Morning

A woman with irregular menstruation, weakness, and a soft voice came to my morning clinic. As soon as she entered the examination room, a strong scent filled the air, almost overwhelming. The patient had a fine, wiry pulse and a pale tongue with white coating. Upon questioning, I learned that she worked at a perfume counter. I advised her, “The first thing you need to do to improve your health is to use less or no fragrance.” Here’s why in more detail. Perfumes mainly consist of alcohol and fragrances, which can be divided into natural and synthetic fragrances based on their origin. Natural fragrances refer to the aromatic parts of plants or animals used directly or processed without changing their original components. Many natural fragrances found in nature also serve as aromatic traditional Chinese medicines (TCM). According to TCM, strongly fragrant substances should not be used by those with insufficient yin and blood. They can exacerbate heat and dryness in individuals with excessive heat and fluid loss, as noted by Ye Tianshi, who said, “In cases of dried-up blood and fluids, strong fragrances are strictly prohibited.” Additionally, those slightly deficient in vital energy should use them cautiously, and those with…

BEIJING, May 21 ( tasteallchina ) -- Ghanaian student Samuel Aboagye used to start his mornings with a coffee, but since coming to China, he gets his morning fix from a nice cup of tea. Aboagye first encountered Chinese tea when a Chinese friend gave him a packet of jasmine tea. "The taste and aroma attracted me, and I instantly fell in love with Chinese tea," said Aboagye, an international student at Capital University of Economics and Business. He was just one of many African visitors to an international tea-culture exchange event held in Beijing on May 21, which is also observed as International Tea Day. The event was hosted by the international cultural exchange and research center of China Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy (CIIDS), welcoming representatives from social organizations and enterprises, as well as diplomatic envoys from African countries and African students studying in China. Today, Africa is an important market for Chinese tea. Chinese customs data shows that China exported about 367,542 tonnes of tea in 2023, with an export value of nearly 1,74 million U.S. dollars. According to the Tea Industry Committee of the China Association for the Promotion of International Agricultural Cooperation, of the…