In winter, the temperature drops and the weather is dry, making it easier to develop respiratory diseases. Coughing is the most common symptom, and it is well-known that coughing can harm the lungs. Therefore, it is best to prepare some lung-clearing and throat-moistening soups at home during this season. Not only are they delicious, but they also have health benefits and can treat diseases.
1. Banana, Lily, and Tremella Soup
Lily and Tremella are rich in mineral elements and have the functions of nourishing Yin, warming and replenishing, and moistening the lungs. Bananas are rich in potassium and are also good for digestion and absorption. Banana, Lily, and Tremella soup can nourish the lungs, clear heat, and relieve the dryness in the throat during winter.
Ingredients: 15g dried Tremella, 120g fresh Lily, 2 bananas, 5g wolfberries, 80g rock sugar, 3 cups of water. Soak the dried Tremella in water for 2 hours, then add 3 cups of water and simmer over low heat for half an hour. Peel and slice the bananas. Add the cooked Tremella, fresh Lily, banana slices, wolfberries, and rock sugar into a stew pot and simmer for half an hour.
2. Lotus Root and Pear Soup
Lotus root can quench thirst, detoxify, warm the middle, and benefit the qi. When used together with pears, it can prevent the cold nature of pears from harming the stomach. In fact, crushing the lotus root and consuming its juice directly can also treat acute and chronic discomfort in the throat.
Ingredients: 10 lotus roots, peeled and washed; 2 pears, peeled, cored, and chopped; an appropriate amount of water; a little rock sugar. Boil the ingredients in water and add a little rock sugar. Drink it all at once or divide it into multiple servings.
3. Honey with Vinegar
Honey has strong antibacterial effects. Japanese people often mix vinegar and honey together to prevent and treat a sore throat.
Method: Take two tablespoons of honey and about 20-50ml of vinegar (preferably apple vinegar or other pure brewed vinegar). Pour the vinegar into a cup and then add the honey. Stir well and add 150ml of chilled water. Stir well and drink a cup every day.
4. Goji Berry and Pear Soup
Chinese medicine believes that goji berries taste sweet, have a neutral nature, and enter the liver and kidney meridians. They have the effects of tonifying qi and strengthening essence, nourishing the liver and kidneys, anti-aging, relieving thirst, and warming the body.
Preparation: Take a snow pear, peel it and cut it into small pieces. Put it in a pot with cold water until the water covers about one-third of the pear. Bring it to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for 15 to 20 minutes. Add a handful of goji berries and an appropriate amount of rock sugar (about 10g to 12g). Cook for another 5 minutes and it is ready to be consumed.
5. Rock Sugar, Fritillaria, and Steamed Pear
Fritillaria is mainly used for lung deficiency, chronic cough, cough due to deficiency, dry cough with little phlegm, coughing up bloody phlegm, lung abscess, scrofula, carbuncle, mastitis, and breast abscess.
Remove the skin of the pear and cut off about one-third of the top. Dig out the core, but be careful not to dig through the bottom. Clean the pear and add rock sugar and powdered fritillaria. Cover the top of the pear (it is better not to add water). Steam for 1 to 1.5 hours over boiling water. If using a pressure cooker, the cooking time can be shortened appropriately. Eat all the pear flesh and soup for the best medicinal effect.
