Can I drink plum juice (suanmei tang) when I have a cough?

Jan 10, 2023 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Ren Yi

Introduction

Sour plum soup is made by simmering ingredients such as smoked plums (wu mei), hawthorn, dried tangerine peel, osmanthus flowers, and rock sugar. It helps generate body fluids, quench thirst, relieve summer heat, strengthen the spleen, stimulate the appetite, and refresh the mind. Due to its sour and astringent properties, sour plum soup has a lung-astringing and cough-suppressing effect, which may provide certain therapeutic benefits for individuals suffering from cough, particularly those with chronic lung deficiency characterized by minimal phlegm or dry cough without sputum.

Generally, drinking plum juice (sour plum soup) is acceptable when experiencing cough symptoms. However, it is not recommended to consume chilled plum juice, as it may irritate the throat and worsen coughing. The analysis is as follows:

Plum juice is made by simmering ingredients such as smoked plums (wu mei), hawthorn, dried tangerine peel, osmanthus flowers, and rock sugar. It has effects of promoting saliva secretion, quenching thirst, relieving summer heat, strengthening the spleen and stimulating appetite, as well as refreshing the mind. Due to its sour and astringent properties, plum juice can help astringe the lungs and relieve cough, potentially providing some therapeutic benefit for individuals with chronic lung deficiency cough characterized by minimal or dry, non-productive cough.

Drinking warm plum juice generally does not exacerbate cough symptoms. However, consuming chilled plum juice may irritate the throat, trigger airway constriction, worsen coughing, and even cause gastrointestinal discomfort, which could hinder recovery. Therefore, it is not advisable to drink chilled plum juice.

In daily life, it's beneficial to engage in moderate physical exercise to enhance resistance and immunity, while avoiding excessive fatigue. During treatment, maintain a light diet and avoid spicy or irritating foods.

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