Why should we avoid beans when drinking traditional Chinese medicine?
During the process of TCM conditioning and drug treatment, doctors often instruct patients to avoid eating soy foods. The reasons behind this taboo involve traditional Chinese medicine theory, drug interactions, and the support of modern scientific research. This article will combine the hot topics and hot content on the Internet in the past 10 days, deeply explore the reasons why beans should be avoided when drinking traditional Chinese medicine, and provide structured data for readers to understand.
1. Theoretical Perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that beans are sweet and mild in nature and have the effects of diuresis, swelling, and detoxification. However, when taken together with certain traditional Chinese medicines, the efficacy of the medicine may be affected. The following are common explanations from traditional Chinese medicine regarding the conflict between beans and traditional Chinese medicine:
| Types of traditional Chinese medicine | Causes of conflict with beans |
|---|---|
| Qi-tonifying medicine (such as ginseng, astragalus) | Beans may consume gas and reduce the effect of replenishing gas. |
| Yang-warming medicine (such as aconite, cinnamon) | Beans are cool in nature and may offset the warming effect |
| Heat-clearing and detoxifying medicine | Legumes may enhance laxative effects and cause diarrhea |
2. Modern scientific explanation
Modern research has found that some ingredients in beans may react chemically with traditional Chinese medicine, affecting drug absorption or metabolism:
| Legume ingredients | Impact on traditional Chinese medicine |
|---|---|
| Phytic acid | Combined with metal ions, affecting the absorption of mineral-containing traditional Chinese medicines |
| protease inhibitor | May interfere with the decomposition and utilization of protein-based traditional Chinese medicines |
| Tannic acid | Combined with alkaloid traditional Chinese medicine to reduce the efficacy of the medicine |
3. Taboos on specific soy foods
Not all legumes have the same impact on traditional Chinese medicine. Here are some common legume interactions with traditional Chinese medicine:
| legume varieties | Reasons for taboos | Typical conflict Chinese medicine |
|---|---|---|
| mung beans | Detoxification is too strong | Warming and tonic Chinese medicine |
| soybeans | Affects mineral absorption | Traditional Chinese medicine containing iron and calcium |
| Red beans | Additive diuretic effect | Diuretic and dampness-removing medicine |
4. Summary of hotly discussed opinions across the network
According to online discussions in the past 10 days, the main views on the taboos between traditional Chinese medicine and beans are as follows:
| opinion type | Support ratio | main argument |
|---|---|---|
| Avoid beans completely | 42% | It is better to believe that it exists, in case the efficacy of the medicine is reduced |
| selective avoidance | 35% | Determined according to specific traditional Chinese medicine and bean varieties |
| No special taboos required | 23% | lack of clear scientific evidence |
5. Expert advice and precautions
1. While taking traditional Chinese medicine, it is best to consult a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner about specific dietary taboos, which vary from person to person.
2. It is generally recommended to consume Chinese medicine and soy foods 2-3 hours apart to reduce interaction.
3. People with special physiques (such as those with weak spleen and stomach) need to pay more attention to the intake of beans.
4. Record dietary reactions during the medication period and adjust dietary taboo strategies in a timely manner.
6. Conclusion
The tradition of avoiding legumes in traditional Chinese medicine is supported by both traditional Chinese medicine theory and modern scientific basis. Although not all situations need to be strictly avoided, understanding the principles can help to better utilize the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine. In practical applications, it should be flexibly adjusted according to personal physique, specific prescriptions and bean varieties, and reasonable dietary restrictions should be followed under the guidance of professional doctors.
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