Abstract
Objectives : The purpose of this research was to examine dietary therapy on the edema based on the literary findings, for clinical treatment and prevention of the edema. Methods : This Research was examined on histories, compositions, applications, and effects of dietetic treatment about 100 cases of dietary therapy of the edema from Chinese literatures. Results : 1. Various vegetables and animals including herbs, grains, vegetables, fruits, food and drink were used for the dietary therapy. 2. Methods of the preparation for use as therapeutics were decoction, pulvis, gruel, cake, tea, paste, gelatin and etc. 3. Frequently used materials were Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, Cucumis sativus L. Coix lachrymajobi var. mayuen, Zea mays, Maydis Stigma, Citrullus vulgaris, Zingiber officinale, Cinnamomum cassia Blume, Allium scorodorpasum var. viviparum Regel, Camellia sinensis, Armeniacae amarum Semen, Phyllostachys bambusoides, Luffa cylindrica, Dioscorea batatas Decne, Panax ginseng, Brassica oleracea and Raphanus sativus. Conclusion : Though dietary therapy for the edema is not based on clinical or experimental data, but through experience. It is mostly based on Yin-Yang and five elements, visceral manifestation, channels and their collateral channels and Oriental herbal medicine theories. If we use them properly according to oriental medicine method, it will be effective on treating and preventing the edema.
