National Health Commission: "Eating a lot of wild vegetables to detoxify" and "drinking strong tea to remove dampness" are both incorrect.

The National Health Commission held a press conference today on seasonal health and wellness, introducing the health and wellness practices related to the beginning of spring and the rainy season. There are many traditional spring health practices circulating among the people, such as eating wild vegetables after the beginning of spring, and drinking tea to dispel dampness before and after the rainy season. Some people consume a large amount of wild vegetables as a "spring detox food", while others deliberately drink strong tea. Dr. Du Jianpeng, chief physician of the Xiyuan Hospital of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, stated that both "eating a lot of wild vegetables for detoxification" and "drinking strong tea to dispel dampness" are incorrect. Wild vegetables are generally wild or semi-wild plants that naturally grow in the wild and can be used as vegetables. Common wild vegetables in spring include shepherd's purse, dandelion, Houttuynia cordata, and purslane. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that wild vegetables are generally cool in nature, and moderate consumption can help regulate liver function, clear heat, and detoxify, but they cannot dissolve plaque in blood vessels or "eliminate toxins". Excessive consumption may instead lead to discomfort such as bloating and diarrhea.