution
Chinese Name: 马铃薯
Thermal Nature: Neutral
Flavor: Sweet
Organ Meridian: Stomach, large intestine
Properties: Harmonizes stomach, promotes energy, helps with detoxification, relieves soreness
Best Use For: Treating gastric pain, stomachache, eczema
Dietary Caution: Avoid consuming potatoes with sprouts as they contain unhealthy substances
Suitable For: Balanced body constitution, Special diathesis body constitution
Chinese Name: 番薯, 地瓜, 红薯
Thermal Nature: Neutral
Flavor: Sweet
Organ Meridian: Spleen, kidney
Properties: Relieves constipation, promotes energy and body fluids
Best Use For: Treating constipation, relieving water retention due to weakness in spleen
Dietary Caution: People with loose stools should avoid consuming sweet potato
Suitable For: Balanced body constitution, Qi deficiency body constitution
Chinese Name: 薏米, 薏苡仁
Thermal Nature: Cold (Slight)
Flavor: Sweet
Organ Meridian: Spleen, stomach, lung
Properties: Strengthens spleen, removes redundant fluids in spleen, cools body and expels pus
Best Use For: Chinese barley is used to treat swollen legs and feet due to water retention. It also has weight loss properties and strong cooling effects.
Due to its properties in expelling pus, it is used for relieving ulcers in lungs and intestines. One must consume chinese barley in the long term in order to see the benefits.
Serving Per Day For One Person: 10 to 30g
Dietary Caution: Pregnant women must avoid taking chinese barley
Suitable For: Balanced body constitution, Dampness and heat body constitution, Phlegm and dampness body constitution
More References: Click here for more practical information about chinese barley
Chinese Name: 玉米
Thermal Nature: Neutral
Flavor: Sweet
Organ Meridian: Stomach, large intestine
Properties: Aids digestion and eases urination, relieves swollen legs due to water retention
Best Use For: Treating poor appetite, relieving difficulty in urination and swollen legs, treating stones in urination pathway
Serving Per Day For One Person: 30 to 60g
Dietary Caution: People who get diarrhea after eating corn should strengthen their spleen first before consuming corn on a regular basis
Suitable For: Balanced body constitution, Phlegm and dampness body constitution, Dampness and heat body constitution, Blood stasis body constitution
Chinese Name: 小米
Thermal Nature: Cooling
Flavor: Sweet, salty
Organ meridian: Spleen, stomach, kidney
Properties: Cools the body, strengthens kidney and helps with detoxification
Best Use For: Relieving stomach upset and vomiting, relieving bloated stomach, replenishing fluids in stomach and spleen hence reducing heatiness in both organs
Serving Per Day For One Person: 15 to 30g
Dietary Caution: Avoid eating millet with almonds as it may cause vomiting and diarrhea for some people
Suitable For: Balanced body constitution, Dampness and heat body constitution, Yin deficiency body constitution
Chinese Name: 高粱
Thermal Nature: Warm
Flavor: Sweet
Organ Meridian: Spleen, stomach, lung
Properties: Strengthens spleen and relieves diarrhea, dissolves phlegm and calms the mind
Best Use For: Relieving diarrhea and indigestion, relieving cough (due to phlegm). Its calming effect also helps one to sleep better.
Serving Per Day For One Person: 30 to 60g
Dietary Caution: People with diabetes should avoid consuming sorghum
Suitable For: Balanced body constitution, Yang deficiency body constitution, Phlegm and dampness body constitution
Chinese Name: 荞麦
Thermal Nature: Cold
Flavor: Sweet, sour (slight)
Organ Meridian: Spleen, stomach, large intestine
Properties: Strengthen spleen and aid digestion, heal skin ulcers caused by toxins
Best Use For: Relieving bloated stomach, excessive sweating and skin ulcers
Dietary Caution: Not suitable for long term consumption. People with weak stomach and spleen should avoid eating it.
Suitable For: Balanced body constitution