Introduction: Drinking herbal teas in spring can not only alleviate discomforts such as canker sores and dry eyes but also promote the growth of yang energy in the body. A Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner recommends four herbal teas with no significant contraindications. You can choose based on your personal preference:
■ Excess Liver Fire — Chrysanthemum Tea
Chrysanthemum has the effects of dispelling wind and clearing heat, clearing the liver and brightening the eyes, nourishing the liver, and calming the liver. It can relieve symptoms such as eye fatigue, headaches, and a sore throat. For those with good digestive function, adding some honey when brewing can improve the taste.
■ Eye Fatigue — Goji Berry Tea
Goji berries are sweet, neutral, and moistening. Goji berry tea has the benefits of nourishing the kidneys, nourishing the liver, moistening the lungs, brightening the eyes, and alleviating fatigue. You can steep them in water or chew them dry. About ten berries at a time is sufficient, as eating too many can easily cause internal heat.
■ Promoting Bowel Movements — Cassia Seed Tea
Cassia seeds are bitter and sweet in taste with a cool nature. They have the effects of dispelling wind, clearing the liver and brightening the eyes, and moistening the intestines to promote bowel movements. They also have a辅助 effect on symptoms such as flaring-up deficiency fire, red and swollen eyes, headaches, and blurred vision.
■ Anxiety and Depression — Rose Tea
Roses are slightly sweet and bitter in taste with a warm nature. They are an excellent example of a food-medicine homology source. Their most prominent effects are regulating qi to relieve depression, calming and soothing, and anti-anxiety and anti-depression. For women, drinking rose tea before or during menstruation can help regulate the menstrual cycle, relieve pain, and alleviate bad mood and a dull complexion. Roses also have the effects of cooling the blood and nourishing the skin, reducing fat, and eliminating bad breath.