🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Eat more pears and lilies for spring coughs
Recent sharp fluctuations in temperature have caused many people to develop colds or upper respiratory infections. Coughing is common in offices. Medical experts suggest that eating pears and lilies during spring can enhance immunity of the upper respiratory tract.
Experts believe spring coughs are mostly caused by colds. Especially recently, after a sudden warm spell followed by abrupt cooling, many people failed to dress appropriately, leading to upper respiratory infections or bronchitis—the main reason for increased coughing. Additionally, spring’s dry climate makes the upper respiratory mucosa vulnerable to bacterial invasion, causing dry coughs.
To prevent coughing, pay attention to temperature changes; avoid removing clothes too quickly. Elderly who habitually exercise in the morning should not rise too early—best to start after sunrise—and wear extra layers. For office workers, reduce work stress, go to bed and wake up early to strengthen resistance and prevent upper respiratory inflammation. Those with heavy tastes should avoid spicy foods like hotpot and grilled dishes; maintain a light diet and eat more vegetables.
For those already experiencing coughs, eat more pears—known for moisturizing lungs and relieving dryness. You may also cook fresh lilies with glutinous rice into porridge, eaten in portions, which also nourishes the lungs.
Spring Dampness-Removing and Detoxification Dietary Therapy
Spring weather is humid, making the body prone to fluid retention, leading to loose skin. During winter, many fatty foods were consumed and stored in the body. As the old saying goes: "A thousand gold cannot buy spring detoxification." Here are some dietary methods for removing dampness and detoxifying:
Apple and Fresh Milk: Don’t blindly trust folk detox remedies. Simple apple and fresh milk already have detoxifying effects. Try drinking a glass of fresh milk and eating an apple upon waking. Gentle yet effective, with detox benefits. Other fruits like strawberries, cherries (bingshizi), and grapes also have good detoxifying properties.
Seaweed and Mung Bean Soup: The gel-like substance in seaweed promotes excretion of toxins. Mung beans are cold in nature and clear heat and detoxify. Drinking seaweed-mung bean soup occasionally helps toxins exit through urine and stool. The soup is pleasant to drink and doesn’t require harsh purgatives. Adding coix seed further enhances dampness-removal effects.
Water: Don’t forget water is the best detox carrier. Don’t think you don’t need hydration in humid spring. Without water, your bowels won’t move—how can you detoxify? The recent trend of “eight glasses of water” skincare product is actually simpler: just drink eight glasses of water directly. Don’t see it as a chore—include fruit juice or soup. Also, don’t wait until thirsty to drink. Take short breaks at work to sip water—refresh yourself, improve focus, and benefit both personal health and productivity.
Drink Pepper Soup in Spring to Boost Appetite
Spring weather is unpredictable and humid, making people prone to fatigue and drowsiness, and more susceptible to respiratory issues, gastrointestinal discomfort, and skin diseases. Therefore, eat light foods, more vegetables and fruits, drink plenty of water to cleanse the intestines, and avoid fried foods.
Drink damp-removing soups like hyacinth bean and red adzuki bean with kudzu root. Eat more fruits rich in vitamin C to prevent colds. You may also eat a little spice, such as pepper pork stomach soup, to stimulate appetite. Avoid greasy foods like glutinous rice to reduce intestinal burden. To care for your skin, avoid foods with heat-toxins, such as beef, shrimp, crab. Drink carrot and sugarcane bamboo soup to clear heat and detoxify. Drink rose flower tea for beauty and liver soothing. Spring is the beginning of the year—when dining out, choose wisely to show self-care.