Dietary Herbalism – A Modern Family Dietary Guide

Author: An Ding
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: This book takes the perspective of ordinary family life, analyzing the nutritional and health benefits of various food ingredients through the lenses of traditional Chinese medicine theory and modern nutrition science. It combines dietary culture and knowledge of plants and animals, employing a clear and vivid writing style. Practical guidance is provided in application, enabling the general public to gain knowledge and methods through enjoyable reading. The goal is to integrate daily diet with health preservation and recovery, achieving disease prevention and treatment.
As we all know, traditional Chinese medicine has long emphasized that "food is better than medicine." Over the centuries, more than 300 food therapy books have been passed down. In traditional Chinese culture, the theory of "food and medicine originate from the same source" (also known as "medicine and food originate from the same source") has a long history. The legend of Shennong in ancient times reflects the exploration of the Chinese ancestors in discovering the functions of food and medicine.
The theory of "food and medicine originate from the same source" holds that many foods are also medicinal and can prevent and treat diseases, just like medicines. Additionally, in the broad scope of traditional Chinese medicine, everything from plants and animals to minerals falls under this category, making it a vast concept. Anything classified as traditional Chinese medicine can also be consumed, though the dosage must be carefully controlled. Therefore, strictly speaking, in traditional Chinese medicine, there is no distinction between medicine and food—they are relative terms. Medicine is also food, and food is also medicine. Food has fewer side effects, while medicine has more, which is another meaning of "food and medicine originate from the same source."
In the book Diet and Water Affairs, the editor has also collected some simple home remedies, nourishing food recipes, and medicinal diet recipes that are convenient for daily use. These methods are mostly selected from traditional medical classics. While efforts have been made to avoid including unscientific or even absurdly outlandish claims, there may still be uncertainties, especially with some home remedies for treating diseases. Readers who wish to use these methods in practice are best advised to consult a physician.