In Traditional Chinese Medicine, all the body's fluids are considered to belong to the category of "Yin." "Yin" is like water, possessing the properties of being soft, cool, and flowing downward to nourish the growth of all things. The Huangdi Neijing (The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) states, "When Yin is deficient, there is internal heat." Therefore, individuals with Yin deficiency are like cooking rice without enough water, experiencing problems such as irritability, inflammation, dry mouth and throat, excessive thirst, aversion to heat and preference for coolness, and constipation. Here, we introduce 10 common foods with the effect of nourishing Yin and tonifying the kidneys. Go and see what these foods are.
1. Duck
It is an ideal food for gentle nourishment. Simmering it for a long time allows its nutrients to be fully extracted. It is most suitable for people with Yin deficiency, especially those with perimenopausal syndrome who experience soreness in the lower back and knees, vexation in the five centers (palms, soles, chest), irritability, and irritability.
2. Pork Skin
It has the effect of nourishing Yin and moistening dryness. The Qing dynasty physician Wang Mengying said: "Pork skin supplements the kidney fluids, fills the stomach juices, nourishes the liver Yin, moistens the skin, and stops thirst." The effect of pork skin in supplementing Yin, moistening dryness, and nourishing the skin is more pronounced, and it is better to consume it during the spring and autumn seasons.
3. Milk
Physicians throughout history have praised milk's Yin-nourishing effect, calling it "moistens the muscles and stops thirst," "moistens the skin," "moistens the large intestine," "moistens the five organs," and "moistens and supplements the body fluids." Milk is very suitable for those with Yin deficiency who suffer from insomnia, excessive dreaming, fatigue, and tension, and migraines.
4. Soft-shelled Turtle
It can nourish Yin and cool the blood, making it an excellent choice for gentle nourishment. It can nourish the Yin of the liver and kidneys, and clear the heat from deficiency and overwork. It is suitable for those with Yin deficiency and blazing fire caused by chronic illness depleting fluids, mental strain damaging fluids, or old age with Yin deficiency. It is even more suitable for those with deficiency consumption with steaming bones, tidal fever and night sweats, and weak and soft bones.
5. Dried Scallop
The meat is tender and delicious, and can nourish Yin and tonify the kidneys. The Bencao Congxin says that dried scallop "treats thirst." Diabetics often have a dry mouth and tongue, drink and eat a lot, urinate frequently, and lose weight. It is recommended to often drink soup made with dried scallops, but those with high uric acid should use it with caution.
6. Clam
It can nourish Yin, resolve phlegm, soften hard masses, and dissipate nodules. Its nature is moistening and helps to promote body fluids, so it can moisten the five organs, stop thirst, whet the appetite, nourish Yin, and improve vision. It is suitable for patients with diabetes, Sjögren's syndrome, tuberculosis, thyroid nodules, breast hyperplasia, stomach and duodenal ulcers, and tumors.
7. Mulberry
It has the effect of nourishing Yin and enriching blood, and can supplement the Yin of the liver and kidneys. The Bencao Jing Shu says that mulberry is "a medicine for cooling the blood, enriching blood, and benefiting Yin." It is suitable for people with liver and kidney Yin deficiency constitution, and is most suitable for patients with high blood pressure.
8. Goji Berry
It has the effect of nourishing Yin and prolonging life. It can improve symptoms such as soreness in the lower back and knees, dizziness and blurred vision, dim eyesight, tinnitus and hearing loss due to liver and kidney Yin deficiency, or coughing with night sweats, deficiency damage due to lung and kidney Yin deficiency, and dry mouth, skin itching, and limb numbness due to diabetes.
9. Tremella Mushroom (Silver Ear)
It is the most commonly used gentle nourishing food in folk, with the effect of nourishing Yin and nourishing the stomach, and generating fluids to moisten dryness. It is especially suitable for those with lung Yin deficiency and stomach Yin deficiency, and those with dry cough without phlegm, throat itching, rough skin, pigmentation, and scalp flaking.
10. Donkey-hide Gelatin (Ejiao)
It can both nourish Yin and enrich blood. It has a good tonic effect on patients with Yin and blood deficiency who suffer from insomnia and forgetfulness, dizziness, trembling of hands and feet, palpitations, nose and gum bleeding, dry cough without phlegm, and restless fetal movement.