Tonic Drinks & Waters
Houttuynia, Tangerine Peel & Honey Date Drink
Traditionally associated with clearing lung heat, dissolving phlegm, and supporting the respiratory tract
In short: Houttuynia, Tangerine Peel & Honey Date Drink is a tonic drinks & water that Traditionally associated with clearing lung heat, dissolving phlegm, and supporting the respiratory tract. It is most often made for respiratory & lung wellness. Total time about 30 min. Key ingredients: tangerine peel, honey dates.
Why people make this drink
When respiratory illnesses start spreading through schools and communities, this is one of the drinks Nourilo turns to. Houttuynia (yu xing cao) has a long history in Chinese herbal medicine as a lung-clearing herb, and modern research has identified antibacterial compounds in the plant — particularly against the pneumococcal bacteria associated with bacterial pneumonia. The herb has a distinctive, slightly fishy aroma when raw (hence its Chinese name — “fishy-smell herb”), but when cooked with sweet honey dates and fragrant tangerine peel, the flavour becomes quite mild and approachable. This is a supportive drink for the prevention and early stages of respiratory illness, not a treatment for established pneumonia.
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.
- Tangerine peel
The tangerine peel drink group showed significant reductions in body weight and triglycerides after the intervention compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Safety markers showed no adverse effects. Gut microbiota and serum metabolite profiles also differed.Limitation: Small pilot trial with only 55 of 72 participants completing. The fermented product is not the same as plain tangerine peel, and the control group is not described.PubMed 40225325
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.
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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