Herbal & Flower Teas
Houttuynia Tea (Yu Xing Cao Tea)
traditionally used to clear lung heat, support recovery from cough with yellow phlegm, and promote urinary comfort
In short: Houttuynia Tea (Yu Xing Cao Tea) is a herbal & flower tea that traditionally used to clear lung heat, support recovery from cough with yellow phlegm, and promote urinary comfort. It is most often made for respiratory & lung wellness, kidney & urinary wellness, energy & vitality. Total time about 35 min. Key ingredients: honey.
Why people make this tea
Houttuynia (yu xing cao) is a wild herb that grows abundantly in southern China, and Nourilo remembers seeing entire family plots carpeted with it in the countryside. The name literally means “fishy-smell herb,” because the fresh leaves have a distinctive pungent aroma — though this fades considerably when cooked. Despite its bold smell, it has been used in folk medicine for generations as one of the stronger cooling, anti-inflammatory herbs available in the kitchen pharmacy. It is most often brewed when someone in the household has a hot-type cough — the kind with yellow or thick phlegm, a burning throat, or a chest that feels heavy and congested. Combined with honey, the bitterness softens into something quite drinkable.
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.
- Honey
Compared with usual care, honey was associated with lower combined symptom scores, cough frequency and cough severity. In two pooled placebo-controlled studies, the difference in combined symptoms was not statistically significant.Limitation: Only two studies compared honey with placebo, with high heterogeneity (I2=91%); the review calls for higher-quality placebo-controlled trials.PubMed 32817011 · 3 more honey 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
- Honey: Never give honey to babies under 1 year old — it can cause infant botulism, a very serious illness. Source: NHS — Foods to avoid giving babies
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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