As Winter Sets In, It's Time to Get Your Gaofang!

Gaofang is a winter health tonic in traditional Chinese medicine that is consumed at the start of winter.

This condensed liquid herbal medicine, made with honey and brown sugar, is prescribed by clinics within local hospitals that have TCM departments, as well as by TCM hospitals.

Each batch is prepared according to a doctor's prescription.

While other hospitals rely on pharmaceutical companies to produce the seasonal herbal paste tonic, Shanghai Yueyang Hospital stands out as the only place in the city that makes it using a special plant.

At the hospital's facility, there are 100 bronze vessels specifically used for making gaofang.

To promote awareness and share its TCM culture, the hospital has built a dedicated gaofang building.

The first floor is used for gaofang production, while the second floor features a small exhibit about gaofang. Although visitors cannot enter the production area, they can see staff preparing gaofang through a glass window.

As Winter Sets In, It's Time to Get Your <i>Gaofang! </i>

Credit: Ti Gong

Caption: The 100 bronze vessels that are used to make gaofang at Shanghai Yueyang Hospital.

Yueyang Hospital administrators stated that it is not only traditional Chinese medicine, but it is also preserving traditional practices and cultural legacy in modern society.

"Each step meticulously adheres to the instructions and doctor's prescription to ensure medicine safety and effectiveness," TCM pharmacist Zhu Xiaochun said, adding that the entire gaofang-making procedure consists of seven steps and often takes one and a half to two days.

According to traditional Chinese medical philosophy, ingesting gaofang can improve health, particularly for the elderly and those with weakened immune systems or chronic conditions. It also benefits young and middle-aged people who face high work demands or lead unhealthy lives.

Yueyang has been making the tonic for almost 40 years, prescribing and producing over 20,000 gaofang every year.

"Gaofang is not only a TCM therapy but also an important part of Chinese tradition and culture," said Dr Li Yi, the hospital's president. "Yueyang is the hospital with the longest history, the best ability, and the largest quantity of making gaofang. Our hospital's gaofang-making process is recognized as Shanghai's intangible cultural treasure. We also want to introduce TCM to a broader, international audience."