Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has the theory of the "Four Natures and Five Flavors." The Five Flavors are pungent, sweet, sour, bitter, and salty. TCM classifies Chinese medicines according to these five flavors, and selecting medicines with different natures and flavors for treating diseases yields different effects. Foods in daily life are also categorized into these five flavors, and they have a certain influence on the effects of medicines.
Pungent This category includes foods like green onions, garlic, chili peppers, and Sichuan peppercorns. Chili peppers can increase the absorption rate of aminophylline and antihypertensive drugs, thereby increasing their side effects. These foods have a pungent aroma and a drying, heating nature. They can consume body fluids, stir up "fire," damage yin, and lead to dryness. This is contrary to the yin-nourishing and blood-tonifying functions of herbs like Rehmannia root and Fo-ti, so they should be avoided.
Sweet Some people dislike the bitterness of Chinese medicine and often add sugar to improve the taste. In fact, sugar should not be added indiscriminately to Chinese medicine. Sugar can inhibit the effectiveness of certain antipyretic drugs and interfere with the absorption of mineral elements and vitamins. Furthermore, some bitter-tasting medicines rely on their bitterness to stimulate the digestive glands and promote the secretion of digestive juices. This is the reasoning behind the saying, "Good medicine tastes bitter to the mouth but is beneficial to the body."
Sour Vinegar is an acidic substance, while drugs such as sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate, aluminum hydroxide, lactasin, pancreatin, erythromycin, and sulfonamides are alkaline. Taking vinegar with these drugs can neutralize their properties and render them ineffective.
Salt's main component is sodium chloride, which plays a role in regulating the acid-base balance between body fluids and cells. Salt can inhibit the efficacy of antihypertensive drugs, diuretics, and epinephrine. Soy sauce should not be easily taken with drugs like pargyline and tetracycline, as it can easily cause adverse side effects.