Today's Two Tonic Tea

The two herbs - Astragalus root and hawthorn berries.

Autumn signals nature to begin condensing energy inward toward our core and I always think of astragalus, "huang qi", when the Late Summer season makes its shift to chilly autumn. Here in the Pacific Northwest and west of the Cascade Mountains, pathogenic dampness is a force to face October through June. Astragalus membranaceus, considered one of the best TCM Spleen Qi tonics, is the star of the show! I once had an teacher that said he never saw a patient with pathogenic dampness when they took the sweet root regularly. It tonifies the "wei qi" (the immune- protective qi) and stops perspiration. It is beneficial to bring healthy water metabolism between the digestion and respiration, as the "wei" resides in the Lungs. Use it to bolster immune health, reduce shortness of breath, and curb spontaneous sweating. It is also highly valued as an assistant in conventional cancer treatment and recovery from long term illness. It is delicious and mildly flavored so that it blends well into many teas and is even suitable as an addition to soup and porridges, as it is considered a food herb.

Photo Credit: Strictly Medicinal Seeds https://strictlymedicinalseeds.com/

The second medicinal herb of this simple yet nourishing two tea blend is Hawthorn berries, crataegus laevigata, or "Shan Zha" the c. pinnatifida of the Chinese tradition. TCM and Western herbalism use hawthorn to improve digestion, relieve food stagnation and distention after eating. It is also used in both traditions as a Heart tonic, relieving the pain of Blood stasis with menstruation, postpartum abdominal pain, hypertension and coronary heart disease. These sour/sweet little fruits are a tasty and healthful enhancer to the more bland/sweet astragalus root.

Photo credit: Oregon State University The way I make is to fill a small Instant Pot half full with water, add a small handful of dried astragalus root and half a handful of dried hawthorn berries, cover, turn on Soup mode for 5 mins then leave on the warm setting for the rest of the day, dipping the ladle in for a hot cup whenever the desire hits. You can add your sweetener of choice, but I find the sweetness just right as-is. It makes a comforting cup of well being!

I hope you try it and find it as delicious as I do!