Tonic Drinks & Waters
Daylily & Fresh Cogon Root Sweet Drink
traditionally used to cool the blood and support children prone to frequent nosebleeds
Why people make this drink
Young children have very delicate nasal membranes. When a toddler or school-age child takes a tumble and bumps their nose, the thin membrane can be easily damaged and may bleed again every few weeks until the child is around ten years old, when the lining thickens naturally. For parents watching their child have yet another nosebleed, it can be worrying and frustrating. This simple, sweet drink is something Cantonese families have long made during these years as a gentle supportive measure. Daylily buds and fresh cogon root are both traditionally associated with cooling “heat in the blood” — the Chinese medicine framework used to describe the internal environment that makes these nosebleeds more likely. The drink is mild in taste and children rarely refuse it.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for children who have recurrent nosebleeds that appear linked to heat (e.g. associated with hot weather, eating fried food, or obvious body heat).
- Can also be used by adults experiencing heat-related nosebleeds.
- This drink is cooling; children with clearly cold constitutions (always cold hands and feet, pale, frequent loose stools) should use smaller amounts or consult a practitioner before regular use.
- Any child with very frequent, heavy, or prolonged bleeding should see a doctor to rule out other causes.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Daylily buds (jin zhen): Traditionally associated with clearing damp-heat, calming the chest and diaphragm, and supporting liver health. Said to be helpful for children with jaundice or heat-disturbed sleep.
- Fresh cogon root (xian mao gen, Imperata cylindrica): Sweet and cold in nature; traditionally one of the go-to herbs for cooling the blood and reducing bleeding, as well as promoting urination and clearing heat. Commonly used in Cantonese cooling teas alongside water chestnuts, sugarcane, and carrots.
- Rock sugar: Softens the taste and is gentler on the stomach than cane sugar.
Ingredients (2 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dried daylily buds (jin zhen) | ~37 g (1 liang) | Soak 30 min, discard soaking water |
| Fresh cogon root (xian mao gen) | ~37 g (1 liang) | Rinse, cut into sections |
| Rock sugar (bing tang) | small amount | Added at end |
| Water | 6 bowls | ~1.2 litres |
Method
- Soak the dried daylily buds in cold water for 30 minutes; drain and discard the soaking water.
- Rinse the fresh cogon root and cut into sections.
- Place the daylily buds and cogon root in a pot with 6 bowls of water.
- Bring to the boil, then simmer for 30 minutes until reduced to about 2 bowls.
- Add rock sugar, stir until dissolved, and serve. Drink the full amount over the course of one day.
Bro Niu’s tips
This drink is naturally sweet and lightly herbal — children generally do not object to it. If you want to strengthen the effect, add 3 fresh lotus root nodes (lian ou jie) to the pot when cooking. These are the knobby joints on a lotus root and are also traditionally associated with stopping bleeding.
Community questions answered (selected)
-
Q (Karen): My daughter is 23 and has had nosebleeds since childhood. Today’s episode lasted a full hour before it stopped and she had to go to the hospital. Is there a food remedy for her? Bro Niu: Chinese medicine is actually quite effective for this kind of recurrent nosebleed. As a food remedy, you can try: cogon root (mao gen) one bunch, fresh lotus root nodes 3 pieces, and snow pear 1 (or dried pear slices 6 pieces), cored, simmered in water for 30 minutes. Take twice a week until symptoms improve.
-
Q (Biola): My child has been breathing very heavily these last two weeks, needing big gulps of air. Is there a cooling tea I can make? Bro Niu: Please first check whether your child has nasal congestion — if the nose is not blocked, it is important to see a doctor to understand the reason for the laboured breathing. For nasal congestion specifically, you can steep 8 magnolia flower buds (xin yi hua) in hot water as a tea, adding a little honey. For the breathing, a cause needs to be identified before I can suggest food therapy. As a general tonic, you can use dried codonopsis root (tai zi shen) 9 g, Chinese yam (huai shan) 37 g, goji berries (gou qi zi) 6 g, and red dates 5 pieces, simmered with lean pork or chicken, to support the qi and blood.
Published July 13, 2022 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
