A lot of my patients ask me about my feeling regarding caffeine consumption. My initial response centers on the general of the patient. What I mean by that is people respond top the effects of caffeine differently depending on their metabolic rate etc… This discussion is regarding caffeine consumption in TCM terms.

In TCM, we regard any stimulant in light of its effect on the whole, integrated bodily system. Thus, we don’t just look at one indicator to tell us if a person will benefit from caffeine or not. I know, in the West, that most experts believe that drinking caffeinated drinks, like coffee, can have health benefits if taken in moderation.

TCM does see value in caffeine and believe it can help tonify the blood and relieve stagnation. Similar with the Western viewpoint, the amount of caffeine in your diet is vital to ensuring optimization. A very apparent difference is the type of caffeine sources. In the West, coffee, soft drinks and energy drinks are the primary sources of getting a quick “fix”. In TCM, green tea, oolong tea and certain herbs or herbal formulas are the main sources for caffeine.

There are also differences in how the two fields view caffeine in diagnostic terms. The West takes a more “macro-view” on the effects of caffeine. The tend to look at its diuretic effects or its effect on glucose levels on a blood test. As previously mentioned, TCM will see the effects in terms of bodily systems. For example, we first look to see which organ is affected and, if so, if there are any resulting deficiencies or excesses. I’m not going to get into a detailed discussion on TCM diagnosis here. I just want you to appreciate this introduction into the differing viewpoints between the West and TCM.

This topic concerning caffeine needs more attention by practitioners of both TCM and Western medicine.