Wuzi zi and gou qi zi are both commonly used traditional Chinese medicinal materials. Some people say they are drinking water infused with wuzi zi and want to add some gou qi zi to it. So, can wuzi zi be infused together with gou qi zi?
Can Wuzi Zi be Infused with Gou Qi Zi?
Yes, it can.
Wuzi zi has a sour and sweet taste and warm nature. It has the effects of astringing and consolidating, replenishing qi and generating fluids, and nourishing the kidneys and calming the mind. Gou qi zi is a medicinal herb with both medicinal and food properties. It has a sweet taste and neutral nature and enters the liver and kidney meridians. It can nourish the liver and kidneys, nourish essence and improve vision. The medicinal effects and properties of these two herbs do not conflict with each other. Therefore, wuzi zi can be infused together with gou qi zi for drinking.
The Benefits of Drinking Water Infused with Wuzi Zi and Gou Qi Zi
Lung-Consolidating and Cough-Relieving
In traditional Chinese medicine, sour substances have the characteristic of astringing and consolidating. Wuzi zi has a sour and sweet taste and can tonify the five organs and consolidate lung qi to relieve cough. Drinking water infused with wuzi zi and gou qi zi can have a good adjuvant therapeutic effect on persistent cough, cough and wheezing caused by lung and kidney deficiency in the elderly.
Diarrhea and Sweating Control
Wuzi zi has the characteristics of astringing and consolidating. It can consolidate the body's fluids and has the functions of astringing sweat, consolidating the surface, and replenishing qi and generating fluids. It has a certain adjuvant therapeutic effect on persistent diarrhea, excessive sweating, and thirst caused by fluid deficiency.
Calming and Soothing the Mind
Wuzi zi has the effect of calming and soothing the mind. Its active ingredients can to some extent inhibit the central nervous system and have a certain sedative effect. It can help improve sleep and assist in the treatment of insomnia.
Liver Protection
The active ingredients in wuzi zi can promote the repair and regeneration of liver cells, inhibit liver damage, or repair damaged liver cells to some extent. It can also inhibit the activity of alanine aminotransferase and has a good hepatoprotective effect.
Nourishing Essence and Improving Vision
Wuzi zi has the ability to tonify all five organs. The "Bencao Jing Shu" has an annotation that says, "Wuzi zi specifically tonifies the kidneys and also tonifies all five organs." Therefore, wuzi zi has a strong effect of tonifying the kidneys and nourishing essence. Gou qi zi has the effect of nourishing the liver and kidneys and replenishing essence and marrow. Drinking water infused with wuzi zi and gou qi zi can improve dizziness, blurred vision, and vision decline caused by liver and kidney deficiency, blood and essence deficiency.
Blood Sugar and Lipid Control
The polysaccharides in gou qi zi can help inhibit the increase of cholesterol and triglycerides in the body, help lower blood lipid levels, and can also help improve the antioxidant capacity of pancreatic islet cells, protect the pancreas, and prevent diabetes.
Precautions for Drinking Water Infused with Wuzi Zi and Gou Qi Zi
1. Do not use excessive amounts
It is generally recommended to use 2-6 grams of wuzi zi as a medicinal dosage and consume about 20 grams of gou qi zi per day. Excessive consumption is not advisable. When the dosage of wuzi zi exceeds 13-18 grams, it may cause discomfort such as burning sensation in the stomach, hiccup, acid reflux, and nausea. Gou qi zi has a strong nourishing effect, and excessive consumption may lead to internal heat.
2. Prevent allergic reactions
A small portion of the population may experience allergies or toxic side effects when taking wuzi zi and gou qi zi, such as urticaria, fever, headache, and nausea. If you are unsure if you are allergic, you can first consume a small amount of water infused with wuzi zi and gou qi zi and observe for about 1 hour. If there are no adverse reactions, you can continue to consume it.
Contraindications for Drinking Water Infused with Wuzi Zi and Gou Qi Zi
1. Those with early-stage cough
Wuzi zi has a certain effect of astringing sweat and relieving cough. However, as wuzi zi has a tonifying effect, when treating conditions such as persistent cough and dry cough, it is better to focus on dispersing pathogenic factors in the early stage of cough. Taking wuzi zi may cause the accumulation of pathogenic factors in the body, aggravating the symptoms.
2. Those with early-stage skin rashes
Wuzi zi has a sour taste and has the effect of astringing and consolidating. In the early stage of skin rashes, it is better to focus on dispersing and promoting rashes. Taking wuzi zi may cause the stagnation of pathogenic factors, leading to worsening of the rash symptoms.
3. Those with weak spleen and stomach
Gou qi zi has a strong nourishing effect and is not easily absorbed by the intestines and stomach. Consumption of gou qi zi by those with weak spleen and stomach may worsen symptoms such as epigastric distension, indigestion, and loose stools.
4. Those with excessive dampness and heat
Gou qi zi belongs to nourishing herbs. Consumption of gou qi zi by those with excessive dampness and heat may worsen symptoms such as a greasy tongue coating and sticky stools. Therefore, it is recommended that those with severe dampness and heat should not drink water infused with wuzi zi and gou qi zi.
Specific Steps for Making Water Infused with Wuzi Zi and Gou Qi Zi
Ingredients: 6 grams of wuzi zi, 6 grams of gou qi zi.
Instructions:
1. Grind the wuzi zi and put it in a cup.
2. Add gou qi zi and pour in boiling water.
3. Cover and let it steep for about 15 minutes.
4. During this time, you can add water 2-3 times and use it as a substitute for tea.
