Herbal & Flower Teas
Lotus Node, Mugwort and Dried Ginger Tea (Lian Ou Jie Ai Ye Cha)
traditionally used to warm the uterus and help reduce heavy menstrual bleeding from a cold-deficient pattern
Why people make this tea
Most people discard the knobby nodes between segments of lotus root without a second thought — but in Chinese food therapy, the lotus node is actually one of the more potent natural haemostatic agents available in the kitchen. Bro Niu notes that the entire lotus plant is used medicinally: the seeds, the seed-heart, the flesh, the pods, the leaves, and their stems all have distinct applications. The nodes in particular are associated in traditional Chinese medicine with stopping virtually any kind of internal bleeding — from nosebleeds and blood in the urine to menstrual flooding.
For women experiencing heavy menstrual bleeding from a cold-deficient pattern (feeling cold, pale or light-red blood that is thin in consistency, pelvic heaviness, fatigue), combining lotus nodes with warming mugwort and dried ginger provides both the haemostatic action of the node and the uterine-warming properties of the two herbs. The result is a traditionally warming, regulating tea taken during episodes of excessive bleeding.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- This recipe is specifically for cold-deficient type heavy bleeding: blood that is light in colour, thin in consistency, accompanied by fatigue, cold limbs, and a feeling of pelvic emptiness.
- Not suitable for heat-type bleeding (dark red or bright red blood, thick consistency, restlessness, thirst, constipation, dark urine). For heat-type excessive bleeding, use fresh lotus nodes alone — dried and ground to powder, then stirred into warm congee — without the mugwort and dried ginger.
- Mugwort is warming and may be used by pregnant women for threatened miscarriage under guidance, but women who are heat-type or who have heat-fire yin deficiency should use mugwort cautiously. If in any doubt, please consult a Chinese medicine practitioner or your doctor.
- Those with an active infection or fever should not use this recipe.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Lotus root node (lian ou jie): Considered astringent and haemostatic; traditionally associated with stopping bleeding throughout the body regardless of the cause. Fresh nodes are stronger than dried.
- Mugwort leaf (ai ye): Warm and acrid; in Chinese medicine it is one of the primary herbs for warming the uterus, stopping cold-pattern uterine bleeding, and regulating the menstrual cycle.
- Dried ginger (gan jiang): Strongly warming; amplifies the warming action of mugwort and is traditionally used to dispel cold from the uterus and the digestive system.
Ingredients (2 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh lotus root nodes | 5 to 6 pieces | The knobby joints; rinse well |
| Mugwort leaf (ai ye) | 10 g (3 taels) | From a Chinese herb shop |
| Dried ginger (gan jiang) | 6 g (2 taels) | |
| Water | 5 bowls |
Method
- Rinse the lotus root nodes and mugwort leaf thoroughly.
- Place all ingredients in a pot with 5 bowls of water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 1 hour until reduced to 2 bowls.
- Drink the strained liquid warm. Take 1–2 courses (2 bowls each).
Bro Niu’s tips
If the lotus node tea tastes too bitter, add 2 honey dates (mi zao) to the pot when cooking — they provide natural sweetness and make the tea much more pleasant to drink. For the heat-type variation (no mugwort or dried ginger), dry the lotus nodes in the sun, grind to powder, and stir about 1 tablespoon into warm congee each serving. For more serious or persistent flooding, Bro Niu suggests a strengthening parallel approach: steep sliced Astragalus (bei qi) and Codonopsis root (dang shen) with red dates in hot water as a daily tonic to support the qi that holds blood in its vessels. Children who have nosebleeds can benefit from fresh lotus nodes simmered with imperata root (mao gen) and Asian pear.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (reader): How do I know if I am the cold-deficient type or the heat-blood type? Bro Niu: Cold-deficient: blood volume is heavy but the colour is pale or light red, the consistency is thin and watery, and the person typically feels tired, cold, and empty in the pelvis. Heat type: blood is dark red or vivid red, thick, and may have clots; the person tends to feel restless, thirsty, have dry stools, and dark urine.
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Q (Candy): My 12-year-old daughter just started her periods this year and has now been bleeding for 11 days — what can I give her? Bro Niu: Your daughter’s early periods will often be irregular as the cycle establishes itself. For a girl who tends to run hot, use fresh imperata root (mao gen), fresh lotus nodes, and sheng di huang (rehmannia), simmered in 5 bowls of water for 2 bowls. This supports cooling and blood-stopping for a heat constitution.
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Q (reader): Can I use dried lotus nodes from the herb shop instead of fresh ones? Bro Niu: Fresh lotus nodes are stronger for this purpose. Dried nodes from the herb shop have reduced potency. If you can source fresh lotus root, save the nodes.
Published January 19, 2015 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
