Traditional Persian Medicine – Food
The act of consuming food and drinks transforms into innate heat and produces humors, which acts as our fuel and energy to function healthily. Since the body’s metabolism is ultimately responsible for creating humors, authentic Persian cuisine is deeply rooted in the understanding of the humoral medical system. By pairing and combining different ingredients, it aims to balance the humors internally.
To harness the healing properties of food and herbs, Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM) classifies them according to whether they are hot Garmi or cold Sardi, and moist or dry. This classification refers to the inherent temperament associated with the foods and the effect they have on the temperament of the individual. Garmi foods speed up the metabolism (heat up the humors), while Sardi foods slow it down (cool down the humors).