Medicinal diet is an integral part of Chinese medicine. It is unique in preventing and treating diseases, nourishing and strengthening the body, and resisting aging and prolonging life. For thousands of years, it has contributed to the prosperity of the Chinese nation. China medicated diet is not a simple addition of food and traditional Chinese medicine, but a special food refined from medicine, food and seasoning under the guidance of dialectical diet theory of traditional Chinese medicine, which has both medicinal efficacy and delicious food, and is used to prevent and treat diseases and strengthen life.

Speaking of dietotherapy, it originated very early. Legend has it that ancestors tasted grass, opened up food sources and invented medicine, so there is a saying that medicine and food are homologous. In the past, it was said that food was the foundation of living, and medicine was the speed of saving diseases. Comparing diet with medicine, people thought that although there were many kinds of animals, plants and processed products available for eating, their five colors, five flavors, cold and heat, and the nature of reinforcing and reducing were all attributed to the five elements of yin and yang. In this sense, it was no different from the application of medicine. Therefore, doctors are also concerned about the appropriateness, taboos and modulation methods of diet, and have accumulated a lot of valuable knowledge in treating diseases with diet, which is also discussed in ancient medical books and has special works.

Dietotherapy includes two main methods. First, the food is prepared and cooked to give full play to its medical function. First, appropriate drugs are mixed. Although drugs are used, they are given in the form of food through technical treatment.