When food becomes medicine | Bangkok Post: food

WELLNESS

Traditional Chinese medicine has been practised for 5,000 years, so it's no wonder that Chinese people have integrated it into their culture and everyday lives. You see various Chinese herbs being used in Chinese cuisine, of course, and Chinese people are very aware of the need to balance yin and yang.

As far as many Chinese are concerned, traditional medicine derives largely from simple common sense, plus a way of life to which they've become accustomed. Those of us who are not of Chinese ancestry, however, might benefit health-wise by incorporating some of their theories about medicine into our daily lives.

Chinese people tend to prefer drinking tea to coffee. I assumed this was merely a cultural thing until scientists found out that tea contains more antioxidants than coffee. So, by drinking tea, the Chinese still get caffeine to boost their energy levels, but they also increase their antioxidant intake at the same time.

If the Chinese suspect that they're coming down with a cold - if they have symptoms like nasal congestion, clear nasal discharge, headaches, muscular aching - they immediately brew some fresh ginger tea to warm up their bodies and induce perspiration; they believe that this action wards off the organisms that are making them ill. But if they are having flu symptoms (fever and a sore throat), they start drinking chrysanthemum tea or mint tea, which have cooling properties, to relieve the sore throat and make the fever subside more quickly.

The Chinese also believe that different foods have different properties, with each falling into one of five categories: cold, cool, neutral, warm or hot. These categories refer to the effect that a particular foodstuff or beverage has on your body; its temperature at the moment that you consume it is irrelevant. For example, coffee is regarded as hot, so even if you drink an iced coffee, afterwards you will feel more alert and energetic; so the "hot" coffee has elevated your yang energy levels. The Chinese eat more cool and cold foods (like watermelon and bean sprouts) in summer and more warm and hot foods (pumpkin, spices) during the winter months.

Much more complex is the traditional Chinese concept of balancing yin and yang for optimum health. Yin includes foods with cold properties, or those of dark colour; in general, it refers to substances that we can see and touch. Yin, on the other hand, can refer to body parts which are regarded as having that quality in abundance (like flesh, bones, internal organs, and blood). Yang can mean light-coloured foods or those with hot properties; it encompasses the energy in our bodies that helps us carry out the activities of everyday life. We cannot see it and cannot touch it but we can feel its energy all around us. Yin and yang have a very close relationship; they are interdependent. Yin produces and carries yang and yang moves and warms up yin.

In theory, our body should have yin and yang in balance, have both in almost equal amounts. When we are working hard or for long hours, we use up more of our yang energy. But when you work hard and for a long time, your yin levels will also decline. When you work hard, at first only your yang is reduced, so you could use ginseng to boost your yang levels. But when you work hard for many months, both your yin levels and your blood will become deficient, and then it's time to consume some of that famous black-chicken soup as a restorative.

Yin and yang theory actually applies to everything. Men, compared to women, are more yang, and women are comparatively more yin. As men get older they are more venerable to yang deficiency, which leads to a decline in overall energy, including sexual drive. As women get older they suffer from yin deficiency; this condition produces "empty heat", which is expressed as hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings and a feeling of being overheated, especially at night. Since the Chinese knew that this "change of life" was a normal part of growing older, they started to prepare for it and to seek out herbs that would help ensure a smoother transition to old age. Black-chicken soup and dang gui were used for women because they can nourish yin the best. Ginseng and young deer horn were used for men because they can be good for raising yang levels and solving sexual problems.

But suppose you were female and happened to drink a decoction made from young deer horn, you might end up with an overheated body and symptoms like insomnia, dizziness, irritability and mouth sores. So please be careful when people suggest you try some Chinese medicinal herb, saying that it has worked for them: It may not necessarily work for you or your particular condition. The way to be sure is to consult a qualified traditional Chinese doctor and have him or her prescribe the herb that best suits you and your condition.

Delving deeper into the ancient wisdom of Chinese medicine and Chinese dietary tradition may help you live a happier, healthier and longer life.

Sarunya Katanyuwong, MD, Dipl OM Acupuncture, Chinese Herbs and Formulas and Tuina massage, TRIA Integrative Wellness and Medical Institute.