Modern clinical research has confirmed that avoiding "fa wu" (trigger foods) is also crucial for reducing wound infections and promoting wound healing after surgical operations.
So-called "fa wu" refers to foods that are particularly likely to induce certain diseases (especially chronic or recurring illnesses) or aggravate existing conditions. The taboo against "fa wu" is significant in both dietary health preservation and diet therapy. Under normal circumstances, "fa wu" are also foods that, when consumed in moderation, do not cause side effects or discomfort for most people. It is only for individuals with specific constitutions and related illnesses that they can trigger flare-ups.
The scope of "fa wu" is broad. In our daily lives, foods classified as "fa wu" can be divided into the following categories based on their source:
1. Edible Fungi
主要包括蘑菇、香菇等，过食这类食物易致动风升阳，触发肝阳头痛、肝风眩晕等宿疾，此外，还易诱发或加重皮肤疮疡肿毒。
2. Seafood
主要包括带鱼、黄鱼、鲳鱼、蚌肉、虾、螃蟹等水产品，这类食品大多咸寒而腥，对于体质过敏者，易诱发过敏性疾病发作如哮喘、荨麻疹等，同时，也易催发疮疡肿毒等皮肤疾病。
3. Vegetables
主要包括竹笋、芥菜、南瓜、菠菜、雪里蕻、茄子等，这类食物易诱发皮肤疮疡肿毒。
4. Fruits
主要包括桃子、杏、芒果等，前人曾指出，多食桃易生热，发痈、疮、疽、疖、虫疳诸患，多食杏生痈疖，伤筋骨。
5. Poultry and Livestock
主要包括公鸡、鸡头、猪头肉、老母猪肉、鹅肉、鸡翅、鸡爪、牛羊马驴狗鹿肉等，这类食物主动而性升浮，食之易动风升阳，触发肝阳头痛、肝风脑晕等宿疾，此外，还易诱发或加重皮肤疮疡肿毒。鸡蛋虽不属发物，但也不宜多吃，一般一天不宜超过2个，尤其是肝炎、过敏、高血脂、高热、肾脏病、腹泻病人，更不宜多吃。原因是鸡蛋内含大量蛋白，但它们属于异性蛋白，有相当一部分人吃了异性蛋白后出现病态反应。
此外，属于发物的还有獐肉、腐乳及葱、蒜、韭菜、荆芥、桂皮、白芷、芥末、胡椒、花椒等辛辣调料等，酒、醋等刺激性大的饮料也尽最大可能不喝不用……
发物能诱发或加重某些疾病，但另一方面由于发物具有的催发或诱发作用，食疗上还用于治疗某些疾病，如麻疹初期，疹透不畅，食用蘑菇、竹笋等发物，可起到助其透发、缩短病程的作用。又如多食海腥发物以催发牛痘等，都是利用了发物具有的透发作用。
可以食用豆腐、白菜、花椰菜、四季豆、花生、凉粉、青萝卜、白萝卜、豆芽、黄瓜、山药、粉丝、包头菜、菜瓜、腐竹、豆角等清淡菜。