Coffee
| Coffee in TCM:Explore the properties of Coffee according to Chinese
Nutrition and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM):
Temperature: warm
Channels: LU, ST, HT, KD, LV
Flavors: bitter, pungent
Special Properties:
circulates qi
In terms of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Coffee is known for its ability to regulate qi circulation.
In general the ancient Chinese medical texts cite that it enters the Lung, Stomach, Heart, Kidney, and Urine Bladder. The flavor of Coffee is bitter and acrid, and it is considered to be warm in temperature.
Editors Note: Over consumption of coffee is generally contraindicated in traditional Chinese medicine. Because it is warm in nature and often served hot, it has a tendency to cause qi to rise to the head. Its particularly important to let your coffee cool a bit before drinking, because hot drinks may injure the stomach. Because it improves qi circulation Coffee may help with short term memory and concentration, but may cause long term problems if the qi fails to descend. Coffee contains caffeine which is a diuretic and a stimulant. Over-consumption of coffee may cause dryness and yin deficiency to develop over time. When used in moderation, such as one cup per day or less, coffee should be safe for relatively well balanced persons to consume. However persons with diagnosis of Liver Fire or Liver Yang Rising should avoid coffee altogether until their symptoms are resolved. Some studies suggest that coffee may suppress appetite, but it has no nutritional content, which could cause blood deficiency to develop from skipping meals.
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