Can Chinese medicine be taken on an empty stomach? When to take Chinese medicine

Regardless of whether they are sick or not, many people like to use Chinese medicine to regulate their bodies, especially paste prescriptions and Chinese herbal health products that have a better effect on the body. They are very popular among people who pay attention to health. However, those who know how to buy them may not know how to use them. Many people who take Chinese medicine always have some questions in the process of taking Chinese medicine, such as whether Chinese medicine can be taken on an empty stomach and other common sense questions.

1. Can Chinese medicine be taken on an empty stomach?

For tonic soups, it is best to take them on an empty stomach in the morning so that they can be better absorbed. In addition, drugs used to deworm or treat limb blood vessel diseases should also be taken on an empty stomach, so that the drugs can quickly enter the intestines and maximize their efficacy. The same is true for decoctions with laxative effects.

2. The best time to take Chinese medicine

1. Take before meals

Generally, take the medicine 30 to 60 minutes before meals. If the disease is located in the lower part of the body, the medicine should be taken before meals so that the medicinal properties can be easily delivered to the lower part of the body, such as liver and kidney deficiency or diseases below the waist. For the treatment of intestinal diseases, it is also advisable to take medicine before meals, because when the stomach is empty, the liquid medicine can directly contact the gastrointestinal mucosa and pass through the stomach into the intestine more quickly, so that more of it can be absorbed and exert its effect, without being diluted by food in the stomach and affecting its efficacy. Generally, take the medicine 30 to 60 minutes before meals.

2. Take after meals

Generally, take the medicine 15 to 30 minutes after a meal. If the disease is located in the upper part of the body, the medicine should be taken after meals. For treating diseases of the heart, lungs, chest, diaphragm, and stomach, taking the medicine after meals can allow the medicinal properties to move upward. Drugs that are irritating to the gastrointestinal tract can reduce damage to the gastrointestinal mucosa by taking them after meals. Drugs with higher toxicity should also be taken after meals to avoid side effects due to too rapid absorption.

3. Meal service

Taking medicine between meals can avoid the impact of food on the medicine. Medicines suitable for taking between meals are those for treating spleen and stomach diseases.

4. Take before bed

It is usually taken 15 to 30 minutes before bedtime. After taking the medicines that nourish the heart and spleen, calm the mind, and induce sleep, as well as those with stagnation, chest and diaphragm diseases, etc., it is advisable to lie on your back; if you have head, mouth, or ear diseases, you should lie down without a pillow after taking the medicine; when you have symptoms on the left or right ribs, after taking the medicine, you should choose a sleeping position according to the ascending and descending effects of the medicine. If the medicine has an ascending effect, you should choose to lie on the healthy side; if the medicine has a sinking effect, you should choose to lie on the affected side.

5. Overnight service

It mainly refers to anthelmintics, which should be taken once before going to bed and again on an empty stomach the next morning in order to kill the worms and excrete them out of the body. It is worth noting that for acute and serious illnesses, medications should be taken as soon as possible or frequently (every 1-2 hours) regardless of time, while for chronic diseases, medications should be taken on time. In short, the time to take Chinese medicine should be determined according to the condition and the nature of the medicine. The principle is to maximize the preventive and therapeutic effects of drugs and reduce adverse reactions.