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HKBU database promotes health through Chinese medicine diet
30 Dec 2025
With a view to strengthening the role of Chinese medicine in supporting daily health through diet, HKBU has launched a free online Chinese Medicine Diet and Health Images Database to the public, featuring 124 recipes based on traditional Chinese medicine principles.
Pioneering this wellness initiative is the team led by Professor Chen Hubiao from HKBU’s School of Chinese Medicine, working in collaboration with the University Library. The philosophy of traditional Chinese medicine is heavily influenced by the notion of “prevention is better than cure”. Promoting the consumption of foods that preempt illness, the platform includes recipes that cater to the dietary habits and the climate of southern China. These include herbal teas and slow-cooked soups, which are commonly used to counteract heat and humidity.
Ensuring ease of use, safety and accuracy
The database is organised into six categories, namely food crops, flowers and fruits, tea and drinks, health-preserving soups, medicinal foods, and vegetarian dishes. Users can search by ingredients, health benefits, or cooking methods. Available in English, traditional Chinese, and simplified Chinese, the platform is linked to the University’s existing Chinese medicine databases, allowing users worldwide to explore the culinary wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine, and leverage this knowledge for self-use as well as teaching and learning purposes.
HKBU’s Chinese medicine databases have garnered considerable attention by people from different parts of the world, reflecting a growing fascination with traditional healing practices and their relevance in the contemporary healthcare landscape. Over the past two years, five HKBU databases - including the Medicinal Plant Images Database and the Chinese Medicine Formulae Images Database – have recorded more than 36 million views in over 200 countries and regions.
A “change driver” for Chinese medicine going global
With the support from the University, Professor Chen and his team spent three years studying the compatibility between different foods and herbs, guided by the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, to ensure each recipe is safe, accurate and clear for public use. Looking ahead, the team will expand the collection to 200 recipes.
Together with The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong which came into operation in phases recently, HKBU is set to play a pivotal role in helping Chinese medicine go global and letting more users benefit from its rich therapeutic traditions and holistic approaches.