A good medicine that tastes bitter

Since a long time ago, I have been drinking granulated Chinese herbal medicine whenever I feel a cold coming on.

It is called Ganmao Qingre Keli, which costs about $2 for 10 packets and can be obtained from every street drugstore that sells traditional Chinese medicine. It has a bitter and unpleasant taste that can make swallowing it when mixed with hot water even more difficult. But every urban Chinese man with early symptoms of a cold will probably take the medicine rather than Moutai or some other Chinese liquor, before they hit the sack early.

Does it work? Well, we know TCM is not as fast as Western medicine in terms of effectiveness, but it is good for keeping the whole body healthy. People say the brown grains are most useful as a preventive cure. So I would assume I have taken them too late when my symptoms do not subside and I have to consult a doctor for Western medication.