In autumn, dryness prevails and can easily deplete body fluids, leading to symptoms such as dry cough without phlegm or difficulty coughing up thick phlegm, dry eyes, mouth, and nose, tight and wrinkled skin, and irritability with difficulty sleeping. Dr. Tan Tao, Director of the Cervical and Lumbar Injuries Department at the First Affiliated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, recommends several health teas suitable for consumption during autumn.
Chrysanthemum Tea
Place four to five chrysanthemum flowers in boiling water and steep for two to three minutes. This tea has effects of dispersing wind-heat, suppressing Liver yang, and clearing the liver and brightening the eyes. Chrysanthemum tea can also enhance the elasticity of micro-vessels, slow heart rate, lower blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. This tea is suitable for those with dry eyes, high blood pressure, and those prone to getting heat-induced oral ulcers. There are many types of chrysanthemums, each with slightly different effects. However, no type of chrysanthemum should be consumed continuously over a long period. Those who usually feel cold, have a cold constitution in the spleen and stomach, or experience diarrhea easily, those with wind-cold common cold, and women during menstruation should avoid drinking this tea.
Tangerine red tea
Use 3 to 6 grams of tangerine red and 5 grams of green tea, steeped in boiling water for 20 minutes. Drink as desired. This tea has effects of moistening the lungs, eliminating phlegm, regulating qi, and stopping coughs. It is suitable for those with excessive phlegm and difficulty coughing it up during autumn. Tangerine red has a pungent taste and is slightly warm in nature, so patients with dry cough, blood-streaked sputum, or prolonged cough due to qi deficiency generally should not use it. Long-term use of such warming and drying substances can also lead to constipation.
Lily Tea
Bring water to a boil over high heat, add 10 grams of lilies, then simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. Serve warm or cool. This tea has effects of nourishing yin and moistening the lungs, and calming the mind and spirit. It is suitable for those who often feel feverish, have a sore throat, dry nose, dry lips, poor appetite, and difficulty sleeping due to heat. Those with wind-cold common cold, cold bleeding due to deficiency and cold, or poor spleen and stomach function should use it cautiously.
Silver Ear Tea
Stew 20 grams of silver ear and 20 grams of rock Sugar until cooked. Separately, steep 5 grams of tea in boiling water for 5 minutes, then pour the tea water into the silver ear sugar water and mix evenly before serving. This tea has effects of nourishing yin and moistening the lungs, and tonifying the stomach and producing body fluids. It is suitable for those with dry cough, shortness of breath, and sticky phlegm due to dryness. Patients with chronic enteritis and those with wind-cold common cold should take caution when consuming this tea. (By Zhuang Yuan)