Also Known As: Jiang Huang
Chinese Name: 姜黄
Thermal Nature: Warm
Flavor: Bitter, sweet, pungent
Organ Meridian: Liver, spleen
Properties: Promote Qi flow, relieve pain
Best Use For: Relieving chest pain, swelling pain due to fall, amenorrhea, rheumatic shoulder and arm pain
Serving Per Day For One Person: 3 to 9g
Dietary Caution: People with blood deficiency should limit the consumption of turmeric
Suitable For: Balanced body constitution
Also Known As: Spring Onion
Chinese Name: 青葱
Thermal Nature: Warm
Flavor: Pungent
Properties: Scallion has no significant medicinal benefits. Refer to the fistular onion stalk (葱白) for TCM benefits.
Dietary Caution: None
Suitable For: Balanced body constitution
Also Known As: Capsicum
Chinese Name: 青椒, 灯笼椒
Thermal Nature: Hot
Flavor: Pungent
Organ Meridian: Large intestine, stomach
Properties: Dispels coldness, improves appetite
Best Use For: Strengthening immunity and the spleen, especially for people with Yang deficiency body constitution. Bell pepper also contains rich vitamins and minerals so it is ideal to be included in the diet for most people.
Dietary Caution: People with fever or sore throat should reduce their intake of bell pepper
Suitable For: All types of body constitution
Also Known As: Citrus Medica
Chinese Name: 佛手
Thermal Nature: Warm
Flavor: Bitter, pungent, sour
Organ Meridian: Spleen, lung, liver, stomach
Properties: Harmonize liver and stomach Qi, dissolves phlegm
Best Use For: Relieving stagnant Qi in the liver and stomach
Serving Per Day For One Person: 3 to 10g
Dietary Caution: People with Yin deficiency should reduce their intake of fingered citron
Suitable For: All types of body constitution
Also Known As: Citrus Reticulata
Chinese Name: 陈皮
Thermal Nature: Warm
Flavor: Bitter, pungent
Organ Meridian: Spleen, lung
Properties: Strengthen the spleen and harmonize Qi flow in the stomach and spleen, dissolves phlegm
Best Use For: Highly effective for people who experience bloated stomach especially after eating dairy or foods that obstruct Qi flow in the stomach. Click here to read more about its benefits and usage.
Serving Per Day For One Person: 3 to 10g
Dietary Caution: People with Qi or Yin deficiency should reduce the intake of tangerine peel
Suitable For: All types of body constitution
Also Known As: Houttuynia Cordata
Chinese Name: 鱼腥草
Thermal Nature: Cold (Slight)
Flavor: Pungent
Organ Meridian: Lung
Properties: Cools the body and helps with detoxification, dissolves phlegm, promotes urination
Best Use For: Relieving nasal blockage
Serving Per Day For One Person: 10 to 15g
Dietary Caution: People with weak spleen should avoid consuming the chameleon plant alone. Not suitable to be cooked for a prolonged period of time.
Suitable For: All types of body constitution
Also Known As: Mentha Haplocalyx
Chinese Name: 薄荷
Thermal Nature: Cooling
Flavor: Pungent
Organ Meridian: Lung, liver
Properties: Expel heat, relieve headache due to cold, harmonize liver energy
Best Use For: Treating heat-type flu, has excellent properties in promoting sweating (which helps to get rid of body heatiness)
Serving Per Day For One Person: 3 to 6g
Dietary Caution: People with Yin deficiency should reduce their intake of peppermint
Suitable For: All types of body constitution
Chinese Name: 桂皮
Thermal Nature: Warm
Flavor: Sweet, pungent
Organ Meridian: Spleen, stomach, liver, kidney
Properties: Warms stomach and spleen, expels coldness and relieve pain
Best Use For: Removing coldness in stomach as well as in knees
Serving Per Day For One Person: 50 to 200g
Dietary Caution: People with Yin deficiency body constitution should avoid consuming cinnamon
Suitable For: Balanced body constitution
Chinese Name: 茴香
Thermal Nature: Warm
Flavor: Sweet, pungent
Organ Meridian: Liver, kidney, bladder, stomach
Properties: Warms kidney and liver, promotes flow of energy and relieves pain
Best Use For: Treating stomachache due to coldness, treating back pain due to weakness in kidneys
Serving Per Day For One Person: 3 to 6g
Dietary Caution: People with Yin deficiency body constitution should avoid consuming fennel
Suitable For: Balanced body constitution
Chinese Name: 胡椒
Thermal Nature: Hot
Flavor: Pungent
Organ Meridian: Stomach, large intestine, liver
Properties: Expel coldness, relieve pain, improve appetite
Best Use For: Expelling coldness in stomach, relieving vomiting, detoxifying poisoning from consumption of fish or crab
Serving Per Day For One Person: 1 to 3g
Dietary Caution: People who have heat-related illnesses should avoid consuming pepper
Suitable For: Balanced body constitution
