Ginkgo, Lotus Seed, and Winter Melon Seed Decoction

Category: Herbal Tea

Herbal Tea Name: Ginkgo, Lotus Seed, and Winter Melon Seed Decoction

Chinese Name: 白果莲子冬瓜子饮

Formula

8 ginkgo nuts, 30 g lotus seeds, 40 g winter melon seeds, 15 g white sugar.

Main Ingredients

How To Make

Remove the shells from the ginkgo nuts and the inner cores from the lotus seeds. Place them in a pot with the washed winter melon seeds, add an appropriate amount of water, and simmer over low heat for 30 minutes. Once the lotus seeds are tender, add white sugar and serve.

Efficacy

Strengthens the spleen, tonifies qi, drains dampness, and stops leukorrhea. Suitable for senile vaginitis caused by spleen deficiency.

Usage

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

Commentary

Lotus seeds (Lian-zi) serve as the monarch (chief) herb; neutral and sweet, astringent in character, it travels through the Spleen, Kidney, Heart meridians, working chiefly to tonify the spleen, astringe the kidney and calm the spirit. Ginkgo nuts (Bai-guo) act as the deputy ingredient; neutral and sweet, bitter, astringent in character, it travels through the Lung, Kidney meridians to astringe the lung, stop cough and check leukorrhea and enuresis. Winter melon seeds (Dong-gua-zi) add further support, working to clear lung heat, transforms phlegm and expel pus. White sugar (Bai-tang) rounds out the formula as the envoy herb, working to moisten and harmonize the formula and moderate the overall properties. Working as one, the formula strengthen the spleen, tonify qi, drain dampness, stop leukorrhea, thereby targeting the spleen deficiency pattern that underlies the complaint.

Ginkgo, Lotus Seed, and Winter Melon Seed Decoction，From *Proven Tea, Decoction, and Soup Recipes for Common Ailments*,Strengthens the spleen, tonifies qi, drains dampness, and stops leukorrhea. Suitable for senile vaginitis caused by spleen deficiency.

📖 Related Reading