Many people have varying degrees of dampness in their bodies due to their diet, especially those living in the southern region where the climate is humid. Wuweizi (Schisandra chinensis) is a commonly used medicinal herb. Can wuweizi eliminate dampness?
Does wuweizi eliminate dampness?
Wuweizi does not have a significant effect in eliminating dampness.
Dampness is a concept in traditional Chinese medicine. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that dampness can be caused by two main factors: external humid climate invading the body, and excessive consumption of meat leading to weakness in the spleen and stomach, resulting in dysfunction in water and dampness metabolism.
Wuweizi has a sour and sweet taste, and a warm nature. It has the effects of astringing and consolidating, nourishing qi and generating fluids, and tonifying the kidneys and calming the mind. It is commonly used to treat symptoms such as chronic cough due to lung deficiency, spontaneous sweating or night sweats, and thirst caused by fluid injury. However, wuweizi does not have a significant effect in eliminating dampness.
Can people with excessive dampness consume wuweizi?
Yes, they can.
Wuweizi has the effects of consolidating the lungs, nourishing the kidneys, generating fluids, stopping sweating, and astringing essence. It is not significantly related to dampness. Therefore, people with excessive dampness can consume wuweizi without worsening their dampness symptoms.
Methods of consuming wuweizi
Wuweizi porridge
Ingredients: 10 grams of wuweizi, 10 grams of jujube, 100 grams of glutinous rice, suitable amount of rock sugar.
Instructions:
1. Crush the wuweizi and remove the pit from the jujube.
2. Wash the glutinous rice and put it in a pot with the wuweizi and jujube.
3. Add enough water to cook the porridge.
4. After the porridge is cooked, add an appropriate amount of rock sugar and cook for about 5 minutes.
5. Take it twice a day, morning and evening.
Wuweizi tea
Instructions:
1. Crush the wuweizi and put it in a cup.
2. Pour boiling water into the cup.
3. Cover and steep for about 15 minutes.
4. During this time, you can add more hot water 2-3 times to continue drinking.
5. You can also add honey or rock sugar for flavoring.
Precautions when consuming wuweizi
1. Pay attention to the dosage
The recommended dosage of wuweizi is generally 2-6 grams. Since wuweizi is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, excessive consumption is not recommended. If taken in a single dose of 13-18 grams or more, it may cause adverse reactions such as burning sensation in the stomach, belching, acid reflux, nausea, and vomiting. If wuweizi is used for the treatment of a specific disease, it is recommended to consult a doctor for detailed dosage guidance and follow the doctor's instructions.
2. Prevent allergies
A small proportion of people may experience allergies or toxic reactions when consuming wuweizi, such as urticaria, fever, headache, and nausea. If you are unsure whether you are allergic, you can start by consuming a small amount of wuweizi and observe for about 1 hour. If there are no adverse reactions, you can continue consumption.
3. Not suitable for early-stage cough
Wuweizi has a sour taste and has a strong astringent effect on the lungs. It is good at treating chronic cough and cough due to deficiency. However, for early-stage cough caused by external pathogenic factors, the treatment should focus on dispersing and expelling the pathogenic factors. Taking wuweizi in the early stage of cough may cause the pathogenic factors to accumulate in the body, leading to worsening cough, headache, and other external symptoms.
4. Not suitable for early-stage rashes
In the early stage of rashes, it is not recommended to take wuweizi because the treatment for early-stage rashes should focus on promoting the eruption of the rash. Wuweizi has a consolidating effect, and taking it in the early stage of rashes may cause the pathogenic factors to be retained in the body, leading to worsening of rash symptoms.
Dietary methods to eliminate dampness
Red bean and coix seed porridge
Ingredients: 150 grams of red beans, 150 grams of coix seed, suitable amount of rock sugar.
1. Wash the red beans and coix seed, and soak them for about 2 hours.
2. Put them in a pot, add enough water.
3. Bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for about 2 hours.
4. After the porridge is cooked, add rock sugar and stir well.
Poria cocos porridge
Ingredients: 30 grams of poria cocos, 20 red dates, 100 grams of glutinous rice, suitable amount of rock sugar.
1. Crush the poria cocos, remove the pit from the red dates.
2. Cook the red dates over low heat until they are soft.
3. Add the crushed poria cocos and glutinous rice, and add enough water.
4. Cook until the porridge is ready, then add rock sugar to taste.
