Food and Medicine Share the Same Origin: A Health Repository in the Kitchen
Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes the concept of "food and medicine sharing the same origin," meaning many everyday foods have mild regulatory effects. For example, ginger helps dispel cold and warm the stomach, red dates nourish qi and blood, chrysanthemums clear heat and improve eyesight, and tangerine peel regulates qi and resolves phlegm. These ingredients, when combined into teas, serve as both drinks and remedies. There's no need to go out to buy medicine; you can find them right in your pantry. In spring, drink a cup of mint tea to soothe the liver; in summer, have a bowl of mung bean soup to cool down; in autumn, use pear and silver ear fungus to moisten dryness; in winter, brew a cup of longan and ginger tea to keep warm—by following the seasons, the body naturally flows smoothly.
Three Common Herbal Teas You Can Make Easily
1. Ginger and Red Date Tea (Dispel Cold and Warm the Stomach)
Recommended for: cold hands and feet, abdominal pain after catching cold, and menstrual discomfort.
Preparation: Take 3 slices of ginger, 5 pitted red dates, and a small handful of goji berries, put them in a cup, and pour boiling water over them to steep for 10 minutes. You can add a little bit of brown sugar.
Principle: Ginger induces sweating and dispels cold, while red dates tonify the middle energizer and invigorate qi. Together, they gently awaken the spleen and stomach, improving circulation.
2. Chrysanthemum and Goji Berry Tea (Clear Liver and Improve Eyesight)
Recommended for: dry eyes and irritability after prolonged eye use.
Preparation: 5 chrysanthemum flowers and 10 goji berries, pour boiling water over them and let it steep for 5 minutes. You can add a few pieces of rock sugar.
Principle: Chrysanthemum disperses wind-heat and clears the liver and eyesight, while goji berries nourish the liver and kidneys. This combination of clearing and nourishing is especially suitable for computer users.
3. Tangerine Peel and Hawthorn Tea (Digestive Aid)
Recommended for: bloating and indigestion after eating greasy food, poor appetite.
Preparation: A small piece of tangerine peel (previously torn into pieces) and 5-6 slices of dried hawthorn, boil for 10 minutes or steep with boiling water for 15 minutes. You can add honey for flavor.
Principle: Tangerine peel regulates qi and strengthens the spleen, while hawthorn aids digestion and eliminates accumulation. It particularly helps dissolve meat-related accumulations, making the spleen and stomach feel relaxed.
Simple Dietary Tips for Gentle Regulation
In addition to teas, daily diet can also help relieve stress. For example, having a bowl of millet porridge for breakfast helps strengthen the spleen and stomach; for dinner, reduce oil and salt, and cook more by steaming or boiling. On hot days, have a bit of mung bean soup; on cold days, eat some stewed dishes with a few slices of angelica root. Remember a principle: don't be too cold, don't overeat, eat until you're about 70% full, allowing the body space to self-repair. If you feel slightly overheated, eat some pears or bitter melon; if you have excessive dampness (thick tongue coating, heavy body), boil a pot of red adzuki bean and coix seed water.
Summary: Simplify Your Health Routine
The charm of herbal teas and Eastern healthy diets lies in their simplicity, without requiring complex operations or making you an expert. As long as you pay attention to your body's signals and use the ingredients at hand, you can give yourself warm support. Every day, a cup of tea, a bowl of soup, follow the seasons, harmonize the spleen and stomach, and gradually you will find that comfort and vitality are not luxuries but daily habits. May you start today with a warm herbal tea and begin your journey of soothing and regulating your health.