Koo L C
Soc Sci Med. 1984;18(9):757-66. doi: 10.1016/0277-9536(84)90102-3.
Interviews of 50 Chinese families in Hong Kong in 1981 indicated that the proper selection, timing and preparation of food was the most salient lay method of dealing with the prevention and treatment of some 59 common symptoms and illnesses. The food prescriptions and proscriptions were based on the traditional concept of maintaining body homeostasis through avoidance of: (1) excess 'hot'/'cold' or 'wet'/'dry' qualities of body energy; (2) disturbance of energy flow; or (3) inadequate energy levels. Various health problems were classified as being due to imbalances of these energy states. Excess 'hot'/'cold' or 'wet'/'dry' ailments were dealt with by increased consumption of foods of the opposite character; those due to disturbance of the normal flow of energy was avoided by the reduced intake of 'irritating' or 'poisonous' foods; and various tonics were believed to raise the amount of energy flow in the body. A rich knowledge of complex dietary rules was found to be prevalent among the lay public because the traditional rules filled explanatory and behavioural niches left open in Western medicine. Dietary manipulation was used to complement Western medicine in the multiple stages of the disease process by playing a predominant role at the beginning and end of the period of pathogenesis.
1981年对香港50个中国家庭进行的访谈表明，正确选择食物、把握进食时机和做好食物准备，是应对约59种常见症状和疾病的预防与治疗的最显著的民间方法。食物的宜忌基于传统观念，即通过避免以下情况来维持身体的内稳态：（1）身体能量中过度的“热”/“寒”或“湿”/“燥”特质；（2）能量流动紊乱；或（3）能量水平不足。各种健康问题被归类为这些能量状态失衡所致。对于过度的“热”/“寒”或“湿”/“燥”疾病，可通过增加食用相反特质的食物来应对；对于因正常能量流动紊乱引起的疾病，可通过减少摄入“刺激性”或“有毒”食物来避免；人们认为各种滋补品能增加体内的能量流动。研究发现，丰富的复杂饮食规则知识在普通民众中很普遍，因为传统规则填补了西医中未涉及的解释和行为空白。在疾病过程的多个阶段，饮食调理被用于补充西医，在发病期开始和结束时发挥主要作用。
