Traditional Herbal Wisdom

Compatibility and taboos between herbs and foods stem from ancient experience, widely followed by later generations. Although some lack scientific proof, caution is advised before conclusive evidence emerges. Major taboos include: pork opposes Prunus mume, Platycodon grandiflorum, Coptis chinensis, Picrorhiza kurroa, Lilium brownii, Atractylodes macrocephala; pig blood opposes Rehmannia glutinosa, Polygonum multiflorum, honey; lamb opposes Pinellia ternata, Calamus tatarinowii, avoids copper and cinnabar; dog meat opposes Pharbitis nil, avoids apricot kernels; carp opposes Magnolia officinalis, avoids Ophiopogon japonicus; garlic opposes Rehmannia glutinosa, Polygonum multiflorum; radish opposes Rehmannia glutinosa, Polygonum multiflorum; vinegar opposes Poria cocos.
There are also some food-food compatibility taboos. Though reasons may be insufficient, they should still be treated cautiously in nutraceutical practice as important references. These include: pork opposes buckwheat, pigeon meat, carp, soybeans; lamb opposes vinegar; dog meat opposes garlic; carp opposes mustard greens, pork liver; pig blood opposes soybeans; pork liver opposes buckwheat, soybean paste, carp intestines, fish meat; carp opposes dog meat; turtle meat opposes amaranth, alcohol, fruit; eel opposes dog meat, dog blood; quail meat opposes pork liver; duck egg opposes mulberry, plum; chicken opposes mustard, glutinous rice, plum; turtle meat opposes pork, rabbit meat, duck meat, amaranth, egg.