Herbal & Flower Teas
Longan Qi-Nourishing Calming Tea
traditionally used to support a calm mind, ease palpitations, and promote restful sleep
Why people make this tea
Some people are naturally more sensitive — easily startled by sudden changes, prone to worry in unfamiliar settings, and struggling to sleep well. In the Chinese food-therapy tradition, this pattern is linked to a combination of qi deficiency and insufficient heart-blood nourishment. Bro Niu has long recommended this simple, pleasantly sweet tea as a gentle daily support: it does not require a visit to a Chinese medicine practitioner, yet draws on time-tested ingredients that each play a clear role in supporting calm and vitality.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits those who are easily anxious or startled, experience palpitations or shortness of breath, sleep lightly, dream a great deal, or have a pale complexion from qi and blood deficiency
- Also appropriate for those with low energy and timid or shy constitution
- Not recommended during an active cold or flu, or for people with a heavy-damp constitution or signs of yin deficiency with heat (e.g., night sweats with hot flashes) — please consult a practitioner if unsure
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Longan flesh (yuan rou): Warm and sweet; traditionally regarded as a tonic for the heart and spleen, supporting blood production and calming the mind
- Astragalus root (bei qi): One of the most widely used qi-tonics in Chinese herbalism; thought to build protective energy and support overall vitality
- Codonopsis root (dang shen): A gentler alternative to ginseng; traditionally supports the spleen-stomach system, helping the body absorb nutrients and build qi over time
- Schisandra berries (wu wei zi): Named for its “five flavors,” this berry has a long history of use for calming the nervous system, reducing night sweats, and supporting the lungs and kidneys — traditionally associated with mental clarity and emotional resilience
- Red dates (hong zao): Sweet and harmonizing; commonly added to tonify blood and moderate the action of stronger herbs
Ingredients (2 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dried longan flesh | 5 qian (~18 g) | Rinse before use |
| Astragalus root (bei qi) | 5 qian (~18 g) | Rinse before use |
| Codonopsis root (dang shen) | 3 qian (~11 g) | Rinse before use |
| Schisandra berries (wu wei zi) | 3 qian (~11 g) | Rinse before use |
| Red dates | 6 pieces | Pit before use |
| Water | 5 bowls (~1.25 L) |
Method
- Rinse all ingredients well. Remove the pits from the red dates.
- Combine all ingredients with 5 bowls of water in a pot.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to a medium-low simmer. Cook for about 1 hour until the liquid reduces to roughly 2 bowls.
- Pour into cups and drink warm — one bowl in the morning, one about two hours before bed.
Bro Niu’s tips
- This tea is also suitable for people with a pale complexion and general qi-and-blood weakness, not just those prone to anxiety.
- Drink 3 to 4 times per week; for sleep support, take one serving about two hours before bedtime.
- Do not use during an active cold or flu, or if you have a heavily damp constitution or strong yin-deficiency heat signs.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (ROSITA): What is the best time to drink this calming tea, and how often per week? I have been sleeping poorly. Bro Niu: Drink it about two hours before bedtime. Aim for 3 to 4 servings per week.
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Q (Sammi): My teenage daughter has become very withdrawn over the past few years — pale, lethargic, easily irritated. Is there a food therapy that might help? Bro Niu: The most important thing is warmth, encouragement, and patient listening — no soup replaces that. But you could try a calming congee: wheat grain (1 liang), lily bulb (1 liang), fu shen (5 qian), red dates (6 pieces), with rock sugar, simmered in 6–7 bowls of water down to 3–4 bowls. The whole family can share it — it gently supports the heart and settles the spirit.
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Q (Reader, via Fiona): My three-and-a-half-year-old has G6PD deficiency and sleeps restlessly. Is there anything suitable? Bro Niu: Try this: lotus seeds with core (5 qian), lily bulb (5 qian), rush pith grass (6 bundles), red dates (4 pieces), simmered in 5 bowls of water down to 2 bowls. Give it over 3 to 4 days.
Published October 24, 2020 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
