Nourishing Herbal Teas for Treating Qi Deficiency and Fatigue

Some people often feel weak and fatigued, but when they go to the hospital for a check-up, there is nothing major wrong with them. In the concept of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), qi and blood are the most basic substances that maintain the human body's life activities. Qi propels the circulation of blood, and blood nourishes the root of qi. Qi deficiency and fatigue should be treated by nourishing yin and replenishing blood. In this article, I will introduce several herbal teas for treating qi deficiency and fatigue!

【Main Causes of Qi Deficiency and Fatigue】

1. Excessive fatigue.

In TCM, it is often said that "excessive labor consumes qi," which means that excessive labor can deplete the body's vitality. Qi is a form of energy that constantly functions in our body. When people are more fatigued, they are more susceptible to catching a cold. On the other hand, if they combine work and rest and take appropriate breaks after work, the incidence of catching a cold is relatively lower.

This is closely related to the circulation and replenishment of qi in our body. If we use qi within a normal range and replenish it regularly with sufficient substances to transform it into new energy, then our qi can generally remain sufficient. However, if the expenditure of energy exceeds the supply and there is an imbalance, the qi will deplete rapidly, resulting in qi deficiency. If the qi is excessively overdrawn, it is easy to get sick.

2. Mental exhaustion.

Long-term excessive mental exertion can harm the heart and spleen, leading to qi deficiency. This is caused by excessive mental strain. For example, during the Three Kingdoms period, Zhuge Liang, after Liu Bei's death, assisted Liu Shan in governing the Shu Kingdom while actively launching campaigns against the Wei Kingdom. He personally handled everything, and as a result, he eventually died at the Battle of Wuzhang Plains due to mental and physical exhaustion. From the perspective of TCM health preservation, Zhuge Liang most likely died from severe qi deficiency caused by excessive mental exertion.

3. Suppressed emotions.

Long-term emotional depression and stagnation of liver qi can easily lead to qi deficiency constitution. When liver qi is not smooth, the spleen, which is the "source of qi production," will be affected, leading to spleen deficiency. When the spleen is deficient, can qi still be abundant? Lin Daiyu in the novel "Dream of the Red Chamber" always frowns and has a depressed mood. From the perspective of TCM health preservation, she has always been physically thin, weak, pale, tired, and weak, which are signs of severe qi deficiency. This is caused by long-term stagnation of liver qi. With the worsening of qi deficiency, the immune system is severely weakened, and she eventually developed pulmonary tuberculosis.

【Herbal Teas for Treating Qi Deficiency and Fatigue】

1. Peppermint and Lingzhi Tea

Ingredients: peppermint, lingzhi, roasted malt

Method: Put lingzhi and roasted malt in a pot, add an appropriate amount of boiling water, and then add peppermint to continue boiling for five minutes. Drink it while it's hot.

Effect: This recipe is very suitable for people who often stay up late or have irregular sleep patterns. Lingzhi has a good effect of clearing heat and detoxifying, roasted malt can promote gastrointestinal health and relieve constipation, and peppermint has the effect of refreshing the mind. When these three ingredients are mixed together, they not only promote overall health but also have a good effect on treating qi and blood deficiency.

2. Isatis Root Tea

Ingredients: isatis root, dahing leaf, honeysuckle

Method: Put all the ingredients in a pot, then add an appropriate amount of water, and simmer for ten minutes. Drink it while it's hot.

Effect: This tea has a good effect on treating sore throat and diarrhea. Isatis root and dahing leaf are both good at relieving fever, clearing heat, and detoxifying, while honeysuckle can effectively inhibit infections and prevent the condition from worsening.

3. Dried Tangerine Peel Tea

Ingredients: dried tangerine peel, white sugar

Method: Put the dried tangerine peel in a cup, then add hot water for brewing. After ten minutes, uncover and remove the dregs, then add a small amount of white sugar and drink it.

Effect: This tea not only has a good effect on treating qi deficiency but also is suitable for consumption in summer, with excellent heat-relieving, thirst-quenching, and stomach-tonifying effects. Dried tangerine peel has the effect of regulating qi and invigorating the spleen, and it has a good effect on poor appetite, vomiting, and diarrhea that may occur in summer. In addition, dried tangerine peel contains a large amount of nutrients that are beneficial to the body, such as vitamins, volatile oils, and nobiletin, which can promote gastrointestinal health.

Note: This tea is not suitable for everyone. Patients with constipation, dry mouth, and fever are advised not to consume it until their health has improved.