What
is the concept of Chinese medicinal diet and the TCM
context of food and medicine ?
A
Chinese medicinal diet is not a simple combination
of food and herbs, but a specially prepared
dish made from Chinese herbs, food and condiments
according to the theoretical guidelines of diet
preparation. Such a diet is in response to the
different symptoms of a disease and its diagnosis
according to TCM, and used to prevent and treat
diseases, improve fitness, and/or slow down
the aging process.
One of the unique
concepts of TCM is that food and medicine
come from the same source, they are based
on the same theories, and have the same uses.
TCM further states that good, free-flowing
qi (vital energy) needs to flow within our
body and if that qi is corrupted, we become
ill. The flow of qi needs to be vigorous to
maintain good health; and it can be improved
and maintained by changing what we eat.
|
|
Chinese herbs are
often incorporated into soups for health benefits. |
 |
Although
Chinese doctors study for years before
prescribing herbal remedies, anyone can
take the basic premises of Chinese medicine
and apply it to daily life. In fact, there
is a long tradition of using herbs at
home which are added to salads. More often,
these are cooked as fresh soups which
are rich in vitamins and minerals.
The
characteristics of using Chinese functional
foods for health and healing are:
|
| 01. |
Synergy
of food and medicine |
| |
Medicine
and food function as supplements and complement
each other. Functional food is rendered
with medicinal properties, and the effects
of medicine become stronger with the combination
of food. |
|
|
| 02. |
Applied
by differentiation of symptoms and signs |
| |
TCM
diagnosis and therapy are based on differentiating
symptoms and signs, and this is incorporated
into the selection of functional foods.
Specific groups of signs and symptoms
indicate specific treatment protocols.
For example in spleen deficiency which
is diagnosed by low spirits, weakness
of limb, loss of appetite and abdominal
distension - functional foods like Chinese
date, ginger, Chinese yam and ginseng
are added in order to invigorate functioning
of the spleen. |
|
|
| 03. |
Unique
cooking techniques and procedures |
| |
In
order to ensure the desired result of
a medicinal diet, herbs and foods should
be specially processed such as cutting
it into pieces, parching or grinding.
Besides, cooking techniques are considered
for retaining the effective constituents
of food and bringing to bear its full
effects on treatment and health care.
Proper techniques also help to preserve
the original juice and flavor of the ingredients
so that it results in attractive colours,
aroma, flavor and texture, thus arousing
the appetite. Usual cooking methods are
steaming, stewing, boiling or making soup
while those of deep-fry or roasting are
rarely used. |
|
|
| 04. |
For
enhancement and treatment |
| |
Chinese
functional foods are a milder course of
treatment and can be used either to treat
disease, or to help healthy people build
stamina and prevent disease. This is one
of the characteristics in which medicinal
diet is different from drugs. |
|
|
|
