What is Traditional Chinese Food Therapy?

By Crystal Zhao

The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) diet is based on medicinal food as a way to regulate health. It is a diet treatment. Traditional Chinese food therapy involves tailoring your own diet according to the natural properties of food. Not only is it important to eat whole, non-processed foods in moderation, but the appropriate foods must be consumed or avoided as well. Different foods have their own energetic properties and flavors. Depending on your body’s condition or constitution, foods of certain temperature or tastes should be added or eliminated from your diet. For example, people with gastrointestinal cold should avoid eating cold food, drinking ice water, but people with gastrointestinal heat should avoid eating spicy and fried foods, eat less meats, drink some ice water, and eat some cold food. During the end of a menstrual cycle, blood loss can make women feel less strength, and you can use the herbs Angelica, gojiberry, jujube and chicken to cook a soup to enrich the blood. Menopause can cause dry mouth and American ginseng and raw licorice brewed tea can be used.

It follows the principle, “treatment based on a differential ion of symptoms.” Food therapy is our best medicine at our disposal on a day-to-day basis to maintain and promote balance within our bodies.