Traditional Chinese Medicine Explains Coffee: How Much Do You Know About Its Benefits?

Coffee has a unique interpretation from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, and its benefits are extensive. The caffeine contained in coffee can refresh the mind, promote thinking, and improve work and study efficiency. Coffee has the effects of warming the stomach, stimulating appetite, promoting blood circulation, and relieving fatigue. Drinking in moderation can improve mood and reduce stress. Excessive drinking may cause insomnia, palpitations and other adverse effects. Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes balance. Drinking coffee in moderation can bring benefits, but drinking too much may be harmful to health.

In the fast-paced modern life, coffee has become an indispensable drink for many people. Its rich aroma and unique taste can always bring people an instant boost. From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, is coffee really just a drink to refresh the mind? What are its unknown benefits?

1. Preliminary understanding of coffee and traditional Chinese medicine

In traditional Chinese medicine theory, coffee is regarded as a food ingredient with specific medicinal properties. It tastes bitter, slightly sweet, and is warm in nature. It has specific pharmacological effects. Although modern science mainly emphasizes the caffeine component in coffee, traditional Chinese medicine pays more attention to its overall properties and its interaction with human body functions.

2. Coffee’s warming effect

The warm nature of coffee gives it the effect of warming the yang and dispersing cold. For people with a cold constitution, drinking a moderate amount of coffee can warm the body and promote the circulation of qi and blood. Especially in the cold winter, a cup of hot coffee can make people feel warm and comfortable.

3. Refresh your mind and stimulate your vitality

Caffeine is the most well-known ingredient in coffee. It has a strong refreshing effect. According to Chinese medicine theory, coffee can stimulate the nervous system, increase mental activity, and make people more awake and alert. For people who occasionally stay up late or feel listless, drinking a moderate amount of coffee can indeed have a certain refreshing effect.

4. Promote digestion and relieve constipation

The caffeine and acidic substances in coffee can stimulate gastrointestinal motility and promote the secretion of digestive juices. Drinking coffee in moderation can aid digestion and relieve mild constipation. However, it should be noted that drinking too much coffee may over-stimulate the gastrointestinal tract and cause discomfort.

5. Cardiovascular Health

Studies have shown that drinking coffee in moderation can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. This is related to the various antioxidant ingredients in coffee, which can protect blood vessel elasticity, lower cholesterol, and thus maintain cardiovascular health.

6. Relieve fatigue and improve work efficiency

Drinking coffee in moderation can not only refresh the mind, but also help relieve fatigue and improve work efficiency. For many creative workers, coffee is an important source of inspiration, but the premise is that it must be consumed in moderation. Excessive dependence on coffee may lead to physical and mental fatigue.

7. Diuresis and swelling reduction

Coffee also has a certain diuretic effect, which can promote the excretion of water in the body, thereby reducing swelling. For people who sit for a long time or have water retention in the body, drinking coffee in moderation may be helpful.

8. Coffee is not suitable for everyone

Although coffee has so many benefits, it is not suitable for everyone. People with a hot constitution, insomnia, pregnant women and those with certain chronic diseases should use it with caution or less. Long-term excessive drinking of coffee may lead to calcium loss and increase the risk of osteoporosis.

In the eyes of traditional Chinese medicine, coffee is not just a drink, but also a food ingredient with specific medicinal properties. If you drink it in moderation and make good use of it, you may discover more unknown benefits of coffee. But the key is to control the degree of drinking and not to rely on it too much. While enjoying the pleasure brought by coffee, let us also pay attention to the health and balance of the body.