Chinese Medicine Gem

According to Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, a person’s constitution may be related with genetic, living environment, diet and living habits etc.

Different constitutions may present differently in physiology, pathology and psychology.

The most important thing for the preparation and consumption of Chinese medicated diet is to give different recipe according to different constitutions.

Normally adults can be divided into different constitutions according to physical condition. Therefore, they can choose the right Chinese medicated diet according to their physical characteristics.

In this way, proper Chinese medicated diet can play an important role in good health by adjusting the constitution, as well as preventing and treating illness.

Chinese medicated diet according to syndrome differentiation and holistic philosophy

In the application of Chinese medicated diet, first of all we need to take constitution, health condition, seasons and geographical environment into account.

After the basic pattern is determined, we can design the appropriate Chinese medicated diet recipe according to the therapeutic principles.

Diet therapy in Traditional Chinese medicine should pay attention to the nature and flavor of herbal medicines.

• In general, those medicinal and edible material of warm and heat nature, such as ginger, green onions, red dates, walnuts, lamb, cumin, etc., can work to warm interior, dispel cold and assist Yang. This kind of Chinese medicated diet is suitable in treatment of cold syndrome and Yin syndrome.
• Those medicinal and edible material of cool and cold nature, such as mung bean, lotus root, watermelon, pear, water chestnuts, parslane herb, chrysanthemum etc., can clear heat-fire, cool blood, and remove toxic substance. This kind of Chinese medicated diet is suitable in treatment of heat syndrome and Yang syndrome.

In terms of the five flavors in Chinese medicated diet

• The sour medicinal and edible herbs, such as ebony and pomegranate etc., have the ability of convergence and astringency;
• The bitter medicinal and edible herbs, such as bitter melon and almonds, can clear heat-fire and dry dampness;
• The sweet medicinal and edible herbs, such as large dates, honey, caramel, can work on nourishment, conciliation, relieving the acute symptoms and stopping the pain;
• The pungent medicinal and edible herbs, such as ginger and green onions, can work to disperse the internal heat, and to activate Qi;
• The salty medicinal and edible herbs, such as seaweed and kelp etc., can work to soften and resolve hard mass;
• The tasteless medicinal and edible herbs, such as Poria and Coix seed etc., can eliminate dampness and diuresis.

And the above-mentioned relation between Chinese medicated diet and constitutions is just one basic principle about Chinese medicated diet.

As for other basic principles, I will talk about them in another article of How to Prepare Diet Food with Medicinal Herbs.