The following are some of the top herbs that are commonly used especially in tropical countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Taiwan (southern part).
1. Dried Tangerine Peel
I always carry dried tangerine peel with me (the ready-to-eat kind) whenever I leave the house for classes, appointments, or meetings.
The reason is because dried tangerine peel can help to relieve stomach discomfort especially after eating or drinking foods that are not suitable for your body type. For example, sometimes when I drink latte, I will feel indigestion in my stomach and dried tangerine peel can really help to relieve the discomfort after a few burps!
You can buy ready-to-eat dried tangerine peel at local TCM retail shops or online here.
Find out more about the benefits and properties of dried tangerine peel in this detailed post.
2. Green Bean
Green bean is another very useful herb (or grain). Not only are they highly affordable, but they also offer a benefit that people need now more than ever, which is detoxification.
These days, much of the food we consume is contaminated by human activities (antibiotics, growth hormones, plastic, etc). Drinking green bean water regularly can help our bodies to detox and reduce the toxic materials in our bodies.
You can buy organic green beans from supermarkets or TCM retail shops.
3. Luo Han Guo (Monk Fruit)
Luo han guo (also commonly known as monk fruit) is a dried fruit that is an effective remedy for sore throat.
The best time to drink monk fruit water is when you feel like a sore throat is coming up (before the sore throat develops). Drink it once a day for two to three days consecutive days, and the sore throat can be prevented before it fully develops.
Some TCM retail shops sell ready-to-drink monk fruit herbal tea. Alternatively, check out our blog post here to learn how to prepare an effective monk fruit drink.
4. Chinese Yam
Chinese yam (also known as Shan yao, 山药) is a very potent herb that can help to strengthen the spleen.
Nowadays, a lot of people have weak spleen because of the foods we eat (highly processed, icy drinks, raw food, etc).
People with a weak spleen will experience poor digestion and may need to make more trips to the bathroom after consuming cold foods. Most importantly, the body will not be able to fully absorb the nutrients from the food we eat.
Read this post to learn what are the types of chinese yam and how to eat them effectively.
5. Chinese Barley
Chinese barley is an excellent grain for people living in tropical countries.
It can help to clear dampness (祛湿) in our bodies, as well as relieve water retention, especially in the lower part of the body (note that you will need to drink barley water regularly for a period of time before you can see the effects).
Read this post to learn how to prepare an effective barley drink.