Herbal & Flower Teas
Astragalus, Mai Dong, Goji, Red Date and Apple Tea
Mild, balanced tonic herbs traditionally taken to support immunity
In short: Astragalus, Mai Dong, Goji, Red Date and Apple Tea is a herbal & flower tea that Mild, balanced tonic herbs traditionally taken to support immunity. It is most often made for respiratory & lung wellness, immune support, everyday balance. Total time about 40 min. Key ingredients: astragalus root, ophiopogon root, goji berries, red dates.
Why people make this tea
Nourilo recalls that during the SARS epidemic, a professor urged students to brew immune-supporting teas to lower the chance of infection. The professor explained that most tonic herbs are traditionally regarded as supporting immunity; since many people don’t know whether their constitution is cold, hot, deficient or excess, it is wise to choose milder, balanced tonic herbs. Astragalus, goji and red dates are among the gentlest, so back then Nourilo brewed these three for his family daily. Here he adds mai dong and apple for a clearer, sweeter taste that is traditionally associated with generating fluids, moistening the lungs and supporting immunity — good for those with a weak constitution who get sick easily.
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.
- Astragalus root
TA-65 was associated with longer leukocyte telomeres compared with controls, but the meta-analysis found no significant improvement in frailty measures or inflammatory markers (CRP/IL-6). Mild gastrointestinal effects were reported.Limitation: Industry-funded trials reported larger effects than others, and the compound is a purified extract at doses not comparable to eating Astragalus root.PubMed 41286474 · 3 more astragalus root studies - Goji berries
Compared with placebo (n=80), the goji juice group (n=81) reported greater improvements in several self-rated symptoms, including stress, mental acuity, sleep quality and overall well-being, under a random effects model.Limitation: Outcomes were self-reported symptom questionnaires, and several symptoms showed significant heterogeneity across the four pooled trials of a single branded juice.PubMed 22897500 · 3 more goji berries studies - Red dates
Jujube was associated with significantly lower BMI and triglycerides, and lower fasting blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. LDL and total cholesterol fell only in some subgroups. HDL, AST and ALT did not change significantly.Limitation: The authors state the overall quality of the evidence is limited, and results varied significantly by dose, treatment duration and disease type.PubMed 40399274 · 3 more red dates 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
- Goji berries: A few cases of raised INR (a bleeding-risk marker) have been reported in people taking warfarin after drinking concentrated goji tea or wine. If you take a blood thinner, check with your doctor. Source: Memorial Sloan Kettering — Lycium
- Astragalus: May interact with medicines that suppress the immune system. A thorough safety evaluation has not been done, and little is known about its safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Source: NIH NCCIH — Astragalus
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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