With the Dragon Boat Festival approaching, a wide variety of zongzi (glutinous rice dumplings) have once again become the focus of culinary delights. With fillings like meat, fruit, jam, red dates, and chestnuts, the options are dazzling, making it hard to decide which to eat or how many to eat. In a recent interview with Professor Zhang Changfu, a pharmacology expert from the School of Chinese Materia Medica at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, it was discovered that there are many considerations to eating zongzi, all of which are closely related to daily health.
Professor Zhang explained that in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the reed leaves and lotus leaves used to wrap zongzi are excellent remedies for clearing heat and relieving summer heat. Even the glutinous rice, which we take for granted, has medicinal effects in TCM, such as replenishing qi, promoting the production of body fluids, and clearing heat. TCM posits that after the Dragon Boat Festival, the hottest months of summer begin. Due to the difficult summer heat, people commonly experience symptoms like "internal heat" (shanghuo) and heatstroke. At this time, regularly eating zongzi can truly be a "medicine and food of the same origin" for relieving summer heat.
Although the fillings for zongzi on the market are numerous, Professor Zhang offers advice from the perspective of TCM dietary therapy: Red dates are sweet and warm in nature, with effects of tonifying the middle jiao, replenishing qi, nourishing blood, and calming the spirit. Chestnuts have the effects of replenishing qi, strengthening the spleen, and benefiting the kidneys. Therefore, zongzi with red date and chestnut fillings can be considered the "premium" choice among zongzi.
Although zongzi are a festive delicacy, improper consumption can be harmful. Professor Zhang stated that zongzi, made primarily of glutinous rice, are difficult to digest. Overeating can damage the spleen and stomach, leading to symptoms like bloating and diarrhea. Therefore, the elderly, children, and individuals with poor digestive function should not overindulge. Even for those with strong digestive systems, the principle of "eating small meals frequently" should be followed. If you make zongzi at home during the festival, you should adhere to the principle of "wrapping and eating them fresh." Frozen zongzi bought from the supermarket should be steamed or boiled thoroughly before consumption.
Additionally, on the Dragon Boat Festival, many places have the custom of drinking realgar wine to kill intestinal parasites. However, Professor Zhang believes this custom should be abandoned! Although realgar can kill insects, remove dampness, and relieve itching, it is highly toxic. A daily dose of 0.3 grams can cause poisoning, leading to mild symptoms like vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, and difficulty with urination and defecation, which can be followed by laryngitis and headaches. In severe cases, it can damage the heart, liver, kidneys, and intestines.