Elderly Should Choose Tonics Correctly
Elderly people should determine whether they need tonics based on their actual physical condition. Tonics are not suitable for everyone. Taking unnecessary supplements increases metabolic and excretory burdens on the body. If the goal is simply to strengthen the body, nutrition can be obtained through regular diet. Those with extreme deficiency must avoid excessive tonification, as “the body cannot tolerate supplementation,” which could lead to complications.
For elderly people with internal heat or liver yang rising, excessive tonification will intensify internal heat, potentially causing mucosal microvascular bleeding, sore throat, intestinal dryness, constipation, headaches, and red eyes.
Elderly individuals with damp-heat syndromes—such as thick tongue coating, facial swelling, or age-related cardiovascular diseases like hypertension and hyperlipidemia—should not take tonic medicines like ginseng and deer antler.
Chinese herbal medicine is a traditional tonic. For the elderly, mild-acting herbal tonics are most appropriate. Generally, tonics are divided into the following types:
Supplementing Yang Deficiency
Yang deficiency manifests as cold intolerance, limb weakness, soreness in waist and knees, impotence, premature ejaculation, loose stools, frequent urination, etc. Suitable options include deer antler and its products, three-penis preparations, Jinkui Shenqi Pills, and yang-tonifying medicinal wines.
Supplementing Qi Deficiency
Qi deficiency manifests as shortness of breath, fatigue, few words, lethargy, drowsiness, dizziness, poor appetite, etc. Suitable options include ginseng and its preparations, royal jelly, Buzhong Yiqi Pills, etc.
Supplementing Blood Deficiency
Blood deficiency manifests as restlessness, palpitations, mental exhaustion, pale complexion, pale nails, etc. Suitable options include donkey-hide gelatin, angelica root and its preparations, Shiquan Dabu Gao (pills or wine), Yangxue Guipi Pills, and black chicken.
When taking tonics, pause if suffering from colds, fever, diarrhea, or gastrointestinal discomfort. Resume after recovery. Avoid raw, cold, spicy foods, fatty meats, and strong tea or coffee during treatment.