Herbal & Flower Teas
Hawthorn, Dried Tangerine Peel and Tangerine Cake Tea
traditionally used to move liver qi, unblock channels, and ease breast inflammation in nursing mothers
In short: Hawthorn, Dried Tangerine Peel and Tangerine Cake Tea is a herbal & flower tea that traditionally used to move liver qi, unblock channels, and ease breast inflammation in nursing mothers. It is most often made for women's wellness, liver wellness, energy & vitality. Total time about 55 min. Key ingredients: tangerine peel, tangerine cake.
Why people make this tea
Milk stasis — a build-up of milk in the ducts — is one of the most common discomforts of early breastfeeding. When the breast feels firm, tender, and lumpy but no fever has developed, warm compresses and gentle massage to express the milk are the first practical steps. Alongside that, this simple three-ingredient tea has been used for generations in Cantonese households to help keep the channels unobstructed and ease the discomfort that comes with the early stages of breast inflammation.
In traditional food therapy, the liver meridian runs through the breast; when qi stagnates in that channel — from stress, engorgement, or irregular feeding — the result is breast tenderness and blocked ducts. Hawthorn, tangerine peel, and tangerine cake are all associated with moving liver qi and breaking up accumulation.
Nourilo also notes that this tea is useful for people with general liver qi stagnation (mood-related tension, rib-side tightness, stress headaches) — not only breastfeeding mothers.
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.
- Hawthorn
Skin hydration scores improved more with hawthorn fruit than with placebo (p<0.05). Changes in other skin phenotypes and leukocyte telomere length were similar between groups. Genotype-specific effects were reported.Limitation: Small trial in which 36 completed follow-up; the genotype subgroup analyses are based on very few participants and are exploratory.PubMed 40573097 · 2 more hawthorn studies - 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.
Ingredient notes for this recipe
- Hawthorn: Can cause dizziness, nausea or digestive upset, and may interact with heart medicines. Little is known about its safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Source: NIH NCCIH — Hawthorn
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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