Herbal Teas
Chrysanthemum & Sophora Flower Tea (Ju Huai Cha / Ju Huai Lü Cha Yin)
Chrysanthemum & Sophora Flower Tea is a classic herbal tea originating from the medicinal diet classic Zhongguo Yaoshan (Chinese Medicinal Diet). It is made primarily from chrysanthemum and sophora flowers, with a small amount of green tea to enhance its effects. Both chrysanthemum and sophora flowers are bitter and cold in nature, and both enter the Liver meridian. Together, they significantly strengthen the effect of clearing Liver fire. Sophora flower is known to "cool the blood, stop bleeding, and clear the Liver to improve vision"; chrysanthemum can "disperse wind-heat and calm the Liver to improve vision". This tea is especially suitable for spring consumption to help clear Liver fire and soothe the head and eyes, making it an ideal daily wellness tea for those with hypertension or excessive Liver fire.
Main Ingredients
- Chrysanthemum flowers 3-10g
- Sophora japonica flowers (Huaihua) 3-10g
- Green tea 3g
- Boiling water as needed
Steps
Rinse 3-10g of chrysanthemum flowers, 3-10g of sophora flowers, and 3g of green tea briefly in clean water to remove surface dust, then drain.
Put the rinsed chrysanthemum, sophora flowers, and green tea into a teacup or teapot. Pour freshly boiled water over the ingredients. Cover and steep for 5-20 minutes. For a lighter flavor, 5 minutes is sufficient; for a stronger medicinal effect, steep for 10-15 minutes.
Consume 1 dose daily, which can be re-brewed 3-5 times and finished within the same day. It is best consumed after meals to reduce stomach irritation.
TCM Notes
Chrysanthemum: Sweet and bitter in taste, slightly cold in nature; enters the Lung and Liver meridians. Known for dispersing wind-heat, calming the Liver, improving vision, and clearing heat and toxins. Commonly used for wind-heat colds, headaches, dizziness, red and swollen eyes, and blurred vision. Modern research confirms its auxiliary blood pressure-lowering effects. Sophora Flower (Huaihua) : Bitter in taste, slightly cold in nature; enters the Liver and Large Intestine meridians. Known for clearing Liver fire, cooling blood, and stopping bleeding. It contains rutin, which improves capillary function, and its water extract has been shown to lower blood pressure in animal studies. Green Tea: Sweet and bitter in taste, cool in nature. Known for clearing heat, relieving summer heat, promoting fluid production, quenching thirst, lowering lipids, and improving vision. It enhances the overall heat-clearing and fire-lowering effects of the formula. Synergistic Effect: Chrysanthemum and sophora flowers work together to clear Liver fire, while green tea assists in clearing heat and lowering lipids. The tea contains virtually no calories and is rich in flavonoids, vitamins, and various trace elements.
Suitable for：Those with excessive Liver fire or Liver-yang hyperactivity, manifesting as headache, head distension, and dizziness Those with red, swollen, or painful eyes, blurred vision, or dim eyesight caused by Liver fire flaring upward Those with early-stage hypertension, especially elderly patients with atherosclerosis Those with hypertension accompanied by retinal bleeding or a tendency for nosebleeds Those who are irritable, prone to anger, or have a bitter taste in the mouth
Not suitable for：Those with Spleen-Stomach Cold Deficiency – use with caution. Chrysanthemum, sophora flower, and green tea are all cold in nature and may damage Spleen yang, causing abdominal pain and diarrhea Those with yin deficiency and heat without excess fire – not suitable. Such individuals already have insufficient yin fluid; consuming cold-natured items may worsen deficiency heat Those with hypotension – use with caution. This tea has a clear blood pressure-lowering effect; those with low or normal blood pressure should not consume it daily Pregnant women – use with caution or avoid. Sophora flower is cold in nature and may increase the risk of miscarriage Those allergic to chrysanthemum, sophora flower, or tea – avoid
