Medical experts caution on effects of ice cream with TCM ingredients

Ice cream has joined a growing list of food items which are being combined with traditional Chinese medicine ingredients to cater to rising demand for an indulgent bite with health benefits.

But medical experts said that these TCM-infused offerings do not offer practical health benefits and TCM prescriptions should be taken only under the guidance of professionals.

In Shanghai, a new store that opened last month selling a range of gelato combined with TCM ingredients has taken social media by storm. Flavors on offer include mint and watermelon frost that is often used to treat mouth ulcers, ginger and brown sugar — a combination extolled for expelling coldness as well as a flavor of an ancient Chinese traditional syrup aimed at treating sore throats.

Two scoops of ice cream are priced at 38 yuan ($5.3) and three scoops at 45 yuan. Customers can also add toppings such as ginseng and cordyceps fungi.

"Out of curiosity, I checked out the store under the sweltering heat of 40 C. But my first choice of the mint and watermelon frost flavor was sold out already, and I ended up buying two scoops of wild chrysanthemum and pistachio, as well as hawthorn and bergamot, which tasted pretty good," read a comment on Dianping.com — the Chinese version of Yelp.

Similar stores have also popped up in Heilongjiang and Hubei provinces. A hashtag related to TCM-infused ice cream became one of the most-searched topics on the microblogging platform Weibo late last month, as netizens either applauded the innovativeness of the seller or questioned the paradox of eating ice cream and the basic TCM principle of avoiding cold food.

Before the emergence of TCM-infused ice cream, TCM herbs or ingredients had already been integrated into milk tea, coffee and baked goods across the nation. Tongrentang, a prestigious TCM pharmacy in China with a history of over 350 years, opened a bakery and beverage shop in Beijing in 2019 that combines goji berries, sweet osmanthus and other TCM components with modern foods.

Ding Yu, chief physician at the Aerospace Center Hospital's traditional Chinese medicine department, said that TCM specialists do not recommend consuming ice cream, milk tea and other high-sugar, high-calorie foods and beverages frequently due to their tendency to trigger the production of phlegm and affect the digestive system.

Ding said that herbal tea drinks infused with ginseng, dried tangerine peel and mint are also prescribed at the hospital for patients. "However, these drinks won't have an effect unless they are consumed for long periods. On the other hand, TCM ingredients — if they are not taken properly — can also result in side effects such as that ginseng is prone to cause excessive internal heat and tangerine peel may lead to constipation," he said.

"Therefore, it is necessary to use them under the guidance of a doctor," he said, adding that consuming large amounts of TCM therapies without a clear understanding of the individual's constitution could bring about harmful effects.

As TCM is gaining popularity among young people, Ding said that first and foremost, it is important to adjust daily dietary habits and lifestyles to keep healthy.

"Acupuncture, massage, cupping and other non-pharmaceutical therapies can also be considered, while the use of TCM medicines should be strictly monitored," he added.