Codonopsis, Red-Skin Peanut and Red Date Drink

Why people make this drink

When the body produces too few platelets — whether due to illness, certain medications, excessive alcohol, or chemotherapy — small signs like unexplained bruises, heavier-than-usual periods, bleeding gums, or nosebleeds can appear. Nourilo recommends this simple drink as a gentle, ongoing support alongside medical care. The combination of codonopsis, red-skin peanuts, and red dates has a long tradition in Chinese food therapy for nourishing the blood and supporting the body’s natural regenerative processes.

Method

1. Soak the codonopsis root briefly in water, then slice into rounds.
2. Rinse the red-skin peanuts and soak briefly; keep the skins on — they are the most important part.
3. Rinse and pit the red dates; slice each in half.
4. Combine all ingredients with 1.8 L of water in a pot.
5. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer and cook for 1 hour until the liquid reduces to about 900 ml.
6. Divide into portions and drink throughout the day. Aim for 3 doses per week.

Nourilo’s Tips

The red skin of the peanut is what makes this recipe distinctive — it can be found at larger grocery stores or Chinese herbal shops. If you cannot find red-skin peanuts, ask the herbalist for dried peanut skins (hua sheng yi) and use about 11 g (11 g) instead. This drink may also offer mild support for white blood cell recovery during chemotherapy, though always discuss with your oncology team.