Herbal & Flower Teas
Rehmannia, Ophiopogon, and Longan Calming Tea
traditionally used to nourish yin, clear internal heat, calm the mind, and support emotional steadiness
Why people make this tea
City life brings its share of emotional strain: tightly wound schedules, cramped living spaces, and relentless pressure can all take a toll on emotional resilience. In Chinese medicine, patterns of irritability, mood swings, a tendency to intrude on others’ affairs, and vivid or restless dreams are often linked to insufficient yin — particularly in the heart and kidneys — allowing internal heat to agitate the mind.
Bro Niu notes that emotional patterns like these often have roots in both constitution and environment: cultivating an optimistic outlook from an early age is, in his view, the best long-term medicine. But for day-to-day support, this three-ingredient tea — which is pleasantly sweet and not at all heavy in herbal taste — is a simple, accessible brew that gently nourishes yin and calms internal restlessness.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits those prone to emotional ups and downs, irritability, excessive rumination, insomnia with vivid dreams, or restless energy
- Also appropriate for those with general yin deficiency with internal heat patterns
- Not recommended during an active cold, flu, or external-heat fever — the yin-nourishing herbs are not appropriate during an acute illness with external pathogen
- Generally mild; the herbal taste is subtle and the tea is naturally sweetened by the longan
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Fresh rehmannia root (sheng di huang): One of the most important yin-nourishing herbs in Chinese medicine; traditionally used to cool blood, nourish yin, and clear deficiency-heat from the heart — particularly relevant for patterns of inner restlessness and emotional volatility
- Ophiopogon / lilyturf root (mai dong): Moist and slightly cool; traditionally used to nourish heart and lung yin, relieve internal heat, and calm the spirit — often paired with rehmannia for deeper yin nourishment
- Longan flesh (yuan rou): Sweet and warming; traditionally nourishes heart blood and calms the mind — its gentle warmth also prevents the formula from becoming too cooling, making the tea balanced and accessible
Ingredients (2 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh rehmannia root (sheng di huang) | 5 qian (~18 g) | Rinse before use |
| Ophiopogon tuber (mai dong) | 5 qian (~18 g) | Rinse before use |
| Dried longan flesh | 4 qian (~15 g) | Rinse before use |
| Water | 5 bowls (~1.25 L) |
Method
- Rinse all three ingredients thoroughly.
- Combine with 5 bowls of water in a pot. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer for about 40 minutes, until the liquid reduces to approximately 2 bowls.
- Divide into two portions. Drink one bowl in the morning and one in the evening.
Bro Niu’s tips
- The flavour of this tea is naturally sweet and mildly herbal — it is easy to drink and does not require any added sweetener.
- Do not take during an active cold, flu, or any condition with external fever.
- This tea is meant as a daily-use supportive brew, not a replacement for professional care. For serious or persistent mood conditions, always consult a qualified healthcare provider.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Cindy): My 10-month-old baby wakes up at least twice every night. I’m exhausted. Can you suggest anything? Bro Niu: You sound like the one who needs some calming support too! Try this for yourself: wheat grain (xiao mai mi, 1 liang), poria mushroom / fu shen (5 qian), lily bulb (1 liang), longan flesh (3 qian), honey-fried licorice root (zhi gan cao, 2 qian), red dates (6 pieces), in 5 bowls of water simmered to 2 bowls. Take for 4–5 days. (Note: for a very young baby, a sleep consultant or paediatrician is the right first step.)
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Q (Sally): I have been getting headaches and migraines, dizziness, insomnia, and nightmares — with a lot of mental tension. What soup would help? Bro Niu: Try this: Sichuan lovage rhizome (chuan xiong, 2 qian), gastrodia root (tian ma, 3 qian), Dahurian angelica root (bai zhi, 3 qian), longan flesh (5 qian), poria spirit root (fu shen, 5 qian), and fresh ginger (3 slices) — simmered with a large fish head for 1 hour. Drink the soup and eat the fish head. Take for 3 days and see if it brings relief.
Published November 19, 2020 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
