Can eating pears help reduce internal heat when one "has excessive internal heat" (a traditional Chinese medicine concept)?

Generally speaking, eating pears when experiencing excessive internal heat (commonly known as "fire") may help alleviate symptoms to some extent, but the effectiveness varies depending on the type and severity of the heat condition. Additionally, moderation is important. Detailed explanation is as follows:

Pears are cool in nature and rich in water content and various vitamins. They have functions of promoting saliva production, quenching thirst, clearing heat, and relieving dryness. For symptoms of excessive internal heat caused by dryness and heat, such as dry mouth and throat, dry and sore throat, and cough with little phlegm, eating moderate amounts of pears can help replenish moisture, relieve discomfort caused by dry heat, and reduce symptoms of excessive internal heat. However, if the symptoms of excessive heat are severe or belong to the type of deficiency fire, the effectiveness of pears in reducing heat will be limited. Overconsumption may also irritate the gastrointestinal tract due to their cooling nature, causing abdominal discomfort.

Although pears can assist in reducing internal heat, they should not be consumed in large quantities on an empty stomach, especially for individuals with deficiency-cold in the spleen and stomach, as this may worsen cold symptoms in the body. Furthermore, the effectiveness of pears in reducing heat varies from person to person and cannot completely replace other methods of regulation.

In daily life, if symptoms of excessive internal heat occur, moderate consumption of pears may help. Pears can also be consumed together with ingredients such as tremella fungus and lily bulbs to make a boiled drink, which enhances the effect of relieving dryness. At the same time, maintaining a light diet, reducing intake of spicy and irritating foods, and drinking plenty of water are also helpful for better relief of discomfort caused by excessive internal heat.