The hotter the dog days of summer, the more miserable people with Yin deficiency become! For individuals in this condition, even just sunbathing during the hottest days might lead to excessive internal heat. Why is that? From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine, it's essentially caused by deficient fire floating upward. An inherent insufficiency of Yin fluids leads to the internal generation of deficient fire. When this deficient fire disturbs the mind and spirit, it causes mental agitation and excitement, leading to even greater bodily consumption.

Such individuals often feel dry mouth and throat, as if their throat is on fire. They experience heat sensations in the 'five centers' (palms, soles, and chest), with hot palms and soles, accompanied by heart vexation and insomnia. At night, they toss and turn in bed, unable to fall asleep, and experience night sweats. Furthermore, they may have dry, hard stools and difficulty with bowel movements, as well as dark yellow urine. Male friends might even experience intense sexual desire but feel impotent ('have the heart but lack the strength'). Female friends may also notice that their menstrual flow is lighter than usual. In fact, all these symptoms indicate that the Yin fluids within the body are insufficient, allowing deficient fire to wreak havoc.

If you're experiencing such symptoms, it's time to take it seriously. When the body acts up like this, it's giving us a reminder that we need to replenish fluids! Today, I’d like to share a small remedy that requires only three ingredients.

The first ingredient is Ophiopogon japonicus (Maidong), which is sweet, slightly bitter, and slightly cold in nature. It has the effects of moistening the lungs, calming the mind, clearing heat, and promoting fluid production. It helps replenish the fluids your body is lacking. Next, add some lily bulbs. Not only do they help moisten yin together with Ophiopogon japonicus, but they also clear lung heat and reduce deficiency fire. The third ingredient is Poria. Think about it: in summer, there’s plenty of rain, and dampness is naturally high. People with yin deficiency often can’t resist eating cold foods or drinking chilled beverages to cool down, which puts a strain on the spleen and stomach. Poria can invigorate the spleen and dispel dampness, helping the spleen transform dampness so that the beneficial effects of the other two ingredients can be properly absorbed by the body.

Of course, relying solely on this remedy isn't enough. It's important to develop good daily habits. Avoid spicy and fried foods, as consuming too much of them is like adding fuel to deficiency fire. When going out for a walk, don't overexert yourself. Moderate exercise is better; sweating too much will deplete the body’s precious fluids even further, so light sweating is sufficient.

The content of this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or treatment. Each individual’s condition is different, and the approach to health management will vary. If you feel unwell, it is recommended to seek treatment under the guidance of a professional physician for proper syndrome differentiation!