Herbal & Flower Teas
Hawthorn, Uncaria and Chrysanthemum Tea
Traditionally calms the liver and eases dizziness
Why people make this tea
Bro Niu is direct about this one: if you have high blood pressure and start feeling dizzy or seeing spots, don’t shrug it off — it can be an early warning of stroke, so get checked by a doctor. As a gentle daily tea in the meantime, he offers this blend of hawthorn, uncaria and chrysanthemum. Uncaria is traditionally used for dizziness and head pressure, and modern interest in it for tremor conditions is what drew his attention.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Traditionally chosen by middle-aged and older people managing blood pressure who want a pleasant, mild daily tea.
- Anyone with high blood pressure and new dizziness should see a doctor to rule out a stroke warning sign. This is a wellness tea, not a substitute for blood-pressure care.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Hawthorn (shan zha): Traditionally associated with easing food stagnation and supporting healthy blood lipids and pressure.
- Uncaria (gou teng): Traditionally used to calm the liver and ease dizziness and head pressure; valued in folk use for tremor and spasm.
- Chrysanthemum (ju hua): Traditionally associated with brightening the eyes, dispersing wind-heat and calming the liver.
Ingredients (2 cups)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hawthorn | 1 tablespoon | |
| Uncaria | 2 tablespoons | |
| Chrysanthemum | 1 tablespoon |
Method
- Rinse the ingredients.
- Simmer in 4 bowls of water for 10 minutes, down to 2 bowls.
- Drink over the course of the day.
Bro Niu’s tips
This tea is fragrant without a strong medicinal taste, making it a nice everyday wellness tea for middle-aged and older people. Don’t over-boil the chrysanthemum and uncaria — cooking beyond 20 minutes reduces their effect.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Ada): I’m a woman in my 40s with high blood pressure — is there a simpler food-therapy tea? Bro Niu: For high blood pressure you can steep hawthorn, chrysanthemum and roasted cassia seed as a regular tea — it works well and is neither cooling nor warming.
Published May 19, 2023 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
