| According to Chinese philosophy, winter is Yin in nature - inactive, cold, and damp. It’s a time of year to reflect on our health, replenish our energy and conserve our strength. As part of a wider Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) regime, gaofang has been used in China for several thousand years.
Starting around December 22 (said to be the coldest day of the year) each year, Hangzhou citizens flock to local traditional Chinese medicine pharmacies to consult with a TCM doctor. The doctor will prescribe custom-made traditional medicinal syrup according to the patient’s ailments.
The herb syrup, or gaofang in Chinese, is a laboriously processed condensed semi-solid paste. The formula includes about 40 different herbal medicines and animal materials, such as turtle shell, donkey skin, and deer horn. In addition, foods such as lotus seeds, dates and crystal sugar are added to improve the taste. Pharmacists condense the medicine into a concentrate, adding sugar, honey, or gelatin to congeal it. Typical dosage is a spoonful once or twice a day after a meal. Ready-made batches are available for purchase.
The treatment is based on one of the essential underlying principles for disease prevention, called tonification. Tonification is a therapeutic treatment that nourishes and replenishes the Qi, blood, and yin and yang of the human body when they are deficient or weak.
In the past, gaofang was a secret formula available exclusively for members of the imperial court, but today it is prescribed by several TCM doctors and used by many of the new generation of health conscious consumers who follow TCM. The syrup was originally cooled down in a clay jar from which it was dispensed to the patient. In today’s world of TCM, pharmacists dispense daily portions in small plastic bags. This particular Chinese medicine must be stored in a cool place.
According to one ancient saying, “After good Gaofang in winter, you can kill a tiger in the spring.” Senior TCM doctors encourage patients to store their energy and build up their immune systems with a spoonful of sweet herbal paste every day.
By Li Hui |
