Introduction: The so-called "fire" refers to certain heat-related symptoms within the body, and "internal heat" (shanghuo) is an internal heat condition that arises from an imbalance of yin and yang in the body. The clinical manifestations of "internal heat" can include prickling throat pain, mouth ulcers, swollen gums, bad breath, increased eye discharge, and yellow urine, all of which are positive heat symptoms. When "internal heat" strikes, reducing it becomes key, but not all remedies are effective. Let me explain it to you in detail.
Mistake 1: Eating more fruit can "extinguish the fire"
Mistake 2: Drinking mung bean soup and chrysanthemum tea as water
On a scorching summer day, many housewives will brew a large pot of mung bean soup or steep a pot of chrysanthemum tea for their family to drink as water. Mung beans are cold-natured and sweet, with effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, relieving summer heat, and quenching thirst. However, for people with a weak constitution, such as those with cold hands and feet, abdominal bloating, or diarrhea, it is best not to drink too much of it. A milder option is to cook mung bean congee. Chrysanthemum tea is also not suitable for daily drinking. For people with a deficient and cold constitution, long-term and excessive consumption of chrysanthemum tea can make their constitution increasingly deficient and cold, lowering their immunity.
Mistake 3: Everyone can drink herbal tea
Although the ingredients of herbal tea vary, they are mainly composed of honeysuckle, chrysanthemum, scutellaria, lotus leaf, and agastache, making them cold-natured. TCM experts remind that in the hot and humid southern regions, drinking herbal tea can clear heat, detoxify, and remove dampness. However, for people with a generally weak constitution, or a cold-natured constitution who feels cold easily or has a weak spleen and stomach, drinking herbal tea could worsen their condition, leading to stomach pain, abdominal pain, and even diarrhea.
Mistake 4: Eating "bitter" foods can reduce "internal heat"
The alkaloids in bitter foods have effects of relieving summer heat, clearing heat, and dilating blood vessels. Many people think that when they have "internal heat," they can eat bitter foods like bitter melon, wild vegetables, or drink kuding tea to reduce it. In reality, these bitter foods are mostly suitable for purging "fire" from the liver, gallbladder, and stomach and intestines. If you have symptoms like a sore throat, bad breath, or red eyes, you can appropriately eat some "bitter" foods. However, they are not suitable for symptoms of heart fire, such as canker sores in the mouth. Furthermore, eating "bitter" should be done in moderation. Excessive consumption of overly bitter foods can damage the spleen and stomach, causing side effects like nausea and vomiting.
Since there are so many misconceptions about reducing "internal heat," how can it be done correctly?
1. First, maintain a scientific daily routine with regular work and rest, and timed,定量 meals. Engage in moderate exercise, ensure adequate sleep, and avoid staying up late to prevent excessive fatigue, which can lead to a weakened immune system.
2. Secondly, during a period of "internal heat," avoid spicy foods, alcohol, smoking, and staying up late. Pay attention to oral hygiene, rinse your mouth frequently, drink plenty of water, and take "internal heat"-reducing medications under a doctor's guidance.
3. Also, eat more foods that reduce "internal heat." Fresh green leafy vegetables, cucumbers, oranges, and green tea all have good "fire"-reducing properties. Additionally, you can take various oral cooling remedies, such as honeysuckle extract, which has a special effect in reducing "internal heat".
Are there other beverages that can reduce "internal heat"?
1. Job's Tear Tea
There are many causes of edema. If the edema is simply caused by water retention, drinking Job's tear tea is recommended.
Ingredients: 10g roasted Job's tears, 5g fresh lotus leaf, 5g hawthorn.
Method: Boil with hot water and it's ready to drink.
Effects: Clear heat, promote urination, and treat edema.
2. Lotus Leaf Tea
Low mood and high stress can increase intestinal sensitivity and lead to constipation. Drinking lotus leaf tea is recommended.
Ingredients: 3g lotus leaf, 6g roasted cassia seeds, 3 rosebuds.
Method: Steep with boiling water.
Effects: Clear summer heat and promote urination, treat water retention and edema, and promote a refreshing state.
3. Cassia Seed Tea
For people with slow intestinal peristalsis (especially obese individuals on a diet), feces can easily accumulate in the body, causing constipation. Drinking cassia seed tea is recommended.
Ingredients: Cassia seeds.
Method: Steep with hot water.
Effects: Clear the liver and brighten the eyes, promote urination, and relieve constipation.