Herbal & Flower Teas
Jiaogulan and Dangshen Tea
Traditionally used to support the liver and kidney and nourish qi and blood
Why people make this tea
Bro Niu picked up a bag of jiaogulan on a trip and brewed it as a tea — gently sweet, with little herbal bitterness. Jiaogulan contains ginseng-like compounds, which is why it’s nicknamed “southern ginseng.” Brewed with codonopsis and prepared fleeceflower root, it’s a warm, comforting daily tonic tea that older folks like to sip over a stretch of weeks.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits older adults wanting a mild daily tonic tea; young people can drink it too. Gentle on the system and not heating.
- Not for pregnant women, those with bleeding disorders, or those with lupus. If you take Western medicine (including blood thinners or blood-pressure pills), wait about 2 hours after your dose.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Jiaogulan (jiao gu lan): “southern ginseng,” traditionally associated with supporting the liver and immunity; mild and not heating.
- Codonopsis (dang shen): a gentle qi tonic, traditionally used to nourish qi and blood.
- Prepared fleeceflower root (zhi shou wu): traditionally associated with nourishing the liver and kidney and the blood.
Ingredients (2 bowls, 1 day)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jiaogulan | ~38 g (1 tael) | Mild, not heating |
| Codonopsis (dangshen) | ~38 g (1 tael) | |
| Prepared fleeceflower root | ~38 g (1 tael) | Use the prepared (zhi) form |
| Honey | to taste | Stir in when slightly cooled |
Method
- Rinse the jiaogulan, codonopsis and prepared fleeceflower root.
- “Double-decoct”: add 6 bowls of water and simmer down to 1 bowl; set aside, then add 3 more bowls of water and simmer down to 1 bowl again. Combine the two into 2 bowls.
- When slightly cooled, stir in honey. Drink in two portions over the day. Take over a stretch of time.
Bro Niu’s tips
This tea is traditionally associated with supporting the liver and kidney and nourishing qi and blood. It is gentle and not heating, so it suits people with high blood pressure too, and those recovering from a mild stroke who are on medication — just wait about 2 hours after taking your Western medicine. Remember the cautions: not for pregnancy, bleeding disorders, or lupus.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Keith Cheong): What does “double-decoct” mean? Bro Niu: First add water and simmer down to 1 bowl, pour it off; then add 3 more bowls of water and simmer down to 1 bowl again. Combine the two batches.
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Q (Irene Ho): If someone had a mild stroke and now takes blood-pressure and blood-thinning medicine, can they drink this? Bro Niu: This tea suits people who had a mild stroke and those on Western medicine — just drink it about 2 hours after taking your medication.
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Q (angel): With high blood pressure, can I just steep jiaogulan in hot water daily? Will it be “heating”? Bro Niu: Jiaogulan tea is not heating, and people with high blood pressure can drink it.
Published September 8, 2010 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
