🌿 Folk Prescriptions

TCM emphasizes "food and medicine share the same origin," so "tonic dishes" combining herbs and food have become increasingly popular in recent years. Especially in southern China, whether stewing soups or drinking beverages, there is a strong emphasis on dietary supplementation. However, the famous brand "Wanglaoji Herbal Tea" recently faced legal action for adding a banned herb—“Summer枯草” (Prunella vulgaris).
It is true that since 1995, China's "Food Hygiene Law" stipulated that food must not contain drugs. In 2002, the Ministry of Health issued a list titled "Items That Are Both Food and Medicine," which did not include Prunella vulgaris. But does this mean that Wanglaoji Herbal Tea containing Prunella vulgaris poses health risks to consumers? Similar cases include "Wangshouyi Thirteen Spices" and many other traditional foods whose recipes have been passed down for generations. Should we still trust them today? Journalists interviewed TCM experts from Beijing and Guangzhou.
Professor Zhang Hudong from Beijing University of Chinese Medicine's Health Preservation Department said that herbs have different natures, and when properly dosed according to seasonal changes, they can play a positive role in diet, effectively nourishing the body. He pointed out that Guangdong people excel in dietary tonification—herbs like Prunella vulgaris, notoginseng, Gastrodia elata, and poria are commonly used in soups. Used correctly, they produce no side effects.
Professor Li Junbiao, Head of the TCM Department at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, noted that in southern China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Southeast Asia, Prunella vulgaris has long been a common ingredient in herbal teas and soups—nearly all herbal drinks contain it, a well-known fact. Moreover, in every classical pharmacopoeia, Prunella vulgaris is confirmed as non-toxic. Furthermore, Guangdong Province has already submitted Prunella vulgaris to the Ministry of Health as a regular food item.
Professor Li emphasized that Guangdong people enjoy herbal tea because spring brings damp heat, prone to causing damp-heat toxins, and autumn brings dryness, increasing the risk of internal heat. In recent years, this habit has spread northward, affecting more and more people. In many northern cities, canned herbal teas are now widely available and popular. He stressed that adding herbs to herbal tea is a normal practice, a centuries-old tradition among Guangdong people. Besides Prunella vulgaris, herbal teas also contain wild chrysanthemum, monk fruit, and frangipani flower—all serving to clear heat and detoxify. He noted that TCM places great importance on clinical experience. Guangdong people have drunk Wanglaoji and "Ershiwei" (another famous herbal tea brand) for generations, proving their health benefits. Many traditional foods containing herbs face similar issues. From a protective standpoint, they should be treated with caution rather than dismissed outright.
However, Professor Li also warned that all medicines carry potential side effects. Prunella vulgaris clears liver fire and reduces heat, but prolonged use may affect the gastrointestinal tract. People with cold constitution should avoid herbal tea. Consumption should be adjusted based on individual constitution, aiming for moderation and appropriateness. If uncertain, consult a nearby TCM practitioner.