Traditional Chinese Medicine Diet Therapy: Simple Recipes for Wellness

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) diet therapy emphasizes the concept of "food as medicine," using specific ingredient combinations to create dishes that can help regulate the body. Different dishes have different effects, and here are some simple recipes I would like to introduce.

Qi-Boosting and Spleen-Nourishing Dishes (Suitable for Qi Deficiency and Weak Digestion):

Yam and Lotus Seed Congee

• Ingredients:
  30g yam, 15g lotus seeds, 50g japonica rice, 3 pitted dates
• Benefits:
  Yam nourishes the spleen and replenishes qi, while lotus seeds nourish the spleen and stop diarrhea. When combined with japonica rice and dates, it enhances the digestive system, suitable 适合(shì hé) for those with weak digestion resulting in poor appetite and bloating.

适合(shì hé), adjective, suitable

Example:

1. The weather is suitable for outdoor activities.  
   这天气适合户外活动。  
   zhè tiān qì shì hé hù wài huó dòng.  
2. He found a suitable job in the city.  
   他在城里找到了适合的工作。  
   tā zài chéng lǐ zhǎo dào le shì hé de gōng zuò.  

Astragalus and Black Chicken Soup

• Ingredients:
  Half of a black chicken, 15g astragalus root, 10g codonopsis root, 3 slices of ginger
• Benefits:
  Black chicken nourishes yin and supplements deficiencies, while astragalus and codonopsis replenish qi and raise yang. Ginger warms the middle burner, ideal for individuals dealing with fatigue, shortness of breath, and laziness due to qi deficiency, especially recommended for postpartum or postoperative recovery.

Blood-Boosting and Blood-Nourishing Dishes (Suitable for Blood Deficiency, Dizziness, and Pale Complexion):

Chinese Angelica, Red Date, and Pig Liver Soup

• Ingredients:
  100g pig liver, 5g Chinese Angelica, 5 red dates, 10g wolfberries, 2 slices of ginger
• Benefits:
  Pig liver nourishes the liver and blood, Chinese Angelica nourishes and vitalizes the blood, while red dates and wolfberries replenish yin and nourish the blood, recommended for symptoms like dizziness, scanty menstruation, and sallow complexion caused by blood deficiency (ensure the pig liver is thoroughly cooked).

Black Sesame and Red Date Porridge

• Ingredients:
  30g black sesame seeds, 10 red dates, 50g glutinous rice, adequate rock sugar
• Benefits:
  Black sesame nourishes the kidneys, enriches essence, promotes hair growth, and nourishes the blood, while red dates nourish the body and boost qi, suitable for premature graying of hair and weakness in the lower back and knees due to kidney and liver deficiencies.

Yin-Nourishing and Moistening Dishes (Suitable for Yin Deficiency, Excess Heat, Dryness, and Sore Throat):

Lily Bulb, Tremella, and Lotus Seed Soup

• Ingredients:
  15g dried lily bulbs, 1 white fungus, 15g lotus seeds, 1 snow pear, adequate rock sugar
• Benefits:
  Lily bulbs moisten 滋润(zī rùn) the lungs and clear the heart, tremella nourishes yin and nourishes the stomach, lotus seeds soothe the spirit, and snow pear moistens dryness and generates fluids, ideal for dry cough with little sputum, insomnia, and vivid dreams caused by autumn and winter dryness and yin deficiency.

滋润(zī rùn), verb, moisten

Example:

1. The lotion moistens my skin well.  
   这款乳液很滋润我的皮肤。  
   zhè kuǎn rǔ yè hěn zī rùn wǒ de pí fū.  
2. Rain moistens the dry land.  
   雨水滋润了干旱的土地。  
   yǔ shuǐ zī rùn le gān hàn de tǔ dì.  

