Dairy & Eggs
Cow's milk
牛奶niú nǎiNutritional Value
4 / 5
Organ Affinities
Tonifies
Therapeutic Properties
Quick Facts
AHM Properties
Cow's milk builds Qi, Blood, and Yin, moistens the Lungs and Stomach, and brings calm to the Heart spirit. Classical AHM texts regarded it as a food that supports longevity. In modern AHM practice, it is recognized as the most damp-forming food in the classical materia medica — cold by nature, sweet by flavor, and heavy and turbid by quality. Warming before drinking is essential, and stirring in warming spices such as ginger, cardamom, or cinnamon helps offset its cold and damp tendencies.
Cow's milk provides approximately 300mg of calcium per cup (about 25% of the daily value) with vitamin D for calcium absorption, making it a well-known bone-health food. It delivers about 8g of protein per cup along with vitamin B12 (over 50% DV), potassium (approximately 350mg), phosphorus (about 230mg), riboflavin (B2), and vitamin A. Its nutrient density is well established — the concern from an AHM perspective is not nutritional value but digestibility and damp-forming character.
Contraindications
Highly damp-forming — the most damp-forming food in classical AHM. Avoid in phlegm conditions, damp-heat, Spleen deficiency with damp, or lactose intolerance. Always warm before drinking.
Clinically authored and reviewed by Dr. Katrina Chojnicki-Hill, DAOM, AP, Dipl. OM. Cross-referenced against American Dragon Herbs and classical AHM sources. For educational purposes only — consult a qualified AHM practitioner for personalised advice.