🌿 Folk Prescriptions

The saying goes, "No illness in summer, but three parts deficiency," meaning that after the beginning of autumn, although mornings and evenings are cool, the lingering heat of late summer (the "autumn tiger") still makes people prone to fatigue, weakness, and poor appetite. According to the traditional Chinese medicine principle of "nourishing yang in spring and summer, nourishing yin in autumn and winter," supplementation in autumn should follow eight guidelines.
First, do not supplement without illness. Unnecessary supplementation wastes money and harms the body. For example, excessive fish liver oil intake may cause poisoning; long-term glucose consumption leads to obesity, increased blood cholesterol, and higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
Second, do not confuse deficiency with excess. Traditional Chinese medicine follows the principle: "tonify deficiency, not excess." Non-deficient individuals should not take tonics. Deficiency itself has different types—yin deficiency, yang deficiency, qi deficiency, blood deficiency—and proper treatment must match the condition; otherwise, it may backfire and harm the body. While health preservation is less strict than medical treatment, one should at least categorize dietary needs into cold- or heat-prone types. Cold-type individuals feel cold, prefer warmth, have cold hands and feet, pale tongue, thin pulse, bland taste, excessive saliva, loose stools, and clear urine. Heat-type individuals have hot palms and soles, dry mouth, bitter taste, bad breath, hard stools, short yellow urine, red tongue, and rapid pulse. Misjudging cold or heat and taking inappropriate tonics may worsen conditions—like pouring oil on fire—endangering health.
Third, do not over-supplement. Excessive intake of any tonic is harmful. Believing "more tonics mean better health, curing illness or strengthening the body even when healthy" is unwise. Overconsumption of ginseng or deer antler products may cause bloating and loss of appetite; excessive vitamin C intake may lead to nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Fourth, do not substitute meat for tonics. Animal-based foods are excellent supplements due to their high nutrition and palatability. But they are hard to digest. Long-term or excessive consumption burdens weakened digestive systems in the elderly, and byproducts like excess fats and sugars are often linked to common age-related diseases such as cardiovascular disorders and cancer. A light diet does not mean no nourishment—vegetables are especially important. Modern nutritional science holds that fresh fruits and vegetables contain various vitamins and trace elements essential for human health.
Fifth, do not replace food with medicine. Medicinal supplementation is inferior to dietary supplementation. Relying too heavily on drugs while neglecting food is unwise. Many foods themselves possess therapeutic properties. For example, eating celery helps lower hypertension; eating radish aids digestion, relieves gas, and soothes coughs; eating yam strengthens spleen and stomach function. Commonly used foods like walnuts, peanuts, dates, broad beans, and lotus root are also excellent tonics.
Sixth, do not prioritize intake over elimination. With rising living standards, many families eat meat daily and overly oily meals. These foods produce acidic toxic waste that must be promptly eliminated. But fast-paced lifestyles often lead to irregular bowel movements or constipation. Thus, health experts now advocate a new concept: paying attention to "negative nutrition"—emphasizing timely excretion of waste, reducing intestinal toxin retention and absorption. This means balancing supplementation with regular, unobstructed bowel movements.
Seventh, do not rely on a single tonic long-term. Some people prefer a specific tonic based on personal taste and continue using it year after year, leading to picky eating habits. This is unhealthy because both medicines and foods have side effects. Long-term or excessive use disrupts internal nutrient balance. Especially for the elderly, whose organ functions decline to varying degrees, comprehensive and systematic regulation is needed. Different seasons also require different tonics and foods. Adjustments according to circumstances are therefore essential.
Eighth, do not judge value by price. Rarity increases value, but expensive traditional foods like bird's nest or shark fin offer no extraordinary therapeutic effects. Meanwhile, ordinary foods like sweet potatoes and onions hold significant medicinal value. Moreover, all food therapies have specific indications and target groups. Choose tonics based on need—not price. Particularly for the elderly, practicality and affordability should guide supplementation.