During hot summer days, coupled with air conditioning, cold drinks, and high humidity, it's easy to experience minor discomforts. Keeping some commonly used Chinese patent medicines at home can be a great help in critical moments, suitable for both adults and children. The following 6 types are all practical and easily accessible:

Huoxiang Zhengqi Water (or capsules/dripping pills): Effective against "air-conditioning sickness" and diarrhea caused by excessive cold intake

When to use? When you've been exposed to too much air conditioning and experience dizziness, heavy-headedness, chest tightness, nausea, and loss of appetite; or when you have stomach pain, diarrhea, and lack of appetite after eating chilled watermelon or cold drinks.

Why is it effective? In Traditional Chinese Medicine, this condition is often described as "cold dampness obstructing the spleen and stomach." Huoxiang Zhengqi Shui can dispel the cold from the body's surface and resolve damp turbidity in the spleen and stomach, restoring comfort to the body. Note: The alcohol-containing formulation should not be used before driving—choose the alcohol-free version instead.

Shengmai Yin (Dangshen Formula or Red Ginseng Formula): Replenishes energy for those with "excessive sweating and palpitations"

When to use? During summer when you experience excessive sweating with minimal movement, feel physically weak and exhausted, experience palpitations and shortness of breath with slight activity, and constantly feel dry mouth and throat.

Why does it work? Excessive sweating not only depletes body fluids but also consumes "qi" and "yin" (the body's energy and fundamental substances). Shengmai Yin replenishes qi (boosts vital energy) + nourishes yin to promote fluid production, helping the body restore depleted vitality. The Codonopsis formula is milder, while the Red Ginseng formula has stronger qi-tonifying effects.

Xia Sang Ju Granules: Relieves restlessness and clears "internal heat"

When to use? When hot weather causes irritability, poor sleep, bitter taste in the mouth, dry and sore throat, red eyes with bloodshot veins, or yellow scanty urine with burning sensation during urination, even dry stools.

Why does it work? These are typical symptoms of "summer heat disturbance or internal damp-heat accumulation" - commonly known as "internal heat/上火", especially heart and liver fire excess. Xia Sang Ju disperses wind-heat, clears liver heat to improve vision, and has heat-clearing detoxification effects to cool down the body.

Jingfang Granules: For the initial stage of cold due to chill (with clear runny nose)

When to use? After getting caught in the rain during summer or feeling chilly from air conditioning at night, symptoms such as sneezing, clear runny nose, nasal congestion, chills, and coughing up thin, white phlegm begin to appear.

Why does it work? These are the early signs of a "wind-cold common cold." Jingfang Granules help induce sweating, release the exterior, disperse wind, and eliminate dampness, effectively expelling the invading cold. Remember: The key is the "cold" syndrome, with both nasal discharge and phlegm being clear.

Shuanghuanglian Oral Liquid (or Granules): For heat-type common cold (with sore throat and yellow nasal discharge)

When to use it? When you have a cold with yellow, thick nasal discharge, yellow phlegm when coughing, severely red and sore throat, and possibly feeling slightly feverish.

Why does it work? This is mostly "wind-heat cold" or cold pathogens transforming into heat after entering the body. Shuanghuanglian can dispel wind-heat from the surface, clear heat and detoxify, specifically addressing heat symptoms like sore throat.

Shenling Baizhu Pills (or granules): For loss of appetite, abdominal distension, and heavy dampness in hot weather

When to use? In summer, when you often feel bloated and indigestion, have no appetite, feel sluggish and lethargic, and possibly have loose stools (that stick to the toilet bowl).

Why does it work? In summer, dampness is abundant and most likely to impair the spleen. When spleen deficiency combines with dampness retention, the ability to transport and transform food deteriorates. Ginseng and Atractylodes Macrocephala Pills can invigorate the spleen, replenish qi, promote diuresis to eliminate dampness, and stop diarrhea, helping the spleen and stomach regain their motility to expel excess water-dampness.

Real family scenario: Aunt Li's weekend

Last weekend was particularly hot and stuffy, so Aunt Li's family kept the air conditioning on for a long time during the day. For dinner, she prepared a cold dish and cut some chilled watermelon. As a result, her daughter woke up in the middle of the night complaining of stomach pain and diarrhea; her husband felt dizzy and nauseous when he got up in the morning; and Aunt Li herself experienced dry mouth, palpitations, and extreme fatigue (she normally sweats easily). Fortunately, their medicine cabinet was well stocked:

After giving my daughter and my wife Huoxiang Zhengqi Dripping Pills (alcohol-free version), their stomach discomfort and nausea were relieved within about half a day.

Aunt Li prepared Shengmai Yin (Dangshen formula) herself and drank it for two days, with her fatigue and palpitations significantly alleviated.

During those days, the whole family also ate lighter meals, cooking some coix seed porridge to remove dampness.

Important reminder:

Accurate differentiation of symptoms is key: The above recommendations are based on common typical symptoms. If uncertain (e.g., unable to distinguish between wind-cold and wind-heat syndromes), or if symptoms don't improve or even worsen after 1-2 days of use, be sure to seek medical attention promptly!

Read the instructions carefully: Always read the medication instructions before use to understand the composition, dosage, contraindications, and precautions. Extra caution should be exercised when administering medication to the elderly, children, pregnant women, or patients with chronic diseases.

Not a substitute for treatment: These medications are primarily for relieving mild symptoms or as supplemental therapy. If symptoms are severe or persistent, be sure to seek medical attention.

Storage Note: Store as directed in the instructions and check the expiration date regularly.

With these essentials prepared, you'll handle summer's minor annoyances with much greater ease!