The Best Time to Take Chinese Medicine: A Guide for Optimal Effectiveness

February 6, 2024

Chinese medicine is a precious knowledge passed down to us by our ancestors. Although modern Western medicine can quickly treat diseases and does not have the bitter taste of Chinese medicine, if we want to fundamentally treat diseases and restore our health, Chinese medicine is our best choice.

Chinese medicine can easily solve many difficult and complex problems that Western medicine cannot. Therefore, many people now prefer to rely on traditional Chinese medicine to restore their health. Chinese medicine is different from Western medicine. It has special requirements for the brewing process and the timing of taking medicine. If you don't take the medicine at the right time, the effectiveness of the medicine will be greatly reduced.

  [When is the Best Time to Take Chinese Medicine]

With the continuous improvement of social standards, seeing a Chinese doctor and taking Chinese medicine has become the first choice for many patients, especially the elderly. They are more willing to use Chinese medicine to regulate and maintain their health, believing that this has a better effect in treating chronic diseases. However, it should be noted that if you are taking Chinese medicine for a long time, it is best to take it after meals. This not only allows the medicine to work better, but also protects our stomach.

In Chinese medicine, there is a principle of matching the medicinal properties and flavors, which means that the composition of Chinese medicine prescriptions is based on the different medicinal properties and flavors of different Chinese herbs. Common medicinal properties include cold, cool, warm, and hot, while flavors include sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, and salty. If you are taking important medicines with strong flavors or cold properties, it is best not to take them on an empty stomach before meals, as it may cause damage to the patient's gastric mucosa.

As a patient, it is important to understand that the timing of taking different types of Chinese medicine is different. In general, if you are taking Chinese medicine for liver, kidney, and gastrointestinal diseases, it is best to take them before meals. However, if you are taking Chinese medicine for throat diseases, dizziness, and headaches, it is best to take them after meals. If you are taking laxatives, tonics, or deworming medicines, it is best to take them on an empty stomach for optimal effectiveness. If you are taking Chinese medicine for its sedative effect, it is best to take it before bedtime. Therefore, the timing of taking Chinese medicine should be determined based on the different conditions of the disease and the characteristics of the medication in order to achieve the best results.

In the process of daily medication, doctors will adjust the medication according to changes in the patient's body, so the prescription will not be limited to a single herb. Long-term use of Chinese medicine is not good for the body. As the saying goes, "All medicine is poisonous to some extent", so no matter what kind of medicine it is, excessive consumption can cause harm to the body and gastric mucosa. When is the best time to take Chinese medicine? I suggest that for patients who need to take Chinese medicine for a long time, it is best to take the medicine half an hour to one hour after meals. This can effectively reduce the direct irritation of the medicine to the patient's gastric mucosa and protect our stomach.

Modern medicine believes that in principle, Chinese medicine should be taken at least half an hour before or after meals, which means that it is best not to take medicine during this time to avoid food affecting the absorption of the medicine by the stomach.

  [Taking Chinese Medicine on an Empty Stomach]

The timing of taking different Chinese medicines for different effects and treating different diseases is different. The following three types of Chinese medicine can be taken on an empty stomach.

1. In the prescription for treating gastric ulcers and gastric mucosal erosion, there are usually Chinese herbs such as Baiji and Haizao, which can effectively inhibit the secretion of gastric acid and form a protective film on the inner wall of the stomach. Therefore, it is best to take this type of Chinese medicine on an empty stomach before meals;

2. Some laxatives should not be taken after meals, as they are used to treat constipation and contain Chinese herbs such as Rhubarb. Therefore, they should be taken before meals;

3. It is also best to take tonics on an empty stomach for better effectiveness.

However, in addition to distinguishing the timing of taking Chinese medicine based on the effects and types of the medicine, the patient's physical condition must also be considered. Everyone's physical condition is different, which means that the response to Chinese medicine is also different. Some patients may experience stomach pain or diarrhea after taking Chinese medicine on an empty stomach. In this case, it is recommended to switch to taking it after meals to protect their health.

When is the best time to take Chinese medicine? This needs to be carefully considered and cannot be done randomly. It is recommended that patients inquire carefully with the doctor when purchasing Chinese medicine and strictly follow the doctor's instructions to achieve a quick recovery. It is necessary to grasp the best time to take Chinese medicine to maximize its effectiveness.

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