Q If I take a tonic with Astragalus or Ginseng for a long time, won't I develop excess heat or side effects?
A Taking it without considering your constitution can cause heat sensations or digestive discomfort, so it must be prescribed after a proper diagnosis.
Detailed Answer
Since Ginseng and Astragalus are warming herbs (溫補), prescribing them as-is to someone with a heat-excess constitution or Yin deficiency (陰虛) who tends to run hot can cause side effects such as heat sensations, headaches, and insomnia. In such cases, herbs that nourish Yin, such as Ophiopogon and Adenophora, are combined, or the ratio of the prescription is adjusted. Long-term self-directed intake of over-the-counter products is potentially risky.
Our Korean Medicine Clinic's Perspective
At Dongjedang, before prescribing, we always check whether the body runs cold or hot. Even with the same underlying immune weakness, the formula composition is completely different for someone who runs cold versus someone who runs hot.
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