The Lunar New Year is just around the corner—have you stocked up on some snacks at home? These traditional Chinese medicinal snacks are an excellent choice; you can select them based on your own and your family members’ constitutions.

Effects: Improves symptoms such as sallow or pale complexion, palpitations and aversion to cold, mental fatigue and lassitude, and weakness in the limbs.

Suitable population: Individuals with physical weakness, blood deficiency, and postpartum women.

Contraindicated populations: Patients with diabetes and kidney disease.

Consumption Notes: It is recommended not to consume more than 10 nuts per day.

Effects: Warm and tonify to warm the body.

Suitable population: Individuals with blood deficiency, prone to fatigue, and with a weak constitution.

Contraindicated populations: People with a dry and hot constitution should avoid consuming excessive longan, as it can easily generate internal heat and lead to symptoms such as dry mouth, “internal fire,” and constipation.

Usage: Can be eaten directly, or used in soups and steeped in water as a tea substitute.

Effects: Clears the liver and improves vision, lowers blood sugar, combats fatigue and aging, and enhances immunity.

Suitable population: People with good spleen and stomach function.

Contraindicated populations: Excessive consumption of goji berries during menstruation may increase menstrual flow; furthermore, individuals with a weak spleen and stomach who regularly consume goji berries may experience indigestion.

Usage: It can be eaten directly, used in soups, brewed as tea with chrysanthemum flowers, or cooked into porridge.

Consumption Notes: When consumed directly by chewing, the recommended dosage is 6 to 10 grams.

Effects: Strengthens the spleen and stomach; tonifies qi and blood.

Suitable population: Suitable for people of all ages.

Contraindicated populations: People with diabetes and those who are overweight should eat less.

Consumption Notes: Do not consume more than 15 per day to avoid bloating or gastrointestinal discomfort.

Effects: Clears heat and eliminates dampness; nourishes yin and reduces internal fire.

Suitable population: Individuals experiencing symptoms such as swollen and painful gums, oral ulcers, and dry, hard stools.

Contraindicated populations: People who tend to have cold hands and feet, a cold stomach, or frequent loose stools should drink cooling herbal teas as sparingly as possible to avoid exacerbating their existing symptoms.

Consumption Notes: Herbal cooling teas should never be consumed as plain water, as this can deplete the body’s yang energy; a daily intake of 200 to 400 milliliters is sufficient.

Effects: Treats various febrile conditions, such as fever, rash, heat-toxin sores and carbuncles, and swelling and pain of the throat.

Suitable population: Individuals with a hot constitution who frequently experience oral ulcers and blisters in the mouth may take this regularly.

Contraindicated populations: Patients with dysmenorrhea and those with a deficiency-cold constitution and poor digestive function should avoid consuming this food as much as possible.

Effects: Dispels wind-heat, clears and soothes the throat, regulates the liver to relieve depression, and relieves itching.

Suitable population: Individuals presenting with fever, headache, sore throat, and anhidrosis due to a common cold.

Contraindicated populations: Due to peppermint’s potent dispersing properties, it is contraindicated for individuals with yin deficiency and blood dryness, excessive liver yang, or exterior deficiency with profuse sweating.

Effects: It stimulates the appetite and aids digestion, while also helping to lower blood sugar and blood lipids.

Suitable population: Suitable for patients with yin deficiency and excessive liver fire.

Contraindicated populations: Due to the strong astringent properties of black plum, it is not advisable for patients with colds who need to induce sweating or for those with phlegmy coughs to consume it in large quantities. It is also unsuitable for individuals with gastric ulcers.

Effects: Clears heat and detoxifies, nourishes yin and tonifies the kidneys, eliminates acne, and moistens the intestines to promote bowel movements.

Suitable population: Suitable for individuals experiencing dry mouth, irritability, facial acne, chronic constipation, and yin deficiency.

Contraindicated populations: People with spleen and stomach deficiency-cold or weak spleen and stomach should avoid consuming excessive amounts; pregnant women and women during their menstrual period are best advised to refrain from eating it.

Consumption Notes: Do not consume more than one box per day (approximately 180 to 300 grams), and limit intake to no more than three boxes per week.

Effects: Aids digestion and moistens the lungs, regulates qi and strengthens the spleen, dries dampness and transforms phlegm.

Contraindicated populations: Dried tangerine peel candied in honey can dry dampness and assist yang heat; therefore, it should be avoided by individuals with excess internal heat or qi deficiency.

Effects: Calms the mind and tranquilizes the spirit, strengthens the spleen and harmonizes the middle jiao, enhances appetite, and promotes digestion.

Suitable population: People who frequently experience diarrhea can consume it in moderation.

Contraindicated populations: Not recommended for individuals with constipation, as it may exacerbate the condition. Diabetics should consume it sparingly or avoid it altogether.