Maimonides and Chinese Medicine: The Surprising Healing Power of Green Vegetables

Those who study health articles — especially the writings of the Rambam (Maimonides), discover many fascinating parallels between the teachings of the greatest physician of all time and the principles of ancient Chinese medicine.

For example, the Rambam advises consuming cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts (steamed) at least twice a week. He explains that eating green vegetables provides exceptional support for liver and kidney health.

Ancient Chinese medicine agrees. According to an original article written by Chinese researchers and translated into English, “A diet rich in leafy greens supports healthy kidney function.”

The Kidneys Need Quality Fuel

As we know, the kidneys require proper nutrients to perform their vital job of filtering waste and toxins from the blood. One of the best ways to strengthen kidney function is through proper nutrition, which includes vegetables such as parsley, cilantro, spinach, broccoli, celery, dill and more

Because these foods are packed with minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants, sprouts — including sunflower sprouts, broccoli sprouts, alfalfa, and fenugreek, are also excellent for supporting kidney and liver health, according to both ancient Chinese medicine and modern nutritional science.

The Fine Print: When Green Isn’t Always Good

It is important to note that despite being “green,” spinach and beet greens are not recommended for individuals prone to kidney stones due to their oxalate content.

Oxalate is a type of acid that, when it combines with other substances, forms a soluble salt that can lead to kidney stone formation. Surprisingly, oxalate accounts for over 80% of kidney stone cases, which is 20 times more than calcium, even though high urinary calcium can also cause stones.

Leafy vegetables such as parsley, spinach, cilantro, celery, and others are rich in oxalate, which means even healthy greens should be eaten in moderation by those who are prone to stones.

According to the Rambam, drinking tea made from sage leaves or basil leaves is excellent for this purpose.