Herbal & Flower Teas

Astragalus Goji Ophiopogon Tea

traditionally used to nourish the liver and kidneys, tonify vital energy, and support mental alertness — particularly suited to older adults experiencing unexplained fatigue or daytime drowsiness

In short: Astragalus Goji Ophiopogon Tea is a herbal & flower tea that traditionally used to nourish the liver and kidneys, tonify vital energy, and support mental alertness — particularly suited to older adults experiencing unexplained fatigue or daytime drowsiness. It is most often made for children's wellness, liver wellness, kidney & urinary wellness. Total time about 15 min. Key ingredients: goji berries.

Prep
5 min
Cook
10 min
Total
15 min
Makes
1–2 cups
Astragalus Goji Ophiopogon Tea

Why people make this tea

There is a familiar saying in Chinese: young people cannot wake up, old people cannot fall asleep. Yet the reverse — older adults who become excessively sleepy during the day — is also common, and the causes can be varied. Some relate to circulation, some to medication side effects, some to thyroid or mood-related conditions, and some simply to the natural decline in vital energy (qi) and nourishment of the liver and kidneys that traditional Chinese medicine associates with ageing. Nourilo’s first recommendation is always to see a doctor when a new pattern of daytime sleepiness appears in an older person. But for those whose sleepiness appears related to general age-related decline — dizziness, ringing in the ears, thirst, low energy — this simple daily tea is a practical and well-regarded food-therapy support.

What studies say about the key ingredients

Traditional use is not the same as clinical proof. Here is the strongest human research we found for each ingredient, limitations included.

  • Astragalus root · Meta-analysis, 8 studies, 750 participants · 2025
    TA-65 was associated with longer leukocyte telomeres compared with controls, but the meta-analysis found no significant improvement in frailty measures or inflammatory markers (CRP/IL-6). Mild gastrointestinal effects were reported.Limitation: Industry-funded trials reported larger effects than others, and the compound is a purified extract at doses not comparable to eating Astragalus root.PubMed 41286474 · 3 more astragalus root studies
  • Goji berries · Meta-analysis, 161 participants · 2012
    Compared with placebo (n=80), the goji juice group (n=81) reported greater improvements in several self-rated symptoms, including stress, mental acuity, sleep quality and overall well-being, under a random effects model.Limitation: Outcomes were self-reported symptom questionnaires, and several symptoms showed significant heterogeneity across the four pooled trials of a single branded juice.PubMed 22897500 · 3 more goji berries studies

From the Nourilo Research Library. Findings come from specific doses, extracts and populations and may not apply to a home-cooked recipe.

Safety first — read before you cook

This is a traditional food, not a treatment. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before making it a regular part of your diet if you:

  • are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are cooking for a young child;
  • take regular medicines — especially blood thinners, blood-pressure, diabetes or immune-suppressing drugs;
  • have a kidney, liver or heart condition, or a known food allergy.

Ingredient notes for this recipe

  • Goji berries: A few cases of raised INR (a bleeding-risk marker) have been reported in people taking warfarin after drinking concentrated goji tea or wine. If you take a blood thinner, check with your doctor. Source: Memorial Sloan Kettering — Lycium
  • Astragalus: May interact with medicines that suppress the immune system. A thorough safety evaluation has not been done, and little is known about its safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Source: NIH NCCIH — Astragalus

Stop eating it and seek advice if you notice an allergic reaction or feel unwell. Safety notes reviewed 8 October 2026 · How we write safety notes

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