Most people never think about being thirsty.  However, your level of thirst can offer up a lot of clues to your health if you know what to look for.

If you’ve ever been to an acupuncturist, you may be surprised to have them ask you whether or not you’re thirsty, and what you like to drink.  In fact, when asked, many people have to stop and think about how to answer.

I have found however, that those people who are really thirsty won’t need to think about it.  In fact, they look at me like I’m brilliant for knowing how thirsty they are.  I have had a few patients who are so parched that they constantly chew ice chips or eat unthawed frozen vegetables to try to quench their constant thirst.

In Chinese medicine, being thirsty all the time, especially for cold drinks, is an indication of internal heat.  That heat can come from inflammation, infection, fever, a blockage, or deficient Yin (the moistening, cooling aspect of your body).  Other signs that you have heat may include restlessness, irritability, constipation, insomnia, and a rapid pulse.

The temperature of what you choose to drink can also tell a little bit about your internal landscape.  While craving ice cold drinks is a sign of heat, wanting to drink hot tea or soup can be a sign that you are cold internally, and crave warm drinks as a way to warm up.  Someone suffering from hypothyroidism, a metabolic disorder, is an example of internal cold, in which sufferers constantly feel chilled and struggle to warm up.

People who drink coffee in the morning aren’t necessarily cold and needing to warm up.  They are, however, drinking coffee as a way to get their energy moving, which coffee does well. 

People who drink liquids that are room temperature tend to be a fairly even temperature.  If you think of your body as being pretty comfortable at room temperature, then drinking fluids that are a similar temperature means you’re not trying to warm up or cool off.

Occasionally, I will see a patient who is thirsty, but has no desire to drink.  What?  While this seems like a contradiction, it makes sense in Chinese medicine.  Those people have internal heat which makes them thirsty, but they also have something called dampness, which puts them off drinking.  Dampness is the result of poor water metabolism in your body in which fluids tend to pool.  Edema, loose stools, yeast infections, obesity and a heavy feeling are all signs of dampness.

When we think about Chinese medicine, most of us immediately think of acupuncture, however, the use of herbs in healing is a cornerstone of Chinese medicine, too.  The theory behind herbal medicine is that each herb exerts several different effects on the body through its inherent temperature, actions, and the organ(s) that it affects.  

Like herbs, foods also have healing properties. However, some foods have stronger actions on the body and are in fact considered herbs as well as foods.   Among them:

Ginger is best known for its ability to settle an upset stomach.  Also considered a very warm herb, ginger can be combined with scallions in broth to fight off the early stages of a cold.

Walnuts have been getting the thumbs up lately as a good source of Omega 3 fatty acids.  However, walnuts are also used in Chinese herbal formulas and in food therapy to moisten the intestines and relieve constipation.  Walnuts are also considered a good tonic for the Chinese Kidney – think longevity.

Watermelon is a food you often crave on a hot, humid day, and for good reason.  Watermelon is cooling and moistening, and is used in Chinese medicine for a condition called Summerheat, which is that blah nauseous feeling you get when it’s really hot and sticky out.

Mung beans are also good for Summerheat.  Boil the mung beans until they are soft and drink the water they were cooked in.  If that sounds gross, just add a little broth, seasoning and some vegetables, and make it into a soup.

Cinnamon is warm and gets your energy moving.  It’s good if you have a cold with lots of aches and pains.

Scallions are also warming and dispersing (moving).  They are most commonly used in the early stages of a cold boiled with ginger.  Drink the broth and go to bed – these herbs are used to cause a mild sweat, which can diffuse a cold before it gets too severe.

Hawthorne fruit can be found in Asian markets, as a supplement, or as a sour candy called Hawflakes.  Hawthorne is good for something called food stagnation in Chinese medicine, which is similar to indigestionGarlic is known to kill parasites.  It’s used as a flu preventative in Chinese medicine, as well as for food toxicity (food poisoning), with symptoms such as diarrhea and dysentery.

Chinese dates are great to tonify the Chinese Spleen.  Signs of a Spleen weakness include shortness of breath, fatigue, poor appetite, lack of energy.  Chinese dates can also be found in Asian markets and some health food stores.  They can be eaten alone or added to salads and other dishes.

In the last couple of years, Goji berries have gotten a lot of attention as a food for health and longevity.  Also known as Chinese Wolfberries, Goji berries are red, sweet and sour, and can be eaten or added to foods like raisins.  In Chinese herbal medicine Goji berries are used for eye problems like blurred vision and diminished eyesight due to aging.  Eating Goji berries for longevity wouldn’t be wrong, as they also benefit the Chinese Kidneys, which are associated with aging.