What teas should people with a Yang-deficient constitution avoid drinking?
Jan 18, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. He Haochen
Introduction
Yang deficiency constitution generally refers to a physical condition characterized by insufficient yang energy, in which the deficiency of yang leads to internal cold. Individuals with this constitution may experience symptoms such as pale complexion, weak breathing, fatigue, excessive sleepiness, aversion to cold, cold limbs, general weakness, or limb edema. People with yang deficiency constitution should generally avoid drinking dandelion tea, burdock tea, honeysuckle tea, etc., to prevent worsening of bodily discomfort and adverse effects on health.
Yang deficiency constitution generally refers to a physical condition characterized by insufficient yang energy, leading to internal cold due to yang deficiency. Individuals with this constitution typically exhibit symptoms such as pale complexion, weak breathing, fatigue, excessive sleepiness, aversion to cold, cold limbs, general weakness, or limb edema. People with a yang-deficient constitution should avoid drinking dandelion tea, burdock tea, honeysuckle tea, etc., to prevent worsening of discomfort and adverse effects on health.
1. Dandelion Tea
Dandelion has a bitter and slightly sweet taste and is cold in nature. It functions to clear heat, detoxify the body, promote urination, and resolve nodules. It can be used to treat conditions such as acute mastitis, acute conjunctivitis, fever from colds, acute tonsillitis, gastritis, and hepatitis. However, for individuals with yang deficiency, consuming the cold-natured dandelion tea may further deplete yang energy, lower immunity, exacerbate feelings of fatigue and weakness, and thus negatively impact overall health.
2. Burdock Tea
Burdock tea is an herbal tea made from medicinal plants. Burdock has a pungent, bitter, and sweet taste and is cold in nature. It helps clear heat, detoxify, promote urination, and reduce swelling, making it effective for sore throat, carbuncles, and toxic swellings. Due to its cold nature, burdock tea is generally unsuitable for people with weak constitutions, especially those with yang deficiency.
3. Honeysuckle Tea
Honeysuckle tea belongs to the floral tea category. It has a sweet taste and is cold in nature, offering benefits such as clearing heat, detoxifying, soothing the throat, relieving summer heat, and reducing irritability. Individuals with yang deficiency are generally advised against drinking honeysuckle tea, as its cold properties may weaken yang energy further and aggravate symptoms of yang deficiency.
Patients can visit a hospital for a comprehensive diagnosis through observation, auscultation and olfaction, inquiry, and pulse-taking to determine the severity of their condition. If symptoms are mild, they may moderately consume foods such as lamb, beef, chicken, and dog meat; engage in regular physical exercise like yoga or tai chi; maintain a regular daily routine; quit smoking and alcohol; and cultivate relaxation and emotional balance. For more severe cases, patients should consult a physician for guidance on taking prescribed medications such as Yougui Pills (You Gui Wan) or Cinnamon Twig and Rehmannia Pills (Gui Fu Di Huang Wan).
