Using traditional Chinese medicine is not as simple as putting some herbs together, because some herbs may have a decreased therapeutic effect or increased side effects when combined.
Previous generations have spent many years exploring and summarizing many contraindications for drug use, which are very important for physicians. It would also be valuable for patients to have some understanding of this. When you are preparing your meals, having knowledge in this area will prevent any problems. Otherwise, if you mistakenly combine incompatible drugs, it may increase side effects or produce new adverse effects.
(1) Contraindications for treating diseases
In general, if a medication is not suitable for the disease, its therapeutic effect may not meet the needs of the condition, which can worsen the condition. For example, patients with spontaneous sweating due to deficiency should avoid using sweating drugs to prevent increased sweating; patients with coldness in their body should avoid using cold-clearing drugs that can damage Yang; patients with spleen deficiency should avoid using purgative drugs to prevent damage to the spleen and stomach.
(2) Incompatibilities
The incompatibilities of Chinese herbal medicine are summarized as the "Eighteen Incompatibilities" and the "Nineteen Contradictions". The Eighteen Incompatibilities are: licorice with croton, rhubarb, genkwa, and seaweed; aconite with fritillaria, trichosanthes, pinellia, white belamcanda, and bletilla; indigo with ginseng, sandalwood, salvia, scrophularia, cnidium, asarum, peony, and white peony. The Nineteen Contradictions are: sulfur with mirabilite, mercury with arsenic, aconite with aconite, croton with croton, clove with turmeric, sichuan lovage rhizome and black bryony with rhinoceros horn, sal ammoniac with croton, cinnamon twig with cinnabar, and ginseng with musk.
(3) Contraindications during pregnancy
These are drugs that are contraindicated for use by women during pregnancy. Generally, strong purgatives such as croton, rhubarb, fritillaria, and genkwa; highly toxic drugs such as strychnine and mercury; strongly aromatic drugs such as musk; and strong blood-breaking and gas-breaking drugs such as croton and bupleurum should be avoided. Drugs to be used with caution include blood-activating and stasis-removing drugs such as peach kernel and safflower; cold purgatives such as rhubarb; and drugs with strong pungency and heat, such as aconite, aconitum, cinnamon twig, and dried ginger.
(4) Dietary restrictions during drug use
There are many dietary restrictions when taking Chinese medicine, which are called "taboos" by the public. For example, avoid eating raw and cold foods, greasy foods (such as meat and dairy products), and spicy foods (such as onions, garlic, chili, and alcohol).
Ancient literature also states that certain foods should not be consumed while taking certain herbs. For example, avoid eating onions, garlic, and radishes when taking Rehmannia and Polygonum; avoid vinegar when taking Poria; avoid tea when taking smilax; avoid raw onions when taking honey. These records should be treated cautiously and deserve further study.
Although there are many contraindications for the use of Chinese medicine, most of them are within the scope of the physician's knowledge. Over-the-counter drugs, abbreviated as OTC, are used for symptoms that consumers can recognize and treat themselves or with the help of reading drug labels or consulting pharmacists. Prescription drugs are used to treat diseases diagnosed by diagnostic methods and are prescribed by physicians. They are used for diseases with strong specialization and severe conditions that require guidance from medical personnel. After the implementation of drug classification management by the state, the Office of Non-Prescription Drugs was established, and the principles of non-prescription drugs were determined, namely, safe use, definite efficacy, stable quality, and convenience of use. Therefore, there is no need to worry too much.
