Food as Medicine
-Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.January 24, 2010
Foods that are also medicine
1/24/2010 Food As Medicine
Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.
What makes an herb a suitable Food?
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Can you eat it?
Is it toxic?
What kind of therapeutic action does it have?
Does it taste good, bland, or at least
tolerable?
1/24/2010 Food As Medicine
Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.
Directly edible
• Long Yang Rou
• Da Zao
• Shan Yao
• Bai He
• Yi Yi Ren
1/24/2010 Food As Medicine
Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.
Soup Stock
• Bai mao gen
• Fu Ling
• Huang Qi
• Sheng Di Huang
• Yu Zhu
1/24/2010 Food As Medicine
Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.
Herbal foods in popular Chinese culture
1/24/2010 Food As Medicine
Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.
Benefits of foods that are also Medicine
• Compliance
• Pediatric Medicine
• Preventive Medicine
1/24/2010 Food As Medicine
Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.
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?
1/24/2010 Food As Medicine
Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.
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.
1/24/2010 Food As Medicine
Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.
Commonly used herbs that are also
consumed as food -I
Release Exterior
Herbs
Herbs that clear
Heat
Herbs that Drain
Dampness
Herbs that
Herbs that
Transform Phlegm 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
Dan Dou Chi
Sheng Di Huang
Bi Xie
Relieve Cough and
Wheezing
Ge Gen
He Ye
Deng Xin Cao
Xing Ren (nan xing)
Huang Qi
Shan Yao
Da Zao
Lu Dou
Gan Cao
Tu Fu Ling
Bai Bian Dou
Huang Jing
Yi Tang
1/24/2010 Food As Medicine
Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.
Commonly used herbs that are also
consumed as food -II
Herbs that
Warm the
Interior
Tonify the Blood Tonify the Yang
Tonify the Yin
Stablize and Bind Expel Parasites Regulate Qi
Relieve Food
Stagnation
Shu Di Huang
Lu Rong
Sha Shen
Wu Mei
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
Da Suan
Chen Pi
Du Zhong/Niu Xi
Zi He Che
1/24/2010 Food As Medicine
Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.
Combinations for common pathologies
(1 of 3)
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Qi and Blood Deficiency
Recurrent urinary tract infection
Pediatric nosebleeds
Pediatric bedwetting
Skin dryness and dry hacking cough
Pediatric constipation
1/24/2010 Food As Medicine
Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.
Combinations for common pathologies
(2 of 3)
• 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
1/24/2010 Food As Medicine
Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.
Combinations for common pathologies
(3 of 3)
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Hair loss
Dispel Summer-Heat (大暑)
Red Eyes, irritability, easily angered
Insomnia
Gastric reflux due to cold Stomach
Pediatric night crying
1/24/2010 Food As Medicine
Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.
Post-partum Qi and Blood Deficiency
(Black chicken soup)
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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.
1/24/2010 Food As Medicine
Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.
Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection
(winter-melon soup)
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Winter-melon 2lb
Pork bones 1lb (optional)
Che qian cao 60g
Bai mao gen 60g
Yi yi ren 60g
Mi Zao 5pcs
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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.
1/24/2010 Food As Medicine
Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.
Pediatric Nosebleeds
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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.
1/24/2010 Food As Medicine
Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.
Childhood Bedwetting
(accumulated dampness)
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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.
1/24/2010 Food As Medicine
Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.
Skin Dryness & Dry Cough
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(yin deficiency)
*Xue Li 2 med size (cored)
Sha Shen 60g
Bai He 60g
Wu Hua Guo (Figs)
Yu Zhu 60g
Lian Zi 30g
Xue Er 30g
Wu Hua Guo 30g
* Use Xue Li Gan – dried apple pear if fresh is not available
Xue Li (Asian Apple Pear)
Xue Er (Snow Ear)
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.
1/24/2010 Food As Medicine
Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.
Pediatric Constipation
(excess heat type)
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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.
1/24/2010 Food As Medicine
Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.
Elderly Constipation
(Deficiency type)
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Rou Cong Rong 45g
Luo Han Guo 12g
Sheng Di Huang 45g
Huang Jing 45g
Luo Han Guo (Siraitia grosvenori, formerly called
Momordica grosvenori)
This combination addresses the multiple deficiencies including essence depletion.
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.
1/24/2010 Food As Medicine
Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.
Damp Heat Toxin Skin Manifestations
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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.
1/24/2010 Food As Medicine
Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.
Low libido, lower back pain, & impotence in men
(Kidney Yang Deficiency Oxtail Soup)
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Oxtail 1½lbs
Shu Di Huang 30g
Shan Yao 50g
Niu Xi 15g
Du Zhong 15g
Guo ji 15g
Huang Qi 30g
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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
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.
1/24/2010 Food As Medicine
Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.
Phlegm Heat Cough
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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.
1/24/2010 Food As Medicine
Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.
Elderly Frequent Urination
(Kidney Deficiency)
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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
Suo Yang (sweet and warming)
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.
1/24/2010 Food As Medicine
Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.
Pediatric food stagnation
(with accumulation of dampness)
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Fu ling 30g
Shan yao 60g
Mai ya 30g
Gu ya 30g
Bu zha ye 15g
Da zao 15g
Mi zao 15g
Wesley Leung overeating
Bu zha ye
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.
1/24/2010 Food As Medicine
Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.
Hair Loss
(Yin and Blood Deficiency)
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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
He Shou Wu – Marque herb for hair loss
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.
1/24/2010 Food As Medicine
Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.
Dispel Summer-heat (大暑)
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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
Mu Mian Hua
(Clear Heat, Drain Dampness, Clear Toxin)
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.
1/24/2010 Food As Medicine
Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.
Red Eyes, irritability, easily angered
(Excess Liver Heat)
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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.
1/24/2010 Food As Medicine
Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.
Insomnia
(Heart blood deficiency type)
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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.
1/24/2010 Food As Medicine
Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.
Reflux & abdominal distention
(Cold Stomach)
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Hu Jiao 10g
Chives 60g
Gan Jiang 10g
Chen Pi 6g
Pork stomach 1pcs
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
Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.
Pediatric Night Crying
(heart heat)
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Mai men dong 30g
Deng xin cao 5pcs
Dan zhu ye 30g
Bai he 45g
Mi zao 3pcs
Deng Xin Cao
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.
1/24/2010 Food As Medicine
Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.
The End
Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.
Email: tleung@kamwo.com
212-966-6370 ext. 19
1/24/2010 Food As Medicine
Thomas N. Leung, MSTOM, BS Pharm.