Safflower, Goji, and Longan Tea
Ingredients
- Safflower (honghua) 2 g (or safflower, goji, and longan pulp each about 1 tbsp / 3–5 g—start low)
- Goji berries (gouqizi) 3–5 g
- Longan pulp (longyan rou) 6 pieces (or about 3–5 g)
Principle
Safflower activates blood, unblocks menstruation, and disperses stasis to stop pain; longan supplements qi and blood and nourishes the heart to calm the spirit; goji tonifies liver and kidney. Safflower tends to unblock; longan and goji tend to supplement—unblock and supplement combined (syndrome differentiation required). Public sources also call this safflower–goji–longan tea or safflower–longan tea.
Effects & uses
For qi and blood deficiency with stasis: scant menses, amenorrhea, postpartum stasis pain, and daily adjunct in coronary heart disease. Sources also mention cold uterus with scant or painful menses, sallow complexion, and cold hands and feet. Some materials claim regular use may support sleep, skin, and fading facial dark spots (syndrome differentiation required). Pure qi–blood deficiency (pale flow without clots) fits tonifying formulas without safflower—see [Red Jujube and Longan Qi-Boosting Formula](/remedies/hongzao-guiyuan-yiqi-fang/).
Method
- Put ingredients in a pot; rinse once with boiling water, then add fresh boiling water and infuse about 7 minutes—or cup-steep covered 7–10 minutes.
How to use
- Drink warm as tea; use outside menstruation and pregnancy. Keep safflower at or below about 3 g/day for general care; stop during menses.
- Some sources suggest pairing with Zusanli (ST-36) massage for added effect (learn proper acupoint location).
Caution
Contraindicated in pregnancy (safflower may stimulate the uterus). Avoid with heavy menses, any bleeding disorder, or peptic ulcer. Not during common cold with fever. Consult a physician if taking anticoagulants (e.g. aspirin, warfarin). Safflower is a medicinally active herb—not an everyday food; do not self-steep long term. Daily dietary food care is not a substitute for medication; scant menses needs differentiation of blood deficiency vs blood stasis.
Source
Fang Jie health soup/tea (safflower–goji–longan tea); Bohe Doctor (women drinking safflower tea); 39 Health Network (caution with blood-activating teas during menses). Fixed formula name Safflower Longan Decoction—classical source pending verification. Pending manual verification.