Eucommia (Du Zhong) Tea

Why people make this tea

In traditional Chinese medicine, one common pattern associated with high blood pressure is called “liver-yang rising” — a state in which the liver’s yang energy, normally kept in check by sufficient yin, surges upward and causes symptoms like headaches (particularly at the top or sides of the head), dizziness, irritability, difficulty sleeping, and a sense of fullness or tension in the flanks. This three-ingredient tea is a classic response to that pattern. Nourilo describes it as one of the simpler, more accessible food-therapy teas he recommends — easy to prepare and gentle enough for regular use by those with this kind of headache profile.

Method

1. Rinse the eucommia bark and self-heal spike under running water.
2. Place them in a pot with 1.5 L of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a steady simmer.
3. Cook for approximately 1 hour until the liquid reduces to about 600 ml.
4. Add the chrysanthemum flowers and bring back to a brief boil for about 5 minutes.
5. Strain the tea and drink warm. Take twice daily.

Nourilo’s Tips

This tea is suitable for people with excessive liver fire or those prone to headaches due to kidney deficiency. It is not cooling or cold in nature, so most people find it fairly easy to take regularly. If you find the taste too concentrated or too bitter, Nourilo suggests increasing the water to 7 bowls and cooking down to 1.2 L — then drink 2 bowls per person per day, split across two occasions. For long-term maintenance, drinking it 2–3 times a week is reasonable once the acute headaches have settled.