Cold & Flu Prevention Tea: Jade Wind Screen

Emily Navas
Thank you for checking the first of a series of healthful and preventative medicine tips on video. I know most of you are asking where to get these herbs and I am happy to provide them from my office as well as direct you to get them yourself. If you happen to live near a Chinese herbal market or a Chinatown, it should be rather easy to get these common herbs. Feel free to drop me a line for more information about getting the following herbs on your own. I am happy to assist you with any questions.
The following herbs are for making Jade/Wind Screen Tea:
- Huang Qi- Astragalus - 1 ounce (~30grams)
- Bai Zhu- White Atractylodes - 2 ounces (~60 grams)
- Fang Feng - Siler root - 2 ounces (~60 grams)
- Gui Zhi - Cinnamon Twig - 1/2 ounce (~30 grams)
- Gan Cao - Licorice - 1 ounce (~30 grams)
For maximum benefits follow these herbal cooking instructions:
- Cover herbs with 4 cups of water. The general rule is to fill water to about 1 inch above your herbs. Place the lid on your pot
- Bring the water to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer gently for 20-30 minutes. It will reduce by about 1/2 the volume.
- Cool and pour the tea into a container, preferably not a plastic one.
- Using the same herbs, repeat the boiling process with 4 new cups of water (again making sure to fill water to about 1 inch above your herbs. Place the lid back on the pot.
- Pour the tea; mixing the tea from the 1st and 2nd boils together. Since each boil will have reduced by about 1/2 the volume, you will end up with approximately 4 cups of tea.
- Drink 1 cup a day
Please note: Tea may be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks. The uncooked, raw herbs are good for 3 months. Use a non-aluminum pot to boil your herbs. Should you experience any unusual symptoms, speak to your Acupuncturist/herbalist and stop taking the herbs until after you have spoken to a practitioner.