Q Are tonics for when you're sick or when you're healthy? When is the best time to take one?
A Tonics are more suitable for people whose recovery capacity has declined or who want to maintain their health than for those who are acutely ill. Avoid them during a cold or acute inflammation, and take them when the body is stable for the best effect.
Detailed Answer
A tonic replenishes deficiency patterns, so taking it during an excess pattern (acute inflammation, fever, cold) can actually trap the illness and worsen it. The right time is after a cold has fully resolved, or when you are healthy but feel fatigue building up or your immunity declining. Taking it in advance during the spring and autumn transitional seasons helps build a body that adapts well to seasonal change.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
At Dongjedang Korean Medicine Clinic, before starting a tonic we check your current condition to determine whether it is the right time to take it. If there is an acute illness, we treat it first and then begin the tonic.
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