”Avoid eating hairy foods” is a common phrase heard by patients during the wound healing period. However, it seems that there is no clear description of what “hairy food” is. From the list, the so-called “hairy foods” are mostly foods that are irritating or have a high protein and fat content. It is undeniable that these foods do need to be controlled for certain people, but can they not be eaten when the wound is healing?
Rumors: [Promote wound healing avoid eating hairy things] In daily life, hairy things are mainly the following, when there are wounds or sores, carbuncles, redness and swelling should not be eaten. One is the hairy things, allium, ginger, pepper, pepper, mutton, dog meat, etc.; two is the hairy things, such as shrimp, crab, mushrooms, goose, eggs, tsubaki buds, etc.; three is the hairy things, such as caramel, glutinous rice, pork, etc.;
Fourth, the hair of cold accumulation of things, such as watermelon, pear, persimmon and other kinds of cold products; five for the development of blood things, such as sea pepper, mushrooms, pepper, etc.; six for the development of stagnant gas things, such as mutton, lotus seeds, gorgonians, etc.. Modern clinical research has confirmed that avoiding hairy food is important for reducing wound infection and promoting wound healing after surgical procedures.
Truth: Avoid eating hairy things is a popular saying in folklore, many times the patient will be told not to eat “hairy things”, otherwise it is not conducive to disease treatment and recovery of the body. According to legend, the Ming Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang after ascending to the throne massacred meritorious officials, the general Xu Da because of back sores avoid eating “hairy things” goose meat. Zhu Yuanzhang heard about it, then gave goose meat and Xu Da, Xu Da died after eating back sore attack. It can be seen in the legend, the power of hair is not to be underestimated.
The long list of hair is all-encompassing, and “taboo” is becoming more difficult to operate. Patients who are still healing after surgery or trauma are confused about this, and “should I avoid it” has become one of the most common questions answered by surgeons.
However, it seems that the classical traditional medical texts do not clearly explain what “hairy substances” are. From the list, the so-called “hairy foods” are mostly foods that are irritating or high in protein and fat, with the former represented by spices such as chili peppers and the latter by eggs, milk, red meat and seafood, which can cause allergies. Some extreme statements even list sugar as a hair product. It is undeniable that certain people do need to control the consumption of these foods, but is it true that these foods should not be eaten when the wound is healing?
The process of wound healing
In general, wound healing can be roughly divided into three stages. In the early stages of injury, the wound bleeds and forms a blood clot, which is filled with fibrin to stop bleeding and close the external environment; as time passes after the injury, new capillaries and fibroblasts begin to appear inside the wound, the old blood clot is broken down and swallowed, and granulation tissue occupies the damaged area. With the increase of collagen fibers within the granulation tissue, the granulation tissue gradually transforms into fibrous tissue, the wound becomes hard and the scar gradually forms; at the third stage, the scar tissue begins to gradually shape to fit the local physiological function.
Wound healing is influenced by various factors, the core of which lies in the ability of the various types of cells performing the repair function to do their job well. These influencing factors can be divided into two categories, one local and the other systemic.
What factors can affect wound healing?
Infection is the great enemy of wound healing. Once the activity of pathogenic bacteria is present in the wound, the enzymes and toxins produced by the germs can greatly interfere with the normal healing process. In severe cases, septic lesions can form within the wound, aggravating the tissue destruction. We usually perform debridement and disinfection after an injury precisely to prevent infection to the maximum extent possible and to promote healing. If the wound defect is too severe or there is a foreign body in the wound, then the healing rate will also be greatly slowed down, and suturing is to pull the wound edges together and reduce the defect.
Improper local disposition after injury, tissue compression ischemia and hypoxia can lead to delayed healing. Some special parts of the injury to maintain stability and braking, repeated pulling will also affect the healing. These are all local factors that affect healing.
As for systemic factors, malnourished patients lack protein, trace elements and other nutrients necessary for body repair, which will undoubtedly have a negative impact on wound healing.
Patients with poorly controlled diabetes or immune deficiencies such as AIDS have suppressed cellular function and are prone to wound infection and delayed healing. Age is also a factor, and the healing rate in the elderly is slower than in younger people. Patients who take certain cytotoxic drugs or glucocorticoids for a long time also have reduced healing function. Overall, wound healing can also be seen as a local reflection of systemic factors.
Hair and Wound Healing
In summary, if hair has an impact on wound healing, it will act through both local and systemic pathways. Wound infection is associated with contamination and breeding of pathogenic microorganisms, and disinfection and keeping the area clean and dry are key to preventing and treating infection. There is no evidence to suggest that food increases the rate of infection in wounds, including, naturally, those that are “hairy”. Of course, if certain foods are allergenic, then they should undoubtedly be avoided, both in healthy individuals and in patients with healing wounds.
Lighter superficial trauma has minimal systemic effects and does not require the mobilization of many nutritional reserves when healing, so there is no need to deliberately pursue high nutrition for this type of trauma, and at the same time, hairy foods, which are high in fat and protein or stimulating, will not adversely affect healing. In contrast, patients with major trauma or major surgery are in a state of stress, and the body is mainly catabolic, so the healing of such wounds requires the mobilization of a large number of nutritional reserves, which should be supplemented with adequate nutrition.
Protein-rich and fat-rich “hairy” products are, on the contrary, the objects that patients should focus on intake. Even if the patient cannot eat because of the condition, the doctor will provide high nutrition intravenously to such patients. As for irritating hair products such as chili peppers, as long as the gastrointestinal function allows and there is no contraindication, it does not exclude moderate intake. The rumor that “avoiding hairy foods is important to reduce wound infection and promote wound healing after surgery” is unfounded and untenable.
The mystery of hairy food originates from the traditional understanding of food in terms of its nature and taste. The clinical practice of modern medicine does not support the view that hairy foods are contraindicated. Now that scientific analysis of food has been carried out and the composition of food is more thoroughly understood, the inherent notion that hairy food affects wound healing is bound to fade away.
Conclusion: Rumor mongering. Hair is not a clear-cut concept. Based on a clear understanding of the wound healing process and the local or systemic factors affecting healing, it is not considered medically possible that so-called hair products, which are characterized by high fat and high protein, can affect wound healing.