Ophiopogon and Glehnia Root Duck Soup

• Ingredients:
  Half of a duck, 10g ophiopogon, 10g glehnia root, 10g Solomon's Seal, 3 slices of ginger
• Benefits:
  Duck nourishes yin, while ophiopogon, glehnia root, and Solomon's Seal nourish yin and moisten dryness, recommended for symptoms like sore throat, heat sensations in the palms, soles, and chest, and dry mouth with a parched tongue due to yin deficiency and excessive heat.

Warming Yang and Dispelling Cold Dishes (Suitable for Yang Deficiency, Feeling Cold, and Cold Limbs):

Chinese Angelica and Ginger Lamb Soup

• Ingredients:
  200g lamb, 10g Chinese Angelica, 15g ginger, 1 scallion
• Benefits:
  Lamb warms the middle burner and kidneys, Chinese Angelica nourishes the blood, dispels cold, and warms the body, ginger warms the stomach and expels cold, recommended for individuals with yang deficiency experiencing coldness, sore and weak lower back and knees, and cold-related vomiting (ideal for consumption during winter).

Chives Stir-Fried with Walnuts

• Ingredients:
  200g chives, 50g walnuts, a pinch of salt
• Benefits:
  Chives warm the kidneys and fortify yang, while walnuts tonify the kidneys and warm yang, suitable for individuals with kidney yang deficiency experiencing sore and weak lower back and knees, frequent urination, commonly known as the "yang-reviving veggie paired with the longevity fruit."

Heat-Clearing and Dampness-Dispelling Dishes (Suitable for Damp-Heat Constitution, Prone to Excessive Heat, and Edema):

Green Bean, Coix Seed, and Winter Melon Soup

• Ingredients:
  30g green beans, 30g coix seeds, 200g winter melon (with skin), 5g tangerine peel
• Benefits:
  Green beans clear heat and detoxify, coix seeds promote diuresis and eliminate dampness, winter melon peel reduces swelling, and tangerine peel regulates qi and dries dampness, recommended for symptoms like dry and bitter mouth, yellowish urine, and a heavy body due to damp-heat.

Bitter Melon Stir-Fried with Lean Pork

• Ingredients:
  1 bitter melon, 100g lean pork, a pinch of minced garlic
• Benefits:
  Bitter melon clears heat and relieves fire, while lean pork supplements without causing dryness, suitable for symptoms like halitosis and mouth ulcers caused by excessive stomach heat, beneficial for individuals with a damp-heat constitution to clear and expel dampness and heat.

Regulating Qi and Dissipating Accumulation Dishes (Suitable for Stagnant Qi, Abdominal Distension, and Indigestion):

Tangerine Peel and White Radish Soup

• Ingredients:
  10g tangerine peel, 200g white radish, 2 slices of ginger, a sprinkle of chopped spring onions
• Benefits:
  Tangerine peel regulates qi, invigorates the spleen, and combats indigestion, while white radish aids digestion and alleviates stagnation in the intestines, recommended for symptoms like abdominal distension, poor appetite, and excess phlegm (white radish should not be consumed with ginseng).

Buddha's Hand Citron and Egg Stir-Fry

• Ingredients:
  1 Buddha's Hand citron, 2 eggs, a pinch of salt
• Benefits:
  Buddha's Hand citron soothes the liver and regulates qi, while eggs supplement deficiencies, ideal for individuals with liver qi stagnation experiencing chest and rib-side pain, emotional suppression, and it also benefits the spleen and arouses appetite.

Diet Therapy Notes:

• Diet therapy is supplementary and should be combined with medication in cases of chronic or severe conditions; it should never replace medications.
• Fresh ingredients and light cooking methods (low oil and salt content) can maximize the benefits of diet therapy.
• Certain ingredients should not be combined due to potential adverse effects or ineffectiveness; for example, radish counteracts the effects of ginseng, and crab should not be consumed with persimmons (as it may lead to stone formation).

Consistent adherence to TCM diet therapy, alongside a regulated lifestyle, is essential for effective results. In cases of severe illness, seeking advice from a professional TCM practitioner is recommended.