Ingredient library
Ingredients for Qi Deficiency
136 common Hong Kong foods and herbs, with traditional uses, cautions and nutrition.
Body type
Solar term
87 found
Red dates (jujube)
大棗
Nourishes qi and blood and is gently calming.
Pumpkin
南瓜
Supports the spleen and energy.
Beef
牛肉
Nourishes qi and blood and strengthens.
Chicken
雞肉
Warms and nourishes qi.
Chinese yam
山藥
Supports digestion, the lungs and the kidneys — a very gentle tonic.
Shiitake mushroom
香菇
Nourishing and supports appetite.
Soybeans
黃豆
Plant protein; nourishing.
Millet
小米
Gentle on the stomach.
Chinese chives
韭菜
Traditionally warms kidney yang and moves qi and blood.
Coriander
香菜
Promotes light sweating and appetite.
Fresh ginger
生薑
Warms you after a chill and settles nausea.
Mugwort
艾草
Warms the channels and eases cold-type aches.
Walnuts
核桃
Warms the kidneys and lungs; moistens the bowels.
Onion
洋蔥
Moves qi and aids digestion.
Garlic
大蒜
Warms the middle and aids digestion.
Eel
鱔魚
Nourishes qi and blood.
Apricot kernel
杏仁
Eases cough and moistens the bowels.
Chestnut
栗子
Supports the spleen and kidneys.
Lamb / mutton
羊肉
Warms the body and the kidneys.
Longan
龍眼
Nourishes the heart and spleen; calming.
Glutinous rice
糯米
Warming and comforting.
Ginseng
人參
A strong qi tonic.
Spring onion
青蔥
Warming; traditionally used at the first sign of a chill.
Thai basil
九層塔
Fragrant and warming.
Black rice
黑米
A nourishing whole grain.
Lychee
荔枝
A warming fruit — the classic "heaty" treat.
Cherry
車厘子
A warming fruit.
Peach
桃
Moistening and gentle.
Hawthorn
山楂
Helps after rich, meaty meals.
Prawn
蝦
A warming protein.
Grass carp
鯇魚
A warming, everyday fish.
Salmon
三文魚
A rich, nourishing fish.
Pork liver
豬肝
Traditionally nourishes blood.
Aged tangerine peel
陳皮
Moves qi, aids digestion — a Hong Kong pantry staple.
Astragalus root
黃芪
A classic qi tonic.
Dong quai (angelica root)
當歸
A classic blood tonic.
Star anise
八角
A warming spice for braises.
Sichuan pepper
花椒
A warming, numbing spice.
Rose buds
玫瑰花
A calming tea for stressful days.
Honey
蜂蜜
Moistens dryness and soothes a cough.
Poria
茯苓
Drains dampness, supports digestion and calms the mind.
Lotus seed
蓮子
Supports digestion and calms the mind.
Snow fungus
銀耳
Nourishes yin and moistens the lungs.
Egg
雞蛋
Nourishes yin and blood.
Goji berries
枸杞
Nourishes the liver and kidneys; traditionally good for the eyes.
Black sesame
黑芝麻
Nourishes the liver and kidneys and moistens the bowels.
Adzuki beans
紅豆
Drains fluid and eases puffiness.
Corn silk
玉米鬚
A mild diuretic tea that eases puffiness.
Smoked plum (wumei)
烏梅
Generates fluids; astringent.
Lemon
檸檬
Quenches thirst.
Carp
鯉魚
Supports digestion and eases puffiness.
Lotus leaf
荷葉
Clears summer heat.
Lean pork
豬肉
Nourishes yin and moistens dryness.
Sweet corn
玉米
Neutral and gentle on the stomach.
Sweet potato
地瓜
Supports digestion and regularity.
Grapes
葡萄
Nourishes qi and blood.
Sesame
芝麻
Moistens the bowels and nourishes.
Black beans
黑豆
Supports the kidneys.
Wood-ear fungus
黑木耳
Nourishes blood.
Cashew nuts
腰果
Nourishing nut.
Peanuts
花生
Supports digestion.
Pork ribs
排骨
Nourishing in soups.
Napa cabbage
白菜
Eases restlessness and keeps digestion moving.
Broccoli
西蘭花
Gentle and nourishing for digestion.
Cabbage
椰菜
Gentle on the stomach.
Carrot
紅蘿蔔
Supports digestion; traditionally good for the eyes.
Potato
薯仔
A gentle, filling staple.
Taro
芋頭
Filling and supportive of digestion.
Edamame
毛豆
Plant protein that supports digestion.
Green peas
豌豆
Gentle and filling.
Green beans
四季豆
Supports digestion.
White rice (cooked)
白米
The everyday staple that steadies digestion.
Brown rice (cooked)
糙米
Whole grain with more fibre.
Rolled oats
燕麥
A warm, steady breakfast grain.
Fox nut (euryale seed)
芡實
A classic soup ingredient for digestion.
Papaya
木瓜
Supports digestion.
Pineapple
菠蘿
Refreshing and helpful after rich meals.
Sea bass
鱸魚
Light, easy-to-digest fish.
Crucian carp
鯽魚
The classic milky fish soup.
Oyster
蠔
Nourishing.
Quail
鵪鶉
A light, nourishing meat.
Squab (pigeon)
乳鴿
A traditional recovery meat in Hong Kong.
Soy milk
豆漿
A light, nourishing drink.
Milk
牛奶
Nourishing.
Dried tofu skin
腐竹
A protein-rich soup ingredient.
Codonopsis root
黨參
A gentle qi tonic often used in soups.
Liquorice root
甘草
Harmonises herbal formulas.