FIRST SOLAR TERM TEA

In the southern hemisphere (Australia) the winter equinox is on 21 June in 2020. It is the shortest day of a year. After this day, the southern hemisphere starts to have longer days. Six weeks after the winter equinox, 7 August 2020 is the beginning of the First Sola Term (Li Chun) in the cycle of the 24 Sola Terms calendar which marks the arrival of spring. At this time, all living things start to “wake up” from their “winter rest”. Even though spring has arrived, the “breath of spring” will still take some time to reach us with the warm we expect. Similarly, the microbes (bacteria and viruses) in our body are also starting to become active. Fortunately we can counter act and supress these microbes by drinking the First Solar Term Tea (Li Chun tea also known as Lung Detox Tea).

Heart Leaf (Houttuynia Cordata)

INGREDIENT: 15 to 30 grams of dried Heart Leaf (Houttuynia Cordata tea) + (optional) 6 grams of Oolong tea

Dried Houttuynia Cordata Leaf and the Tea

METHOD: If you have no known health issue use 15 grams, else if you have some medical conditions use 30 grams of the dried Heart Leaf to brew in boiling water. You may drink this tea the whole day by topping up the water and continue brewing for that day. Discard the brew at the end of the day and start the next day with a fresh brew.

NOTE: It is not advisable to boil the Houttuynia Cordata leafs too long because they will lose their anti-inflammatory properties.

*Grab a handful (15 to 30 grams ) of dried Houttuynia Cordata leafs and  submerge them in about 1 Litter of cold water for a while before 1abringing the heat up to boil for about 2 minutes. The heat needs to be switched off immediately after this.

Don’t throw away the boiled Houttuynia Cordata leafs. You can add more cold water and cook it again in the same way as in *. You can repeat this a total of three times to meet your day’s tea need. It is ok to add a little more than the amount specified for the dried Houttuynia Cordata leafs.

Houttuynia Cordata is a plant which has leafs the shape of hearts. The leaf has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial / anti-biotic properties which helps reduce inflammation, build up the body’s defence against bacteria and viruses. In traditional Chinese medicine this herb is used to fight against pharyngitis, pneumonia, urethritis, vaginitis, nephritis and herpes. It is also used to build up the body’s defence against cold, flu, urinary system infection, reproductive system infection and many more.

Smokers are encouraged to drink the Houttuynia Cordata leafs tea daily. The Houttuynia Cordata tea can assist to detoxify and clean the lungs. For people who want to quit the habit of smoking, it is advisable to drink stronger doses of the Houttuynia Cordata leafs tea daily (it assist to reduce the craving to smoke). This tea may also prevent chronic pharyngitis, bronchitis and even lung cancer.  Houttuynia Cordata leafs tea can treat upper respiratory tract infections, reduce fever, and relieve cough.