"What Are the Consequences of Continuously Consuming Sour Chinese Herbal Medicine?"
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can treat a myriad of illnesses, particularly when Western medicine proves ineffective. However, consuming TCM can be intricate, as it often requires decocting herbs into a liquid form. Prolonged storage may compromise the medication's efficacy. Typically, sourness in TCM indicates spoilage; consuming it may not only fail to cure but also cause illness, leading to acute poisoning or chronic toxicity.
What Happens if You Continue Drinking Sour TCM?
Sourness in TCM signifies deterioration, which not only diminishes its therapeutic effects but also increases the risk of pathogenic and toxigenic bacteria. It can generate various toxic and harmful substances, causing acute poisoning or chronic toxicity in consumers. Sour TCM is harmful rather than healing; thus, it should not be consumed. TCM comprises starch, sugars, proteins, vitamins, volatile oils, amino acids, enzymes, trace elements, among others, most of which dissolve in the decoction. Ideally, half the decoction should be taken while warm, followed by the remaining half after 4-6 hours. Prolonged storage or overnight consumption can reduce efficacy, encourage enzyme degradation, bacterial growth, and fermentation of nutrients, resulting in spoilage and adverse health effects.
What Precautions Should Be Taken When Drinking TCM?
- Avoid certain foods while taking TCM to prevent reduced efficacy or worsened conditions. When taking heat-clearing herbs, avoid spicy or warm foods like onions, garlic, pepper, mutton, and dog meat. During "cold syndrome" treatment, avoid cold foods. Eating forbidden foods may compromise the treatment's outcome or even have adverse effects.
- Do not drink strong tea with TCM, as its tannins interfere with the absorption of active ingredients, reducing efficacy. Other beverages like coffee, cola, and Sprite are also unsuitable; stick to plain water.
- During colds, measles, or chest congestion due to qi stagnation, avoid cold, sour, and greasy foods. For qi stagnation-related chest discomfort or bloating, avoid beans and sweet potatoes as they cause bloating. Additionally, limit salt intake for edema patients and avoid spicy, fatty foods for hepatitis patients.
- Asthma and allergic dermatitis patients should limit chicken, mutton, pork head, fish, shrimp, and crab, as high-protein foods like eggs, milk, fish, and shrimp can exacerbate symptoms during asthma attacks.
