If the air is dry and there is less moisture, the human body is prone to autumn dryness symptoms such as a dry throat and nose, chapped lips, thirst, a dry cough without phlegm, and dry skin. If one can persist in eating a certain amount of pears daily, it can have an unexpected effect in combating dryness.
Professor Tian Zhengjian, a respiratory physician from the Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, explains that pears have the effects of promoting salivation to stop coughs, moistening dryness to resolve phlegm, and moistening the intestines to relieve constipation. They also have a certain regulatory effect on symptoms such as fluid damage from heat diseases, vexation and thirst, dry cough due to lung dryness, dry throat and tongue, dysphagia and nausea, and dry stools. Additionally, pears have heat-clearing and sedative effects, which are beneficial as an adjunctive treatment for patients with hypertension, heart disease, dizziness, and insomnia with many dreams. They are also a health food for patients with hepatitis and nephropathy in autumn, with good effects on protecting and nourishing the liver and aiding digestion.
Different methods of eating pears can produce different effects. Professor Tian says that eating raw pears can significantly relieve symptoms such as dryness, itching, pain, and hoarseness of the throat in patients with upper respiratory tract infections, as well as constipation and dark urine. Juicing the pears, or boiling them with a little rock sugar, plus things like chuanbei (bulbus fritillariae), winter melon seeds, and rock sugar, has the effect of moistening the throat and replenishing body fluids for those affected by dry weather, a fiery constitution, dry and sore throat, and hoarseness. Cooking the pears, such as steaming them with rock sugar, can have the effect of nourishing yin, moistening the lungs, and stopping coughs and resolving phlegm. The world-famous pear syrup candy is made by boiling pears with honey and has a significant therapeutic effect on patients with chronic coughs due to lung heat.
Professor Tian especially reminds that although pears are a fine fruit, they should not be eaten in excess, as too many can damage the spleen and stomach and promote dampness. Therefore, those with wind-cold coughs, cold pain in the epigastric abdomen, loose stools due to spleen deficiency, and postpartum women should consume them with caution. Additionally, pears have a diuretic effect, so those who urinate frequently at night should eat fewer pears before bed. Pears contain a lot of fruit acid, so people with high stomach acid should not eat too many. Pears should not be taken with alkaline drugs, such as aminophylline or sodium bicarbonate. They should also not be eaten with crabs to prevent causing diarrhea.