Herbal & Flower Teas
American Ginseng, Longan and Lily Bulb Tea
Traditionally calms the mind and supports restful sleep
Why people make this tea
When the mind races at night, the old approach is to settle the heart rather than force the body to sleep. Bro Niu pairs longan — long valued for nourishing blood and, in tradition, for “lightening the body and slowing aging” — with cooling American ginseng, calming fu shen and gentle lily bulb. The result is a sweet, fragrant brew that is traditionally taken by people who feel restless, forgetful, or worn down by nervous fatigue.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- People with a restless mind, trouble sleeping, forgetfulness or nervous exhaustion.
- People with diarrhea, abdominal bloating, strong internal heat, or a thick greasy tongue coating should avoid longan and skip this tea.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- American ginseng (xi yang shen): A cooling qi tonic; traditionally clears heat while gently restoring energy, so it does not feel “heaty.”
- Longan (yuan rou): Traditionally nourishes blood and the heart and is associated with supporting memory and easing fatigue.
- Fu shen (Poria with root): Traditionally calms the spirit and settles a restless mind.
- Lily bulb (bai he): Traditionally moistens and quiets the heart, helping with restlessness.
Ingredients (2 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| American ginseng slices | ~3 qian (11 g) | Added at the end |
| Dried longan flesh | ~5 qian (19 g) | Sulfur-free preferred |
| Fu shen | ~4 qian (15 g) | Rinse |
| Dried lily bulb | ~1 tael (38 g) | Rinse |
Method
- Rinse the longan, fu shen and lily bulb.
- Add them to 5 bowls of water and simmer down to about 2 bowls.
- Drop in the American ginseng slices, turn off the heat, and cover for about 5 minutes.
- Serve as a tea.
Bro Niu’s tips
Longan is nourishing, but it is warming and sweet — if you have diarrhea, bloating, strong internal heat or a thick greasy tongue coating, this is not the tea for you.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (kiki): Can I drink this during my period? I always have cramps. Bro Niu: Yes, you can drink it while menstruating. For cramps, try simmering motherwort (yi mu cao) with a little slab sugar instead.
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Q (kiki): I’m prone to sore throat and breakouts — if I add ginger to a brew, will it be too heating? Can I add sugar to mask the ginger? Bro Niu: Since you get sore throats easily, leave out the ginger; adding a few black dates (nan zao) works better, or use a candied date (mi zao).
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Q (Jin Zai): My headaches come with stiff, tired neck and shoulders and a heavy, foggy head — what is that? Bro Niu: Sometimes an external-cold headache brings neck and shoulder pain too. Headache causes are complex, so it is best to have a doctor pin down the type. You can try prunella (xia ku cao) with chrysanthemum simmered down — it can help with liver-yang headaches and dizzy, distending head pain.
Published November 25, 2010 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
