Lily, Mung Bean & Barley Cooling Paste 百合绿豆薏仁消暑糊

《 Professional Interpretation & Dietary Applications of Lily Bulb 》

1. Nature, Taste, and Meridians

• Nature & Taste: Sweet, slightly cold
• Meridians Entered: Heart and Lung

Professional Interpretation 

• Its sweet flavour is tonifying, moistening and harmonising—providing nourishment and relieving dryness. The sweetness of lily bulb primarily enters the Heart and Lung meridians, where it nourishes Yin fluids, clears deficiency heat, and moistens without cloying. It clears without damaging the upright Qi, making it an excellent substance for “clearing and moistening the Upper Burner”. 
• Its slightly cold nature is its key characteristic, being clear, moistening and gently cooling. This enables it not only to nourish Yin and moisten dryness, but also to clear the Heart and calm the spirit. It is especially suitable for Yin deficiency with heat, or for residual heat following febrile disease. 

As recorded in Compendium of Materia Medica: 

“Lily bulb is sweet and slightly cold in nature. It tonifies the Middle Burner and benefits Qi, moistens the Lung and relieves cough, calms the Heart and the spirit. It is both medicinal and edible in excellence.” Its clear and moistening quality is particularly effective in balancing and protecting fluid in warm-dry conditions or with rich tonifying formulae.  

2. CoreConcepts inTraditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) 

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the core value of lily bulb lies in “clearing the Heart and moistening the Lung” and “calming the spirit while stabilizing the corporeal soul.” 

• Clearing the Heart and Moistening the Lung:The Lung is a delicate organ that prefers moisture and dislikes dryness; the Heart is the sovereign organ, housing the spirit. Lily bulb, being white in colour, enters the Lung, with a sweet flavour entering the Spleen and a moist, slightly cold nature entering the Heart. Its nourishing power primarily acts on the Lung and Heart. It can nourish Lung Yin, clears Lung heat, and stop cough, making it essential for treating Yin-deficiency dryness with cough or chronic cough with blood-streaked sputum. At the same time, it clears Heart heat, relieves irritability, and calms the spirit. It is particularly effective for restlessness, insomnia, and vivid dreams caused by deficiency heat disturbing the Heart.
• Calming the Spirit and Stabilizing the Corporeal Soul: 
  1. Moistens the Lung and Stops Cough: Lily bulb directly nourishes Lung Yin and clears deficiency fire. It is effective for autumnal dryness-induced cough, tubercular cough, or chronic bronchitis with dry, non-productive cough, providing moistening and cough-relieving benefits.  
  2. Clears the Heart and Calms the Spirit: Its slightly cold nature clears Heart Yin deficiency heat, while its sweet, moist quality nourishes Heart Yin. It can help with post-febrile residual heat causing mental confusion, low mood (as described in TCM as “Bai He disease”), as well as modern conditions such as anxiety, insomnia, and menopausal syndrome.  
  3. Nourishes the Stomach and Generates Fluids: By moistening the Lung, it supports the mutual relationship between Metal (Lung) and Water (Kidney), indirectly helping to nourish Stomach Yin. It may assist in relieving symptoms such as dry mouth, red tongue with scanty fluids, and thirst due to Stomach Yin deficiency. 

“Heart and Lung Reside Together in the Upper Burner”: Lily bulb’s cooling and moistening action focuses on the Upper Burner. It addresses both the branch (symptoms) and the root causes (underlying deficiency). For conditions caused by Yin-deficient Lung dryness or floating Heart fire, lily bulb simultaneously nourishes Lung Yin and calms the Heart, achieving balance and stability in the Upper Burner’s Qi and Yin. 

3. Supporting Evidence from Modern Nutritional Science

Modern nutritional analysis indicates that the traditional functions of lily bulb are closely associated with its unique nutritional components: 

