Gynostemma and Safflower Tea

Category: Herbal Tea

Herbal Tea Name: Gynostemma and Safflower Tea

Chinese Name: 绞股蓝红花茶

Formula

100 grams of Gynostemma pentaphyllum, 50 grams of safflower, and 20 grams of green tea.

Main Ingredients

How To Make

First, sort the Gynostemma pentaphyllum and safflower to remove impurities, then dry them in an oven. Grind them together into a coarse powder, mix thoroughly with green tea, and store in a glass jar with a ground-glass stopper for future use.

Efficacy

Promotes the flow of qi and blood and unblocks the meridians. Suitable for post-stroke sequelae caused by qi and blood deficiency and stagnation.

Usage

Twice daily, take 10 grams each time, place in a cup, pour boiling water over it, cover, and let steep for 10 minutes. Drink as a tea substitute frequently; the mixture can be rebrewed 3–5 times.

Commentary

Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Jiao-gu-lan) serves as the monarch (chief) herb. Sweet, bitter-cool in property, it enters the Spleen, Lung, Kidney meridians, and works to tonify qi, nourish yin and resolve phlegm and heat. Safflower (Hong-hua) joins as the supporting deputy, pungent-warm in property, acting through the Heart, Liver meridians to activate blood, unblock menstruation and resolve stasis. Finally, green tea (Lu-cha) functions as the harmonizing (envoy) ingredient; its role is to clear heat, resolve dampness and refresh the mind and coordinate the herbs. Collectively, the combination promote the flow of qi and blood and unblock the meridians, addressing the blood deficiency and blood pattern.

Gynostemma and Safflower Tea，From *Proven Tea, Decoction, and Soup Recipes for Common Ailments*,Promotes the flow of qi and blood and unblocks the meridians. Suitable for post-stroke sequelae caused by qi and blood deficiency and stagnation.

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