As the autumnal chill sets in, the body’s yang energy begins to contract and conserve. After the intense excitement and exuberance of the summer heat, the external environment has grown melancholy and cool, yet the residual internal heat has not yet dissipated, leaving the body feeling unusually dry in autumn.

I’d like to recommend a simple, everyday health-boosting tea. — Use 5 grams each of dried tangerine peel, ophiopogon, lily bulb, and goji berries; simmer in a health-preserving pot for 20 minutes. Drink once daily to clear the lungs, strengthen the spleen, nourish yin, and moisten dryness.

Effects and Functions of Dried Tangerine Peel

Regulate qi and strengthen the spleen, harmonize the middle jiao, dry dampness, and transform phlegm.

Citrus peel primarily regulates the qi of the spleen and stomach; since the spleen and stomach are located in the middle jiao, when their qi flows freely, the qi of the three burners is likewise set in motion. The three burners serve as the “officials of drainage,” facilitating the circulation of fluids and often accompanying dampness; they also function as the outer organs surrounding the zang-fu, extending upward to the heart and lungs and downward to the liver and kidneys. Therefore, the effects of citrus peel can broadly encompass all the zang-fu and permeate the entire body, dispelling dampness throughout.

1. From the perspective of the lungs, pungent herbs disperse lung qi, bitter herbs drain lung qi, and warm herbs transform cold qi; together they can treat excessive phlegm, cough and wheezing, as well as qi stagnation and food retention.

2. From the perspective of the heart, pungent herbs invigorate the heart qi, bitter herbs drain the heart fire, and warm, drying herbs transform damp-turbidity; together they can treat vexing heat in the chest and foul, regurgitative halitosis.

3. From the perspective of the liver, pungent herbs disperse liver qi stagnation, bitter herbs descend excess liver fire, and warm herbs transform cold-dampness; therefore, they are effective in treating liver qi stagnation with heat and fluid retention with food stagnation.

4. From the perspective of the kidneys, pungent flavors moisten kidney dryness, bitter flavors drain dampness from the kidneys, and mild flavors tonify kidney qi; therefore, they can treat deficiency of vital fire and impaired digestion.

Effects and Functions of Ophiopogon japonicus

Nourishes stomach yin, moistens the lungs to relieve cough, and tonifies lung yin.

1. Nourishing stomach yin: Ophiopogon japonicus is a yin-tonifying herb that can nourish stomach yin, thereby alleviating symptoms such as gastric pain, loss of appetite, and polydipsia caused by deficiency of stomach yin.

2. Moistening the Lungs and Relieving Cough: Ophiopogon japonicus also has the effects of nourishing yin and moistening dryness, effectively alleviating symptoms such as irritability, restlessness, insomnia, and excessive dreaming that arise from deficiency of heart yin.

3. Nourishing Lung Yin: Ophiopogon japonicus has the effect of nourishing Lung Yin and can be used to alleviate symptoms such as cough, wheezing, and excessive phlegm caused by Lung Yin deficiency.

Benefits and Effects of Lily

Nourishes yin and moistens the lungs; clears the heart and calms the spirit.

Lily bulb has a sweet taste and a cooling nature, and it enters the Heart and Lung meridians. Its effects are mild and gentle; it can nourish Lung Yin and clear Lung Heat, while also exerting a certain degree of cough-suppressing and phlegm-resolving action. It is primarily indicated for dry cough due to Yin deficiency and for consumptive cough with hemoptysis. Moreover, in cases of vexation, palpitations, insomnia with frequent dreams, and mental confusion caused by Yin deficiency with internal heat, it can nourish Yin, clear the Heart, calm the Spirit, and promote restful sleep.

Benefits and Effects of Goji Berries

Tonify the kidneys and replenish essence; delay aging.

Goji berries are the mature fruits of the Solanaceae plant Lycium barbarum. They are harvested in summer and autumn when fully ripe, with the pedicels removed. The berries are then laid out in a cool, shaded area to dry until the skin develops wrinkles, after which they are sun-dried until the outer skin is dry and hard while the flesh remains soft. In cloudy or rainy weather, they may be gently dried over low heat. Goji berries are known for their anti-aging and kidney-tonifying effects, among others.
     1. Delaying aging: Goji berries are rich in goji polysaccharides, β-carotene, vitamin E, selenium, flavonoids, and other antioxidant compounds, which exhibit potent antioxidant activity. They can counteract free-radical-induced lipid peroxidation, mitigate the resulting oxidative damage, and thereby help to slow down the aging process.
     2. Tonifying the Kidneys and Nourishing the Essence: Goji berries are used to treat deficiency of kidney essence, which typically manifests as dizziness, lightheadedness, shortness of breath, reluctance to speak, general fatigue, and a sense of exhaustion and weakness.
     3. Skin Nourishment and Beauty: The abundant vitamins and trace elements in goji berries can help brighten and moisturize women’s skin, promoting a radiant and youthful complexion.

How to Make Tangerine Peel, Ophiopogon, Lily Bulb, and Goji Berry Tea

Take 1 each of dried tangerine peel, ophiopogon, lily bulb, and goji berries. Add 5 grams to a health-preserving pot, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 5–15 minutes. It’s ready to enjoy. For a sweeter taste, add an appropriate amount of rock sugar or honey to taste.