When taking Chinese herbal medicine, it is well-known that certain foods should be avoided, as they may counteract the effects of the medicine. The most commonly mentioned are the "foods that induce rashes" according to traditional Chinese medicine. However, there are also other common foods that should not be consumed together with Chinese herbal medicine.
1. Foods that induce rashes:
These foods tend to cause wind, phlegm, and fire in the body. The severity of the reaction varies depending on the individual's condition. Examples of these foods include mushrooms, truffles, bamboo shoots, mustard greens, pumpkins, chicken meat, pig's head meat, and sow's meat.
For individuals with excessive liver yang or liver wind, they should avoid consuming chicken meat and pig's head meat. For those with skin conditions such as boils or abscesses, they should avoid consuming truffles, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, chicken meat, pig's head meat, and sow's meat, as these foods may accelerate redness, swelling, and suppuration.
Individuals with gastrointestinal diseases should avoid consuming pumpkins, as they contain sugars that can stimulate the stomach and intestines. Therefore, it can be said that these "foods that induce rashes" can significantly worsen the condition.
2. Fishy foods:
These foods are often cold in nature and contain a large amount of protein, making them prone to causing allergic reactions when consumed together with Chinese herbal medicine. Regular consumption of these foods can also lead to gastrointestinal diseases. Examples of these foods include freshwater fish and sea fish.
3. Greasy foods:
These foods include animal fats and fried foods. Greasy foods can damage the spleen and stomach function, so they should be avoided by individuals with external diseases, jaundice, and diarrhea.
Fried and deep-fried foods are hard and dry, making them difficult to digest. They should be avoided by individuals with gastrointestinal diseases and those who are "heaty".
4. Spicy foods:
These foods are often spicy and hot, and they have the function of promoting yang and invigorating the stomach. However, excessive consumption can lead to phlegm and fire, as well as depletion of qi and blood. Therefore, these foods are only suitable for individuals with cold syndrome diseases and should be avoided by those with yin deficiency, excessive yang, blood disorders, warm diseases, hemorrhoids, and boils and abscesses.
Examples of these foods include onions, garlic, leeks, ginger, alcohol, and chili peppers. For instance, chili peppers are hot in nature. If consumed by individuals with symptoms such as fever, constipation, short red urine, dry mouth, dry lips, sore throat, nosebleeds, and red tongue, it will exacerbate the symptoms of "heatiness" and counteract the effects of cooling and blood-nourishing herbal medicine.
5. Sour and astringent foods:
Frequent consumption of sour and astringent foods can cause excessive stomach acid and lead to gastrointestinal diseases. Astringent foods, such as tea, can form starch with proteins and other substances in Chinese herbal medicine, affecting its efficacy.
6. Raw and cold foods:
These foods are often cold in nature and mainly function to clear heat and quench thirst, making them suitable for individuals with heat syndrome diseases. However, they can affect the function of the stomach and intestines, so they should be avoided by individuals with weak constitution and gastrointestinal diseases.
For example, white radishes are cold in nature and have the effects of promoting digestion, resolving phlegm, and regulating qi. If consumed by individuals with a weak constitution or gastrointestinal diseases, it will worsen the condition by adding coldness to the body and further impairing the function of the stomach and intestines.
In addition, when taking ginseng or other tonics together with other medicines, the antagonistic effects may reduce or eliminate the effectiveness of the tonic. Therefore, radishes should not be consumed together with ginseng.
