“During the Qingming Festival, rain falls in drizzles, and travelers on the road feel a sense of sorrow.” Qingming is not only a solar term in spring but also a festival for tomb-sweeping and ancestor worship. In my shallow dreams, it always seems to rain during Qingming, bringing a bit of coolness to the weather. However, this year’s Qingming is rare with its warm and pleasant sunshine, making it quite enjoyable. It’s no wonder that everyone is out traveling, crowding various scenic spots.
With spring in full bloom, the bright sunshine, tender green plants, singing birds in the branches, and wildflowers blooming by the roadside all attract us to step outside and embrace nature. Children are especially lively in spring, joyfully releasing their nature and growing in harmony with all living things.
Children are active and tend to sweat a lot. When they are happily playing, they often end up drenched in sweat. When out and about, parents usually prepare some drinks or snacks like bread, biscuits, or candies to replenish their energy and hydration. However, strangely, once they return home, the children seem exhausted, some complain of a sore throat or thirst, while others suddenly develop a fever. What could be the problem?
At this time, it might be helpful to observe:
Are the child’s lips red, and is their tongue also red?
If their bowel movements were smooth before, are they now dry?
Also, has the frequency of urination decreased, and is the urine color yellow?
If the child indeed shows these changes, it indicates a deficiency of body fluids. If the child already had these symptoms, it suggests they may have a Yin deficiency constitution, which can lead to excess internal heat, and as the weather warms up, the symptoms of Yin deficiency will worsen, causing the child to become increasingly restless.
As the weather will only get hotter, the chances of fluid loss will increase. Therefore, starting now, we need to prepare some methods to nourish Yin and generate fluids, ensuring that the child replenishes their fluids in a timely manner, allowing the meridians to flow smoothly, and maintaining normal Qi and blood circulation, thus balancing Yin and Yang in the body. This way, the child will not suffer from excessive heat or become ill due to bodily imbalance.
Theory must be put into practice, and I have already prepared such a dietary therapy method for everyone: a sweet and smooth Yin Er (Tremella) drink, which has received rave reviews from participants in the tasting.
Yin
Er
Drink
Ingredients
Half a snow pear, 1 small piece of Yin Er (Tremella), 10g of Bai He (Lily), 150g of Shan Yao (Chinese Yam), 20g of red-skinned peanuts, 3 Hong Zao (Red Dates), and an appropriate amount of rock sugar.
Method
1. Soak the Bai He (Lily) and red-skinned peanuts for 3 hours in advance;
2. Soak the Yin Er (Tremella) in advance and tear it into small pieces; pit and chop the Hong Zao (Red Dates);
3. Do not peel the snow pear, cut it into small pieces; peel the Shan Yao (Chinese Yam) and cut it into small sections;
4. Put all the ingredients into a blender, add about 800ml of water, and an appropriate amount of rock sugar, then select the soy milk mode;
The Yin Er (Tremella) is nourishing without being greasy, moistening the lungs and generating fluids, nourishing Yin and clearing heat;
The snow pear is crisp and juicy, capable of generating fluids, moistening dryness, clearing heat, and resolving phlegm;
The Bai He (Lily) is sweet, nourishing Yin, clearing the lungs, and calming the mind.
The combination of Yin Er (Tremella), snow pear, and Bai He (Lily) is a classic formula for nourishing Yin and moistening the lungs. When feeling dry, cooking some to drink can effectively alleviate the sensation of dryness and heat.
The Shan Yao (Chinese Yam) tonifies the spleen, lungs, and kidneys, replenishing Qi and nourishing muscles;
The peanuts strengthen the spleen and stomach, moisten the lungs, and resolve phlegm. The red skin of the peanuts strengthens the spleen and stomach, nourishes blood, and stops bleeding;
The Hong Zao (Red Dates) are sweet and warm, replenishing Qi and nourishing blood, calming the mind.
These three ingredients form another combination that strengthens the spleen and stomach while nourishing Qi and blood.
This bowl of Yin Er (Tremella) drink is thick and smooth, with a sweet taste. After consuming a bowl, the feeling of dryness is alleviated, the stomach feels comfortable, and it provides a strong sense of satiety. The essence of all the ingredients is concentrated in this clear drink, making this health beverage far superior to the milk teas available on the market.
After Qingming, the weather will become increasingly hot, and we will experience several sudden temperature rises. Adjusting our clothing may not keep up with the changes in climate. If you find yourself sweating profusely, with dry mouth and nose, and drinking plenty of water does not help, do not forget to replenish your body fluids.
In spring, avoid excessive heat and dryness. I hope this bowl of Yin Er (Tremella) drink brings you nourishment from the inside out.
Text, editing, and animations | Qian Meng
Image materials | Baotu Network, authorized
