Laying the stress on the whole, selecting medicated diet on the basis of differentiation of patterns. When prescribing a medicated diet, we should first make an overall analysis of the patient’s physical and health condition, constitution, the nature of their illness, the season in which the illness arose, the geographical conditions and other pertinent factors necessary to determine the type of syndrome and TCM patterns.

Suitable for both prevention and treatment, outstanding in effects. Although medicated   diet is   something mild, it has a notable effect on the prevention and cure of diseases by building ones health and removing obstacles to cure.

Good tasting and convenient to use. Most of the decoctions of herbs are bitter and naturally, some people, especially children, cannot accept their use because of taste. Most foods that are used in dietary therapy are both edible and medicinal and retain their properties of food; thus they are generally sweet and taste good. Even if part of them is Chinese herbs, their nature and flavor are taken into consideration and can be suitable by mixing them with food and careful cooking.

We can categorize food by their nature and properties (being Yin, Yang or neutral), by their colors; by their flavor and its relationship with the organs; by their taste and corresponding to the five phases, five Zang and five tissues.

From the book Nutri – Quantology, a Clinical Guide to TCM followers