Question
A child was treated for fever and gastrointestinal discomfort, with a TCM diagnosis of food accumulation and a prescription for Chinese medicine; the Western medicine diagnosis was viral infection, suggesting the use of antiviral drugs. The parent wants to know if Chinese and Western medicine can be administered to the child at the same time?
Answer
It is not recommended to take Chinese and Western medicine simultaneously. While Chinese and Western medicine can complement each other in treating diseases, there should be an appropriate interval between medication times to avoid administering Chinese medicine with Western medicine or taking both together. It is suggested that the interval between taking Chinese and Western medicine should be about half an hour. Since Chinese medicine, especially compound formulas, undergo chemical reactions after boiling and mixing, their pharmacological effects are not entirely clear, while the process and principles of Western medicine have been tested through animal experiments or clinical trials. However, Chinese medicine is indeed effective, often used in conjunction with Western medicine for oral administration. However, if Chinese and Western medicine are taken together orally,