Nourilo

Tonic Drinks & Waters

Dried Lychee, Hyacinth Bean & Red Date Drink

traditionally used to support spleen function and reduce loose stools associated with spleen deficiency

In short: Dried Lychee, Hyacinth Bean & Red Date Drink is a tonic drinks & water that traditionally used to support spleen function and reduce loose stools associated with spleen deficiency. It is most often made for digestive wellness. Total time about 50 min. Key ingredients: red dates.

By · Published under our editorial policy · Research library

Prep
10 min
Cook
40 min
Total
50 min
Makes
600 ml
Digestive Wellness
Dried Lychee, Hyacinth Bean & Red Date Drink

Why people make this drink

Fresh lychees are celebrated for their sweetness, but eating too many — especially on an empty stomach — can cause a sudden dip in blood sugar because the liver cannot convert the high fructose load fast enough. Dried lychee sidesteps this problem while preserving the tonic benefits: traditionally it is used for anaemia, children’s bedwetting, and — notably — spleen deficiency with loose stools. In Chinese food therapy, a weakened spleen leads to poor intestinal function and persistently soft or watery stools even without a clear infection. Pairing dried lychee with hyacinth beans (a classic spleen-tonifying legume) and red dates gives a simple, aromatic drink that is genuinely warming and pleasant to sip.

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.

  • Red dates · Meta-analysis, 483 participants · 2025
    Jujube was associated with significantly lower BMI and triglycerides, and lower fasting blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. LDL and total cholesterol fell only in some subgroups. HDL, AST and ALT did not change significantly.Limitation: The authors state the overall quality of the evidence is limited, and results varied significantly by dose, treatment duration and disease type.PubMed 40399274 · 3 more red dates 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.

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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