Dietary restrictions during medication are a set of dietary guidelines implemented in traditional Chinese medicine to ensure the efficacy of treatments and prevent adverse reactions. Based on the theory of the Four Natures and Five Flavors, this system classifies prohibited foods into four major categories: raw and cold, greasy, spicy, and fishy or gamey. Raw and cold foods may damage yang energy; greasy foods tend to promote dampness and generate phlegm; spicy foods can deplete yin fluids; and fishy or gamey foods may trigger allergic reactions.
Starting with Hiring
Once, while traveling by train on a business trip, a middle-aged man was sleeping in the lower bunk across from me. To pass the time, I struck up a conversation with him. During our talk, I learned that he was a human resources manager at a company and was on a business trip to recruit a group of recent college graduates to be assigned to various departments.
“As an HR manager, from your perspective, what kind of graduate would you consider to be a truly outstanding talent?” I asked offhand.
The HR manager took a leisurely drag on his cigarette and began to speak: “In a sense, everyone is talented; it’s just that each person’s abilities manifest in different ways, and the jobs that suit them vary. Human resources management is about placing the right person in the right position, then managing them to ensure the job is done well.”
“If you need a janitor and plan to offer a salary of 1,000 yuan, then hiring a hardworking laid-off worker will suffice. There’s no need to consider factors like educational background—as long as they’re diligent and responsible, they’re more than capable of handling the job. You could even say they’re the right talent for that role. But if you insist on a specific educational background and insist on hiring a college graduate, they’ll likely feel that a 1,000-yuan salary is too low, and since their degree isn’t being put to use, it’s a waste of their potential; From the company’s perspective, this graduate won’t stay long before jumping ship, causing the company the hassle of having to recruit again. So don’t get bogged down by the abstract concept of ‘talent’—everyone is talented; the key is to place them in the most suitable position.
“If you hire four or five salespeople, all of whom are highly capable but refuse to defer to one another, and if they aren’t managed properly, they’ll be a disorganized group unable to pull together as a team, and the results may end up being the opposite of what you intended. How should such people be managed? How can we make the most of these talented individuals? You need a supervisor who can mediate relationships and lead them effectively. With this supervisor’s mediation, this group of talented individuals can work toward a common goal, and the work can proceed smoothly. It’s just like when you, as a traditional Chinese medicine doctor, prescribe a formula—you often use licorice to balance the properties of the herbs. It’s the same principle!
“Take another example: when two people work together, if one is too reserved, you need to pair them with someone who’s more outgoing. Otherwise, if two reserved people work together, it will hinder progress. If one person is too lively and lacks a strong sense of responsibility, then you need to pair them with someone who’s more steady and responsible. Otherwise, if a group of lively people are all together, they’re likely to get carried away, and mistakes may occur in their work.”
“It seems there’s a lot to learn about management, too—not only do you have to find the right positions for the right people, but you also have to consider complementarity and conflicting elements!” I remarked.
The HR manager continued, “There’s a vast body of knowledge in management. The Five Elements theory and the theory of mutual generation and mutual restraint from traditional Chinese medicine are all applicable to management…”
As we chatted along the way, this HR manager’s philosophy on personnel management left a deep impression on me. Management is the art of managing people, and this philosophy can equally be applied to traditional Chinese medicine. As practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine, the “people” in our hands are the individual herbal ingredients. In ancient times, it was said that prescribing medicine is like applying military strategy—each herb is like a soldier under a general’s command on the battlefield. Just as a general uses soldiers to wage war, a doctor uses combinations of herbs to combat disease.
In clinical practice, patients are often anxious about their illnesses and will ask me, “Doctor, please prescribe some good medicine. As long as it cures my illness quickly, I don’t mind how much it costs.” In fact, in my eyes, every herb is an effective remedy—just as, in the eyes of the HR manager, every person is a talent. My job is to use each herb in the most appropriate way. Herbs are not categorized by price, status, or quality. However, if a medicine is not used in the correct context, it can become a poison.
I remember watching *Dae Jang Geum* years ago. There was a scene where the teacher asked the trainee female doctors to pick out the poisons from among the medicines. Although Jang Geum selected the correct ones, she was given a zero. The teacher explained that any medicine, if used improperly, can become a deadly poison, and doctors must exercise the utmost caution when prescribing them. Indeed, many people today believe that Chinese herbal medicine is “green,” eco-friendly, and non-toxic, so they casually choose and take it on their own. In reality, this behavior is extremely dangerous. Our ancestors once said, “All medicines are three parts poison”; no medicine is universally beneficial to the human body. It’s just like people—no single person is suited for every job.
As for doctors, if they fail to cure a disease, it can only be said that they did not coordinate the medications properly—not that the medications themselves are ineffective. It is like when a job is not done well: one cannot simply blame the employee; instead, one should first consider whether that person was placed in the right position and paired with the right colleagues.
