“Eating radish in winter and ginger in summer, no need for a doctor to prescribe medicine.” This is a widely circulated saying, indicating that the method of using fresh ginger for health has a long history. As early as the Spring and Autumn period, the “Analects of Confucius – Xiangdang” mentioned the saying “Do not remove ginger from meals,” recording Confucius’s habit of including fresh ginger in every meal for health preservation.
As summer approaches, many people start to “eat ginger,” but most are unclear about the specific uses of ginger. How should it be consumed? When is the best time to eat it? Should one use fresh ginger or dried ginger? Today, I will clarify these points for you.
Why Eat Ginger in Summer?
Fresh ginger is spicy and warm, while radish is sweet and cold. This seems contradictory to the understanding that summer requires cooling and winter requires warmth. However, it is not. The saying “Eat radish in winter and ginger in summer” is a principle of health preservation. This aligns perfectly with the TCM principle of “treating winter diseases in summer” and “nurturing Yang in spring and summer, and nurturing Yin in autumn and winter.”
1
In Summer, Yang Qi is on the Surface, and the Interior is Cold and Deficient
The “Treatise on Febrile Diseases” states: “In May, Yang Qi is on the surface, and the stomach is cold and deficient. Since Yang Qi is slightly internal, it cannot withstand the cold, hence the need to wear more clothes; in November, Yang Qi is internal, and the stomach is hot and bothered, as Yin Qi is weak and cannot withstand the heat, hence the desire to be bare.”
This passage indicates that during summer, represented by May, Yang Qi is directed towards the surface of the body, while the interior, especially the stomach, is relatively cold and deficient. This is why, although summer can easily cause irritability and thirst due to heat, the body is also intolerant to cold and prone to diarrhea.
2
In Summer, Excessive Cold Can Accumulate
Do not underestimate the cold pathogens in summer. The hot weather causes blood vessels to dilate, and the pores to open, making it easier for cold pathogens to invade. Most people are unaware of this, only knowing to prevent heat but not cold, indulging in cold and frozen foods, and spending long periods in air-conditioned rooms to escape the heat.
Cold pathogens thus enter our bodies and accumulate. Gradually, the Yang Qi of the spleen and stomach becomes increasingly deficient, leading to symptoms such as aversion to wind and cold, fatigue, poor appetite, sticky mouth, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
Therefore, as early as in the “Huangdi Neijing,” it was proposed that “nurturing Yang in spring and summer, and nurturing Yin in autumn and winter” is essential to protect our internal Yang Qi.
How to Choose Between Fresh Ginger and Dried Ginger?
1
Dried Ginger ≠ Sun-Dried Fresh Ginger
Many friends think that dried ginger is simply sun-dried fresh ginger, but it is not that simple; the two are not merely a difference between fresh and dried.
Regarding fresh ginger and dried ginger, Li Shizhen believed that “dried ginger is made from mother ginger”; Zhang Xichun recorded in “Medical Records of Traditional and Western Medicine” that “Fresh ginger is planted in the ground, harvested in autumn, peeled, and dried to make dried ginger; the buds that grow on the ginger are planted in the ground, and the ginger produced that year is fresh ginger. Therefore, dried ginger comes from mother ginger, while fresh ginger comes from young ginger, with dried ginger being older and fresh ginger being tender.”
Thus, it can be seen that dried ginger is not made from ordinary fresh ginger but is made from sun-dried mother ginger. In other words, dried ginger comes from mother ginger, while fresh ginger is young ginger.
However, it is rare to find authentic dried ginger on the market; many are simply fresh ginger sliced and dried or dehydrated at low temperatures.
2
What are the Differences Between Dried Ginger and Fresh Ginger?
Fresh Ginger: Spicy, Slightly Warm. It belongs to the Lung, Spleen, and Stomach meridians. It releases the exterior and dispels cold, warms the middle, stops vomiting, transforms phlegm, and stops coughing. Its nature is more dispersive, commonly used for wind-cold colds, stomach cold vomiting, and cold phlegm cough.
Dried Ginger: Spicy, Hot. It belongs to the Spleen, Stomach, Kidney, Heart, and Lung meridians. It warms the middle, disperses cold, returns Yang, and opens the meridians, dries dampness, and transforms phlegm. Its nature is more constrictive, commonly used for cold pain in the abdomen, vomiting, diarrhea, cold limbs, and weak pulse, phlegm-damp cough.
By comparing the properties and effects of the two types of ginger, we can deduce that if dried ginger is used in commercially available ginger date tea, it may easily cause heat in most people.
Fresh Ginger is Dispersive, while warming the middle and dispersing cold, it can also disperse and release the exterior, making it more suitable for the prevalence of dampness and cold in summer.
Dried Ginger is Constrictive, when paired with the similarly constrictive jujube, it is like placing a small stove in the middle burner. If one has a clear deficiency of middle Yang, drinking this ginger date tea may not cause much discomfort.
