Tonic Drinks & Waters
Schisandra Berry, Licorice & Red Date Drink (Wu Wei Zi Gan Cao Hong Zao Shui)
Traditionally associated with liver protection and supporting normal liver enzyme levels
In short: Schisandra Berry, Licorice & Red Date Drink (Wu Wei Zi Gan Cao Hong Zao Shui) is a tonic drinks & water that Traditionally associated with liver protection and supporting normal liver enzyme levels. It is most often made for digestive wellness, liver wellness, immune support. Total time about 25 min. Key ingredients: licorice root slices, red dates.
Why people make this drink
When a routine blood test comes back with elevated ALT or AST, it’s natural to feel alarmed — but Nourilo’s first advice is always: don’t panic, and find the cause. Elevated liver enzymes can stem from medication side effects, too much alcohol, late nights, intense exercise, or from conditions like fatty liver or hepatitis. Once the cause is addressed, many people also turn to this simple herbal drink as a supportive measure during recovery.
Schisandra berry (wu wei zi — literally “five-flavor berry,” because it is said to have all five tastes simultaneously) has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries and has attracted considerable research attention in recent decades. It is associated with supporting liver function during recovery from hepatitis and helping normalize elevated enzyme levels. Combined with licorice root’s traditional anti-inflammatory and harmonizing properties, and red dates for blood nourishment, this is a gentle, practical drink for anyone whose liver needs a little support.
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.
- Schisandra berries
Compared with placebo, the extract group had a higher increase in right knee extensor strength (10.2 Nm) and left knee extensor strength (6.7 Nm). No group differences were found in muscle mass, inflammatory or antioxidative markers.Limitation: Small sample over 12 weeks, with an extract dose not comparable to eating the whole berry; muscle mass and blood markers did not differ.PubMed 33710261 · 2 more schisandra berries studies - Licorice root
Compared with placebo plus the same low-calorie diet, licorice extract was associated with greater improvements in body weight, BMI, body fat, lipid profile, fasting glucose, insulin and HOMA-IR at 8 weeks.Limitation: Small sample, short 8-week duration, and an extract dose that is not comparable to licorice eaten as food; the authors call for confirmatory research.PubMed 39080737 · 3 more licorice root 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
- Licorice root: Contains glycyrrhizin. Large amounts or long-term use have been linked to raised blood pressure and irregular heartbeat, and even smaller amounts have caused problems in people with high blood pressure, heart or kidney conditions, or a high-salt diet. Large amounts are unsafe in pregnancy, and it can interact with corticosteroids. Source: NIH NCCIH — Licorice Root
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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