Late Autumn Lung Tea Recipe
Cozy teas made with Pang Da Hai seeds and raw honey are a simple way to support your lungs and respiratory system. Pang Da Hai seeds open the Lungs and simultaneously clear phlegm and protect Lung fluids. A few clear Lung heat and phlegm herbs help with a wind-heat invasion that has entered the Lung with occasional cough, sore throat or hoarseness. A few moistening herbs can be used as a Lung tonic to soothe mucus membranes and open the Lungs, or for the occasional slight dry throat or cough.
The Lung is called the tender organ because it is the most external organ and connects the body to the outside world. Therefore, the Lung is easily attacked by external pathogenic factors such as dryness (including the dry air created by heating our houses in cold weather), wind-cold and wind-heat, as well as smoke inhalation during wildfire season. This tea is an easy daily addition to gently open and nourish the Lung in Autumn.
Clear Lung Phlegm Heat:
- 2-3 Pang Da Hai/Sterculia lychnophora seeds
- 3g Lu Gen/Phragmites communis rhizome
- 3g Ju Hua/Chrysanthemum morifolium flower
- Herb tea bag (mullein, peppermint and rooibos are good choices)
- Raw honey to taste
Nourish Lung Yin:
- 2-3 Pang Da Hai/Sterculia lychnophora seeds
- 3g Mai Men Dong/Ophiopogon japonicus tuber
- 3g Gou Qi Zi/Lycium barbarum fruit
- 3g Wu Wei Zi/Schisandra chinensis fruit
- Herb tea bag (mullein, chamomile and marshmallow are good choices)
- Raw honey to taste
Directions:
- Add herbs and herb tea bag to your favorite mug. The herb tea bag mainly adds flavor. I gave a few suggestions above, but really any herbal tea you like will do.
- Pour boiling water and let steep for 5 minutes.
- Add raw honey to taste. Raw honey is an amazing Lung tonic, boosts the immune system and protects against wind invasions.
- Drink while hot.
- Keep adding boiling water, honey and possibly a new herb tea bag to the same Chinese herbs in your mug and drink throughout the day. The Pang Da Hai seeds will open and become very mucilaginous, like slippery elm. They are very strange looking, so we like to call them little aliens!
Enjoy!
