Tannic acid

In the clinic, patients often ask: "Doctor, I usually enjoy drinking tea, but I am taking Chinese medicine recently. Can I drink tea while taking Chinese medicine? Will it affect the efficacy of the Chinese medicine?" Today, let's talk about how to drink tea scientifically.Nine categories of situations where tea drinking is not recommended: ① When taking iron supplements Anemic patients typically take iron-containing medications, and the tannic acid in tea reacts with iron to form insoluble precipitates. This not only affects the absorption of the drug but also stimulates the gastrointestinal tract, causing discomfort. Therefore, drinking tea while taking iron supplements means the iron intake is essentially wasted, and the iron deficiency anemia will not be corrected. ② When taking Chinese herbs primarily composed of alkaloids When taking Chinese herbs such as Ephedra or Coptis, which are primarily composed of alkaloids, tea consumption should be avoided. The tannic acid in tea easily reacts with alkaloids to form insoluble precipitates, affecting the effectiveness of the medication. ③ When taking tonifying Chinese herbs When taking tonifying Chinese herbs such as Codonopsis, Astragalus, Polygonum multiflorum, or Psoralea, tea drinking is not recommended. The tannic acid in tea has astringent properties, which can…