Lately, I’ve been asked almost every single day: 

“If you had to pick one tea or herb — what’s your number one?” 

And without hesitation, my answer has been the same. So I thought it was time to officially share it. My top tea. My most recommended herb. The one I’ve suggested to almost everyone over the past few weeks — for completely different reasons. No matter what someone comes in with, I’m pretty confident this herb can help. It’s that good. 

Meet my forever favorite: Chrysanthemum morifolium (Ju Hua) — chrysanthemum tea. 

For such a tiny flower, it does a lot. It looks delicate. Soft. Almost decorative. But inside that little dried blossom is a powerhouse. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), chrysanthemum is considered a cooling herb, meaning it helps clear excess heat and calm inflammation in the body. And so many modern symptoms fall under “heat.” Red rashes? Chrysanthemum. Itchy skin? Chrysanthemum. Acne? Chrysanthemum. Sore throat coming on? Chrysanthemum. Red, strained eyes from screens? Chrysanthemum. Feeling inflamed or puffy? Chrysanthemum. It gently clears heat without being harsh, which is why I can recommend it so broadly. 

I personally reach for it when I’m sick, run down, feeling stressed or angry, when I’ve been staring at the screen too long or when my skin starts to get angry with me. It’s just one of those herbs that supports the body in so many directions at once.

Honestly? More people need to know about it.

Chrysanthemum flowers are naturally packed with: 

● Vitamin A – supports vision, skin, and immune health 

● Vitamin C – antioxidant support and immune defense 

● B vitamins, including:

• Folic acid 
• Niacin 
• Riboflavin 
• Choline 

It also contains powerful plant compounds called flavonoids that help reduce oxidative stress — basically calming internal inflammation and wear-and-tear. 

That’s why we see benefits for: 

• Immune health 
• Blood pressure support 
• Cholesterol balance 
• Mental clarity 
• Bone health 
• Digestion 
• Skin and hair 
• Detox pathways 

Chrysanthemum cools and calms without suppressing your system.

I recommend steeping 1-2 teaspoons of dried flowers in hot water for about 5-10 minutes. Then you can add lemon and honey for flavor (if needed).

This tea is gentle enough for everyday use, supportive during illness, helpful for inflammation, wonderful on the skin, beneficial for vision, mood calming, digestive friendly and immune supportive. It’s versatile in a way very few herbs are. 

So if you’ve been wondering what my “number one” is — this is it. 

A small flower with big benefits. 

And now you know why I keep recommending it.