Because I have a cough, my family made me a stew with Chuanbei to drink, but I find it not very tasty and want to add some honey to it. Can Chuanbei be taken together with honey?
Can Chuanbei be taken together with honey?
Yes, it can.
Chuanbei is a precious Chinese medicinal herb with a cool nature and sweet and mild taste. It enters the lung and stomach meridians and has the functions of moisturizing the lungs, stopping cough, and transforming phlegm. Honey is a common food with a sweet taste and a neutral nature. It enters the spleen, stomach, lung, and large intestine meridians and has the effects of nourishing and moisturizing, beautifying the skin, and promoting bowel movements.
Chuanbei and honey themselves have no obvious toxic side effects. The properties of the two do not conflict, and their medicinal effects are similar. Therefore, Chuanbei can be taken together with honey.
The efficacy and functions of Chuanbei and honey
Nourishing yin and moisturizing the lungs
Chuanbei has a sweet taste, a cool nature, and enters the lung and stomach meridians, with the function of clearing and moisturizing the lungs. Honey has a sweet taste and a neutral nature, with the functions of nourishing and moisturizing, and clearing heat and detoxifying. When used together, they can nourish lung yin and moisturize the lungs, and have certain auxiliary therapeutic effects on lung deficiency cough, yin deficiency dry cough, and other conditions.
Stopping cough and transforming phlegm
Chuanbei has the functions of clearing heat, stopping cough, and transforming phlegm. It contains alkaloids and non-alkaloid components that have good antitussive and expectorant effects. Honey can also play a role in clearing heat and soothing the throat. Honey mixed with Chuanbei can be used to treat dry cough with little phlegm, long-term cough due to lung deficiency, asthenic cough, and hot cough.
Moisturizing the intestines and promoting bowel movements
The oligosaccharides in honey can promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the intestines, maintain the balance of intestinal microorganisms, and moisturize the intestines, thereby promoting bowel movements. Moreover, the mild nature of honey can also tonify the spleen and stomach, which is beneficial for dry stools and chronic constipation.
Beauty and skin care
Honey contains rich inorganic salts and vitamins, which can help accelerate blood circulation and metabolism, making the skin moist and smooth. Therefore, taking Chuanbei and honey together can also have the effect of beauty and skin care.
How to take Chuanbei and honey together
Chuanbei and honey stewed pear
Ingredients: 6g Chuanbei, 1 pear, appropriate amount of honey.
Steps:
1. Crush the Chuanbei and set aside.
2. Wash the pear, remove the core, and cut it into pieces.
3. Put the Chuanbei and pear into a pot together and add an appropriate amount of water.
4. Slowly simmer for about 1 hour.
5. Pour out the mixture and add an appropriate amount of honey before taking it, stirring well.
Chuanbei honey water
Ingredients: 3g Chuanbei, appropriate amount of honey.
Steps:
1. Crush the Chuanbei into fine powder.
2. Put the Chuanbei powder into a cup and add an appropriate amount of warm water, stirring well.
3. Add honey and stir well, then drink.
Precautions when taking Chuanbei and honey
1. Do not take too much
Although Chuanbei has no obvious toxic side effects, it is still a Chinese medicinal herb with a sweet and cool nature. Taking too much may stimulate the stomach and cause gastrointestinal discomfort. The usual dosage of Chuanbei is 3-9g.
2. Do not take for a long time
Chuanbei has a cool nature and is generally not suitable for long-term use. Long-term use may damage yang qi or weaken the function of the spleen and stomach. It is recommended to stop taking Chuanbei with honey after improvement of symptoms.
3. Not suitable for wind-cold cough
Chuanbei honey is suitable for various heat-related coughs, such as cough due to lung heat, wind-heat cough, and yin deficiency cough. However, taking Chuanbei honey for wind-cold cough may not relieve symptoms and may even worsen cough symptoms.
4. Not suitable for spleen and stomach deficiency-cold
Chuanbei honey has a cool nature. Taking it may further stimulate the intestines and stomach in individuals with spleen and stomach deficiency-cold, resulting in stomach discomfort, poor digestion, and thin stools.
5. Caution for patients with high blood sugar
Honey contains a large amount of fructose, which can be absorbed by the body without the need for enzymes. Taking too much honey may not be conducive to blood sugar control in patients with high blood sugar, and may even cause blood sugar to rise directly.
Can children drink Chuanbei honey?
Children can take it in moderation.
Chuanbei honey is good for treating hot coughs, such as wind-heat cough, long-term cough due to lung deficiency, dry cough, and cough with little phlegm. If children have the above discomfort, they can also drink Chuanbei honey in moderation. However, because children have weaker constitutions and their organ functions are not fully developed, it is generally recommended to consult a doctor before taking it and clearly determine the dosage and duration of use under the guidance of a doctor.
