Overview of commonly used health-preserving traditional Chinese medicines: primary and secondary structures and core functions

There are many types of health-preserving traditional Chinese medicines, which can be divided into tonic (such as ginseng, astragalus), blood-activating (such as salvia, notoginseng), heat-clearing (such as honeysuckle, chrysanthemum), etc. according to their functions. Among them, the tonic type is the most widely used and is suitable for people with weak constitutions; the blood-activating type is mostly used for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health care; and the heat-clearing type is used to regulate internal heat or inflammation. It should be noted that Chinese medicine needs to be used according to syndrome differentiation and avoid blind supplementation. Representative medicinal materials and their scientific applications will be described below.

Tonic Chinese medicine: the foundation for regulating weakness

Qi supplement representativeGinseng("Shen Nong's Materia Medica" says it "mainly nourishes the five internal organs"). It contains ginsenosides that can enhance immunity. "Changbai Mountain Ginseng" produced in Jilin is well-known;AstragalusTo nourish qi and raise yang, Inner Mongolia Astragalus has a high polysaccharide content, and manufacturers such as Tongrentang have astragalus granule products. Blood-enhancing herbsAngelica sinensis(Min County, Gansu is a genuine area) It is often used to regulate menstruation in women, and its efficacy can be enhanced when combined with Rehmannia glutinosa. Excessive use of these medicinal materials should be avoided, and should be used with caution by those with yin deficiency and excessive fire.

Traditional Chinese medicine for promoting blood circulation and clearing away heat: targeted conditioning plan

First choice for promoting blood circulationSalvia(Best produced in Zhongjiang, Sichuan), its tanshinone can improve microcirculation, and Baiyunshan Compound Danshen Tablets are common Chinese patent medicines;notoginseng(Specialty of Wenshan, Yunnan) It has both hemostasis and blood circulation. Yunnan Baiyao capsules contain this ingredient. Among the heat-clearing herbs,Honeysuckle(Produced in Fengqiu, Henan Province) It has significant antibacterial effect and is often used in cold granules;chrysanthemum(Hangju and Boju are better) It can clear the liver and improve eyesight, and can be used as a substitute for tea. It is necessary to identify the physical constitution before use, and blood-activating medicinal materials are prohibited for pregnant women.

Precautions and scientific combination of traditional Chinese medicine health care

Traditional Chinese medicine health care should follow the principle of "three parts to cure and seven parts to nourish": tonic medicines are recommended to be taken on an empty stomach in the morning, and heat-clearing medicines should be taken in the afternoon; ginseng should not be eaten with radish, and honeysuckle should not be used alone for a long time. Modern Chinese patent medicines such asDong'e donkey-hide gelatin(blood replenishment),Pien Tze Huang(heat-clearing and detoxifying), etc. have been clinically verified, but they need to be used according to the dosage instructions. When the seasons change, you can consult a Chinese medicine practitioner for compatibility adjustments.

Comprehensive suggestions for rationally choosing traditional Chinese medicine for health care

Health-preserving Chinese medicine needs to be used in combination with physical constitution, season and specific symptoms, and authentic medicinal materials (such as Zhejiang Atractylodes and Ningxia Lycium barbarum) are preferred. For Chinese patent medicines, you can choose from time-honored products such as Beijing Tongrentang and Guangzhou Baiyunshan. Remember that Chinese medicine is not a panacea, and patients with chronic diseases should be treated with a combination of Chinese and Western medicine. On a daily basis, you can refer to the "Chinese Pharmacopoeia" and the "List of Traditional Chinese Medicines that Are Both Foods and Medicines" issued by the National Health Commission to avoid using unapproved "recipes."

Quote sources:
1. "Chinese Pharmacopoeia" 2020 edition (National Pharmacopoeia Committee)
2. Zhang Boli's "Health Preservation of Traditional Chinese Medicine" (China Traditional Chinese Medicine Press)
3. For data on authentic medicinal materials, please refer to "Chinese Authentic Medicinal Materials" (Science Press)
4. Information on proprietary Chinese medicines comes from the filing data of the State Food and Drug Administration.