As an exotic tropical plant, coffee was introduced to our country relatively late, and there are few records of it in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) classics. However, in recent years, coffee, ranked among the world's three major beverages, has gradually gained popularity among the Chinese people and has become an important daily beverage for fashion and deliciousness. Today, let's talk about the nature and flavor of coffee from a TCM perspective and its relationship with health.
Coffee Jelly
From a TCM perspective, coffee has a special aroma and a bitter taste. TCM believes that aromatic substances often have the function of refreshing the mind, and bitter flavors often enter the heart meridian. Regular consumption of coffee can refresh the mind, relieve fatigue, and is very suitable for office workers. Modern medical research also suggests that coffee can easily cross the blood-brain barrier, stimulating the central nervous system, which can make the mind clearer, reactions more agile, and improve work efficiency.
Coffee is pungent and warm in nature. Pungent flavors can dispel dampness, and warm nature can help yang. Therefore, it has the effect of supporting kidney yang and promoting urination, which can increase urine output and improve bloating and edema. Its effects are similar to those of warm-natured Chinese medicines such as Cistanche. Therefore, some modern TCM practitioners use coffee (in daily consumption) to treat damp-heat dysentery or prostatic hyperplasia with damp-heat, with good results. For patients with prostatic hyperplasia, regular coffee consumption can also have analgesic and anti-proliferative effects.
Coffee can also accelerate metabolism and has the effect of extinguishing wind and stopping convulsions. Illnesses such as stroke and Parkinson's disease, which are mainly characterized by syncope, tremors, and paralysis, fall under the categories of "wind syndrome" and "convulsion syndrome" in TCM. Therefore, coffee can be consumed in moderation. Modern TCM research suggests that taking fava beans together with coffee can effectively control tremors and prevent Parkinson's disease.
Although coffee is good, consumption should be moderate. It is recommended to drink only one cup in the morning each day. Excessive consumption can affect normal sleep, reduce the chances of conception for women, and may also lead to osteoporosis. In addition, it is best to add a little milk when drinking coffee, especially for middle-aged and elderly people. This not only dilutes the coffee, making the taste smoother, but can also prevent the loss of bone calcium and prevent osteoporosis.