Food “Firefighters” in Daily Diet
In late autumn, dry weather often causes dry mouth, sore throat, susceptibility to colds, frequent irritability, and emotional unrest. These may manifest as:
★ Self-Assessment: Where Is Your Fire?
Upper Jiao Fire (referring to heart and lungs)
Symptoms include dry mouth, mouth ulcers, cracked lips, red eyes, tinnitus, and mild cough.
Middle Jiao Fire (referring to spleen and stomach)
Manifests as alternating episodes of excessive stomach fire (insatiable hunger), belching with sour regurgitation, acid reflux, abdominal distension, and poor appetite.
Lower Jiao Fire (referring to liver, kidneys, bladder, large and small intestines)
Manifests as hard stools, reduced and yellowish urine, turbid odor, occasional genital itching, excessive vaginal discharge in women—even yellowish discharge.
★ Natural Firefighters in Food
From a dietary therapy perspective, general principles include: drink plenty of water, avoid spicy and stimulating foods, minimize smoking and alcohol consumption—ideally quit entirely; limit greasy foods; eat more fresh vegetables and fruits; maintain regular bowel movements and clear urine.
If mild heat symptoms occur, consume pears, lotus root, persimmon cake powder, etc.
For gastrointestinal fire, increase intake of high-fiber vegetables to boost intestinal motility. If constipation occurs, drink 50–100 grams of honey daily. Those with strong constitutions may chew betel nut slices to aid digestion.
For noticeable symptoms, consider the following medications based on condition:
Upper Jiao Fire: Drink bitter tea (kudingcha); for mouth ulcers, sprinkle double-ingredient lozenges or pearl powder; lotus seed heart, lily bulbs, and similar herbs are suitable for clearing heart fire.
Middle Jiao Fire: Take scorched Sanxian (scorched hawthorn, malt, and fermented wheat), scorched Sizhuan (add scorched betel nut to Sanxian), or use chicken gizzard lining, five-spice betel nut candy (main ingredient: betel nut, plus sandalwood, cardamom, etc., for digestion and qi movement).
Lower Jiao Fire: Take Chinese patent medicines such as Danggui Longhui Pills, Zhi Zi Jin Hua Pills, or single herbs like raw Sophora flower, raw Polygonum root. For severe genital itching, purchase snake bed herb for fumigation and sitz bath.