In order to ensure the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine and maximize its therapeutic effect, there are 5 points to consider when taking Chinese medicine:
Avoid drinking strong tea while taking Chinese medicine
Tea contains tannic acid, and strong tea contains even more tannic acid. When taken together with Chinese medicine, it can affect the absorption of the active ingredients in the medicine, reducing its effectiveness.
Avoid eating radish when taking Chinese medicine
Radish has the effect of promoting digestion and relieving flatulence. Especially when taking tonifying Chinese medicine, eating radish can reduce the effectiveness of the medicine and negate its nourishing effects.
Avoid garlic if you have digestive tract diseases
For patients with digestive tract diseases such as hepatitis and chronic gastritis, it is advised to avoid garlic when taking spleen-strengthening, stomach-warming, and stomach medicine. Garlic contains allicin, which can stimulate gastrointestinal mucosa, causing congestion and reducing the effectiveness of the Chinese medicine.
Avoid eating chili peppers when taking Chinese medicine
Especially for hot diseases, it is not advisable to eat chili peppers when taking heat-clearing, cooling blood, or nourishing yin and reducing inflammation medicine. Chili peppers can reduce the efficacy of the medicine, making the treatment ineffective or less effective.
Avoid raw, cold, and greasy foods when taking Chinese medicine
Raw and cold foods stimulate the gastrointestinal tract and affect the absorption of the medicine. Greasy foods are difficult to digest and absorb, and when mixed with the medicine, they hinder the absorption of the effective ingredients by the gastrointestinal tract, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the medicine.
In addition, patients with carbuncle, skin diseases should avoid eating salty fish, shrimp, crab, lamb, beef, etc. Patients with hepatitis should avoid eating spicy and greasy foods. When taking herbal medicine with jingjie, avoid eating fish, shrimp, and crab. When taking tengdong, avoid eating carp. When taking beizhe, avoid eating mustard greens. When taking honey, avoid eating onions and tofu. When taking bai zhu, avoid eating garlic, etc.
There is a general principle for dietary restrictions when taking Chinese medicine: When taking warm or cold Chinese medicine, try to consume neutral and moderate foods. Since the nature and taste of Chinese medicine and food are opposite, they can neutralize and weaken the medicinal effect, resulting in reduced efficacy. In some cases, if the nature and taste of the medicine and food are the same, it can increase the intensity of the medicine beyond the body's tolerance, leading to adverse effects.
