So my acupuncturist gave me a blend of herbs to mix in hot water and drink a few times a day to help with my lupus/kidney functions.  He told me it would be a "strong" taste (I figured he meant "bad"), and to just take it like a shot.  Well, I've tried three times and it's come back up each time, that's how bad it is!  I don't want to alter the herbs by adding anything to it to make it taste better, but does anybody have any suggestions on what I can do to get this stuff down?!

When I saw an acupuncturist in Santa Fe, it was the same thing, they were really pungent! But, he was a highly trained acupuncturist from China, he even had a documentary done about him, so I figured he knew what he was doing. I was able to stomach them, but a friend of mine asked him if they needed to be taken on an empty stomach or not, because the taste was so bad, and according to him it didn't matter (if I am recalling correctly - that was about a year ago). So maybe it is okay to throw it in some juice? Or ask your acupuncturist if it's okay? I would just down mine while holding my nose (seriously - because a big part of taste is through your nose as well - that's why when you're sick you can't taste stuff as strongly). Then I would drink a huge glass of water. I know what you mean, though - talk about some gag-worthy taste!

Yeah, I've been trying to do it with my nose plugged and I can't even get it swallowed completely before my body spits it back up!  I emailed him since he doesn't start practicing until later in the day but I'm supposed to start taking it now so I was hoping I could find some answers here.  Maybe I will sneak it into some juice or something...for now anyway...

Well, I can say that if you haven't been taking them for long, you do adjust to them eventually. They never taste good, but I do remember when I first started taking them that it was hard not to give in to the purge reflex. I would just do it in juice for today, one day can't hurt.

Thanks for the advice.  I hadn't even thought of mixing in juice.  I figured tea would be bad, as I don't know what kind of herbs react with other herbs and so on. 

This might sound silly, but if you chew a piece of gum, then act as if you are going to blow a bubble and cover your entire tounge with the piece of gum, you will block a lot of the taste buds.  Then try and suck it down as fast as possible.  You may still pick up flavor from the roof of your mouth, because I've heard that that will also pick up flavor but its worth a try.  Good luck. 

That's really interesting!  I might have to buy some gum!

Could you get your own encapsulating gadget?  Also just beginning to learn about herbs and taking some myself.  Do you mind sharing what you are taking and where you get them from?

hey dani - sorry it is not a better tasting brew!  I am assuming that he gave you granules - that its a powder-type concoction that you are mixing with hot water.  If it is impossible to get down, ask him if he can have it encapsulated for you - it costs a bit more, but I do it for some of my patients who can't drink the herbs.  That way you just take the capsules - no taste!  I have to add, it is believed that the actual taste of the herbs is part of the theraputic effect - it gets your body ready for what is coming, and chinese medicine makes a big deal over if an herb is sweet, bitter, sour etc.....so if you CAN work into it do it, but if not - go for the capsules!

ann ann - That's interesting about the taste. The herbal blends my acupuncturist made were liquid - and crazy strong. So I didn't have the option of capsules, but maybe that is a good thing if the taste was an important part as well, even holding my nose left the very, very strong aftertaste, but I was able to get past the gag reflex after a week or two. I really miss my acupuncture now, I can't afford it as a student! Dani, I hope the the herbs help. When I was taking them they helped me.   

Ann Ann...thanks for the input on the taste thing...that is really interesting.  I was able to get it down finally, but it's gonna be a while until I can get it down three times a day like I'm supposed to!