Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a treasure of our country's traditional medicine and continues to play a very important role. Chinese herbal medicine, as a fundamental treatment method of TCM, has a role in regulating and nourishing the body. Therefore, when we are sick or need to nourish our body, we must understand the taboos and follow the rules of taking Chinese herbal medicine in order to maximize its effectiveness. The main taboos when taking Chinese herbal medicine are as follows:
1. Avoid sour and astringent foods
Excessive acidity can irritate the stomach and intestines, so it is forbidden for people with excessive stomach acid or gastrointestinal ulcers. Astringent foods mostly contain tannins. For example, tea leaves contain tannins, and stronger tea contains higher levels of tannins. When taken together with Chinese herbs, it can form precipitates with certain proteins, alkaloids, and heavy metal salts in the herbs, which can affect the absorption of the active ingredients of the medicine and also impact the absorption of proteins and other nutrients. Therefore, it is generally not recommended to take strong tea with Chinese herbs. Tea leaves contain tannic acid, and stronger tea contains more tannic acid, which can affect the absorption of active ingredients in Chinese herbs and reduce their effectiveness.
2. Avoid spicy foods
Spicy foods should also be avoided for those who are taking Chinese herbal medicine, as they can weaken the effectiveness of the medicine or even cause adverse reactions that seriously harm the body. Traditional Chinese medicine in China points out that spicy foods are mostly warm and can consume Qi and generate heat. Therefore, when taking Chinese herbs for clearing heat, detoxification, nourishing Yin and increasing body fluids, cooling blood and nourishing Yin, it is best to avoid these foods. During the treatment of abscesses and ulcers, spicy foods should also be avoided. Those with symptoms of bitterness and dryness in the mouth, restlessness and heat, constipation, high blood pressure, fatigue and restlessness, and rapid heartbeat, as well as those with hyperthyroidism, should generally avoid high-fat, pungent, and spicy foods such as ginger, garlic, leeks, scallions, mutton, dog meat, and pepper.
3. Avoid raw, cold, and greasy foods
Raw and cold foods can stimulate the stomach and intestines, affecting the absorption of drugs by the gastrointestinal tract. Greasy foods are difficult to digest and absorb, and when mixed with drugs, they can hinder the absorption of the active ingredients of the drugs by the gastrointestinal tract, thereby reducing their effectiveness. In addition, those with carbuncles, skin diseases, should avoid eating salty fish, shrimp, crab, lamb, beef, etc.; patients with hepatitis should avoid eating spicy and greasy foods; when taking herbs such as Chinese fevervine, fish, shrimp, and crab should be avoided; when taking honeysuckle, carp should be avoided; when taking turtle shell, mustard greens should be avoided; when taking honey, onions and tofu should be avoided; when taking white atractylodes, garlic should be avoided.
4. Avoid fishy foods
These types of foods are mostly salty and cold, and contain heterologous proteins, which can easily cause allergic reactions. Eating them excessively can damage the spleen and stomach and induce diseases. Therefore, people with spleen and stomach problems should not eat them, especially those with allergies. Examples of these foods include yellow croaker, carp, hairtail, clam meat, shrimp, and crabs. Among them, carp, sardines, catfish, yellow croaker, crabs, and mud snails are the most likely to cause allergies. Fishy foods are also considered "heating" foods.
5. Avoid "heating" foods
These foods all have the characteristics of generating wind, producing phlegm, and assisting fire. Due to the different degrees of food selection for different diseases, their "heating" effects are also different. Examples of these foods include mushrooms, truffles, bamboo shoots, mustard greens, pumpkin, rooster meat, pig's head meat, and sow's meat. For example, patients with hyperactivity of liver yang and liver wind should avoid eating rooster meat and pig's head meat; patients with carbuncles, boils, sores, and abscesses should avoid eating truffles, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, rooster meat, pig's head meat, and sow's meat, as it can accelerate redness, swelling, and suppuration; those with gastrointestinal diseases should avoid eating pumpkin because it contains sugar, excessive consumption can produce more acid, which can stimulate the stomach and intestines. Therefore, "heating" foods can be said to promote the deterioration of diseases to a large extent.
6. Avoid radishes
When taking Chinese herbal medicine, it is not advisable to eat raw radishes (except for medicines that disperse Qi and resolve phlegm), as radishes have the effects of promoting digestion and dispelling gas. Especially when taking nourishing herbs such as ginseng and astragalus, eating radishes can weaken the nourishing effects of these herbs and reduce their efficacy.
There is a general principle for avoiding certain foods when taking Chinese herbal medicine: when taking warm or cool herbs, it is best to consume neutral and balanced foods, as the nature and taste of Chinese herbs are opposite to food. This can neutralize and weaken the medicinal effects, resulting in reduced therapeutic efficacy. In some cases, when the nature and taste of the herb and food are the same, the herbal medicine can have a stronger effect on the body, exceeding the body's tolerance and having a counterproductive effect.
