Hello. This is Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic.
We'd like to share some commonly asked questions about herbal medicine.
Should Herbal Medicine Always Be Heated Before Taking?
The short answer is no—herbal medicine doesn't always need to be heated. Depending on the situation, warm may be better in some cases, while lukewarm actually suits the medicine's efficacy better in others.
Why Do People Think "Herbal Medicine Should Be Warm"?
Many believe "herbal medicine is supposed to be hot." This is only half true.
Some herbal medicines have warming properties, while others have cooling properties. What matters most is not the temperature of the medicine, but the condition of the person taking it.
When the Smell Makes You Nauseous
This is extremely common in our clinic.
- The smell alone makes me nauseous
- Hot liquids make my sensitive stomach worse
- I'm hypersensitive to smells, almost like morning sickness
In most cases, this means the digestive system (biwei) is significantly weakened. It's better to take it lukewarm and gradually restore digestive function. There's no need to force yourself to heat it. If heating makes the smell stronger and harder to tolerate, room temperature or lukewarm may actually work better with the medicine's properties.
Hot Upper Body, Cold Lower Body
This is also very common.
- Chest feels tight and face flushes with heat
- Upper body is hot but hands and feet are cold
- Frequent palpitations or anxiety
This isn't simply a "cold body" issue. It's often a state where heat is concentrated upward.
When prescribing herbal medicine for these patients, we use herbs that:
- Warm the lower body
- Cool the upper body
So for those with excess heat in the chest area, drinking heated herbal medicine can actually make things worse. Lukewarm is much more comfortable and better suited to the medicine's purpose.
The Right Temperature for Your Herbal Medicine
Herbal medicine is:
- Not something that must always be heated
- Not something that should be deliberately chilled
The most important principle is matching the temperature to your body's condition.
- Weak digestion → lukewarm
- Heat rising upward → no need to heat
- Cold body with poor circulation → warm
Will Eating Radish With Herbal Medicine Cause Gray Hair?
We get this question a lot. The answer: eating radish while taking herbal medicine does not cause gray hair.
Some herbs (like raw rehmannia) have cooling properties, and foods like radish and mung beans are also cooling. The old saying comes from concern about "adding cold food on top of cold medicine"—it's closer to folk wisdom than medical fact.
Coffee, Wheat Flour, Alcohol—Do They Really Clash With Herbal Medicine?
There are many misconceptions here.
Coffee
Coffee doesn't directly conflict with herbal medicine. However, coffee stimulates and tenses the body, while herbal medicine supports recovery and relaxation—coffee works against that flow.
Here's how we explain it: "Coffee borrows tomorrow's energy for today." An occasional cup is fine, but frequent consumption can slow recovery.
Wheat Flour
Eating wheat flour won't immediately cancel out herbal medicine effects. However, wheat flour tends to:
- Weaken digestive function
- Disrupt the gut environment
- Interfere with overall metabolism
The point is: while you're investing in herbal medicine treatment, why add unnecessary burden to your body?
Alcohol
Drinking doesn't make herbal medicine impossible. In fact:
- Some prescriptions include alcohol in the brewing process
- Some herbs are pre-treated with alcohol to enhance efficacy
The issue is excessive drinking. A glass or two is fine, but chronic heavy drinking will strain the body regardless of any treatment.
The Single Most Important Thing About Taking Herbal Medicine
Herbal medicine isn't about memorizing rigid rules.
- What is my body's current condition?
- Is this a time when recovery is needed?
- Do I have excess heat, or is my digestion weak?
Flexibly adjusting how you take your medicine to match your body's condition is what matters most.
In Closing
There is no single "correct" way to take herbal medicine. Everyone is different, and conditions change. That's why consultation matters, and that's why we explain things one by one in the clinic.
If you have questions while taking herbal medicine, don't try to figure it out alone—feel free to ask. Adjusting to fit your body is always the best approach.
Where life blooms—for herbal medicine, trust Dalimchae.
This article was compiled by Dalimchae's medical team based on frequently asked questions in the consultation room.
Medical review | Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic, Incheon Branch, Dr. Yang Yu-chan