food as medicine -thomas n. leung, mstom, bs pharm .- january 24, 2010

Food as Medicine

-Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.-January 24, 2010

Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.

Foods that are also medicine

1/24/2010 Food As Medicine


What makes an herb a suitable Food?

• Can you eat it? • Is it toxic? • What kind of therapeutic action does it have?• Does it taste good, bland, or at least tolerable?



Directly edible

• Long Yang Rou

• Da Zao

• Shan Yao

• Bai He

• Yi Yi Ren



Soup Stock

• Bai mao gen

• Fu Ling

• Huang Qi

• Sheng Di Huang

• Yu Zhu



Herbal foods in popular Chinese culture



Benefits of foods that are also Medicine

• Compliance

• Pediatric Medicine

• Preventive Medicine



How to cook these Foods?

• Cooking methods need to be consistent with therapeutic action

• Pairing up with other foods, i.e. meats, vegetable, grains. etc.

• Balance of taste and therapeutics?



Meats and vegetables(a quick reference chart)

Meats/Vegetable Yin/Yang – parts used

Beef/Ox Yang - Meat, Bones, tendons, stomach, tails,

Lamb Yang - Meat

Pork Yin - Meat, Bones ( esp. vertebra), knuckles, stomach

Chicken Yin - Meat (esp. black flesh chicken), Bones

Turtle Yin – Meat

Yin Vegetables Most vegetable are Yin in nature, exceptions will be noted in Yang Vegetables

Yang Vegetables Chives, scallions, garlic, carrots, lotus roots, etc.



Commonly used herbs that are also consumed as food -I

Release Exterior Herbs

Herbs that clear Heat

Herbs that Drain Dampness

Herbs that Transform Phlegm

Herbs that Transform Damp

Herbs that Stop Bleeding

Herbs that Tonify Qi

Sheng-Jiang Dan Zhu Ye Fu Ling Zhu Ru Sha Ren Huai Mi Ren Shen*

Bo He Xia Ku Cao Yi Yi Ren Kun Bu Bai Dou Kou Bai Mao Gen Dang Shen

Ju Hua Xi Gua Che Qian Zi (Cao) Hai Zao Cao Dou Kou Ou Jie Tai Zi Shen

Cong Bai Lu Gen Dong Gua Ren Cao Guo Huang Qi

Dan Dou Chi Sheng Di Huang Bi XieRelieve Cough and Wheezing Shan Yao

Ge Gen He Ye Deng Xin Cao Xing Ren (nan xing) Da Zao

Lu Dou Gan Cao

Tu Fu Ling Bai Bian Dou

Huang Jing

Yi Tang



Commonly used herbs that are also consumed as food -II

Tonify the Blood Tonify the Yang Tonify the Yin Stablize and Bind Expel Parasites Regulate QiRelieve Food Stagnation

Herbs that Warm the Interior

Shu Di Huang Lu Rong Sha Shen Wu Mei Da Suan Chen Pi Shan Zha Gan Jiang

He Shou Wu Ge Jie Xi Yang Shen Rou Dou Kou Mai Ya Rou Gui

Dang Gui Dong Chong Xia Cao Mai Men Dong Lian Zi Gu Ya Hua Jiao

Gou Qi Zi Rou Cong Rong Yu Zhu Qian Shi Ding Xiang

Sang Shen Suo Yang Bai He Bai Guo Hu Jiao

Long Yan Rou Hu Tao Ren Hei Zhi Ma Fu Xiao Mai

Du Zhong/Niu Xi

Zi He Che



Combinations for common pathologies(1 of 3)

• Qi and Blood Deficiency• Recurrent urinary tract infection• Pediatric nosebleeds• Pediatric bedwetting• Skin dryness and dry hacking cough• Pediatric constipation




• Elderly constipation• Damp-heat Toxin skin manifestations• Chronic low libido, lower back pain, and

impotence in men• Phlegm heat cough• Elderly frequent urination• Pediatric Food stagnation




• Hair loss• Dispel Summer-Heat (大暑 )• Red Eyes, irritability, easily angered• Insomnia • Gastric reflux due to cold Stomach• Pediatric night crying



Post-partum Qi and Blood Deficiency(Black chicken soup)

• Dang Shen 15-30g • Huang Qi 15-30g• Lu Rong 6-10g• Shu Di Huang 30-45g• Gou Qi Zi 15-30g• Shan Yao 15-30g• Yu Zhu 15-30g• Da Zao 15-30g• Black Chicken (Wu Ji, Silkie Chicken) ~1 lb size• Sheng Jiang 30g

Wash the fresh ginger and cut into small pieces. Put all the ingredients in a large pot with 4 quarts of water. Bring to a boil, then turn heat to low and cook for about three hours. Discard the herbs, but keep the meat and broth to eat. Add salt to taste when serving.



Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection(winter-melon soup)

• Winter-melon 2lb• Pork bones 1lb (optional)• Che qian cao 60g• Bai mao gen 60g• Yi yi ren 60g• Mi Zao 5pcs

• Leave skin on Winter-melon, cut into small pieces. • Blanch pork bones before use. • Put all the ingredients together in a large pot with 5 quarts of cold water. • Bring to a boil, then turn down low and simmer for about 3 hours.• Discard the cooked herbs and drink the broth. Add salt to taste.



Pediatric Nosebleeds• Bai mao gen 30g• Mao Gen Hua 10g• Ou jie 30g• Sheng di huang 30g• Mi Zao 5pcs

Place 1.5 quarts of water and herbs into stainless steel pot. Bring to boil and then simmer for approximately 45-60 minutes. Strain decoction and drink tea.



Childhood Bedwetting(accumulated dampness)

• Shan Yao 60g • Qian Shi 45g • Lian Zi 60g• Fu Ling 30g• Mi Zao 5pcs


Put the herbs in a pot with 5 cups of cold water. Bring to a boil, then turn heat down to low and cook until there is 1 cup left - about 1 hour. Discard the cooked herbs and drink the broth.


Skin Dryness & Dry Cough(yin deficiency)

• *Xue Li 2 med size (cored) • Sha Shen 60g • Bai He 60g • Yu Zhu 60g • Lian Zi 30g• Xue Er 30g• Wu Hua Guo 30g


Soak Xue Er for 1 hr. Put the herbs into a large pot with 2 quarts of water. Use medium heat and simmer for about 1 hour. Discard the cooked herbs and drink the broth. If you are using Bing Tang, dissolve bing tang (cane sugar) at the end.

Xue Li (Asian Apple Pear)

* Use Xue Li Gan – dried apple pear if fresh is not available

Wu Hua Guo (Figs)

Xue Er (Snow Ear)


Pediatric Constipation (excess heat type)

• Sheng di huang 60g • Xuan shen 40g• Mai men dong 25g • Wu hua guo 60g


Place herbs and 6 cups of cold water into a stainless steel pot.Cook on medium heat until 2 cups (approx 1 hour) of soup remain.Discard the cooked herbs and drink the decoction.


Elderly Constipation(Deficiency type)

• Rou Cong Rong 45g• Luo Han Guo 12g• Sheng Di Huang 45g• Huang Jing 45g


Place 8 cups of cold water and herbs together in stainless steel pot.Cook on medium level heat for approx 1 hour or until 2-3 cups remain.Discard the cooked herbs and drink the broth.

This combination addresses the multiple deficiencies including essence depletion.

Luo Han Guo (Siraitia grosvenori, formerly called Momordica grosvenori)


Damp Heat Toxin Skin Manifestations

• Sheng Di Huang 60g• Yi Yi Ren 60g• Tu Fu Ling 30g• Qian Shi 30g• Bai Mao Gen 45g• Da Zao 15g• Sheng Jiang 10g• Chen Pi 10g• Turtle 1 med size


Buy turtle from meat market and have them cut it into two pieces, have them remove claws and head. Wash one piece with hot water. Take skin off and discard. Add sheng jiang and chen pi. Place all ingredients in a large pot and add 4 quarts of cold water. Bring to boil then cook on medium heat for 3 hours. Add more water if necessary. Discard the herbs, eat the broth and meat. Add salt to flavor.


Low libido, lower back pain, & impotence in men(Kidney Yang Deficiency Oxtail Soup)

• Oxtail 1½lbs• Shu Di Huang 30g• Shan Yao 50g• Niu Xi 15g• Du Zhong 15g• Guo ji 15g• Huang Qi 30g


Use hot water to clean 1.5 pounds of oxtail - wash until the water runs clear, then rinse again with cold water. Blanch oxtail and get rid of water. Put all the ingredients together in a large pot with 6 quarts of water. Bring to a boil, then turn the heat to low and cook for 3 or 4 hours, cook down to 2 quart of soup. Discard the herbs, keep the broth and meat to eat. Add salt ~5g or to taste when serving.

• Yin Yang Huo 15g• Rou Cong Rong 15g• Da Zao 15pcs• Gou Qi Zi 30g• Long Yang Rou 30g• Sheng Jiang slices 12g• Ba Jiao (star anise) 10g• Cong Bai 50g

Gou Ji


Phlegm Heat Cough• Bai He 30g• Sha Shen 30g• Bai Mao Gen 40g• Pi Pa Ye 12g• Zhu Ru 30g• Chuan Bei Mu 10g• Luo Han Guo 10g


Soak Bai He, Sha Shen and Bai Mao Gen for 30 mins and discard water.Add 3 quarts of cold water into stainless steel pot.Bring to boil then simmer for approximately 60 minutes.Discard the cooked herbs and drink the broth.


