Cilantro is a commonly consumed aromatic vegetable with functions such as stimulating appetite and aiding digestion. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is believed that cilantro expels all pathogenic qi and has the effect of warming the middle and strengthening the stomach. People with a cold constitution can appropriately consume cilantro to alleviate symptoms such as stomach cold pain, indigestion, and incomplete measles rash. However, individuals who are prone to catching colds should avoid eating cilantro.
This is because such people often suffer from varying degrees of qi deficiency. Cilantro has a pungent taste that can disperse qi, and excessive or prolonged consumption can deplete qi and damage the spirit, thereby triggering or worsening qi deficiency and leading to more frequent colds. In addition to recurrent colds, individuals with qi deficiency often experience discomforts such as excessive sweating, fatigue, and lassitude. Those with obvious symptoms of qi deficiency should eat cilantro sparingly or not at all. Postpartum patients and those recovering from illness also often have a certain degree of qi deficiency, so they should also "keep a distance" from cilantro.
Although people who frequently catch colds should "draw a clear line" with cilantro, those who are strong, in good health, and only catch colds occasionally can use it to treat a cold.
In clinical practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine, pungent and warm herbs that release the exterior are often used to treat wind-cold colds, and cilantro happens to have such an effect. For wind-cold cold patients, take 9 grams of cilantro and 10 grams of green onion, decoct in water, add sugar for flavor, and then take it. In addition, people with a cold spleen and stomach can also eat a moderate amount of cilantro to warm the stomach, dispel cold, aid digestion, and relieve stomach pain. You can make cilantro porridge by adding tangerine peel (to aid digestion and regulate qi) and ginger (to warm the stomach and dispel cold) while cooking the porridge, and sprinkle chopped cilantro just before serving. For those who suffer from stomach pain after consuming greasy food, cilantro can also "help": take 50-100 grams of fresh cilantro, wash and mash it to extract the juice, which can effectively relieve stomach pain.
What to eat and what to avoid when you have a fever and a cold
When you have a fever and a cold, drink plenty of water and eat something light like congee. Avoid greasy, rich, and heavy foods. Get plenty of sleep, cover yourself with a blanket to sweat it out.
When you have a fever and a cold, cook some white congee to drink. Buy a pound of fresh mushrooms, the thinner the flesh the better. Only add water and a little salt. Bring to a boil, then simmer on low heat for 15 minutes.