Is it okay to drink Cornus officinalis (Shanzhuyu) soup when having a fever?

For fever caused by liver and kidney yin deficiency, Cornus officinalis Decoction may usually be consumed. However, if the fever is caused by other factors, this formula is generally not appropriate.

If the fever belongs to the pattern of internal injury fever caused by liver and kidney yin deficiency, which manifests as tidal fever in the afternoon or at night, heat in the palms and soles, night sweats, soreness and weakness of the waist and knees, red tongue with scanty coating, then Cornus officinalis can be combined with yin-nourishing and heat-clearing herbs such as Rehmannia root (Shu Di Huang) and Anemarrhena rhizome (Zhi Mu) to nourish liver and kidney yin and consolidate yin fluids. Additionally, if the patient's spontaneous sweating aggravates the deficiency heat due to qi deficiency and failure to retain body fluids, Cornus officinalis can also be used together with qi-tonifying herbs such as Astragalus root (Huang Qi) and Atractylodes rhizome (Bai Zhu) to assist in strengthening the body's defensive barrier and stopping perspiration.

When fever is caused by infections such as the common cold or influenza, especially acute infections, Western medical approaches should be primarily considered, such as antipyretics and antibiotics, rather than directly using Cornus officinalis Decoction. For patients with weak constitution or impaired gastrointestinal function, taking Cornus officinalis Decoction directly during fever may be difficult to digest and absorb, and could even increase the burden on the gastrointestinal tract. During fever, one should not arbitrarily decide to take Chinese herbal medicine, especially without professional syndrome differentiation and treatment by a qualified TCM practitioner.

Adequate rest, sufficient hydration, and avoiding physical exhaustion are important during fever to promote recovery.

References:

[1] Adilai·Maimaiti Yimin, Zhang Yongping, Munire·Adili Jiang, et al. Changing Trends and Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment of Fever of Unknown Origin[J/OL]. Journal of Modern Medical Health, 1-8[2025-03-22]. http://kns.cnki.net/kcms/detail/50.1129.r.20250319.1415.037.html.

[2] Wang Jiajun, Wang Zeping, Wang Xuelian, et al. Research Progress on Chemical Constituents and Pharmacological Effects of Cornus officinalis[J]. Chinese Herbal Medicines, 2025, 56(03): 1088-1103.