So, is the haze back or not? It’s been hazy one moment and clearer the next. But one thing’s for sure — on Saturday (Sep 14), Singapore’s air quality hit unhealthy levels for the first time since 2016. And while the PSI levels continue to fluctuate, you may already be experiencing the negative health effects of breathing in all that wind-blown haze, such as itchy throat, dry and irritated eyes and runny nose.
To counter these symptoms, load up on these TCM (traditional chinese medicine) foods that have health-boosting properties. Plus, they’re all easily available here!
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Chrysanthemum has long been used to treat eye problems such as sore eyes, dry eyes and blurred vision.
Consume it: Put a few pieces of chrysanthemum flowers into a cup and pour in hot water. Let it sit for 20 minutes before drinking the tea.
White fungus is known to be able to fight infections and inflammation in the body, as well as improve the immune system. In traditional Chinese medicine, it’s typically used to relieve dry coughs, which is associated with the haze.
Consume it: Pre-soak the white fungus for 20 minutes. Bring it to boil, then simmer for 15 minutes before consumption. You can add a bit of rock sugar for taste.
Asian pear is known to clear heat in the body and lungs, alleviating dryness in the eyes, nose and throat.
Consume it: The most straightforward way is to eat it as a fruit. You can also place sliced pear in a bowl with just enough water to cover, add some rock sugar, then steam for 15 minutes until the pear is soft.
Good for clearing heat, green beans can relieve “heaty” symptoms such as sore eyes, dry throat and cough.
Consume it: Use a ratio of 1 cup green beans to 8 cups water. Soak it in cold water for 3 to 4 hours, bring to boil, then simmer for 45 minutes. You can add in a bit of rock sugar for taste.
With its heat-dissipation and nourishing properties, water chestnut can soothe dry eyes and throat, and ease coughing symptoms.
Consume it: Eat it as a fruit or cut into small pieces and boil it.
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- dry eyes
- dry throat
- haze
- sore throat
- tcm
- tcm food