In winter, many middle-aged and elderly people take traditional Chinese medicine to nourish their bodies and enhance their resistance. Are there any considerations for the temperature when taking Chinese medicine? How many times a day should one drink it? Are there any dietary restrictions when taking Chinese medicine? Experts will decode the correct "drinking medicine posture" for you.
Drinking Chinese medicine is not the hotter the better
When drinking Chinese medicine, many people prefer to drink it while it is hot, but not all Chinese medicines are suitable for hot consumption.
In fact, traditional Chinese medicine theory pays great attention to the temperature of oral decoctions. There are more than 10 administration methods, and there are three specific temperatures for the medicine: warm, cold, and hot.
Generally, decoctions should be taken at a warm temperature, especially for some medicines that are irritating to the gastrointestinal tract, such as melon seed kernel and frankincense. Warm consumption can nourish the stomach and spleen and reduce the irritation to the gastrointestinal tract. For vomiting or food poisoning, the medicine should be taken at a cold temperature. Cold medicines can be used for hot symptoms. Chinese medicines used to relieve surface cold need to be taken at a hot temperature to help exert their effectiveness.
Remember the dietary taboos
The timing and frequency of medication are determined by the condition and nature of the medicine. Normally, one dose of Chinese medicine is taken three times a day, and it is taken twice a day when the condition improves. In critical cases, the medicine can be taken every 4 hours or so, day and night, to maintain continuous efficacy and relieve the condition.
When taking Chinese medicine, the elderly should pay special attention to the following points: nourishing medicines should be taken on an empty stomach or before meals to facilitate the absorption of the medicinal ingredients. When taking medicines that are irritating to the intestines and stomach, they should be taken immediately after meals to reduce the irritation to the intestines and stomach. "The gastrointestinal function of the elderly is relatively fragile and needs special attention." In addition, chronic diseases must be taken at regular intervals to maintain a certain blood drug concentration.
Diet should also be paid extra attention when taking Chinese medicine. During the medication period, one should consume less beans, meats, raw and cold foods, and other foods that are not easily digested, to avoid increasing the digestive burden on the person taking the medicine.
For heat-related diseases, alcoholic beverages, spicy foods, fish, and meats should be avoided or consumed in small amounts. Alcoholic beverages and spicy foods are considered heat-inducing; fish and meat are greasy and can generate heat and phlegm, exacerbating the condition.
When taking medicine for relieving the surface and promoting rashes, one should consume less raw and cold foods and acidic foods. Raw and cold foods and acidic foods can affect the effects of the medicine in relieving the surface and promoting rashes. When taking warm tonics, one should drink less tea and avoid eating radishes because the cooling nature and gas-reducing effects of tea leaves and radishes can reduce the effectiveness of the medicine in tonifying the spleen and stomach.
