Lion’s Mane Mushroom

Shiitake

Shiitake

shiitake

Chinese Name: 香菇

Thermal Nature: Neutral

Flavor: Sweet

Organ Meridian: Liver, stomach

Properties: Improve vitality, strengthen spleen and improve appetite, expel wind, dissolve phlegm, anti-cancer

Best Use For: Improving one’s energy and vitality, aid digestion, treating lack of iron/blood, reducing blood pressure, reducing cholesterol levels as well as treating chronic liver diseases  

Serving Per Day For One Person: 15 to 30g

Dietary Caution: People with cold and dampness in spleen and stomach should avoid consuming shiitake

Suitable For: All types of body constitution

Chives

Chives

chives

Chinese Name: 韭菜

Thermal Nature: Warm

Flavor: Pungent

Organ Meridian: Kidney, stomach, lung, liver

Properties: Strengthens kidneys, warms the body, encourages Qi flow, disperses clots

Best Use For: Strengthening kidneys, relieving stomach pain (due to coldness in stomach)

Serving Per Day For One Person: 60 to 120g

Dietary Caution: People with Yin deficiency body constitution and people with eye diseases should avoid consuming chives

Suitable For: Balanced body constitution, Yang deficiency body constitution, Qi deficiency body constitution

Cabbage

Cabbage

cabbage

Chinese Name: 甘蓝, 包菜

Thermal Nature: Neutral

Flavor: Sweet

Organ Meridian: Liver, stomach

Properties: Cools heat and removes phlegm, dissolves clots and relieves pain

Best Use For: Treating jaundice (dampness and heat body constitution), relieving stiff joints

Serving Per Day For One Person: 200 to 300g

Dietary Caution: None

Suitable For: All types of body constitution

Pea

Black Bean

Black Bean

black beans

Chinese Name: 黑豆

Thermal Nature: Neutral

Flavor: Sweet

Organ Meridian: Spleen, kidney

Properties: Promote blood flow and urination, expel wind and detoxify the body, strengthen spleen and kidney

Best Use For: Relieving difficulty in urination, relieving back pain and weak kidneys, recommended for people with blood clots

Serving Per Day For One Person: 9 to 30g

Dietary Caution: Children and people with weak spleen and bloated stomach should limit consumption of black beans

Special Note: In traditional chinese medicine, black beans (together with licorice) are used to treat poisoning caused by the wrong consumption of herbs.

Suitable For: Balanced body constitution, Phlegm and dampness body constitution, Blood stasis body constitution, Yang deficiency body constitution

Chinese Yam

Chinese Yam

chinese yam

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 constitutionYin deficiency body constitution, Yang deficiency body constitution

Sorghum

Sorghum

sorghum

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

Glutinous Rice

Glutinous Rice

glutinous rice

Chinese Name: 糯米

Thermal Nature: Warm

Flavor: Sweet

Organ Meridian: Spleen, stomach, lung

Properties: Strengthen energy / spleen, stop diarrhea, relieve excessive sweating, help with detoxification 

Best Use For: Treating loose stools due to coolness in spleen and stomach, relieving excessive passing of urine and diarrhea 

Serving Per Day For One Person: 30 to 60g

Dietary Caution: Not suitable for people who have dampness, heat and phlegm in their bodies. Also not suitable for people who are having fever, coughing with yellow phlegm or bloated stomach. As it is hard to digest, elderly and young children should consume in much lesser quantity.

Suitable For: Balanced body constitution, Yang deficiency body constitution, Qi deficiency body constitution