Can horse hooves moisten the lungs and relieve cough?
Aug 01, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Lianqing
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, water chestnuts (Eleocharis dulcis) may have a certain auxiliary effect in moistening the lungs and relieving cough, but their effectiveness is limited, and they should not be relied upon solely for treating coughs. In daily life, if one wishes to assist in moistening the lungs and relieving cough through diet, water chestnuts can be combined with pears, white fungus (Tremella fuciformis), and other ingredients to brew into a drink, thereby enhancing the moisturizing effect. At the same time, it is important to avoid spicy and greasy foods to reduce irritation to the throat and lungs.
Generally speaking, water chestnuts (Eleocharis dulcis) have a certain auxiliary effect in moistening the lungs and relieving cough, but their effectiveness is limited, and they should not be solely relied upon for treating cough. A detailed explanation is as follows:
Water chestnuts are cool in nature and contain abundant moisture, vitamins, and minerals. They possess certain effects in clearing heat, promoting body fluid production, moistening the lungs, and resolving phlegm. For dry cough and viscous, scanty phlegm caused by lung heat, moderate consumption of water chestnuts can help replenish moisture, alleviate sore throat dryness, and reduce internal heat in the lungs, thereby providing some relief from cough-related discomfort. However, the effect of water chestnuts in moistening the lungs and relieving cough is relatively weak. Additionally, due to their cool nature, excessive consumption may irritate the stomach and spleen, especially worsening symptoms in individuals whose cough is caused by deficiency-cold of the spleen and stomach.
In daily life, if one intends to assist in moistening the lungs and relieving cough through diet, it is recommended to combine water chestnuts with other ingredients such as pears and white fungus (Tremella) to enhance the moisturizing effects. It is also important to avoid spicy and greasy foods to minimize irritation to the throat and lungs; maintaining humid indoor air and appropriately increasing water intake can further aid in alleviating cough symptoms and protecting lung health.
