Can I drink luo han guo (monk fruit) steeped in water for a cough?

Apr 21, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Ren Yi
Introduction
Whether drinking Luohan guo (Siraitia grosvenorii) steeped in water can help with coughing mainly depends on the cause of the cough. If the cough is due to lung heat, drinking Luohan guo water is generally acceptable. However, if the cough is due to wind-cold, it is not recommended. In daily life, it is advisable to maintain healthy eating habits and avoid spicy, irritating foods such as pepper, chili peppers, and ginger, which can aid in recovering from a cough.
Whether one can drink luo han guo (monk fruit) steeped in water when experiencing coughing mainly depends on the cause of the cough. If it is a lung-heat type cough, drinking luo han guo water is generally acceptable. However, if it is a wind-cold type cough, it is not recommended. Detailed explanations are as follows: Luo han guo has a cool nature and a sweet taste. It functions to clear heat, moisten the lungs, relieve coughing, and resolve phlegm. It can help eliminate lung heat, dilute sputum, promote expectoration, and alleviate cough symptoms. It serves as an effective adjunct treatment for dry cough or cough with little to no phlegm caused by lung heat. However, due to its cooling nature, luo han guo may cause discomfort such as diarrhea or abdominal pain in individuals with spleen and stomach deficiency cold. Therefore, such individuals should avoid drinking luo han guo water. Consuming luo han guo in cases of wind-cold cough may cause the cold pathogenic factors to stagnate, worsening the blockage of lung qi and thereby aggravating the cough and prolonging the illness. Additionally, those allergic to luo han guo should avoid drinking luo han guo-infused water to prevent adverse reactions. In daily life, it is advisable to maintain healthy dietary habits and avoid spicy, irritating foods such as pepper, chili peppers, and ginger, which may help in recovery from coughs.