MORE young and middle-aged people in the city were taking gaofang, a traditional herbal paste taken in winter.

　　Gaofang is a jelly-like medicine made from condensed liquid herbal medicine and other ingredients. It is usually prescribed by TCM doctors depending on the patient’s health and kept in an earthen jar in a cool place (a refrigerator). It is taken with a spoonful of hot water in the morning from winter solstice until spring.

　　Gaofang was usually given to elderly people, but it has gained popularity among the city’s young and middle-aged residents, largely due to the promotion of TCM for disease prevention and health protection. Many office workers have gaofang to treat poor appetite, bad sleeping habits and poor immunity caused by busy work pressure and unhealthy lifestyle.

　　Di Xin, a 37-year-old businessman, said he started to take gaofang two years ago and many of his friends also take gaofang.

　　“I always eat out and drink too much alcohol,” he said. “I think gaofang can protect me from such unhealthy but necessary lifestyle. My parents who have taken gaofang for over 10 years have also encouraged me to take it.”

　　Dr Sheng Zhaoyuan from Shanghai Western Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital said that youngsters are more aware of its health benefits. “Young people account for about 30 percent of gaofang consumers in my hospital in previous years but it has grown to 50 percent since last year,” Dr Sheng said.

　　As the demands for gaofang soars by the day, TCM hospitals have started to sell the paste in small bags for daily dosage.