Fuzheng (Supporting the Upright) foods refer to foods that, from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, have good effects in supplementing Qi, warming Yang, nourishing Yin, and enriching blood.
First, let's talk about chicken and duck. These are the two most commonly consumed poultry in China, both rich in nutritional value. From the perspective of their medicinal properties, chicken and duck are different. Chicken is sweet and warm in nature. Its main function is to restore deficiency and weakness, making it a food that greatly supplements the original Qi. In the past, it was widely known in folk traditions that eating chicken could help the body recover during the convalescence period after a serious illness.
The folk belief that cancer patients should avoid chicken is unfounded. There have been reports that chickens can develop esophageal cancer. Indeed, in some areas with a high incidence of esophageal cancer, chickens do contract this disease. However, in reality, all animals, and even plants, can develop tumors. The fact that chickens can get cancer may be related to their feed, but it does not provide a basis for cancer patients to avoid eating them.
For individuals with weak constitutions after surgery or chemotherapy, chicken is the best food. In folk medicine, chicken is boiled with Sanqi (Panax notoginseng) to treat lung cancer; stewed with portobello mushrooms to treat liver cancer; and simmered with ginseng to treat stomach cancer.
Duck is salty and cold in nature, with its primary function being to nourish Yin. It can be consumed by those with a dry mouth and red tongue after radiation therapy, or by those with Yin deficiency and internal heat after chemotherapy. In recent years, "old duck soup" has become popular in some regions and is indeed an excellent product for nourishing Yin and replenishing the body.
Folklore also holds that duck boiled with Cordyceps sinensis can treat lung cancer.
Both chicken and duck are relatively rich and greasy, so it is advisable to eat less when digestion is poor. They should also not be consumed when the abdomen is bloated.
Soft-shelled turtle is sweet and cool in nature, and its main function is also to nourish Yin and replenish the body. It also has effects of clearing heat and softening hard masses. In folk traditions, its effects are often exaggerated. Soft-shelled turtle is suitable for patients with a Yin deficiency, but it is not appropriate for those with Yang or Spleen deficiency, especially when they have poor digestion or diarrhea, in which case it should be avoided.
Turtle is sweet and neutral in nature, primarily for nourishing Yin and replenishing the body, with some softening hard mass effects as well. Most people buy soft-shelled turtle to eat, but in fact, turtle has similar effects to soft-shelled turtle and its taste is also excellent. In recent years, researchers at the Shanghai Cancer Institute have discovered that turtle contains some anti-cancer components. Whether turtle or soft-shelled turtle, both are less suitable for those with Qi deficiency, as they are quite rich and greasy and not easily digested.
Pork is neutral in nature; the fatty part has a nourishing Yin effect, while the lean part primarily supplements Qi. Beef is sweet and neutral in nature, mainly for greatly supplementing the original Qi. Cancer patients with deficiency syndromes can eat it, but it can sometimes be difficult to digest. It can be repeatedly boiled into a rich broth, which is then allowed to set into a jelly and consumed gradually to replenish a deficient body. An ancient remedy, "Xiatian Gao," is made in a similar way. Mutton is sweet and warm in nature, supplementing the original Qi with a focus on warming and replenishing. It is most suitable for those with Yang deficiency manifestations. The ancient remedy "Danggui Shengjiang Yangrou Tang" (Angelica, Ginger, and Mutton Soup) is also very applicable for certain types of gynecological cancers.
Eel is sweet and warm in nature, primarily for supplementing Yang deficiency. River eel is slightly more Yin-nourishing and suitable for those with a weak constitution, whether suffering from insufficient original Qi or Yin deficiency. Sea eel is sweet and neutral in nature and can greatly supplement the original Qi. In the past, patients with "Xulao" (consumption or deficiency syndrome) were often advised to eat sea eel, which proved to be quite effective.
Milk, honey, and rock candy are primarily for nourishing Yin. Milk is sweet and neutral in nature, nourishing Yin and moistening dryness, making it an excellent tonic. Yogurt is also beneficial for those with Spleen deficiency and diarrhea. Honey is sweet and cool in nature, mainly for nourishing Yin, and is especially suitable when constipated. It is not advisable for those with loose stools or diarrhea. Rock candy also nourishes Yin; for lung cancer patients with Yin deficiency and a dry cough, it can be sucked on and swallowed frequently.
There are many other types of Fuzheng (Supporting the Upright) and tonic foods, which can be chosen for consumption according to individual needs and will not be elaborated upon here.