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Registered Chinese Physician teaches you tips and diet for relieving heat
Article content: Ling Yaping Registered Chinese Medicine Physician | Christian United Nethersole Social Health Services
Pediatric heat relief
In hot summer, high-temperature weather occurs frequently. For children, due to their immature body function development, their ability to adapt to high-temperature weather is relatively weak, and they are easily affected by heat stress, resulting in thermoregulation disorders, and even heatstroke and other problems! During this period of time, many parents have asked their children what to do about heatstroke, and how to avoid the heat has become a concern for everyone.
“Suwen · Heat Theory” said: “The ones that precede the summer solstice are the disease of fever, and the ones that come after the summer solstice are the disease of heat.”
- Reasonably adjust the indoor temperature and humidity
In hot weather, parents should control the indoor temperature and humidity within an appropriate range. The temperature should not be too low. It should be controlled at 25-27°C. The relative humidity should be kept at about 50%. Air conditioners, fans or humidifiers can be used. Equipment assistance. But be careful not to let children blow directly to the air outlet, especially the head, shoulders, neck, chest and abdomen, so as not to cause colds, diarrhea and other problems. In addition, it is recommended to turn off the air conditioner and open the doors and windows after every 3-4 hours to increase indoor air circulation.
- Avoid prolonged activities outside
The daytime weather in Hong Kong has been extremely hot recently, with the average temperature exceeding 35°C and even reaching 38.5°C in some areas. To avoid heat stroke in children, the key is to try not to stay outside for a long time. If you need to carry out outdoor activities, the time should not be too long. You should take good sun protection and wear light-colored and breathable clothing to reduce body heat absorption and facilitate perspiration and heat dissipation. During the period, replenish water in time to prevent dehydration.
How to tell if a child has heat stroke?
➡️Your body feels very hot or your body temperature rises, but you sweat little or no sweat.
⚠️ Mild heat stroke: dizziness, headache, irritability, crying, skin and face redness, fever, mental fatigue, loss of appetite.
⚠️⚠️Moderate heat stroke: Symptoms such as sweating, burning skin, pale complexion, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue.
⚠️⚠️⚠️Severe heatstroke: body temperature over 38°C or even over 40°C, irritability, less urine output, poor skin elasticity, weak pulse, confusion, coma and other serious symptoms.
How to deal with heatstroke in children?
➡️ Cool down: Once a child is found to have symptoms of heat stroke, move to a cool and ventilated place as soon as possible, and quickly take cooling measures, such as gently wiping the forehead, neck, hands and feet with a wet towel or ice pack to lower the body temperature;
➡️ Replenishing water: Then give the child a small amount of warm water several times at the same time to replenish the water in the body;
➡️ Seek medical attention immediately: If symptoms are severe or persist, seek medical attention in time to avoid life-threatening.
In addition to the above methods for preventing and relieving heatstroke, parents can also cooperate with diet therapy to prevent heatstroke and dampness from harming the body. In daily life, the following three diets are recommended.
Three Recommended Diet Therapy
1️⃣Winter melon barley water
Ingredients: 500g of wax gourd, 60g of raw and cooked barley
Method: wash raw and cooked barley and soak in water for 15 minutes; wash and remove the core of winter melon, peel and cut into small pieces, and save the skin for later use; pour barley and winter melon skin into the pot, boil for 30 minutes on medium heat; remove the winter melon skin and add winter melon cubes , simmer on low-medium heat for 1 hour, add some rock sugar to taste, and drink at room temperature. Schedule 1-2 times a week.
⭕Function: clearing heat and relieving heat, invigorating spleen and stomach.
2️⃣ Mung bean drink
Ingredients: 60g mung bean, 12g reed root, 3g raw licorice, 1 piece of tangerine peel
Method: Wrap the reed root, licorice, and tangerine peel with gauze, add an appropriate amount of water and cook with mung beans for 1 hour.
⭕Function: clearing heat and relieving heat, invigorating spleen and stomach.
3️⃣Grass drink
Ingredients: 10g fenugreek, 5g Magnolia officinalis, 5g fried white lentils, or add some brown sugar.
Method: fry the white lentils and mash them, cut the fenugreek and magnolia officinalis into pieces, and brew the three in boiling water instead of tea. Schedule 1-2 times a week.
⭕Efficacy: invigorate the spleen and harmonize the middle, relieve summer heat and dampness, relieve exterior and dispel cold
🈲Precautions: Suitable for children over 3 years old.
Finally, I would like to remind all parents that if the child’s discomfort symptoms persist for several days, or even the related symptoms are more serious, then the parents must send the child to see a doctor in time to avoid delaying the illness.