Tiger Milk Mushroom for Cough: 3 Summer Health Tips
Are you struggling with coughs and summer discomforts? How tiger milk mushroom for cough, a natural remedy, can help you breathe easier and stay healthy during the hottest days.
The tiger milk mushroom (Lignosus rhinocerus) is a cherished natural remedy in households across Chaozhou-Shantou, Min Nan, and Southeast Asia. It is particularly effective in treating persistent coughs and whooping cough in children, often simmered with Fritillaria cirrhosa as a tonic to restore vitality after illness. Additionally, it alleviates sore throats, clears the lungs, and moistens dryness, providing relief like a refreshing drink.
Scientific research has validated the biological basis of the Tiger milk mushroom’s traditional efficacy: clinical data from the National University of Singapore shows that its cough-suppressing efficacy exceeds 87%. Furthermore, the polysaccharides and triterpenoid compounds in the Tiger milk mushroom can activate macrophage function, enhance immune defense capabilities; they can also significantly inhibit the release of respiratory inflammatory factors, effectively alleviating pathological changes such as bronchial mucosal edema, providing a triple protective mechanism for the respiratory tract.
The start of the Dog Days of Summer marks the arrival of the hottest period of the year. During this time, the body’s yang energy is at its peak, but the damp-heat pathogens are also more likely to invade, leading to physical discomfort. After the Dog Days begin, “sauna-like weather” becomes the norm, and even a moment’s inattention can result in being affected by the heat and humidity, causing symptoms such as fatigue, loss of appetite, and poor mental state.
Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes “nourishing yang in spring and summer,” and the Dog Days of Summer are the golden period for regulating the body. Hainan tiger milk mushroom, as a precious food and medicine, has unique advantages in dispelling summer heat, removing dampness, and nourishing the body. Keep this practical guide handy!
Why should one eat Hainan tiger milk mushroom during the three dog days of summer?
According to traditional almanacs, “the three dog days of summer begin on the third Geng day after the summer solstice.” The term “dog days” signifies that yin energy is suppressed by yang energy and hides underground; it also indicates that the weather is hot, and it is advisable to stay still rather than move around.
The three dog days of summer in 2025 will last a total of 30 days, with the specific dates as follows:
Initial Dog Days: July 20–July 29
Middle Dog Days: July 30–August 8
Final Dog Days: August 9–August 18
The Huangdi Neijing emphasizes “nourishing yang in spring and summer.” During the Dog Days, yang energy is at its peak, but so is dampness. Therefore, health preservation during this period should balance “dispelling summer dampness” with “protecting yang energy.” Hainan tiger milk mushroom has a mild and balanced nature, capable of both strengthening the spleen and dispelling dampness, as well as tonifying qi and nourishing deficiency. It is highly suited to the “combination of clearing and tonifying” required during the Three Fiery Months, particularly for those affected by summer dampness or with weakened immunity. As a precious traditional Chinese herbal medicine, Hainan tiger milk mushroom possesses unique pharmacological effects and demonstrates significant efficacy in summer health preservation.
The Versatile Health Benefits of Hainan Tiger Milk Mushroom During the Dog Days of Summer
1. Convenient Usage
Hainan Tiger Milk Mushroom + Ginger
Benefits: Warms the body, removes dampness, and relieves fatigue. Suitable for people who feel cold or have a stuffy nose after using air conditioning.
Preparation: Take 15 grams of Hainan tiger milk mushroom, slice it, add 3 slices of ginger, steep in boiling water for 15 minutes, and drink as tea.
Hainan Tiger Milk Mushroom + Luo Han Guo
Benefits: Luo Han Guo promotes saliva production and quenches thirst. When combined with tiger milk mushroom, it becomes an ideal summer drink for cooling off, especially for outdoor workers or those needing hydration after exercise.
Preparation: Take 15 grams of sliced Hainan tiger milk mushroom, 20 grams of Luo Han Guo, and a suitable amount of rock sugar (omit rock sugar for those with high blood sugar). Soak the Luo Han Guo until softened, then boil it with the tiger milk mushroom. Add rock sugar and dissolve.
Hainan Tiger Milk Mushroom + Coconut
Benefits: The natural sweetness of coconut water complements the tiger milk mushroom, refreshing the mind and moistening the lungs, making it an excellent choice for preventing summer throat discomfort.
