Medical and food homology

                                     

The concept of "medicine and food are of the same origin" is an important idea in traditional Chinese medicine. It emphasizes that many foods are also drugs, and there is no absolute boundary between them. Ancient medical scientists applied the pharmaceutical theory of traditional Chinese medicine to food, believing that every food also has the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine. This means that our food comes mostly from plants, animals, minerals, etc. in the natural world, and many of these foods not only can be used to fill the stomach, but also have the effect of treating diseases, so they also belong to the category of medicine. In the ancient Chinese literature "Huainanzi·Xiuwu Xun", it is mentioned that "Shennong tasted the taste of hundreds of herbs, the sweetness and bitterness of water springs, and let the people know what to avoid and what to eat. At this time, he encountered seventy poisons in one day." This means that in the era of Shennong in China, medicine and food were not separated, and people needed to judge whether they could be eaten based on whether the food or drug was toxic.

In modern times, authoritative institutions and industry experts have made specific regulations on food and medicine that can be used for health food and health food banned items. These regulations help people better understand and utilize the concept of food and medicine that are of the same origin, in order to promote health and treat diseases.

In addition, common food and medicine that are of the same origin, such as wolfberry, walnut, longan, lotus seed, honey, chrysanthemum, mung bean, pearl barley, and tuckahoe, not only have rich nutritional value, but also have specific health care and therapeutic effects. For example, wolfberry can nourish yin and kidneys, improve eyesight, and benefit the essence; walnut can nourish the brain, strengthen the brain, and moisturize the intestines; longan can nourish the heart and spleen, nourish blood and calm the nerves; lotus seed can nourish the heart, benefit the kidneys, and nourish the spleen; honey has the effects of moisturizing the lungs, nourishing the stomach, detoxifying, and moisturizing the intestines.

We use ginger as an example to help you better understand this concept.

Firstly, the concept of "medicine and food are of the same origin" indicates that there is no clear distinction between many foods and medicines. They both originate from nature and have the effect of regulating the body and treating diseases. Under this concept, ginger, as a common ingredient, also has significant medicinal value.

In the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, ginger is endowed with various functions such as inducing sweating and relieving exterior syndrome, warming the middle energizer and stopping vomiting, warming the middle energizer and dispelling cold, and relieving pain. When catching a cold or a flu, making some ginger soup can play a good preventive and alleviating role. At the same time, ginger can also treat car sickness and seasickness, alleviate symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, and is known as the "holy medicine for vomiting". In addition, the gingerols and ginger oil in ginger have an excitatory effect on the respiratory and vascular motor centers of the human body, which can promote blood circulation, thereby providing more oxygen to the brain and enhancing brain vitality.

In addition to its medicinal value, ginger also has rich contributions in nutrition. It is rich in nutrients such as vitamin C, B6, minerals, and fiber, which are essential for maintaining normal physiological functions of the human body. Ginger can also promote gastrointestinal peristalsis, enhance digestive function, alleviate symptoms such as stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. In addition, the curcumin in ginger has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and other effects, which can alleviate pain and discomfort caused by inflammation such as arthritis and muscle pain.

In cooking, the pungent flavor and special aroma of ginger can add deliciousness to dishes, while its effect of strengthening the stomach and promoting appetite also makes food more appetizing and delicious. Therefore, ginger can be used as a condiment to increase flavor in daily diet, and can also be used as a medicinal material to regulate the body, fully embodying the concept of "medicine and food are of the same origin".

 However, it should be noted that ginger has the effect of contracting the uterus, so pregnant women and women during menstruation should avoid excessive consumption. In addition, although ginger has rich medicinal and nutritional value, not everyone is suitable for consumption, especially for some people with special physical conditions or suffering from certain diseases. They should rationally match their diet under the guidance of doctors or nutritionists.

Ginger, as a typical representative of the concept of "food and medicine are the same", has both rich nutritional value and significant medicinal efficacy. In daily life, we can consume ginger in moderation according to our own needs to achieve the purpose of conditioning the body and preventing diseases.

In short, the concept of "food and medicine are the same" reflects the understanding of the close relationship between food and medicine in traditional Chinese medicine, emphasizing the important role of food in treatment and health care. In daily life, we can choose appropriate food and medicine that are of the same origin according to our individual constitution and needs to condition the body and achieve the effect of health care and treatment.

However, please note that although these items have medicinal value, they should be used in moderation to avoid possible adverse effects caused by excessive intake. At the same time, if you feel unwell or need to treat a disease, please seek medical attention in a timely manner and follow the advice of your doctor.