Disclaimer: All herbal teas, medicinal soups, acupuncture and Tui Na described in this article are only auxiliary wellness regimens for traditional health maintenance, not formal medical treatments. They cannot replace professional physician diagnosis, prescription drugs or clinical therapies. Anyone diagnosed with physical diseases shall strictly follow the treatment plans formulated by licensed medical practitioners. All TCM terminology, wellness regulation theories and traditional health philosophies in this text are solely for the inheritance, popularization and cultural exchange of traditional Chinese medicine. No content herein shall be deemed guidance for clinical diagnosis or medical treatment. Read more
Summer is the season when all things grow, with flowers, plants, and trees flourishing and young crops thriving, presenting a scene of prosperity. However, with the blazing sun high in the sky, the climate is scorching hot, heat waves strike, and the summer heat is extreme, leading to thirst and fatigue. Therefore, people consider seeking shelter from the heat and enjoying the cool as a delightful experience. For better health preservation and heat helps maintain and reduction, it is advisable to choose and consume tea beverages such as green tea.
1. Heat-Clearing and Dampness-Resolving Herbal Tea Substitute
Efficacy: Clearing heat and resolving dampness, harmonizing the Spleen and stomach, clearing and benefiting the head and eyes. Suitable for summer heat damaging the Spleen, with signs of imbalance such as dizziness and fatigue, a sticky sensation in the mouth with poor appetite, and dry mouth with thirst.
Prescription: 2 fresh Rhizoma Phragmitis (minced), 4.5 grams of Caulis Bambusae in Taeniis, 9 grams of charred Hawthorn Fruit, 9 grams of Fried Germinated Rice, 2.4 grams of Exocarpium Citri Rubrum, 6 grams of Mulberry Leaf after frost.
Usage: Decoct in water and use as tea.
Source: Selected Discussions on Medical Prescriptions for Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu.
2. Summer tea
Efficacy: Cooling and relieving summer heat, promoting the production of body fluids to quench thirst, helps maintain summer heat, supports heatstroke.
Prescription: Artemisiae Annuae Herba (Qing Hao) 150g, Gypsum Fibrosum (Sheng Shi Gao) 120g, Menthae Haplocalycis Herba (Bo He Ye) 150g, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gan Cao) 30g.
Preparation method: Grind the above herbs into fine powder together, mix them evenly, and make a total of 10 packets.
Usage: Use 1/3 packet each time, brew with boiling water and drink. Take it 3 times a day.
Source: Technology of Traditional Chinese Medicine Preparations.
3.Cooling Herbal Tea
Efficacy: Clears heat and helps with occasional summer heat, generates body fluids and quenches thirst, helps maintain and reduces summer heat, supports discomfort caused by summer heat, common cold in all seasons, fever, and food retention.
Prescription: This product is a Chinese patent medicine, produced by Guangzhou Chaoyang County Traditional Chinese Medicine Factory. It is prepared into a tea agent with drugs such as Artemisiae Annuae Herba (sweet wormwood), Nelumbinis Folium (lotus leaf), Talci (talc), Phragmitis Rhizoma (reed rhizome), and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (licorice), with each package containing 50 grams.
Usage: Take 10 grams each time, brew with boiling water or decoct with water and use as tea.
Source: National Catalogue of Chinese Patent Medicines.
4.Luofushan Herbal Tea
Efficacy: Clears heat and helps with occasional summer heat, generates body fluids and quenches thirst, promotes digestion and resolves food stagnation; supports summer heat thirst and wind-heat cold.
Prescription: This product is a Chinese patent medicine granule, produced by Luofushan Pharmaceutical Factory in Changning Town, Boluo County, Guangdong Province. It contains Imperata cylindrica root, Lophatherum gracile leaf, Chrysanthemum flower, Elephantopus scaber herb, etc.
Usage: Take 1 to 2 sachets (10 grams per sachet) each time, steep in boiling water and drink. Take it 3 times a day.
Source: National Compilation of Chinese Patent Medicines.
5.Vitex negundo var. cannabifolia leaf tea
Efficacy: Clearing heat and promoting fluid production, helps maintain heatstroke.
Prescription: 6-9 grams of dried tender leaves of Vitex negundo L. (Chaste Tree).
Usage: Decoct in water and use as a tea substitute.
Source: Fujian Journal of Chinese Herbal Medicine.
6.Lemon tea
Efficacy: helps maintain heatstroke and generates body fluids, harmonizes the stomach and stops diarrhea. supports food stagnation with hiccups, acute gastroenteritis, diarrhea, and vomiting. Can also be used as a health-preserving beverage to helps with occasional summer heat.
Prescription: 1 lemon.
Usage: Boil the lemons until cooked, peel them, dry them in the sun, and then place them in a porcelain jar. Add an appropriate amount of salt for pickling. Each time, use one lemon, steep it in a bowl of boiling water, cover and let it soak for 15 minutes, and then drink it as a tea substitute.
Source: Diet Therapy.
7. Fragrant Tea Pillow
Efficacy: Clears heat and calms the mind, improves eyesight and sharpens hearing. Particularly suitable for use in summer.
Prescription: tea dregs of black tea and green tea.
Usage: Dry the tea dregs filtered out from making or brewing tea, gather them into a bundle, and use them as the filling for a pillow, sleeping on it every night.
Source: Folk customs and experiences.
TCM Terminology Disclaimer:All traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) terms, descriptions, and wellness expressions including but not limited to nourishing lungs, soothing throat discomfort, supporting respiratory comfort, clearing mild internal heat, balancing qi and blood, harmonizing bodily functions, and regulating general wellness featured on this website are traditional TCM cultural descriptions and historical wellness theories only. These phrases are used solely for traditional TCM knowledge sharing and cultural interpretation. They do not constitute medical efficacy claims, have not been evaluated by the FDA, and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. All TCM wording describes traditional auxiliary wellness conditioning effects only and should never be interpreted as clinical medical treatment results. Individuals with confirmed illnesses must seek professional medical diagnosis and follow standard Western medical treatment.
FDA Mandatory Disclaimer：These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Chinese herbal dietary supplements and traditional wellness practices are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease and serve only as daily auxiliary health support. If you have been diagnosed with any illness, please seek professional medical care and follow standard Western medical treatment regimens.
Great tips! I’ve been looking for refreshing summer drinks. Definitely trying the iced green tea with mint. Thanks!
I love trying new tea recipes in the summer! These sound perfect for staying cool and healthy. Do you have a favorite blend for when it’s really hot out? I’m definitely going to give the mint and citrus one a try. Thanks for sharing!
I’ve been looking for refreshing drinks that aren’t just sugary lemonade—these tea recipes sound perfect! Definitely trying the mint and green tea combo this weekend. Thanks for sharing! 🍵🌞
Great tips! I’ve been looking for ways to beat the heat without just chugging iced coffee. Love how traditional recipes combine health benefits with real refreshment. Do you have a favorite among these seven? I’m tempted to try the one with mint and citrus first. Thanks for sharing!
These tea recipes sound perfect for beating the summer heat! I’ve been struggling with the heat lately, and a refreshing iced herbal tea is exactly what I need. Can’t wait to try the one with mint and lemon – sounds so cooling and healthy. Thanks for sharing!