1, Sesame. Sweet and neutral in nature, it nourishes the liver and kidneys, and moistens the five internal organs. As recorded in the ‘Compendium of Materia Medica’: ‘Sesame, with a mild flavor and neither cold nor hot, is an excellent grain for nourishing the liver and kidneys.’ Especially for those with kidney deficiency, who suffer from lumbago, weak legs, dizziness, tinnitus, dry and falling hair, and premature white hair, as well as constipation, it is most suitable to eat sesame.

2, Sumi. It tonifies kidney Qi. ‘Mingyi Bie Lu’ and ‘Yunnan Bencao’ both said that ‘Sumi nourishes kidney Qi.’ Li Shizhen also said, ‘Sui is the grain of the kidney, and it is suitable for those with kidney disease. Eating porridge with it benefits the丹田 and tonifies deficiency and damage.’

3, Jiangdou. It has a neutral nature and sweet taste, and can tonify the kidney and strengthen the spleen. In addition to those with spleen deficiency being suitable for eating it, those with kidney deficiency should also eat it. It is most suitable for those with kidney deficiency diabetes, spermatorrhea, whitish discharge, or frequent urination, and leukorrhea in women. ‘Bencao Gangmu’ once recorded: ‘Jiangdou regulates the middle Qi, benefits the kidney and strengthens the stomach, generates essence and marrow.’ ‘Sichuan Zhongyao Zhi’ also says that it can ‘nourish Yin and tonify the kidney, strengthen the spleen and stomach, and treat leukorrhea, whitish discharge, and kidney deficiency spermatorrhea.’

4, Niugui. It moistens the lungs, tonifies the kidney, and benefits the marrow. ‘Bencao Gangmu’ says that it can ‘moisten the lungs and tonify the kidney, nourish the skin, and delight the face.’ It is particularly suitable for those with kidney deficiency and emaciation, and depletion of essence and blood.

5, Gourou. It has a warm nature and a salty taste, and in addition to its action of tonifying the middle and benefiting Qi, it can also warm the kidney and assist Yang. Therefore, it is most suitable for those with insufficient kidney Yang, weak and sore knees or cold pain, and it is most suitable to eat it. ‘Ri Huazi Bencao’ believes that Gourou ‘tonifies the stomach Qi, strengthens Yang, warms the waist and knees, tonifies deficiency and fatigue, and benefits Qi.’ ‘Yilin Zhaoyao’ also says that ‘Gourou tonifies the lung Qi, consolidates the kidney Qi.’ Zhang Lu, a medical doctor in the Qing Dynasty, also said that ‘dog meat is most suitable for those with deficiency in the lower part of the body, such as kidney Yang deficiency and fire depletion.’ Those with lower Yang deficiency refer to kidney Yang weakness and gate of life fire depletion.

6, Yanggu. It has a warm nature and sweet taste, and can tonify the kidney and strengthen the tendons and bones. ‘Yinshan Zhengyao’ believes that ‘Yangwei gu benefits the kidney, improves eyesight, and tonifies the deficiency of the lower jiao.’ ‘Bencao Gangmu’ records that ‘Yangji gu补s the deficiency of the bones, opens the Du Meridian, treats lumbago and dysentery; Yangjing gu mainly benefits those with weak spleen and kidney deficiency, unable to retain essence, and whitish discharge.’ The ‘Shiyi Xinjing’ from the Tang Dynasty also introduces: ‘To treat kidney deficiency and coldness, inability to move the waist and back: one set of Yangji gu, pounded and boiled until soft, eaten on an empty stomach.’ For those with kidney deficiency and damage, weakness of the waist and knees, aversion to cold, and contractive pain in the tendons and bones, it is most suitable to eat it. If it is combined with traditional Chinese medicine Xini ting, the effect is even better.

7, Zhugan. It has a neutral nature and a salty taste. Meng Xun believed that Zhugan ‘is beneficial for kidney deficiency.’ ‘Ri Huazi Bencao’ said it ‘nourishes the kidney, treats deafness.’ The ‘water organ’ actually refers to the kidney. Therefore, it is suitable for those with lumbago and back pain, spermatorrhea, night sweats, and kidney deficiency in the elderly leading to deafness and tinnitus, and it should be eaten regularly.

8, Ganbei. It has a neutral nature and a sweet and salty taste, and can tonify the kidney and nourish Yin. Therefore, those with kidney Yin deficiency should eat it regularly. Wang Mengying, a food doctor in the Qing Dynasty, believed that ‘Ganbei tonifies the kidney, similar to Danhai.’ ‘Bencao Gaojin’ also said that it could ‘nourish the true Yin,’ which actually refers to nourishing the kidney Yin.

9, Lüyu. It has a neutral nature and sweet taste, and can both tonify the spleen and stomach, and nourish the liver and kidney. ‘Shen Nong’s Materia Medica’ once recorded: ‘Lüyu, with a sweet and bland taste and a mild nature, is compatible with the spleen and stomach. The kidney governs the bones, the liver governs the tendons, and the taste belongs to Yin, which ultimately returns to the organs, benefiting the Yin of the two organs, hence it can nourish the tendons and bones.’ ‘Jiaqu Bencao’ believes that ‘Lüyu is beneficial when eaten in moderation, and it is even better when made into Zhua.’ Those with Yin deficiency in the liver and kidney or weakness of the spleen and stomach should eat it.

10, Haima. It has a warm nature and sweet taste, and can tonify the kidney and strengthen Yang. Therefore, it is suitable for those with insufficient kidney Yang, including impotence, infertility, polyuria, nocturnal emission, and emaciated asthma caused by kidney Yang deficiency, and it is very beneficial to eat it.