Honeysuckle is a good medicine for clearing heat and detoxifying, while lemon is a common fruit often used to make infused water. So, can honeysuckle and lemon be infused together?
Can Honeysuckle Be Infused with Lemon?
Yes, it can.
Honeysuckle is a Chinese herbal medicine with a sweet taste and cool nature. It has the effects of clearing heat, dispersing wind-heat, and relieving sore throat. It can be used to treat various heat-related conditions. Lemon is a sour-tasting fruit rich in citric acid and vitamin C. It has the effects of phlegm reduction, cough suppression, and promoting saliva and digestion. Both honeysuckle and lemon have no conflicting properties, so they can be infused together.
What Are the Benefits of Infusing Honeysuckle with Lemon?
Clearing Heat and Phlegm
Honeysuckle has strong heat-clearing and detoxifying effects. It can be used to treat fever, rashes, and sore throat. Lemon contains abundant vitamin C, which can help reduce phlegm and suppress cough. It is beneficial for conditions such as bronchitis and whooping cough.
Antibacterial and Anti-inflammatory
Honeysuckle contains pharmacologically active ingredients such as chlorogenic acid and luteolin glycoside, which have strong inhibitory effects on pathogenic bacteria such as streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as respiratory viruses. Lemon is a natural antibiotic due to its rich vitamin C content. It has certain antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects and can enhance the body's immune system.
Heat Relief and Appetite Stimulation
Honeysuckle has a sweet and cool nature, with the ability to clear heat and relieve summer heat. It can disperse wind-heat and detoxify the blood. Lemon peel contains aromatic volatile compounds, which can relieve summer heat, stimulate appetite, and help alleviate symptoms of fatigue and loss of appetite.
How to Infuse Honeysuckle with Lemon?
Instructions:
1. Take about 10-15 grams of honeysuckle and put it in a teacup.
2. Pour boiling water over it.
3. Cover and let it steep for 10-15 minutes.
4. When the water temperature cools slightly, add 1-2 slices of lemon.
5. Add honey, stir well, and it is ready to drink.
Precautions When Drinking Honeysuckle Infused with Lemon
1. Do Not Use Excessive Amounts
When using honeysuckle and lemon to make infused water, it is not recommended to use excessive amounts of honeysuckle. Generally, 10-30 grams is sufficient. Excessive intake of honeysuckle, which has a sweet and cool nature, may stimulate the stomach and cause gastrointestinal discomfort.
2. Not Recommended for Long-term Use
It is not recommended to use honeysuckle and lemon infused water for long periods of time. Honeysuckle is still a Chinese herbal medicine with a cool nature. Prolonged use may affect the health of the spleen and stomach. It is generally recommended to stop using it after symptoms improve.
3. Avoid Consuming with Seafood
Seafood contains abundant proteins and calcium, while lemon has a high content of fruit acids. Consuming them together can cause protein coagulation, and the fruit acids can combine with calcium to form substances that are difficult to digest, reducing nutritional value and even causing gastrointestinal discomfort.
4. Do Not Consume with Carrots
Lemon has a high content of vitamin C, while carrots contain ascorbic acid oxidase. Consuming them together can destroy the vitamin C in the lemon. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid eating carrots when consuming lemon.
5. Avoid During Menstruation
Honeysuckle and lemon infused water has a cool nature. Consuming large amounts during menstruation may affect the normal discharge of menstrual blood. For women with cold uterus, it may even cause or worsen menstrual pain.
6. Not Suitable for Those with Weak Spleen and Stomach
Honeysuckle and lemon infused water has a cool nature. People with weak spleen and stomach may experience increased irritation to their digestive system, leading to diarrhea, loose stools, and indigestion.
What Are Good Combinations with Honeysuckle?
Honeysuckle and Chrysanthemum Tea
Instructions:
1. Take 10 grams of honeysuckle and 10 grams of Hangzhou chrysanthemum and put them in a teacup.
2. Pour boiling water over it.
3. Add rock sugar or white sugar and stir well.
4. Cover and let it steep for 5-10 minutes. It can be served as a substitute for tea.
Benefits: Clears heat, relieves summer heat, moistens the throat, and quenches thirst.
Honeysuckle and Jasmine Tea
Instructions:
1. Take 10 grams of honeysuckle and 3 grams of jasmine and put them in a teacup.
2. Pour boiling water over it.
3. Add rock sugar or white sugar and stir well.
4. Cover and let it steep for 5-10 minutes. It can be served as a substitute for tea.
Benefits: Clears heat, detoxifies, clears the lungs, and benefits the throat.
Honeysuckle and Honey Water
Instructions:
1. Take about 20 grams of honeysuckle and put it in a teapot.
2. Pour an appropriate amount of water.
3. Bring to a boil over high heat and simmer for about 5 minutes.
4. Let it cool slightly, then add an appropriate amount of honey and stir well.
Benefits: Clears heat, detoxifies, and soothes the throat.
