Professor Yue’s Tea Recipe for Beating the Heat

Summer is in full swing here in Minnesota and with decreased rain and long stretches of 90 degree days, staying cool can be a challenge. Heat can culminate in the body for several reasons, which are all treated differently in Chinese medicine. Symptoms that manifest from an excess of heat in the body include:  

  • Sore throat
  • Eye redness, dryness and increased discharge
  • Frequent mouth ulcers
  • Swollen gums
  • Constipation
  • Dark urine
  • Irritability
  • Increased thirst and appetite

Jinming Yue Bio Image 2Jinming Yue, TCMD, DiplAc, DiplCH, LAc, BMed, Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine professor at NWHSU generously shares a simple tea recipe that can be used to clear heat in the body.  

 

Cooling Mung Bean Tea  

Ingredients:   

  • 3 ounces of Mung Beans
  • 3 ounces of Red Phaseolus (Kidney) Beans
  • 10 cups of water
  • Honey to taste

Directions:   

  1. Put 10 cups of water in a pot, bring it to a boil.
  2. When the water reaches a rolling boil, add Mung beans and Red Phaseolus (Kidney) Beans.
  3. Lower the burner to low heat and keep the tea on a simmer for 30-40 minutes or until the beans are cooked through.
  4. Add honey to taste.
  5. Let the tea cool, when it reaches room temperature put it in the fridge.
  6.  Serve cold as tea or as soup, depending on preference.

Other Ways to Clear Heat  

In the summer, you can eat more raw foods, salads and smoothies. You could also try reducing caffeine, alcohol, fried, and spicy food intake. Doing activities that help you manage your stress can also help with clearing heat.  

Common foods that clear heat:  

  • Eggplant 
  • Celery 
  • Tomato 
  • Apples 
  • Bananas 
  • Pears 

Story by Kit Harlow, Chiropractic Student