Once you feel a dry throat and mouth, and drinking water alone doesn't quench your thirst, a medicinal herbal tea can help. Here, we introduce Ophiopogon Tea.
Ophiopogon has the effects of nourishing yin, promoting the production of body fluids to quench thirst, moistening the lungs, clearing the heart, and alleviating restlessness. It is the most commonly used herb in the category of yin-nourishing Chinese medicine. To prepare the tea, take 3-5 strands of Ophiopogon. First, rinse them with a small amount of warm water for two to three minutes to wash away impurities. Then, replace the water with 200-300 ml of boiling water, cover, and steep for 15-20 minutes. Afterwards, drink it frequently as a tea substitute. The Ophiopogon will become plump and white after prolonged steeping, and its semi-transparent appearance is quite lovely. By the end of the day, you can chew and swallow the softened Ophiopogon. It tastes bitter at first, but a sweet aftertaste develops after chewing. If you don't like this taste, you can add an appropriate amount rock sugar or honey when steeping the Ophiopogon. From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, honey is more effective at nourishing yin, moistening the lungs, and promoting bowel movements, making it suitable for those who also have dry skin and constipation. Rock sugar is better at reducing internal heat and dryness, making it suitable for those who are irritable and easily angered. If you drink plenty of water but still have dark urine, you can add a small amount of lotus plumule to the Ophiopogon tea, as it has the effect of clearing the heart and alleviating restlessness.
It should be noted that the nature of Ophiopogon is cool in property. Therefore, people who usually have a cold stomach, fear cold, have a cough with excessive phlegm, or are prone to catching colds and diarrhea should not drink this tea.