Sweltering Summer? Beat the Heat and Thirst with a Wise Ancient Remedy: Reed Root Tea!

Reed

Hello! I'm your health curator, here to help you find wellness through the wisdom of nature. Midsummer is that season when sweat drips without end, air conditioning offers only temporary relief, and we're easily overcome by thirst and fatigue. In times like these, we often reach for cold ice cream or sugary soft drinks. But these often provide only a moment of coolness and can paradoxically make you even more thirsty.

That's why today, I want to introduce a truly wise beverage our ancestors used to overcome the intense heat. It's a treasure-like tea made from Common Reed Root (known as 'Galdae-ppuri' or 'Nogeun' in Korea).

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Meet Reed Root tea, nature's refreshing drink that cools the intense heat of summer.

Reed

What are the benefits of Common Reed Root (Nogeun) Tea?

Common Reed Root has long been recognized for its efficacy. In the ancient Korean medical text Donguibogam, it is recorded as "cold in nature and sweet in taste, it treats oppressive feelings in the chest and fever, and stops thirst."

[Summary of Benefits]

• A natural fever reducer that cools body heat (Clears heat and resolves toxins)
• Superior hydration that quenches thirst (Generates fluids and stops thirst)
• Diuretic action to flush out bodily waste
• Helps alleviate hangovers and food poisoning

1. A Natural Fever Reducer to Cool Body Heat
The most representative benefit of Reed Root is 'clearing heat' (Cheong-yeol). When you feel overheated and dizzy from the summer heat, or when you have a mild fever from a cold, drinking Reed Root tea helps regulate your body temperature by expelling unnecessary heat through urination. It's like having a tiny firefighter inside your body.

2. Unending Hydration: The King of Quenching Thirst
As the term 'Saengjin-jigal' (generating fluids and stopping thirst) suggests, Reed Root replenishes the body's fluids (Jin-aek), addressing the root cause of thirst. When your mouth is dry from excessive sweating and no amount of water seems to quench your thirst, Reed Root tea becomes a 'natural ion drink' that hydrates our body far more effectively than plain water.

3. A Detox Effect to Flush Out Toxins
With its excellent diuretic properties, Reed Root helps expel accumulated waste and toxins from the body. If you experience swelling or have difficulty urinating, drinking it regularly can make your body feel significantly lighter. Its detoxifying action can also be effective when suffering from mild food poisoning or a hangover.

4. Also Beneficial for Lungs and Bronchial Health
Reed Root has also been used to cool heat in the lungs, helping to soothe dry coughs and break up phlegm. When your throat is scratchy and uncomfortable due to fine dust or dry weather, drinking it warm can help moisturize and protect your respiratory tract.

Reed Root (Source : https://vtinvasives.org )

Precautions for Drinking Common Reed Root (Nogeun) Tea (Any Side Effects?)

While Reed Root is a relatively safe herb, its 'cold' nature means there are a few things to be cautious about.

[Summary of Precautions]

• Those with a naturally cold constitution (e.g., cold hands and feet) should avoid excessive intake.
• Individuals with weak digestion who experience frequent diarrhea should consume only small amounts.
• Allergic reactions are very rare but possible.

1. Be Cautious if You Have a Cold Abdomen and Limbs!
Reed Root has a cold property that lowers body heat. Therefore, if you are someone who is naturally cold, sensitive to the cold, or has poor digestion due to a cold abdomen, drinking too much can cause bloating or diarrhea. If this describes you, it's recommended to drink it warm in small quantities or to boil it with warming ingredients like jujubes or ginger.

2. Avoid it for Diarrhea from Deficiency-Cold
 If you have chronic diarrhea caused by a weak and cold body constitution, Reed Root tea may worsen the symptoms, so it's best to avoid it.

Reed Root (Source : https://www.eenews.kr )

How Can We Healthily Use Common Reed Root (Nogeun) Tea? (How to Use)

Enjoy the wonderfully nutty flavor of Reed Root tea by brewing it properly.

• Basic Reed Root (Nogeun) Tea Recipe
1. Lightly rinse 20-30g of dried Reed Root in running water.
2. Add the rinsed root to 2 liters of water and bring to a boil over high heat.
3. Once it boils, reduce the heat to low and simmer gently for 30-40 minutes (until the water has reduced by about half).
4. Strain out the solids and drink the tea frequently like water. Storing it in the fridge and drinking it cold is the perfect way to beat summer thirst.

• Blending Tips for Enhanced Flavor and Efficacy!
  • with Jujubes: To neutralize the cold nature of the root and add a subtle sweetness, try boiling it with 3-4 jujubes.
  • with Corn Silk: If you want to enhance the diuretic and anti-swelling effects, adding a handful of corn silk will also create a more robust, savory flavor.

Dried Reed Root 

In Conclusion

Today, we've taken a deep dive into the amazing transformation of the common reed into a beneficial tea. Isn't the wisdom of our ancestors, who used the pure power of nature to cool their bodies and quench their thirst without artificial additives, truly remarkable?

This summer, when you're feeling exhausted by the sweltering heat, why not give your body a true 'rest' with a cup of healthy, nutty Reed Root tea instead of a sugary drink? I hope you get to experience the refreshing coolness that nature provides.

[References]

• Heo, Jun. Donguibogam: Principles and Practice of Eastern Medicine.
• Kim, D. S., & Kim, S. J. (2012). The Effects of Phragmites communis Rhizome Extracts on Anti-inflammatory and Anti-allergic Reaction. Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition, 41(12), 1687-1692.
• Korea Traditional Knowledge Portal (KTKP).

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