"Dietary restrictions" refer to the dietary taboos during the treatment of diseases, which is a characteristic of traditional Chinese medicine and has always been highly valued by medical professionals. Practical experience has proven that there is a certain rationale behind dietary restrictions. This is because the various types of food we eat in our daily lives have their own properties, which can have certain effects on the occurrence, development, and therapeutic effects of diseases and medications.
When taking medication, it is not advisable to consume certain foods in order to avoid reducing the efficacy or worsening the condition. When taking Chinese herbal medicine to clear internal heat, it is not advisable to consume hot foods such as onions, garlic, peppers, lamb, and dog meat. When treating "cold syndrome" with Chinese herbal medicine, it is advisable to avoid consuming raw and cold foods. If these contraindicated foods are consumed while taking these medications, the therapeutic effects may be less than ideal or even have the opposite effect.
It is not advisable to drink strong tea when taking Chinese herbal medicine because tea contains tannic acid, and strong tea contains more tannic acid, which can affect the absorption of the effective components of the Chinese herbal medicine in the body, thus reducing the therapeutic effects. Other beverages such as coffee, cola, and Sprite are also not recommended; it is best to drink plain water.
During a cold or when a child has not fully recovered from a rash, it is not advisable to consume raw, cold, sour, astringent, or greasy foods. When treating chest tightness and abdominal distention caused by qi stagnation, it is not advisable to consume legumes and sweet potatoes, as these foods can easily cause bloating. Other examples include patients with edema who should consume less salt, and patients with hepatitis who should avoid spicy and greasy foods. Patients with asthma or allergic dermatitis should consume less chicken, lamb, pig's head meat, fish, shrimp, and crab, as during asthma attacks, high-protein foods such as eggs, milk, fish, and shrimp can worsen the condition. In addition, due to the nature of the disease, regardless of the medication, any food that is raw, cold, greasy, or has a strong odor and is difficult to digest or has special irritants should be avoided.
