Understanding the Nature of "Fa Wu" Foods and Who Should Avoid Them

Many individuals seek medical attention for various illnesses and are advised by doctors to avoid certain foods known as "Fa Wu" during their recovery. However, many people remain unaware of what these "Fa Wu" foods actually are. It is crucial to be mindful of dietary restrictions during illness, as certain foods can have a negative impact on one's condition and hinder recovery. Therefore, it is essential to have a basic understanding of "Fa Wu" foods.

1. What Are "Fa Wu" Foods?

"Fa Wu" foods refer to those that are either nutritionally rich or stimulating in nature, and they can have a significant effect on certain illnesses. It is advisable to avoid these foods during treatment. The category of "Fa Wu" foods is quite extensive, and some commonly recognized examples include lamb, pig's head meat, pig's trotters, and goose meat. Lamb, being a warming food, is not suitable for consumption during colds. But what are the other types of "Fa Wu" foods?

2. Classification of "Fa Wu" Foods

Generally, "Fa Wu" foods can be classified into several categories based on their sources:

Mushrooms: Including mushrooms, shiitake, oyster mushrooms, and enoki mushrooms. Consuming these foods regularly can trigger headaches and dizziness, which are detrimental to health.

Seafood: Such as hairtail, pomfret, shrimp, and crabs. These foods are often salty, cold, and fishy, and can easily trigger allergic reactions like asthma and urticaria in individuals with allergic tendencies.

Vegetables: Including bamboo shoots, mustard greens, pumpkins, spinach, leeks, spring bamboo shoots, toon sinensis, and coriander. These foods can easily trigger skin issues.

Fruits: Such as peaches, apricots, mangoes, waxberries, cherries, and lychees. Frequent consumption of these fruits can lead to the generation of heat and damage to bones and muscles.

Livestock and poultry: Including male chickens, chicken heads, pig's head meat, goose meat, chicken wings, chicken feet, donkey meat, beef, lamb, dog meat, goose eggs, and duck eggs. These foods are not suitable for individuals with diarrhea, liver or kidney discomfort, high blood lipids, or allergic tendencies.

3. Who Should Avoid "Fa Wu" Foods?

Individuals with skin irritations should limit their intake of certain vegetable "Fa Wu" foods such as leeks and shiitake mushrooms, as these can exacerbate skin issues. Respiratory discomfort and colds often require avoiding warming foods like lamb and beef, as these can lead to the formation of mucus and exacerbate respiratory conditions. Those with allergic tendencies should be cautious when consuming seafood, as it can trigger allergic reactions like vomiting and skin rashes.

In general, it is important to be mindful of "Fa Wu" foods and follow dietary restrictions recommended by doctors during illness. Additionally, individuals should be aware of their own food allergies and avoid those foods to prevent adverse reactions. "Fa Wu" foods are typically considered taboo during illness, and it is crucial to adhere to dietary restrictions to aid in recovery.

Moreover, there are other types of food that should be avoided during illness, such as spicy, greasy, high-salt, and high-sugar foods. While these foods may not pose significant issues when consumed in healthy states, they can have detrimental effects on recovery during illness.