5 Must-Have Teas for Sore Throats
A friend messaged me for help, saying his throat felt like it was on fire. It turned out he had hot pot with his family over the weekend, and the next day, everyone in the family had terrible sore throats. I couldn't resist making fun of him. Hong Kong people, undeterred by the hot weather, love to eat hot pot all year round. But eating hot pot in summer is not only spicy and "heaty," it also "damages body fluids."
Dry, itchy, painful throat, and dry cough are all superficial symptoms, mostly caused by the invasion of wind-heat, excessive heat in the lungs and stomach, or deficiency of internal organs, resulting in damage to yin fluids and upward flaming of virtual fire, leading to inflammation of the pharyngeal mucosa. "The pharynx needs fluid to nourish it, and the throat relies on fluid to maintain it." The throat needs the body's fluids to nourish it. If lung qi cannot descend, body fluids are deficient, or the body's functions are out of balance, then fluids cannot reach the throat, leading to throat discomfort. This is why we often say "generate fluid and quench thirst."
If you experience a sore throat caused by "excess heat," you can try brewing tea with the following single ingredients, which can clear heat, soothe the throat, and nourish the lungs:
1. Tropaeolum majus (nasturtium): Bitter in taste, slightly cold in nature, enters the lung and stomach meridians. It can clear heat and detoxify, reduce inflammation and stop cough, and inhibit bacteria. It is a natural antibacterial agent that can effectively relieve swelling and pain in the respiratory tract and inflammation of the throat.
2. Elderflower: Pungent in taste, warm in nature, mainly treats upper respiratory tract infections, and can induce sweating and diuresis.
3. Pang Da Hai (Malva Nut): Sweet in taste, cold in nature, enters the lung and large intestine meridians. It can clear heat and moisten the lungs, and relieve dry and painful throat caused by excessive heat in the lungs and stomach, especially suitable for dry cough without phlegm, itchy throat, and hoarseness. One to two pieces steeped in tea are sufficient.
4. Lonicera japonica (honeysuckle): Sweet in taste, cold in nature, enters the heart, lung, and stomach meridians. It can effectively clear heat and detoxify, and is even more effective for redness and swelling of the throat.
5. Siraitia grosvenorii (Monk fruit): Sweet in taste, cold in nature, enters the lung and spleen meridians. It can clear the lungs and soothe the throat, and moisten the throat to relieve cough. A quarter of a fruit steeped in tea is sufficient.
All the above teas are cold in nature. Friends with a weak and cold constitution should consult a Chinese medicine practitioner first to determine if they are suitable for consumption based on their body type.
Dry, itchy, painful throat, and dry cough are all superficial symptoms, mostly caused by the invasion of wind-heat, excessive heat in the lungs and stomach, or deficiency of internal organs, resulting in damage to yin fluids and upward flaming of virtual fire, leading to inflammation of the pharyngeal mucosa. "The pharynx needs fluid to nourish it, and the throat relies on fluid to maintain it." The throat needs the body's fluids to nourish it. If lung qi cannot descend, body fluids are deficient, or the body's functions are out of balance, then fluids cannot reach the throat, leading to throat discomfort. This is why we often say "generate fluid and quench thirst."
If you experience a sore throat caused by "excess heat," you can try brewing tea with the following single ingredients, which can clear heat, soothe the throat, and nourish the lungs:
1. Tropaeolum majus (nasturtium): Bitter in taste, slightly cold in nature, enters the lung and stomach meridians. It can clear heat and detoxify, reduce inflammation and stop cough, and inhibit bacteria. It is a natural antibacterial agent that can effectively relieve swelling and pain in the respiratory tract and inflammation of the throat.
2. Elderflower: Pungent in taste, warm in nature, mainly treats upper respiratory tract infections, and can induce sweating and diuresis.
3. Pang Da Hai (Malva Nut): Sweet in taste, cold in nature, enters the lung and large intestine meridians. It can clear heat and moisten the lungs, and relieve dry and painful throat caused by excessive heat in the lungs and stomach, especially suitable for dry cough without phlegm, itchy throat, and hoarseness. One to two pieces steeped in tea are sufficient.
4. Lonicera japonica (honeysuckle): Sweet in taste, cold in nature, enters the heart, lung, and stomach meridians. It can effectively clear heat and detoxify, and is even more effective for redness and swelling of the throat.
5. Siraitia grosvenorii (Monk fruit): Sweet in taste, cold in nature, enters the lung and spleen meridians. It can clear the lungs and soothe the throat, and moisten the throat to relieve cough. A quarter of a fruit steeped in tea is sufficient.
All the above teas are cold in nature. Friends with a weak and cold constitution should consult a Chinese medicine practitioner first to determine if they are suitable for consumption based on their body type.