Are you also troubled by the fact that you have taken a lot of Chinese medicine but your condition has not improved? Could it be that you have taken the wrong medicine? So what are the taboos when taking traditional Chinese medicine?
Taboo 1: Avoid raw and cold food
Raw and cold foods are often cold in nature and are difficult to digest. Consuming raw and cold foods can also stimulate the gastrointestinal tract, affecting the absorption of the medicine by the stomach and intestines. Therefore, when treating "cold syndrome" with Chinese medicine such as warming meridians, promoting blood circulation, dispelling cold and eliminating dampness, or tonifying the spleen and warming the stomach, it is necessary to avoid raw and cold foods.
Taboo 2: Avoid spicy food
Spicy foods are often warm and hot in nature, consuming energy and causing internal heat. When taking Chinese medicine for treating heat-related diseases such as clearing heat and detoxification, nourishing yin and increasing body fluids, cooling blood and nourishing yin, or treating abscesses and ulcerations, it is necessary to avoid spicy food. Foods such as onions, garlic, pepper, lamb, and dog meat are considered spicy and hot in nature. Consuming these foods can neutralize the effects of the Chinese medicine and even promote inflammation and damage yin and blood (leading to bleeding).
Taboo 3: Avoid greasy food
Greasy foods are often sticky and greasy, promoting dampness and phlegm, causing intestinal sluggishness and gas retention, and are difficult to digest and absorb. Mixing greasy foods with medicine can further hinder the absorption of the active ingredients of the medicine by the stomach and intestines, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the treatment. During the use of Chinese medicine, patients with heavy phlegm and dampness, weak spleen and stomach, indigestion, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, hyperlipidemia, high blood viscosity, and obesity should avoid consuming animal fats and other greasy foods.
Taboo 4: Avoid strong tea
Generally, it is not advisable to drink strong tea when taking Chinese medicine because tea leaves contain tannic acid, and strong tea contains more tannic acid. Taking strong tea with Chinese medicine can affect the absorption of the active ingredients of the medicine by the body and reduce its effectiveness. Especially when taking substances like gelatin or tremella, it is important to avoid taking them with tea. Concurrent intake of tea can cause the precipitation of tannic acid and alkaloids from the tea leaves, affecting the absorption by the body. If you have a habit of drinking tea, you can reduce the amount of green tea and it is best to drink it 2-3 hours after taking the medicine.
Taboo 5: Avoid radishes
It is not advisable to eat raw radishes while taking Chinese medicine (except for medicines that promote digestion and resolve phlegm). Radishes have the effects of digestion and relieving gas. Particularly when taking tonifying Chinese medicine such as ginseng and astragalus, eating radishes can weaken the tonic effects of these medicines and reduce their efficacy.
Taboo 6: Avoid fishy or gamey food
Chinese medicine often has aromatic odors, especially aromatic medicines that resolve dampness and regulate qi. These medicines contain a large amount of volatile oils, which are essential for their therapeutic effects. These aromatic substances are least compatible with fishy or gamey odors. If you do not avoid fishy or gamey food while taking Chinese medicine, it can often affect the effectiveness of the medicine. Examples of fishy odors include fish, shrimp, and seafood, while gamey odors include beef and mutton.
Patients with allergic asthma, allergic rhinitis, ulcers, eczema, urticaria, and other allergic dermatitis must avoid fishy or gamey food while taking Chinese medicine. They should also consume less chicken, lamb, pork head meat, crab, and goose meat, which are known to be fishy, gamey, spicy, and irritating. These foods contain heterologous proteins, and some patients are particularly sensitive and prone to allergies, which can worsen their condition. Fried dough slices and other fried foods should also be avoided.
