Clipping Board » Dangerous Medicinal Tonics ─ Nutrients should be moderate in the body—excessive supplementation only becomes a burden.
Update Date: 2009/09/16 16:19 Reporter Jiang Wenyi / Special Report
The H1N1 flu continues to spread daily, with the Department of Health previously estimating over 3,000 new infections per day. Some infectious disease specialists even predict that September to October will mark the peak of the outbreak. As the public scrambles to fight the virus, ingredients like star anise and herbal teas—known for their heat-clearing and detoxifying properties—have surged in popularity. However, doctors warn that blindly following hearsay and self-medicating may not only fail to prevent infection but could also backfire, so caution is advised.
With the H1N1 outbreak still raging, everyone is looking to boost their immunity and keep the virus at bay. Yang Xianhong, Director of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Chang Gung Hospital, shared a case where a patient drank herbal tea daily for two weeks after hearing it could prevent H1N1. Instead of protection, the patient developed persistent "allergic coughing," which only subsided after stopping the tea and receiving medication.
Yang pointed out that cooling herbal teas are not suitable for everyone. This patient had an allergic constitution and, driven by excessive fear of H1N1, consumed large amounts of herbal tea, triggering severe allergic coughing. Many people fall into similar traps, such as the widely circulated but misleading claim that star anise fights the flu. While star anise contains shikimic acid—a raw ingredient in Tamiflu—excessive consumption can actually lead to nerve poisoning.
Recently, Beijing’s health authorities recommended a preventive herbal formula including honeysuckle, dyer’s woad leaves, mint, and licorice root (3 grams each), claiming it could ward off infection when brewed as tea. However, Yang cautioned that all four ingredients are cold-natured and meant for clearing heat and detoxifying—typically prescribed after viral infection. He advises against self-purchasing, especially for those with weak or cold constitutions, as excessive consumption may cause severe diarrhea. Consulting a professional doctor is the best approach.
He also cited the example of banlangen (isatis root), which gained fame during the SARS outbreak. Like honeysuckle and forsythia, it is a heat-clearing and detoxifying antiviral treatment. However, many people misunderstand its use—long-term consumption as a preventive measure can suppress the immune system. If the virus eventually invades, the weakened immune response may fail to mount an effective defense.
Dr. Zhang Jiabei, a TCM physician who worked at Taipei Municipal Hoping Hospital during SARS, emphasized that while SARS was an unknown threat with no treatment or vaccine, H1N1 has both. She urged the public not to panic excessively, stressing that maintaining good hygiene, regular exercise, frequent handwashing, and wearing masks are the best defenses. For those without a history of tonic use, she discourages suddenly consuming strong supplements like angelica or ginseng in hopes of boosting immunity—this could disrupt blood circulation, overburden internal organs, and cause discomfort.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ art……url/ d/ a/ 090916/ 17/ 1r7zk. html
Beware Overconsumption: Anti-H1N1 Herbal Teas Trigger Allergic Cough
The H1N1 flu continues to spread daily, with the Department of Health previously estimating over 3,000 new infections per day. Some infectious disease specialists even predict that September to October will mark the peak of the outbreak. As the public scrambles to fight the virus, ingredients like star anise and herbal teas—known for their heat-clearing and detoxifying properties—have surged in popularity. However, doctors warn that blindly following hearsay and self-medicating may not only fail to prevent infection but could also backfire, so caution is advised.
With the H1N1 outbreak still raging, everyone is looking to boost their immunity and keep the virus at bay. Yang Xianhong, Director of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Chang Gung Hospital, shared a case where a patient drank herbal tea daily for two weeks after hearing it could prevent H1N1. Instead of protection, the patient developed persistent "allergic coughing," which only subsided after stopping the tea and receiving medication.
Yang pointed out that cooling herbal teas are not suitable for everyone. This patient had an allergic constitution and, driven by excessive fear of H1N1, consumed large amounts of herbal tea, triggering severe allergic coughing. Many people fall into similar traps, such as the widely circulated but misleading claim that star anise fights the flu. While star anise contains shikimic acid—a raw ingredient in Tamiflu—excessive consumption can actually lead to nerve poisoning.
Recently, Beijing’s health authorities recommended a preventive herbal formula including honeysuckle, dyer’s woad leaves, mint, and licorice root (3 grams each), claiming it could ward off infection when brewed as tea. However, Yang cautioned that all four ingredients are cold-natured and meant for clearing heat and detoxifying—typically prescribed after viral infection. He advises against self-purchasing, especially for those with weak or cold constitutions, as excessive consumption may cause severe diarrhea. Consulting a professional doctor is the best approach.
He also cited the example of banlangen (isatis root), which gained fame during the SARS outbreak. Like honeysuckle and forsythia, it is a heat-clearing and detoxifying antiviral treatment. However, many people misunderstand its use—long-term consumption as a preventive measure can suppress the immune system. If the virus eventually invades, the weakened immune response may fail to mount an effective defense.
Dr. Zhang Jiabei, a TCM physician who worked at Taipei Municipal Hoping Hospital during SARS, emphasized that while SARS was an unknown threat with no treatment or vaccine, H1N1 has both. She urged the public not to panic excessively, stressing that maintaining good hygiene, regular exercise, frequent handwashing, and wearing masks are the best defenses. For those without a history of tonic use, she discourages suddenly consuming strong supplements like angelica or ginseng in hopes of boosting immunity—this could disrupt blood circulation, overburden internal organs, and cause discomfort.
Source: http:/ / tw. news. yahoo. com/ art……url/ d/ a/ 090916/ 17/ 1r7zk. html