Traditional Chinese medicine believes that autumn and winter are the seasons with high incidence of bronchitis, asthma, and other lung diseases. Therefore, it is important to take care of the lungs during this time. Food therapy is an important aspect of traditional Chinese medicine for health preservation, and regularly consuming foods that nourish and moisturize the lungs is beneficial for the lungs. Here are several recipes for lung nourishing food therapy with excellent effects in relieving cough and phlegm.
Recipe 1: Pine Nut Walnut Paste
Ingredients: 200g pine nuts, 100g black sesame, 100g walnuts, 200g honey, 500ml yellow wine
Instructions: Grind pine nuts, black sesame, and walnuts into a paste. Put the paste into a sandpot, add yellow wine, and simmer over low heat for about 10 minutes. Then, add honey, mix well, and continue to simmer and reduce the paste. Let it cool and store in a bottle. Take 1 tablespoon twice a day with warm water.
Benefits: Nourishes the five internal organs, enhances qi and blood. Suitable for treating lung and kidney deficiency, persistent cough, soreness in the waist and knees, dizziness, and other symptoms. Regular consumption by middle-aged and elderly people can nourish and strengthen the body, enhance brain function, delay aging.
Recipe 2: Lily Lotus Soup
Ingredients: 100g lily, 50g lotus seeds, 15g Huanghua, 15g rock sugar
Instructions: Rinse the lily and Huanghua with water and put them in a pot. Peel the lotus seeds, remove the core, and rinse them. Add 500ml of water to the pot, steam with high heat until cooked, then add rock sugar and steam for a while. Take it on an empty stomach in the morning and evening, once a day.
Benefits: Lily moisturizes the lungs and relieves cough, lotus seeds nourish the heart and calm the mind, Huanghua moisturizes the lungs and clears the qi, and relieves cough and phlegm. The combination of the three has the effects of nourishing the lungs, relieving cough, clearing the qi, and transforming phlegm. It is suitable for symptoms such as lung heat and dry cough, forgetfulness, premature aging, rough skin, and increased facial wrinkles.
Recipe 3: Steamed Pear with Tendrilled Fritillary Bulb
Ingredients: 1 snow pear or duck pear, 6g tendrilled fritillary bulb, 20g rock sugar
Instructions: Cut open the pear from the stem part and remove the core. Crush the tendrilled fritillary bulb into powder and stuff it into the pear. Use a toothpick to seal the stem part. Put rock sugar in a large bowl, add a small amount of water, and steam for half an hour. Take the steamed pear and the tendrilled fritillary bulb together.
Benefits: Tendrilled fritillary bulb is an excellent medicine for resolving phlegm and relieving cough. When used together with snow pear and rock sugar, it has the effects of resolving phlegm, relieving cough, moisturizing the lungs, and nourishing yin. It is suitable for treating persistent cough, excessive phlegm, dry throat, and shortness of breath and fatigue.
Recipe 4: Black Burnt Ginger
Ingredients: Some ginger
Instructions: Put the ginger in a flat-bottomed pan, cover the lid, and heat it over low heat. After a while, white smoke will come out, and after about 4 hours, it will turn into blue smoke. At this time, turn off the heat. After the pan cools down, open the lid and take 2-3g of ginger before bed, and drink it with boiling water.
Benefits: It is a special medicine for treating cough, especially suitable for cough caused by catching a cold.
