After entering spring, some patients with chronic conditions may suddenly fall ill after eating certain foods, which are commonly known as "trigger foods" in Chinese medicine. According to TCM theory, mistakenly consuming the following "trigger foods" in spring can cause old illnesses to relapse and new illnesses to worsen.
Mutton. For individuals with yin deficiency and excess heat, or those suffering from febrile diseases and infectious diseases, eating mutton in spring can easily lead to "internal heat." Therefore, it is necessary to pair mutton with cooling foods like winter melon or loofah.
Pig's head meat. Consuming pig's head meat in spring may trigger old illnesses such as coughing, asthma, chronic bronchitis, and migraines. It can also lead to symptoms like dizziness, chest tightness, and swelling of the limbs and face.
Chives. For those with yin deficiency and internal heat, or suffering from sores, ulcers, and eye diseases, eating chives can aggravate the condition, causing mental confusion and blurred vision.
Toon shoots (Chinese cedar). People who have previously suffered from diseases such as urticaria, erysipelas, eczema, stroke, convulsions, or bi syndrome (painful obstruction syndrome) may find that eating toon shoots causes their old illnesses to relapse.
Bamboo shoots. Those with weak spleen and stomach, such as those with cold limbs, diarrhea, abdominal cold pain, or yang deficiency edema, should avoid consuming bamboo shoots.