Things to know when using traditional Chinese medicine decoctions.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, decocting herbs is a rather complex and elaborate process, but knowing how to take them correctly is also very important.
Should you drink it hot, warm, or cold?
Typically, after decocting the herbs, the liquid is poured into a bowl and allowed to cool to a comfortable temperature—neither hot nor cold—before drinking. This is called drinking warm. This method is most commonly used because it is physiologically appropriate. However, patients with cold-related conditions such as common colds, diarrhea due to cold, etc., who want to enhance the cooling effect of the medicine, should drink it hot. Conversely, patients with heat-related conditions such as high fever, dry lips and throat, mouth ulcers, constipation, scanty and reddish urine, etc., should wait until the medicine is completely cool before drinking to enhance the cooling effect of the herbs.
Medicinal herbs that need to be drunk warm usually have relatively mild medicinal properties, focusing on nourishing and regulating the body; when decocting them, a low heat (gentle fire) is used. Medicinal herbs that need to be drunk hot usually have warm medicinal properties; when decocting them, a high heat (strong fire) is used, and the decoction is quick. Medicinal herbs that need to be drunk cold usually have cold medicinal properties; when decocting them, the time is slightly longer.
Preparing to decoct traditional Chinese medicine. Photo: Health & Life.
When should I drink it?
The effectiveness of medicine depends not only on using the correct medicine for the ailment and preparing it properly, but also on the timing of its administration. For optimal absorption and maximum effect, tonic medicines should be taken early in the morning before breakfast; medicines that strengthen the spleen, promote bowel movements (laxatives), and eliminate worms should be taken on an empty stomach, before meals; digestive medicines and those that irritate the stomach and intestines should be taken after meals; medicines that promote upward movement and warm and tonify qi should be taken between early morning and before midday; medicines that nourish yin and yang blood, and medicines that clear and reduce heat in the yin aspect should be taken in the evening; and medicines that eliminate evil influences in the qi and yang aspects should be taken early in the morning...
What can I do to reduce nausea when taking medication?
People who drink traditional Chinese medicine decoctions for the first time often feel nauseous, and may even vomit immediately, especially when drinking bitter-tasting heat-clearing and detoxifying medicines. Furthermore, while under stress, closing their eyes and covering their noses to force themselves to drink the entire bowl of medicine in one go often results in vomiting everything out, which is both exhausting and wasteful of the medicine.
To minimize this, first and foremost, remain calm, relax your nerves, avoid rushing, pay attention to the temperature of the medicine and how to take it—before or after meals. Take a small sip, hold it in your mouth for a moment to adjust, then slowly swallow. After finishing, rinse your mouth with a little warm water. Additionally, adding a little fresh ginger juice to the medicine can also help to some extent in preventing nausea and vomiting.
Is it advisable to take both traditional and Western medicine at the same time?
It's best to take them separately because many Western and traditional medicines cannot be taken at the same time. For example, herbs like peach kernel and almond kernel, which contain nitriglycosides, should not be taken with Western medicines belonging to the sedative, anesthetic, or analgesic groups because it can inhibit the respiratory center and cause liver dysfunction. Cardiac stimulants belonging to the digitalis group should not be taken with herbs such as oleander and evergreen, as it can cause heart rhythm disturbances.
Sulfanilamide-based drugs should not be taken with herbs containing organic acids such as dandelion, Ligusticum chuanxiong, Schisandra chinensis, and dried plums, as this can cause urinary tract stones and hematuria (blood in urine). Tetracycline antibiotics should not be taken simultaneously with herbs containing high levels of calcium, magnesium, and aluminum, such as gypsum and oyster shell, as this will reduce the effectiveness of tetracycline and form stable metal compounds in the intestines, affecting the absorption and digestion of food.
What dietary restrictions should I follow while taking this medicine?
Dietary restrictions are essential when taking traditional Chinese medicine. According to traditional medicine, food is also considered medicine, so improper eating habits can affect the effectiveness of the prescription and the patient's health. However, due to limited knowledge, many practitioners force patients to avoid too many things, including those essential for the body, or create a rigid habit of strictly adhering to dietary restrictions such as avoiding shrimp, crab, snails, chicken, and water spinach when taking traditional Chinese medicine.
In fact, dietary restrictions depend on two factors: firstly, foods that are incompatible with the medications being taken, for example, Poria cocos is incompatible with vinegar, and turtle shell is incompatible with chicken; secondly, foods that counteract the effects of the medication, for example, if taking medication for cold symptoms, one must avoid cold foods. Therefore, adhering to the instructions of a specialist is extremely important in this matter.
According to Health and Life - PC
