Huoxiang Zhengqi Water isn’t just a lifesaver for relieving summer heat—it can also come in handy for these six common ailments! Today, let’s talk about the hidden uses of this "old-school remedy," from internal consumption to topical application, ensuring you understand exactly how to use it.

First up is its number one talent—expelling dampness. If you often feel your body is heavy, like wearing a damp cotton-padded jacket, wake up with puffy eyelids in the morning, have no appetite for food, or experience sticky stools that don’t flush clean from the toilet, these are classic signs of excessive dampness. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) emphasizes that "the spleen governs transportation and transformation." The agastache rugosa and atractylodes macrocephala in Huoxiang Zhengqi Water act like a dehumidifier installed in your spleen and stomach, first blocking dampness to prevent its formation. The duo of aged tangerine peel and pinellia ternata are specifically responsible for clearing away the existing dampness and turbidity, much like using a broom to sweep away water stains in a room. Finally, magnolia officinalis bark and perilla leaf help relax the flow of qi, allowing the spleen and stomach to function more smoothly. After these four steps, the dampness naturally recedes on its own.

When you have a headache and feel feverish from too much air conditioning in summer, or suffer from body aches, nasal congestion, and runny nose after indulging in cold drinks, Huoxiang Zhengqi Shui is the perfect remedy. It acts like opening a window for your body, helping to expel the cold through your pores, making it particularly suitable for this type of "air-conditioning sickness" cold-dampness cold.

If you experience sudden stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting after eating chilled watermelon or ice cream, it's likely due to cold pathogenic factors "freezing" the stomach. In Huoxiang Zhengqi Shui, dried ginger and areca nut peel act like a warm towel wrapped around the stomach, dispersing the cold and restoring stomach qi flow, which naturally relieves the pain. Avoid drinking ice-cold water during this time—taking it with warm saline water is more effective.

Tinea pedis keeps recurring? Try soaking your feet in Huoxiang Zhengqi Shui mixed with warm water. From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, tinea pedis is caused by damp-heat descending downwards. The herbs in this formula—Agastache rugosa, Angelica dahurica, and Atractylodes lancea—act like three brooms, sweeping away the damp-heat at the soles of your feet, while also inhibiting fungal growth. Persist with foot soaks for two weeks, and you'll notice significant improvement in foot itching, peeling, and odor.

Elderly individuals with joints sensitive to cold, take note: apply Huoxiang Zhengqi Water to the Yongquan point on the soles of your feet, and gently massage until it feels warm. The skin on the soles is thin, rich in acupoints, and absorbs medication exceptionally quickly. The cassia twig and ginger in it can warm and unblock the meridians, acting like a small heating pad for the joints, offering adjunctive therapeutic effects for conditions like "old cold legs" and joint pain.

Finally, here's a little-known fact—Huoxiang Zhengqi Water can also help with vitiligo. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that this condition is caused by wind-dampness blocking the pores, leading to poor circulation of qi and blood. Soaking a cotton swab in the medicinal liquid and applying it to the affected area allows the volatile oils it contains to unclog pores and promote local blood circulation. However, it’s important to note that this can only be used as an adjunctive treatment; for severe cases, you still need to consult a doctor for a prescription.

However, three points should be kept in mind: first, don’t drink it before driving, as it contains alcohol; second, pregnant women and children should follow medical advice; third, when applying externally, test it on a small area first—those with allergies should be cautious. This old remedy, which costs only a dozen yuan, can solve a lot of trouble when used correctly. It’s recommended to keep two boxes at home, as they might come in handy someday.