Soaking Saussurea involucrata in milk and drinking it after fermentation is considered to be a "fashion" that can preserve health, not only in Longgang, but also in other parts of China in recent two years.
Feng Xuefeng, an associate researcher at the Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chinese Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, believes that soaking milk with Saussurea involucrata is unscientific and unhygienic. First of all, he thinks that Saussurea involucrata is a traditional Chinese medicine, which is different from food and has its indications, dosage and taking method, so it is not suitable for long-term use. Milk stored at room temperature for a long time may be fermented and corrupted and contaminated by miscellaneous bacteria. Drinking such milk is not healthy. Secondly, this method of administration is not recorded in the literature and does not conform to the conventional usage in Saussurea involucrata. Saussurea involucrata is traditionally taken by soaking in wine or decocting in water. Thirdly, the effect of Saussurea involucrata soaking in milk on the stomach and intestines circulated in society is inconsistent with Saussurea involucrata's main effects of dispelling wind and cold, relieving spasm and relieving pain. In addition, Saussurea involucrata can't grow in low altitude areas, which means that it is difficult for Saussurea involucrata to survive in other areas except the suitable areas in the western plateau.
Insiders pointed out that it is reported that some kinds of Saussurea involucrata can cause poisoning, mainly because colchicine contained in Saussurea involucrata is highly toxic, so you should not take more.