Before the safety inspection regime for traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) is implemented, how should consumers go about selecting good-quality medicines? Are there types of use that really have to be avoided? Any misconceptions that need to be cleared up? How should the medicines be taken to get their intended effect? I talked with nutrition specialist Guo Yueying and doctor of traditional Chinese medicine Lee Chia-hsiung to seek the answers to these and other questions.
Q: What are the basic rules of thumb you need to observe when purchasing crude medicines?
A: First, you must ask by name for products from reputable, qualified vendors. Then, you need to note the surface color, scent, freshness, and dryness. The best wolfberries, for instance, are round and plump, and have a naturally dark red color. The color shouldn't be too bright, and there should be some variation in hue. At the same time, there should be a faint medicinal scent; if there is an acrid smell of sulfur, it means the wolfberries have been subject to excessive sulfur treatment. Also, remember when smelling the wolfberries to keep them 20-30 centimeters away from your nose so you don't come in contact with germs.
Q: When cooking a meal that contains medicinal materials, do you have to wash the crude medicine in advance?
A: Yes, absolutely. But to avoid attenuating the medicinal effect, you don't want to wash it as thoroughly as you do rice. It's enough to put it on a sieve screen and quickly rinse it off. Also, though more than 95% of crude TCMs are herbal, some materials are actually animal-derived, such as deer antlers. For animal-derived materials I'd recommend additionally blanching them in hot water to kill any germs.
Q: Do crude TCMs have a use-by date? How is it determined? What is the best way to store them?
A: Taiwan has a humid climate, so once you've broken the seal on a container of crude TCMs, to prevent mold and insect damage I'd recommend keeping the stuff in a refrigerator, and by all means be sure and use it up within a half year. If it starts smelling like it's gone bad, or if it seems a bit damp or moldy, throw it away immediately.
Q: There are Chinese medicinal drinks sold on the market, but how effective are they? Is there any risk in drinking them?
A: Store-bought Chinese herbal drinks come in cans and tea bags. You can carry them around and consume them very conveniently. The drinks don't vary too much one from the other, and they do have a certain medicinal effect. But if time allows, it's still better to take your medicine by cooking it up for yourself, and when preparing it you can add in red dates, wolfberries, ginger slices, chicken meat, or pork ribs and stew it slowly. That makes for a delicious and healthy medicinal stew.
Q: Are store-bought medicinal meal packets safe?
A: The quality and sanitary condition of store-bought medicinal meal packets are questionable. The basic approach of Chinese medicine is to tailor the prescription to the individual, taking into account one's physical condition, symptoms, and lifestyle. There's no single preparation to suit everyone. It's still best to consult with a qualified doctor of Chinese medicine and get a prescription that is targeted to your particular needs.
Q: Most Chinese medicines are herbal. Is it okay to continue taking them over an extended period?
A: People who grow Chinese herbal medicines treat most of them with pesticides. Prescriptions from a well-established and qualified manufacturer or Chinese medical clinic won't present any problems, but you need to follow the doctor's orders, in both how you take them and how long you take them. You don't want to try to be a doctor yourself.
Q: Are patent formula Chinese medicines actually Chinese medicine? Or are they Western?
A: Thanks to advances in pharmaceutical manufacturing technology, makers of patent formula Chinese medicines are now able to produce very pure extracts. These medicines do have a certain effect, and do suit the needs of busy modern people. But each maker uses its own ingredients and dosages, so these medicines should be used in accordance with a doctor's instructions. And you have to be extra patient and give the medicine time to have its effect.
Dried (lower left) and prepared Rehmannia root
Chinese angelica
Atractylodes rhizome
Red dates
Fuling
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