Home-Style Dishes
Two-Winter Syrup (Er Dong Gao)
Traditionally moistens the lungs and soothes a dry, scanty-phlegm cough
In short: Two-Winter Syrup (Er Dong Gao) is a home-style dishe that Traditionally moistens the lungs and soothes a dry, scanty-phlegm cough. It is most often made for respiratory & lung wellness, sleep & calm. Total time about 1 hr 15 min.
Why people make this syrup
Both asparagus root and ophiopogon are sweet, cool, moistening foods, and both are traditionally associated with nourishing yin and easing dryness — a classic match for a dry cough with little phlegm. Nourilo notes ophiopogon also settles the stomach and calms the mind, while asparagus root leans toward supporting the kidney and is a touch more cooling. Cooked down together into a smooth syrup, the two are traditionally taken for a dry throat, thirst, restlessness, scanty-phlegm cough and restless sleep.
What studies say about the key ingredients
Traditional use is not the same as clinical proof. Here is the strongest human research we found for each ingredient, limitations included.
- Honey
Compared with usual care, honey was associated with lower combined symptom scores, cough frequency and cough severity. In two pooled placebo-controlled studies, the difference in combined symptoms was not statistically significant.Limitation: Only two studies compared honey with placebo, with high heterogeneity (I2=91%); the review calls for higher-quality placebo-controlled trials.PubMed 32817011 · 3 more honey studies
From the Nourilo Research Library. Findings come from specific doses, extracts and populations and may not apply to a home-cooked recipe.
Safety first — read before you cook
This is a traditional food, not a treatment. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before making it a regular part of your diet if you:
- are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are cooking for a young child;
- take regular medicines — especially blood thinners, blood-pressure, diabetes or immune-suppressing drugs;
- have a kidney, liver or heart condition, or a known food allergy.
Ingredient notes for this recipe
- Honey: Never give honey to babies under 1 year old — it can cause infant botulism, a very serious illness. Source: NHS — Foods to avoid giving babies
Stop eating it and seek advice if you notice an allergic reaction or feel unwell. Safety notes reviewed 8 October 2026 · How we write safety notes
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