Some people believe that the longer Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) pills are stored, the better their efficacy. Is this really the case?
According to Zhang Mingsheng, Deputy Director of the TCM Guidance Clinic at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine and a TCM pharmacist, while there is a saying “the older the TCM, the better,” this does not apply to all TCM products. For instance, TCM pills are made from fine herbal powders or extracts combined with binders or appropriate excipients, making their composition more complex compared to TCM tablets, and they should not be stored for too long.
Yuan Anding, Deputy Director of the Pharmacy Department and a TCM pharmacist at the same hospital, also stated that many people believe that even if TCM pills are expired, as long as they are not damp, moldy, infested, or spoiled, and appear clean, they are still effective and can be consumed. In fact, the complex composition of TCM pills may lead to deterioration that is not visible to the naked eye.
Additionally, improper storage can accelerate the deterioration of the medicine. Even TCM pills within their shelf life should be checked for three points before consumption: first, check for mold; second, observe any color changes; and third, be aware of any unusual odors. If deterioration is detected, the efficacy cannot be guaranteed, and it may contain harmful substances, making it unsuitable for consumption. Therefore, besides being mindful of the shelf life of TCM pills, what other storage precautions should we take?
1. Use bottles or sealed plastic bags for portion packaging and store them in a cool, dry place.
2. Store in the refrigerator. Generally, TCM pills should be consumed within 3 months if stored at room temperature, and even if kept in the refrigerator, they should ideally be consumed within 1 year.
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