Herbal & Flower Teas

Schisandra, Licorice and Ginger Tea

traditionally used to support lung function and ease lingering coughs

In short: Schisandra, Licorice and Ginger Tea is a herbal & flower tea that traditionally used to support lung function and ease lingering coughs. It is most often made for respiratory & lung wellness. Total time about 20 min. Key ingredients: schisandra berries, ginger, licorice root.

Prep
5 min
Cook
15 min
Total
20 min
Makes
2 cups
Schisandra, Licorice and Ginger Tea

Why people make this tea

When a cough lingers for weeks — the cold has long passed but the lungs still haven’t quieted down — this three-ingredient tea is one of the simplest remedies in the Cantonese food-therapy tradition. Schisandra berry (wu wei zi) is named for its five distinct flavours, and traditional practice holds that those five flavours correspond to the five organ systems. Its sour, astringent quality is thought to help the lungs “gather” and settle, making it particularly valued for chronic or stubborn coughs rather than coughs at the very start of an illness. Paired with warming ginger and harmonising licorice root, the tea is gentle enough to sip over several days and easy to prepare at home.

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.

  • Schisandra berries · Randomized controlled trial · 2021
    Compared with placebo, the extract group had a higher increase in right knee extensor strength (10.2 Nm) and left knee extensor strength (6.7 Nm). No group differences were found in muscle mass, inflammatory or antioxidative markers.Limitation: Small sample over 12 weeks, with an extract dose not comparable to eating the whole berry; muscle mass and blood markers did not differ.PubMed 33710261 · 2 more schisandra berries studies
  • Ginger · Meta-analysis, 23 studies · 2022
    Overall, acute and delayed nausea and vomiting did not differ significantly between ginger and control groups. A subgroup taking 1 g/day or less for over four days had less acute vomiting (OR 0.30).Limitation: Clinical heterogeneity between trials required subgroup analyses, and the authors state that sufficiently large, high-quality RCTs are still needed.PubMed 36501010 · 3 more ginger studies
  • Licorice root · Randomized controlled trial, 66 participants · 2024
    Compared with placebo plus the same low-calorie diet, licorice extract was associated with greater improvements in body weight, BMI, body fat, lipid profile, fasting glucose, insulin and HOMA-IR at 8 weeks.Limitation: Small sample, short 8-week duration, and an extract dose that is not comparable to licorice eaten as food; the authors call for confirmatory research.PubMed 39080737 · 3 more licorice root studies

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

  • Licorice root: Contains glycyrrhizin. Large amounts or long-term use have been linked to raised blood pressure and irregular heartbeat, and even smaller amounts have caused problems in people with high blood pressure, heart or kidney conditions, or a high-salt diet. Large amounts are unsafe in pregnancy, and it can interact with corticosteroids. Source: NIH NCCIH — Licorice Root

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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