"5 Effective Traditional Chinese Medicine Food Therapy Recipes for Soothing Sore Throat: Which One Should You Try?"

Throat Pain Treatment through Dietary Therapy

Throat pain, also known as "Hou Bi" in traditional Chinese medicine, refers to discomfort caused by acute or chronic inflammation of the throat, which can stem from various origins. According to Chinese medicine, it is associated with wind-cold, wind-heat, internal heat in the lungs and stomach, as well as deficiency of lung and kidney yin with excessive fire. This condition is prevalent and commonly encountered in clinical practice. Here are several dietary therapies commonly used to alleviate throat pain:

1. Lemon and Water Caltrop Decoction

Ingredients: 1 lemon, 10 water caltrops.
Preparation: Slice the lemon and water caltrops separately, then boil them in water. Take one dose daily. This remedy is primarily used to treat dry throat pain.

2. Raw Loofah Juice

Ingredients: 3 raw loofah.
Preparation: Slice the loofah into a bowl and mash it. Extract the juice through a cloth and consume it in one serving. Repeat this process 2-3 times consecutively. It is effective in treating throat pain caused by pharyngitis or tonsillitis.

3. Amaranth and Sugar Syrup

Ingredients: 150g amaranth, 50g sugar.
Preparation: Wash and crush the amaranth to extract its juice. Mix the juice with sugar and stir well. Consume two doses daily, with one dose per day. Continue for 3-5 days. This is primarily used to treat acute throat pain.

4. Plum and Olive Infusion

Ingredients: 10g plums, 50g green olives, sugar to taste.
Preparation: Soak the plums and green olives in water for a day. Then, boil them and add sugar to taste. Take one dose daily for 3-5 consecutive days. It is effective in alleviating throat pain caused by swollen tonsils.

5. Kelp and Sugar Preserve

Ingredients: 500g kelp (hydrated), 250g sugar.
Preparation: Rinse the kelp thoroughly, slice it, and boil in a pot of water until cooked. Drain the kelp and place it in a small bowl. Add sugar and let it sit for a day before consuming. Eat 50g twice a day. This remedy is primarily used to treat chronic throat pain associated with pharyngitis.