What are the benefits of drinking water infused with dried plums (wu mei)?

Generally, dried Chinese plum (Prunus mume), as a common ingredient used both in food and traditional medicine, offers various health benefits when consumed as an infusion. These include lung-astringing and cough-relieving effects, promoting saliva secretion to quench thirst, checking diarrhea, stimulating appetite and aiding digestion, as well as alleviating fatigue. Detailed explanations are as follows:

1. Lung-Astringing and Cough-Relieving: Dried Chinese plum has a sour and neutral nature, affecting the lung meridian. It helps astringe the lungs, making it suitable for conditions such as chronic cough due to lung deficiency or dry cough with little phlegm. By consolidating lung qi, it reduces excessive depletion of the lungs and alleviates cough symptoms, thus supporting normal lung function.

2. Promoting Saliva Secretion and Relieving Thirst: With its sweet-sour taste, dried Chinese plum stimulates the salivary glands to secrete saliva, effectively relieving dry mouth and thirst. It is especially beneficial during hot summer months or for individuals experiencing dryness caused by prolonged talking or staying up late, providing quick relief from discomfort.

3. Checking Diarrhea: Dried Chinese plum has an astringent effect on the intestines, making it useful for chronic diarrhea or dysentery due to spleen deficiency. It helps constrict the intestinal mucosa, reduce intestinal motility, decrease the frequency of bowel movements, and restore normal digestive and absorptive functions of the intestines.

4. Stimulating Appetite and Aiding Digestion: The acidic components in dried Chinese plum can stimulate gastric juice secretion and enhance gastrointestinal motility, thereby improving appetite and digestion. It is particularly suitable for individuals suffering from poor appetite or indigestion, helping to relieve post-meal bloating and food stagnation.

5. Alleviating Fatigue: Dried Chinese plum contains various vitamins and minerals, which provide nutritional support when consumed as an infusion. Its organic acids also assist in metabolizing lactic acid in the body, reducing physical fatigue. This makes it ideal for those experiencing high physical exertion or recovering from late-night activities.

When consuming dried Chinese plum tea, certain contraindications and precautions should be observed. For example, individuals with excessive stomach acid should avoid excessive consumption to ensure safety and effectiveness.