If you live in New York City and you’re looking for a safe, natural way to manage stress and anxiety, Chinese herbal teas may be the missing piece. As a licensed herbalist and Doctor of Chinese Medicine practicing here in New York City, I’ve helped hundreds of patients calm their nervous system using traditional herbal strategies—without prescriptions or side effects.

Not all herbs taste great, but these five? They make delicious, gentle teas that are ideal for everyday stress support. They’re time-tested, accessible, and surprisingly pleasant to drink.

Important: Always consult a licensed practitioner before adding herbs to your routine—especially if you’re on medication or pregnant.

A Note on How Herbalists Think

If you’re new to Chinese Medicine, here’s how we describe and select herbs:

• Flavor indicates how an herb interacts with the body: sweet tends to nourish, bitter clears excess, sour stabilizes.
• Nature refers to temperature: warm herbs stimulate; cooling herbs calm or clear.
• Channels refer to acupuncture meridians and organ systems the herb is believed to affect—like calming the “Heart” (which governs mental/emotional balance) or soothing “Liver Qi” (linked to stress and tension).
• Functions are how we use the herbs—based on thousands of years of clinical observation.

As a local herbalist in New York City, my goal is to explain these clearly and apply them practically—no fluff, no mysticism, just useful tools that work.

1. He Huan Hua (Mimosa Flower)

• Flavor: Sweet
• Nature: Neutral
• Channels: Liver, Heart
• Traditional Function:
  • Eases emotional tension and irritability
  • Lifts mood and promotes emotional resilience
  • Helps “unstick” mood patterns caused by stress

Taste: Floral, mellow
Preparation: Steep 5–10 minutes
New York City Tip: Ask your herbalist to blend this with rosebuds (Mei Gui Hua) for added Qi movement—great for winter blues or emotional heaviness.

2. Ju Hua (Chrysanthemum Flower)

• Flavor: Sweet, slightly bitter
• Nature: Cooling
• Channels: Liver, Lung
• Traditional Function:
  • Reduces heat symptoms like red eyes or irritability
  • Calms tension headaches and emotional agitation
  • Clears “Liver Fire” (an old-school way of describing agitation that’s more than just stress)

Taste: Light and refreshing
Preparation: Steep 5–10 minutes
New York City Tip: Great for folks who work on screens all day and feel fried by 5pm—pair with goji berries (Gou Qi Zi) for eye and mood support.

3. Suan Zao Ren (Sour Jujube Seed)

• Flavor: Sweet, slightly sour
• Nature: Neutral
• Channels: Heart, Liver, Gallbladder
• Traditional Function:
  • Supports restful sleep
  • Calms night-time restlessness and anxiety
  • Nourishes what TCM calls “Heart Yin,” associated with emotional and neurological stability

Taste: Nutty and earthy
Preparation: Simmer 15–20 minutes
New York City Tip: Ideal for insomniacs or night owls. Ask a local herbalist to build a sleep formula around this with herbs like Bai Zi Ren.

4. Gan Cao (Licorice Root)

• Flavor: Sweet
• Nature: Neutral or slightly warm (toasted)
• Channels: Spleen, Stomach, Heart, Lung
• Traditional Function:
  • Harmonizes digestion and stress response
  • Soothes tension in the muscles and gut
  • Supports overall resilience (“Spleen Qi” = foundational energy in TCM)

Taste: Naturally sweet
Preparation: Simmer 10 minutes
Caution: Not suitable in large amounts for those with high blood pressure
New York City Tip: This is often the base of an herbal tea blend. Come by our clinic and we’ll help you find the right combination for your body type and stress profile.

5. Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra Berry)

• Flavor: All five flavors (sour, sweet, salty, bitter, pungent)
• Nature: Warm
• Channels: Heart, Kidney, Lung
• Traditional Function:
  • Calms the mind and stabilizes mood swings
  • Supports adrenal function and energy regulation
  • Helps the body hold onto its resources—great for burnout recovery

Taste: Bold and complex
Preparation: Simmer or steep 10–15 minutes
New York City Tip: For adaptogenic support, pair it with goji berries or reishi. We carry both in raw and prepared forms at our clinic in New York City.

How to Start

• Use about 3–6g of dried herb per cup
• Test each one alone before blending
• Avoid during pregnancy unless directed by your practitioner
• Consider a custom tea blend: He Huan Hua + Suan Zao Ren + Gan Cao makes an excellent calm-the-nerves combo

Work With a Licensed Herbalist in New York City

I offer in-person consultations in New York City as well as virtual appointments across the United States. Whether you’re dealing with stress, insomnia, burnout, or just want to feel more grounded, we can build a customized herbal plan that actually fits your life.

Looking for a New York City-based herbalist?