What kind of tea is good for clearing the lungs for smokers?
Mar 18, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, drinking green tea, monk fruit tea, honeysuckle tea, puffed seed tea, chrysanthemum and wolfberry tea may have better effects in clearing the lungs. Try to reduce the frequency and amount of smoking, and gradually quit; increase outdoor activities and breathe in fresh air, such as walking or jogging in places with fresh air like parks or suburbs, to promote gas exchange in the lungs and enhance lung function.
Generally, smoking individuals may benefit from drinking green tea, monk fruit tea, honeysuckle tea, Java plum tea, chrysanthemum and wolfberry tea, which may help cleanse the lungs. Detailed explanations are as follows:
1. Green Tea
Green tea is rich in nutrients such as polyphenols, catechins, and chlorophyll. Among them, tea polyphenols have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which can reduce oxidative damage to lung cells caused by smoke, help eliminate accumulated free radicals in the lungs, decrease the harm of harmful substances to the lungs, promote metabolism, and accelerate the excretion of toxins from the body.
2. Monk Fruit Tea
Monk fruit has a sweet taste and cool nature, entering the lung and large intestine meridians. It functions to clear the lungs, soothe the throat, resolve phlegm, relieve cough, moisten the intestines, and promote bowel movements. It can effectively alleviate symptoms such as sore throat and hoarseness caused by smoking. The mogrosides in monk fruit can help thin mucus, promote its expulsion, thereby achieving a lung-cleansing effect, which is highly beneficial for protecting lung health.
3. Honeysuckle Tea
Honeysuckle has effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, as well as dispersing wind-heat. The active ingredients in honeysuckle, such as chlorogenic acid and luteoloside, can effectively combat inflammatory responses, inhibit inflammation in the lungs caused by smoking, clear heat and toxins from the lungs, alleviate symptoms such as coughing and phlegm production, and help maintain normal lung function.
4. Java Plum Tea
Java plum is cold in nature and enters the lung and large intestine meridians. It has the effects of clearing heat, soothing the throat, moistening the lungs, and improving voice. It is highly effective in relieving symptoms caused by smoking, such as dry throat, hoarseness, and dry cough without phlegm. It can moisturize the lungs, promote the production of lung fluids, help clear lung heat, and maintain unobstructed airways.
5. Chrysanthemum and Wolfberry Tea
Chrysanthemum clears heat and detoxifies, soothes the liver and improves vision, and dispels wind-heat. Wolfberry nourishes the liver and kidneys and enhances vision. When used together, chrysanthemum clears heat and toxins from the lungs while wolfberry nourishes the yin of the lungs and kidneys. Together, they have the effects of nourishing yin and moistening the lungs, clearing the liver and improving vision. They can alleviate symptoms such as lung dryness and dry eyes caused by smoking and provide certain protective effects for both the lungs and liver.
It is recommended to reduce the frequency and quantity of smoking gradually and quit smoking altogether to fundamentally reduce the damage tobacco causes to the lungs. Increase outdoor activities and breathe fresh air, such as walking or jogging in parks or suburbs with fresh air, to promote gas exchange in the lungs and enhance lung function.
