Aunt Cheng has recently encountered sleep disturbances, often experiencing insomnia, sweating, fatigue, and tinnitus. A friend speculated that this may be due to qi deficiency and the effects of menopause, suggesting that she try Chinese herbal medicine to tonify qi. Without visiting the hospital for consultation, Aunt Cheng went straight to the pharmacy. Among the various qi-tonifying herbs, she chose ginseng because of its reputation and soaked it in water for consumption. Two weeks later, not only did the symptoms not improve, but signs of excessive internal heat appeared, such as dry mouth and constipation, prompting her to seek medical attention. The doctor informed her that her constitution is not suitable for long-term consumption of large amounts of ginseng, as it may easily cause excessive internal heat.
Ginseng is hailed as the “king of tonics,” indeed capable of tonifying one’s vitality greatly, but is limited in its applicability. Especially during colds or when there are factual evidence or edema in the body, taking ginseng as a supplement may not only be ineffective but may also be harmful. Proper use of ginseng should be based on individual constitution, particularly suitable for those with deficient yang qi.
Sometimes people may experience the phenomenon of “inadequate tonification” during the tonifying process, manifested as excessive internal heat, toothache, headache, etc., indicating that the tonification is counterproductive. Behind this phenomenon, it is mainly due to the lack of differentiation before tonification, not understanding the type of deficiency in oneself; improper emotional regulation, such as liver qi stagnation; and poor function of the spleen and stomach, leading to poor absorption capacity, and other factors.
In the face of “inadequate tonification,” the solution lies in: first, consulting a professional physician for constitution identification to ensure the correct direction of tonification; secondly, emotional management is equally important, maintaining a cheerful mood is conducive to the tonifying effect; furthermore, strengthening the function of the spleen and stomach, improving the body’s ability to convert and absorb nutrients through reasonable diet and lifestyle adjustments. Tonification should follow the principle of gradual progress, avoiding being hasty, especially in winter, where gentle tonification should be emphasized to prevent excess. For those who do not need tonification, blindly following trends will only increase the burden on the body.
In conclusion, tonification should be scientific and reasonable, choosing an appropriate method based on individual circumstances to truly achieve the nourishing and strengthening effect.
