What should not be consumed with Atractylodes (Baizhu)?
Nov 01, 2024
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Xiuhong
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, white atractylodes (Baizhu) should not be consumed together with foods such as garlic, peaches, plums, Chinese cabbage, black carp, or sparrow meat; it should also not be taken concurrently with herbs such as coptis, aconite, rhubarb, calamus, or poria. Since white atractylodes is drying in nature and may impair yin, patients with deficiency of body fluids or kidney deficiency with internal heat are advised to avoid taking it if possible. Also, spicy foods should be avoided, as they may interfere with the effectiveness of white atractylodes.
Under normal circumstances, Bai Zhu (Atractylodes) should not be consumed together with foods such as garlic, peaches, plums, Chinese cabbage (gai lan), black carp, or quail meat; nor should it be taken concurrently with certain herbs including Huang Lian (Coptis), Fu Zi (Aconite root), Da Huang (Rhubarb), Chang Pu (Calamus), and Fu Ling (Poria. Detailed explanations are as follows:
I. Foods
1. Garlic: Garlic is pungent, warm, and aromatic, containing volatile oils that may easily interact with the volatile components in Bai Zhu, interfering with its medicinal properties and making its nature excessively dry and intense.
2. Peaches and Plums: Sweet and sour in taste, peaches and plums are classified in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as warming fruits. Since Bai Zhu is also a bitter-warm herb that dries dampness, consuming these fruits while taking Bai Zhu may increase internal heat and dryness, potentially disrupting the herb's efficacy and causing adverse effects.
3. Chinese Cabbage (Sōngcài): Chinese cabbage is cooling in nature, whereas Bai Zhu is warming. Both affect the stomach channel. Consuming them together may disrupt the body’s yin-yang balance, possibly leading to symptoms such as stomach pain and diarrhea. Therefore, it is not recommended to eat Chinese cabbage with Bai Zhu.
4. Black Carp: The active components in Bai Zhu may react negatively with niacin and unsaturated fatty acids in black carp, potentially producing toxic substances that could harm the body. Hence, Bai Zhu should not be consumed with black carp.
5. Quail Meat: Bai Zhu belongs to the "Zhu" class of herbs and contains compounds such as atractylone, atractylodin, atractylol, and P-eudesmol. These may interact adversely with certain components in quail meat, potentially causing bodily harm and reducing the therapeutic effect of Bai Zhu.
II. Medicinal Herbs
1. Huang Lian (Coptis): Huang Lian is a commonly used Chinese herb known for clearing heat, drying dampness, purging fire, and detoxifying. Bai Zhu, on the other hand, tonifies qi, strengthens the spleen, dries dampness, and promotes urination. Combining these two herbs may damage the spleen and stomach, leading to discomforts such as palpitations and edema. Therefore, combining Huang Lian with Bai Zhu is not recommended to avoid reduced efficacy or side effects.
2. Fu Zi (Aconite Root): Fu Zi is known for reinforcing fire, supporting yang, dispelling cold, and relieving pain. However, when taken with Bai Zhu, it may cause excessive internal heat (deficient fire), resulting in symptoms such as dryness, palpitations, and mouth or tongue ulcers.
3. Da Huang (Rhubarb): Da Huang clears heat, purges fire, cools the blood, detoxifies, removes blood stasis, and regulates menstruation. Although both Da Huang and Bai Zhu have cooling properties, taking them together may lead to gastrointestinal discomfort such as diarrhea and abdominal pain, which is detrimental to health.
4. Chang Pu (Calamus): Chang Pu is warm in nature and enters the heart and spleen meridians. It is used to open the orifices, refresh the mind, stimulate the appetite, and resolve dampness, commonly treating conditions like forgetfulness, insomnia, tinnitus, deafness, and dizziness. When combined with Bai Zhu, potential interactions may occur, reducing the effectiveness of either herb.
5. Fu Ling (Poria): Both Bai Zhu and Fu Ling strengthen the spleen and benefit qi. If used together, their combined effect may become too strong, potentially causing adverse reactions such as nausea and vomiting. Therefore, Bai Zhu should not be taken with Fu Ling.
Bai Zhu has a drying nature that may impair yin fluids. Patients with yin deficiency or internal heat due to kidney deficiency should avoid using Bai Zhu if possible. Additionally, spicy foods should be avoided during treatment, as they may interfere with the herb’s therapeutic effects.