Elderly Frequent Urination(Kidney Deficiency)

• Shu Di Huang 30g• Shan Yao 30g• Qian Shi 15g• Lian Zi 30g• Long Yan Rou 15g• Suo Yang 15g• Bai Guo 10g• Huang Jing 15g• Da Zao 15g• Sheng Jiang 12-15g• Pork Bones 1.5 lb


Blanche Pork Bones. Put all ingredients in a large stainless steel pot with 5 quarts of water. Bring to a boil then lower flame to simmer for 3 hours. Add water as needed. Cook down to 2 quarts of soup. Refrigerate or use soup decanter to get rid of fat. Add salt to taste.

Suo Yang (sweet and warming)


Pediatric food stagnation(with accumulation of dampness)

• Fu ling 30g• Shan yao 60g• Mai ya 30g• Gu ya 30g• Bu zha ye 15g• Da zao 15g• Mi zao 15g


Wash and dry herbs. Put the herbs in a pot with 6 cups of cold water. Bring to a boil, then simmer and cook until there are 2 or 3 cups left - about 1 hour. Discard the cooked herbs and drink the broth only.

Bu zha ye

Wesley Leung overeating


Hair Loss(Yin and Blood Deficiency)

• He Shou Wu 15g• Shu Di Huang 30g• Hei Zhi Ma 30g• Suo Yang 12g• Huang Jing 10g• Da Zao 15g• Long Yang Rou 15g• Sheng Jiang 10g• Black Chicken 1 med size (optional)


Wash the fresh ginger and cut into small pieces. Put all the ingredients in a large pot with 4 quarts of water. Bring to a boil, then turn heat to low and cook for about three hours. Discard the herbs, but keep the meat and broth to eat. Add salt to taste when serving. Refrigerate or use soup decant to rid the fat.

He Shou Wu – Marque herb for hair loss


Dispel Summer-heat (大暑 )• Wintermelon 1lb• Bai bian dou 60g• Chi xiao dou 60g• Lian ye 15g• Bi Xie 10g• Deng xin cao 20 pcs• Mu mian hua 10g• Mi zao 4pcs• Yu zhu 60g• Luo han guo 12g• Yi yi ren 60g


Wash 1-2 lbs wintermelon with skin in cold water and cut into small pieces. Keep skin on melon. Place all ingredients in a large pot with 5 quarts of water and bring to boil. Simmer for 2-3 hours. Discard the cooked herbs and drink the broth. Add sugar to flavor.

Mu Mian Hua (Clear Heat, Drain Dampness, Clear Toxin)


Red Eyes, irritability, easily angered(Excess Liver Heat)

• Xia Ku Cao 250g• Ju Hua 100g• Huai Mi 15g (optional)

• Bing Tang (Qnty as needed)


Rinse herbs and discard water. Put all herbs in large stainless pot with 6 quarts of water. Bring to boil and let simmer for 60 minutes. Add bing tang (cane sugar) to taste. Let cool, refrigerate to serve.


Insomnia(Heart blood deficiency type)

• Dang Shen 30g• Fu Shen 30g• Long Yan Rou 30g• Da Zao 30g• Gou Qi Zi 30g• Suan Zao Ren 10g• Sheng Jiang 12g• Black Chicken 1 med size


Wash the fresh ginger and cut into small pieces. Put all the ingredients in a large pot with 4 quarts of water. Bring to a boil, then turn heat to low and cook for about three hours. Discard the herbs, but keep the meat and broth to eat. Add salt to taste when serving. Refrigerate or use soup decanter to skim fat.


Reflux & abdominal distention(Cold Stomach)

• Be advised that pork stomach is very difficult to clean. i. Clean multiple times with salt water ii. Scrap slime off with knife, wash with warm water a few more times. iii. Use flour to clean the pork stomach. iv. Rinse again with warm water until clean.

• Place all ingredients in a large pot with 3 quarts of water and cook on medium heat for 2 hours.• Discard the herbs, eat the broth and meat. Add salt to flavor. *Some place crush Hu Jiao in a gauze bag to control

spiciness. When right level of spiciness is achieved, take the Hu Jiao bag out. 1/24/2010 Food As Medicine

• Hu Jiao 10g• Chives 60g• Gan Jiang 10g• Chen Pi 6g• Pork stomach 1pcs


Pediatric Night Crying(heart heat)

• Mai men dong 30g• Deng xin cao 5pcs• Dan zhu ye 30g• Bai he 45g• Mi zao 3pcs


Put the herbs in a pot with 5 cups of cold water. Bring to a boil, then turn heat down to low and cook until there is 1 cup left - about 1 hour. Discard the cooked herbs and drink the broth.

Deng Xin Cao


The End

Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.Email: [email protected]

212-966-6370 ext. 19


mailto:[email protected]

food as medicine -thomas n. leung, mstom, bs pharm .- january 24, 2010

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