Although winter tonification is a major feature of traditional Chinese medicine health care, it's not necessary for everyone. When undergoing tonification in winter, one must avoid falling into the "tonification" misconception.
Misconception One: "Over-tonification" without considering geographical differences
In winter, the weather in northwestern and northeastern regions is cold, so tonification should involve warm and hot flavors, such as mutton, dog meat, and deer meat. Tonics like ginseng wine and antler wine are strong and can indeed help keep the body warm and assist yang energy. In contrast, although it’s winter in areas south of the Yangtze River, the temperature is much milder than in northern regions. Therefore, tonification should focus on light and sweet warm flavors, such as chicken, duck, and goose.
People in areas south of the Yangtze River may experience excessive internal heat and fire if they consume too much mutton, dog meat, or deer meat, leading to symptoms like sore throat, mouth ulcers, and nosebleeds. In areas with less rainfall and a dry climate, it is best to use fewer tonics and instead opt for moistening and saliva-producing foods such as lily bulbs, water chestnuts, lotus roots, and pears.
Misconception Two: "Blind tonification" without distinguishing age groups
As elderly people often have weakened physiological functions and frail constitutions, moderate and appropriate "tonification" can enhance resistance and benefit their health. However, children have vigorous physiological functions. Healthy children who are developing normally or those who are still recovering from illness do not need "tonification." Especially for some sweet warm or hot items such as mutton, dog meat, deer meat, sparrow meat, and sparrow eggs, these are more suitable for adults. Even if a child has a weak constitution, they should avoid or limit consumption of these foods because doing otherwise could be harmful rather than beneficial. Thus, teenagers (including children) are in the growth and development stage and should pay attention to dietary nutrition and regulation. Generally, they should not rely on medicinal tonics.
Misconception Three: "Random tonification" due to unclear diagnosis
To make winter "tonification" more accurately achieve the desired effect, it is necessary to differentiate and supplement according to different constitutions and the properties of food. Traditional Chinese medicine classifies food by its nature and flavor into categories such as mild tonification, warm tonification, and clear tonification. Mild tonifying foods help maintain health and life; warm tonifying foods can warm yang and boost fire, improving symptoms of cold aversion and thus enhancing physical strength. For example, yin-deficient individuals with internal heat may experience increased yang heat and symptoms like dry throat, toothache, gum bleeding, and constipation if they consume too much warm tonifying food. Clear tonifying foods tend to be cool and can clear heat, but for yang-deficient individuals with cold constitution, consuming too much can exacerbate coldness and lead to diarrhea and abdominal pain.
Therefore, even if one is physically weak, they cannot blindly "randomly tonify." There are many types of physical weakness, and each type of deficiency syndrome has targeted tonifying prescriptions, medicines, and foods. If the medicine does not match the condition, it will not only be ineffective but also cause side effects.
Misconception Four: Collagen supplementation is only needed in summer
Nowadays, everyone knows that collagen needs to be supplemented, but when and how to supplement it varies widely. Many people think that collagen supplementation is only necessary during the summer when the sun is strongest, which is actually a misconception.
Women begin losing collagen after the age of 20, and this happens every day. Therefore, we need to supplement collagen daily, especially during the dry autumn and winter seasons. Proper care for your skin and body ensures both health and beauty.
Source: Yishengmei Collagen Official Website