Traditional Chinese Medicine Food Therapy

Quiz Questions

• 1.
  Blood Deficiency- check all that apply last 6 months

  • A.
    My menses are scanty and/or late.
  • B.
    I have crazy vivid dreams that wake me or are gory in nature.
  • C.
     I experience dry, flaky skin.
  • D.
    I am prone to chapped lips.
  • E.
    My finger and/ or toenails are brittle and tear easily.
  • F.
    My vision fluctuates often, especially with menstruation or at dusk.
  • G.
     I'm losing hair on my head (not in patches, all over).
  • H.
     I get dizzy around my menstruation or if I stand up too fast.
  • I.
     My hair is dry and brittle.
  • J.
     My complexion is very white in color or others tell me I look peaked.
• 2.
  Blood Stasis- Check all that apply last 6 months

  • A.
    I often wake 4-5 hours after going to bed.
  • B.
     I have menstrual flow that is brown or black in color.
  • C.
    I experience mid-cycle pain around my ovaries. 
  • D.
     I have dark clotted blood during menses. 
  • E.
    I have sharp stabbing menstrual cramps 
  • F.
    I experience periodic numbness of hand and feet (especially at night). 
  • G.
    I have been diagnosed or strongly suspect fibroids or endometriosis. 
  • H.
     I have liver spots (brown spots on skin) or angiomas (red spots on skin).
  • I.
    I have dark spots in the whites of my eyes (especially lateral lower corners). 
  • J.
     I experience abdominal pain and/ or hard unmovable lumps in my abdomen or breasts. 
  • K.
    I have been diagnosed with a vascular abnormality or blood clotting disorder like MTHFR or antiphospholipids.
• 3.
  Kidney Yin Deficiency- Check all that apply last 6 months

  • A.
     I experience lower back weakness, soreness, or pain or knee problems.
  • B.
     I experience ringing in my ears (low pitch) or dizziness.
  • C.
     I have gray hair.
  • D.
     I have dark circles around or under my eyes.
  • E.
     I have night sweats.
  • F.
     I’m prone to hot flashes during the day.
  • G.
    I have Vaginal dryness or discomfort during sex.
  • H.
    My mouth or skin is dry.
  • I.
     I'm never really super thirsty, even if I know I'm dehydrated.
  • J.
     I’m experiencing constipation with dry stool.
  • K.
     My mid-cycle cervical mucus is scanty or missing.
  • L.
     My sleep is very restless, and I have trouble getting back to sleep.
  • M.
     I tend to ovulate early before day 13 of my cycle.
  • N.
    I am over the age of 35.
  • O.
    Premature ejaculation is common.
• 4.
  Spleen Qi Deficiency- Check all that apply last 6 months

  • A.
     I have a poor appetite or one that fluctuates wildly.
  • B.
    I feel bloated after eating, or have known food intolerances. 
  • C.
     I crave sweets.
  • D.
    I have loose stools.
  • E.
     I experience cold hands, feet or nose.
  • F.
     I bruise easily.
  • G.
    I find my thoughts drifting into fears or constant worry. 
  • H.
     I have been diagnosed with low blood pressure. 
  • I.
    I have thin, watery sometimes pinkish in color menstrual blood. 
  • J.
    I'm more tired around ovulation and menstruation. 
  • K.
    I have been diagnosed with hypothyroid or anemia. 
  • L.
    I experience issues of prolapse like uterine, hemorrhoids or polyps, or vericose veins or menstrual cramps that have a bearing down sensation.
• 5.
  Liver Qi Stagnation- check all that apply last 6 months

  • A.
     I am prone to emotional depression, anger, or rage.
  • B.
     I become irritable pre-menstrually. 
  • C.
     I experience bloating, fatigue and irritableness around ovulation (mid-cycle). 
  • D.
    I have sore breasts at ovulation. 
  • E.
     I experience nipple pain or discharge from my nipples. 
  • F.
    I experience a lot of premenstrual breast distention or pain. 
  • G.
     I have been diagnosed with elevated prolactin levels. 
  • H.
     I experience heartburn or nausea when upset. 
  • I.
    I have trouble falling asleep at night or I wake between 1-3am with a racing mind and find it difficult to return to sleep. 
  • J.
     I experience my menstrual cramps in the external genital area or my labia.
  • K.
    I have menstrual blood that is thick and dark, or purplish in color.
  • L.
    My ovulation is erratic (sometimes early, late or I can skip a month).
• 6.
  Kidney Yang-check all that apply last 6 months

  • A.
     My night sweating is more predominant at daybreak, early morning time.
  • B.
     I don't seem to have the energy others do or that I used to have.
  • C.
     I have been experiencing depression.
  • D.
    I’m often colder than those around me.
  • E.
     I have a constant or dull backache, especially premenstrually.
  • F.
     I’ve noticed my ankles are swelling.
  • G.
    My libido (sexual desire) is low
  • H.
    I find my thoughts drifting into fears or constant worry.
  • I.
    I wake up at night or early in the morning to urinate.
  • J.
     I have early morning, loose, urgent stools.
  • K.
    My menstrual blood tends to be a dull red to brown and I experience spotting.
  • L.
    The luteal phase of my cycle is short (10 days or less from ovulation to start of menses)
• 7.
  Toxicity- Check all that apply

