Nourishing the heart can be considered the pinnacle of health preservation in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The "Huangdi Neijing" (The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) records: "The heart is the monarch of the organs, and consciousness emerges from it. When the monarch is enlightened, the entire system is peaceful; using this principle for health preservation leads to a long life without peril. When the monarch is not enlightened, the twelve organs are in danger, the pathways become blocked, and the body suffers greatly; using this principle for health preservation leads to disaster." Thus, nourishing the heart is the most crucial aspect of regulating the five organs. Here, I will introduce a formula for nourishing the heart and spirit—American Ginseng and Jujube Tea.
Astragalus and Jujube Tea
American Ginseng, also known as Flower Flag Ginseng, has a cool nature and is associated with the heart, lung, and kidney meridians. While it clears heart fire, it also has significant nourishing yin properties. It can replenish the fluid loss caused by excessive sweating and alleviate symptoms of a dry mouth and throat and vexation in the five centers (palms, soles, and chest). Therefore, it is particularly suitable for use in the summer. Modern medical research has shown that for patients with heart failure, American Ginseng can significantly improve the heart's blood supply capacity and enhance cardiac function.
Besides its well-known blood-nourishing effect, jujube also has remarkable calming properties. The summer heat can easily lead to irritability and agitation, making it a suitable season to eat jujube to nourish the heart and spirit. When these two excellent medicinal and food ingredients, both beneficial for heart nourishment, are combined, their effect of calming the heart and spirit is excellent.
The preparation method for American Ginseng and Jujube Tea is very simple. Take six or seven slices of American Ginseng and two or three jujubes, and steep them in boiling water for ten to fifteen minutes before drinking. The jujubes can be pre-cracked for easier infusion. After the tea is consumed, you can add water multiple times to re-brew it. By the afternoon, when the tea has lost its flavor, you can remove the American Ginseng slices and jujubes and eat them.
American Ginseng and Jujube Tea is an excellent beverage for heart nourishment that can help prevent and treat heart ailments. However, it is not suitable for everyone. Those with a deficient and cold constitution who often experience diarrhea should avoid it, as the cooling nature of American Ginseng would aggravate their existing symptoms. Furthermore, people who are accustomed to drinking coffee should not drink this tea. Coffee is stimulating and invigorating, while American Ginseng and Jujube Tea is calming and tranquilizing; trying to be both stimulated and sedated at the same time will be futile. It is also not advisable to eat radishes while drinking this tea, as radishes have a strong dispersing nature that can counteract the tonic effects of American Ginseng.
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