Summer Heatstroke Prevention Foods and Medicines
Mung Bean: Mung bean is sweet and cool in nature, with the function of clearing heat and detoxifying. People working in high-temperature environments in the summer sweat a lot, resulting in significant loss of body fluids and disruption of the body's electrolyte balance. Using mung bean soup to supplement is the most ideal method, as it can clear summer heat, replenish qi, quench thirst, and promote urination. It not only replenishes water but also promptly replenishes inorganic salts, which is of great significance for maintaining water and electrolyte balance. Mung bean porridge has similar effects. Mung bean also has detoxifying properties.
Medicated Balm: This is a green liquid medicine made from menthol, camphor, eucalyptus oil, methyl salicylate, mixed with liquid paraffin, chlorophyll, and essential oils. To prevent heatstroke and colds, apply this product to acupoints such as Renzhong (GV26), Taiyang (EX-HN5), and Yintang (GV29) to prevent heatstroke and colds. One of the main ingredients, camphor, is somewhat toxic.
Huoxiang Zhengqi Pills (Liquid, Powder): The efficacy and pharmacology of these three dosage forms are basically the same. The main ingredients are Angelica dahurica, dried tangerine peel, pinellia, magnolia bark, Poria cocos, and areca peel; pills and powders also contain Atractylodes macrocephala, platycodon root, and licorice; the liquid form contains perilla leaf oil, licorice extract, and atractylodes. It has analgesic, antibacterial, and preservative effects. In the summer, patients with exogenous wind-cold benefit most from this medicine.
Ren Dan: The main ingredients are menthol, talc, catechu, clove, costus root, fennel, amomum, and dried tangerine peel. It has the effects of clearing summer heat, eliminating foul odors, and stopping vomiting. It is a common medicine for preventing heatstroke in summer. It is mainly used for symptoms such as headache, dizziness, nausea, abdominal pain, and travel sickness caused by high temperatures. This medicine can promote intestinal peristalsis and relieve intestinal spasms. It is suitable for people with heatstroke, acute gastroenteritis, and excessive phlegm and cough.
Shui Di Shui: The main ingredients include camphor, rhubarb, ginger, clove, chili, and cassia bark. It has the functions of dispelling summer heat, dispersing cold, and strengthening the stomach. Modern medical research believes it is mainly used to treat various symptoms caused by heatstroke. At the same time, it can also be used externally to treat prickly heat or mild skin damage.
Liu Yi San: It consists of two ingredients, talc and raw licorice. It has the effects of clearing summer heat, promoting urination to dampness, and protecting the stomach and intestines. It is effective for those with vexation, thirst, short and yellow urine, or vomiting and diarrhea. However, it is contraindicated for those with yin deficiency, no internal damp-heat, or pregnant women.
Shuzheng Pian: It has the functions of dispelling summer heat and detoxifying, resolving phlegm and opening the orifices, and harmonizing the stomach and intestines. It is often used for emergency treatment of heatstroke coma, and the medicine can be stopped after the patient awakens. Because it contains Chinese herbal medicines such as asarum and soapwort, the tablets can also be ground into a fine powder and placed in the nasal cavity. However, this medicine is contraindicated for pregnant women.
Gua Sha: The folk method of Gua Sha does not have a clear theoretical guide for selecting scraping areas, basically using the "ashi" (where it hurts) acupoint method of scraping where it hurts. It is mainly used to treat colds, fever, heatstroke, acute gastroenteritis, and the early stages of other infectious and communicable diseases, as well as symptoms such as pain in the shoulders, back, arms, elbows, legs, and knees. As a simple and easy-to-use external treatment method, Gua Sha has an immediate effect and is not only popular among the people but also widely valued by medical professionals.
Image Source (Gourmet)