Chinese herbal medicine is better for regulating the body than Western medicine, especially for chronic diseases. When seeing a Chinese doctor, they will always advise us on some dietary taboos because certain foods can affect the efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine. So, what should we avoid eating when drinking Chinese herbal medicine?
Can Chinese herbal medicine be taken on an empty stomach?
Chinese herbal medicine taken on an empty stomach is mostly used for diseases with excess patterns, especially those related to stagnation, blood stasis, and water-dampness. From an anatomical perspective, it is suitable for treating diseases below the diaphragm (such as the stomach, liver, and kidneys).
Specific timing for taking the medicine includes: taking it before dawn (such as the "Crowing of a Rooster Powder"); taking it at dawn (early morning when the sky is just bright) (such as the "Ten Jujube Decoction"); taking it before meals (such as the "Three Major Qi-Boosting Decoction"), etc.
Generally, taking the medicine on an empty stomach before meals allows the medicinal liquid to directly contact the gastrointestinal mucosa in an empty stomach state, quickly passing through the stomach and entering the intestines, thereby being more absorbed and effective.
What should we avoid eating when drinking Chinese herbal medicine?
1. Spicy foods
These foods are mostly pungent and hot, with the effect of promoting yang and invigorating the stomach. If consumed excessively, it can easily produce phlegm and agitate fire, disperse qi, and consume blood. Therefore, these foods are only suitable for those with cold-pattern diseases and not suitable for those with Yin deficiency and Yang excess, as well as for those with blood disorders, warm diseases, hemorrhoids, boils, and abscesses, etc.
These foods include onions, garlic, leeks, ginger, alcohol, and chili, etc. For example, chili peppers are hot in nature. If consumed by those with symptoms of fever, constipation, short red urine, dry and thirsty mouth, dry lips, sore throat, nosebleeds, and red tongue, it will inevitably worsen the "fire" symptoms, which will counteract the effectiveness of heat-clearing, cooling blood, and nourishing Yin drugs. Therefore, patients with heat-pattern diseases should not eat chili peppers while seeing a Chinese doctor.
2. Fishy foods
These foods are mostly cold in nature and contain a large amount of protein, which can easily cause allergic reactions when combined with Chinese herbal medicine. Regular consumption can easily induce gastrointestinal diseases, so people with poor gastrointestinal function should consume them in moderation. These foods include some freshwater fish and sea fish, etc.
3. "Hot" foods
These foods all generate wind, produce phlegm, and assist fire. Due to the difference in the degree of food selection for different diseases, their "hot" properties are also different. These foods include mushrooms, truffles, bamboo shoots, mustard greens, pumpkins, rooster meat, pig's head meat, and sow meat, etc.
For patients with liver yang hyperactivity and internal liver wind, they should avoid eating rooster meat and pig's head meat; for patients with carbuncles, boils, sores, and abscesses, they should avoid eating truffles, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, rooster meat, pig's head meat, and sow meat, otherwise it will accelerate redness, swelling, and suppuration; for those with gastrointestinal diseases, they should avoid eating pumpkins because pumpkins contain sugar, and eating too much will produce more acid, which will stimulate the stomach and intestines. Based on this, it can be said that "hot" foods, to a large extent, can promote the deterioration of the disease.
The best time to drink Chinese herbal medicine!
1. Take it before meals:
Generally, take the medicine 30-60 minutes before meals. If the disease is located below the waist, the medicine should be taken before meals to facilitate downward actions. For example, for patients with liver and kidney deficiency or diseases below the waist, it is also recommended to take the medicine before meals. Treating gastrointestinal diseases should also be done before meals because in an empty stomach state, the medicinal liquid can directly contact the gastrointestinal mucosa, quickly pass through the stomach and enter the intestines, and be more absorbed and effective without being diluted by gastric contents.
2. Take it after meals:
Generally, take the medicine 15-30 minutes after meals. If the disease is located above the waist, take the medicine after meals. For example, for treating heart, lungs, diaphragm, and diseases above the stomach, taking the medicine after meals can facilitate upward actions. Medicines that have stimulating effects on the stomach and intestines should be taken after meals to reduce damage to the gastrointestinal mucosa. Medicines with greater toxicity should also be taken after meals to avoid side effects due to fast absorption.
3. Take it between meals:
Taking the medicine between meals can avoid the influence of food on the medicine. Medicines for treating spleen and stomach diseases are suitable for taking between meals.
