Is water bamboo (Zizania latifolia) cool-natured or hot-natured?
Jun 26, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yu Yongchao
Introduction
The characteristic of cool-natured foods is their ability to clear heat, relieve fire toxicity, dispel summerheat, and detoxify. Due to its cold nature, Zizania (wild rice) is suitable for consumption during summer or when an individual presents with internal heat syndromes. It can alleviate symptoms of heat conditions such as dry mouth and throat, dark and scanty urine, and constipation. Its cooling property also helps eliminate internal deficient fire, and moderate consumption of Zizania can provide some relief for symptoms caused by Yin deficiency with excessive internal heat, such as irritability, insomnia, sore throat, and swelling.
Generally speaking, water bamboo (Zizania latifolia) is a cooling food. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) food properties, it has a sweet taste and cold nature, and is associated with the lung, spleen, and liver meridians. It functions to clear heat, promote body fluid production, and promote urination to remove dampness. A detailed explanation is as follows:
The characteristics of cooling foods include clearing internal heat, relieving fire symptoms, cooling the body, and detoxifying. Due to its cold nature, water bamboo is suitable for consumption during summer or when there are internal heat-related conditions. It can help alleviate symptoms such as dry mouth and throat, and short, dark-colored urination, as well as constipation (Can people with constipation eat perilla?). Its cooling nature also helps eliminate internal false fire (deficiency heat), and moderate consumption of water bamboo can provide some relief for symptoms caused by yin deficiency fire hyperactivity, such as irritability, insomnia, and sore throat.
The cooling nature of water bamboo is also related to its growing environment. It usually grows in paddy fields, marshes, and other moist environments, where it is nourished by water over a long period, thus developing a cool property. When cooking, combining it with warming ingredients such as ginger, garlic, or chili can neutralize some of its coldness, reduce irritation to the stomach and spleen, and make it more tolerable for individuals with different body constitutions.
Individuals with cold body constitution or those suffering from deficiency-cold in the spleen and stomach should control their intake of water bamboo, avoid eating it raw, and preferably consume it after cooking. Combining it with warming ingredients during cooking can balance the food's properties and prevent gastrointestinal discomfort that may result from consuming excessive amounts of cold-natured water bamboo.
