When preparing Chinese herbal medicine, licorice is often added as a flavoring agent. However, for some children, the sweetness of licorice alone is not enough to mask the strong and bitter taste of the herbal medicine. In these cases, parents may add some honey to the herbal medicine to make it more palatable, which is actually a good choice. Honey mainly consists of fructose and glucose, which are easily absorbed by children's digestive system. It is also nutritionally rich and has medicinal values such as nourishing the lungs and intestines. However, it is important to note that the various trace elements in honey may alter the efficacy of the medicine, so it should be used under medical advice.
If white sugar is added to the herbal medicine, it is a different story. Chinese herbal medicine has four Qi (energy) properties - cold, hot, warm, and cool - as well as five tastes - pungent, sweet, sour, bitter, and salty. Different tastes of herbal medicine have different medicinal effects. White sugar has a hot nature, so adding it to some herbal decoctions may change their properties and affect their therapeutic effects. Even when using sugar as a flavoring agent, the amount should be taken into consideration. There is no need to make the herbal medicine excessively sweet.
Many people pinch their noses and immediately eat something else after drinking a large bowl of herbal medicine to dilute the lingering bitterness in their mouths. However, it is not recommended to consume spicy, greasy, or fishy-flavored foods after taking herbal medicine. For example, eating seafood after taking herbal medicine can stimulate blood vessel dilation and potentially cause side effects. Here are some tips to alleviate the bitterness:
First, pay attention to the temperature of the medicine. Studies have shown that the tongue is particularly sensitive to temperatures above 37°C, so the temperature of bitter herbal decoctions should be between 15°C and 37°C. Second, pay attention to the part of the mouth where the medicine is held and swallowed. The taste buds that perceive bitterness are mainly concentrated in the front half of the tongue, especially the tip. Therefore, it is best to immediately hold the medicine at the back of the tongue and naturally swallow it, or use a spoon to directly deliver the liquid to the back of the tongue and swallow it smoothly. Third, pay attention to the speed of taking the medicine. The longer the medicine stays in the mouth, the more bitter it tastes. Therefore, bitter herbal medicine should be taken quickly rather than slowly. Fourth, rinse the mouth with cold water immediately after taking the medicine, and then drink an appropriate amount of warm water.
