Chapter Two Dietetic Chinese Drugs
英文 - CHINESE MEDICATED DIET
Dietetic Chinese drugs refer to Chinese medicinal edibles having the functions of
nourishing the human body and keeping fit as well as preventing and curing diseases. They are
characterized by the dual nature of medicine and food.
　　When looking for food, the ancient Chinese people discovered that some kinds of food were
edible and could be taken both as medicine and as food because they not only could allay their
hunger but also were very useful for health care and treatment of diseases. It is stated in Treatise
on the Relationship between the Viscera and the Four Seasons, a chapter of Plain Questions, that
“The five cereals are used for nutrition; the five fruits, for auxiliary; the flesh of the five kinds of
livestock, for invigoration; the five vegetables, for replenishment and nutrition. One’s vital
essence can be replenished and invigorated if they are taken in appropriate combination
according to their nature and flavor.” Sun Simiao, the medicine master, said in his Prescriptions
Worth a Thousand Gold for Emergencies: “If an illness is to be treated, treat it with Dietotherapy
first, then with drugs if it is not cured.” It is thus clear that in health care and preservation it is
better to eat invigorating food than to take tonic.
　　Among the main dietetic Chinese drugs are cereals, fruits, vegetables, poultry, aquatic
product and so on, which can be eaten in many ways and are easy to be absorbed, so they are
ideal for the prevention of diseases, health care and prolongation of life.