Spring often brings internal heat, which can trigger throat issues like swelling, dryness, and itching. This discomfort leads to coughing—drinking water offers temporary relief but doesn't address the root cause. Persistent coughing can disrupt sleep and harm overall health. How can you avoid coughing? Below are dietary methods to help patients clear phlegm and stop coughing.
I. Pork Lung Porridge
Ingredients include pork lung, japonica rice, and coix seeds, along with seasonings like scallions, ginger, and salt. This dish primarily helps clear phlegm, relieve coughing, and nourish the spleen and lungs.
Preparation steps:
1. Thoroughly clean the pork lung. Place it in a pot with water and cooking wine, then boil until about 70% cooked. Remove, rinse clean, and set aside.
2. Rinse the japonica rice and coix seeds, then soak in water until ready to use.
3. Cut the cooked pork lung into cubes or slices. Combine with the soaked rice and coix seeds.
4. Add the pork lung, rice, and soaked coix seeds to a pot. Pour in enough water to cover the ingredients.
5. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat. Simmer for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. Once cooked, add scallions, ginger, and salt to taste. Serve warm.
2. Rinse the japonica rice and Job's tears, then soak them in water;
3. Dice or slice the cooked pork lung. Add it to the pot with the soaked rice and Job's tears, along with shredded ginger. Bring to a boil, then reduce to low heat and simmer;
4. Once the grains are tender, season with chopped scallions and salt. Serve.
This porridge can be consumed daily.
II. Stewed Snow Pear with Northern Apricot Kernels
Snow pears are widely known for their cough-relieving properties. Stewed pears make an excellent beverage for moistening the lungs and dissolving phlegm, with northern apricot kernels enhancing the effect.
Required Ingredients:Northern apricot kernels, snow pears, white sugar
Method: Wash the apricot kernels and snow pears. Peel and dice the pears. Place both ingredients in a double boiler, sprinkle with white sugar, add an appropriate amount of water, and steam for one hour. It is ready to drink.
This soup clears heat and relieves coughs. Drink one bowl daily in the morning and evening. Consistent consumption for several days will yield results.
III. Rock Sugar and Fritillary Bulb Soup
Rock sugar and fritillary bulb both nourish yin and moisten the lungs; stewing them together doubles their efficacy.
Ingredients needed: rock sugar, fritillary bulb, and solomon's seal root.
Wash all three ingredients. Crush the fritillary bulb, then place it with rock sugar and solomon's seal root in a double boiler. Add water and stew over indirect heat.
Consume only the broth. Long-term use is required, at least two weeks, to effectively moisten the lungs and relieve coughing.
IV. Dried Tangerine Peel and Poria Porridge
Dried tangerine peel helps dissolve phlegm, while poria strengthens the spleen and promotes diuresis. Cooking them into porridge fortifies the spleen, moistens dryness, dissolves phlegm, and reduces fat.
Ingredients: Dried tangerine peel, poria, and japonica rice.
Method:
Place dried tangerine peel and poria in a pot with sufficient water. Simmer, then strain out solids. Combine the strained liquid with washed japonica rice and cook into porridge.
V. Olive Pit Tea
This tea requires fresh olive pits and rock sugar. Crush the fresh olive pits, place them in a pot with an appropriate amount of water, and simmer until the flavor is released. Add rock sugar, simmer briefly, and it's ready to drink.
This tea clears heat, dissolves phlegm, moistens the lungs, and relieves coughing. It's best consumed hot for optimal effect.Coughing is an unpleasant experience, often unbearable—especially dry coughs. The saying "coughing up your lungs" highlights how damaging coughing can be to the lungs. If you experience a dry cough, first drink plenty of warm water to soothe throat irritation. Second, try the dietary remedies mentioned above to nourish your body through food.Additionally, minimize consumption of fried and spicy foods, as these can exacerbate internal heat and worsen throat dryness. Strict dietary avoidance is crucial.