Reed Root, Barley, Poria & Pear Water

Why people make this drink

When the weather turns warm and humid, some children (and adults) become noticeably irritable, lose their appetite, or feel generally flat and unwell — without having any specific illness. In traditional Chinese food therapy, this pattern is often associated with internal dampness and heat building up in the body. This mild, pleasantly sweet drink has long been used as a household remedy to help clear that lingering heat and restore a sense of calm and vitality. It is also traditionally given to infants before and after routine vaccinations to help support comfort during that period.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suitable for infants, children, and adults
• Can be used as a general summer wellness drink for the whole family
• Traditionally recommended for children around the time of routine vaccinations — give 1–2 bowls in the days before and one serving on the day of the injection to support comfort
• If using dried pear instead of fresh, remove the seeds (which have mild toxicity) and use approximately 1 liang (~38 g) of dried pear slices

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Reed root (lu gen): A cool, slightly sweet herb used to clear heat and generate body fluids. Associated in Chinese tradition with soothing irritability, relieving thirst, and supporting urinary health.
• Job’s tears — raw and cooked (sheng shu yi mi): Using both forms together balances the cooling nature of raw Job’s tears with the gentler, more digestible quality of the cooked form. Traditionally associated with dampness-clearing and supporting the spleen.
• Poria (fu ling): A mild, calming mushroom-derived herb used widely in Chinese food therapy. Associated with calming the mind, supporting healthy sleep, and clearing dampness.
• Asian pear (xue li): Adds natural sweetness and a refreshing quality. In Chinese tradition, pear is considered cooling and moistening, and is used to support the lungs and quench thirst.

Ingredients (2 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Reed root, dried (lu gen)	5 qian (~19 g)	Soak and rinse
Job’s tears, raw + cooked (sheng shu yi mi)	1 liang total (~38 g)	Combined weight of both; rinse well
Poria (fu ling)	3 qian (~11 g)	Soak and rinse
Asian pear (xue li)	1 medium	Keep skin on; remove core; cut into chunks
Water	5 bowls (~1.25 L)	—

Method

1. Rinse the reed root, Job’s tears, and poria; soak briefly in cold water then drain.
2. Wash the pear well (keep the skin on for extra nutrition); remove the core and cut into chunks.
3. Combine all ingredients with 5 bowls of water in a pot.
4. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes until reduced to about 2 bowls.
5. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Bro Niu’s tips

This drink is mild enough for infants and can be used as a base drink (similar to an “opening-milk tea”) for nursing babies. It is especially useful during warm, humid seasons. If you need to use dried pear instead of fresh, be sure to remove the seeds before cooking — the seeds carry mild toxicity. Around vaccination time, 2–3 bowls in the days leading up to the appointment and one serving on the day itself may help reduce post-injection discomfort such as mild fever and irritability.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (fanny50631): The recipe says “raw and cooked Job’s tears 1 liang” — does that mean 1 liang of each, or 1 liang combined? Bro Niu: It is raw and cooked Job’s tears combined, totalling 1 liang.

• Q (Yy): Can I use dried pear instead of fresh? Bro Niu: Yes, dried pear works fine — but do remove the core/seeds, as they have mild toxicity. Use about 1 liang of dried pear slices.

• Q (Mary): My granddaughter is 3.5 months old and about to have her vaccination — can she have this drink? Bro Niu: Yes — give it 2 days before the vaccination, and again on the day of the injection. It can help reduce post-vaccination discomfort.

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Published April 27, 2017 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.