Honeysuckle Dandelion Tea

Why people make this tea

Mastitis — inflammation of the breast — is one of the most common challenges new mothers face. The breast becomes red, swollen, hot and painful, and in serious cases can develop into an abscess. At the very first signs of inflammation, before it progresses, traditional Cantonese food therapy calls for a tea made from two cooling, anti-inflammatory herbs: honeysuckle (jin yin hua) and dandelion (pu gong ying). Both have a long history in Chinese herbal medicine for addressing heat-type inflammations. Bro Niu emphasises that food therapy here is supportive, not curative — physical techniques (expressing milk fully, warm compresses, gentle massage) are essential partners.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suitable for breastfeeding mothers with early-stage mastitis showing redness, heat, swelling, and milk flow difficulties accompanied by chills, fever, headache, or bitter taste in the mouth
• This tea is cooling in nature; postpartum mothers who feel chilly or have a cold constitution should add 4 red dates and 2 pieces of dried tangerine peel to moderate the cooling effect
• Drink the tea after breastfeeding rather than before, to minimise any effect on the infant
• If the inflammation is severe, an abscess has formed, or fever does not subside within 2–3 days, see a doctor immediately — this tea is not a replacement for medical care

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Honeysuckle (jin yin hua, Lonicera japonica): One of the most widely used anti-inflammatory herbs in Chinese medicine; traditionally associated with clearing heat-toxin, particularly in skin and soft-tissue inflammations.
• Dandelion (pu gong ying, Taraxacum officinale): Strongly associated in both Chinese and Western herbal traditions with liver support and anti-inflammatory action; traditionally specific for breast swellings and inflammations.
• Red dates (hong zao): Warming; used here to balance the cold nature of the two main herbs for mothers who are constitutionally cold.
• Dried tangerine peel (chen pi): Helps regulate qi and reduce the harsh cooling quality of the formula.

Ingredients (1 day’s dose = 2 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Dried honeysuckle flower	38 g (1 liang)	Chinese herb shops or Asian grocers
Dried dandelion	75 g (2 liang)	Chinese herb shops
Red dates (optional)	4 pieces	Add for cold-constitution postpartum mothers
Dried tangerine peel (optional)	2 pieces	Further moderates cooling nature
Water	3 bowls (about 750 ml)	Reduces to 2 bowls

Method

1. Rinse the honeysuckle and dandelion briefly under cold water.
2. Combine with 3 bowls of water in a small saucepan. If adding red dates and tangerine peel, add them now.
3. Bring to the boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes until about 2 bowls remain.
4. Strain and divide into 2 portions.
5. Drink one portion after a morning breastfeed and one portion after an evening breastfeed. Continue for 3–5 days.

Bro Niu’s tips

• This tea is effective for mastitis accompanied by chills, fever, headache, chest discomfort, and a bitter dry mouth — the classic pattern of heat-type mastitis.
• Food therapy alone is insufficient: you must also express all the milk from the blocked breast thoroughly after each feed. Apply a warm, damp towel to the affected area and massage gently — this combination speeds recovery significantly.
• If you recently had a caesarean and are in the first few weeks postpartum, add tangerine peel and red dates to moderate the cooling nature of the formula.
• Drink the tea after breastfeeding your baby, not before.
• If the tea has not helped after 2 servings (2 days), see a doctor.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (ling): My baby is 33 days old and I have a fever with chills, muscle aches, dry mouth and a hard lump in my breast — can I drink this? Bro Niu: Yes, this sounds like mastitis. You can drink this tea — drink it after breastfeeding your baby. If the fever does not come down, see a doctor. Also apply warm compresses to the breast. Because you have inflammation, this tea is appropriate even though it is cooling; you can add 4 red dates to moderate it a little.

• Q (Angel): I had a caesarean and it is now 20 days postpartum. I have mastitis — is this tea too cooling for me? Bro Niu: It is somewhat cooling. Add two pieces of dried tangerine peel when you cook the tea — this will reduce its cooling nature and make it more suitable for your postpartum condition.

• Q (Connie): I am breastfeeding and my left breast is hard and blocked — can I use tong cao (ricepaperplant pith)? Bro Niu: You can get loofah fibre (si gua luo), ricepaperplant pith (tong cao), dried tangerine peel, and finger citron (fo shou) from a Chinese herb shop and brew them as a tea to help clear blocked milk ducts. Use 15 g of loofah fibre and 6 g each of the others. Simmer in 5 bowls of water for 30 minutes to make 3 bowls; drink throughout the day. Also apply warm compresses and gentle massage. If there is no improvement after 2 servings, see a doctor.

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Published May 21, 2012 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.