Michele Salinas L.Ac, Dipl. OM, RN Blake Faulkner L.Ac, Dipl. OM 

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Foods That Nourish Yin

Foods that nourish the yin of specific organs: Heart, Lung, Stomach, Spleen, Liver, Kidney

* Signifies a rich yin tonic that should be used sparingly at least and in moderation at most.
** Small amounts of meat are tonifying and large amounts are toxic. Americans typically eat toxic amounts. Meat should be organic.

Foods That Nourish Yin in General

  • Apple
  • Chicken Egg
  • Cuttle Fish
  • Honey
  • Malt
  • Oyster
  • Pineapple
  • Rabbit
  • Tomato
  • Asparagus
  • Clam
  • Duck
  • Kidney Bean
  • Mango
  • Pea
  • Pomegranate
  • String Bean
  • Watermelon
  • Cheese*
  • Crab
  • Duck Egg
  • Lemon
  • Milk*
  • Pear
  • Pork
  • Tofu
  • Yam
  • Abalone
  • Coconut Milk
  • Sesame (white)
  • Octopus
  • Pigeon
  • Plantain
  • Nori
  • Mung Bean Sprout

Foods That Especially Nourish Heart Yin

  • Apple
  • Persimmon
  • Watermelon
  • Aduki Bean
  • Mung Bean
  • Cuttlefish
  • Milk*
  • Egg (Chicken, Duck) - especially the yolk
  • Marjoram
  • Wheat Germ
  • Wheat Berries

Foods That Especially Nourish Lung Yin

  • Asparagus
  • Water Chestnut
  • Yam
  • Apple
  • Apricot
  • Avocado
  • Banana
  • Mulberry
  • Pear
  • Persimmon
  • Lima Bean
  • Pine Kernel
  • Goose
  • Cheese*
  • Egg (Chicken, Duck)
  • Milk*
  • Marjoram
  • Walnut
  • Orange
  • Peach
  • Soy Milk
  • Tofu
  • Tempeh
  • Rice Syrup
  • Flax Seed
  • Butter*

Foods That Especially Nourish Stomach Yin

  • Barley
  • Kelp
  • Potato
  • Sweet Potato
  • Seaweed
  • Tomato
  • Water Chestnut
  • Apple
  • Beef**
  • Pork
  • Egg (Chicken, Duck)
  • Milk*

Foods That Supplement the Spleen and Thus the Stomach Secondarily

  • Marjoram
  • Nettle
  • Goose
  • Shark
  • Avocado
  • Lemon
  • Lime
  • Persimmon
  • String Bean
  • Soybean (black)
  • Yam
  • Spelt

Foods That Especially Nourish Liver Yin

  • Artichoke
  • Kelp
  • Tomato
  • Avocado
  • Lemon
  • Lime
  • Pine Kernel
  • Sesame (black)
  • Clam (fresh water)
  • Crab
  • Cuttlefish
  • Oyster
  • Rabbit
  • Nettle
  • Royal Jelly
  • Mung Bean
  • Mung Sprouts
  • Cucumber
  • Tofu
  • Millet
  • Flax Oil (Fresh, cold-pressed)
  • Animal Liver*

Foods That Especially Nourish Kidney Yin

  • Alfalfa Sprout
  • Kelp
  • Asparagus
  • Potato
  • Seaweed
  • Sweet Potato
  • Yam
  • String Bean
  • Lemon
  • Lime
  • Pomegranate
  • Mulberry
  • Watermelon
  • Black Bean
  • Kidney Bean
  • Soybean (black)
  • Sesame (black)
  • Walnut
  • Clam (fresh water)
  • Cuttlefish
  • Oyster
  • Duck
  • Pork (especially pork kidney)*
  • Egg, Chicken (especially yolk)
  • Marjoram
  • Millet
  • Barley
  • Mung Bean
  • Mung Sprouts
  • Blackberry
  • Huckleberry
  • Blueberry
  • Water Chestnut
  • Wheat Germ
  • Sardine
  • Cheese*