When it comes to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), most people’s perception is of the strong and difficult-to-swallow herbal decoctions.
In recent years, a type of TCM formula—medicinal paste (gāo fāng)—has gradually entered the public’s life, being understood and accepted, thus changing people’s outdated views on TCM.
The widespread acclaim for medicinal pastes is due to their perfect combination of medicinal materials, strong efficacy, and stable, long-lasting effects.
Additionally, medicinal pastes are convenient to take and have a pleasant taste. They have the highest drug load among TCM forms at the same dosage, integrating disease prevention, treatment, nourishment, and tonification.
More and more people are using them as an ideal and convenient method for health maintenance and disease prevention and treatment.
So, why do medicinal pastes have stable and long-lasting therapeutic effects?
1. Medicinal pastes are based on a holistic view and individualized treatment.
Medicinal pastes, also known as pastes, are named after their form and belong to one of the eight types of TCM preparations: pills, powders, pastes, elixirs, wines, tinctures, decoctions, and tablets.
The term “paste” has a broad meaning: it can refer to a substance made with fats; in terms of form, it refers to a consistency that is thick but not solid; in terms of taste, it refers to a sweet and smooth flavor. The “Shan Hai Jing” (Classic of Mountains and Seas) states: “The best flavors are smooth and are called pastes.” In terms of content, it refers to the essence of a substance, and in terms of function, it refers to nourishing and moistening for longevity. Medicinal pastes can be used externally and internally. External pastes are commonly used in TCM external treatments, not only for skin and ulcer conditions but also in internal medicine and gynecology. Internal pastes, later referred to as medicinal pastes, are widely used for internal, external, gynecological, pediatric, orthopedic, otolaryngological conditions, and for those who are weak after major illnesses.
2. Medicinal pastes use a comprehensive and sufficient dosage of herbs.
Typically, a single medicinal paste consists of at least 20 different herbs, with each herb supporting the others, which can address complex conditions while enhancing efficacy and reducing side effects, thus achieving a sustained therapeutic effect. Compared to decoctions, which generally contain fewer than 16 herbs, classical formulas by Zhang Zhongjing often contain fewer than 10 herbs, while medicinal pastes can use as many as 20 to 50 herbs. This variety allows for experienced formulation, making them particularly suitable for the complex conditions of chronic diseases.
They are widely used in the treatment and rehabilitation of various chronic diseases, especially in internal, external, gynecological, pediatric, orthopedic, otolaryngological conditions, and for those who are weak after major illnesses. Modern medical research has found that medicinal pastes can stimulate the body’s immune system, enhance adaptability, improve organ function, and regulate the body’s nervous, blood, and endocrine systems. Therefore, medicinal pastes have certain efficacy for people of all ages.
3. Medicinal pastes emphasize the quality of materials used.
Only high-quality, authentic medicinal materials are used.
The quality of the herbs directly affects the quality of the paste. Medicinal pastes have very high requirements for the authenticity of the herbs. The value of authentic herbs can be 1-2 times higher than that of ordinary herbs, or even more. Only high-quality herbs can yield potent pastes with longer-lasting effects.
4. The secret processing techniques of medicinal pastes.
Maximizing the medicinal properties of each herb.
Medicinal pastes, named after their form, belong to one of the eight types of TCM preparations. Compared to other forms, medicinal pastes have high concentrations of efficacy, are easily absorbed after ingestion, and have more stable and long-lasting effects.
Each medicinal paste, from formulation to preparation, goes through eight steps: processing, extraction, filtration, concentration, paste collection, refining, boiling, and packaging.
First, individual herbs are processed using different methods. Typically, preparing a medicinal paste requires multiple extractions and concentrations, allowing each herb to fully express its medicinal properties, resulting in a gentle and lasting tonifying effect.
5. The essence is concentrated and extracted.
Thus, the medicinal power is great and lasting.
Medicinal pastes are crafted through a secretive process of repeated boiling and extraction, which extracts almost all the active components of the herbs, eliminating the need for the stomach to perform “coarse processing.” The gastrointestinal tract can directly absorb the vaporized essence, thus enhancing the efficacy and providing lasting nourishing and therapeutic effects. Continuous use of medicinal pastes can strengthen the foundation and clear the source, thereby reducing the frequency of disease recurrence, alleviating symptoms during disease flare-ups, and enhancing the patient’s resistance, ultimately restoring vitality and prolonging life.
6. Who is suitable for taking medicinal pastes?
1. Supplementation for various chronic disease patients: For those with existing chronic diseases, winter supplementation can be combined with treatment for greater therapeutic and rehabilitative effects. From current clinical applications, not only internal medicine patients can take medicinal pastes, but also patients from gynecology, pediatrics, surgery, orthopedics, and otolaryngology can benefit. Patients with deficiencies in qi, blood, yin, yang, and body fluids can also use medicinal pastes to strengthen their health.
2. Supplementation for the elderly: Due to the physiological characteristics of the elderly, various bodily functions decline with age. Winter supplementation can enhance physical strength and delay aging.
3. Supplementation for young and middle-aged individuals: Young and middle-aged people often face significant mental stress, high labor intensity, frequent social engagements, irregular diets, and long-term insufficient sleep and rest, leading to substantial changes in normal physiological functions and decreased disease resistance, resulting in a sub-healthy state. Timely comprehensive adjustment is necessary, and medicinal paste therapy is the best choice.
4. Supplementation for women: For women, the spleen and stomach govern the body’s vital energy. Weakness in the spleen and stomach leads to insufficient vital energy, which can accelerate aging. If the spleen and stomach function normally, the source of qi and blood is established, enhancing resistance to aging. Through medicinal pastes, the spleen and stomach can be nourished, yang can be warmed, and qi can be regulated to promote women’s health and beauty.
5. Supplementation for children: Children can appropriately supplement according to their growth needs, especially those with recurrent respiratory infections, persistent cough, anorexia, or anemia, who are physically weak and require tonification.
Medicinal pastes are tailored to individuals, varying by age and gender, and should not be one-size-fits-all. Currently, medicinal pastes are not only used for treating chronic diseases and prolonging life but are also widely used for disease prevention, health enhancement, and beauty as living standards improve and health awareness increases.
“One herb, one property, one formula for each disease.” Each medicinal paste has its unique functions, but regardless of the type, it can only treat specific conditions and cannot universally cure all diseases. Friends are advised to consult a physician for diagnosis and prescription based on their needs.
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Text by丨Center for Preventive Medicine
Initial review by丨Tang Xibin, Li Yun
Reviewed by丨Xiong Shulin
