Basic concepts of five flavors:
Sour taste is usually astringent, which can astringe sweat, consolidate essence and qi, and astringent stomach. In TCM theory, sour taste corresponds to the liver in the five internal organs.
Sweetness has moisturizing effect, which can promote fluid production to quench thirst, moisten lung and nourish stomach. Chinese medicine believes that sweet taste corresponds to spleen.
Bitterness can clear away heat and purge fire, detoxify and dry dampness, and benefit the stomach. In Chinese medicine, bitterness corresponds to the heart.
Pungent taste can disperse cold, warm meridians and enlighten the mind. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that pungent taste corresponds to lung.
Salty taste has the effect of softening and resolving hard mass, which can soften and guide turbidity. In traditional Chinese medicine, salty taste corresponds to kidney.
Function and conditioning of five flavors;
Balance the functions of five internal organs:
Chinese medicine believes that the five flavors can correspond to the five internal organs, and the intake of different flavors in food can play a role in regulating the functions of the five internal organs. For example, eating some sour food often helps to regulate liver function.
Treat diseases:
Chinese medicine believes that diseases can be treated by adjusting the five flavors of food according to different situations. For example, for some cases of fever, light food can be used to reduce the intake of spicy and spicy food.
Food culture:
The five flavors also reflect the unique thoughts in China's traditional food culture. People in China pay attention to the balance and conditioning of diet, the diversity of food tastes, and choose the right food according to the different seasons and personal physique.
Medical theory:
The concept of five flavors also provides an important grasp for the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, which makes the conditioning and treatment of human body by traditional Chinese medicine systematic and scientific.
Summarized as follows:
As an important concept in the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, five flavors not only reflect the diversity of food tastes, but also represent the unique understanding of food and health in traditional Chinese medicine. Through the in-depth understanding of the five flavors, we can better understand the concept of TCM health preservation and the profoundness of China's traditional diet culture. Five people are indispensable things in life.