Cat's Whiskers Herb Tea (Mao Xu Cao Cha)

Why people make this tea

Bro Niu received a large bunch of freshly grown cat’s whiskers from a student who tends her own vegetable garden. He had used the dried form before and found it mildly bitter and not particularly pleasant — but the fresh version, he discovered, has a lighter grassy note and is quite easy to drink. Cat’s whiskers (mao xu cao, also called “kidney grass” in some dialects) is well-known in traditional medicine across Southeast Asia and southern China for its strong diuretic effect. Bro Niu confirms from personal experience: drink a cup and you will be making trips to the bathroom before long. This natural flushing effect is why it has long been associated with supporting the passage of urinary tract stones and reducing high blood pressure.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• May benefit those with kidney or bladder stones, frequent urinary discomfort, or mildly elevated blood pressure (as a supportive food alongside medical care)
• Also used in food therapy alongside corn silk and pig pancreas for blood sugar support in people with diabetes
• Cat’s whiskers is cooling in nature — people with a cold, weak spleen and stomach constitution should use it in small amounts or add warming ingredients
• If you have a cold constitution but still want to try this tea: add tangerine peel (2 pieces), red dates (5 pieces), and/or 2 slices of fresh ginger to moderate the cooling effect
• Not recommended for long-term daily use without consulting a practitioner
• If you have kidney disease or are on blood pressure medication, please consult your doctor before using

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Cat’s whiskers herb (mao xu cao / Orthosiphon aristatus): Named for its long, whisker-like stamens. Rich in sinensetin and other flavonoids; traditional use centres on its pronounced diuretic action, which promotes urinary flow, helps flush crystallised deposits, supports kidney and bladder health, and reduces blood pressure through increased fluid excretion. Modern research has explored these properties, though large clinical studies in humans remain limited

Ingredients (2 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Fresh cat’s whiskers herb (mao xu cao)	1 liang (~37 g)	Use the leaves; rinse well
OR dried cat’s whiskers	5 qian (~18 g)	Rinse before use

Method

1. If using fresh cat’s whiskers, take the leaves (and tender stems) and rinse thoroughly.
2. Place the herb into a pot with 4 bowls (approximately 1 litre) of water.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes until about 2 bowls remain.
4. Strain and drink warm.

For kidney or bladder stones: use the whole plant including stems and leaves; simmer for 30 minutes. Drink once daily for 8–9 consecutive days.

Bro Niu’s tips

For those specifically targeting urinary stones, Bro Niu recommends using the whole plant — stems, leaves, and all — and simmering for a full 30 minutes, then drinking one serving per day for 8 to 9 consecutive days. This is a well-established traditional approach for helping the body pass small stones naturally. However, cat’s whiskers is cooling, so people with a cold-natured digestion should add red dates, ginger, or tangerine peel to balance it out. Always drink plenty of water alongside this tea.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Carol chan): If someone has a cold, weak spleen and stomach but still wants to drink cat’s whiskers tea, what can they add to reduce its cooling nature? Bro Niu: Add 5 or 6 red dates and 2 slices of fresh ginger — this will reduce the cooling effect significantly.

• Q (CAROL chan): What else can be added to make it less cooling? Bro Niu: Add 2 pieces of tangerine peel and 5 red dates when simmering the cat’s whiskers.

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Published September 14, 2019 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.