How long should I wait before taking Chinese medicine for the second time?

Drinking Chinese herbal decoctions to treat diseases takes a long time, and some people even drink Chinese medicine for years, but for many diseases it is indeed a method with few side effects and more obvious improvements. However, Chinese medicine does not have to be taken continuously every day. Generally, Chinese doctors will choose to let patients stop for a period of time in between. So how long should the interval be before taking the Chinese medicine for the second time? This depends on what kind of Chinese medicine you take and each person's physical condition.

1. The time interval between taking Chinese medicine

Traditional Chinese medicine experts remind that many elderly people like to take Chinese medicine to treat diseases, but if you want to maximize the effectiveness of the medicine, you need to pay attention to the time of taking the medicine. The time of taking different types of medicines is also different. If you want to achieve the best effect of traditional Chinese medicine, you must also carefully distinguish them.

1. Take on an empty stomach

Chinese medicine taken on an empty stomach is mostly used for diseases with actual symptoms, especially stagnation, blood stasis, dampness and other symptoms. In terms of location, it is suitable for treating diseases below the heart and abdomen (such as stomach, liver, kidneys, etc.). The specific time to take the medicine includes: taking it before dawn (such as Jiming Powder); taking it at dawn (such as Shizao Decoction); taking it before meals (such as Sanda Chengqi Decoction), etc. Generally, when taking medicine on an empty stomach before meals, the medicine solution can directly come into contact with the gastrointestinal mucosa when the stomach is empty, pass through the stomach into the intestine faster, and thus be absorbed more and take effect.

2. Take after meals

It is suitable for diseases above the chest and diaphragm of the human body. Taking the medicine after meals can make the medicinal properties go upward. Traditionally, it is believed that diseases of the upper part of the body, such as the ears, eyes, mouth, nose and other five senses, should be treated by eating before taking medicine. Generally, take the medicine 15 to 30 minutes after a meal. In addition, stomachic drugs and drugs that irritate the gastrointestinal tract (such as Ganlu Xiaodu Dan, etc.) should be taken after meals to reduce the damage of the drugs to the gastrointestinal mucosa; drugs with higher toxicity should also be taken after meals to avoid adverse reactions caused by too rapid absorption of toxic drugs.

3. Take it all at once

The so-called "all-in-one dose" means "taking the medicine in one go quickly." It usually refers to those with more urgent illnesses, who should take the medicine immediately after decocting it, with the idea that urgent illnesses should be treated urgently. Drugs of this type include Xiexin Decoction for treating acute vomiting and epistaxis, and Dahuang Mudanpi Decoction for treating intestinal abscesses. The all-at-once administration method is also used for general high fever diseases, infectious diseases, pediatric emergencies, etc.

4. Take before bed

Drugs that nourish the heart and spleen, calm the mind, and promote sleep can be taken at this time. Taking the medicine before bed can allow the medicine to take effect in time. It is usually taken 15 to 30 minutes before bedtime. Nightfall is the time when the internal organs function at their lowest level. Taking yin-nourishing tonic medicine at this time is like providing timely assistance, and its effectiveness will be doubled. The above article introduces when is the best time to take Chinese medicine. Different medicines have different taking times, so everyone should pay attention to the difference.