What should women avoid eating when they have a cold body constitution?

Generally, women with cold body constitution should avoid eating cold foods such as chilled watermelon, crab, bitter melon, mung beans, and snails. They should also avoid taking certain medications on their own, including Niuhuang Jiedu Pian (Calculus Bovis Detoxifying Tablets), Huanglian Shangqing Pian (Coptis and Scutellaria Tablets), Banlangen Granules, Zhizi Jin Hua Wan (Gardenia and Coptis Pills), and Yiqing Capsules. The detailed explanations are as follows:

I. Foods

1. Chilled Watermelon

Chilled watermelon has an extremely low temperature and is naturally cool in nature. Women with cold body constitution who consume it may experience increased accumulation of cold in the body, which can irritate the stomach, spleen, and uterus, potentially causing abdominal pain, diarrhea, menstrual discomfort, or dysmenorrhea. This is detrimental to the recovery of yang energy in the body.

2. Crab

Crab is a cold-natured food. Women with cold body constitution who consume it may suffer damage to the yang energy of the spleen and stomach, affecting their digestive function and causing symptoms such as abdominal distension and cold intolerance. Additionally, coldness may attack the uterus, worsening symptoms of cold uterus, and adversely affecting the menstrual cycle and flow.

3. Bitter Melon

Bitter melon is cold in nature and has a heat-clearing and fire-purging effect. Women with cold body constitution already have insufficient yang energy. Consuming bitter melon further depletes yang energy, worsening symptoms such as cold hands and feet and cold intolerance. It may also affect blood and qi circulation and reduce the body's immunity.

4. Mung Beans

Mung beans are cool in nature and have the effect of clearing heat and relieving summerheat. However, for women with cold body constitution, consuming mung beans can worsen internal coldness, interfere with the normal function of the spleen and stomach, and potentially cause indigestion and loose stools. Consuming them during menstruation may also affect the discharge of menstrual blood.

5. Snails

Snails are cold in nature. Women with cold body constitution who consume them may accumulate more cold in their bodies, worsening symptoms such as cold intolerance and cold hands and feet. They may also experience gastrointestinal irritation, including nausea and vomiting, which is detrimental to overall health.

II. Medications

1. Niuhuang Jiedu Pian (Calculus Bovis Detoxifying Tablets)

This is a heat-clearing and fire-purging medication containing ingredients such as Calculus Bovis and Realgar. It is primarily used to treat symptoms caused by excessive internal heat. Women with cold body constitution who take this medication may suffer further depletion of yang energy in the body, worsening cold symptoms, and possibly leading to increased diarrhea, abdominal pain, and cold intolerance.

2. Huanglian Shangqing Pian (Coptis and Scutellaria Tablets)

Composed of cold-natured herbs such as Coptis and Scutellaria, this medication clears heat, relieves constipation, disperses wind, and alleviates pain. Women with cold body constitution who take it may experience disruption of the body's yin-yang balance and depletion of yang energy, triggering or worsening symptoms such as cold hands and feet and loose stools.

3. Banlangen Granules

The main ingredient, Isatis root, is cold in nature and has heat-clearing and detoxifying effects. Women with cold body constitution who take this medication without clear symptoms of heat toxicity may experience increased internal coldness, potentially causing symptoms of spleen and stomach cold deficiency, such as loss of appetite and abdominal distension.

4. Zhizi Jin Hua Wan (Gardenia and Coptis Pills)

This medication contains cold-natured ingredients such as Gardenia and Coptis, which clear heat, purge fire, cool blood, and detoxify. Women with cold body constitution who take it may experience further depletion of yang energy, worsening cold symptoms, and possibly experiencing fatigue and cold intolerance.

5. Yiqing Capsules

Composed of ingredients such as Rhubarb and Scutellaria, this medication is cold in nature and functions to clear heat, purge fire, and detoxify. Women with cold body constitution who take it may experience damage to the yang energy of the spleen and stomach, increased internal coldness, and possible symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, and cold intolerance, which are not conducive to physical regulation.

In daily life, it is important to stay warm, consume more warm-natured foods such as ginger and red dates, and avoid prolonged exposure to cold environments. If medication is required, always consult a doctor and follow their guidance to choose appropriate medications, avoiding self-medication that may worsen cold body constitution.