Gao Fang, also known as Gao Zi, is a type of traditional Chinese medicine formulation that has the functions of replenishing deficiencies, regulating the body, and improving constitution. With the progress of society and the improvement of people's living standards, Gao Zi, which used to be a special product for the nobles, has now entered ordinary households and become a good medicine for people to regulate their bodies, improve their constitution, and treat diseases.
When is the best time to take Gao Zi? It can be said that Gao Fang is suitable for all seasons, but there is a folk saying of "winter for replenishment, spring for fighting diseases", which suggests that winter is the best time to take Gao Zi. Based on the theory of correspondence between heaven and human beings and the characteristics of the four seasons: "spring for birth, summer for growth, autumn for harvest, and winter for storage", winter is a season of storage, and the human body needs more food in terms of quantity and quality in order to keep warm. On the contrary, it is not easy to digest when taken in hot weather. This is one of the reasons why it is easier to replenish deficiencies during winter. At the same time, due to the cold weather in winter, the body's metabolism decreases and energy consumption reduces. Winter replenishment not only makes up for deficiencies, but also prepares for the next year, making people less likely to get sick and more energetic. Therefore, winter replenishment is just right.
Then, when is the best time to take Gao Zi during winter? Generally, starting from the Winter Solstice, around 50 days is the best time, namely from "First Nine" to "Six Nine" (the first nine days after the Winter Solstice is the First Nine, the second nine days is the Second Nine, and so on). If you plan to take two batches of Gao Zi during winter, you can start a bit earlier.
Although winter is the best season for taking Gao Zi for replenishment, there is no need to be rigid. For long-term or severe deficiency caused by chronic illness, or for cases where the cause of deficiency has not been eliminated, one-time replenishment may not achieve the goal of complete replenishment, especially for complex conditions and long medical history, such as gout, hyperthyroidism, and complications of diabetes. Winter replenishment may not be effective yet, and it can be continued in other seasons. There are also some diseases that are prone to occur in winter, such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, etc., which are difficult to regulate during an attack. It is advisable to regulate them when the condition is stable in summer or autumn, instead of sticking to "winter replenishment" and giving up other seasons. As long as it can be replenished without causing greasiness or stagnation, and meets the body's needs, Gao Fang can be taken in all seasons of the year.
