Will drinking Chinese medicine to replenish qi and blood make you sleepy?

Many people will find that they become drowsy after taking some Chinese medicine to replenish qi and blood. In fact, this is a relatively common reaction, because some Chinese medicines can have a sedative and sleep-inducing effect. Chinese medicines include angelica, licorice, astragalus, etc. Sometimes taking these medicines may cause some drowsiness reactions. We don’t need to worry too much about this.

1. Angelica

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that angelica has a sweet and thick taste, which enters the spleen and nourishes the blood, and has the effect of replenishing blood. "Bencao Zheng" records: "Danggui has a sweet and strong taste, so it can specifically nourish the blood. Its aroma is light and pungent, so it can also promote blood circulation. It can nourish while moving, and promote circulation while nourishing. It is truly a qi medicine for the blood and a holy medicine for nourishing the blood." From this, we can see that the blood-tonifying effect of Angelica sinensis is evident. There are basically few adverse reactions to consuming angelica, but there are some precautions: oral administration of regular doses of angelica decoction or powder may occasionally cause fatigue, drowsiness and other reactions, which will disappear after stopping the medication. Improper use of the medication will cause the pungent flavor of Angelica sinensis to dissipate. People with menorrhagia, bleeding tendency, yin deficiency, internal heat, and loose stools should not take it. Improper use of medication will aggravate symptoms such as bleeding and diarrhea. The medicinal properties of angelica are a bit strong and dry, so when people with yin deficiency use angelica, they must pay attention to adding other medicines to suppress the strong and dry properties of angelica, otherwise the user will get a sore throat.

2. Licorice

Licorice is the root and rhizome of the perennial herb licorice of the legume family. The best ones are solid and heavy, with fine and tight skin with grapefruit grooves, yellow-white cross-section, more powder, sweet taste, and less fiber when chewed. It contains glycyrrhizin, liquiritigenin, isoliquiritigenin, glycyrrhizin, isoliquiritigenin, etc. Animal experiments have shown that glycyrrhizin has adrenal cortex hormone-like effects and anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects. In addition, it also has antitussive, analgesic and anticonvulsant effects. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that it is mild in nature, sweet in taste, and has the functions of tonifying the spleen and harmonizing the middle, relieving acute pain, moistening the lungs and relieving cough, detoxifying, and harmonizing various medicines. It is suitable for spleen and stomach weakness, abdominal pain, cough, palpitations, sores, swelling, poisoning and other symptoms.

3. Astragalus

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that "the spleen is the foundation of acquired constitution." Li Gao, a representative of the spleen and stomach school, believed that astragalus "replenishes vital energy and nourishes the three burners". Huang Gongxiu of the Qing Dynasty called astragalus "the best of all qi-replenishing medicines". Astragalus is a commonly used Chinese medicine. Its main pharmacological effects are "tonifying Qi and strengthening the exterior", "promoting diuresis" and "expelling toxins and promoting tissue regeneration". Astragalus can be used for any condition that is considered by Chinese medicine to be "Qi deficiency", "Qi and blood deficiency", or "Zhongqi sinking". When Shennong tasted hundreds of herbs, the one he appreciated the most was Astragalus. According to legend, Shennong was weak due to accidentally eating "Duhuo". However, after he found Astragalus and ate it, he immediately became strong and healthy. The effect of Astragalus membranaceus in replenishing qi and blood also came into being. Astragalus has the effects of replenishing Qi and strengthening the exterior, promoting diuresis and reducing swelling, expelling toxins and draining pus, and promoting tissue regeneration. Modern medicine uses it for liver protection, diuresis, anti-aging, anti-stress, and blood pressure reduction. This also shows that this traditional Chinese medicine for replenishing qi and blood is a versatile one and can cure any disease.