Can boiling lychee shells in water really help to clear heat from the body?
Aug 05, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yu Yongchao
Introduction
If mild heatiness is caused by consuming spicy foods, manifesting as slight sore throat and dry mouth, drinking water boiled with fresh lychee shells, whose slightly cool nature can help relieve the discomfort by soothing the internal heat, may provide certain alleviating effects. However, if the heatiness symptoms are severe, such as oral ulcers, swollen and painful gums, or accompanied by fever, or if the heatiness is triggered by external invasion of cold pathogen,
Generally, boiling litchi shells in water may help alleviate symptoms of mild heatiness, such as dry mouth and throat discomfort, but it is unlikely to relieve severe heatiness or discomfort caused by wind-cold invasion. If in doubt, it is recommended to consult a healthcare professional in advance. Detailed explanation is as follows:
If mild heatiness is caused by consuming spicy foods and is manifested as slight sore throat or dry mouth, drinking water boiled with fresh litchi shells may help relieve the heatiness due to their slightly cooling properties, thereby alleviating discomfort to some extent.
If the symptoms of heatiness are severe, such as mouth ulcers, swollen and painful gums, or accompanied by fever, or if the heatiness is caused by wind-cold invasion, boiling litchi shells in water will have limited effectiveness and may not eliminate inflammation. Furthermore, their slightly cooling nature might worsen symptoms of wind-cold, making it difficult to achieve the desired effect of reducing heatiness.
Before boiling litchi shells in water, ensure they are cleaned thoroughly to remove impurities, and the boiling time should be controlled within 10–15 minutes. If symptoms do not improve or worsen after consumption, discontinue use, adjust your diet accordingly, and seek professional help when necessary. Do not rely solely on this method and delay appropriate treatment.