However, in the south, many people have a hot upper body and cold lower body constitution, so drinking dried ginger and red date tea may easily lead to excessive heat, failing to achieve the desired health benefits. Furthermore, in summer, with high temperatures and increased sweating, long-term consumption of hot dried ginger to regulate the body may deplete internal Yin fluids.
When is the Best Time to Eat Ginger?
1
Eating Ginger in the Morning is Ideal
Throughout the day, it is recommended to eat ginger in the morning. At this time, Yang Qi is distributed on the surface of the body, and the interior is often cold. Fresh ginger can warm the middle and help to raise Yang Qi. In the evening, when Yang Qi enters Yin, it is not advisable to consume too much ginger. Eating ginger at night can lead to excessive internal Yang, possibly causing stomach discomfort and heartburn, and can also affect sleep.
In this regard, there is a saying in the folk that “eating ginger at night is more toxic than arsenic.” This is indeed an exaggerated statement, meant to remind everyone to avoid this inappropriate time for consuming ginger. Eating ginger at night generally has more disadvantages than benefits, but it is far from being “more toxic than arsenic.”
2
From the Beginning of Summer to the Day Before the Dog Days:
The Best Time to Drink Ginger Date Tea
It is recommended to drink ginger date tea from the beginning of summer until the day before the Dog Days for the best effect, as it can nourish Yang and expel turbidity. However, once the Dog Days arrive, it is not advisable to continue drinking it.
“Heat occurs during the Dog Days,” which is the hottest time of the year. The body sweats a lot, and if ginger date tea is consumed at this time, fresh ginger will disperse and release the exterior, leading to even more sweating, which is not beneficial for health preservation.
2024 Dog Days Schedule:
First Dog Days: July 15 – July 24, a total of 10 days.
Middle Dog Days: July 25 – August 13, a total of 20 days.
Last Dog Days: August 14 – August 23, a total of 10 days.
In the hot summer, the body’s pores are open, and internal Yang Qi is deficient. Drinking a cup of ginger date tea can both replenish the deficiency of internal Yang Qi to warm the middle and help Yang Qi disperse to expel cold, in line with the principle of “nurturing Yang in spring and summer.”
Additionally, drinking ginger date tea is beneficial for gastrointestinal health.
Many people find their gastrointestinal health improves significantly after drinking ginger date tea for a period. This is because fresh ginger has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and detoxifying properties, which can effectively protect the gastrointestinal tract.
The “Collection of Effective Recipes” states, “Ginger tea is a simple remedy for dysentery; finely chop fresh ginger, brew it as tea, and one or two cups will cure it.” Ginger date tea not only stops diarrhea but also warms the middle, disperses cold, alleviates discomfort, and makes the spleen and stomach feel better.
Simple Recipe for Ginger Date Tea
Ingredients: 3-6 jujubes, 3-5 slices of fresh ginger.
Method:
1. Add an appropriate amount of water and boil until a light red color is achieved.
If you are cold and fear the cold, you can add a few Sichuan peppercorns to make Sichuan pepper ginger date tea, which has a better effect in dispelling cold and dampness.
You can also add some honey to the ginger date tea for a good lung-moistening effect, but wait until the tea is warm before adding honey.
2. Note that do not peel the fresh ginger, and the amount of ginger should not be small; the boiled water should have a slightly spicy taste.
3. Use jujubes as they are the only ones that have the warming and cold-dispelling effect.
Summer
Days
3
From the Dog Days to the Beginning of Autumn:
Switch to Vinegar-Pickled Ginger
After entering the Dog Days, it is recommended to switch to a different way of eating ginger, which is vinegar-pickled ginger.
By mid-Dog Days, autumn begins, and the nature of autumn is to gather and descend. The sour and astringent taste of vinegar has a constricting effect, which can align with the nature of autumn, while also neutralizing the dispersive nature of fresh ginger, gently warming Yang, strengthening the spleen, and dispersing cold and dampness. The sourness of vinegar can also replenish fluids, so vinegar-pickled ginger can generate fluids and replenish Yang without worrying about causing excessive heat.
Preparation: Use 2 pounds of fresh tender ginger, add half a bottle of aged vinegar, and optionally add some rock sugar for flavor. Place in a sealed jar to marinate, avoiding light and moisture, and let it sit for one week before consumption.
Special Reminder
Fresh ginger therapy is particularly suitable for those with a cold and damp constitution. However, those with symptoms of Yin deficiency heat, such as red lips, dry mouth, and five palms feeling hot, or those with damp-heat manifestations in the spleen and stomach, such as unsatisfactory bowel movements and foul-smelling stools, should not consume it. Patients with liver disease, diabetes, and acute inflammation should also avoid it.
If there are any copyright issues, please contact the original author through the backend.The articles published are for learning and reference only.Please practice under the guidance of a professional teacher.
Official website: http://www.yunshuiwang.com
