In terms of flavor, spicy food can be divided into numbing-spicy, sour-spicy, and mustard-spicy. Numbing-spicy food contains the pungent heat of Sichuan peppercorns, which can easily lead to internal heat, so it should be consumed in moderation. Pickled chili peppers contain less capsaicin; in sour-spicy food, the detoxifying effect of vinegar reduces the chance of internal heat, so it can be eaten in slightly larger quantities.
Although spicy food can be addictive, eating too much can be overwhelming. Experts suggest that eating more sweet and sour foods can help alleviate the spiciness. Sweetness can mask and interfere with the spicy taste, while acidity can neutralize the alkaline capsaicin. If it's too spicy, dipping in vinegar, drinking a cold sweet beverage, or having a cool piece of fruit can be very helpful. If you are cooking spicy food at home, try to pair it with foods that nourish yin, reduce dryness, and clear heat, such as duck, shrimp, crucian carp, bitter melon, loofah, and cucumber. You can also cook some cooling mung bean congee or lotus leaf congee to reduce internal heat.
Who is more suitable for eating spicy food?
Wang Fengqi, a TCM internal medicine expert, chief physician, professor, and a direct disciple of the renowned TCM master Qin Bowei, points out that people with heavy internal dampness, those affected by wind-cold, and individuals with qi and blood stagnation are more suited to eating spicy food, as it helps expel dampness and promote the smooth flow of qi and blood.
I. People with heavy internal dampness
As we mentioned earlier, pungent foods have the effect of dispersing. They can expel external pathogens through sweating. Dampness can also be expelled from the body through this method. Why do people in the Sichuan and Chongqing regions, where dampness is heavy, love to eat spicy food? The human body has self-regulation functions. To eliminate internal dampness, people intentionally consume pungent foods. Therefore, if you also have dampness in your body, you can eat more spicy food. How can you tell if you have heavy dampness? In Traditional Chinese Medicine, there's a term called "head feels as if wrapped in a cloth" (头重如裹). This means the head feels tight, making one lethargic, which is a sign of heavy dampness. Heavy dampness can also be reflected in bowel movements. If your stools are always unformed and often stick to the toilet, a condition known in professional terms as "loose stools" (便溏), it is also a sign of heavy internal dampness. In this case, you should use some herbs to strengthen the spleen and expel dampness, and eating more spicy food in your diet will help you recover.
II. People affected by wind-cold
Occasionally getting caught in the rain or being exposed to cold can lead to wind-cold invading the body. The most obvious symptoms are fever, a clear runny nose, and headache, which is what we commonly call a wind-cold cold. At this time, you can drink some ginger soup or scallion soup to induce sweating, allowing the cold pathogens to be expelled through sweat.
Furthermore, headaches from air conditioning in the summer or a constant runny nose are also signs of wind-cold invasion. People often take Huoxiang Zhengshui (藿香正气水) in these situations. The main ingredient in Huoxiang Zhengshui is Huoxiang (Agastache rugosa). Do you remember the spicy taste when you drink it? Huoxiang is a pungent herb, and its spiciness helps to release the exterior and induce sweating, expelling the cold pathogens. You can eat more spicy food in the summer. Sun Simiao, in his "Essential Formulas for Emergencies" (千金要方), said: "During the 72 days of summer, reduce bitter foods and increase pungent ones to nourish the lung qi." This is because in summer, the heart's qi is abundant. The heart belongs to the fire element, and fire overcomes metal (the lung). Eating spicy food is a way to tonify the lung qi from the perspective of the Five Elements.
III. People with qi and blood stagnation
Women often experience dysmenorrhea (painful periods), which is actually caused by qi and blood stagnation. At this time, taking Yuanhu Zhitong Pian (元胡止痛片) is effective. Why? Yuanhu is also called Yanhusuo or Xuanhu. The "Compendium of Materia Medica" (本草纲目) states that it has the effects of "invigorating blood and promoting qi, relieving pain, and promoting urination." Yuanhu is pungent, so it can resolve stagnant blood. Another example is Yimucao (Motherwort), a commonly used herb for dysmenorrhea, also because it is pungent and has the effect of invigorating blood and regulating menstruation. Medicinal wines are also often used to treat sprains and bruises for the same reason.