Dietary Therapy for Wind-Heat Type Colds
Wind-Heat type colds typically present with fever, slight aversion to wind, unsatisfactory sweating, dizziness and head distension, flushed face, red eyes, dry mouth with slight thirst, cough, thick or yellow sticky phlegm difficult to expectorate, or hoarse cough, dry throat or soreness and redness of the tonsils, nasal congestion, yellow turbid nasal discharge, thin white or slightly yellow, moist coating, floating rapid pulse. All result from wind-heat invading the exterior and disharmony of the lung and defensive system. Dietary therapy for Wind-Heat type colds includes:
1. Guangdong Cool Tea (from *Collection of Medicinal Food Recipes*)
[Ingredients] 5g each of Mulberry Leaf, Chrysanthemum, and Mint, 30g each of Bitter Bamboo Leaf and White Dew Root.
[Preparation] Place all herbs in a teapot, pour boiling water, cover and steep for 10 minutes.
[Usage] Drink as tea, frequently.
[Editor’s Note] Mulberry Leaf, Chrysanthemum, and Mint disperse wind-heat; Bamboo Leaf clears heat and promotes urination. Effective for colds caused by wind-heat or autumn dryness.
2. Tea Bean Drink (from *Secrets of Dietary Therapy*)
[Ingredients] 30g mung beans, 9g tea leaves, appropriate sugar.
[Preparation] Wrap tea leaves in gauze, boil with mung beans until cooked. Remove tea bag, dissolve sugar.
[Usage] Drink warm, either once or in portions.
[Editor’s Note] Mung beans are sweet and cold, clearing heat and detoxifying, effective for epidemic fevers and toxic eruptions. Tea promotes urination, sugar clears heat. Effective for seasonal colds with sore throat, fever, and urinary difficulties or pain.
3. Mint Porridge (from *Song Yu Lu*)
[Ingredients] 15g mint, 60g rice, appropriate rock sugar.
[Preparation] First, decoct mint to extract juice, let cool. Cook rice with water into porridge. Just before serving, add mint juice and rock sugar.
[Usage] Consume slightly warm; best when sweating occurs.
[Editor’s Note] Mint is a key herb for dispelling wind-heat. Combined with rice and rock sugar, it promotes sweating and protects the stomach. Ideal for those with pre-existing gastric issues who catch wind-heat.
4. Chrysanthemum Porridge (from *Old Man’s Constant Principles*)
[Ingredients] 15g chrysanthemum, 60g rice.
[Preparation] Grind chrysanthemum into fine powder. Cook rice with water into porridge. Just before serving, stir in chrysanthemum powder, cook briefly.
[Usage] Consume slightly warm; if sweating is inadequate, drink warm.
[Editor’s Note] Chrysanthemum disperses wind-heat, clears the eyes, clears heat, and calms liver fire. Combined with rice, treats wind-heat colds. Suitable for those with hypertension or headaches, blurred vision.
5. White Dew Ginger Rice Porridge (from *Yan’s Verified Formula*)
[Ingredients] 30g White Dew Root, 3 slices ginger, 60g rice.
[Preparation] First, decoct White Dew Root to extract juice, filter out residue. Add rice to cook into porridge. Just before serving, add ginger, cook briefly.
[Usage] Serve warm, consume in portions frequently. If intended to induce sweating, drink warm.
[Editor’s Note] White Dew Root is sweet and cold, effectively clearing lung and stomach heat, with diuretic properties, helping downward drainage of heat. Adding ginger and rice aims to protect the stomach.