🌿 Folk Prescriptions

After Start of Autumn, rainfall decreases and the climate becomes dry, yet the weather remains hot. Many people experience "autumn dryness" symptoms. Traditional Chinese medicine holds that "dryness" is the dominant seasonal factor and one of the six exogenous pathogens. Dryness is the autumn pathogen, easily injuring body fluids and damaging the lungs, depleting lung yin. Thus, autumn requires dietary therapy to moisten and protect the lungs.
Experts believe: For autumn dryness and lung protection, fruits and vegetables come first!
1. Pear: Rich in water and various nutrients, it clears phlegm and stops coughing, clears the heart and moistens the lungs, detoxifies, promotes urination, removes wind-heat, quenches thirst, and reduces heat. It is the best fruit for preventing autumn dryness and a top remedy for coughs, asthma, sore throat, heat-induced cough with yin injury, and hemoptysis. Take two pears, wash and chop with skin, add 150g rice, cook into porridge, then add rock sugar. This treats lung heat, dry mouth, dry cough, sore throat, and nasal dryness—commonly used in folk remedies.
2. Garlic and Onion: Possess strong antibacterial and germicidal abilities and inhibit cancer cell growth. Known as "Chinese herbal antibiotics," they effectively prevent respiratory and digestive system diseases, especially tonsillitis, upper respiratory infections, bronchitis, tuberculosis, and asthma.
3. Carrot Porridge: Carrots contain beta-carotene, convertible to vitamin A, ideal for dry skin, chapped lips, and autumn dryness. Carrots are sweet and neutral, entering the Lung, Spleen, and Stomach meridians. They moisten the lungs, relieve dryness, tonify the middle energizer, and stabilize the lungs. Indicated for dry lips, dry mouth, constipation, gastrointestinal discomfort, and bloating—especially suitable for frail, elderly individuals.
4. Radish: Prevents upper respiratory infections, sore throats, and bronchitis. It also clears the lungs and dissolves phlegm, treating colds, coughs, and excessive phlegm.
5. Silver Ear: Contains 8 essential amino acids, acidic heteropolysaccharides, and silver ear polysaccharides, plus organic phosphorus, iron, and other compounds. It is an excellent tonic for the weak and for autumn dryness lung protection, enhancing immunity and exhibiting anticancer effects. It shows significant efficacy for bronchitis, lung infections, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
6. Lotus Seed and Lily Porridge: Nourishes yin, moistens the lungs, relieves thirst, generates fluids, and boosts vitality and vision. Treats dry cough due to lung dryness, low-grade fever, irritability, and insomnia. Cook lotus seeds, lilies, and glutinous rice until soft, add honey, and consume three times daily. Fresh lilies have moistening, cough-relieving, and sedative effects, suitable for patients with bronchitis, emphysema, and hemoptysis from tuberculosis.
7. Water Chestnut Honey Porridge: Clears heat, quenches thirst, detoxifies, and moistens dryness. Treats yellow phlegm, sore throat, and constipation. Safe for long-term use.
8. Chrysanthemum Porridge: Moistens lung dryness, clears liver fire, improves vision, and lowers blood pressure—ideal for elderly with hypertension and coronary heart disease. Use 50g chrysanthemum and 150g rice. First, decoct chrysanthemum into tea, then use the tea to cook rice into porridge.
Additionally, mountain yam, lotus seeds, sesame seeds, honey, red dates, lotus seeds, fish maw, and bird’s nest have nourishing yin and moistening lung effects. Cold sugar silver ear soup, Huangjing autumn pear soup, snow pear paste, lily lotus seed soup, mountain yam lotus seed soup, lotus seed mountain yam stew—all have nourishing yin and moistening lung actions. Regular consumption is recommended.