Uncaria, Hawthorn, and Chrysanthemum Tea

Why people make this tea

Traditional Chinese medicine recognises several patterns of high blood pressure, ranging from what it calls “liver-fire rising” (characterised by a flushed face, headaches, and a hot temper) to a more deficiency-based pattern with ear ringing, fatigue, and dizziness. What this tea targets is the symptom cluster that tends to appear across many of these patterns: dizziness, headaches, ear ringing, irritability, and poor sleep. The three herbs work together — uncaria to calm nervous tension and lower pressure, hawthorn to support circulation and clear fats from the blood, and chrysanthemum to cool heat and clear the head.

Method

1. Rinse all three ingredients gently under cold water.
2. Combine with 1.1 L of water in a small pot.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer and cook for approximately 15 minutes. Do not exceed 20 minutes — uncaria’s active compounds degrade with prolonged boiling.
4. Strain and serve warm. Divide into 2 portions.

Nourilo’s Tips

This tea is most effective for those in the early stages of high blood pressure. The key thing to remember is not to over-cook the uncaria — keep the simmering time to around 15 minutes at most. If your stomach tends to run cold or you find the tea a little too cooling, add a few red dates or a small amount of dried longan to the pot before simmering.