Applied Principles of Chinese Food Therapy

1) In the application of medicated diet, apart from grasping and applying the principle of "laying stress on the whole, selecting medicated diet on the basis of differential diagnosis" (for the detail, refer to section 2 of this chapter), attention should also be paid to the two points below. Click to learn Chinese herb Radix Stemonae (Baibu).

1) Right Amount and Perseverance "Moderate in eating and drinking" is an important principle of health preservation and health care in traditional Chinese medicine. "Right amount and moderation" in medicated diet therapy is necessary, too. It is no good taking too much at one time, or on the same day, or in a short period of time; don't act hastily, nor be impatient for success. It should be taken regularly, at small dosages and with perseverance according to the patient's physical condition; that is, in a way it is taken little by little without a let-up, and a lot of benefit is assured to result after a long period of time.

2) Correct Handling of the Relationship between Medicine Therapy and Dietetic Therapy  It is not necessary for those who are not ill with any disease to take medicine, but they can take medicated diet proper for health care and health preservation; it is all the more good for those who are born insufficient, or weak, or those who are old.  It is certain that those who are ill, especially those who suffer from an acute disease, or illness of difficult and complicated cases, or are critically ill, should be treated with medicine, but if the treatment by medicine is coordinated with medicated diet therapy, a better curative effect will be produced. Click to learn Chinese herb Bulbus Fritillariae (Beimu).

Medicated diet is often more suitable and resultful for recovery during the convalescence or for recuperative medical care of chronic diseases, which, of course, does not mean that they can not be treated with medicine at the same time. What is necessary to be pointed out is that medicated diet is used on a larger scale than medical treatment, but it is far from being either so adaptable or so specially good in 'effect as medical treatment. If they are used coordinately, supplementing each other, a better effect can be produced. Click to learn Chinese herb Radix Platycodi (Jiegeng).