Pear, Sugarcane & Imperata Root Drink (Zhu Zhe Mao Gen Xue Li Shui)

Main Ingredients

• Pear 2 pieces
• Fresh sugarcane (or bamboo cane) 400-500g
• Fresh Imperata cylindrica root (Bai Mao Gen) 100g
• Water chestnuts 6-8 pieces
• Carrot 1 piece
• Rock sugar to taste
• Water 1500-2000ml

Steps

1. Prep Imperata root: Rinse 100g of fresh Bai Mao Gen (or 30-50g dried) thoroughly, remove impurities, and cut into small sections. If using dried, soak in water for 30 minutes first. Prep sugarcane: Peel 400-500g of sugarcane, cut into 3cm sections, then split each section into 4 pieces to release active compounds . Prep pear: Wash 2 pears, keep the skin on (scrub with fine salt), remove the core, and cut into small pieces. If using water chestnuts or carrot, peel and cut into pieces.

   

2. Place Imperata root sections and sugarcane sections in a clay pot. Add 1500-2000ml of water (about 6-8 bowls). Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for about 20 minutes .

   

3. Add the pear pieces and simmer for another 10 minutes . If using water chestnuts or carrot, add them with the pear.

   

4. The liquid is naturally sweet, so no sugar is generally needed. Add a little rock sugar if desired. Turn off the heat, strain out the solids, and collect the liquid. Drink warm, or at room temperature. 1-2 times per week is sufficient; avoid daily excessive consumption .

   

TCM Notes

Pear: Sweet and slightly sour in taste, cool in nature; enters the Lung and Stomach meridians. Known for generating fluids, moistening dryness, clearing heat, resolving phlegm, and clearing heart fire . The fructose and glucose in pear support liver function, aid digestion, and stimulate appetite; its vitamins and potassium and calcium content have blood pressure-lowering, heat-clearing, sedative, and diuretic effects . Sugarcane (Bamboo Cane): Sweet in taste, cold (or cool for bamboo cane) in nature; enters the Lung and Stomach meridians. Known for moistening and generating fluids, benefiting the stomach, quenching thirst, promoting diuresis, and relieving alcohol . Sugarcane juice is known as the "natural pulse-restoring decoction," suitable for fever with fluid depletion and dry mouth. Bai Mao Gen (Imperata cylindrica Root): Sweet in taste, cold in nature; enters the Lung, Stomach, and Bladder meridians. Known for cooling blood, stopping bleeding, clearing heat, generating fluids, and promoting diuresis . The Bencao Zhengyi records that it "excels at clearing and draining the Lung and Stomach," used for fever with fluid depletion and thirst . It is described as "cooling without harming the stomach, promoting diuresis without damaging fluids" . Modern research shows it is rich in potassium salts, which contribute to its diuretic effect; its decoction inhibits pneumococcus, catarrhalis, and influenza bacilli . Synergistic Effect: Pear clears heat and moistens the lungs; sugarcane clears heat and generates fluids; Imperata root cools blood and promotes diuresis. One moistens, one clears, one drains—clearing heat without harming the body, moistening the lungs without stagnating phlegm, and promoting diuresis without damaging fluids. Total approx. 150-250 kcal (without rock sugar)—a low-fat, heat-clearing, fluid-generating dietary drink.

Suitable for：Those with autumn dryness, excessive sweating, dry mouth and thirst, and dry lips and throat Those with summer heat and internal fire, chest irritability, and scanty dark urine Those who have stayed up late for multiple days with dry throat and both deficient and excess fire Those with lung-heat cough, dry cough with little phlegm, and dry sore throat Those with scanty dark urine and edema with reduced urination (Imperata root promotes diuresis) Those who consume excessive alcohol and tobacco with dry lips and throat General population for summer heat relief and autumn dryness relief

Not suitable for：Those with Spleen-Stomach Cold Deficiency – use with caution or avoid. Bai Mao Gen is cold in nature, and pear and sugarcane are both cooling; those with cold intolerance, diarrhea, or abdominal cold pain may worsen symptoms. Experts at Wuyi Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine explicitly state that "those with spleen-stomach cold deficiency and those with excessive urination should use with caution" . Those with excessive urination – use with caution. Bai Mao Gen has a strong diuretic effect; those with frequent urination should not consume much . Diabetes patients – use with caution or avoid. Sugarcane is high in sugar, which dissolves into the water during boiling; those with poorly controlled blood glucose should be cautious . Those with wind-cold cough – avoid. Symptoms include white thin phlegm, chills, and clear runny nose; this formula is cooling and may worsen cold cough. Women during menstruation – use with caution. Bai Mao Gen is cold in nature; excessive intake during menstruation may cause blood stasis, impede menstrual flow, and trigger menstrual pain . Pregnant women – use with caution. Bai Mao Gen is cold in nature; pregnant women should drink cautiously or consult a doctor . Infants and young children – use with caution. Their spleen and stomach are delicate; try small amounts or consult a doctor. Those allergic to sugarcane, Imperata root, or pear – avoid. Moldy sugarcane – absolutely forbidden – If sugarcane shows red heart, black heart, moldy odor, sour taste, or alcoholic smell, it may contain Arthrinium fungal toxin (3-nitropropionic acid), which mainly damages the central nervous system and can cause convulsions, coma, and even death. Never use it.