Herbal & Flower Teas
Acanthopanax, Goji Berry and Red Date Tea
Traditionally used to improve cerebral circulation, reduce fatigue, and support mental clarity
Why people make this tea
Cognitive decline is one of the most challenging conditions families face in ageing — not just for the person affected, but for the carers who watch a loved one slowly lose their bearings. Bro Niu developed this simple three-ingredient tea as something easy enough to brew daily, mild enough for elderly family members to accept, and — based on traditional herbal knowledge — genuinely supportive of brain health over time.
The star ingredient is acanthopanax (ci wu jia), sometimes called Siberian ginseng, though it is botanically distinct from true ginseng. In Chinese medicine it is associated with improving cerebral blood flow, combating fatigue, supporting bone marrow function, and having a calming, grounding effect on the nervous system. The flavour is not heavy — when blended with goji berries and red dates, it becomes a pleasantly mild, slightly sweet tea that most people find easy to drink regularly.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for older adults, especially those with early or mild cognitive concerns, low energy, or low mood.
- Can be taken by adults of most constitutions for regular preventive use.
- Acanthopanax is warm in nature — those with a strong heat constitution should not take it in large quantities. If your constitution runs hot, Bro Niu suggests blueberry powder or blueberry supplements as an alternative approach.
- Not suitable during an active cold or illness.
- For the safety of extended use: take for 1–2 months, then pause for 2–3 weeks before resuming.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Acanthopanax (ci wu jia): Associated with improving cerebral circulation, boosting resistance to fatigue and hypoxia, stimulating bone marrow blood cell production, activating blood flow, and calming the mind. Available at Chinese herb shops.
- Goji berries (gou qi zi): Broadly nourishing to the liver and kidneys; associated with supporting vision, calming the mind, and contributing to overall vitality.
- Red dates (hong zao): Nourish qi and blood; moderate the flavour of the herbal ingredients and add gentle sweetness.
Ingredients (2 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Acanthopanax (ci wu jia) | 19 g | Rinse; some varieties are thorn-free flat pieces — both are fine |
| Goji berries (gou qi zi) | 11 g | Rinse briefly |
| Red dates (hong zao) | 6 pieces | |
| Water | 3 bowls |
Method
- Rinse all ingredients briefly.
- Place acanthopanax, goji berries, and red dates in a pot with 3 bowls of water.
- Bring to a boil, then simmer for 15 minutes until the liquid reduces to about 2 bowls.
- Strain and serve warm.
Bro Niu’s tips
- Acanthopanax is available at Chinese herbal medicine shops. It comes in two forms: one with small thorns (the traditional variety) and one as flat thorn-free slices — both are effective.
- This tea has a mild flavour with no strong herbal bitterness, making it suitable even for elderly family members who dislike herbal teas.
- Adding 3–4 dried figs can improve the flavour and is perfectly fine to do.
- For a longer-term protocol, rotate this with the cistanche-goji-schisandra soup (recipe 7180) and a yi zhi ren (益智仁) tea. Take each once per week, and pause after two months of regular use.
- Bro Niu also notes that recent research points to blueberries as a complementary approach — daily intake of blueberries or a blueberry supplement has been associated in some studies with slowed cognitive decline.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (shum): My mother is over 80, has been diagnosed with cognitive decline, and is also on blood-thinning medication for dementia. Her condition worsened recently. Can she drink this tea? Can I add figs? Bro Niu: Yes, you can give her one cup of this acanthopanax-goji-red date tea daily. Adding 3–4 figs is fine. The tea has no strong herbal flavour and should be easy for her to accept.
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Q (scy): Is ci wu jia (acanthopanax) the same as wu jia pi (five-bark skin)? Can I rotate between this tea and the other brain-health teas you recommend? Bro Niu: Wu jia pi (southern five-bark) and ci wu jia are not the same — when buying, tell the herbalist you want the thorned variety of ci wu jia to be sure. As for rotating: yes, you can rotate this tea with the yi zhi ren tea and the rou cong rong tea, taking each about once a week. After 1–2 months of regular use, pause for 2–3 weeks.
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Q (Ling): The ci wu jia I bought has no thorns — it is flat pieces. Is it still ci wu jia? Bro Niu: Some acanthopanax is indeed thorn-free and comes in flat slices — that is still ci wu jia and is perfectly usable.
Published April 10, 2019 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
