White Reed Root and Water Chestnut Tea

Category: Herbal Tea

Herbal Tea Name: White Reed Root and Water Chestnut Tea

Chinese Name: 茅根荸荠茶

Formula

50 grams of fresh white茅根, 100 grams of water chestnuts, and 10 grams of white sugar.

Main Ingredients

How To Make

Rinse the white茅根 and water chestnuts thoroughly. Cut the white茅根 into small pieces and slice the water chestnuts (with skin on). Place them together in a clay pot, add an appropriate amount of water, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to low heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Strain through clean cheesecloth to remove the solids, pour the liquid into a container, stir in the white sugar, and mix well.

Efficacy

Clears heat, promotes urination, relieves summer heat, and quenches thirst. Suitable for acute nephritis, acute exacerbations of chronic nephritis, and urinary tract infections.

Usage

Drink as a tea substitute frequently throughout the day; consume the entire amount on the same day.

Commentary

Taking fresh white茅根 (Bai-mao-gen) as the chief herb, the formula draws on its sweet flavor and cold property: its action follows the Lung, Stomach, Bladder meridians and works to clear heat and stop bleeding. Water chestnuts (Bi-qi) fill the deputy position. Sweet-cold in property, it enters the Lung, Stomach, Large Intestine meridians and works to clear heat, generate fluids and transforms phlegm. White sugar (Bai-tang) functions as the harmonizing (envoy) ingredient, working to moisten and harmonize the formula and unite the separate actions into one. In sum, the prescription clear heat, promote urination, relieve summer heat, quenches thirst, aimed squarely at the chronic nephritis pattern rather than at isolated symptoms.

White Reed Root and Water Chestnut Tea，From *Proven Tea, Decoction, and Soup Recipes for Common Ailments*,Clears heat, promotes urination, relieves summer heat, and quenches thirst. Suitable for acute nephritis, acute exacerbations of chronic nephritis, and urinary tract infections.

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