I. Drug Combinations
The *Shennong Bencao Jing* states: “Medicines have yin-yang interactions… Some act alone, some reinforce each other, some facilitate each other, some are mutually inhibited, some are mutually antagonistic, some are contradictory, and some cancel each other out. These seven interactions must be considered in their overall harmony.” ” By extension, Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to these seven aspects—“used alone,” “mutually reinforcing,” “mutually inducing,” “mutually inhibiting,” “mutually counteracting,” “mutually antagonistic,” and “mutually opposing”—as the “Seven Emotions.” These relationships are analogous to the principles of personnel management.
There are four objectives in the application of herbal combinations: first, to enhance therapeutic effects; second, to broaden the scope of treatment; third, to address complex conditions; and fourth, to reduce adverse reactions.
Among the six categories—synergistic, complementary, mutually reinforcing, mutually inhibitory, mutually antagonistic, and contradictory—synergistic and complementary combinations produce a synergistic effect that enhances therapeutic efficacy; mutually inhibitory and mutually antagonistic combinations can reduce or eliminate a drug’s toxicity or side effects; whereas mutually antagonistic and contradictory combinations reduce therapeutic efficacy and may even cause toxic side effects.
1. Synergy
Synergy refers to the combination of herbs with similar properties and effects, which can enhance their original therapeutic efficacy.
For example, combining gypsum (Shigao) with anemarrhena rhizome (Zhimu) enhances the therapeutic effect of clearing heat and purging fire; combining rhubarb (Dahuang) with mirabilite (Mangxiao) enhances the therapeutic effect of purging heat; combining bitter orange fruit (Zhishi) with bitter orange peel (Zhike) enhances the ability to descend and regulate qi; and combining whole scorpion (Quanshe) with centipede (Wugong) enhances the efficacy of dispelling wind, unblocking meridians, subduing wind, and relieving spasms.
Another example is the combination of Buddha’s Hand (Foshou) and Citron Peel (Xiangyuanpi). Buddha’s Hand is aromatic and pungent, with bitter and warm properties that promote descent; its primary functions are to invigorate the spleen and stimulate appetite, soothe the liver and harmonize the stomach, regulate qi and relieve chest constriction, and promote qi circulation to alleviate pain. Although Citron Peel has a slightly milder fragrance and weaker qi-regulating properties, it is more effective in harmonizing the stomach and resolving phlegm. When used together, they can regulate qi, relieve chest congestion, alleviate pain, soothe the liver and harmonize the stomach, and strengthen the stomach while resolving phlegm, making them an excellent remedy for liver-stomach disharmony.
2. Synergistic Combination
A synergistic combination refers to the combined use of herbs that share certain common properties and effects, with one herb serving as the primary agent and the other as a secondary agent, thereby enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of the primary herb.
For example, combining Astragalus (Huangqi), which tonifies qi, with Poria (Fuling), which strengthens the spleen and promotes diuresis, enhances Astragalus’s therapeutic effects in tonifying qi and promoting diuresis.
Aconite warms the kidneys and dispels cold, while also strengthening the spleen and removing dampness; Atractylodes tonifies the spleen and dries dampness. When these two are combined, they can be used with confidence for any case of spleen-kidney yang deficiency characterized by aching and heaviness in the legs below the knees.
When Scutellaria, which clears heat and purges fire, is combined with Rhubarb, which purges heat through a purgative action, Rhubarb enhances Scutellaria’s therapeutic effect in clearing heat and purging fire.
When Zhi Shi is combined with Bai Zhu, Zhi Shi breaks up stagnant qi, eliminates food stagnation, relieves fullness, and alleviates pain, while Bai Zhu tonifies the spleen, dries dampness, and nourishes qi and blood. Used together, one eliminates and the other tonifies, aiding in the ascension of the pure and the descent of the turbid.
Ganjing combined with Wuweizi enhances the effect of warming the lungs and relieving cough.
Huanglian combined with Wu Zhu Yu enhances the ability to stop vomiting and neutralize acid.
Winter melon seeds combined with red vine treat chronic prostatitis and gynecological inflammation caused by damp-heat! Winter melon seeds drain dampness and raise yang, resolving damp-heat in the lower jiao, while red vine clears heat and detoxifies, eliminating deep-seated inflammation!
3. Mutual Antidotes
Mutual antidotes refer to a method of formula composition where one herb is used to inhibit or mitigate the toxicity and side effects of another, thereby enhancing its therapeutic efficacy.
Pinellia is an excellent herb for drying dampness, transforming phlegm, descending rebellious qi, and stopping vomiting; however, it is toxic, and improper processing can easily lead to poisoning. When using Pinellia, it must be combined with ginger to neutralize its toxicity. Additionally, ginger is a premier remedy for stopping vomiting; when combined with Pinellia, it enhances Pinellia’s antiemetic effect—truly killing two birds with one stone.
Combining Yuanhua with jujube (Dazhao) mitigates Yuanhua’s toxic irritation to the gastrointestinal tract, reduces adverse reactions, and facilitates its diuretic efficacy.
