Herbal Teas
Dried Fig, Ophiopogon & Honeysuckle Tea (Wuhuaguo Maidong Jinyinhua Cha)
Dried Fig, Ophiopogon & Honeysuckle Tea is a classic throat-soothing medicinal tea recommended by Professor Lan Senlin from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. Autumn and winter are peak seasons for chronic pharyngitis, as cold weather and dry climate can worsen symptoms. This tea combines fresh figs, Ophiopogon root, and honeysuckle flowers. Figs clear heat, generate fluids, and moisten the lungs; Ophiopogon root nourishes yin, generates fluids, and moistens the lungs; honeysuckle clears heat, detoxifies, and reduces inflammation. Together, they achieve the effects of clearing heat, relieving sore throat, nourishing yin, moistening the lungs, and reducing swelling. The tea is sweet, mellow, and soothing – an ideal daily wellness tea for chronic pharyngitis, sore throat, and hoarseness. This simple formula is highly effective.
Main Ingredients
- Fresh figs 5 pieces
- Ophiopogon root (Maidong) 12g
- Honeysuckle flowers (Jinyinhua) 20g
- Rock sugar or honey to taste
Steps
Rinse 5 fresh figs (approx. 150-200g) and slice thinly. Rinse 12g of Ophiopogon root and 20g of honeysuckle flowers quickly to remove dust.
Put the sliced figs, Ophiopogon root, and honeysuckle flowers into a glass pot or large cup. Pour freshly boiled water (about 500-800ml) over the ingredients. Cover and steep for 30 minutes before drinking.
Add rock sugar or honey to taste if desired (diabetics may omit). Consume 1 dose daily, drinking frequently as tea for 5-7 consecutive days. Finally, chew and eat the fig slices to make full use of dietary fiber and nutrients.
TCM Notes
Fresh Figs: Sweet in taste, cool in nature; enters the Lung, Stomach, and Large Intestine meridians. Known for clearing heat, generating fluids, moistening the lungs, strengthening the spleen, and detoxifying. Contains malic acid, citric acid, lipase, protease, and hydrolase, which aid digestion, increase appetite, and help lower blood pressure and prevent coronary heart disease. Rich in lipids that moisten the intestines. Active compounds have anti-inflammatory and swelling-reducing effects. Choose figs that are flat-round in shape, yellow-skinned, soft-fleshed, and sweet-tasting. Ophiopogon Root (Maidong) : Sweet and slightly bitter in taste, slightly cold in nature; enters the Heart, Lung, and Stomach meridians. Known for nourishing yin, generating fluids, and moistening the lungs to relieve cough. Honeysuckle Flowers (Jinyinhua) : Sweet in taste, cold in nature; enters the Lung and Stomach meridians. Known for clearing heat, detoxifying, and reducing inflammation. Used for wind-heat, febrile diseases, sore throat, and various infections. Synergistic Effect: Figs clear heat, generate fluids, and relieve sore throat; Ophiopogon root nourishes yin, generates fluids, and moistens the lungs; honeysuckle clears heat, detoxifies, and reduces inflammation. Together, they achieve the effects of clearing heat, relieving sore throat, nourishing yin, moistening the lungs, and reducing swelling. This tea is very low in calories and rich in various vitamins and trace elements.
Suitable for：Those with chronic pharyngitis, sore throat, and hoarseness Those with throat discomfort due to autumn-winter dryness Those with wind-heat colds manifesting as fever, sore throat, and cough Those who frequently smoke or overuse their voice, with dry mouth General population for autumn-winter wellness and dryness relief
Not suitable for：Those with Spleen-Stomach Cold Deficiency – honeysuckle, Ophiopogon root, and figs are all cooling in nature; may damage Spleen yang, causing abdominal pain and diarrhea Pregnant women – both honeysuckle and Ophiopogon root are cold in nature and may affect pregnancy Women during menstruation – cold-natured herbs may cause qi and blood stagnation, leading to menstrual disorders or dysmenorrhea Those with hypotension – honeysuckle and Ophiopogon root may lower blood pressure Those with wind-cold colds – this tea is for wind-heat, not wind-cold Diabetes patients – strictly control or omit sugar Those allergic to figs, Ophiopogon root, or honeysuckle Not suitable for long-term excessive consumption – all three are cooling in nature; long-term use may cause spleen-stomach cold
