Winter heatiness is mainly related to our diet and heating environment. After getting heaty, many people tend to blindly use methods to alleviate the heatiness. Although many of these methods have their merits, using them randomly may exacerbate the condition.
1. Relying on drinking herbal tea to alleviate heatiness
Herbal tea is often composed of ingredients such as honeysuckle, chrysanthemum, and scutellaria, which are cool in nature and suitable for those with excessive heatiness. However, for individuals with weak constitution, intolerance to cold, or spleen and stomach deficiencies, drinking herbal tea may worsen their condition and lead to stomachaches, abdominal pain, or even diarrhea. Individuals with deficiency of qi and excessive sweating should opt for ginseng tea instead of herbal tea.
Women who are menstruating may be prone to coldness in the blood and stagnation if they consume herbal tea, leading to dysmenorrhea and menstrual irregularities. New mothers who drink herbal tea not only hinder the recovery of their organ functions but also harm their spleen and stomach. Moreover, individuals with symptoms of wind-cold, such as runny nose and intolerance to cold, should avoid drinking herbal tea. Additionally, it is best not to drink herbal tea before bedtime or on an empty stomach.
2. Eating bitter foods excessively to alleviate heatiness
Foods with bitter taste, such as lettuce, bitter melon, and chicory, can help clear the heart and reduce heatiness. However, these bitter foods are more suitable for clearing heatiness in the liver, gallbladder, stomach, and intestines. If there are symptoms such as sore throat, bad breath, or red eyes, consuming some "bitter" foods can be appropriate. However, these foods are not suitable for symptoms of heart heatiness, such as mouth ulcers. Moreover, consuming "bitter" foods should be done in moderation, as excessive consumption or consumption of foods with excessive bitterness may damage the spleen and stomach, leading to nausea, vomiting, and other side effects.
3. Drinking chrysanthemum tea every day
Chrysanthemum tea has the function of clearing heatiness and detoxifying. However, it should not be consumed every day. Individuals with a tendency to feel cold and experience stomach pain when consuming cold food should avoid drinking chrysanthemum tea in large quantities for a long period of time, as it may further weaken their constitution and lower their immunity.
4. Eating more fruits to reduce heatiness
Fruits are rich in vitamins and dietary fiber, and moderate consumption is beneficial for health. However, when it comes to reducing heatiness, some fruits may exacerbate the condition.
Take peaches, for example. The saying "peaches nourish the body" has been around for a long time, but its effects vary from person to person. Peaches have a laxative effect, but they are warm in nature. For individuals with excessive heatiness resulting in symptoms such as constipation, yellow tongue coating, dry mouth, and sore throat, peaches not only do not alleviate the heatiness but may also worsen the condition. Additionally, oranges, lychees, longans, pomegranates, coconuts, and bayberries are all warm fruits and should be consumed in moderation by individuals who frequently experience heatiness.
Although these are preventive methods for winter heatiness, if they are not used correctly, they may not only fail to alleviate the heatiness but also exacerbate it. Depending on the symptoms of winter heatiness, different methods of adjustment should be used. Therefore, do not try these methods casually!
