Pay Attention to Yin-Yang Balance in Diet
What does "zheng" (syndrome) mean in Traditional Chinese Medicine?
Medicinal cuisine must be tailored to the eater's constitution and physical condition—this is a crucial principle. Historically, strict adherence required assessing the person's physical and mental state to determine the TCM syndrome.
"Zheng" is the synthesis of a person's constitution, physical condition, mental state, physical strength, symptoms, and causative factors, analyzed and summarized into a concise term—commonly Yin Zheng, Yang Zheng, Xu Zheng, Shi Zheng, Han Zheng, Re Zheng, and others.
Yin Zheng refers to a state of low metabolism. Severe cases may show pathological drops in blood pressure and body temperature, pale complexion, cold intolerance, and mild diarrhea.
Yang Zheng is the opposite: hyperactive metabolism, often manifesting as elevated blood pressure and temperature, flushed complexion, easy sweating, constipation, etc.
Consider physical strength and sensitivity to cold/heat.
Xu Zheng refers to slender build, poor digestive function, and weak physique. Shi Zheng is the opposite. Han Zheng refers to cold intolerance, cold hands and feet, pale complexion. Re Zheng is the opposite.
Generally, Yin Zheng often coexists with Han Zheng and Xu Zheng, but Xu Zheng may also appear within Yang Zheng.
Sometimes Han Zheng and Xu Zheng are collectively called "Yin Syndrome," and Shi Re and Re Zheng are collectively called "Yang Syndrome."
Supplement when deficient
In herbal medicine, a common scenario is: "Use a certain herb for a certain syndrome." Thus, knowing the person's syndrome enables selection of the most suitable herb.
For Yin Zheng syndromes, use herbs with "supplementing deficiencies" functions. For Yang Zheng syndromes, use herbs with "draining excesses" functions—this is the fundamental principle of medication.
This principle also applies to medicinal cuisine. If the consumer has chronic, obvious Yin Zheng, use herbs and foods that "supplement deficiencies" to boost metabolism—such as Huangqi, Danggui, Ren Shen, and foods like carrots, leeks, and meats that warm yang.
Conversely, for chronic, obvious Yang Zheng, choose herbs and foods that "drain excesses" to normalize hyperactive metabolism—such as Huanglian, Zhi Shi, Shan Zhi, and cooling foods like cucumber, eggplant, raw fish.