Reed Root, Barley, Honeysuckle & Pear Drink

Why people make this drink

Prevention is at the heart of classical Chinese medicine — the ancient texts speak of the wisest physician as one who treats illness before it arises. When children are about to receive a vaccination, or when a respiratory bug is circulating at school, this gentle herbal drink offers something practical to do at home. The combination of reed root, honeysuckle, and pear clears what Chinese medicine calls accumulated heat from the lungs and stomach — the kind of low-grade internal warmth that makes a body more susceptible to pathogens and more likely to react strongly to vaccination. It is mild enough for daily use and pleasant enough that children will often drink it willingly, since the pear and the honeysuckle give it a lightly sweet, fragrant quality.