The human body naturally contains a fire, and without it, life would cease to exist, known as the fire of life. In winter, due to dry climate, people are more prone to get "fire" in their bodies. There are different manifestations of "fire" and corresponding dietary methods to reduce it. Let's take a look at the different manifestations of "fire" and their corresponding dietary therapy methods.
1. Excessive Lung Heat
Clinical Manifestations: Sore throat, cough with yellow phlegm, scanty sticky phlegm with blood, nosebleeds, facial acne, dry and cracked lips, dry skin, dry and hard stools, yellow and dry tongue coating.
Chinese Medicine: Yang Yin Qing Fei Pill, Qing Fei Yi Huo Pill, Huang Lian Shang Qing Pill.
Food Therapy: Houttuynia cordata, pear, grapefruit, white radish, lotus root.
2. Excessive Heart Fire
Clinical Manifestations: Red face and cheeks, thirsty and restless, insomnia and vivid dreams, mouth ulcers, painful sores, irritability and easy anger, short and red urine, burning and painful urination, red tip of the tongue, rapid and forceful pulse.
Chinese Medicine: Dao Chi Pill, Jiu Zhi Qing Xin Pill, Shang Qing Pill.
Food Therapy: Bitter gourd, lotus seeds, mung beans, strawberries, tomatoes.
3. Excessive Liver Fire
Clinical Manifestations: Dizziness and headache, red and swollen eyes, bitter taste and dry mouth, irritability and easy anger, tinnitus, sudden deafness, insomnia and vivid dreams, impotence and premature ejaculation, eczema and herpes, greasy hair, pain in the ribs, short and yellow urine, yellow and foul-smelling vaginal discharge, constipation.
Chinese Medicine: Long Dan Xie Gan Pill, Dang Gui Long Hui Pill, Jia Wei Zuo Jin Pill.
Food Therapy: Lycium chinense, celery, shepherd's purse, mint, cucumber, shepherd's purse.
4. Fire in the Spleen and Stomach
Clinical Manifestations: Good appetite but always hungry, noisy stomach, burning and stabbing pain, swollen and painful gums, hot and foul breath, oral ulcers, constipation, yellow and red urine, red tongue.
Chinese Medicine: Niu Huang Qing Wei Pill, Qing Wei Huang Lian Pill, Fang Feng Tong Sheng Pill.
Food Therapy: Chinese cabbage, pear, tofu, soy milk, rice.
5. Excessive Interfering Fire
Clinical Manifestations: Headache, dizziness, tinnitus, hot flashes and night sweats, dry and hot mouth, sore and weak lower back and knees, toothache, increased sexual desire, nocturnal emissions in men, dream of sexual intercourse in women, pain in the heel, red tongue with little coating.
Chinese Medicine: Zhi Bai Di Huang Pill, Zuo Gui Pill, Da Bu Yin Pill, San Cai Feng Sui Dan.
Food Therapy: Mulberries, black fungus, black beans.
II. Dietary Therapy to Reduce Fire in the Body
1. Lily and Snow Pear Soup
Ingredients: 30g lily, 1 snow pear, rock sugar to taste.
Preparation: Soak the lily in water overnight. The next day, put the lily and the soaking water in a pot, add half a bowl of water, and simmer for one and a half hours until the lily is soft. Add peeled and cored snow pear and rock sugar, and cook for another 30 minutes.
Benefits: Nourishes body fluids, clears heat, relieves restlessness, nourishes yin, and reduces fire. It is suitable for symptoms such as yin deficiency and excessive heat, post-febrile yin deficiency, and easy to get "fire" due to hot constitution, such as dizziness, headache, and bitter taste in the mouth.
2. Tremella and Red Date Soup
Ingredients: Tremella, red dates, rock sugar.
Preparation: Soak the tremella in warm water for 30 minutes. After the tremella is fully expanded, rinse it with clean water and remove the base. Tear the tremella into small pieces and put it into a pot. Add water, bring to a boil on high heat, add washed red dates and rock sugar, and boil for about 10 minutes. Then reduce to low heat and simmer for one to two hours. Add rock sugar to taste.
Benefits: Nourishes blood, nourishes the skin, nourishes yin, and clears noise.
3. American Ginseng and Lean Pork Soup
Ingredients: Lean pork, American ginseng, ginger, salt.
Preparation: Soak the American ginseng in hot water until soft, wash it clean, and cut into thin slices. Blanch the lean pork in boiling water, wash off the blood, and clean it. Put the American ginseng and lean pork into a clay pot with an appropriate amount of water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for two hours. Add salt to taste.
Benefits: This soup nourishes the five organs, nourishes the heart, and calms the mind.
4. Lotus Seed and Tremella Soup
Ingredients: Tremella, lotus seeds, red dates, wolfberries, rock sugar.
Preparation: Soak the tremella in water until soft. Remove the yellow hard knots at the bottom and tear it into shreds. Put the tremella, rock sugar, red dates, and wolfberries into a pot with cold water. Heat until boiling, stirring constantly to prevent the tremella from sticking to the pot. After boiling, simmer over low heat, stirring constantly.
Benefits: Nourishes yin, moistens the lungs, calms the mind, and nourishes the heart.
