Soup Name: Heat Clearing Herbal Tea

Traditional Chinese Name: 清肝火茶 (qīng gān huǒ chá)

Introduction:
The literal translation of “qīng gān huǒ chá” is clear liver heat, however this tea has various uses and is meant for people with extreme heat or fiery feeling in their bodies.  Symptoms includes a dry, sore throat (not from screaming or shouting), dry eyes (so when wind blows against it, there is a stingy sensation), cold sores inside or out of the mouth, a sore and or painful rib feeling and or overall feeling of heatiness.  It was recommended to me by my herbalist when I developed an extremely sore throat with no associated cough (as cooling teas should be avoided if there is a cough).  As ugly as this drink looks or even tastes without added sugar, it helped relieve the heatiness in my body and in a few days, helped “cool” my throat.

What Ingredients are required?

1 large piece of dried chinese foxglove (about 3 inches in diameter)
4-5 long pieces of dried white peony root
20g of dried bamboo
10 pieces of dried Creeping Liriope Root Tuber
5 pieces of dried Lucid Asparagus Root
rock sugar (to taste)
2-3 L of water

How do I prepare it?

1. Boil water
2. Rinse ingredients in warm water briefly (except rock sugar)
3. When water boils, add all ingredients together
4. Boil for an hour on medium heat
5. Strain ingredients from liquid
6. Add rock sugar and let dissolve
7. Cool in fridge or with ice (optional)
8. Serve and enjoy!

Any benefits?

Excellent soup for relieving heatiness
Helps cool the body and relieve sore throats, sore bodies and dry body conditions (because of being overheated)

Any precautions?

• People with sensitive stomachs (otherwise known as cold stomachs) should avoid overly cooling herbs
• Pregnant woman in their first trimester take caution as cooling ingredients can cause contractions
• After consumption, you may notice frequent urination (this is normal) as your body is also detoxifying