Q Should I take a herbal tonic when I'm sick, or when I'm healthy? When is the best time for it to work well?
A Herbal tonics suit people whose recovery power has declined or who want to maintain their health, more than people who are currently sick. Avoid them during a cold or acute inflammation, and take them when your body is stable for the best effect.
Detailed Answer
A herbal tonic (補藥) fills deficiency patterns (虛症), so taking it during an excess pattern (實症—acute inflammation, fever, a cold) can actually trap and worsen the illness. The right time to take it is after a cold has fully resolved, or when you're healthy but feel fatigue building up or immunity dropping. Taking it in advance during the spring and autumn seasonal transitions helps your body adapt well to seasonal change.
Our Korean Medicine Clinic's Perspective
At Dongjedang Korean Medicine Clinic, we check your current condition before starting a tonic to judge whether it's the right time. If there's an acute illness, we treat that first before starting the tonic.
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