It originated from the various regions of China and has become widespread in many other parts of the world.
Chinese food therapy
It is a practice of healing using natural foods instead of medications.
Cantonese people pay much attention to the body's reaction to food. Food items are classified accordingly, and diet is adjusted based on the body's conditions. In effect, many Cantonese people practice food therapy in day to day situations. The following is a list of common food classifications:
Some common food therapy items and recipes
Bird nest (燕窩)
Oral secretion of swiftlets, collected from the binding material of their nests.
Alleged effects: promote beautiful skin for women; "strengthen the spleen and open up the stomach" (健脾開胃 meaning improve appetite.)
vegetables and fruits are believed to nullify the effect of bird nest if taken within the same day.
The dried material is soaked in water to rehydrate.
The soaked bird nest is cleaned by hand to remove other nest building debris such as grass and feathers.
The cleaned and crumbled bird nest is double steamed with rock sugar as a dessert or with a small amount of pork as a soup.
Korean or Chinese ginseng (高麗參)
Root of a plant that has the Yang properties.
Alleged effects: promote circulation, increase blood supply, revitalize and aid recovery from weakness after illness.
The ginseng root is double steamed with chicken meat as a soup. (See samgyetang.)
American ginseng (花旗參)
Root of a plant similar to Korean ginseng, but it has the Yin properties.
Alleged effects: cleansing of excessive Yang in the body, aphrodisiac.
The ginseng is sliced, a few slices are soaked in hot water to make a tea.
Most American ginseng is produced in Wisconsin, USA.
A Cantonese cough remedy
Dried duck gizzards, watercress, apricot kernels (南北杏陳腎西洋菜湯):
Note: the following does not constitute medical advice. Please consult a physician.
Alleged effects: relieve both Yin (resulted from cold) or Yang (resulted from dryness) type of coughing.
Watercress (西洋菜) is for removing excessive yang in the body.
The sweet apricot kernels (南杏仁) and bitter apricot kernels (北杏仁) target the lungs.
The dried duck gizzards (乾鴨腎) are used to balance the Yin Yang of the recipe.
Watercress is available in most supermarkets while the rest of the ingredients can be found in most Chinese herb stores.
The ingredients are slow cooked for couple of hours into a soup, a small piece of pork is optional for flavor.
Do not use Yang type meat such as beef or chicken in this recipe because they nullify the effects of the watercress.
