In the face of modern diseases such as cancer, hypertension, diabetes, myocardial infarction, and cerebral infarction, as well as the recent terrifying pandemic, people’s fear of illness has reached an almost paranoid level. However, regularly consuming cabbage (round cabbage, kale, napa, etc.), fresh or fermented (kimchi), can help keep diseases at bay and protect the internal organs. Westerners refer to it as a panacea, a truly miraculous dietary therapy.
Cabbage in traditional Chinese medicine
The Compendium of Materia Medica is a world-renowned traditional Chinese medicine classic written by the Ming Dynasty’s miracle doctor Li Shizhen. In this compendium, Li Shizhen expounds on the miraculous effects of cabbage: “Long-term consumption benefits the liver and kidneys, replenishes bone marrow, benefits the internal organs, facilitates joints, unblocks meridians, sharpens hearing and vision, promotes better sleep, strengthens the heart, and fortifies muscles and bones.”
This statement is truly astonishing. Many vegetables and fruits are generally adept at regulating specific internal organs, so a single vegetable can rarely protect all the internal organs. Yet Li Shizhen gave cabbage an incredible evaluation, believing it can regulate the internal organs and unblock meridians.
This seemingly ordinary vegetable can help prevent and treat all diseases, whether it’s cancer, hypertension, hyperglycemia, osteoporosis, memory loss, insomnia, cerebral thrombosis, heart disease, gastrointestinal ulcers, constipation, obesity, indigestion, or various inflammations like pharyngitis, rhinitis, pneumonia, arthritis, and even heat-related colds. In the eyes of traditional Chinese medicine, cabbage can regulate all these conditions.
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that wherever qi and blood are blocked, the function of the corresponding internal organ begins to have problems. When qi and blood are unblocked, the function of the internal organs is restored, and symptoms naturally disappear.
This fundamentally unblocks the body’s qi and blood, restoring the internal organs’ function and returning the body to health. When the functions of the liver, heart, spleen, lungs, kidneys (the “five organs”) and the stomach, intestines, gallbladder, bladder, and triple burner (the “six viscera”) return to normal, all diseases will automatically disappear.
Understanding Li Shizhen’s insights
He tells us that regular consumption of cabbage is particularly beneficial for the liver and kidneys. When the liver and kidneys are healthy, they can automatically replenish bone marrow and brain marrow, unblocking the meridians of the internal organs and allowing the qi blocked in the meridians to flow freely (in traditional Chinese medicine, qi is the energy flowing in the meridians. When qi is blocked, blood loses its driving force and becomes sluggish, inevitably leading to various modern diseases). Bone marrow is replenished when qi and blood flow smoothly, and discomforts like joint stiffness will disappear.
Since the liver opens into the eyes and the kidneys open into the ears, a healthy liver and kidneys will result in sharp hearing and clear vision. When qi and blood flow smoothly, yin and yang are harmonized, and the body’s yang energy will automatically enter the kidneys at night, hiding away like the sun setting, allowing the internal organs to enter a nighttime mode and enabling restful sleep.
In the “Five Elements” theory, the liver corresponds to wood — wood generates fire — the heart corresponds to fire in the “Five Elements.” A healthy liver nourishes the heart, making it naturally strong and healthy. Additionally, the body’s tendons are governed by the liver, which belongs to the liver system and is akin to tree branches. Bones, on the other hand, are governed by the kidneys. Therefore, a healthy liver and kidneys naturally produce strong tendons and bones. This is the essence of Li Shizhen’s words.
Modern research shows that cabbage is rich in calcium, surpassing milk, making it beneficial for bone health. It is also rich in potassium, which helps lower blood pressure. Cabbage contains more vitamin C than oranges, enhancing immunity and offering numerous benefits against modern diseases, serving as a modern annotation to ancient medical wisdom.
The role of cabbage in the ‘Five Elements’
In the Wuxing or “Five Elements” theory, the kidneys correspond to water—water generates wood. Thus, when the kidneys are well-regulated, liver blood is nourished, and liver qi becomes gentle. When liver qi and blood are harmonized, symptoms like dry eyes, inflammation, and red eyes will naturally ease.
Cabbage is white, corresponding to metal in the “Five Elements,” which aligns with the lungs. Therefore, it can enter the lung meridians, clearing heat toxins from the lungs, thereby preventing and improving symptoms like sore throat, rhinitis, heat-related colds, and pneumonia. This is the fundamental principle behind modern medicine’s concept of “enhancing immunity.”
Cabbage moisturizes and is anti-inflammatory in the lungs. It is best consumed raw or juiced, with a daily cup to nourish the heart and lungs, clear heat, harmonize qi and blood, and prevent blood clots from forming.
Important precautions when consuming cabbage
Cabbage is a vegetable, not a medicine. The discussion here is about its principles for daily health maintenance: it can serve as an excellent preventive, auxiliary treatment, or natural therapy. One must follow medical advice for treatment and dietary choices for severe conditions.
Eating raw cabbage is not advisable for those with insufficient spleen and stomach yang energy, prone to colds, and who experience abdominal pain or diarrhea from eating raw and cold foods. Instead, stir-fry it with appropriate amounts of ginger slices, green onions, garlic, or spices like pepper, Sichuan pepper, and chili. This will increase yang energy and dispel cold, making it less likely to harm the stomach.
Ginger stir-fried cabbage: An easy and stomach-friendly recipe
Ingredients:
- Cabbage: Half a head, torn by hand or shredded
- Ginger: A few shredded slices
- Garlic: 2 cloves, sliced
- Olive oil, salt, and sugar
Method:
- Heat the pan and add an appropriate amount of olive oil. Once the oil is hot, add the shredded ginger and garlic slices, stir-frying until fragrant.
- Add the cabbage and stir-fry until it softens.
- Add an appropriate amount of salt, continue to stir-fry evenly, and finally, add a small spoonful of sugar, mix well, and serve.
With the addition of ginger and sugar, this dish has a unique flavor that stimulates the appetite, helps replenish blood, unblocks meridians, and warms the stomach and intestines. Olive oil clears heat toxins, protects the liver, has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, prevents heat-related flu and pneumonia, and alleviates sore throat, dry eyes, and emotional irritability.
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