Dandelion and Reed Root Juice

Herbal Tea Name: Dandelion and Reed Root Juice

Chinese Name: 蒲公英芦根汁

Formula

250 grams of fresh dandelion, 250 grams of fresh reed root.

Main Ingredients

How To Make

Wash the fresh dandelions and reed roots, soak them in warm water for a short while, then remove, chop finely, and mash to extract the juice. If the amount of juice is insufficient, soak the dandelions and reed roots (after straining through cheesecloth) in an appropriate amount of warm water for a short while, repeat the above process to produce a pulp, combine the juices from both straining sessions, and mix thoroughly.

Efficacy

Clears the lungs, relieves cough, and resolves phlegm. Suitable for the acute phase of pneumonia.

Usage

Take one dose in the morning and one in the evening.

Commentary

Fresh dandelion (Pu-gong-ying) acts as the chief herb; cold and bitter, sweet in character, it travels through the Liver, Stomach meridians, working chiefly to clear heat and remove toxins. Fresh reed root (Lu-gen) stands in the deputy (minister) seat, sweet-cold in property, acting through the Lung, Stomach meridians to clear heat and generate fluids. Without a separate harmonizing herb, the herbal tea formula balance is achieved through the mutual tempering of its active ingredients. Taken together these herbs clear the lungs, relieve cough, resolve phlegm, in keeping with the pneumonia pattern.

Dandelion and Reed Root Juice,From *Proven Tea, Decoction, and Soup Recipes for Common Ailments*,Clears the lungs, relieves cough, and resolves phlegm. Suitable for the acute phase of pneumonia.