The Art of Consuming Herbal Tea: Methods and Considerations

The method of taking herbal tea varies depending on the type of herbal tea. When taking herbal tea, it is important to consume it in a scientific manner according to its characteristics in order to achieve the desired effects. Common methods of taking herbal tea include: divided doses, one-time consumption, frequent consumption, oral administration, brewing, and preparation.

1. Divided doses: This method involves brewing or decocting the herbal tea and consuming it in divided doses at specified times. Currently, the frequency of taking Chinese herbal medicine is generally twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. When consuming less stimulating tonic herbal teas, it can be consumed on an empty stomach because these herbal medicines have minimal irritation to the gastrointestinal system. Consuming them before meals on an empty stomach facilitates absorption by the stomach and intestines. However, for more stimulating herbal medicines, it is better to take them after meals for better effectiveness. This method of divided doses is more suitable for treating chronic diseases.

2. One-time consumption: This method is mainly used for treating acute diseases. After brewing or decocting the herbal medicine, it is consumed in one dose. It can be used to treat severe and urgent illnesses.

3. Frequent consumption: After preparing the herbal medicine, it is consumed frequently. This method is more suitable for daily nourishment and health maintenance. For example, ginseng tea is commonly consumed in this way. Frequent consumption is also suitable for treating acute feverish symptoms.

4. Oral administration: This method involves holding the herbal tea in the mouth and slowly swallowing it. This allows the herbal medicine to directly act on the affected area, speeding up the healing process. This method is generally applicable to oral and throat diseases.

5. Brewing: This refers to brewing the herbal tea and then consuming it, such as honey or royal jelly liquid herbal teas.

6. Preparation: Some powdered herbal medicines need to be mixed with tea to form a preparation. This method is commonly seen in the consumption of Chinese medicine powders.

When taking herbal tea, there are also some things to consider. Firstly, when taking certain herbal teas, it is important to pay attention to dietary restrictions. For example, traditional Chinese medicine believes that ginseng and radish should not be taken together because ginseng tonifies qi, while radish promotes ventilation, creating a conflict. Secondly, when taking tonic herbal teas, it is advisable to use small doses over a long period of time. If other symptoms occur during consumption, it is necessary to stop taking the herbal tea to avoid unfavorable effects. After the condition improves, the method of consuming small doses over a long period of time can be continued. Additionally, due to the bitter taste of herbal tea, sweeteners such as sugar or rock sugar can be added to mask the taste. Finally, when choosing herbal tea, it is important to follow the guidance of a doctor and select the herbal tea formula that is suitable for oneself.