Mung Bean, Barley, Poria and Licorice Detox Water

Why people make this drink

Nourilo developed this recipe for a family friend living abroad who was going through chemotherapy and struggling with the side effects: nausea, mouth sores, swollen gums, hair loss, fatigue, and changes to the fingernails. From a traditional Chinese food-therapy perspective, chemotherapy introduces significant toxic burden on the body — particularly on the liver and kidneys, which must process and eliminate the drugs. Signs of toxin accumulation in the liver can appear in the fingernails (black lines along the nail edge), and fatigue may reflect the kidney’s energy being depleted by processing toxins.

This four-ingredient drink is not intended to interfere with any medical treatment — it is meant to gently support the body’s own elimination channels, reduce discomfort, and help the organs that are working overtime to cope. Each ingredient has a specific traditional role, and together they form a time-tested combination.

Method

1. Rinse all ingredients briefly; soak the mung beans for 15–20 minutes if time allows.
2. Combine all ingredients in a pot with 1.8 L of water.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour until reduced to about 600 ml.
4. Drink the liquid; eating some of the cooked beans and barley is encouraged for greater benefit.

Nourilo’s Tips

The main therapeutic action of mung beans lies in their skin — the green outer coat — so do not substitute with pre-shelled or split mung beans. Mung bean sprouts are also worth incorporating into regular meals, as sprouted mung beans develop additional beneficial compounds. Those who find this drink too cooling can add 1–2 pieces of tangerine peel and 38 g of red beans to warm things up. If bloating is a concern, tangerine peel and red beans will also help address that. For those receiving Western chemotherapy: consuming this during treatment may be fine, but always let your oncologist know what you are taking, as even food-grade herbs can occasionally interact with specific drug protocols.