If you visit China, you will immediately notice that the people of the Middle Kingdom drink a significant amount of hot water throughout the day. Despite the well-known stereotype about the importance of tea ceremonies in Chinese culture, boiling water occupies one of the first places in the Chinese food system. Why do Chinese people drink so much hot water?
Traditional reasons
Every Chinese is taught from childhood to drink boiling water, as this tradition dates back to the times when the imperial dynasties ruled in China. According to one of the popular legends, hot water saved one of the heirs from a terrible illness. After this incident, drinking hot water became widespread.
During the famine, Chinese peasants escaped death with boiling water, which, according to ancient healers, allowed the body to hold out for the maximum amount of time without eating. Drinking hot water is also firmly established in the life of Tibetan monks, confident in the healing power of the water element.
Medical reasons
From the point of view of traditional Chinese medicine, hot water is a source of life-giving energy and can heal many diseases. For a person with a European mindset, such a statement is difficult to understand. However, the Chinese themselves firmly believe that it is boiling water that can relieve many ailments.
To this day, Chinese doctors, in addition to medicines, recommend drinking hot water during illness. This is especially true for women, as water helps balance the energy balance during menstruation. Another curative function of water is to relieve any pain and remove mucus accumulated in the body.