Chinese food is well-known all over the world. However, the common Chinese food eaten around the world isn’t authentic. Authentic Chinese food dishes are prepared according to traditional recipes and techniques, based on ancient ideas about how the human body operates, and they described the effect of each kind of meat, grain, herb, or vegetable on the human body.
History of Medicinal Cuisine(药膳yàoshàn)
Ancient Chinese medical books list hundreds of plants, animals, and chemical ingredients and tell their specific effects on the human body. These books give ideas about the physical principals involved in human health, and they describe how herbs or special foods help people, along with medical techniques such as moxibustion and acupuncture.
The earliest work on these various topics dates from the early HanDynastyera (206 BC-220 AD) and is called the Huangdi Neijing. The Huangdi Neijing (The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine) is more than 2,000 years old.
Though that was very long ago, it contains the basic ideas of Chinese food therapy. It classified food by four food groups, five tastes and by their natures and characteristics.
Since that time, the basic ideas about food and health have changed little.
Balance, Balance, and Balance
The basic idea is to balance the qi(气qì) , Yin(阴yīn) and Yang(阳yánɡ) , and the body fluids. This is the basic idea of Chinese traditional medicine. It is thought that a healthy body or organ has a proper balance of these things. When they are out of balance, there is disease or sickness.
The environment or physical injury disrupts the balance. For example, cold weather causes a lack of qi or high Yin in the body. So high Yang foods are eaten. In hot weather when there is naturally too much Yang, high Yin foods are eaten.
Not Only What You Eat, But How You Eat
The ancient texts described not only what to prepare for meals, but also how to eat meals. If you eat meals with mainland Chinese people, you might be surprised at their attitude and customs about eating meals that have been part of the culture for hundreds of years.
Here are principals for eating well according to Chinese traditional medicine:
• Try to avoid overly processed food. Eat naturally.
• Eat seasonal vegetables and fruits.
• Always make sure the vegetables are cooked.
• Sit down to eat at a quiet place.
• Chew the food well.
• Eat slowly.
• Pay attention to your eating, and get away from distractions*.
• Do not skip meals.
• After lunch, take a nap or rest for a while.
Chinese medicinal cuisine is attractive not only for its taste but also for the culture of it.
Key words:
药膳 yàoshàn: medicinal cuisine
气 qì :qi, the natural flow
阴 yīn : Yin
阳 yánɡ: Yang