Preparation: Take 15 grams of sliced Hainan tiger milk mushroom, 1 coconut, and a small amount of rock sugar. Boil the coconut meat, coconut water, tiger milk mushroom powder, and rock sugar together for 10 minutes.
Hainan tiger milk mushroom + honey (lemon)
Benefits: This tea refreshes the mind and is an ideal health drink for those working during the hottest days of summer.
Preparation: Take 15 grams of sliced Hainan tiger milk mushroom and steep in boiling water for 20 minutes. It can be steeped multiple times throughout the day. Add a small amount of honey or lemon slices to taste.
2. Advanced Medicinal Dishes
Hainan Tiger Milk Mushroom + Snow Ear and Goji Berries
Benefits: Antioxidant, skin repair, especially suitable for women’s beauty care during the hottest days of summer.
Preparation: Take 20 grams of tiger milk mushroom slices, 20 grams of snow ear, 20 grams of goji berries, and an appropriate amount of rock sugar. Soak the snow ear and goji berries, then stew them together with the tiger milk mushroom powder and rock sugar.
Hainan Tiger Milk Mushroom + Winter Melon and Job’s Tears
Benefits: Winter melon promotes diuresis and reduces swelling, while Job’s tears and mung beans strengthen the spleen and remove dampness. When combined with tiger milk mushroom in a soup, it has the effects of clearing summer heat, promoting diuresis, strengthening the spleen, and tonifying qi. It is suitable for those with summer dampness obstruction, loose stools, and a thick, greasy tongue coating.
Preparation: Take 20g of sliced tiger milk mushroom, 500g of winter melon, 30g of coix seeds, 30g of mung beans, 2 lotus pods, and 500g of pork spine. Slice the tiger milk mushroom, wash all ingredients, place them in a pot, add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for 2-3 hours. Season with salt and serve.
Hainan tiger milk mushroom + astragalus and ophiopogon
Benefits: Clears summer heat and dampness, tonifies qi and nourishes yin, enhances immunity and disease resistance, and helps the body cope with the summer heat and dampness of the Three Dog Days.
Preparation: Take 20g of sliced tiger milk mushroom, 30g of astragalus, 20g of ophiopogon, 15g of bamboo leaves, 30g of white Thatch grass root, 100g of watermelon rind, 3 honey dates, and 200g of lean pork. Slice the tiger milk mushroom and wash all ingredients thoroughly. Place them in a pot, add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for 2–3 hours. Season with salt and serve.
Hainan Tiger Milk Mushroom + Agastache and Poria
Benefits: Clears summer heat, transforms dampness, strengthens the spleen, and promotes appetite. Suitable for those experiencing abdominal distension, thick, greasy tongue coating, and poor appetite during the summer.
Preparation: Take 20g of tiger milk mushroom (sliced), 5g of agastache, 15g of poria, 20g of fried mung beans, and 300g of lean pork. Wash all ingredients, blanch the pork, then place the tiger milk mushroom and pork in a clay pot. Add water, bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for 2 hours. Season with salt to taste.
Hainan Tiger Milk Mushroom + Lily and Snow Pear
Benefits: Clears heat, moistens the lungs, generates body fluids, and quenches thirst. Relieves dryness and cough caused by summer heat.
Preparation: Take 20g of sliced tiger milk mushroom, 20g of dried lily, 1 snow pear, 2 honey dates, and 500g of pork spine. Soak the tiger milk mushroom for 30 minutes, peel and dice the snow pear, blanch the spine, then add all ingredients to a pot with water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for 1.5 hours. Add a small amount of rock sugar to taste.
Health Tips for the Dog Days of Summer
The dog days of summer are an important time for health and wellness. As a natural health treasure, Hainan tiger milk mushroom offers a variety of health benefits during this season. Whether consumed daily, paired with dried tangerine peel for health benefits, added to soups, used in sachets, or added to foot baths, it can bring many benefits to the body. We hope everyone can make good use of Hainan tiger milk mushroom to maintain health and wellness during the dog days of summer and enjoy a healthy, cool summer.
Important Note: Tiger Milk Mushroom is a natural tonic that promotes gradual health improvement rather than quick results. For chronic coughs, consistent consumption is recommended; for acute conditions, please seek medical attention promptly. High-quality Tiger Milk Mushroom has a firm texture, a rich fungal aroma, and a cross-section with gray-brown patterns. Avoid purchasing “bleached” products. Those with allergies should proceed with caution; first-time users are advised to start with a reduced dose, and children should use half the recommended amount.