• Lily Polysaccharides and Saponins: Lily bulb is rich in bioactive polysaccharides (such as lily polysaccharides) and steroidal saponins (such as lily saponins). Studies shows that lily polysaccharides exhibit significant antioxidants, anti-fatigue, and immune-regulating activities, help neutralizing free radicals and enhancing body’s resistance. This provides a scientific basis for the TCM concepts of “tonifying deficiency” and “benefiting Qi.” Saponins have been shown to possess antitussive (cough-suppressing), expectorant (phlegm-resolving), and mild sedative effects. These physiological actions directly correspond to the traditional functions of “moistening the Lung to stop cough” and “clearing the Heart to calm the spirit.” 
• Colchicine: The lily bulb contains trace amounts of colchicine, which has anti-inflammatory properties and can inhibit the release of inflammatory mediators. This partially explains lily bulb’s traditional use in relieving heat or dryness patterns, which can be understood as a micro-inflammatory state.It should be noted that edible lily bulb contains only minute amounts, making it generally safe; medicinal doses should follow professional guidance.​ 
• Alkaloids and Phenolic Compounds: Lily bulb contains various alkaloids and phenolic antioxidant compounds. These substances may exert regulatory effects on the central nervous system, helping to ease emotional tension and improve sleep quality. From a neurochemical standpoint, this supports its traditional role in calming the spirit and stabilizing mental activity. 
• Starch, Protein, and Trace Minerals: Lily bulb provides high-quality starch, small amounts of protein, and essential trace elements such as phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, iron, and zinc. Its fine starch is easily digested, providing stable energy. Trace minerals participate in enzymatic reactions and neurotransmitter synthesis, supporting nervous system stability and immune function. 
• 【Key Additional Point】Low Fat and High Potassium Content: Lily bulb is very low in fat and is a good source of potassium, which supports fluid balance and helps maintain stable blood pressure. Its overall nutritional profile—low-calorie, high in water content, and rich in bioactive compounds—aligns well with the TCM characteristics of being “clearing and moistening” and “light tonification.”, making it an ideal food for individuals with Yin deficiency with heat or those requiring gentle, supportive nourishment. 

4. Summary of Core Effects

• Nourishes Yin and Moistens the Lung: Addresses Yin-deficiency dryness with cough, chronic cough with blood-streaked sputum, and dry or sore throat.
• Clears the Heart and Calms the Spirit: Addresses vexation, palpitations due to deficiency, insomnia with restless dreams, and mental confusion. 
• Nourishes the Stomach and Generates Fluids: Addresses dry mouth and red tongue with scanty fluids caused by Stomach Yin deficiency. 
• Beautifies and Moistens the Skin: As the Lung governs the skin and body hair, nourishing Lung Yin helps improve dryness and maintain healthy skin. 

5. TraditionalDietary Recipes with Modern Adaptation 

【Clears Heat & Relieves Summer Heat】 

Lily, Mung Bean & Barley Cooling Paste

This formula is especially suitable for the year-round summer climate of Malaysia. When internal damp-heat is present, this “clearing” remedy, combining lily bulb to moisten the lung, Mung Bean to clear Heat, and Barley to drain dampness, helps rapidly relieve summer heat, generate fluids to quench thirst, and prevent heat from damaging body fluids.  

Core Effects 

Clears heat and detoxifies, relieves summer heat, drains dampness, generates fluids, and reduces irritability. 

Best Suited 

• Thirst and irritability during hot weather 
• Scanty, dark-coloured urine 
• Prone to prickly heat or small skin eruptions 
• Bitter taste in the mouth or sticky sensation due to internal damp-heat accumulation 

Ingredients (1-2 servings) 

1. Lily Bulb (Fresh preferred): 30 gm (or dried 15 g) 
   • Nature & Meridians: Sweet, slightly cold; enters the Heart and Lung meridians 
   • Benefits: Nourishes Yin, moistens the Lung, clears the Heart, calms the spirit 
2. Mung Bean: 20 gm 
   • Nature & Meridians: Sweet, cold; enters the Heart and Stomach meridians 
   • Benefits: Clears heat and detoxifies, relieves summer heat, promotes urination 
3. Barley: 15 gm 
   • Nature & Meridians: Sweet, bland, cool; enters the Spleen, Stomach, and Lung meridians 
   • Benefits: Promotes urination and drains dampness, strengthens the Spleen, stops diarrhea, clears heat, and resolves pus 
4. Fresh Mint Leaves: 3–4 leaves (or dried mint 2 gm) 
   • Nature & Meridians: Pungent, cool; enters the Lung and Liver meridians 
   • Benefits: Disperses wind-heat, clears the head and eyes, benefits the throat, relieving skin eruptions, adds refreshing flavour.  
5. Filtered Water: 450 ml 

Preparation 

1. Rinse mung beans and barley thoroughly. 
2. Place all the ingredients into the iTAZZO i-Processor. 
3. Add 450 ml of filtered water. 
4. Blend at Speed 8 for 15 minutes. 
5. May be consumed warm or cooled. 

Consumption Tips and Precautions 

• Best Drink: Early afternoon (1–3 PM, when the Small Intestine meridian is active) or after outdoor activities. This is when Yang energy peaks, making it an ideal time to relieve summer heat. 
• Frequency: 2–3 times per week during hot weather. Individuals with cold-sensitive constitutions should limit intake. 
• ​Important Reminders 
  1. This formula is cooling in nature. Use with caution in those with Spleen-Stomach deficiency-cold, loose stools, pregnant women, and menstruating women.  
  2. The mung bean skins is effective in clearing heat; no need to peel before blending.  
  3. Can be chilled as a healthy summer cooling paste but avoid over-icing to prevent gastrointestinal discomfort.