Wuzi Zi is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine, and there are many ways to take it, such as soaking in water, cooking porridge, making soup, and soaking in alcohol. Can Wuzi Zi be eaten directly?
Can Wuzi Zi be eaten directly?
Yes, it can be eaten directly, but it is generally not recommended to eat it directly.
Wuzi Zi has a sour and sweet taste, and is warm in nature. It has the functions of astringing and consolidating, nourishing qi and generating fluids, and tonifying the kidneys and calming the mind. It is often used to treat chronic cough and wheezing, chronic diarrhea, spontaneous sweating, and thirst due to fluid injury. It does not have obvious toxic side effects, so it can be eaten directly. However, it is generally not recommended to eat it directly for the following reasons.
Reason 1:
"Newly Revised Materia Medica" records that "Wuzi Zi has a sour and sweet taste, and the core has a bitter taste". Therefore, it is called Wuzi Zi because it has five tastes. The sour and sweet taste of Wuzi Zi is not acceptable to everyone.
Reason 2:
Wuzi Zi can tonify the five viscera, especially the kidneys. Chewing it directly makes it difficult for the gastrointestinal tract to absorb its medicinal ingredients. Generally, after decocting and boiling, its medicinal components are easier to be extracted and absorbed by the human body, and the effect will be faster.
How to take Wuzi Zi in the best way
There are many ways to take Wuzi Zi, such as soaking in water, soaking in alcohol, cooking porridge, and making soup. Below are two simple methods.
Wuzi Zi alcohol
Ingredients: 50g Wuzi Zi, 100g rock sugar (adjust according to personal taste), 500g white wine.
1. Wash the Wuzi Zi and put it in a glass bottle.
2. Add rock sugar and pour in white wine.
3. Seal the bottle and shake it once a day.
4. It can be consumed after soaking for half a month.
5. Take 15-20ml at a time, 1-2 times a day.
Wuzi Zi tea
Instructions:
1. Take about 3g of Wuzi Zi and grind it into fine powder.
2. Put the ground Wuzi Zi in a tea bag and place it in a teapot.
3. Pour boiling water over it, cover it and let it steep for about 15 minutes.
4. It can be brewed 2-3 times a day and used as a substitute for tea.
How much Wuzi Zi to take each time
2-6g.
Although Wuzi Zi does not have obvious toxic side effects, as a traditional Chinese medicine, it has a certain dosage requirement. Generally, the recommended dosage of Wuzi Zi is 2-6g. Taking more than 13-18g of Wuzi Zi may cause adverse reactions such as hiccup, acid reflux, stomach pain, burning sensation in the stomach, and drowsiness.
Can Wuzi Zi be taken for a long time?
In general, it can be taken for a long time.
If it is necessary due to the condition, and there are no allergies or other adverse reactions during the intake of Wuzi Zi, it is generally okay to take it for a long time. However, Wuzi Zi is still a kind of traditional Chinese medicine, so it is recommended to stop taking it after the condition improves in order to avoid affecting health.
Who should not take Wuzi Zi
People with early-stage cough due to external pathogens
During the treatment of early-stage cough due to external pathogens, the focus should be on dispersing and ventilating the lungs. Wuzi Zi has a sour and sweet taste, and traditional Chinese medicine believes that it has an astringent property. Taking Wuzi Zi may cause the pathogenic factors to be astringed, leading to aggravation of cough symptoms.
People with early-stage skin rashes
People with early-stage skin rashes should be treated with dispersing and opening the rashes. Wuzi Zi has a sour taste and has a consolidating and astringent effect. Taking it may cause the pathogenic factors to stagnate, leading to aggravation of rash symptoms.
