Ever since I was a child, whenever I had a cough, the elders around me would always suggest, "Drink some Chuanbei Snow Pear Rock Sugar Syrup to stop the cough!" Snow pears have always been my go-to remedy for coughs. Whenever I caught a cold and started coughing, I would devour pears, but the effectiveness seemed to be hit or miss. So, out of curiosity, I consulted a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner and discovered that there's a lot to know about using pears to treat coughs:
Raw pears are not suitable for colds caused by wind-cold. Pears themselves have a heat-clearing effect and can relieve coughs and reduce phlegm, but they are considered a "cool" fruit. Therefore, they are not effective for coughs caused by wind-cold and might even worsen the condition. However, when you stew the pears, you can change their nature, making them milder, and thus they can be used as an excellent remedy for coughs.
For a persistent cough, try the old method: Chuanbei Snow Pear
We usually use pears to treat coughs, and it's best to add some fritillary bulb (Beimu) to help alleviate symptoms of a lingering cough due to lung deficiency. The specific method is: core the pear, hollow it out, add fritillary bulb to the center, and then stew it together with rock sugar.
For a dry cough, a honey-steamed pear is even better
Honey is very effective for dry coughs, and when paired with a pear, the results are even better. People with a dry cough can opt for a honey-steamed pear. The specific method is: Prepare one pear and 50g of honey. First, core the pear and fill the cavity with honey, then steam it until cooked. Eat one in the morning and one in the evening daily for several days.
Ps: For phlegm-producing coughs, it's not advisable to eat things that are too sweet. If you are stewing a pear, don't choose a very sweet variety, and don't add too much honey or sugar.
Additionally, to make an effective cough-relieving pear, you also need to pick a good one. Because pears are cooling, most families don't eat them regularly, so many people don't know how to select them. Here, I'd like to share a few tips:
▍ Color
Generally speaking, a fresh color indicates the pear was picked recently. However, if the pear is brown or moldy, do not buy it, as it has likely been stored for a long time.
▍ Shape
When picking a pear, choose one with no surface damage, no bruises, and a uniform shape.
▍ Feel
Weigh the pear in your hand. A heavier weight indicates it is full of moisture and very fresh, so it's a good buy. Gently squeeze the pear's surface; if it feels too soft, try to avoid buying it.