17/09/2026
Ten TCM Tips To Beat The Haze
In view of the current hazy situation, here are ten Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) tips to protect yourself from the haze and to help prevent and relieve symptoms such as excessive thirst, sore throat, and eye irritation.
1. Take Warm Cooked and Lighter Meals
Avoid taking spicy, fried, and greasy foods which may aggravate the throat. Opt for lighter options instead such as porridge, or soupy and steamed dishes. Without a doubt, avoiding the outdoors and drinking plenty of water is key during this hazy season.
2. Make soothing herbal teas
Xia sang ju, a common pre-mixed herbal formula that you can get from Chinese medicine halls. Or make your own with:
3g to 5g dried prunella vulgaris (aka xia ku cao)
3g to 5g dried mulberry leaves
3 to 5 dried chrysanthemums
This tea eases eye dryness and redness, said Hoe. Drink it warm.
3. Drink Snow Fungus Soup
Ingredients:
1 dried white fungus (snow fungus / silver ear fungus)
1/3 cup dried lotus seeds
2 tbsp goji berries
2–3 chunks of rock sugar (to taste)
6–8 cups water
Instructions:
Soak the ingredients: Soak the dried white fungus in warm water for 15 minutes until soft and plump. Soak the lotus seeds in warm water for 10 minutes.
Trim the fungus: Cut off and discard the hard yellow or dark orange base stem of the rehydrated white fungus. Tear or chop the rest into small, bite-sized pieces.
Simmer the base: Drain the fungus and lotus seeds. Place them in a large pot with 6 to 8 cups of water along with the red dates. Bring to a boil over high heat.
Low and slow: Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot with a lid, and let it simmer gently for about 45 to 60 minutes.
Tip: Simmering longer breaks down the collagen in the fungus, making the soup slightly thick and gelatinous. Add sweetness and goji berries: Drop in the rock sugar and goji berries. Stir until the sugar completely dissolves, simmer for 5 more minutes, and serve warm (or chilled).
It helps to promote brain function and boost the immune system while assisting in digestive health.
4. Cook nutritious soups (for example: Sweet Corn Soup)
According to a study by researchers from Cornell University, cooked sweet corn releases a significant amount of ferulic acid, which is an anti-oxidant that helps battle against cancer.
Here’s an easy recipe for Sweet Corn Soup:
Cut two corn cobs and two carrots, rinse and drain
Clean two chicken thighs, trimming the excess fat
Parboil the chicken pieces
Boil about 1.5 to 2 litres of water in a pot
Add corn, carrots, chicken pieces and ginger into the pot and bring back to a boil and cook for about 20 minutes
Lower heat and let simmer for about 2 hours
Bring to a boil again and add salt to taste
5. Take Herbal Jelly
Taking Herbal Jelly (Guilinggao) not only is nutritious, but also helps to reduce heatiness.
6. Take Herbal Bath Therapy
Herbal baths use warm water and the effects of herbs to facilitate toxin elimination, relax muscles, and reduce fatigue.
7. Practice Deep Breathing Exercises
Practicing deep breathing helps increase oxygen supply, promote metabolism, and detoxify the body. Performing deep breathing exercises several times a day, with the abdomen expanding during inhalation and contracting during exhalation, can improve lung function.
8. DIY Self Acupressure
When haze irritates the head, eyes, nose, or throat, named self-press points can ease short-term discomfort between visits. Soft pressure, clean hands, and clear stop cues.
Pressing softly on the following 4 acupoints targets four common irritations: headache with He Gu (LI4) for one to two minutes each side; eye, eyebrow and temples' discomfort with Zan Zhu (UB2) and Tai Yang (EX-HN5); runny nose with Ying Xiang (LI20)
9. Limit outdoor time when the eyes, nose, or throat already sting. Cover the nose and neck when you step from hazy outdoor air into cold office air-con.
10. Sleep Early (deep sleep by 11pm)
Quality rest rebuilds your Zheng Qi (body's natural defense against external toxins).
If any of the above tips do not help to ease your haze related symptoms, it is good to seek hep from a certified TCM physician to help treat the root cause, providing a targeted and holistic care and speed up your recovery from the haze.
If you or your loved ones have any haze related symptoms such as dry or water eyes, itchy scratchy throat, dry cough or cough with phlegm, breathlessness, blocked nose, headache, light-headedness, please don't hesitate to whatsapp us @ 91900257 for more enquires and to book an appointment or visit our website to book your appointment today! https://joytcmclinic.sg/booking
