Overeating Lychees Can Cause “Imperial Concubine’s Sadness”
“Riding fast through red dust, the concubine laughs”—lychees are delicious and nutritious. Even the imperial concubine Yang Yuhuan couldn’t resist their charm. Not only are they tasty, but they are rich in nutrients including fructose, vitamins, proteins, citric acid, etc., offering nourishing benefits to the body. However, traditional Chinese medicine classifies lychees as "hot and damp" foods. Folklore says, “One lychee causes three fires.” Despite their delicious taste, they shouldn’t be eaten excessively, or one risks developing lychee disease.
Lychee disease is essentially a form of hypoglycemia. Lychees contain large amounts of fructose. After absorption through the intestinal mucosal capillaries, fructose must be converted into glucose by liver enzymes before the body can use it directly. If too much lychee is consumed, excessive fructose floods the bloodstream, overwhelming the conversion enzymes. As a result, large amounts of fructose remain unconverted, unable to become usable glucose. Meanwhile, overconsumption of lychees suppresses appetite, depriving the body of necessary nutrients, leading to insufficient blood glucose and triggering lychee disease.
Typical clinical manifestations of lychee disease include dizziness, palpitations, fatigue, pale complexion, cold clammy skin. Some patients may experience thirst and hunger, or suffer abdominal pain and diarrhea. Severe cases may suddenly fall unconscious, experience convulsions, weak rapid pulse, constricted pupils, irregular breathing (intermittent or sigh-like), grayish face, cyanotic skin, arrhythmia, and falling blood pressure. If lychee disease occurs, prompt treatment is essential. For mild symptoms such as dizziness, weakness, and sweating, oral glucose or sugar water can be given to correct hypoglycemia and replenish vital glucose. For severe cases involving convulsions, collapse, or shock, immediate hospitalization is required. Intravenous injection or infusion of high-concentration glucose can rapidly relieve symptoms, and full recovery typically leaves no lasting complications.