Product Details
Chrysanthemum
One 250 mL (8½ fl oz) bottle
Chrysanthemum is a flowering plant which is native to Asia and Northeastern Europe, and its greatest diversity can be found in China. In traditional medicine, chrysanthemum is said to strengthen the immune system. The Chrysanthemum flower is often made into tea in China, where it is used as a folk remedy for colds and flus.
Ingredients: Chrysanthemum, Honeysuckle, and Astragalus
Directions: 1 tablespoonful (about 15 mL) daily.
The Chrysanthemum flower is also known as Ju Hua. It has been made into a summertime tea in China for generations, and in traditional Chinese medicine, it is believed to "dispel heat" in the liver and gallbladder, "lighten the body", and fight aging[1].
The Thoroughly Revised Materia Medica elaborates on the properties of Chrysanthemum thusly:
Sweet chrysanthemum flower is sweet, bitter, and slightly cold. Thoroughly imbued with the qi of the four seasons, it sprouts in winter, produces leaves in spring, blossoms in summer, and reaches full flower in autumn. In its fullness, it embraces the frost and succumbs to the essence of metal and water, thus it is able to benefit the two organs, the Lungs and Kidneys.
...
Thus, it can nourish the eyes and the blood.
Because it is believed to nourish the eyes, chrysanthemum teas and tinctures are often consumed by people who sit in front of a computer all day, and worry about eye strain. Because it is believed to strengthen the immune system, chrysanthemum teas and tinctures are also taken by people who hope to prevent colds and flus.
References:
- Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica 3rd Edition, D Bensky & S Clavey & E Stöger, Eastland Press 2004, pp58-61.