Is it advisable to steep ginseng in water for drinking during summer?
In summer, it is appropriate to drink ginseng water. Due to the hot weather and high temperature in summer, people tend to sweat more. Therefore, traditional Chinese medicine advocates nourishing qi in summer, and drinking ginseng water appropriately can achieve the effect of nourishing qi. However, long-term consumption is not recommended. Although ginseng can stimulate the central nervous system, heart muscle, and cardiovascular system, enhancing the body's immunity, it is not suitable for everyone. Ginseng is a tonic that can replenish vital energy, nourish the spleen and lungs, promote the secretion of saliva, calm the nerves, and improve intelligence, but it is not suitable for everyone to consume for nourishment. For instance, patients with gallstones, hypertension, and insomnia are advised against taking ginseng. Ginsenosides in ginseng have estrogen-like effects, which can inhibit biliary excretion, making bile thicker. According to traditional Chinese medicine, patients with acute hepatitis, cholecystitis, and gallstones have excess damp-heat, and consuming ginseng can aggravate their conditions by promoting damp-heat. Long-term use of ginseng can disrupt the balance of excitation and inhibition in the cerebral cortex of insomniacs, worsening their insomnia. As for hypertensive patients, who generally have poor vascular elasticity often caused by fat accumulation in the blood vessel walls, consuming ginseng can increase fat content in tissues and organs, which is not conducive to lowering blood pressure. Therefore, drinking ginseng water is also not recommended for them.