Every family should have a basic selection of medicines at home, but knowing what to stock up on in Beijing can be challenging – especially when it comes to the Chinese varieties sold in local pharmacies. Most are made from natural herbs and can be as effective as Western brands when properly applied. Here is a primer for some of the most common brands.
Banlangen Chongji (板蓝根冲剂)
This medicine comes in powder form and is mixed with hot water to make a broth to treat cold and flu symptoms.
Main ingredients: Radix, cane sugar.
Where to buy it: Most local pharmacies.
Cost: RMB 11 for 150g
Tips: Ban Lan Gen contains a lot of sugar so it’s not recommended for kids under 3.
Ganmao Jiaonan（感冒胶囊）
This popular medicine comes in capsule form and contains mostly Chinese herbs (see below). It helps treat cold and flu symptoms.
Main ingredients: Chinese herbs including
angelica sylvestris, fine leaf schizonepeta, large-flowered skullcap roots, asarum.
Where to buy it: Most local pharmacies.
Cost: RMB 35 for 24 capsules
Tips: As with many cold and flu medicines, it is not recommended to take these pills if you will be driving as they can cause drowsiness.
Xiaolin Ketie Nuanbaobao (小林可贴暖宝宝)
These patches provide up to twelve hours of soothing, warm relief from sore muscles and menstrual pains. This particular brand is from Japan, where it outsells all other brands in this category.
Main ingredients: Iron powder, activated carbon, salt.
Where to buy it: Watsons, Taobao.com and most local pharmacies.
Cost: RMB 3.2-3.8 per patch
Tips: If you are sensitive to skin patches, you needn’t worry with this brand because it is applied on your clothes rather than directly on your skin.
Zhenggu Shui (正骨水)
This pleasant-smelling medicine (with a tea-like aroma) comes in spray or ointment form and can relieve swelling and muscle pains. It also helps stimulate blood circulation.
Main ingredients: Soy bean, ginger, mint.
Where to buy it: Most local pharmacies.
Cost: RMB 60 for 100ml
Tips: Not recommended for children under 3, as their skin tends to be more sensitive
Chuanbei Piba Gao (川贝批把膏)
This cough syrup is made from Chinese loquat leaf and can soothe irritated, dry throats and coughs.
Main ingredients: Loquat leaf, honey, cane sugar.
Where to buy it: Most local pharmacies.
Cost: RMB 37 for 300ml
Tips: Don’t give this to infants less than a year old because the syrup contains honey, which increases the risk of botulism..
Xiangsha Yangweiwan (香砂养胃丸)
This medicine comes in the form of tiny pills and is used to treat indigestion. These are usually taken twice a day in 9g doses.
Main ingredients: Dried orange skin (陈皮), banks rose (木香), cardomon (砂仁), atractylodes macrocephala (白术), poria (茯苓).
Where to buy it: Most local pharmacies.
Cost: RMB 10 for 60g
Tips: It is recommended to take this medicine with lukewarm water. Avoid taking it for more than three consecutive days, because it can irritate your stomach.
Piba Runhoutang (琵琶润喉糖)
Golden Throat (Jinsangzi Houbao, 金嗓子喉宝)
Both of these brands of herbal candy are effective for soothing sore, irritated throats caused by colds or flu.
Main ingredients: (Piba Runhoutang) loquat leaf, glucose, sugar, (Golden Throat) cane sugar, Chinese olive, honey, menthol, dried orange, banana essence.
Where to buy it: Most local pharmacies.
Cost: RMB 16 for 24 tablets of Piba Runhoutang,
RMB 6 for 20 tablets of Golden Throat.
Tips: Be wary of eating too many of these in a short period. Although these candies have no serious side effects, they can irritate your stomach and cause indigestion.
Pang Dahai (胖大海)
Pang Dahai is made from the dried-out seeds of Chinese phoenix tree. When mixed with hot water, it acts like a sponge, absorbing the water and swells up in size. It is believed that drinking it helps soothe dry and irritated throats.
Main ingredients: Cane sugar, essence of sterculia
Where to buy it: Most local pharmacies and Taobao.com.
Cost: RMB 8 for 50g
Tips: Beware of drinking too much as this medicine can also irritate your stomach and cause indigestion.
Huangliansu Pian (黄连素片)
These small little yellow pills are taken 4 or 5 at a time to treat stomach problems stemming from ingesting unclean food.
Main ingredients: Acid berberine, banks rose, root of herbaceous peony.
Where to buy it: Most local pharmacies.
Cost: RMB 4 per 36 tablets
Tips: Avoid taking these for more than three consecutive days, because they may irritate your stomach.
