Why can't you eat eggs when taking Chinese herbal medicine?
May 21, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. He Haochen
Introduction
Avoid eating eggs when taking traditional Chinese medicine, as it may reduce the medication's effectiveness, trigger rashes, or increase liver burden. The specific reasons are as follows:
Some traditional Chinese medicines have warm or hot properties, such as ginseng and deer antler, while eggs have cool or cold properties. Consuming both together may cause interactions that reduce the therapeutic effects of the medicine and impair treatment outcomes.
Avoiding eggs while taking traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) may be due to reasons such as reduced drug efficacy, triggering rashes, and increased liver burden. The specific analysis is as follows:
1. Reduced drug efficacy
Some TCMs have warming properties, such as ginseng and deer antler, whereas eggs are considered to have a cooling nature. Consuming both together may cause interactions that reduce the effectiveness of the TCM, thereby affecting treatment outcomes.
2. Triggering rashes
Eggs are a common allergen. Patients with rashes may experience allergic reactions after consuming eggs, such as skin itching or difficulty breathing. Taking TCM simultaneously might exacerbate these symptoms.
3. Increased liver burden
Eggs contain large amounts of protein, while certain components in TCM must be metabolized by the liver. Consuming eggs at the same time may increase the liver's workload and potentially lead to liver damage.
In addition to the above reasons, concurrent consumption may also affect digestion and absorption. It is important to observe dietary restrictions during medication treatment to avoid interfering with drug absorption and delaying recovery.
