Traditional Chinese medicine followed the concept of having a interconnected approach of treating medical conditions – through medicine and a carefully curated diet. This ancient wisdom, passed on through generations, is now helping shape the way we deal with diseases and address them with a collaborative approach to medicines and food. The concept – known as medicine-food homology – is not being explored to create a personalised approach to nutrition and healthcare.
A recent study stated that the food we eat can have therapeutic effects on the body – nourishing our health as well as keeping diseases at bay. This approach stands against the Western medicine approach where food and medicine are treated as completely separate domains. With the rise of chronic diseases worldwide, the concept of treating medicine and food as an interconnected approach is picking up momentum.
ALSO READ: Fasting-mimicking diet's potential in cancer treatment: Study explains The study also explains the way there is an essential shift needed from medicinal supplements to conscious food therapy. Instead of taking pills for every medical condition, we can curate our food plate to include important nutrients to ward off diseases and maintain overall wellbeing. ALSO READ: Ancient Wisdom Part 19: Weight loss to boosting heart health; many benefits of honey Factors to be considered in medicine-food homology: The paper also points out the factors that should be kept in mind while designing a collabo.