  • A.
    I have a long history of antibiotic use.
  • B.
    I have a history of using multiple Rx.
  • C.
    I have used IVF hormones.
  • D.
    I have been on oral contraceptives in the last 3 years.
  • E.
    I or someone in my household is exposed to any of the following at work (paint, chemicals, hair dye, printer ink, radiation, fumes, dust, fibers, metals etc).
  • F.
    I consume more than 2 drinks a week on the average.
  • G.
    I have smoked in the last 5 years (tobacco or marijuana). 
  • H.
    I am exposed to extreme heat and/cold at work.
  • I.
    I must wear protective gear at work.
• 8.
  Liver Attacking Spleen- check all that apply in last 6 months

  • A.
    I experience gas after eating
  • B.
    I experience bloating and distention after eating
  • C.
    I have diagnosed or suspected IBS with diarrhea
  • D.
    I have abdominal pain
  • E.
    I have or have had SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth)
  • F.
    I have rheumatoid arthritis
  • G.
    I have fibromyalgia
  • H.
    I have multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • I.
    I experience migraines that I believe are triggered by certain foods
  • J.
    I have or have had eczema or psoriasis

Quiz Outcomes

• 1.
  Blood Deficiency

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  Incorporate foods that nourish liver blood: broccoli, fennel, longan, spinach, tomatoes red fruits and vegetables such as beets,blackberries, cherries, dark grapes, plums,strawberries, raspberries, red cabbage, yams beef, duck, egg yolk, poultry, liver, rabbit, chickencrab, eel, mussels, octopus, oysters sesame, sunflower seeds amaranth, rice, wheat, Foods to avoid: bitter and acrid foodscoffee, alcohol, black tea, cocoa acrid spices, Chile powder, cinnamon
• 2.
  Blood Stasis

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  Incorporate foods that move stagnation: chives, leek, onion, radish, scallion, turnip hawthorn berry, peach crab, eggs, venison alcohol, chili pepper, turmeric, ginger, vinegar Foods to avoid: cold and raw foodsgreasy, fried foods
• 3.
  Kidney Yin Deficiency

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  Incorporate foods with actions to cool, moisten, and build yin and body fluids, such as: asparagus, cabbage, carrots, cucumber, kelp, seaweed blackberry, blueberry, cantaloupe, grapes, pears, raspberry, strawberry, watermelon black sesame seeds, kidney beans, mung beans,string beans, sunflower seeds duck, eggs, porkabalone, carp, clam, crab, eel, octopus, oysters,perch, scallop, sardine barley butter, cream, goat’s milk Foods to avoid:warming foods in general coffee, alcohol, red wine, tobaccoexcess black tea and green tea acrid spices table salt hot spices: cinnamon, cloves, ginger
• 4.
  Spleen Qi Deficiency

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  Foods that help to strengthen the Spleen/ Pancreas/ Stomach: cooked and fermented vegetables, brothy soups cabbage, carrots, corn, onions, peas, string beans,sweet potato, yams apricots, apples, cantaloupe, dates, figs, grapes,papaya beef, chicken, duck, eggs, fish (bass, carp, herring,mackerel, sardine), goat, goose, lamb, spleen, veal,venison amaranth, brown rice, sweet rice coriander, cumin, garlic, ginger, vinegar Foods to Avoid: cold foods and drinks raw foods like salads, and citrus fruits dairy products, especially ice cream sugar and refined carbohydrates fatty, greasy, oily foods
• 5.
  Liver Qi Stagnation

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  Foods that help the Liver: leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables, beets, carrots, chives blueberries, goji berries, grapefruit, strawberries eggs, liver, pork, venison (especially if there is deficiency) crab, crayfish, lobster, mussels, oysters, shrimp, squid, trout, whitefish flax, pine nuts, sesame cayenne, garlic, onion, vinegar, coriander, marjoram, turmeric (careful with heat signs) olive oil cod liver oil, krill oil (increases anti-inflammatory omega 3 fatty acids) chrysanthemum tea, green tea, lemon or lime water Foods to Avoid: spicy, hot foods (in excess)greasy, fatty, oily, fried foodsalcohol, coffee, caffeinesugarprocessed, refined foods
• 6.
  Kidney Yang Deficiency

