Chrysanthemum
菊花 · Jú Huā
Cools tired eyes and a tension headache
What it does
Chrysanthemum cools tired, red eyes, eases tension headaches, and gentles fevers from early colds. In TCM, it disperses wind-heat (the early-stage cold pattern with sore throat and fever) and calms 'liver yang rising,' the upward heat pattern behind dizziness and headaches. Its sweet floral taste makes it one of the gentlest TCM teas. Often paired with goji berry for a classic eye-supporting brew.
How to take it
Steep 5–10 dried chrysanthemum flowers in hot water for 5–10 minutes. Drink 1–2 cups. Add a few goji berries for sweetness and eye support. Iced version is great in summer.
Try chrysanthemum and goji tea after long screen sessions
Safety
- Generally very safe for daily use
- Possible cross-reaction if you have ragweed or daisy family allergies
- Cool nature can aggravate cold-pattern digestion
- Skip during pregnancy in concentrated medicinal doses
- Talk to your doctor before starting medicinal use, especially if you take medication
Where it comes from
Chrysanthemum has been a Chinese cultural icon for over 3,000 years, celebrated as one of the 'four gentlemen' of Chinese painting alongside plum, orchid, and bamboo. The medicinal flowers come from cultivars in the Hangzhou region (Hangbai Ju), Anhui (Bo Ju), and Henan (Huai Ju), each with slightly different uses. The Double Ninth Festival on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month traditionally celebrates chrysanthemum with chrysanthemum tea and wine.