Cat's Whiskers Herb Tea (Mao Xu Cao Cha)

Why people make this tea

Nourilo received a large bunch of freshly grown cat’s whiskers from a student who tends her own vegetable garden. He had used the dried form before and found it mildly bitter and not particularly pleasant — but the fresh version, he discovered, has a lighter grassy note and is quite easy to drink. Cat’s whiskers (mao xu cao, also called “kidney grass” in some dialects) is well-known in traditional medicine across Southeast Asia and southern China for its strong diuretic effect. Nourilo confirms from personal experience: drink a cup and you will be making trips to the bathroom before long. This natural flushing effect is why it has long been associated with supporting the passage of urinary tract stones and reducing high blood pressure.

Method

1. If using fresh cat’s whiskers, take the leaves (and tender stems) and rinse thoroughly.
2. Place the herb into a pot with 1.2 L of water.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes until 600 ml remain.
4. Strain and drink warm.

For kidney or bladder stones: use the whole plant including stems and leaves; simmer for 30 minutes. Drink once daily for 8–9 consecutive days.

Nourilo’s Tips

For those specifically targeting urinary stones, Nourilo recommends using the whole plant — stems, leaves, and all — and simmering for a full 30 minutes, then drinking one serving per day for 8 to 9 consecutive days. This is a well-established traditional approach for helping the body pass small stones naturally. However, cat’s whiskers is cooling, so people with a cold-natured digestion should add red dates, ginger, or tangerine peel to balance it out. Always drink plenty of water alongside this tea.