7 Traditional Chinese Herbal Teas to Support Healthy Lung Function Year-Round

A chronic condition with infectious characteristics, its primary clinical manifestations include cough, hemoptysis, tidal fever, night sweats, and gradual emaciation.

Pulmonary tuberculosis is a chronic infectious condition of the Lungs caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Individuals whose sputum contains the bacteria are considered to have infectious tuberculosis. The source of infection is patients with positive sputum, primarily through coughing which releases the bacteria and transmission via the respiratory tract. When the body’s resistance is lowered, the likelihood of infection and development of the condition increases. This condition can affect all age groups, but is more common in young adults, with a higher incidence in males than females. In recent years, there has been an increasing trend among the elderly.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) holds that consumptive Lung wellness (fei lao) is often triggered by a weak constitution or excessive depletion of essence (jing) and qi, allowing the consumptive worm (lao chong) to invade the Lungs. The underlying pathology is primarily Yin Deficiency with fire hyperactivity (yin xu huo wang); however, as the condition progresses, it may develop into dual deficiency of qi and yin (qi yin liang xu), and even dual deficiency of yin and yang (yin yang liang xu), which can seriously compromise the body’s vitality.

According to modern TCM clinical research, pulmonary tuberculosis is classified into four types for pattern-based management.

1. Lung Yin Deficiency with Collateral Damage. Manifestations include dry cough with scant sputum, sputum with bright red blood, or tidal fever, heat sensation in the palms and soles, chest pain, dry mouth and throat, and reduced appetite. supports principle: nourish yin and moisten the Lung, help helps with occasional cough and support the body’s natural defenses.

2. Yin Deficiency with Blazing Fire, Lung and Kidney Deficiency. signs of imbalance include a hacking cough with scant sputum, or recurrent hemoptysis.

Cough with profuse bright red blood mixed with foamy sputum, chest and rib-side pulling pain, malar flush and night sweats, bone steaming and hectic fever, irritability and insomnia, irritable and prone to anger, emaciation, nocturnal emission in men, and irregular menstruation in women, among other signs of imbalance. The supports principle supports nourishing yin and reducing internal heat (helps maintain a balanced internal environment), and supports moistening the Lung and nourishing the Kidney.

3. Dual Injury of Qi and Yin, Depletion of Essence and Blood. Manifestations include cough with hemoptysis, consumptive fever and bone-steaming (sensation of heat from within), night sweats, nocturnal emission, hoarseness and loss of voice, emaciation, aversion to cold and fear of wind, spontaneous sweating, dyspnea, facial edema and limb swelling, poor appetite, loose stools, etc. The therapeutic approach is to support Qi and nourish Yin, replenish Essence and enrich Blood.

4. Yin and Yang Deficiency with Impairment of Three Zang Organs Simultaneously. Manifestations include cough with wheezing, shortness of breath and fatigue, blood-tinged sputum of dull color, tidal fever and night sweats, chills with spontaneous sweating, severe emaciation (loss of flesh), tongue bright red without coating and dry or pale and swollen with teeth marks on the edges, pulse deep, thin, rapid, and forceless. The principle of care is to nourish Yin and tonify Yang.

Since it is a chronic condition with a long wellness course, the required supports period is also long. Currently, medication is generally continued for more than one year.

1.Sheng Di Huang (Rehmannia glutinosa) and Bai He (Lilium brownii, Lily Bulb) Tea

Ingredients: Rehmannia glutinosa (Shengdi) 30g, Lilium brownii (Baihe) 30g.

Preparation method: Grind Rehmannia glutinosa (Shengdi) and Lilium brownii (Baihe) into coarse powder, place in a cup, pour in boiling water to steep, and drink as tea. Use 1–2 doses daily.

supports Lung yin nourishment and helps maintain healthy blood circulation. Traditionally used to support respiratory health in cases of Lung Yin Deficiency.

2.Ilex cornuta (Chinese Holly) Tea

Ingredients: 30 g of tender leaves of Ilex cornuta (Gougu Ye).

