Spring Damp-Removing Soup
Spring weather is changeable and humid, making people prone to fatigue, drowsiness, respiratory issues, gastrointestinal discomfort, and skin diseases. Therefore, during this transitional period of fluctuating temperatures, we should adapt to the changing weather by taking "damp-removing actions." Cantonese people commonly use "damp-removing soups" to combat dampness. Here are several recommended damp-removing soups.
Cantonese people are experts in soups, adept at combining different ingredients to prepare various types of broths. There are many varieties of spring damp-removing soup, such as:
Strengthening Spleen and Removing Dampness Soup
(Serves 2–3)
Ingredients: Chinese yam (dried) 10 g, poria cocos 10 g, herb of yellow flower 10 g, pig pancreas (pork belly) 300 g, sufficient water.
Preparation: Wash the Chinese yam, poria cocos, herb of yellow flower, and pork belly together, place them in a clay pot, add sufficient water, bring to boil, then simmer over low heat for 1 hour. Drink the soup.
· Suitable for those with weak spleen and stomach.
Harmonizing and Resolving Dampness Soup
(Serves 3–4)
Ingredients: Bombax ceiba flower 30 g, egg flower 30 g, Sophora japonica flower 30 g, coix seed 30 g, lean meat 100 g, stir-fried hyacinth bean 30 g, tangerine peel or cardamom 12 g.
Preparation: Wash the bombax ceiba flower, egg flower, Sophora japonica flower, coix seed, lean meat, stir-fried hyacinth bean, tangerine peel or cardamom together, place in a clay pot, add sufficient water, bring to boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for 1 hour.
· Suitable for those with damp-heat and weak spleen.
Cooling and Damp-Removing Soup
(Serves 2–3)
Ingredients: Poria cocos 250 g, fresh kudzu root 250 g, red adzuki beans 50 g, hyacinth bean 50 g, tangerine peel half, 8 bowls of water.
Preparation: Peel and cut poria cocos into segments, peel and cut kudzu root into chunks, place all ingredients in the pot, bring to boil, then simmer over low heat for 3 hours.
· Ideal for clearing internal heat, removing dampness, and detoxifying.
Quail Damp-Removing Soup
(Serves 2–3)
Ingredients: Quail 4 birds, coix seed 50 g, lily bulb 50 g, ginger 3 slices.
Preparation: Place quail, coix seed, lily bulb, and ginger in a clay pot, add sufficient water, simmer for 1.5 hours.
· Suitable for clearing heat, removing dampness, moistening lungs, and resolving phlegm.
Pork Belly Damp-Removing Soup
(Serves 2–3)
Ingredients: Pork belly 250 g, prunella vulgaris 10 g, cotton thistle 10 g, ginger 2 slices.
Preparation: Blanch the pork belly first to remove fishy odor; then place prunella vulgaris, cotton thistle, ginger, and pork belly in a clay pot, add sufficient water, bring to boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for 1.5 hours.
· This soup not only clears heat and removes dampness but also reduces liver heat and has therapeutic benefits for diabetes patients.
Field Turtle Damp-Removing Soup
(Serves 3–5)
Ingredients: Field turtle 500 g, pork 200 g, fresh poria cocos 250 g, red dates 6 pieces.
Preparation: Place field turtle, pork, poria cocos, and red dates in a clay pot and simmer for 3–4 hours.
· Has functions of clearing heat, removing dampness, and detoxification.
Cucumber Damp-Removing Soup
Ingredients: Old cucumber 800 g (remove seeds), tangerine peel 25 g, glutinous rice 25 g, duck kidney 2 pieces, sufficient water.
Preparation: 1. Cut old cucumber into large pieces after removing seeds; briefly soak tangerine peel, scrape off inner lining, wash clean; wash duck kidney, blanch, slice; rinse glutinous rice.
2. Add water to a clay pot, place old cucumber, tangerine peel, glutinous rice, and duck kidney inside, bring to boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for 2 hours. Season before drinking.
· Has cooling and detoxifying effects, suitable for irritability, sore throat, and red, hot urine.
Damp-Removing Ingredients
American ginseng: If excessive consumption of cold foods leads to spleen deficiency, drink American ginseng tea, which strengthens the spleen and stomach.
Lotus leaf: Made from fresh lotus leaves, dried for use. Besides its damp-removing and diuretic properties, it also enhances appetite and aids digestion.
White Atractylodes: A plant from the Asteraceae family, its rhizome used medicinally. It strengthens the stomach, improves physical strength, and treats fatigue and poor appetite.
Poria cocos: A plant from the Liliaceae family, its root used medicinally. Promotes fluid circulation in the body, promotes urination, and has calming effects.
Coix seed: Also known as Job's tears, primarily used to remove dampness, reduce edema, benefit the digestive system, and has strong diuretic properties.
Bombax ceiba flower: Clears damp-heat toxins and has cooling properties.
Root of Imperata cylindrica: The root of white grass, excellent for promoting urination and removing dampness.
Effective Methods to Reduce Dampness
The following six tips help reduce dampness:
Do not stay long in damp environments; avoid working in wet outdoor areas.
During humid, rainy days, do not keep windows open frequently, though ventilation is still necessary.
Ensure proper indoor ventilation and dehumidification. Even if clothes remain damp, avoid wearing them until fully dry.
Dampness often accompanies cold; thus, maintain warmth, avoid cold exposure, avoid overly cold foods, eat more spleen-strengthening and damp-removing foods, moderate warming supplements, and allow dampness to be expelled through urination and defecation.
On sunny days, go outside to sunbathe and engage in appropriate exercise.