Is it OK to drink Chinese medicine cold?

Should Chinese medicine be taken hot or cold? There are actually many situations in this regard, and many people have only a vague understanding of it. Some people think that drinking cold food will affect the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine, but some people think that cold traditional Chinese medicine is better. In fact, whether to drink it hot or cold depends on the Chinese medicine itself, mainly on the medicinal properties, the condition, the patient's constitution and even the climate and weather. Therefore, it cannot be generalized. It mainly depends on the specific situation of the patient and the situation of the Chinese medicine.

Many people like to take Chinese medicine while it is hot after being decocted, for fear that it will lose its efficacy if it cools down. Some people think that it is better to take it cold than hot. So is it better to take it cold or while it is hot? It should be said that whether Chinese herbal decoctions are taken cold or hot should be determined based on the condition, medicinal properties, season, and physical constitution, and should not be generalized. Generally speaking, medicines that warm the middle and dispel cold, and replenish weakness (i.e. warming and hot medicines and tonics used to treat coldness of internal organs and weak constitution) should be taken while hot or after being warmed. For example, Ai Fu Nuan Gong Decoction, Bu Zhong Yi Qi Decoction, Li Zhong Decoction, Sini Decoction, Xiao Jian Zhong Decoction and Chinese medicines such as aconite, ginger, cinnamon, fennel, ginseng, Eucommia, deer antler, and Cibotium barometz should all be taken when warm, which can better enhance the therapeutic effects of these prescriptions. Some medicines for clearing heat, detoxifying and reducing fire (i.e. medicines for treating internal organ heat, heat entering the blood, high fever convulsions and heatstroke) such as Qingying Decoction, Baihu Decoction, Qingwei Powder, Daochi Powder, Qingwen Baidu Yin, Huaban Decoction, Liuyi Powder, etc. and Chinese medicines such as gypsum, Anemarrhena, Gardenia, Gentiana, Rhubarb, Glauber's Salt, Hanshui Stone, Borneol, Paeonia Suffruticosa, Phellodendron, etc. should be taken cold, which can enhance the functions of clearing heat and reducing fire, detoxifying and promoting the flow of qi. However, for some patients with high fever leading to fluid depletion, extreme weakness and shock, warm Chinese herbal decoctions should be taken according to the situation.

In addition, it should also be decided based on the medication season and the patient's physical condition. In cold seasons, the elderly, children, pregnant women and patients with long-term illness should take the medicine warm. Otherwise the impact is not significant. For some prescriptions for regulating blood circulation, soothing the liver and relieving depression, expelling dampness and wind, unblocking meridians, expelling parasites, and removing accumulation, taking them cold or warm has no obvious effect on the efficacy. You can choose according to your condition.

However, Chinese medicine itself can be roughly summarized. For example, there are medicines for people with weak constitutions and tonics. The important thing about replenishing the weak is that they need to be drunk hot. Some medicines, such as those for clearing away heat and relieving fire or detoxifying, generally need to be taken cold. Some things also depend on the weather, and some medicines are not affected by hot or cold weather.