Astragalus and Bupleurum Tea with Red Dates

Why people make this tea

Gastroptosis — a condition where the stomach sits lower than its normal position — is more common than many people realize. It tends to affect those who are naturally lean and slender, have lost significant weight, or have experienced a long illness. The characteristic complaint is a dragging sensation after eating, as if the stomach is pulling downward, often accompanied by easy fullness, bloating, belching, and general fatigue. In traditional Chinese medicine, this is understood as “sinking qi” — the upward-holding energy of the middle body being insufficient. Astragalus root (bei qi, also called huang qi) is one of the most important qi-tonifying herbs in Chinese food therapy; bupleurum (chai hu) specifically helps to raise and lift this qi; and red dates support the spleen and stomach. The combination is classical and time-tested.