Misconception One: Blindly Trusting in Advertising
In advertisements, the claims about the "miraculous," "highly effective," and "cure-all" effects of various supplements are often exaggerated.
Health supplements are different from food and also different from medicine. In foreign countries, such health supplements are called "functional foods." They cannot be effective against a specific disease, nor can they make you stronger than your original healthy state. They can only restore your sub-health state to a normal state of health.
Misconception Two: Supplementing Equals Health Preservation
Only people with health problems need to take supplements. Those who are well-nourished and have no illnesses or pains do not need to take tonics. This is like mending a torn piece of clothing; clothes that are not torn, too short, or full of holes do not need to be sewn. In the past, many long-lived people lived deep in the mountains and forests, yet they were still strong and healthy on a simple diet. Conversely, since Qin Shi Huang unified China to the Qing Dynasty, there were quite a few short-lived emperors who were keen on taking supplements.
Misconception Three: Supplementing Without Differentiating Syndromes
Even if your body is weak, you should not blindly take supplements. There are many types of deficiency, and each type has a specific herbal formula or medicine. If the supplement does not match the syndrome, it will not only be ineffective but may sometimes have side effects.
The prescribing of medications by senior traditional Chinese medicine physicians is very rigorous. Even ready-made patent medicines or herbal pastes require examining their ingredients and then using them according to the differentiated syndrome. Therefore, how to supplement and regulate based on an individual's physical constitution and functional condition, and which type of supplement is more appropriate and more effective, should be done under the diagnosis and guidance of a doctor.
Misconception Four: Using Supplements Instead of Three Regular Meals
The human body's intake of nutrients mainly depends on three regular meals and absolutely cannot rely solely on nutritional supplements. The *Huangdi Neijing* (The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) clearly states that supplements can only be used to nourish a weak constitution, while the body's nutritional supply must give way to the daily necessities of diet such as the five grains, five fruits, five livestock, and five vegetables. Modern nutrition has proven that only a balanced diet from three regular meals can ensure your nutritional balance.
Misconception Five: Using Supplements Instead of Exercise
Medical experts warn people: "Life requires movement. Only with the necessary physical exercise can nutritional supplements work better."
This is because, whether it is the intake of normal nutrients or the absorption and utilization of nutritional supplements, it all depends on the body's sound digestive, absorptive, and metabolic functions. Some people lack exercise, have a weak physique, poor gastrointestinal digestive function, and low metabolic utilization rate. When they take nutritional supplements, they cannot digest and absorb them well, and may even experience side effects or adverse reactions due to a weak physique or improper supplementation.
Misconception Six: Believing That the More Expensive the Supplement, the More Effective It Is
Most expensive supplements contain some expensive Chinese medicinal materials, such as tortoise plastron, soft-shelled turtle shell, saffron, and cordyceps. However, without targeted use, they generally do not show special effects. Besides, how much soft-shelled turtle shell can there be in a tonic? Therefore, the price of a medicine does not completely represent the quality of its therapeutic effect.