Health care starts with a cup of Chinese herbal tea that suits you

Recently, the National Health Commission and the State Administration for Market Regulation jointly issued an announcement that nine substances, including Codonopsis pilosula, Cistanche deserticola, Dendrobium candidum, American ginseng, Astragalus, Ganoderma lucidum, Cornus officinalis, Gastrodia elata, and Eucommia ulmoides, have been included in the list of substances that are both food and Chinese medicinal materials according to tradition. The cold winter weather has set off a trend of "taking medicine and making soup". The vast majority of people are optimistic and supportive of adding Chinese medicinal materials to drinks: since they are both medicine and food, they must be "nourishing".

Does being included in the food and drug substance catalog mean that you can eat whatever you want? In the opinion of Xiao Lu, deputy director of the Pharmacy Department of Nanjing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, this is not the case. Xiao Lu introduced that each Chinese medicine has its own medicinal properties. "Chinese medicine often talks about 'four properties and five flavors', where the four properties refer to the four performance characteristics of Chinese medicine, namely cold, hot, warm and cool, and the five flavors refer to the five flavors of Chinese medicine, namely pungent, sweet, sour, salty and bitter." Xiao Lu believes that even Chinese medicine that is both medicine and food is essentially medicine, with four properties and five flavors. Whether it is added to beverages or food, it is actually necessary to consult a professional doctor to distinguish the patient's constitution.

Wumei soup is not suitable for everyone

"Take the black plum soup, which is very popular in the summer, as an example. The Chinese medicinal ingredients are added to stimulate the appetite, aid digestion, and promote salivation. But it is not suitable for everyone. Drinking too much may cause diarrhea, abdominal pain, or indigestion. It is especially contraindicated for people with excessive stomach acid," said Xiao Lu.

At the same time, Xiao Lu said that no matter whether it is Chinese herbal decoctions, Chinese herbal medicine slices or Chinese herbal tea, you must first avoid eating spicy and greasy foods during the process of taking them. At the same time, you cannot drink them with stimulant drinks, such as strong tea and coffee, which are not very "friendly" to Chinese medicine.

Ginseng and wolfberry should be used according to physical condition

There are also rumors online about "soaking wolfberries in a thermos cup", "a root of ginseng in water", "ginseng and polygonatum wolfberry tea"... In Xiao Lu's opinion, ginseng is a traditional Chinese medicine that replenishes qi and is suitable for patients with physical weakness or cold limbs and weak pulses. "If the person's vital energy is not deficient, but a real disease rather than a deficiency disease, it is not recommended to use ginseng." At the same time, during the period of taking ginseng, you cannot eat foods that lower qi, such as radish, mung beans, and crabs, which will affect the efficacy of the medicine. Polygonatum is a traditional Chinese medicine that nourishes yin. People with spleen deficiency and damp-heat constitution are more likely to produce dampness and phlegm if they take polygonatum, which will aggravate the symptoms.

"Medicine is three-tenths toxic." Xiao Lu reminded that any Chinese herbal medicine, even if it is food, must be used in controlled amounts and frequency. When taking it, it is necessary to avoid drug interactions. Special attention should also be paid to the storage and preservation methods of medicinal materials that are both medicinal and edible. Generally speaking, such edible and medicinal substances should be placed in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight, otherwise they will easily deteriorate and have adverse effects.

Recommended teas for different body types

Xiao Lu introduced that in autumn and winter, health preservation should focus on "produces body fluids and moistens dryness to benefit the lungs and nourish yin" and "retains yang and complements yin to consolidate the foundation of storage". She recommended eight kinds of physique-biased medicinal teas from Nanjing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which people in need can drink appropriately after diagnosis by traditional Chinese medicine.

Qi deficiency: Astragalus, Atractylodes and Jujube Tea

Ingredients: Astragalus, stir-fried Atractylodes macrocephala, jujube;

Effect: Nourishes the lungs and spleen;

Note: Use with caution in patients with damp-heat constitution, hypertension, constipation, dizziness, red tongue with yellow greasy coating.

Yang deficiency: raspberry, cinnamon, dried ginger, roasted licorice tea

Ingredients: raspberry, cinnamon twig, dried ginger, roasted licorice;

Effect: warms and nourishes the spleen and kidneys;

Note: Use with caution in patients with Yin deficiency, dry mouth, hot palms and soles, and little tongue coating.

Yin deficiency: wolfberry, lily and ophiopogon tea

Ingredients: wolfberry, lily, ophiopogon japonicus, crystal sugar;

Effect: Nourishes yin and benefits the kidney;

Note: Use with caution in patients with spleen deficiency, yang deficiency, loose stools, and greasy tongue coating.

Phlegm-damp constitution: Tangerine peel, Poria cocos, Coix seed, Pu'er tea

Ingredients: dried tangerine peel, poria cocos, raw coix seed, puer tea;

Effect: Strengthen the spleen and eliminate dampness;

Note: Use with caution in patients with Yin deficiency, dry mouth, hot palms and soles, and little tongue coating.

Damp-heat constitution: red bean, chrysanthemum and green tea

Ingredients: adzuki beans, chrysanthemum;

Effect: Clears away heat and dampness;

Note: Use with caution in patients with yang deficiency constitution, fear of cold, loose stools, and white tongue coating.

Qi stagnation: Rose, bergamot and osmanthus tea

Ingredients: Rose, Buddha's hand, Osmanthus, Rock sugar;

Effect: Regulates qi and relieves depression;

Note: Use with caution in patients with Yin deficiency, dry mouth, hot hands and feet, and bright red tongue coating.

Blood stasis: Raw hawthorn safflower tea

Ingredients: raw hawthorn, safflower, brown sugar;

Effect: promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis;

Note: Use with caution in patients with thrombocytopenia, bleeding tendency, or blood diseases.

Special constitution: Ginseng, black plum and lotus seed tea

Ingredients: Ginseng, black plum, lotus seeds, raw licorice, rock sugar;

Efficacy: Strengthens the body and resists allergies;

Note: Use with caution in patients with hypertension.