Chaihu soothes the liver and relieves depression, but its nature tends toward dryness, which carries the risk of damaging yin. When combined with Bai Shao to nourish liver yin, it soothes the liver and relieves depression without the concern of yin depletion.
Huangqi has a strong qi-tonifying effect; patients with spleen and stomach deficiency may experience epigastric and abdominal distension after taking it. When combined with Zhike to regulate qi, or with Jixueteng to invigorate blood and unblock meridians, it promotes the circulation of Huangqi’s qi, thereby tonifying qi without causing stagnation.
Rehmannia glutinosa is an excellent herb for tonifying the kidneys and nourishing the blood, but because its nature tends to be rich and heavy, taking it can easily lead to a heavy, greasy sensation that impedes digestion, resulting in epigastric and abdominal distension. When combined with Amomum villosum, which regulates qi, it not only avoids the drawback of Rehmannia glutinosa’s heavy, greasy nature hindering the stomach but also allows Amomum villosum to guide Rehmannia glutinosa to the kidneys.
Goji berries are an excellent tonic for the liver and kidneys, but because they have a warming nature, long-term use can easily lead to “internal heat.” Combining them with the cooling Chrysanthemum flowers allows them to nourish the liver and improve eyesight without the drawback of inducing internal heat.
Incompatibilities and contraindications are situations we must avoid in herbal medicine; I won’t elaborate further here.
This principle applies to people, and it applies to the use of traditional Chinese medicine—so does it also apply to our health and wellness practices? Of course it should!
II. There Is a Science to Food Pairings
Food pairings, just like the combination of Chinese herbal medicines, should take into account the relationships between foods—specifically, synergy, mutual enhancement, mutual inhibition, mutual destruction, incompatibility, and opposition. The principles of synergy and mutual enhancement can produce synergistic effects, while mutual inhibition, mutual destruction, incompatibility, and opposition can lead to antagonistic reactions. Synergistic effects can enhance the efficacy of foods, while antagonistic effects can reduce toxicity and adverse reactions.
Anyone who enjoys eating crab knows that crab has a “cold” nature and is not suitable for people with a “cold” constitution. However, when preparing crab, pairing it with warming seasonings—such as ginger, chili peppers, Sichuan peppercorns, or alcohol—allows the heat from these ingredients to counteract the crab’s cold nature. This way, we can not only enjoy delicious crab but also avoid worrying about harm to our health afterward. Isn’t this precisely the application of the “incompatibility” principle from traditional Chinese medicine in the context of diet?
There are many other examples of this in our daily diet.
Stewed lily bulbs with autumn pears clear lung heat and nourish lung yin.
Water chestnuts combined with jellyfish can clear and transform phlegm-heat.
Ginger combined with brown sugar enhances the effect of warming the middle burner and dispelling cold.
Stir-frying garlic with green beans can mitigate the adverse effects of the beans.
Cooking fish with ginger removes the fishy odor and helps prevent adverse reactions such as diarrhea and skin rashes.
Stewing pigeon with radish can alleviate epigastric distension and fullness caused by excessive tonification.
Stir-frying bitter melon with chili peppers balances cold and heat, preventing the excessive cold nature of the bitter melon.
The *Huangdi Neijing: Suwen: Chapter on the Declaration and Clarification of the Five Energies* states: “The five flavors to be avoided: pungent flavors affect the qi; those with qi disorders should not consume excessive amounts of pungent foods; salty flavors affect the blood; those with blood disorders should not consume excessive amounts of salty foods; bitter flavors affect the bones; those with bone disorders should not consume excessive amounts of bitter foods; sweet flavors affect the flesh; those with flesh disorders should not consume excessive amounts of sweet foods; sour flavors affect the tendons; those with tendon disorders should not consume excessive amounts of sour foods. These are the five prohibitions; do not allow excessive consumption.” This serves as a concise summary of dietary taboos for patients and provides theoretical guidance on dietary precautions.
The food combinations discussed above can mitigate the inherent properties of foods, thereby promoting health. However, certain foods in daily life may be detrimental to a patient’s condition and must be avoided. This is akin to hiring employees: some individuals are absolutely unsuitable for certain positions. Failure to follow these principles will inevitably lead to mistakes.
Beef, lamb, and dog meat have a “warm” nature. Patients with yang deficiency can safely consume them, as they have a tonifying effect on the body; however, patients with heat-type conditions must avoid them, as consumption will worsen their condition.
Fruits, cold beverages, and cold salads have a “cold” nature. Patients with heat-type conditions can safely consume them, as they aid in recovery; however, they are unsuitable for patients with a cold-deficiency constitution, as consumption will worsen their condition.
Chicken heads, pig heads, seafood, scallions, garlic, and cilantro have properties that promote the dispersion of pathogenic factors. They are not suitable for patients with skin diseases or allergic conditions, as consuming them may easily trigger skin problems or allergic reactions.
