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The dosage of medication must be compatible with the patient's Qi and Blood condition. This is because individuals' innate endowment varies in strength, and their social status, life experiences (hardship or joy), and upbringing differ significantly; thus, it is impossible to apply a uniform standard. Furthermore, diseases vary between chronic and acute conditions, requiring flexible judgment based on the specific situation. Therefore, ancient formulas state: For wealthy individuals who suddenly fall ill, or for those who are young and vigorous with dense skin and pores, as well as for those whose illness has been present for a short time, although the disease severity may appear mild, the medication dosage should be larger. Conversely, for patients with chronic illnesses who exhibit weak Qi and emaciated physique, or those with loose skin and pores, the medication dosage should be smaller.

When taking Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), avoid peaches, plums, Coriandri Herba (Huixu, 胡荽/cilantro), Allii Sativi Bulbus (Dasuan, 大蒜/garlic), blue fish, and vinegar. When taking Badou (Crotonis Fructus, Bitter Apricot Seed/Croton Seed), avoid Asparagus Fern Root (Lusun, 芦笋). When taking Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) and Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix), avoid pork. When taking Dihuang (Rehmanniae Radix), avoid Myrabolans (Wuyi, 芜荑). When taking Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) and Changpu (Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma), avoid Malt Sugar (Yitang, 饴糖) and mutton. When taking Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma), avoid raw vegetables. When taking Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), avoid Chinese Cabbage (Songcai, 菘菜). When taking Mudanpi (Moutan Cortex), avoid Coriandri Herba (Huixu, 胡荽/cilantro). When taking Shanglu (Phytolaccae Radix), avoid dog meat. When taking Changshan (Dichroae Radix), avoid raw green onions and raw vegetables. When taking Kongqing (Azurite) and Dansha (Cinnabaris, Cinnabar), avoid fresh blood products. When taking Fuling (Poria), avoid vinegar. When taking Biejia (Testudinis Carapax et Plastrum), avoid Amaranth leaves. When taking Tianmendong (Asparagi Radix), avoid carp.

Ancient formulas list these contraindications under each prescription name. For example, regarding Lizhong Wan (Regulate the Middle Pill), it states avoidance of peaches, plums, Coriandri Herba (Huixu, 胡荽/cilantro), garlic, blue fish, vinegar, and Songcai (Songcai, 菘菜/Chinese cabbage). This causes confusion among patients. Unless one is taking a single herb long-term, one should follow these methods; however, in urgent medical situations, strict adherence to these taboos is not required. Now, except for contraindications involving incompatible herbs which have been removed, all general contraindication methods for various diseases are listed below.

For Wind diseases, generally avoid Five Pungents (Wuxin, 五辛/five pungent vegetables like garlic, chives, etc.), sweet, slippery, cold, and greasy foods.

For Shanghan (Cold Damage) and seasonal epidemics, avoid mutton and mixed foods. After recovery, especially avoid meat.

For newly recovered Heat diseases, or after severe illness, consuming pork, intestinal blood, fatty fish, or greasy foods will inevitably cause severe diarrhea, which physicians cannot treat.

Additionally, consuming cakes, millet treats, malt jerky, roasted meats, dates, chestnuts, fruits, and other hard-to-digest items will inevitably lead to heat accumulation. Using purgatives to treat this will result in cold deficiency in the stomach, uncontrollable severe diarrhea, and difficult rescue.

For Hongxiangjiao (Hongxiangjiao, 香港脚/foot qi disease), sexual activity must be strictly avoided. Also strictly prohibit mutton, beef, fish, garlic, Hize Cai (Hize Cai, 蕺菜/Houttuynia), Songcai (Songcai, 菘菜/Chinese cabbage), turnip, bottle gourd, wine, noodles, butter, milk, deer meat, pork, chicken, goose, and duck. Although some formulas use carp heads, the aforementioned foods are strictly forbidden. Also avoid extreme anger, raw fruits, and sour/vinegar foods. Specifically avoid bottle gourds and Houttuynia; violating this may result in lifelong incurability.

For Zhengjia Pixi (Zhengjia Pixi, 症瘕癖积/abdominal masses and accumulations), avoid cold, raw, buttery, and slippery foods.

For vomiting, regurgitation, and diarrhea, avoid cold, raw, sour, slippery, and greasy foods.

For dysphagia, distension, fullness, and stubborn cold-related Qi disorders, avoid cold and raw foods.

For accumulated heat, avoid fish, alcohol, and hot wheat noodles.

For cough, hemoptysis, and hematemesis, avoid all hot-natured foods.

For Phlegm-Fluid retention, avoid alcohol and vinegar.

For Xiaoke (Xiaoke, 消渴/wasting-thirst syndrome/diabetes), avoid sexual activity.

For Shuiqi (Shuiqi, 水气/water qi/edema), avoid sheep heads, hooves, salt, and all salty foods.

While taking medication, do not consume raw Coriandri Herba (Huixu, 胡荽/cilantro) or any slippery foods. Also avoid fruits, fatty pork and dog meat, greasy broths, fish, and foods with strong odors. It is also stated that while taking medication, one should generally avoid contact with corpses and the pollution associated with childbirth.