Taste | Energy | Indications |
aromatic | warm the surface & cool the interior; bring blood to the mucous membranes; mildly antibiotic, antifungal; dispel gas in digestive tract; relax sphincter of oddi; warm & tone digestive, upper respiratory & urinary tracts; lower fevers & smooth chi flow | fever, indigestion, stomachache, colds |
astringent | warms & tightens; usually associated with tannins; water-soluble; antiviral, antibacterial | tighten the gums, check diarrhea, contract tissues (mucous membranes) that are too loose |
bitter | cooling, stimulating to bile & other digestive secretions; small amounts are tonic & activating to the yin; large amounts are debilitating & contracting | strengthen digestion, open & cool the liver, stimulate bile for better fat digestion, improve nutrition of body in deficiency diseases (use with sweet) |
bland | demulcent or mucilaginous; moisturizing to the tissues, mild-tasting | urinary, respiratory or bowel infections; inflammation; immune system disorders |
salty | moisturizing or drying to tissues, depending on amount; strongly affects moisture balance of body; action on nervous system & glands; warming, stimulating & promotes yang | dryness in the body. poor or weakened nerve function; deficient yang |
sour | deeply cooling, refreshing, cleansing, clearing, astringent & detoxifying; cleanses liver; affects electrolyte balance of body (alkaline/acid balance) | liver stagnation, as a detoxicant for cleansing programs, generally cools & drains |
spicy(pungent) | warming, stimulating; taken when stagnancy, lack of blood flow to areas of body due to coldness or excess stress stimulating sympathetic nervous system | colds, flu, poor digestion, poor circulation, fear of the cold, deficiency, sluggish organs |
sweet | taken during the winter to warm & nourish the body; support nourishment of immune & hormonal system; helpful for body's generation of energy, warmth, motion & thinking capacity | degenerative diseases, weakened yin (adrenal weakness), to support nutrition of the body, beneficial effect on hormones, nerves & muscles |
acrid | warming & stimulating; taken when there is stagnancy, lack of blood flow to specific areas of the body & when there is excess stress stimulating the sympathetic nervous system | colds, flu, poor digestion, poor circulation, fear of the cold, deficiency, sluggish organs |