25-year-old reportedly used AI to craft his own TCM prescription, suffered "qi and blood" imbalance and severe insomnia

What happened

It has been reported that a 25-year-old man in China used an artificial-intelligence chat tool to formulate a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM, 中医) prescription for himself and subsequently developed a pronounced imbalance of "qi and blood" and severe insomnia. The case was first reported by Chinese outlet ifeng and has circulated widely on domestic social media, where critics and medical professionals have questioned the safety of using AI for medical self-diagnosis and treatment.

The tool and the harm

Reportedly, the man provided his symptoms to the AI and accepted the herbal prescription it produced without seeing a licensed practitioner. According to reports, after following the AI-generated regimen he experienced worsened sleep and other symptoms consistent with TCM concepts of qi and blood disharmony. Independent verification of the clinical details is limited; medical professionals contacted by Chinese media warned that symptoms attributed to “qi and blood” imbalance can reflect real physiological or psychological problems that require professional assessment, and that self-prescribing herbal formulas—especially those not supervised by a trained practitioner—carries risks.

Broader context and risks

China has seen a rapid rollout of consumer-facing AI chatbots and apps from domestic firms such as Baidu (百度) and Tencent (腾讯), plus international tools, raising access to health-related information but also the potential for harm through inaccurate or inappropriate recommendations. It has been reported that regulators and health experts are increasingly concerned about medical misinformation and the unregulated use of AI for diagnosis or treatment. Who is responsible when an AI-recommended therapy causes harm—the user, the platform, or the AI developer? That question is gaining urgency as tech platforms expand functionalities into health and wellness.

Takeaway

Medical professionals urge caution: AI can assist with information, but it is not a substitute for clinical judgment. For symptoms that affect sleep, mood or physical functioning, seek evaluation from licensed medical or TCM practitioners rather than relying solely on automated prescriptions. As AI becomes more embedded in daily life, policymakers and platforms will face growing pressure to define clear safeguards for health-related use.