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  Incorporate foods with strengthening and warming action, such as: cabbage, chives, fennel, leeks, onions, potato, radish, scallions, sweet potato, yam cherries, grapes, mulberry black beans, lentils chicken, duck, goat, lamb, pork, venison lobster, oysters, mussels, smoked fish, salmon,shrimp, trout, tuna walnuts, chestnuts, pistachio, lotus seeds, sesame seeds buckwheat, oats, quinoa, corn ginger, garlic, black pepper, cinnamon, cloves,chive, basil spiced tea, yogi tea Foods to avoid:thermally cold or cool foods, raw foods, ice water sugaralcoholjuices like orange juice or tropical fruit juicesour milk productsexcess liquid consumption
• 7.
  Toxicity

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  Avoid the following: Any genetically modified food (GMO) or any animal product that was fed GMO's. Major GMO crops unless specified include, but are not limited to Soy, Corn, Wheat, and Beet Sugar. Avoid conventionally grown produce as this means pesticide was likely used and can overburden your system. Specifically avoid congenitally grown foods on the dirty dozen list and choose organic when possible. As of 2020 they included Spinach, Kale, Celery, Potatoes (French fries), Tomatoes, Strawberries, Peaches, Apples, Grapes (wine), Nectarines, Cherries, and Pears. Dairy is also unadvisable unless it comes from animals that were grass fed and allowed to roam. Fat is a place where toxicity resides in any mammal and dairy is high in fat. Low fat dairy is full of sugar which is toxic as well- corn syrup is one of the biggest genetically modified foods on the planet. Sugar and processed foods- Sugar is inflammatory at a cellular level and will only increase body burden in someone that is carrying a toxic load. Include: Organic veggies that are known to help detoxify the body like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, asparagus, ginger, lemons, flax seed (freshly ground). High plant diets may be advisable for some time to help detoxify the body naturally.
• 8.
  Liver Attacking Spleen

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  If you have a moderate to high score on the Liver Attacking Spleen section it is advisable that you try a low fodmap diet to try and heal the digestive system. Low Fodmap can be difficult for some to follow as lists of what to eat and not to eat are sometimes inconsistent between sources. This is because not all foods on the restricted list will bother everyone. And because certain foods are restricted and not necessarily food groups it can sometimes be difficult to remember on your own what to avoid. Below is a general overview. It is recommended that you follow the low fodmap diet for one month and track your progress in terms of severity of symptoms. Then you can move into the other pattern with the highest score. This gives you the opportunity to bolster will as your quality of life improves, as symptoms of SIBO, IBS, IBD and chronic reflux can be quite disconcerting when they are present. From a fertility perspective, we want to make sure that the digestive tract is functioning at a peak level so we are absorbing all of the nutrients of our food for increased egg and sperm quality and to nourish a growing baby. Also, it is quite common for digestion disturbances to be amplified during pregnancy so my advice is to address this before pregnancy when possible. FODMAP stands for "Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides And Polyols. These fermentable short-chain carbohydrates are prevalent in the diet.Oligosaccharides: fructans and galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS)Disaccharides: lactoseMonosaccharides: fructosePolyols: sorbitol and mannitolResearchers discovered that the small intestine does not absorb FODMAPs very well. They increase the amount of fluid in the bowel. They also create more gas. That's because bacteria in the colon they are easily fermented by colonic bacteria. The increased fluid and gas in the bowel leads to bloating and changes in the speed with which food is digested. This results in gas, pain and diarrhea. Eating less of these types of carbohydrates should decrease these symptoms.So far, studies have shown that a low FODMAP diet improves IBS symptoms. One study even found that 76% of IBS patients following the diet reported improvement with their symptoms. Eat Less Of These FoodsLactose- Cow's milk, yogurt, pudding, custard, ice cream, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese and mascarpone Fructose-Fruits, such as apples, pears, peaches, cherries, mangoes, pears and watermelon. Sweeteners, such as honey and agave nectar Products with high fructose corn syrup Fructans-Vegetables, such as artichokes, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, beetroot, garlic and onions. Grains such as wheat and rye. Added fiber, such as inulin GOS- Chickpeas, lentils, kidney beans and soy productsVegetables, such as broccoli Polyols-Fruits, such as apples, apricots, blackberries, cherries, nectarines, pears, peaches, plums and watermelon Vegetables, such as cauliflower, mushrooms and snow peas Sweeteners, such as sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, maltitol and isomalt found in sugar-free gum and mints, and cough medicines and drops Eat More Of These FoodsDairy: Lactose-free milk, rice milk, almond milk, coconut milk, lactose-free yogurt; hard cheeses such as feta and brie Fruit: Bananas, blueberries, cantaloupe, grapefruit, honeydew, kiwi, lemon, lime, oranges and strawberries Vegetables: Bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, bok choy, carrots, chives, cucumbers, eggplant, ginger, lettuce, olives, parsnips, potatoes, spring onions and turnips Protein: Beef, pork, chicken, fish, eggs and tofu Nuts/seeds (limit to 10-15 each): Almonds, macadamia, peanuts, pine nuts and walnuts Grain: Oat, oat bran, rice bran, gluten-free pasta, such as rice, corn, quinoa, white rice, corn flour and quinoa