Every Chinese person remembers from an early age that family and friends would always admonish them when they were unwell or ill: "Drink more hot water!" (duō hē rè shuǐ) If you are new to China, why not try this phrase out with your Chinese friends? You'll find that you'll magically unlock a secret code in their hearts that will instantly bring you closer together! They might even praise you: "Wow, you've even learnt that!" This Chinese way of expressing care has become a common understanding among people.
Drinking hot water is not just a nice gesture, but a practice that has been tried and tested throughout history and culture for thousands of years. As the saying goes: "The best ideas are often the simplest."
Archaeologists have found water residues in tombs from the Bronze Age 3,000 years ago. King Wu Ding from the Shang Dynasty had shamans repeatedly boil mountain spring water in bronze cauldrons to treat his beloved wife's "cold syndrome". This may have been the earliest form of "hot water therapy" in China. The "Rites of Zhou" state that there were officials at the court of the Zhou dynasty who were responsible for the hot water supply and had a status comparable to that of today's Minister of Health.
In 1934, young students in Zhongshan suits stood on the streets of Nanchang with banners in favour of the "Movement for a New Life" and declared the slogan "Drink boiled water to prevent disease" from door to door. This hygiene campaign, which was printed in school textbooks from the Republic of China era, developed into a nationwide movement during the Patriotic Health Campaign in 1952. At that time, every workplace had a boiler room with red thermos flasks labelled "Caution: Hot!".
Today's intelligent water dispensers on high-speed trains are the technological evolution of this collective memory.
In Chinese culture, drinking hot water is more than just a daily habit; it is considered a panacea for various situations. Starting the day with warm water on an empty stomach can awaken the body, activate organ functions, promote gastrointestinal movement, eliminate metabolic waste and make the skin glow. When you have a cold, parents or friends often advise: "Drink more hot water" as it soothes a sore throat, stimulates sweating to drive out the cold and speeds up recovery. Hot water can also relax the stomach muscles and relieve flatulence or bloating.
Relieve digestive complaints. In the transitional period, when the body is prone to fatigue or reduced immune defences, drinking hot water can improve physical fitness and prevent illness. For women, drinking more hot water during menstruation can relieve abdominal discomfort, improve circulation and reduce menstrual cramps.
Interestingly, in Switzerland, cheese fondue is often drunk with a cup of hot tea due to its rich and hard-to-digest nature. The hot tea aids digestion and prevents the food from remaining in the stomach for too long. This corresponds to the Chinese wisdom of drinking hot water to stimulate digestion.
At the Chinese medical clinic Hu Qing Yu Tang in Hangzhou, 78-year-old Dr Li feels the pulse of a German exchange student: "You Westerners concentrate on the intake of vitamins, we Easterners believe in the balance of yin and yang." He points to the clinic's drinking guide for the 24 seasons of the sun: At the beginning of spring, drink jasmine tea to strengthen yang energy; during the greatest heat, drink chrysanthemum tea to purify the heart and reduce heat; and at the winter solstice, drink boiled red dates and longan tea to warm and nourish yang energy. This wisdom of combining hot water with the rhythms of nature amazes Swiss nutritionists: "The Chinese have integrated the seasonal philosophy of agrarian civilisation into their DNA by drinking water." Traditional Chinese medicine emphasises "health maintenance in everyday life", and drinking hot water embodies this concept: maintaining health through small, consistent measures rather than relying on external medical interventions.
The Chinese health philosophy goes beyond drinking hot water and emphasises the importance of living in harmony with nature and leading a balanced life. This includes nourishing soups that are adapted to the different seasons, foot baths with hot water to help you sleep better and relax your body, and herbal wraps to soothe sore muscles or improve circulation.
Drinking more hot water may sound simple, but it is full of health philosophy and wisdom and shows how important physical health and daily care are in Chinese culture. From history and traditional Chinese medicine to practical applications and modern scientific findings, drinking hot water is an important part of Chinese health philosophy.
