In summer, many people start preparing some heat-relieving tea drinks. Some prepare tea to relieve the heat. Drinking tea has both benefits and taboos; only by adopting correct tea-drinking methods can it be beneficial to health, otherwise, it may affect physical well-being. Traditional Chinese Medicine experts explain what to pay attention to when drinking tea and what teas are good to drink in summer.

So, what teas are good for relieving summer heat?

1. Lotus Root Tea: Mix a bowl of lotus root powder with a bowl of water in a pot, stirring continuously. Once well mixed, add an appropriate amount of rock sugar and drink as tea. It helps nourish the heart and calm the mind.

2. Rose Tea: Steep dried rose buds in boiling water. It has a good effect of relieving depression with its pleasant fragrance.

3. Longan and Lily Tea: Longan meat combined with lily is ideal to drink after noon. It has calming and nerve-soothing effects.

4. Longan Tea: Longan meat nourishes the heart and spleen, enriches blood, and calms the mind. It can prevent and treat insomnia, poor memory, neurasthenia, etc.

5. Honey Tea: Dilute with warm or cool water below 40°C before consuming.

Precautions for Drinking Tea to Relieve Summer Heat

Precaution 1: Avoid Strong Tea

Tea generally stays in the human body for about 3 hours, while strong tea remains longer. This causes theophylline to accumulate excessively in the body, leading to nerve dysfunction. Due to the action of tannic acid in tea leaves, the secretion function of the intestinal mucosa may decrease, causing constipation. The recommended daily amount of tea is 5~10 grams, divided into two brews.

Precaution 2: Avoid Drinking Tea on an Empty Stomach

An ancient saying goes, "A cup of tea in the morning is worse than a robber entering a poor house," meaning it is not advisable to drink tea on an empty stomach in the morning. Drinking tea on an empty stomach dilutes gastric juice, reduces stomach acid function, hinders digestion, affects protein absorption, and can easily cause gastritis.

Precaution 3: Avoid Drinking Overnight Tea

Tea that has been left for too long not only loses nutrients like vitamins but also easily spoils. Moreover, the tannic acid in tea can become a highly irritating oxide, which may harm the spleen and stomach, especially in summer, leading to gastrointestinal inflammation.

Precaution 4: Avoid Drinking Tea Before Bed

It is best not to drink tea two hours before bedtime, as it can overstimulate the mind, affecting sleep and even causing insomnia. For the elderly, drinking tea before bed can lead to palpitations, frequent urination, and further disrupt sleep. If insomnia is caused by drinking tea, even medication may not help.