No heating, Chinese medicine, influence

After we boil the Chinese medicine, we often tell the patients to drink it while it is hot. So is it effective if it is not heated? In fact, not all medicines need to be heated before drinking. As long as they are not too cold, they can be drunk and the efficacy will not be affected. However, generally speaking, there are some rules for taking Chinese medicine. For example, Chinese medicine for treating yang diseases is best taken hot, while those for treating yin diseases can be taken cold.

Not all Chinese medicines need to be taken while hot

There are some rules for taking Chinese medicine. Not all Chinese medicines need to be taken while hot. Some Chinese medicines are not very effective when taken while hot and need to be taken after the temperature has cooled down. There is an old saying in Chinese medicine, "Take hot medicine for yang disease and cold medicine for yin disease", which means that when taking Chinese medicine, you should take it according to the specific situation of the medicine. Medicines for treating fever should be taken cold, while medicines for treating cold syndrome should be taken hot.

Taking Chinese medicine can be divided into three types: hot, warm and cold.

① Take it hot: It means drinking the Chinese medicine while it is hot after decocting it. Taking it hot is mainly used to treat severe cold syndrome. In addition, Chinese medicine that has the function of dispersing wind and cold also needs to be taken hot, such as Saposhnikovia divaricata, Tamarix chinensis, Scallion white, Magnolia officinalis, Xanthium sibiricum, and Ligusticum chuanxiong. After taking the medicine, you can also eat hot porridge and hot water to better exert the efficacy of this type of medicine.

② Take it warm: This means that after the Chinese medicine is decocted, it should not be drunk while it is hot. Instead, the residue should be filtered out and the medicine liquid should be cooled to 30℃~37℃ before taking it. Generally, Chinese herbal decoctions need to be taken warm, especially those that are more irritating to the stomach and intestines. Taking them warm can reduce the irritation to the stomach and intestines caused by these drugs. In addition, Chinese patent medicines in the form of pills and powders can also be taken warm.

③ Take cold: It means that after the Chinese medicine is decocted, it can be taken after it has cooled down. Usually, Chinese medicines with detoxification and heat-clearing effects need to be taken cold, especially the "cold tea" taken in the summer in the southern region. Chinese medicines with cooling and relieving heat need to be taken after being cooled down to better exert their effects. In addition, patients suffering from vomiting or poisoning also need to take Chinese medicine cold.

Warm reminder: Whether to take Chinese medicine hot, warm or cold depends on the patient's specific condition. We must learn to choose the temperature of taking the medicine according to our own situation. We cannot require all Chinese medicines to be taken while hot or after cooling. If we really can't tell which method to choose for taking the medicine, it is best to consult a relevant Chinese medicine practitioner. Remember not to take it on your own to avoid affecting the efficacy of the medicine.