In our fast-paced lives, it can be difficult to find time to prepare nourishing herbal soups. Many people choose to soak certain ingredients in water instead. Let's take a look at some ingredients that can be used for soaking.
Goji Berries
Soaking method: Take 10 grams of goji berries and steep them in hot water. Drink it as a tea. Replace the goji berries with fresh ones when the taste becomes faint.
1. Detoxify the body
Goji berries contain polysaccharides that help speed up the elimination of metabolic waste and cleanse the body.
2. Nourish the kidneys and improve vision
Goji berries contain 18 types of amino acids, including 8 essential amino acids for the human body. They have the effect of nourishing the kidneys, improving vision, nourishing the liver, and moistening the lungs to relieve coughing.
3. Lower blood lipids and blood sugar
Goji berries contain betaine, carotene, various unsaturated fatty acids, amino acids, and various vitamins. They can inhibit fat deposition in the liver, prevent liver cirrhosis, and protect normal liver cells. At the same time, they also have certain effects in lowering blood lipids and blood sugar levels.
Tangerine Peel
Soaking method: Take a small amount of tangerine peel (no more than 5 grams) and steep it in hot water. Drink it as a tea 2-3 times a day.
1. Relieve cough and phlegm
Tangerine peel has a warm and aromatic nature. It is good at regulating Qi and can enter the spleen and lungs. It can be used for symptoms such as excessive phlegm and coughing.
2. Improve digestion
Tangerine peel can be used for reducing food intake due to spleen deficiency, improving digestion, and treating symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.
3. Refreshing and promoting airflow
Research has shown that using aged tangerine peel to soak in water has a refreshing and airflow-promoting effect.
Rose Petals
Soaking method: Put 15 grams of rose petals in hot water, let it steep for 5 minutes, and drink it as a tea. Adjust the taste by adding rock sugar or honey according to personal preference.
1. Improve complexion and reduce dark spots
Rose tea has the effect of promoting blood circulation, harmonizing the organs, and regularly drinking it can gradually improve dull complexion and reduce facial dark spots.
2. Alleviate menstrual pain
For those who experience severe menstrual pain, in addition to drinking rose tea, a decoction can be made by boiling 200 grams of fresh rose petals, concentrating it into a paste, spreading it on four layers of gauze, and applying it warm on the navel. Change the poultice once a day.
3. Calm the mind and relieve depression
In traditional Chinese medicine, rose petals have a mild nature and have the effects of calming, soothing, and anti-depression.
Hawthorn
Soaking method: Take 10 grams of hawthorn daily. If hawthorn is combined with malt, it can promote digestion, invigorate the spleen, and open the appetite. (Note: It is not suitable for consumption on an empty stomach.)
1. Activate blood circulation and dissolve stasis
Drinking hawthorn-soaked water can promote blood circulation and dissolve stasis, making it particularly suitable for patients with blood stasis accumulation or poor blood circulation.
2. Prevent and treat cancer
Frequent consumption of hawthorn water also has the effect of preventing and treating cancer. This is because hawthorn contains rutin, a compound that has excellent preventive and therapeutic effects on cancer.
3. Promote digestion
Hawthorn contains lipase, which has a good digestive function on fatty foods. It effectively promotes the secretion of gastric juice and greatly improves digestion.
Dandelion
Soaking method: Take 1 teaspoon of dried dandelion leaves or 3 teaspoons of fresh dandelion leaves and steep them in 1 cup of boiling water.
Dandelion is rich in nutritional value, with high content of protein, fat, carbohydrates, trace elements, and vitamins. Its main functions are heat-clearing, detoxifying, dispersing abscesses, and beauty. Dandelion can be used for soaking water or cooked fresh as a dish. It not only tastes good but also improves various inflammations on the skin. The flowers of dandelion also have the effect of removing freckles.
Buckwheat Tea
Soaking method: Put buckwheat tea leaves (about 5 grams) in a cup and pour boiling water into the cup. Let it sit for 1 minute, and a cup of fragrant, bitter buckwheat tea is ready.
Buckwheat contains 18% dietary fiber and is known as the "treasury of dietary fiber". Nowadays, office workers and white-collar workers are prone to "three highs" (high blood pressure, high blood sugar, high blood lipids) and colon cancer. Buckwheat has the effects of reducing blood sugar, lowering blood lipids, and reducing blood pressure. Regular consumption of buckwheat can promote gastrointestinal peristalsis, cleanse the intestines, facilitate bowel movements, and prevent colon cancer.
Luo Han Guo
Soaking method: Take 10 grams of Luo Han Guo and steep it in boiling water for 15 minutes. Drink it as a tea.
1. Bronchitis, tonsillitis, and throat inflammation
Luo Han Guo is a precious medicinal herb with a cool and sweet taste. It functions to clear the lungs and moisten the intestines. It is mainly used to treat pertussis, phlegm-fire cough, blood dryness, and constipation. It has good therapeutic effects on acute bronchitis, acute tonsillitis, throat inflammation, and acute gastritis.
2. Athlete's foot and fungal nail infection
Regularly drinking Luo Han Guo can relieve athlete's foot, itching, and fungal nail infection caused by fungi.
3. Bad breath
Regularly drinking Luo Han Guo can improve the oral and esophageal environment, remove bad breath, and eliminate oral odor.
Ginger
Soaking method: Take 3-5 slices of ginger and boil them in hot water. It is recommended to drink ginger water while it's hot in the morning.
1. Resist "air conditioning sickness"
Long hours in an air-conditioned room can easily cause coldness and discomfort, leading to headaches and stuffiness. Ginger has the effect of warming the middle and dispelling cold, promoting sweating, and relieving surface symptoms. Drinking ginger water is very effective in preventing and treating "air conditioning sickness".
2. Periodontitis
Rinse your mouth with hot ginger water and then drink hot ginger water as tea. Do this 1 to 2 times a day. Generally, after about 6 times, the inflammation can be eliminated.
3. Back and shoulder pain
Add a little salt and vinegar to hot ginger water, then soak a towel in the water, squeeze it dry, and apply it to the affected area. Repeat several times. This method can relax the muscles, improve blood circulation, and greatly relieve pain.
Cordyceps Flower
Soaking method: Take 5 grams of cordyceps flowers and pour boiling water into a 300ml cup. Let it steep for 5 minutes, and a cup of cordyceps flower tea is ready.
Cordyceps flowers contain rich cordyceps polysaccharides, proteins, 18 types of amino acids, 17 types of trace elements, and 12 types of vitamins: A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, D, E, etc. They have the functions of nourishing the lungs and kidneys, relieving cough, replenishing deficiency, and invigorating the primordial qi. They have excellent therapeutic effects on pulmonary emphysema and bronchitis.
