Thirst-quenching foods. When the weather is dry, besides the feeling of a dry throat, there is also a feeling of thirst. Below are eight thirst-quenching foods.
Watermelon: Sweet in taste and cool in nature, it has the effects of clearing heat and relieving summer heat, promoting fluid production to quench thirst, and promoting urination. It has certain auxiliary therapeutic effects on high blood pressure, jaundice, acne, heatstroke, etc. It is particularly effective for thirst, dizziness, and palpitations caused by summer heat damaging fluids; jaundice caused by high blood pressure, hepatitis, or cholecystitis; skin boils; and other conditions.
Peach: Sweet and sour in taste, warm in nature, it promotes fluid production to moisten the lungs, moistens the intestines to resolve food stagnation, and strengthens muscles and beautifies the skin. It can improve emaciation, sallow complexion, dry skin, irregular menstruation, and coughing due to deficiency-cold caused by insufficient yin and blood.
Bitter Melon: Bitter in taste, cold in nature, it has the effects of clearing heat and relieving summer heat, calming the mind and tranquilizing the spirit, nourishing the kidneys and strengthening the spleen, and nourishing the liver and improving eyesight. It is beneficial for treating diarrhea, sores, heat boils, prickly heat, vexation and thirst from febrile diseases, palpitations, insomnia, heatstroke, and fever. Stir-fried or cold-dressed bitter melon is refreshing and not greasy, and also has the effect of eliminating greasiness, clearing the mind, and whetting the appetite.
Lotus Root: It can be eaten as both a fruit and a vegetable, and is suitable for both raw and cooked consumption. Raw lotus root is cold in nature, sweet and cool, entering the stomach and heart meridians. It can clear heat and toxins, cool the blood to stop bleeding, and clear heat to relieve vexation. It is suitable for mouth vexation and thirst, drunkenness, hemoptysis, hematemesis, etc. It can also neutralize heat toxins and treat sore throat and constipation caused by excessive consumption of spicy foods. Cooked lotus root has the effects of nourishing the stomach, nourishing yin, strengthening the spleen, and replenishing qi. It is suitable for insufficient stomach yin, dry mouth, and swollen gums.
Silver Ear: Sweet in taste and neutral in nature, it has the effects of nourishing yin and promoting fluid production, moistening the lungs, and nourishing the kidneys. Silver Ear is moistening but not greasy. It can improve constipation due to insufficient gastrointestinal fluids, dry cough without phlegm due to dry-heat damaging the lungs, and irregular menstruation caused by deficiency of yin and blood in women. Rich in pectin and trace elements, long-term consumption can detoxify and moisten the skin, and prevent sun-induced dermatitis and chloasma.
Seaweed: Sweet and salty in taste, cold in nature, it has the effects of promoting fluid production to clear heat, nourishing the kidneys and calming the mind, and softening hard masses to dissipate nodules. It can improve dizziness and tinnitus due to liver yang rising, mouth sores due to heart yin deficiency, and mammary hyperplasia or thyroid nodules caused by stasis-heat in the liver and spleen.
Honey: The "Compendium of Materia Medica" says that honey "harmonizes the nutritive qi and defensive qi, moistens the organs, unblocks the triple energizer, and regulates the spleen and stomach." Honey's excellent function of nourishing yin and promoting fluid production can effectively relieve symptoms of blazing fire due to summer heat damaging fluids, such as dizziness, brain fog, forgetfulness, insomnia, vertigo, bad breath, bitter taste, mouth ulcers, and increased eye discharge.
Dark Plum: Sour and sweet in taste, neutral in nature, it promotes fluid production to reduce fire, stimulates the spleen to whet the appetite. It can improve thirst and a dry throat caused by diabetes, alleviate lack of stomach acid and loss of appetite caused by chronic gastritis, and also has the effect of sobering up and protecting the liver. Taking 5 grams each of dark plum, platycodon root, and licorice daily as a tea substitute is quite effective for treating chronic pharyngitis.