Chinese Medicine for Food Allergies

Food allergies affect millions of people. In Chinese medicine, they are not only seen as immune reactions but as signs of deeper imbalances in the body. Issues in the liver, spleen, stomach, and intestines can lead to bloating, diarrhea, abdominal pain, or fatigue after eating. By correcting these imbalances, Chinese medicine uses herbal formulas and food remedies to reduce allergy symptoms and strengthen digestion.

Understanding Food Allergies in Chinese Medicine

Western medicine sees food allergies as the immune system reacting to certain foods. Chinese medicine looks at it differently: the root cause is usually weakness in digestion or blocked energy (Qi). When the digestive organs are out of balance, the body struggles to process food, leading to allergic reactions.

Common patterns include:

  • Liver attacking the spleen

  • Spleen and stomach deficiency

  • Cold-dampness in the intestines

  • Energy congestion (Qi stagnation)

Liver Attacking the Spleen

Symptoms

  • Abdominal bloating and rumbling

  • Watery diarrhea, often triggered by food or emotions

  • Hungry but no appetite

  • Fatigue and lack of thirst

Treatment Approach

Calm the liver, support the spleen, regulate energy, and remove dampness.

Herbal Formulas

Helpful Foods

Brown sugar, kumquat, mandarin orange, apple cucumber, carrot, chestnut, corn cob, Job’s-tears, potato, yam, string bean, whitefish, royal jelly.

Spleen and Stomach Deficiency

Symptoms

  • Abdominal pain and diarrhea

  • Sensitivity to cold or greasy foods

  • Chronic gastritis or hepatitis history

  • Excess saliva, hiccups, or stomach prolapse

Treatment Approach

Strengthen the spleen and stomach to improve digestion.

Herbal Formula

Helpful Foods

Star anise, cayenne pepper, ginger, chicken, black and white pepper, potato, rice, beef, chestnut, dates, pistachio, barley, garlic, royal jelly.

Cold-Dampness in the Intestines

Symptoms

  • Abdominal pain with rumbling

  • Sticky stools resembling goose droppings

  • Cold hands and feet

  • Poor appetite and heavy body sensation

Treatment Approach

Warm the body and clear cold-dampness.

Herbal Formulas

Helpful Foods

Capers, ginger, cayenne pepper, mustard seed, chicken, herring, nutmeg, clove, star anise, black and white pepper.

Energy Congestion (Qi Stagnation)

Symptoms

  • Abdominal and chest pain

  • Constipation with hard stools

  • Belching and bloating after meals

  • Sensation of lump in the throat

  • Ringing in the ears, swallowing difficulty

Treatment Approach

Promote energy circulation and release congestion.

Herbal Formulas

Helpful Foods

Banana, spinach, cucumber, bamboo shoot, peppermint, mung bean, radish, purslane, crown daisy, dates, asparagus, pear, ginger, black fungus.

Key Takeaway

Chinese medicine treats food allergies by restoring balance to the digestive system and improving energy flow. By matching symptoms to patterns, practitioners choose the right herbal formulas and food remedies to support long-term healing.