What foods and vegetables should children avoid when drinking traditional Chinese medicine

During the period when children take traditional Chinese medicine, they should avoid consuming raw, cold, greasy, spicy, volatile foods, and certain specific vegetables to avoid affecting the efficacy of the medicine or worsening the condition. Common taboo foods include ice cream, fatty meat, chili peppers, seafood, white radish, etc.

1. Raw and cold foods

Raw and cold foods such as ice cream, cold drinks, and raw fish slices can easily damage the spleen and stomach yang qi, hindering the warming and nourishing effects of traditional Chinese medicine. Children have weaker spleen and stomach function, and consuming raw and cold foods during medication may lead to abdominal pain, diarrhea, or weakened efficacy. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that foods with a cool nature can antagonize warm and warm traditional Chinese medicine, such as when taking Fuzi Lizhong Pills, which should be strictly avoided.

2. Greasy Foods

High fat foods such as fried foods, fatty meat, and cream can increase gastrointestinal burden and affect drug absorption. Traditional Chinese medicine ingredients are mostly absorbed through the spleen and stomach, and greasy foods can slow down the metabolic process. Especially when taking spleen strengthening and digestive herbs such as Baohe Wan, it is necessary to control oil intake. It is recommended to use steaming instead of frying for cooking.

3. Spicy and Stimulating

Spicy and hot ingredients such as chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, ginger, etc. may exacerbate internal heat syndrome and conflict with heat clearing traditional Chinese medicines such as Yinqiao San. When children take prescriptions for treating wind heat colds, spicy foods can irritate the throat mucosa and worsen cough symptoms. Although scallions and garlic have medicinal value, their dosage should be adjusted according to medical advice.

4. Substances

Seafood, lamb, goose and other substances may induce allergies or inflammatory reactions. Caution should be exercised when taking them together with traditional Chinese medicines such as Huanglian Jiedu Tang for dampness and detoxification. These types of foods contain heterologous proteins, which can easily cause drug food interactions. Children who experience symptoms such as eczema and asthma during medication should strictly avoid them.

5. Specific Vegetables

Cold vegetables such as white radish, water spinach, and winter melon may weaken the efficacy of tonifying traditional Chinese medicine. When taking qi tonifying herbs such as ginseng and astragalus, the qi breaking effect of white radish will have a counteracting effect. The oxalic acid content in some vegetables such as spinach may affect the absorption and utilization rate of mineral based traditional Chinese medicine.

When children take traditional Chinese medicine, parents should pay attention to keeping the diet light and easy to digest, and properly increase the millet porridge, yam paste and other spleen strengthening ingredients. There are differences in dietary requirements for different constitutions and diseases. For example, children with yin deficiency should reduce dry and hot foods, while those with yang deficiency should avoid eating raw and cold foods. It is recommended to consult a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner in detail before taking medication, adjust the dietary structure according to the specific ingredients of the prescription, take medication and eat at least one hour apart, and avoid drinking beverages such as strong tea that interfere with the efficacy of the medication. Observe the child's reaction after taking medication, and if there is a decrease in appetite or allergic symptoms, timely follow-up visits should be made to adjust the plan.