Lung heat is a common problem that can cause symptoms such as dry mouth, sore throat, cold, and cough. In addition to taking lung-clearing medication, treating lung heat can also be done through diet therapy. So, what foods are good for lung heat? What are some diet therapy methods to remove lung heat? What Chinese herbal medicine is good for lung heat? Below, I will explain in detail.
1. Pear
Pears have a good effect in removing lung heat and are also good lung-clearing foods. We can steam pears or use them to make soup. We can also mash them into pear paste, which is very effective in clearing the lungs and treating sore throat.
2. White Radish
White radish is often used in traditional Chinese diet therapy. It is effective when eaten raw and even better when juiced. The spicy component in it can inhibit abnormal cell division, thereby preventing cancer. Radish can clear the lungs. Eating radishes this season is as good as ginseng. It is very effective for people with low immunity and can help with phlegm and cough.
3. Tremella
Tremella, also known as white fungus, has a sweet and mild taste, is neutral in nature, non-toxic, and enters the lung, stomach, and kidney meridians. It has the functions of nourishing the lungs, replenishing fluids, invigorating qi and blood, nourishing the stomach and brain, and strengthening the heart. It is suitable for symptoms such as lung heat cough, dry cough due to lung dryness, gastrointestinal dryness and heat, and constipation.
4. Green Vegetables
Green vegetables have a sweet and mild nature and can relieve heat and irritability, and promote digestion. "Si Sheng Ben Cao" (a traditional Chinese medicine book) states that it can "stop cough caused by heat". "Dian Nan Ben Cao" also believes that green vegetables "mainly eliminate phlegm, stop cough, and clear lung heat." Therefore, it is suitable for people with lung heat cough or those who have cough caused by wind-heat during summer.
5. Reed Root
Reed root has a cold nature and a sweet taste, and it can clear lung heat and eliminate phlegm. The ancient formula "Weijing Tang" uses reed root as the main ingredient to treat lung abscess (pulmonary carbuncle). "Yi Xue Zhong Zhi Can Xi Lu" believes that "its cold nature can clear lung heat, and its emptiness can regulate lung qi." It is suitable for people with lung heat cough, phlegm with thick yellow and foul odor. It can also be combined with coix seed, lesser celandine, winter melon seeds, etc., for better effect.
6. Olive
Olive has the effect of replenishing fluids, relieving thirst, clearing heat, detoxifying, and clearing the lungs and resolving phlegm. Especially, green olives have a better effect. When the throat is uncomfortable, taking some green olives can make the throat feel refreshed. It has an even better effect when stewed with fresh radishes. The liquid obtained after distilling olives is called olive dew, which can be used to treat sore throat, cough, restlessness, and other symptoms.
