“Dryness” and its bitterness—who knows it best! Whenever the weather changes or a cold snap hits, the number of patients visiting the TCM department for dry symptoms such as a dry mouth, dry eyes, and dry, itchy skin increases by 10% compared to usual. TCM physicians state that these dry manifestations are related to diseases, constitutions, and climate. In addition to treating the root cause and regulating one's constitution, those who suffer from “dryness bitterness” can also moderately consume more wood ear mushrooms, Chinese yam, and food therapies that nourish yin and moisten dryness as a daily regimen for maintenance.
The Causes of Dryness Are Complex; Targeted Treatment Is Effective
Although dry symptoms may not be life-threatening, they can affect quality of life, sleep, and mood. Weng Shuwen, a physician in the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Taichung Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan, notes that patients with common clinical conditions such as dry eye syndrome, menopausal syndrome, Sjögren's syndrome, and other diseases share a commonality: a feeling of “dryness.” Even after receiving a certain degree of improvement from Western medical treatment, some patients remain deeply troubled by “dryness” and turn to TCM for help.
Although TCM generally classifies these conditions as “dryness syndromes,” the causes can vary, including being caused by pathogenic dryness, dryness due to qi or yin deficiency, or even damage to yin affecting yang, accompanied by yang deficiency. Therefore, the clinical treatment principles differ, such as moistening dryness, replenishing qi, and nourishing yin, and require careful diagnosis and evaluation by a TCM physician before applying targeted treatment based on the individual's specific constitution, disease location, and nature.
Relieve Dryness Discomfort! Daily Diet Should Focus on Nourishing Yin and Moistening Dryness
In addition to professional diagnosis and treatment, Weng Shuwen, a TCM physician, states that good dietary habits can also alleviate discomfort caused by dryness. She recommends that people avoid irritating, overly spicy, hot, or cold foods. They can eat more wood ear mushrooms, Chinese yam, and seasonal ingredients. They can also consume food therapies like lily congee and Shengmai Yin under a physician's guidance to help nourish yin and moisten dryness.
1. Lily Congee: Take 30 grams of raw Rehmannia root, decoct it to extract the juice, and set aside the liquid after removing the dregs. Cook 30 grams of fresh lily bulbs and an appropriate amount of rice with water to make congee. Finally, add the Rehmannia juice. Lily bulbs are sweet and neutral in nature, moistening the lungs, clearing heat, and supplementing the middle jiao. Raw Rehmannia root is sweet, bitter, and cold in nature, clearing heat, cooling the blood, and nourishing yin.
2. Yiwei Yin: Take 9 grams of Glehnia root, 4 grams of Solomon's seal rhizome, 15 grams of Ophiopogon root, 15 grams of raw Rehmannia root, and 3 grams of sugar. Add 1000cc of water and decoct. Remove the dregs and drink when warm. This soup can nourish yin and benefit the stomach.
3. Shengmai Yin: Take 9 grams of Ginseng, 9 grams of Ophiopogon root, and 6 grams of Schisandra berry. Add 1000cc of water, decoct, remove the dregs, and drink. This can replenish qi and promote the production of body fluids.
4. Glehnia and Solomon's Seal Duck/Pork: Take 30 grams of Glehnia root, 30 grams of Solomon's seal rhizome, a little ginger, and an appropriate amount of duck or pork and cook together. Season with a small amount of salt at the end. This food therapy can nourish yin, moisten the lungs, and benefit the stomach. Duck meat is sweet and salty in nature and cold, capable of nourishing yin and correcting deficiency. Pork is salty and cold in nature, and can tonify the liver and kidneys, and moisturize the skin.