Ancient Chinese medical traditions codified in texts including the Yellow Emperor's Classic (Huangdi Neijing, 2nd century BCE)
Yao shan (medicated diet) principles: the systematic use of food as medicine according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory. Every ingredient has properties — warming/cooling, drying/moistening, entering specific organ meridians. Cooking methods and ingredient combinations must harmonise these properties. Goji berries, jujubes, ginger, astragalus root, and many mushrooms are both food and medicine.
Varies widely — the medicinal dimension adds layers of bitterness, astringency, sweetness that go beyond culinary flavour
{"Each ingredient has thermal nature: hot, warm, neutral, cool, or cold","Five flavours (wu wei): sour (liver), bitter (heart), sweet (spleen), pungent (lungs), salty (kidneys)","Combinations must not clash energetically — opposing natures can be harmful","Cooking method transforms properties: raw ginger is warming, dried ginger is hot"}
{"Qi-tonifying foods: jujubes, astragalus, Chinese yam, longan","Blood-nourishing foods: goji berries, mulberries, black sesame","Yin-nourishing: tremella mushroom, lily bulbs, lotus seeds","Yang-tonifying: walnuts, lamb, chives, dried ginger"}
{"Treating yao shan as mere health food without understanding TCM theory","Using cold-natured foods for someone already cold-deficient","Boiling delicate medicinal herbs — some should only be steeped"}
Land of Fish and Rice — Fuchsia Dunlop