When taking medicine while sick, it is essential to use fluids for administration. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the choice of fluid for administration is crucial.
Huangjiu (Yellow Wine): Traditional Chinese medicine considers yellow wine to be a medicinal ingredient itself. It has a warm nature and can promote blood circulation, dispel cold, and unblock meridians. Yellow wine is often used to administer Chinese patent medicines for treating injuries, blood stasis, and pain in the waist and legs, such as Yunnan Baiyao and Die Da Wan. Using yellow wine for administration can enhance the efficacy of the medicine.
Rice Soup: Rice soup has a protective effect on the stomach. It is suitable for administering Chinese patent medicines that nourish the digestive system, invigorate the spleen, and soothe the diaphragm.
Salt Water: Salt can facilitate the absorption of medicine by the kidneys. For Chinese patent medicines used to treat kidney deficiency or kidney weakness, such as Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan, Zuo Gui Wan, and You Gui Wan, it is recommended to use diluted salt water for administration.
Ginger Soup: Dried ginger has the effects of dispelling cold and warming the stomach. Boiling dried ginger to make a soup and using it for administering Chinese patent medicines for treating colds with wind-cold symptoms and concurrent spleen and stomach deficiency, such as Huo Xiang Zheng Qi Wan, can enhance the therapeutic effects.
In real life, many people find it troublesome and simply use plain water for administering Chinese patent medicines. However, even using plain water for administration requires some considerations. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that hot water can assist in promoting yang qi and circulation, while cold water can reduce internal heat. Additionally, according to traditional Chinese medicine, diseases can also be categorized as either hot or cold. Therefore, it is best to administer medicine according to the nature of the disease. This is known as the proper treatment method in traditional Chinese medicine. For conditions characterized by dryness and heat, such as fever and excessive internal heat, using a cooling agent is appropriate. Concurrently administering the medicine with cold water can enhance the cooling effects. Conversely, for conditions characterized by deficiency and cold, such as wind-cold colds, using warm water for administration is suitable. However, it is important not to overdo it with the water temperature. It is necessary to first understand one's own constitution. For individuals with sore throat, inflammation, and fever, they should take medicines that clear heat and reduce fire, such as Shuang Huang Lian tablets. Although drinking cold water can alleviate the heat, if the person already has a weak spleen and stomach, it may cause gastrointestinal discomfort and affect the efficacy of the medicine.
