What should children avoid when drinking traditional Chinese medicine

During the period when children drink traditional Chinese medicine, they need to avoid eating raw, cold, greasy, spicy, volatile, sweet and greasy foods, as well as foods that are incompatible with the medicinal properties. Taboos can help improve drug efficacy and reduce adverse reactions, which need to be adjusted according to the properties and constitution of the drug.

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, affecting the absorption and transportation of traditional Chinese medicine. Children have weaker spleen and stomach function, and consuming raw and cold foods during medication may lead to abdominal pain and diarrhea, especially when taking warm and nourishing traditional Chinese medicine. It is recommended to store fruits at room temperature or heat them before consumption, and drinking water with warm water is advisable.

2. Greasy and Spicy

Fried foods, fatty meat, chili peppers, onions, ginger, garlic, and other spicy and irritating substances can increase the burden on the gastrointestinal tract and may cause internal heat or indigestion. When taking traditional Chinese medicine for clearing heat and detoxifying, spicy foods may counteract the efficacy; Eating nourishing traditional Chinese medicine together with greasy food can easily lead to the endogenous generation of phlegm and dampness. Cooking should use light methods such as steaming and stewing.

3. Substances

Seafood, lamb, chives and other substances may induce allergies or exacerbate inflammatory reactions, especially in children with eczema, asthma and other diseases. When taking traditional Chinese medicine for dispelling wind and relieving skin diseases or regulating skin conditions, the substances may promote pathogenic factors. Can be replaced with flat ingredients such as pork and duck to ensure protein intake.

4. Sweet and greasy foods

Candy, cake and other high sugar foods are prone to phlegm and dampness, which hinder the function of spleen and stomach circulation. When taking traditional Chinese medicine for resolving phlegm and stopping cough, excessive consumption of sweet foods may cause stickiness and delay the recovery of the condition. You can choose a small amount of natural sweet foods such as red dates and longan to avoid consuming refined sugars.

5. The balance between medicine and food

Mung beans may weaken the effectiveness of warm traditional Chinese medicine, white radish may break the qi and affect the effect of qi replenishing medicine, and tannic acid in tea may interfere with the absorption of medicinal ingredients. It needs to be adjusted according to the specific Chinese medicine formula. For example, avoid eating radish when taking ginseng, and avoid drinking tea when taking ginseng spleen strengthening pills.

Children should keep their diet light and easy to digest during taking medicine, and properly add rice porridge, yam, pumpkin and other spleen strengthening ingredients. Pay attention to the reactions after eating. If you experience discomfort such as rash or vomiting, adjust your diet and consult a doctor. When taking traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine together, there should be an interval of at least two hours, and vigorous exercise should be avoided before and after medication. Parents can guide their children to comply with dietary restrictions and ensure balanced nutrition to support recovery through storytelling and reward mechanisms.