What Should Not Be Eaten When Taking Traditional Chinese Medicine
Disease description:
My friend has recently been feeling unwell and has been lacking energy every day. She visited a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, who diagnosed her condition and prescribed some herbal medicine. However, the doctor advised her to avoid certain foods. I would like to ask, what foods should be avoided when taking Chinese herbal medicine? Are there any dietary restrictions?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. He Haochen
During the period of taking traditional Chinese medicine, to ensure the effectiveness of the medication and avoid adverse reactions, patients should follow certain dietary restrictions.
1. Consumption of raw, cold, and spicy foods should be avoided. Spicy foods such as scallions, ginger, garlic, and chili peppers may easily generate phlegm and heat due to their pungent and hot nature, and should therefore be avoided as much as possible. Raw and cold foods, such as ice cream, cold beverages, and iced water, may cause deficiency-cold in the spleen and stomach, thus affecting the efficacy of the medication.
2. Some traditional Chinese medicines are incompatible with certain foods. For example, iron-containing herbal medicines should not be taken with tea, as this may interfere with iron absorption. Acid-containing herbal medicines should not be consumed with seafood to prevent the formation of harmful substances.
3. Consumption of fishy and allergenic foods such as fish, shrimp, and crabs should be minimized, as these seafood items contain foreign proteins that may trigger allergic reactions; extra caution is advised.
4. Strong tea and raw radish should also be avoided, as the tannic acid in tea may reduce the effectiveness of the medication, while the raw radish's digestive and qi-dispersing effects may interfere with the absorption of qi-tonifying herbs.
A proper diet combined with traditional Chinese medicine treatment can help improve therapeutic outcomes and promote recovery. Specific dietary adjustments should be made according to individual constitution and medical condition, under the guidance of a physician.
