Three Secret Remedies from Traditional Chinese Medicine to Relieve Stress
Maintaining a joyful, relaxed mood is simple—no need to rush to spas or saunas after work. You can relax at home through tea drinking or bathing. Here are three stress-relief secrets:
Wheat and Licorice Date Decoction
Ingredients: 15g licorice, 50g floating wheat, 8 red dates.
Preparation:
1. Rinse all herbs briefly.
2. Boil water, add all herbs (crush red dates before boiling).
3. Simmer until herbs are infused, then drink as soup.
Tip:
Licorice treats stomach weakness and relieves pain; red dates nourish qi and yin; floating wheat calms the spirit and soothes nervous excitement. This decoction helps relieve insomnia, neurasthenia, irritability (or symptoms of bipolar disorder), and constipation caused by stress or tension. Emotional instability, frequent urge to cry, frequent yawning, mental fatigue due to weak digestion—regular consumption improves these conditions.
Relaxing Herbal Bath
Ingredients:
25g mint (about half a handful), 50g tail of angelica (about one handful), 50g safflower (about one handful).
Preparation:
1. Place all herbs in a muslin bag and tie tightly.
2. Boil water, simmer for 20–30 minutes, then pour into bathwater. Adjust temperature and soak.
Tip:
Mint offers a refreshing, cool sensation—popular in essential oils. Bathing with mint not only refreshes the skin but also provides olfactory relaxation. Angelica and safflower promote blood circulation and loosen muscles. Whether used medicinally or in baths, soaking in this mixture clears blood and qi pathways. For injured areas, mix half water and half rice wine into the bath for enhanced effect.
Agarwood Aromatherapy
Ingredients: Appropriate amount of agarwood powder.
Preparation: Light agarwood powder for aromatherapy.
Tip:
Aromatherapy is popular, but pure essential oils or diffusers can be expensive. Agarwood has a simple, pure fragrance that calms the mind. Often used in Buddhist offerings, agarwood is affordable and high-quality—earning it the title “king among incenses.” Burning it indoors promotes peace of mind and relaxation.