Taboos of taking Chinese medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine teaches you what to pay attention to when taking Chinese medicine.

When sick, many people prefer to choose Chinese medicine for treatment. Chinese medicine plays an important role in treating diseases with its unique efficacy and long history. However, taking Chinese medicine requires attention to detail, and drinking it correctly can maximize its benefits. This article will explore the precautions for taking Chinese medicine and an interesting discovery while decocting Chinese herbs. Chinese herbs, due to their complex composition and often bitter taste, can make it challenging for many people to take them. A common question is whether one must drink all the large bowl of soup obtained after decoction of Chinese herbs to ensure the efficacy. An experiment may help answer this question. For example, when Huanglian and Gancao are decocted together, their active ingredients may combine in the water to form insoluble substances, causing the soup to become turbid or even precipitate. Studies have shown that if the amount of Gancao is large, even though the top layer of the soup may not be bitter after clarification, the antibacterial effect may weaken, indicating that the active ingredients have precipitated at the bottom. Therefore, it is recommended to mix the precipitate at the bottom with water and continue drinking to fully utilize the medicinal value. When it comes to the taboos of taking Chinese medicine, one should firstly avoid foods that may affect the efficacy of the medicine, such as raw, cold, strong tea, spicy, greasy, radish, and fishy-smelling foods, as they may reduce the efficacy or cause adverse reactions. Secondly, one should not blindly pursue quick results by overdosing or long-term use of certain Chinese medicines to avoid side effects. Individuals with special constitutions should use caution under medical advice, and pregnant women in particular need to carefully choose the types of Chinese medicine to avoid potential risks. In addition, it is advisable to use earthenware or clay pots rather than metal products for decocting to prevent changes in the medicinal properties. Herbal decoctions should be consumed immediately after decoction and not left overnight to prevent spoilage. Lastly, with folk remedies, one should handle them with caution and preferably use them under the guidance of a professional physician. In conclusion, taking Chinese medicine is a meticulous process, and the correct methods and precautions are crucial to ensure the treatment effectiveness. By using medication judiciously, we can not only better harness the therapeutic potential of Chinese medicine but also avoid unnecessary health risks.