The contraindications for drug compatibility in medicated diets follow the principles of Chinese herbal medicine, generally referencing the "Eighteen Incompatible Herbs" and "Ninety-nine Aversions". The specific content of the "Eighteen Incompatible Herbs" is: Licorice is incompatible with Kansui, Euphorbia root, Sargassum, and Daphne flower; Aconite root is incompatible with Fritillary bulb, Trichosanthes fruit, Pinellia tuber, Ampelopsis root, and Bletilla tuber; and Veratrum is incompatible with Ginseng, Glehnia root, Red sage root, Scrophularia root, Sophora root, Asarum, and Peony root. The specific content of the "Ninety-nine Aversions" is: Sulfur is averse to mirabilite; Mercury is averse to arsenic; Euphorbia root is averse to litharge; Croton seed is averse to Pharbitis seed; Clove is averse to Turmeric root; Aconite root and Kusnezoff monkshood are averse to Rhinoceros horn; Saltpeter is averse to Burreed rhizome; Cassia bark is averse to Halloysite; and Ginseng is averse to Trogopterus dung.
The above contraindications can be used as a reference for medication, but they are not absolute. In the application of ancient and modern formulas, there are also instances of incompatible herbs being used together. For example, Codonopsis root and Trogopterus dung can be used together to tonify the spleen and stomach and relieve pain. However, such applications must be guided by an experienced clinical physician.
Drug-Food Compatibility Contraindications
The contraindications for drug-food compatibility are a summary of ancient experience, which later generations have largely followed. Although some of these contraindications still await scientific proof, reliable conclusions have not yet been drawn, so it is advisable to refer to the traditional sayings and use them with caution. Generally, diaphoretic drugs should be avoided with raw and cold foods; spleen and stomach-regulating drugs should be avoided with greasy foods; swelling- and qi-regulating drugs should be avoided with beans; cough- and asthma-relieving drugs should be avoided with fishy foods; and anti-diarrheal drugs should be avoided with melons and fruits.
These contraindications mainly include: Pork is incompatible with Mume plum, Platycodon root, Coptis root, Skimmia, Lily bulb, and Atractylodes; Mutton is incompatible with Pinellia tuber and Acorus, and should not be taken with copper or cinnabar; Dog meat is incompatible with Phytolacca root, and should not be taken with apricot kernels; Crucian carp is incompatible with Magnolia bark, and should not be taken with Ophiopogon root; Pig blood should not be taken with Rehmannia root or Fo-ti root; Pig heart should not be taken with Evodia fruit; Carp should not be taken with Cinnabar; Sparrow meat should not be taken with Atractylodes or plums; Scallions should not be taken with Dichroa root, Rehmannia root, Fo-ti root, or honey; Garlic should not be taken with Rehmannia root or Fo-ti root; Radish should not be taken with Rehmannia root or Fo-ti root; Vinegar should not be taken with Poria; and Smilax glabra and Clematis root should not be taken with tea. These can serve as a reference for clinical application.
Food-Food Compatibility Contraindications
The ancients also had taboos regarding food-food compatibility. Although the reasoning behind them is not fully substantiated, they can serve as a reference in the application of medicated diets.
These contraindications are: Pork should not be eaten with buckwheat, pigeon meat, crucian carp, or soybeans; Mutton should not be eaten with vinegar; Dog meat should not be eaten with garlic; Crucian carp should not be eaten with mustard greens or pig liver; Pig blood should not be eaten with soybeans; Pig liver should not be eaten with buckwheat, bean sauce, carp intestine, or fish meat; Carp should not be eaten with dog meat; Turtle meat should not be eaten with amaranth, alcohol, or fruit; Eel should not be eaten with dog meat or dog blood; Sparrow meat should not be eaten with pig liver; Duck eggs should not be eaten with mulberries or plums; Chicken should not be eaten with mustard, glutinous rice, or plums; Soft-shelled turtle meat should not be eaten with pork, rabbit meat, duck meat, amaranth, or eggs. The application of these contraindications is mainly to prevent conditions such as qi stagnation, wind generation, sores, and illness.
Dietary Restrictions for Patients
Dietary restrictions are a part of TCM theory and practice. They mainly include two categories:
1. For certain diseases, certain types of food should be avoided. For example: liver disease should avoid spicy foods; heart disease should avoid salty foods; edema should avoid salt; bone diseases should avoid sour and sweet foods; gallbladder disease should avoid greasy foods; cold diseases should avoid melons and fruits; sores and carbuncles should avoid fish and shrimp; dizziness and insomnia should avoid pepper, chili, and tea, etc.
2. For certain types of diseases, certain foods should be avoided. For example, patients with yin deficiency and internal heat, phlegm-fire accumulation, or fluid exhaustion should avoid warming and drying foods like ginger, pepper, and mutton; patients with lingering external pathogens, throat diseases, eye diseases, sores, or after an illness should avoid wind-agitating and qi-moving foods like mustard, garlic, crab, and eggs; patients with internal damp-heat should avoid dampness- and heat-generating foods like malt sugar, pork, butter, and rice wine; patients with internal cold and spleen deficiency, or those recovering from a serious illness or postpartum, should avoid cold-damaging foods like watermelon, plums, river snails, crab, and clams; patients with various types of bleeding, hemorrhoids, or pregnant women should avoid blood-moving foods like arrowhead and pepper. During pregnancy, blood-breaking, menstrual-promoting, highly toxic, emetic, pungent-heat, and slippery substances are prohibited. Some of these dietary restrictions have been proven to be reasonable, while others are not practical, and they can serve as a reference in the application of medicated diets.