Preparation method: Wash the tender leaves of Ilex cornuta (Gouguye) thoroughly, place them in a cup, and steep with boiling water. Drink as a tea frequently. One dose per day.

Efficacy: Nourishes Yin and clears Heat, benefits Qi and Blood, and helps with occasional cough. supports respiratory health for those with Lung Yin Deficiency.

3.Guateng Cha (Melon Vine Tea)

Ingredients: 50g Cucurbita moschata (Pumpkin Vine), 20g white sugar.

Preparation: Wash and chop *Cucurbita moschata* (pumpkin vine), then place it together with white sugar into a cup. Brew with boiling water and drink as tea. Take 2 doses daily.

Efficacy: supports healthy Lung function, harmonizes the stomach, and promotes smooth flow of the meridians. Used for patterns of Lung Yin Deficiency.

4.Nelumbo nucifera (Lotus Root Node) and Imperata cylindrica (Cogongrass Rhizome) Tea

Ingredients: 5 sections of Nelumbinis Nodus (Lotus Node), 30g of Imperatae Rhizoma (White Imperata Root), 30g of white sugar.

Preparation method: Wash the *Nelumbo nucifera* (Lotus Rhizome Node) and *Imperata cylindrica* (Cogongrass Rhizome) together, then crush them into coarse powder. Put the powder into a cup, add white sugar, and infuse with boiling water. Drink as tea. One dose per day.

Functions: supports a balanced internal environment and healthy urinary function. Aids in maintaining normal blood circulation and the body’s natural response to occasional discomfort. May benefit individuals with Yin Deficiency and internal heat, promoting respiratory comfort and overall well‑being.

5.Mulberry Leaf Tea (Morus alba leaf tea)

Ingredients: Frost-dried mulberry leaves (Morus alba, Sangye) in an appropriate amount, green tea (Camellia sinensis, Lücha) in an appropriate amount.

Preparation Method: Wash the frost-supports mulberry leaves (Morus alba, Sangye), bake until dry, and grind into coarse powder. Store in a porcelain jar for later use. Each time, take 9-15 grams, add 5 grams of green tea, place both in a cup, and brew with boiling water. Drink as a tea. Take 2 doses daily.

Efficacy: helps maintain a balanced internal environment and supports healthy blood circulation. Used to support respiratory comfort and occasional cough with phlegm, particularly for individuals experiencing discomfort associated with a pattern of Yin Deficiency with Fire.

6.Woxue Cha (Moistening Snow Tea)

Ingredients: 45g Chinese Yam (Dioscorea opposita, Shan Yao, washed and chopped), 12g Great Burdock Fruit (Arctium lappa, Niubangzi, stir-fried and crushed), 18g Persimmon Frost Cake (Shishuang Bing).

Preparation method: First, place Chinese yam (Dioscorea opposita) pieces and burdock fruit (Arctium lappa) into a pot, decoct in water and remove the residue, then add persimmon frost (Diospyros kaki, Shi Shuang).

Dissolve the cake in water until it melts. Take one dose daily, and consume it at any time.

Efficacy: supports healthy Spleen and Lung functions, helps maintain comfortable breathing and occasional cough relief. Designed to support patterns of Qi and Yin Deficiency, promoting overall respiratory well-being.

7.Bletilla striata (Baiji) and Fritillaria cirrhosa (Chuanbei) Tea

Ingredients: Bletilla striata (Baiji) powder 250g, Fritillaria cirrhosa (Chuanbeimu) 60g, Placenta hominis (Ziheche) powder 60g, Sepia esculenta (Hai Piao Xiao) 15g.

Preparation method: Grind the four herbs together into a fine powder, mix well, and store in a jar for later use. Each time, take 10 grams of the powder, place it in a cup, and infuse with boiling water for consumption. Take twice daily.

supports the body’s Yin and Yang balance. helps maintain respiratory health in cases of Dual Deficiency of Yin and Yang.